Broads01

Another vote for The Lion at Thurne and The Swan at Stalham. I'd also add Dune's River Cafe at Acle and Indian Spoon at Hoveton. I'd be interested to know a bit more about Bridge Restaurant at Wroxham. When we were last there in 2021 it was called The Liberty and we enjoyed it. Has it changed much (apart from renaming to the most unimaginative name I could think of)?

I agree and I think that's partly down to how prices are presented when they're first published and how they stay unchanged for many months. When huge discounts suddenly hit, it feels like the goalposts have been moved. I would contrast this to the way flight prices work where you know they're 100% variable and very much "point in time". If someone else gets a better deal than you in the same flight you tend to think of it as fortunate for them rather than unjust. I've no doubt though that airlines spend millions on the people and systems to be able to provide the pricing structure they do.

As I always say, why don't they just charge less in the first place?

I've no idea how you cope.

I'm guessing that's long-term moorings rather than overnight ones?

Thanks for sharing. I think Belmore is a tight squeeze at Ludham at the best of times, so you did well to get through there. Both Belmore and Omega have too enclosed helm position for my personal taste but if you're on a budget I recommend Brinks Jazz which I've hired and is brilliant value.

I've been really enjoying watching these guys for a while. It's 2 guys, Luke and Al, who regularly hire from NYA. What makes their footage for me is the combination of excellent editing and very varied camera shots mixed in with drone footage. In their May 2023 series they have drone footage of their boat on the move which must take extra effort on their part. NYA boats look rather lovely and noticeably luxurious ( if you can afford to hire one). https://youtube.com/@twomenandaboat8681

They look really nice, I like those railway poster-style pictures.

Joking apart, a "Classic GRP" meet is a great idea. I really like a lot of the 60s/70s/80s designs which, if they were cars, would be part of the classic scene now.

I think I'd have enjoyed hiring an Ideal 45 as a one-off because it's so different to anything else. It's such a bizarre design though, with the only access being those tiny side doors that look like they were made for children. I would imagine the central wheelhouse-saloon is a bit of a greenhouse on a hot day.

Friday 4th August Early morning at the Barnes marina was full of activity, hirers packing their cars up to hand boats over. It was our last full day and so we were Stalham-bound but not before a stop at Ranworth. I remembered from my visit in April how we'd arrived before 10 and just squeezed in but then the moorings emptied out in time for the 10 o'clock "kicking out" (aka get going or you'll be fleeced another £5). This time we left Wroxham in time to arrive at Ranworth just after 10 and it worked a treat - we had loads of spaces to choose from. We picked one on the front on the far side of the dayboat dyke. The moorings filled up by 11, including the dayboat dyke where the rangers were turning boats away. We had a gentle stroll with Suzie, a coffee at the Granary and just enjoyed watching the comings and goings. We were impressed by how well the Granary has been done up inside and I'd be tempted to return for an evening meal. After some lunch aboard I lowered the screens in readiness for Ludham Bridge which was necessary given there was only 7 foot 6 showing on the gauge when we got there (clearance was undoubtedly far more though). The Ant wasn't especially busy (nowhere has been), given it was a Richardsons changeover day and we were soon back at Stalham. We chugged up to the Staithe on the off chance there might be space for the night there but no luck, so we returned to Richardsons and picked a spot around the corner from Kingfisher Quay. The best moorings at Richardsons in my view are the side-on ones on the left just as you enter but unfortunately these were occupied by folk who insist on leaving a post or two's gap between themselves and there nearest neighbours, so no space where there should have been. We had a table booked at The Swan for our last evening meal. I had the Sea Bass from the specials menu and it was lovely. Saturday 5th August We had a two minute chug in pouring rain around to Swan Quay. The refuelling staff were togged up in proper wet weather gear and they needed to be. We'd used £116 worth of fuel (72.5 litres) which was in line with my expectations. We set off on our long drive back to South Wales and the journey was reasonably painless this time around. Overall we had a really enjoyable trip and everything went as we'd wish. We covered plenty of miles and really enjoyed our cruise all the way to Norwich and back and all the contrasts of scenery and activities that brought us. We still had time the last 2 days though to see some of the north Broads and the weather, whilst far from summery some of the time was kinder to us than elsewhere in the country.

