NorfolkNog

Hi Geoff Glad you enjoyed the Ghost Ship – one of Adnams finest in my humble opinion. Packed with flavour. I think John and Carol are not adverse to a drop either…………

Not only saves fuel but doesn’t disturb your fellow boaters either! Nice one. Glad you had a good holiday. Good service from Richardsons too. Hopefully you’ll be back again! Many thanks for sharing with us.

I think I’d be a bit cautious. Even with expert knowledge the boatyard would probably not sanction this. All boats have at least 2 batteries – a cranking (starter) battery and a leisure battery to run the domestics. The idea being that even if you flatten the domestic battery you can still start the engine. If the inverter was connected across the cranking battery it could flatten it in which case the boatyard would have to be called out which they probably wouldn’t appreciate. Some boats even have a dedicated battery for the inverter. Swancraft for example have all their boats (bar one – generator) fitted with 1400 watt inverters which should be more than ample to run hair straighteners.

Save some for me Carol! Just had another thought. I wonder if it might be worth having a word with Nigel and Sara Royall at Royalls boatyard in Hoveton. They go on many walks around the Broads which are well documented on their website blog. Might be worth asking if they have seen any wild hops on their travels! http://royallsboatyard.blogspot.co.uk/

Hi Jason A very warm welcome to the NBN – good to have you aboard so to speak! Sorry can’t be much help with the wild hops (probably spend too much time in the pub) but will certainly look forward to sampling the beer if I can! I’ll drop a few hints to Lorraine at the Dog. Do please keep popping back and let us know what you are up to, any info about drinking your excellent beer is always welcome! Good luck with the new brew! oh and congratulations re the Hanged Monk! Very well deserved.

be very interested in your thoughts John. Can you check the beer for me please!

Ha ha!!! I won’t hold my breath then! It will probably be fixed before they reply to you John!

Good thinking John, I would be very interested in this.

Interesting one. I would agree the Berney takes some beating for the fantastic views around Breydon. I also like to sit on the terrace outside the Hotel Wroxham watching the goings on. Don’t rate the beer there though. I think my favourite however is the Ship at Reedham, love watching the boats and trains go by. Lovely sun trap in summer. The beer is not bad either.

Looked OK in December - hope they get it sorted soon, looking forward to several in the Dukes Head

Good to have you back Frank. We hired several Safaris in the 70’s and 80’s – cosy little boat for two and handled well and easy to moor as I recall. Shaft drive too. I’d certainly consider one when the lottery comes up. If the one at Richardsons is still up for sale it would be a good bet as it will have been very well maintained. http://www.richardsonsboatsales.net/ Good luck!

Tipples Barley Twist. Thats the stuff. 10% ABV tried some at the Shed once, very more-ish

Good to see that Jason Tipple has apparently picked up a gong from the Norfolk Beer Awards in the best mild category for his excellent Hanged Monk. Nice one Jason, very well deserved too.

This is Swan Renown under construction in December. Superb fit out as you would expect from Swancraft. Looks a cracking boat, I’d love to hire it but priced as a 4 berth a bit out of my league sadly!

Hi Carol Fantastic footage, many thanks for sharing with us. Love the little coracle thingys. And it’s great to see the bits you wouldn't see now, like beauty contests and someone looking like they were diving out from a dinghy! Great stuff

Sumptuous or what fantastic, that’s given me the impetus to go and get that Euromillions ticket……. I’ll order two!!

Going back to the pub bit (apologies as this is a bit off topic) but I tend to agree with Trevor, it really ticks me off when pubs take an arbitrary decision to close early, I have also experienced this at the New Inn at Horning and it is really annoying. At least in Horning you can go to another pub! My experience of the Woods End is yes, nice people but a bit shy about opening. Pubs such as the Ferry at Surlingham or the Dog Inn at Ludham open pretty much all day, every day and enjoy an excellent reputation. OK pubs might argue that opening when its quiet costs electricity and staff time. However the fixed overheads (e.g. rent) remain the same and there is nothing to stop the licensee doing a stint behind the bar! It is a fact unfortunately that Broads pubs are very seasonal, busy in summer, quiet in winter. It’s not like running a town pub where trade is fairly constant. But I’m afraid nothing ticks me off more than going to a pub and finding it shut. That is a sure way to lose trade. One good way to rebuild a poor reputation is to keep the pub open and welcome customers, not drive them away!

Fawlty towers. The builders, priceless

Good point Trevor, shops on the Yare are like hens teeth!!

Hi Lady C Afraid Marshman is quire right, getting under the bridge is very much in the lap of the gods, very dependant on wind and tide and you literally cannot predict until the day whether you will get under. Plan B sounds a good idea although you have picked a good boat to give you the best chance. This is a good site for checking tides and lots of other info http://www.norfolk-broads.org/index.htm As regards picking up the boat, you could try turning up at lunchtime and ask when the boat will be ready. You might be lucky if the boat has had a quick turnaround or not been out the previous week. If not you can kill time in Potter for an hour or two. You’ve nothing to lose. As regards pubs – the Rising Sun has been closed but I understand it is due to open shortly. The Lion at west Somerton is closed sadly (shame, great pub) but the Nelson Head and Pleasure Boat are both open and highly recommended. Sutton Staithe is still serving Adnams but on handpump now, the jug has gone! Another good pub.

Hi Richard Best of luck with your new venture, sounds a great idea. Also wondered where you will be at Bramerton, will it be at the pub end or at the other side of the common? All the best

Hi Lady C Good to have you aboard and a very warm welcome. Very pleased to hear that you are returning to the Broads – you will certainly see some changes but the magic of a holiday afloat remains the same. You will still find the tranquil areas and September is a great time to be out, you should get the best of the weather and it should be a bit quieter by then. Sparkling Light looks a good choice – should be easy to handle, very cosy and no problems getting under the bridges hopefully. My sister hired a similar craft from another yard recently and was very impressed. Have a good one and please let us know how you get on! All the best

Saw quite a few Herbert Woods boats out and about in February. Good to see them doing well.

I agree, excellent site. I always print off the tide tables for the period of the holiday and take a laminated copy.