Broads01

I was watching Day 6 of Russell Thomson's latest adventure (on Brinks Sonnet 3) this morning and I was very surprised to hear what had he had been told by Barnes about Wroxham Bridge. On the day he had arrived he had asked at Barnes' reception for the Bridge Pilot phone number. Amazingly, they told him the pilot didnt take Barnes' boats and that Russell could take the boat through himself if he felt comfortable. Given that all hire operators have, for some years, made the pilot compulsory, what's going on there?

Yes HW bucked the current trend by building Adventuring Light with small, almost Hampton-like dimensions. Unfortunately though they cost about the same to hire as much larger 2 berths, so I'm not sure I'd choose it.

It still is a good mooring place upstream of where the posts stop and a pleasant walk to the pub. Because I'm perfectly happy to moor at that end I've always been able to moor at Acle.

I completely agree, selfish beyond belief, irrespective of what time they left. So they left at 8am,OK but what if someone else wanted to leave at 7-30?

I'm completely with you there and it drives me nuts. Often its not just the last post, its the last 2 or 3. It can be especially annoying on short moorings like Womack Island.

I'm enjoying your write up and photos, David and congratulations on your purchase.

Thanks for explaining and the pictures, Neil. If the mount effectively increases air draft above the height of the screen when folded then thats unfortunate in my view. Sometimes at Wroxham and Beccles you need every inch you can get.

Neil, are you saying the air draft has been increased by the tv aerial? If so, that's bizarre. I like the lido mooring too - quieter than the Yacht Station, pretty and convenient for the town.

Some good advice so far. I'd also add be brave with wild moorings. Theres some popular wild spots on the Ant but there still tends to be a bit of grassy bank free somewhere. The Bure above Acle also has a few wild spots. Some public moorings never fill up like Hoveton Viaduct, Salhouse Spit and Acle Bridge if youre prepared to use rhond anchors at the top end.

Similar for me, Howard, April 2013 on Bright Horizon 1. I did enjoy 4 hours on Bittern from Whispering Reeds since then though.

I'm excited about my first booking for 2019 - solo on Brinks Jazz 5 in May to coincide with the forum meet. It's my second ever booking with Barnes and, by a strange coincedence, I booked it 25 years to the day after my first holiday with them began. Has anyone else returned to a boatyard after a long gap? I'm expecting to enjoy Jazz. I was heavily influenced by Robin's review and I love the combination of super high helm position with all the advantages of a forward steer.

Good to hear from you, expilot, thats very useful info. In years gone by, certainly until the 90s, the pilots were kept busy taking boats through most of the time. I recall a holiday in 1993 where we moored at one of the public moorings on the way to Hickling and we were one of 7 or 8 hire boats there. Why are the present clearances now such a rarity? Is it all due to lack of dredging?

I agree about the light although on Swan Roamer, there was never a smell even when the light came on. The toilet is just too good.

Ive had Concerto which is identical to Rhapsody except it has a full sliding roof. The layout works really well, especially the open plan galley/saloon area. The bunks cabin is very small but the double cabin very comfortable.

Thanks for your write up once again, Bryan. I'm sure you did the right thing getting the pump out when you did given the experience we had with the toilet a few weeks back. I completely understand why you want Swan Roamer for a 3rd time and you'll be accruing Richardsons loyalty discount as well.

Hardly anything gets through Potter these days unfortunately, save for the aforementioned Martham Boats. Griff would probably know what Jewel's air draft is, 6 foot 9 maybe? If it was nearer 6 foot you might have a chance. Having said that, the last time I passed through was Bright Horizon in 2013 which needed about 6 foot 8 I think.

I was only 5 and I can't remember much except the colour of the grass. My first Broads visit was still 5 years away but I'm enjoying the stories and photos on this thread.

I love the design of the low level dual steers, having hired Soprano from Richardsons and loved it. They're low enough to fit under Wroxham and Beccles in the right conditions and yet you have that fantastic outside helm, brilliant.

Indeed Jean, if you're after a daytime visit as we were at the end of May then you can't beat arriving about 10am after a few overnight moorers have left. Of course most of us love Ranworth but I do accept, in the summer particularly, it can be a lottery as to whether you can moor or not so I'm prepared to accept defeat if necessary. Some folks though, seem obsessed that they have to moor there whatever it takes and nowhere else could possibly do.

Church Fen at Brundall?

Great question Ray, I'd like to know the answer as well.

Have a great week, Neil. My route to the Broads takes me along the A14 and then A11 but I don't know the Hogue Farm shop. Where exactly is it?

Lots of good advice. I like the swimming pool mooring which is short but tends to be empty in my experience. It's an easy walk to the town too and in April I climbed the church tower for the first time which was well worth the effort for the view. At Geldeston, as well as the Locks if you want a quiet spot the other Dyke to the right where it splits is lovely.

Peace and tranquility is never missing from the north Broads, even in the summer there's no shortage of peaceful places, so not missing at all.

I'm exactly the same, Howard. I get the week swapping thing but it's just not the same and the thought of being stuck with weeks I don't want fills me with dread. I think Southern Crusader has it right and I believe Ranworth Breeze has a rotation system which could be OK but both boats are too high for where I'd want to cruise.