Thursday 3rd August. Overnight at Stracey we'd inherited some unwanted flies. We seemed to spend the day attempting to swat them and being successful about 1 attempt in 20. I don't know if they're anything to do with the livestock there? Final destination today was to be Wroxham with a couple of stops on the way. First destination was a bright but windy St Benets. A group of artists were set up with their easels and paints - I know the Abbey is a popular view. We chugged on a short way then to South Walsham Broad where we might have mudweighted had it not been so windy but opted to return down the dyke as far as the moorings on the bend. We had food aboard there, plenty of folks speeding past taking no notice of the 4mph limit whatsoever. We then proceeded directly to Wroxham, it turning in to a warm and pleasant afternoon. At Horning there was sailing activity going on but most of the boats were tied up by the club, so not much saily negotiating to do - shame, I quite enjoy doing that. At Wroxham, we moored on the Barnes pontoons and then went for a drink at the Wroxham Hotel. It's not cheap there - £13 for a cider and a gin and lemonade - but we like the view. For dinner we opted for the Indian Spoon for the first time. Inside there it feels a bit like being in a shipping container, there being no windows but the food was lovely and good value.

Or perhaps you'd prefer to buy an Ideal 45?

Anybody want to hire a Richardsons luxury cruiser? All these are empty and it's August, in case you hadn't noticed.

No worries, Kate. For us since Wednesday evening it's been flies to deal with, I'm wondering if it was the Stracey moorings which started it.

I didn't know that, Neil. Two Barnes boats overtook reasonably easily but then one of the newer Herbert Woods absolutely steamed past. It could just be this boat but it's not a major issue.

Yes I agree. I think it's difficult to know where exactly you are, so that's why it seems to take so long.

I've always loved Breydon too and I enjoy the challenge of negotiating Great Yarmouth. I like the contrast of North and South Broads and I think it works well to split the week. Having said that, I do find those 7 miles of the lower Bure tedious (but I think everybody does).

Wednesday 2nd August This morning we needed a pump out so first destination was Brooms (I did phone Swancraft but couldn't get an answer). Service was quick and it was cheaper than I feared at £25 with free drinking water thrown in. We pootled in to Bargate Broad next but then rather wish we hadn't given the amount of weed I could see. Almost as soon as I'd spotted it we slowed to 1.5 mph without me touching the throttle. Fortunately, a few bursts of forward and reverse cleared it. I thought it was about time we got on with some miles as we were returning north today. We opted to break the journey at Reedham Quay once again and had time there for a relax and a dog walk. We set off later on the outgoing tide and zinged along at 6mph with very few revs. As soon as we arrived on Breydon I could see a hire boat beached well outside the channel. Fortunately I think they were OK as the boat was laying completely horizontal on the mud. As usual, I over-estimated the time it would take from Reedham to Great Yarmouth and we arrived an hour before low water. Consequently, we plodded through the Yacht Station at 2.5 mph on full throttle and it took a while to pick up. The Yacht Station moorings were completely full - so this is where all the boats had gone. I think Mystique may be a tad under-powered, because I kept full throttle on all the way to our Stracey Arms destination but never managed much more than 4.5 mph and had 3 hire boats easily overtake me. We arrived at Stracey at 6-15 - I was knackered! Mel doesn't helm and it's a long old way when you're flying solo. We had a quiet, relaxing evening.

