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MotorBoater

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Everything posted by MotorBoater

  1. This is my kit. Works all over the place, and fast. The newer version is £15 cheaper and apparently identical according to one reviewer but I'm sticking with what I know. The sim lasts for up to 2 years, no 30 day nonsense. As always, read the reviews and make your own mind up. We bought from Amazon. We have usually had a laptop and two phones connected at the same time with no loss of performance. Streaming Virgin TV On The Go (Didn't miss any football !) presented no problems. More detail online.
  2. Genius Vaughan, simply genius. As far as the window is concerned I would say it was worth it. You challenged yourself and won. Presumably you won't need socially distanced greenhouses and table service ? Keith
  3. I shall be watching the highlight shows, however disjointed the format, in the hope of a particularly classic performance. Ed Balls - Gangnam Style !
  4. Quality pics, as usual, when viewing the second one I thought I had a mark on the screen but zooming in I find what looks to be a wind-surfer. He/She could be forgiven for thinking they are the last alive on the planet !
  5. Just be thankful Microsoft haven't caught up with you yet !
  6. All valid points Cheesey, I think Microsoft have never been particularly bothered about users with older kit and lesser specification, despite protestations of innocence. If they have considered it at all it is when advertising the minimum spec. required to run their operating systems over the years. It seems built into company DNA that users automatically run out and upgrade everything to latest levels. Having looked (And laughed) briefly at a Microsoft page of Hardware requirements for Windows 10 https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/minimum-hardware-requirements-overview I would point out that Windows is supposed to run but nowhere does it say it will run well ! I would say performance is very much related to three basic issues, memory, processor and graphics adaptor all of which I have kept an eye on from the early days of Windows 3.1. A further consideration is what you use it for. I have a preowned laptop with i5 processor 8gb (Upgraded from 4gb) memory and built-in graphics adaptor that has handled anything thrown at it quite well. This is now mainly used when aboard. My main desktop machine has a spec. way in excess of this, suffice to say I love it. The one problem I do have is with Microsoft's updates. Although, in theory, it is possible to go to the update page in settings to see what is waiting to install it is not always an option in the early hours after a hard day rooting around NBN, Youtube, Instagram and various banking, communication and miscellaneous issues. Last night, on shutdown, I was invited to click on "Update and Shutdown" so I did, thinking it was just the usual. On start-up today I get the new version of Microsoft Edge, their browser, staring me in the face and keen to burrow into all parts of my system, with no warning at all. Second time of trying but at least last time it hadn't gone this far. I gently eased out of it and will spend the afternoon making sure no settings have been changed and any reports are still switched off (I've been a Firefox user since the days it was Netscape Navigator). I did flirt with Linux and found it interesting but the physical effort of transferring many years files, and learning the new programs to deal with them is too much, not to mention writing off the investment in the programs I have bought.
  7. My first thought was - At least they are asking for tips. My second thought was - Facebook ?!?!?!
  8. Hope the weather stays kind, but not too hot !
  9. This is typical of the attitude of a generation, most of which is lost to time. I can understand the reluctance of individuals involved to discuss their stories and also their families wishing to honour their feelings on these matters. However as long as we keep special remembrance days wherein we recall and respect their heroic deeds, and all to often tragic loss, then we should, I think, put these stories out there to ensure that subsequent generations (Who may fortunately never suffer in this way) understand exactly what they are asked to honour. If VJ day is to have any meaning it is to remember that the far eastern conflict was not just about american island hopping. Vaughan has only touched on a story that has few comparisons at that time, or since. I point the honourable members to http://www.hongkongescape.org/ This is a "Great Escape" that doesn't involve Steve McQueen, motor bikes and wire fences. Nevertheless it held me enthralled for days as I dug further and further. I can understand Vaughan's reticence as the action actually started a little earlier with a mission that later came to be known as "The Balaklava of The Seas" - led by one Lt. Ron Ashby who was awarded his first DSC. Vaughan's father was awarded his second (Bar) for his service as senior officer, coastal forces on the Arakan Coast of Burma. All the details are there on the website. It is authored by the son of a member of Lt. Ashby's crew. It is not the easiest of sites in that the pages are prone to change at will but this can be controlled, to some extent, by the menu on the left of the page. It is built around the stories of the people actually involved. Read it, please, and if anyone asks about VJ Day tell them to read it too. If they don't ask, tell them anyway. The escape through enemy waters and across thousands of miles of territory deserves the Hollywood treatment but would probably become another tale of how America won the war. But a story to be told nonetheless..... Lest we forget.
