Broads01

Great write up, Geoff and Wendy, really enjoying it. I'm always glad to hear tales from people who like covering a few miles like me! Regarding the Bure down to Stracey, I know it lacks trees and stuff but I always enjoy the vista at Acle Bridge and a pint at The Bridge Inn. I'd recommend Upton Dyke as well - the mooring at the far end is a peaceful haven. On Dilham, the person you talked to was wrong. Yes it is narrow to get there but not scarily so and there is 100% room to turn a 32 foot boat around. Even if the mooring was full (unlikely at this time of year, there's invariably a gap you can poke your bows in to for the purposes of turning. Its a gorgeous stretch of river, don't let scaremongers put you off!

Robin I've been looking forward to your review and finally managed to watch it all through this evening. It was excellent thank you. Your attention to detail and the time you take flies in the face of the current tv cut everything to death way of doing things, but for those of us in our world it works fine. The best compliment I can pay you is you've convinced me Belmore TC isn't for me (enclosed steering, limited saloon space, overly compact galley & wash room) and the only reason I know that for sure is because I've watched your film. It was good to meet you at Reedham and I hope we shall happen to be on the Broads during the same week in the future.

I've been enjoying the Herbert Woods cameras recently. There's usually nothing happening but its great just to see the view of Potter Bridge anyway!

Great so far Robin, looking forward to the rest.

Enjoying your write up Alan. Blimey that canopy is massive, as if your boat wasn't high enough without it . .

Very useful to have those food reports Stuart. Pleased you had a good time.

Hi again Geoff and Wendy. Thanks for the kind words, have a fantastic time and I shall be reading your blog!

Thanks for the kind words. I forgot to say we did well for spotting kingfishers this week. We saw one at Wroxham, two on the way out of Richardsons boatyard and one at Limekiln dyke. They moved at lightning speed so too hard to photograph!

A photo selection for you.

Heron on the Chet.

Saturday 11th April Short chug down to the boatyard this morning. I was worried about the fuel bill given how many miles we've done and the number of hours we needed the heaters on. I needn't have worried however - 77 litres wasn't too bad and meant I received a £20 refund on my fuel deposit which I wasn't expecting. The boatyard staff were all friendly once again, especially your man I mentioned on my Wednesday report who greeted my like a friend and wished me all the best for the journey home. The personal touch makes a difference & I really like Horizon Craft. I hope you've enjoyed my tale, a few photos to follow.

Hi Geoff and Wendy. Yes the river above Wroxham is beautiful and the spot at Coltishall is also lovely. Friday 10th April Being at How Hill we decided we'd like to try the Electric Eel trip for the first time. Before that though there was plenty of time for a trip up river and back, this being the sunniest day so far. En route to Stalham we found ourselves chugging at very low speed behind a mini convoy of boats. The engine on Bright Horizon is fine but must have a fair few miles on the clock and vibrates at low revs. A comedy moment ensued whilst with Natalia at the helm and me washing up I had a race on to dry the dishes before they all bounced off the draining board! We couldn't let the opportunity of a stop in Richardsons pass without enjoying a nose on some boats, something the staff are always pleased to accommodate. Natalia had never been on Broadsman before and that was a high spot. We returned to How Hill, detouring via Neatishead just for the hell of it. The Electric Eel trip was absolutely brilliant, even for someone like me with only a passing interest in birds and wildlife. The little electric boat takes you through man made ditches and to a bird hide at Reedham Water. We saw Herons, Marsh Harriers, a little brown bird others in the boat were very excited about (willow warbler possibly) and others too numerous to mention. We got a strong sense of being priveleged to go where no-one else can. Back at the boat we had a final cruise to do to reach our final night spot near Acle Bridge. We enjoyed a really good meal at the Bridge Inn.

Thursday 9th April What better way to start the day than a cruise to Coltishall. The day before on the Bure had brought many day boats out and the river was busy enough to feel like peak season. Not so this morning as being top side of the bridge it felt like we were on a different waterway. At Coltishall we chugged beyond the Rising Sun close to the navigation limit before turning round and stopping on the common. The trip back to Wroxham was as enjoyable as the trip up. We stopped at the Hoveton moorings to visit Roys and then on our return flagged down the bridge pilot who's just brought a boat through. As the pilot motored us toward the bridge a day boat selfishly pulled out from the left right across our path, much to the pilot's consternation. Safely through we made a water stop at Barnes and then to Wroxham Broad for another spot of mudweighting. Natalia then asked if we could go to Ranworth - who could refuse? By the time we arrived there it was 4pm and of course the chances of a spot at the staithe were zero. We contented ourselves with a brief stop on the island mooring before deciding to head for How Hill for the night. There we saw a fleet of yachts from the Hunters yard, a youth group making good work of washing up in the sunshine.

I took this photo yesterday, no change as far as I could see. How do you pull a boat off a beach?

NonTecky. Yes we've just enjoyed the Kings Head Carvery. Here is the lovely view from Oulton Broad Yacht Station yesterday.

