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LadyC

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  1. Why 22 years? Various reasons & have been getting my "life afloat" fix crewing on a friend's yacht out of Fleetwood & Preston Marinas until recently. Totally different experience! I wanted to show my current partner the delights of Norfolk - & the best way to see them is definitely from the water. He enjoyed! Result! Have done the Southern Broads many times in the past, but was realistic enough to know that with only a week we were not trying to do the whole network in one of the smallest hire boats on the Broads. Used to hire from Brooms & Newsons in the 70s & well remember the delights of Geldeston Locks Inn, Rockland & Loddon. I'm good at keeping secrets!
  2. Typo warning! For Stalham read South Walsham!
  3. Just back from our week on the Broads. First trip in 22 years & saw it quite changed. Not IMHO for the better in many instances. Initially disappointed that we were not likely to (& indeed could not) get under Potter Bridge we nevertheless had a cracking week exploring the quiet corners like Stalham, Dilham & Neatishead as well as the more commercialised centres like Ranworth & Horning. We handed the boat back to Woods at 8 am on Friday morning & drove up to Horsey. Looking at the yachts in Horsey Dyke (& that lovely old "Juliette" from Martham Boats - now that IS designed to have the best chance of going under bridges!) & then out over Horsey Mere & around Hickling from Brograve Mill I realised I was GLAD we hadn't got the boat up there, along with a flotilla of others. It was so beautiful & peaceful, especially compared to the Bure & Malthouse Broad where everyone seemed to be racing around on mini Titanic liners! Where did all the crafted craft go? The Broads is now cruised by floating hotels! We went everywhere we could get at water snails's pace & were on the go from dawn to dusk every day, waking up with the herons & going to bed with the barn owls. Referring to the proposal in another current thread of doing away with Potter Bridge I agree the waterways are man-made; but so are the narrow lanes of Cornwall or the Lake District - should these be widened to dual carriageways to accomodate ever larger caravans? The problem of Potter Bridge is a compounded one - the bridge's dimensions/shape, the British weather & the increasing demand for ever larger cruisers. Perhaps it is US who have to adapt. We skimmed under Wayford Bridge with no trouble & had a lovely trip up to Brick Kiln Bridge at Dilham accompanied only by herons & kingfishers. But we saw several boats approach Wayford & turn away as there was a bare 7ft clearance. We met one couple alone on a huge 4 berth with 2 showers & 2 separate toilet/washrooms. In the 1970s & 80s I shared boats of that size with seven friends!! And only one bathroom/shower between us! And in those days we always got under Potter Bridge. Another couple had a 4 berth with a full size bath aboard! What? Goodness knows how many times they had to fill up with water if they wanted to use that everyday! And I do wonder exactly what all those on floating bathtubs actually see apart from reeds. We had an aft cockpit with a fantastic raised viewing position which enabled us to enjoy the wide ranging views over the reeds & the marshes beyond. We saw only 2 River Inspectors all week (are they a dying breed?), umpteen boats far exceeding the speed limits, moorings at a premium because where you once got 6 reasonable sized boats you can now only get 4 gigantic bathtubs. Certainly there are nowhere near the number of craft on the water that there were 20 or 30 years ago, which is just as well. Where on earth do they all moor in July? We spent our last night in Womack Dyke, mooring on the quiet Broads Authority stretch beyond Hunter's Yard early afternoon as we had friends to visit in Ludham. Walking up to the village we saw hardly an inch of space on Womack Staithe at 2pm. Nor at 4pm. Seems you have to stake your spot at lunchtime & stay put. Due to tide times/heights we didn't make it under Wroxham Bridge either - the Pilot was willing to take us up river, but there was not a suitable return time that accomodated his hours AND our requirement to go elsewhere AND get back to Potter in time. I did regret missing that beautiful view of Belaugh Church! Can highly recommend the Museum of the Broads at Stalham, the Radar Museum at Neatishead (which needs at least 3 hours), Toad Hole Museum Cottage, Ranworth Conservation Centre, St Helen's Tower (wow! amazed H & S still allows you to go up there!), Horsey Mill & the walk from Horsey to the sea & that endless glorious coastline where we walked very close to a colony of seals - bulls, mothers & several pups. Norfolk still has all the charm & attractions I remember in spades. But I am not sure whether the Broads themselves will entice me back. I loved being aboard again & the freedom of your own little floating home for a week & the wonderful sunsets & sunrises which seem all the more beautiful from the water. We always moored for the night in quiet places & if we wanted a drink we took a torch & walked to the nearest village. It is sad to see so many pubs closed, or changed. The best one was without doubt "Nelson Head" at Horsey - a friendly welcome, a roaring fire, delicious unpretentious food, great beer & locals happy to have a chat. Nelson's Revenge certainly hit the spot & made a fitting end to a brilliant holiday!