  10. Currently checking back over what I read, I did say mainly enshrined in the Broads Byelaws and it may be that what I saw related to an event like a racing meeting for instance. Unfortunately I have exited all web pages I was using and have to start again. It still won't alter my point about right of way though, whether marshalls are legally defined or not. I think it only matters if they have a temporary power.
  11. No-one could possibly disagree with this, however most of the activities detailed here are covered by codes, rules and laws, mainly enshrined in the Broads Byelaws, paddleboarders (Yes, arguably) are not. e.g. During sailing events on Hickling traffic is told to keep to the right and follow directions from marshalls etc. and on stretches of river used by waterskiers traffic is advised to keep an eye open and avoid. Anyone on a paddleboard who has read the same guidance as me would assume he can just charge straight on through as he has right of way. As I said before it's not about restriction, it about regulation. Paddleboarders should enjoy the Broads in the same way as the rest of us, with responsibility.
  12. JM, I have now spent most of today investigating a subject that had been niggling me for some time but that I realised was a bit short on published fact. I'm not particularly bothered by the time spent bacause it is something I often do, saves arguments over what to watch on the box, if nothing else. I have trawled the websites of British Canoeing (Formally The British Canoe Union), Go paddling, BSUPA (British Standup Paddle Association) and The Canal and River Trust, and of course BA. Of all these only CRT even tries to address the issues of law and regulation in relation to paddleboarding, or addresses what might be called best practice. In the case of CRT they go as far as strongly suggesting the use of personal flotation aids (PFAs) and not much else. British Canoeing suggest PFAs are not required if leashes are used, saying shorter coiled ones are best as it keeps the board near you, before going on to say longer straight ones are best as it keeps the board away from you ! The only people to address UK regs in any form are a company called Decathlon who seem to include quotes from British Canoeing in their guides. I must admit to a slight error here as the quote I used may not have originated from there. The quote in full, in one section: Where and How You Can Use Your Stand-up Paddle Board Whether you’re stand-up paddle boarding on a river, lake or ocean, also impacts the rules you must follow. When river stand-up paddle boarding, you’re banned from using a leash. You cannot use a stand-up paddle board in swimming areas or designated beach areas unless your board is recreational beach gear You cannot cross port entrances and exit channels. At sea, red (right) and green (left) cylindrical buoys mark these channels. Do not pass in front of another sea vessel that has restricted manoeuvrability like tugboats or sailboats If you’re travelling more than 300m from the coastline, you must inform the authorities and travel with a stand-up paddle board partner. And the other quote, in another section: In Rivers and Lakes The British coast guard considers rivers and lakes to be enclosed bodies of waters. On these waters, stand-up paddle boards are small crafts. According to the rules of priority, stand-up paddle boarders must give way to boats bigger than 15m, like barges and cruisers, as well as sailboats. However, motorised boats, less than 15 m, must give way to stand-up paddle boarders. The use of bold type is mine. In view of an apparently lax attitude by supposed leading bodies it seems to me, for what it is worth, that it is time for the Broads Authority to determine what is, and what is not, a viable code of conduct for paddleboating on the Broads, and where the current byelaws may need clarifying, especially in relation to what is repealed, replaced or altered in relation to national legislation. The bodies I refer to above offer training courses but do not appear to publish detailed codes of conduct or rules to be adhered to, if they do they are not easy to find.
  13. When we were awaiting the pilot to head upstream at Wroxham my wife got into conversation with an elderly (Well older than me) couple who said how nice it was to see someone wearing a lifejacket. Their son worked for an air ambulance and had already pulled four dead bodies from the rivers this year. Obviously we don't know the circumstances but.... it happens people, it happens.
