ranworthbreeze

Hi John, We are still moored at Bramerton and there is no sign of the levels being higher. No doubt it will effect the normal trouble spots. After the flooding of streets in Norwich the last time, it was said that the trouble was down to the drains. Most cities do have issues with regards to flooding, more city spaces are being made into paved areas and more driveways/parking outside of properties does not allow for natural soak away resulting in more water going into drains that can not cope with heavy downfalls. It's a bright sunny morning, hardly any noise, the birds are singing their songs and hopefully a better day on the river. Back to Brundall today to clean the boat ready for the next owners on tomorrow. I need to go Brian Ward's today to get some new valves for the auto inflate life vests. Needless to say I have called in a few times this week for the odd few bits. I hope the weather remains good so you can take your daughter on the river. Regards Alan

There was more flooding in Norwich yesterday after the storm, with possibly more on the way, please see the link to the following report:- http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/after_the_lightning_heavy_rain_and_flash_flooding_hits_norwich_area_1_3691727 Regards Alan

We are currently moored at Bramerton Green under the canopy, it is still to hot to be down below. After the storm late last night the weather was good until about 1.00pm, loads of people on the river and it was full of boats on the green other than the spot we managed to get into, we even managed to get lunch before the thunder started and the downpour. Some two hours on and the storm is going round in a circle. The trip boat out of Thorpe has just gone past with its running lights on making its way back, the trippers did not look that happy on its journey out so I guess they will be fed up by now. I feel so sorry for the people who picked up their hire craft yesterday afternoon, at least we have had good weather up to now with the rain only being at night. Regards Alan

Hi Grace, If you had worn some cloths to go with the sparkly pink hats you might not have had so many funny looks. Regards Alan

Hi John, I have fixed the pole to the forward rail and we are flying our somewhat wet burgee at the moment. I had to buy another wind indicator this week, we always have to get a new one each season or even two, I recon that the design would look good on a wind indicator (they tend to be about half the size of our burgee). Just a thought. Regards Alan

Hi John, We will be setting off back home on Tuesday after staying to meet one of our owners so we can show them how to take down the canopy, their training last year was one of those wet days when the canopy had to stay up and the boat acted more like a yacht than a cruiser. So sorry we will not be able to see you, unless we catch you on the river Tuesday morning whilst we are refuelling and pumping out at the Broom's Fuel Station. I hope you have brought the stock of burgee's with you, you can always sell them the way the ice-cream boats operate, the one on the Southern Broads has been doing a roaring trade this week. Grace, Keith & Matt thank you for your concerns for my wellbeing, I quite like tinkering with boats and the Yorkshire man in me (Iain will relate to this) like to save the odd penny. To be honest I have to do something whilst Tan is at the helm, we have hardly seen any yachts this week for the panic to set in; but the water was quit low on coming back down the Chet from Loddon. Beware there is still something in the river between Maffetts and the 24 hour mooring, we did catch a number of objects even though there was about a metre under the keel. After the storm of last night (lasting a good few hours) we have awoken to brilliant sunshine. Off up the river after breakfast for a relaxing couple of days. Regards Alan

We had a thunder storm around 3.00 to 4.00am this morning whilst moored at Loddon, but have had very good sunny weather for most of today. It started thundering again this evening around 10.00 to 10.30pm at Brundall. We had a perfect sunset earlier this evening, lets hope for more good weather tomorrow. Still trying to catch up on emails and the forum when we can get an internet connection, no problems in the marina, but poor at most other places on the river. Regards Alan

Hi Keith, When we went passed the Brooms filling station yesterday evening we saw, Lightning, Moonlight Shadow & Thunder were all in their moorings. SueW introduced herself when we were moored at the Waters Edge for lunch after seeing Ranworth Breeze moored outside the pub. The sky is somewhat dull this morning and hardly any wind in the Marina. Yesterday the journey down the A17 was marred by speeds down to 20mph due to the powers that be deciding to top dress the roads in stages and closing roads overnight from 7.00pm to 7.00am, we hit these just after 7.00am. I guess that with the school holidays almost upon us this is then thought to be the ideal time for this type of work. The same can be said for the same can be said for the bridge works on the A47 at Kings Lynn (must keep myself in check, drifting into BOG). The Little Chef we had planned on having Breakfast in was closed, so we had to endure a McDonald's, the last time I went in one of these was 30 years ago. It was bad then, so never again, We would have been better off having a bag of crisps and a can of pop. We arrived in Brundall around 10.00am after a 4 hour journey including the conveyer belt stop! Onto the boat to find a problem with the aft toilet pump, we had a valve kit fitted a couple of months ago. So off to Brian Ward's for a new pump (I have not found anyone who can supply the lock down handles) incidentally a full toilet is on offer at Ward's for £75.00 currently. I also needed a new fender. Training again today and I have a list of jobs to do during the rest of the holiday. Regards Alan

Hi Stephen, I just had a vision of Michael Palin sat on the outside of a boat in one of his documentaries. Regards Alan

