AndyTBoater

Hiya. Just to let you know that Wroxham Bridge was only showing 6`3`` this morning. No idea what the Airdraft is on your boat but it might be a bit tight :( Have a great time whatever you do. Andy

I am pretty sure British Heart Foundation take stuff like that. Or at least they did a couple of years ago. And they have a collection service as well https://www.bhf.org.uk/shop/donating-goods/book-furniture-collection-near-me Andy

Skin so Soft for me too. I have stocked up this year as it does tend to sell out when midges etc are bad.

I will be coming from South to North at around the same time so unfortunately wont be able to help you out. I am sure you will be fine though. You are at least asking questions which is a great start. A lot is said about Breydon and for newcomers to the Broads a number of these stories can be quite scary. In reality it is just a wider version of all the other rivers on the network. True, faster tides and wind add another element to the crossing but if you can get under the bridge you can do Breydon. I have a 7 point plan. 1. Check best time to cross with GYC Station (and also tell them what boat and air draft you have so they can advise on water height under bridge) 2. Plan to arrive at that time. As has already been mentioned the travel times are only a guide so dont panic if you are ahead or behind your guesstimated time. If you need to moor up take it slowly and maybe phone GYC when you are about 5 mins away. Ask if they can be about to help. You will know you are 5 mins away because it all starts to get a bit built up rather than marshes and reeds. 3. Keep between the arrows on the bridges and as you approach Breydon proper there is a massive yellow post in the water to your right. Keep this post well to your right. and turn right well after it. If the tide is running in it may push you towards it a bit so keep well clear. Try not to get too close to any boats ahead of you and dont think you have to follow their path. They may have no idea what they are doing :) 4. As you go under Breydon Bridge look up at the cantilever arm on the Yarmouth side, the light at the end of the cantilever arm and the far side footpath. I built those. (#minorclaimtofame) 5. Keep between the red and green marker posts. (I built all the Red ones and also the little mooring dolphin bridge to your left at you come under the bridge. #showingoffnow) 6. Keep off the decks and wear a lifejacket from the yacht station all the way to the other side of the water. Others may say you should always wear one but even if thats not your thing please wear one over Breydon. 7. As you reach the other side you can now start breathing again and have a drink to celebrate your success. Honestly. Its actually more fun than scary. Think of the hundreds of people who do this daily with less experience than you. I will give you an enthusiastic wave if I see you coming the other way. Have fun, trust in the force and go for it. I may make some "I crossed Breydon and survived" T Shirts and if I do I shall put you down for a couple. :) Andy

I like this idea Wroxham at 13.00 today was at 6` I tried to upload my picture but it was upside down for some reason. Inverted the picture, saved it, uploaded and STILL upside down. Stupid technology.

There is one of these at Sutton Staithe too. Or there was for most of the Summer. It alternated between the information board/shed and the bar. Surprised it lasted as long as it did though.

Just seen this on Stalham FB page Wayford Bridge Repair This is just to confirm that Norfolk County Council Highways has reconsidered the timetable for working on the Wayford Bridge and this will now be a one-lane closure and take place after Easter next year. Exact dates to be confirmed Andy

Like this one??

You sort of have to admire them for their ingenuity and lateral thinking A few years ago, when CD's were a thing, my local Tesco were losing hundreds a week. They were all security tagged so no one could work out how they got past the front door without setting off alarms. Eventually they worked out how they were doing it. Step 1. Pick up a load of A5 padded envelopes from in store Step 2. Put CD`s in envelope Step 3. Write your chosen address on envelope, apply stamp and post in shop post box. Step 4. Sit at home and wait for the postie to deliver your ill gotten gains Nobody had ever questioned it when the alarm went off as the post person walked out of the door. Just genius. If only they would use their powers for good and not evil

I was thinking exactly the same and already have a Go Fund me idea worked out The distance from the underside of the bridge to the river bed is, say, 9 feet. (Water depth is 3 feet and Air Draft is 6 feet) If we dig out another 3 feet that makes 12 feet. All I need is everyone on the Broads to donate £10 each and I will have enough to hire a couple of people, some scuba gear, two shovels and a large skip. I also need a new deckchair and table for drinks whilst I watch and supervise. Project should be completed by 2034 (Covid permitting) Either that or fit flood tanks to all boats. Just like submarines*. Fill up these tanks with water, go under bridge, pump out water. How easy is that??. "Take us to periscope Potter depth" "Aye Aye Skipper - descending now" This will also require the digging out of the river bed so I/ we all win twice. Who is with me?? *Patent Applied For. (Not for submarines as they already exist but for the water tank idea.)