  14. If I can help somebody, as I travel along If I can help somebody, with a word or song If I can help somebody, from doing wrong No, my living shall not be in vain Apparently with thanks to Mahalia Jackson (Whoever she is)
  15. I've been doing a bit of digging. I wouldn't want to try and speak on anyone elses behalf but for me the issue isn't about restriction but accountability and conforming to Broads Byelaws. For example, as I recall, the Broads has it's own rules on collisions and avoidance of them, established by parliament, detailing the actions and responsibilities of both parties. If paddleboarders are following guidance from British Canoe they may be under the impression that so long as they give way to sailboats, and powered craft over 15metres, they can carry-on as they please regardless. That may be the case anywhere else but not, I think, on the Broads. If the argument should be made that paddleboards are not specifically mentioned in the byelaws then that can be corrected by an order of the Secretary Of State, as provided for in the Broads Authority Act 2009, although the definition is pretty wide ranging already. The Navigation Byelaws have to be applied, one way or another. The problem, as I see it, is that it wasn't seen as particularly important whilst there were a few enthusiasts about, but the "Sport" is starting to attract increasing numbers, many of whom seem to equate the responsibility to less than that of a lilo on the beach, and an accident must be the boat's fault, it's bigger. Am I the only one to have seen a five year old paddling 30 ft behind her father ? At least she was wearing a jacket, the fathers reasoning when I spoke to him was that she was better at it than him. No. I don't think it's about restriction, but a sense of regulation would certainly ease the mind. Boatyards, The BA and various publications hammer away at the need for lifejackets on the deck of boats but apparently it's OK to disappear up "little abandoned, non-tidal, partially stagnant inlets" at will. How are emergency services supposed to find them let alone reach them. Would it be possible to make it a requirement for paddleboarders, and canoeists, to wear a jacket on certain stretches of river and minor tributaries ? A start maybe, although I can see a problem with encouraging an "I'm all right now" attitude.
  16. MM, for the record the webcam examples displayed no lifejackets OR ankle lines. Paddleboarders I spoke to at Coltishall told me they were told not to forget their lifejackets and were using them with ankle lines. Their apparent leader believed there is no substitute for lifejackets. If there is a difference of opinion within their community I suggest it needs to be sorted out. Given the popularity I find it difficult to believe there are no published solidified guidelines. If there are I haven't found them yet. Maybe what we have is groups following differing opinions. The evidence of my own eyes leads me to think none of them, as yet, suggest care near larger craft, only their sense of survival preserves them so far. And yes MM I think it must be a vessel, I think I am right in saying BA charge a toll for them unless they are registered with the canoe association (I forget the name).
  17. If there are regulations regarding paddleboarders and lifejackets they are not enforced very well. If there are not then there should be. The same could be said for swimming regs. In the words of that well known phrase, or saying - Here's one I prepared earlier. July 18th. to be precise, Salhouse Broad. They were swimming between our mooring in the far corner and the entrance, for some time. As I said in my holiday thread - "Woke up to a nice day, and black shiny things moving around the water in the distance with orange bouys attached. Are they shark warnings ? Are they heck, just some nutters out for a swim, mistook elbows for fins. Probably normal around here and the buoys are presumably to let the boats know they are there. Does that work with the 10/12 year olds practising boat handling with dad ?" If the idea was to impress with their butch (?) antics they failed miserably. The general feeling amongst the small community of boats at our end of the broad was more along the lines of "I wonder what asylum they've escaped from ?". But then our boat in particular had two crew who had already discovered how cold the water was ! The swan's opinion is not recorded. I know it's not one of Vaughan's "little abandoned, non-tidal, partially stagnant inlets" but I suspect the thinking is similar. "Let's go for an early morning swim and b****er the boats starting up and moving towards the entrance" Their clothes, and backpacks, were stuffed in the trees behind our boats. The buoys were presumably intended as an excuse should they be mown down by a passing cruiser. On ours you couldn't see the bow from the upper steering position, let alone what's underneath it. And don't get me started on throwing sticks in the water for doggie to fetch, at Paddy's Lane, while standing next to a sign warning of Blue-Green Algae, and saying pets and humans should keep out of the water....... Vaughans comments on safe navigation are indeed timely. I well remember watching BB's webcam, before our holiday, wherein NINE boarders were wending their way leisurely through Wroxham with not one lifejacket between them, strung out across the river. There was another occasion, on the holiday cottage camera, with EIGHT, and no lifejacket.
  18. Appreciate your comments John. We booked early July way back last December, before the hell that is covid took off. The thinking was that we would get the holiday done before the schools broke up. It's not that we dislike the kids, it's just that the school holidays are known to be busier and we thought, along with many others I'm sure, that although busy it wouldn't be as frantic if families were not there. Easier mooring, fewer boats and easier access to "Tourist spots". We had no idea that Boris would give the kids six months holiday by surrendering to the unions in quite the way he appears to have done. I doubt that next May will give the kind of problems that have been experienced to date. If we haven't beaten covid we might at least have got used to it. One tip for hirers, if mooring is difficult, make use of the agreements the yards have to allow other hiring yards boats' to use their yards to moor, at the same time you can top-up with water (Possibly not at H. Woods !) and sort out a pump out. Chargeable obviously, and convenient. Hopefully time flies, and you will be on the water before you know it.