Hi Marina, Thank you for the message we will look out for Alan on the river. No doubt he will be the one making all the banging noises and filling the air with paint spray. Only kidding Regards Alan

Thank you all. We will be staying on The Southern Broads this time around, I am meeting one of our new owners tomorrow and have training session with another owner on Wednesday for most of the day. Thanks Mark re the fender, sadly they do get damaged from time to time. I am taking some Fender Stockinet to recover the fenders. The boat kit is now up to two x the large reusable Morrison bags, we also use these instead of suitcases which I can fit into the car easily. Its about time we had some good weather on the boat, its not been so good the last couple of years, at one time there was some envy for our allocation dates. Regards Alan

Tan and I will be setting off at sparrow cough tomorrow morning, aiming to be down at Brundall for 9.30 breakfast stop permitting. Looking forward to back on the Broads. So if you see the boat from tomorrow morning until the 22nd July it will be us onboard. The first job is to fix the Burgee mast to the forward rail and we will be fully NBN compliant and will not get into trouble from John for not flying the flag (i have heard he may still have a odd one for sale and is offering window stickers as a sweetner) Regards Alan

Roads and streets flooded as heavy rain hits Norfolk, for the full story please see:- http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/video_and_photo_gallery_roads_and_streets_flooded_as_heavy_rain_hits_norfolk_are_you_being_affected_1_3682537 Regards Alan

Hi Alan, If you see us on the Southern Broads next week give us a wave. Oh and just because you are on a boat, don't be tempted to paint it. Regards Alan

Hi Grace, Yes it is the Bell Inn, quite an old pub with some very interesting brick work, one of our Canal Holiday Group is a manager of a clerk of works practice and all the men in our group are all practical and are interested in the architecture of bridges, tunnels and buildings. Mooring at the Bell can be a bit hairy because of the current through the bridge both for mooring and departure. The same can be said of the Ferry Inn at Stokesby. You should have been ok to get through St Olaves bridge at anytime on Clear Gem which I estimate has an air draft of around 7 foot or less. We have to plan carefully to get Ranworth Breeze through bridges; it has an air draft of 9 foot 8 inches with the canopy and masthead down. Here is a list of all of the bridges on the Broads for reference. Regards Alan Regards Alan Bridge heights.doc

Hi Jill, Thank you, its good to see you back on the forum. I hope you sort out your connection soon. Regards Alan

Hi Grace, We tend not to even though we have navigation lights and like yourself have had to moor up at dusk. The worst time was at St Olaves where we edged under the bridge with less than two inches to spare. Tan normally in the cabin for bridges had to hold the spot light for me, we moored at the pub. The trip boats are great but can be pain if you have moored up for the night and they come past you. Regards Alan

The car park in Hope Cove was £3.00 for 4 hours or all day for £4.00, we can pay that for a little over a hour in Sheffield for a NPC. Regards Alan

Hello Jill, What is this plan all about in layman's terms? Regards Alan

Further details on this tragic outcome. http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/body_of_a_man_found_in_oulton_broad_1_3681071 Regards Alan

Here is a list of the on going Oulton Broads Power Boat Racing fixtures:- Thursday 17th July 6.00pm Thursday 24th July 6.00pm Thursday 31st July 5.45pm Thursday 7th August 5.30pm Thursday 14th August 5.30pm Monday 25th August 4.00pm Sunday 7th September 12.00noon Regards Alan

Hi Geoff, When I went to the post office yesterday, down came the roof (we had good weather yesterday & today) when I came out a chap was just coming out of an entrance in a small Beemer with the roof up but all the windows open. I said whats with the roof up, the chap getting thin on the top (know the feeling well)said he didn't want to burn. He might as well have bought a hard top version. I tend to have the roof down as long as it is not raining. It much be something of the Yorkshire Man in me wanting value for money! Regards Alan

I have just looked on the Oulton Broad & Wroxham webcam's. its poor again today, hoping for better weather when we are down next week. I am hoping we can have the roof down for the journey down and catch some rays to top up the tan. No doubt loads of jobs to do on the boat, fender sock replacement (I tend to buy the stockinette in 5 metre lengths) and getting everything ship shape and Bristol fashion. Jonzo, why will it not let me put in *****-and-span? Really looking forward to be back on the Broads yet again. Regards Alan

Hello Newbie, Welcome to the forum from Tan and I. I would take John's advice and contact Colin being as he would appear to be the closest to your location. Regards Alan

Hi Neil, The journey is just under 300 miles, M1, M42, M5, A38. With all holiday travel you seen to ignore the time spent getting there, but the return as you say is always tedious. Boating holidays are the worst with regards to traveling home, you will have spent most of your time traveling at 4 or 5 miles an hour and you then get back into the car at speeds with the scenery passing you by so quick and more than likely you will be suffering from the effects of motion sickness. Its funny how some boating holidays are worse than others, the canals seem to effect me more so than some times on the Broads, if you are like me sitting seems to be the worse effect and when this is the case the toilet should have straps Regards Alan