  4. It is sad to see the demise of this once popular attraction. I remember visiting several times in the 1970s & 1980s. Chris Nunn the then owner was a real character & his collection of artefacts was fascinating. I am still using on a regular basis a teatowel I bought on one visit with pictures of the mill & interior. I intend to have a nostalgic walk up there in September, perhaps to take a few photos of what was once a magnificent sight on the Norfolk landscape. Such a shame when collections like this are split up.
  5. I bought the Nicholson/Collins Guide recently pending my first trip on the Broads since 1989. When it arrived I thought it must be missing some pages! What a useless book it is on the whole. Aware that of course things will have changed quite a lot I shall nevertheless now bring along my trusty "What To Do . . ." guide from 1989 & my even more vintage 1982 copy of "The Broads Book". Plus the OS Explorer map & a load of stuff downloaded from various websites. I might even make photocopies of the maps from The Broads Book & amend them as we go! What a disappointment that there is not now a book of the calibre of Hamiltons, to be perused over both before, during & after a week afloat. This is progress?
  6. Thanks - great link! I seem to recall that our Lady Carron had a dark blue hull (I might be wrong), but I do remember it was steel & built like a tank! Deffo got her from Burgh Castle (Breydon Marine). Looked up the other boats I remember cruising on on that database - all long gone from the hire fleets now. Broom's "Admiral 6", Newson's "Amethyst", Hipperson's "Edith E", Wood's "Highlight", "Western Light" & yacht "Reed Bunting", Powles "Star Tracker". Ah! Memories!
  7. Good suggestion Daytona! I can also hint that we will be using them again for boat hire - which we will if my current OH likes it! Previous OH who I brought along in 1990 did not enjoy his first (& only) trip!! Have hired several times from Woods in dim distant past. Always happy! donnygeoff - aha! an optimistic/glass half full soul like myself! I shall remain optimistic, turn up early in Norfolk (unless there is a hold-up on the way, which of course is another uncertainty as I was once in a car crash on that route!), phone the yard over our lunch & keep fingers, toes, eyes & legs crossed for favourable tides/winds/rain & willing Pilot!! I have been under Potter Bridge is some biggish boats, but they were always chosen for the best chance of shooting the arch so have tried to shorten the odds as much as possible!
  8. Hi Julz! (Don't look too hard for us - we are not there until end of month!) Oh dear! Beginning to wish I had not asked this! LOL!! I KNOW there are so many factors which can affect this, just asking if anyone had any personal experience of the boatyard attitude on early arrivals. The yard will only tell me that handover time is 4pm. IF the boat is ready, willing & able will they make us sit there until 4pm or will they be happy to get us off their hands? I know the trial run/handover will take time & that is my "concern" as we will be there end of September & light will be fading fast! IF (BIG IF) we can get aboard & get the handover done BY 4pm AND the bridge conditions are right we are in with a chance. IF they make you wait until 4pm then we are not. Just asking. The dayboat option on arrival day is not an option - driving down from Cheshire & lunching with old friends who live locally which is why we will be around Potter maybe by 2pm. But as already said - it could be an option at end of week as we return boat on Friday & might stay over with friends until Saturday. Looks like best plan is to ring the boatyard at lunchtime! Don't want to turn up early & be pushy as do not want them rushing the turnround/maintenance checks. At least this has got some conversation going & might even be useful to complete novices who do not even know about such issues & assume they can go where they like when they like!! The best policy in life is to be an optimist & hope that Plan A will work!! But I always have a Plan B and a Plan C in reserve! Thanks NorfolkNog - good to hear Sutton Staithe still has the Adnams! Nelson Head looks good, & I see Cross Keys at Dilham is still there! Cannot be all bad!