  19. July 20th. - It's Over We were actually back in the yard by 8am, as were a number of others, the staff were ready and as usual very helpful as we sorted ourselves out. Richardson seem to have a good handle on covid. The fuel deposit we had paid was £125 and we used £113.56, we owed £12 for Wroxham pilotage so I gave the receptionist £1 and called it quits. He was wondering how we had used £113 in just three days hire but recovered quickly when I pointed out we had been out a bit longer than that. The boat was actually pretty good, obviously dated, but we didn't mind the multicloured formica cladding, doors and worktops. We hired the boat for space and airdraft not aesthetics. With one short-lived exception we helmed entirely from the upper position and loved it. All I reported to the yard staff was a tiny leak in the rear toilet window that left a saucer sized puddle after a shower of rain and a dodgy aerial connection to the TV. I have left two subjects to the end for simplicity. First wifi. Richardson's EE connection was first rate for much of the trip but played up a couple of time on the extreme southern areas. I have a Huawei mifi unit with a three network sim that again was flawless everywhere. We even streamed Virgin TV, on my laptop, tucked away in the corner at Salhouse. Second food. We usually try to support the local economy wherever we are but as I had been hibernating, sorry shielding, since March I was in no hurry to put myself about too much. The issue was how to feed ourselves without constantly visiting shops and built up areas. Watching TV one evening I saw an advert for a company producing cooked meals that would last for months in a cupboard, no freezer required - we thought Yeah Right ! The advert appeared a few times and as we were looking at maybe having to overload on tins and packets we eventually thought there is no harm in sending for a catalogue. These meals are heated in microwave or in the oven. We preferred the oven. Apparently pressure cooked, I saw sous vide mentioned somewhere. The website is typical of that kind of thing and held no surprises. Although concerned the portion sizes looked small we sent off a trial order, a ten meal deal, to have a look. Impressed but the idea needed more work. We then ordered more for further experimentation with their pots of flavoured mash and pouches of rice. This worked well so we went all in and ordered for our Broads trip. The upshot of all this is we ate really well and would certainly use them again. We found that with a bit of imagination the mash, rice and even salad went towards making excellent, tasty meals. Our menu for the trip was: Lasagne.....Cottage Pie.....Chicken & Leek Hotpot.....Coq au Vin.....Minced Beef Hotpot.....Beef Casserole & Dumplings.....Ditto with Chicken.....Pork and Apple Hotpot.....Pork Casserole & Stuffing Balls.....Beef & Mushroom Stroganoff.....Chicken & Herb Lasagne.....Liver & Bacon with Mash.....and not forgetting All Day Breakfasts. We also took Bubble & Squeak Mash Pots - not much squeak !, Roasted Onion Mash Pots, ordinary Mash Pots and Long Grain Rice Pouches. We took some earthenware oven dishes to decant the meals into, as I said we prefer to use the oven as we could then produce all the meals at the same time instead of one at a time in the microwave. All we were washing up were knives, forks, plates and oven dishes. We were cleared up and out enjoying the evenings in no time. Ten day food bill for the three of us £122 plus perishables. We don't have any connection to the company, we are just well satisfied customers. I'm not up with how naming external companies is allowed on here and for now I will say the name starts with P and ends with X. If anyone wants to learn more let me know.
  20. July 19th. - Oh Dear, Last Night Tonight. Our last full day dawns and as usual nothing special planned. The day looks to be glorious and we know we have the boat to sort out so we decided to enjoy it with a leisurely cruise up the Ant and hope to get in at Paddy's Lane for our last night. A quick look over the side tells me the water is apparently rushing up to Potter so we let go at the bow and a slight push sends the bow out a bit ? Err, no actually. Tried again, and again, out with Aweigh and I find it's past high tide and the tide is actually going out ! It's the breeze that makes it look like it's going the other way. Re-tie the front, check wifey on board, away from the edge, and let go aft. George gives a push, this time it works, free off the bow and we are off, Yes George made it aboard. Down the Thurne into the Bure, where is everybody ? St. Benets half full, people enjoying the sunshine, swing into the Ant heading for Ludham bridge. Now we find out where everybody is. The queue for the bridge starts at the beginning of the moorings on the left bank. No-one is going anywhere much and we are to far back to see what the hold up is. I take the wheel as we have the usual problem keeping a straight line with the stern veering left and right because of little steerage way. Brainwave ! I suddenly realise that if I can't go forward then I can go backwards so I start edging a length forward and half a length backwards. Only took ten days to work that out..... After about half an hour we get to the lefthand corner and see at the righthand turn to the bridge there are two of the large newer Richardson boats see-sawing past each other attempting the bridge, backing out at the last minute and making way for other craft to come through downstream. This accounts for the intermittant appearance of boats passing by us. Boats ahead of us were getting bored with these antics and were taking turns to slip past and under the bridge. Not an option I was looking forward to, but as it happened I didn't have to. The big one nearest us appeared to momentarily lose control and bounced off what looked like a Hampton moored on the corner by the boatyard then went back for another try at sinking it but just ran full length down the side of it and carried on under the bridge. The other one promptly followed it under and suddenly there was room for everyone. We all began taking turns each way to transit the bridge so we were through and away. There was no more excitement as we motored on up the Ant, How Hill looked marvellous in the sunshine, as did all of it really. Barton was quiet and we made it to Paddy's Lane and took the last spot on the newest part of the mooring. A few boats went and others arrived but we just got on with getting GH 2 ready for returning to the yard. It was a lovely, peaceful, evening. A bit more to follow.