Tuesday 1st August Today we set off around 0830 and continued upstream, initial destination Norwich Yacht Station. I was glad we were with the tide today as we'd pushed against it yesterday afternoon and hadn't managed much over 4.5 mph. It was an easy, peaceful journey and we were greeted in Norwich by the ranger who once again set our mooring lines for us and took our £8 daytime fee. We took the opportunity for a walk and a bit of shopping. We visited Jarrold's which, being the department store (remember those?) it is feels like going back in time. We returned to the boat for some lunch aboard and then returned downstream. We had a table and overnight mooring booked at the Surlingham Ferry House, probably my second favourite Broads pub after the Lion at Thurne. The meal there didn't disappoint - I had a ribeye steak and Mel had a lasagne.

I think there were a few drug store customers near the Staithe yesterday.

Monday 31st July It was a drizzly start to the day as I took Suzie out about 7-30 but it soon cheered up and somehow we got away with virtually no rain for the rest of the day, albeit windy and cool. We continued upstream, initial destination, Loddon Staithe. On the Chet we passed a few boats coming the opposite direction so I guessed there would be space at the Staithe when we arrived and sure enough only a couple of boats remained. We relaxed at Loddon for a while, having a walk up the main street and then food back on board. We returned down the Chet later. Mystique can be a bit vague on the steering and I confess after a momentary lapse of concentration I did drift in to the bank slightly as the river narrows towards the Yare. Good job I'd already "passed" the trial run! Our destination for the night was Rockland Staithe. The Yare was cold, blowy and autumnal-feeling. It was exceptionally quiet though. We arrived at Rockland around 4pm, 4 boats already there and nobody came in after us. We dined at the New Inn which was excellent. It has a "locals pub" feel about it, good service and good value for money.

So far, so good with the boat, John. It's good value for money being nicely furnished and having bow thrusters, electric roof and electric mudweight. It's compact and storage could be better but the layout works well. Re the handover, the river trial was compulsory for us. I felt a little nervous at the end reversing the boat back in to the tight spot where we'd started. I didn't want to mess it up in case I failed!

Sitting having breakfast at How Hill this morning, our next door neighbours on a Richardsons Bounty 37 were clearly struggling to exit their mooring, it being a narrow gap and windy. I offered my help for which the helm was grateful and talked him through manoueveeing the boat out by flicking the stern out with the rudder and then reversing. The wind was against him but he managed well, only to lose his nerve part way through and come back in to the bank. After another failed attempt I did something I'd never done before which was to offer to come aboard and helm the boat out myself. The crew gratefully accepted and I managed the task but it was harder than I expected. Talk about a bath tub it handled like a bath tub as well with an unnecessarily stiff rudder to boot. I took the boat further up the mooring where there was a gap, stepped off and waved them on their way. We set off a while later, initial brief stop Ludham Bridge to buy a couple of things we'd forgotten yesterday, then on to Acle where we had a lunch booking at the Bridge. The river was a little busy but probably less than I'm used to at this time of year. Lunch was a little disappointing, to be honest. There was no roast on offer which surprised us, it being a Sunday and our meals were OK but a little overcooked. We enjoyed ourselves nevertheless before being on our way and bound for the southern rivers. There was hardly a soul on the river between Acle and Great Yarmouth. I wasn't sure if we'd pass under Vauxhall Bridge with the screens up but fortunately we did with room to spare - I hadn't fancied being either stuck with then down on Breydon or struggling to put them back up on the move. Breydon was choppy, with constant spray on the screens, making it all the more fun in my view. We moored at Berney Arms intending to stop overnight, but it proved too wild and windy for our taste and so we carried on as far as Reedham Quay. I always find the rangers at Reedham helpful and as we came alongside he was there and doing all the tying up for us, even though it was almost 6pm. The rain has come on this evening and it feels stormy. 20230730_155922.mp4

That's not the impression I was given. The guy had worked there 3 years and told me in all seriousness. He said the practice started during Covid and they stuck with it. Thanks Malcom. I'm not a serious photographer at all and I don't own a camera. My phone is a Samsung A33.