Wednesday 8th April We were ready for cast off at 7-30am to catch slack water. At Burgh there's a big step up to the quayside when it's low water and this morning we couldn't pull ourselves near enough to the quay (at either stern or bows) to get off the boat. I just managed to reach the stern post from the boat and untie us then I used son gentle forward throttle to get us near enough to the bow post to unto that. Then it was a case of rudder hard round, burst of forward to kick out the stern then reverse hard and hope for the best. I'm relieved to say that all worked fine and we were on our way. Breydon was flat calm and it was an easy run all the way back to Acle. We took a break at the boatyard and seized the opportunity to request an extra duvet each! I chatted with one of the yard staff as we know each other by sight from my previous visits. He'd just brought back a boat from Potter Heigham, it having been stuck above Potter bridge for several days. The delightful crew had taken the boat through without a pilot, damaging the boat in the process and getting it stuck above the bridge with clearance reducing rapidly due to changing conditions. We pootled on and stopped again at St Benets. This is always a busy location for boat spotting and there's a great view from the mound that has the ruins beyond where the main bit is. We opted to head for Wroxham tonight, leaving out the Broads in the way to make sure we caught the bridge pilot before his finishing time. As I write this we're on the viaduct moorings. Lets hope there's a pub open tonight!

Tuesday 7th April Today was our last day south. We wanted to be at Burgh Castle for the night to make slack water 8am Wednesday. There were two options, mess about and don't go far (I'm not usually a fan of that one) or enjoy the sunshine and motor to Oulton Broad before returning to Burgh. We both decided on the Oulton option which was about 3 hours cruising. I'm not a bird expert but we've enjoyed spotting them this time and on the waveney we picked out what looked like a small eagle. Just before Somerleyton bridge was the stricken Alpha Craft boat discussed elsewhere. I'm guessing a crane will be required to remove it. Oulton was gorgeous as ever in the sunshine and we took a mooring at the Yacht Station. At night time we've been shivering in bed but here we were at lunch time and we could have put tee shirts on. We enjoyed an ice cream and a walk through Nicholas Everitt park before setting off again. The chug to Burgh was straight forward with the tide. Once settled at Burgh I decided we should pull back a couple of posts to maximise the gap in front for any more boats. I wish we'd stayed where we were as in our new position we could pull the stern only to within about 5 feet of the quay. The water was very low and there was evidently a lump of mud between us and the quayside. We walked to The Fishermans intending to eat there but disappointingly it was closed. According to the notice outside it had been open all over the Easter weekend and Tuesday was the only night it was closed this week. Is it me or is there normally a slight tendency for pubs to open every day?

Hi David yes that would have been us on the Oulton webcam yesterday. We happened to moor right in the middle of the view as well. Hi Robin. Yes we certainly enjoyed ourselves. We came back north today hence waving to you again. Good luck at Ludham. Full blog to follow.

As you can see we just squeezed in at Norwich. The double mooring I remember as a child seems light years ago.

Hi Dan. I think the weather is colder than elsewhere in the country but we're very grateful it's dry. It's lovely and bright as I write this. Monday 6th April The Commissioners cut has mooring posts down both sides which is a bit daft as it's nowhere near wide enough for two lines of boats. We were moored furthest away from the main river with another boat on our side and one further up opposite hence a threading through a needle reversing manoeuvre was called for. Perversely I hoped that the other boats didn't decide to leave before us as I actually really enjoy a reversing challenge. The Horizon 35 is lovely to handle (on account of cable drive and cable steering so I've been told). So, away with the stern rope, pull the bows in gently, take the throttle and in to gentle reverse. Use combination of gentle forward throttle and hard rudder to alter course around the boat behind us and then through the tight gap. Simples! A big grin on my face after that and I was complimented by a privateer for my efforts, although I do say so myself. On to Norwich we chugged. It's 2 and a half years since we were last there and there are more new flats by the Wensum each time and development still going on. I can remember last time there was a full view of the football ground but no longer. We paused in Norwich for a while then it was back downstream for a stop at Bramerton. The weather was disappointingly grey and cold. We toyed with the idea of Hardley Cross for the night having never stopped there before and leave Loddon until tomorrow. However having stopped at Hardley we decided it was somewhat bleak given the weather conditions hence we pootled on to Pyes Mill, Loddon. I love the walk by the river up to the staithe and this evening was no exception. There seem to be many more hire craft empty than booked if Sandersons, Maffett and Pacific Cruisers are anything to go by.

I think it's luck of the draw as to whether you see one. Been boating since Saturday and I think we're up to 3 so far.

Hi Matt, sorry we missed you. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

I forgot to say at Reedham I met Robin, aka London Rascal and friend, for the first time. He's out on Belmore and had squeezed under Vauxhall Bridge at low water early this morning with 3 inches to spare. Great to meet you Robin, looking forward to your latest blog.

The lovely Rockland

Sunday 5th April continued Surlingham was glorious as always, almost silent as I read my book in the open air. We decided on Bramerton for the night, only to be diddled for the second year running by it being completely full, no thanks to some selfish boats not pulling up to maximise space. The Commissioners Cut at Thorpe proved a good second choice. I'm writing this at The Rushcutters after a really good meal. I have the coeliac condition meaning I need a gluten-free diet and they were great - gluten-free Yorkshire pudding is a rare find!