  9. ! Only recent boating experience has been sailing with a friend who has a yacht up at Fleetwood. But after umpteen trips out on the open water of Morecambe Bay I long for the countryside & variety of the Broads. PLUS the relaxation of an engine that takes the boat just where you want to go in a more or less straight line!!
  10. Helpful? Appreciated for sure! Perfectly valid points & I do have a couple of alternative plans, but as my partner has never been on the Broads before I hope to show him a bit of what I know he will most appreciate on his first day if at all possible! By asap I meant the hour of the day, not necessarily the timepoint in the week. I have chosen the boat & the dates to give what should be the best chance of achieving this, but perfectly understand that tide/wind/rain conditions on the day will prevail & the word of the Pilot is law! Chances are if we cannot get under the bridge at the start of the trip we will not make it at the end either. And of course we have to be able to come back! If we cannot get up the Thurne beyond Potter we can always stay an extra day & take out a dayboat. Even the alternative plans would work better if we can get an early start in consideration of sunset time. Long time since I handled a boat & first time for my partner so we want to be able to take it easy at first, but don't want to spend our first night moored at Potter! I have considered all the criteria (over which I know I have no control) so was just asking if anyone had any experience of the chance of an early getaway. Last time I did this was 1990 but it was April, the waterways were still quiet & the boat was ready well ahead of 4pm. Just wondering what was the likelihoodof same scenario if anyone had experience of this later in the season. After a 22 year gap I have no idea how busy things are, how flexible yards are etc etc. For sure they cannot send out a whole yard full on the dot of 4pm! Getting some away early must help to spread the load.
  11. Just joined up here yesterday, got a warm welcome, so now asking some questions! Coming down to the Broads in late September - first visit for 22 years - so might have a few queries to update my knowledge. My "The Broads Book" 1982 edition may be a little out of date on details!! In reading up on the area, getting myself up to date, it is sad to see reports of various pubs I remember have now closed down. Rising Sun at Coltishall? Lion at West Somerton? Is Sutton Staithe still serving Adnams from a jug? But of course this is happening everywhere, at an alarming rate. At least the rivers & broads will still be in the same places - & I think the water will be in better condition now than it was back in 70s & 80s in many places. First question - we are due to pick up the boat (Sparkling Light from Woods) at 4pm on a Friday but are anxious to get under the bridge asap (late September) & I did pick a week with - hopefully - favourable tide situation in the afternoon, but it will be going dark early by then. Anyone got any recent experience of whether Woods will be amenable to our turning up early afternoon so we can be up to Horsey or West Somerton before the light starts to fade. Will probably be at Potter by 2pm anyway, but prefer to get going than hang around. I did note this on our booking form but other people's actual experience is often more useful than a direct approach. If you don't ask you don't get!
  12. Thanks for the welcome! This seems like a friendly place to drop the anchor! I will pop over to another section now to pose some questions!
  13. Hi everyone. Just registered & I suppose the polite thing is to introduce myself. Spent many holidays on the Broads up to 1990, but after a long gap am taking to the water again in September. No doubt I am pretty rusty & my partner has never been on a boat before (has taken some persuading) so leave us plenty of clear water! Taking no chances, have booked us "Sparkling Light" from Woods - should handle easily & we were not looking for swish facilities (we are campers & hikers so accustomed to basics). Main criteria is to get under That Bridge! Looking forward to the tranquil backwaters, wildlife, scenery, photo opportunities & generally seeing what has changed in last 22 years! Last time I was on the Broads was on a lovely old wooden boat from Woods - "Highlight" - things have certainly changed around the waterways! Spent several happy trips with a friends/family group on one of the Broom classic "Admiral" models. LadyC? First boat I ever holidayed on in 1975 - Lady Carron from Burgh Castle. Built like an ice-breaker!!
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