Just googled Alan Finn and the only post I can find was from someone called Janet Anne on 1st April this year on this very forum. So no, you didnt dream it - just forgot that you knew it.:)

I remember "Chief". And the eels. He used to us a breakfast of them from time to time.

The Tavern/ Hideaway was a definite favourite on some (most) of my old boating trips. Probably because at the age of 14/15 it was one of the few places that would serve unaccompanied people of our age without asking too many questions. As we were young and usually had little money the delightful barmaid would also serve us what she called "a pint of slops" if we helped collect the empty glasses from around the place. This was basically a mix of all the overspill from the drip trays and probably tasted foul but to us it was a. Free b. Alcoholic I seem to remember it went through a phase of being a bit of a bikers pub for a while.

It is indeed a 23 foot plastic antelope. However, it does have some wood on it in places. And just to be on the safe side I took a small wooden spoon along for the ride. OK - not a true "woodie" in any shape or form but its mine and I love it. Thanks to Dave and Ali who allowed me to join you all and to the rest of you for being so lovely.

Sorry but my post above was not about the mooring as such. It was more about the fact that there are unregistered and un tolled boats bobbing about on the Staithe. Section 5.1 and 9.1 of the Vessel Registration Byelaws seem to have been broken. Regardless of who or who does not "own" the mooring is there nothing BA can or will do about that ? It's not like the boats in question are hard to find. Anyway - I shall duck out of this discussion now. Life is too short to stuff a mushroom. Regards Andy

There are 5 boats there now. None of these have tolls paid (according to the BA toll checker) and a couple come up as unregistered. 3 of the boats have been there for more than 2 years. As far as I am aware these boats have been reported to BA on numerous occasions but still they remain, untaxed and almost certainly (although I have no evidence of this) without BSS or insurance. I have to say this does not seem to be exactly a favourable outcome for anyone but them. . I do understand the pressure BA are under, especially in these challenging times and this is not meant to be a moaning post merely a statement of fact but..... What exactly do these owners need to do to incur the wrath of BA and comply with the rules that the rest of us have to. ? Regards

Yep. It does seem like a "goodwill" kind of thing. I wonder if there are figures available for the actual number of boats on the Broads and figures for the number registered/ tolled? If I am honest, it seems pretty easy to chase up non payers. My boat had tax last year. If I hadnt paid again this year its quite a big indicator. There will always be boats that are sold/ transferred to others but if the last registered owner is still liable for any and all fees it is a big incentive to let BA know when it is sold on. As you say though if the BA has no teeth then they are relying on honesty and goodwill from the majority. Just so you all know, from Jan 2021 all boat owners are required to pay me £1.68 per year per fender. Dirty ones may incur a small surcharge. I will enforce this by some means or other (as yet to be determined) and will punish non payment by ignoring the non payment. I trust you understand this is a necessary charge and is for a reason as yet to be defined. Yours (tongue so far in my cheek its almost coming out of my ear) Andy

The Staithe does seem to be turning into a showroom for boats for sale on Facebook. Hopefully when they sell the new owners will move them. I notice that a new liveaboard turned up earlier in the week and shows no signs of moving anytime soon so it is not getting any better. It appears from the post from Tom above that the BA and Stalham Council are working to resolve this but regardless of the state of play with the moorings there is the issue of tolls with all of the boats there. A quick check reveals that none of the are tolled and a couple not even registered with BA. Looking around online I can see there is a requirement for registration, tolls and BSS but couldn't find any information on sanctions for those who do not comply. Surely there must be some - Is it that I am looking in the wrong place? What legal recourse is there for BA when people refuse to pay tolls or insurance or have a valid BSS? Andy

I may start a second hand face mask business. The 7 that I came across (and fished out) between Sutton and How Hill has given me a stock to start the business off. I am looking for £11.37 of investment for a 50% likelihood of catching something from them. People are idiots. And messy idiots at that. Andy T Boater