  21. July 18th. - A Wherry, Close Up Woke up to a nice day, and black shiny things moving around the water in the distance with orange bouys attached. Are they shark warnings ? Are they heck, just some nutters out for a swim, mistook elbows for fins. Probably normal around here and the buoys are presumably to let the boats know they are there. Does that work with the 10/12 year olds practising boat handling with dad ? Although it's near the end of the holiday we decide not to risk a water shortage and moved along to the hose point. There was space by then and I managed another stern moor, and topping up took a mere 5 minutes, I'll remember these water points for the future. We motored out of Salhouse straight into the "Wroxham Navy". I think every day boat from Wroxham must have cruised downriver in one flotilla. A couple of pictures I took don't really show the effect of this lot travelling together en masse. Only spoilt by five yobs in one of them continually racing to get in front then losing it and laying stopped across everyone's path. We got past and left them causing havoc at Horning where they tried to cross the river to The Swan. The stretch down to the Ferry was busy as usual but well-behaved, we were still surrounded by the Wroxham Navy and they were having more trouble with the flappies than we were. We eventually broke free and it was continuing to be a nice day as we pushed on, aiming for Womack, cruised past St. Benets and turned up the Thurne. We are not into sailing ourselves but I do think the sight of a sailing boat with the wind filling the sails can be a joy to behold so decided I wanted to catch a picture or two if the opportunity arose. The Thurne often seems to be a good place for this and we did indeed spot a few. Not exactly what I was looking for but close. We turned into Womack with a struggle. George quickly abandoned the wheel to me. A Wherry, Maud I think, with scouts, was coming down from PH trying to turn right with a little pusher boat behind for momentum, a cruiser was trying to get out and turn right, two cruisers and us trying to turn left, two flappies trying to go straight on and there in the middle of it all was a double handed canoe, giving way to no-one, turning into W. Water at zero mph. Trying to keep GH2 pointing in the right direction with minimal, and I do mean minimal, forward movement while trying to avoid the flappies in front and the remnants of the Navy coming up behind made for a hairy five minutes. The exiting cruiser went by, hugging the reeds to his right, my left, the wherry was caught up on the reeds/weeds right on the corner whilst avoiding the canoe. The saillies sailed right on with a number of boats now stacked up behind the wherry making way for them. We slid across the wherry bow into Womack Water only to find the canoe hadn't gone far and was sitting in the middle of the water with the two occupants watching the mayhem at the junction. Presumably realising GH 2 was considerably the larger vessel they resumed their journey moving over to let us through. We soon realised that we were wasting our time, the moorings along the bank were full and as we carried on, looking into the distance, the staithe looked full too so we circled the island (Moorings also full) and turned to exit back to the Thurne. As we approached the end the wherry came around the bend, having finally made it off the reeds/weeds and I hugged the reeds to let her pass with her pusher doing sterling work at the rear. We turned left for PH, pretty busy there, and as we didn't fancy Woods we decided to give the Quiet Moorings a try as we had noticed they were all but empty, never been there before. Directly opposite maycraft, no problem. Then Stella decided we needed "A few bits and pieces" and George needed feeding, as usual, so they decided to walk up to Lathams. I pointed out on the map that if they were busy there was a shop showing a bit further on. It was only after they went I noticed a rather large sign for Premier on the front of Maycraft ! In the event there was a queue outside Lathams, down the side of the building, so they decided to walk on. They found Premier a bit further on than expected but worth the trip apparently. Not as small as expected either and pleasantly surprised at how much stock they had. When they made it back we settled down for our penultimate night on the Broads. Lots of pics again.
  22. You also have the option to stay where you are tonight for an early start tomorrow. With three kids and a dog that might be an option ? Just a thought. There should be takeaways there although I have no experience of them - or the pubs.
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