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DAVIDH

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Everything posted by DAVIDH

  1. Tuesday 28th February The sun was out as I said good morning to Acle, though it soon became cloudy and hid behind the greyness. The oil-filled radiator had switched off sometime overnight, so clearly, the "meter had run out". The difference in the warmth of the boat when the sun isn't shining is huge. It wasn't worth putting another £1's worth on the meter, so I opted to switch to the diesel heating, and put the gas rings on for a bacon sandwich and a hot cup of tea. There was no rush to move off as I was aiming for Potter Heigham for lunch and indeed, overnight. I cast off around 10.30am, leaving the diesel heating to cope with the single figure temperatures outside. There wasn't much river traffic around, as you would expect in late February. Only the occasional Richardsons newer craft went past me en route to Potter. I wondered if with the closure of the various Ant moorings, I might find electric post availability harder to come by at Potter Heigham, and reasoned, as a last resort, I could go into Herbert Woods and pay the £20 so as to have access to the sparky stuff (yikes!). On arrival at the moorings opposite the yard entrance, I was pleasantly surprised to see just one other boat, an ex-Summercraft cruiser, sitting close to the two electric posts. So I moored alongside and had a look at the electric meters to be sure they were actually working. I returned with the cable and credited £2 this time, with the intention of checking the reading once more when I returned from an evening meal. What else are you going to do with time on your hands, other than visit Lathams, have coffee and cake at Bridgestones, followed by an investigatory walk around Herbert Woods? I'm sure this is a well-trodden path. I wasn't sure whether to eat at The Norada or The Falgate this evening. I like them both. To make my mind up, I reasoned the naughtiness of Bridgestones would be best compensated for with the extra walk required to get to and from The Falgate, so that was that! Back onboard, I had swapped diesel for electric heating and was just content to watch the odd boat movement until it was time for food. I set off for the Falgate in fading light, ensuring I had my torch with me for the return journey. On arrival, I was seated in the dining area, which is between the bar area and the games room, my point of entry. The place is huge and may I say, was very busy with what I perceived to be locals, all eating. I had steak and ale pie with chips, red cabbage and broccoli. It was delicious and hearty. I had a sort of chocolate torte/tart with ice cream for dessert. Overall the food was delightful and the staff were very attentive, given the size of the place and the running around they had to do to look after all the rooms. I did need the torch to get back. I checked the meter before getting onboard, which was down to about 20p, given that I'd left the oil-filled radiator on. I topped up with another card and hoped that would last me through the night. Busy place at any time of the year, that Bridgestones! I always found it difficult to tell the difference between HW dayboats and it's cruiser class. If you look down the line, you can see the rear window is a little longer on the furthest away boat.
  2. Maybe they just didn't expect anyone to be coming along the boardwalk in February.
  3. Monday 27th February Opened the curtains to bright sunshine, which always lifts the spirit. It had been cold overnight, so the heaters needed to be on full-pelt, and the kettle on. A cooked breakfast followed. I never have a fry-up at home, so this is a treat for me. I did have plans to end up at Sutton Staithe tonight until I learned that the BA was undertaking dredging work, closing the moorings. I could have diverted to Neatishead, but those moorings were also closed. Irstead would have been acceptable, but nowhere close to eat. An option would be to go to Stalham and eat at the White Swan, but there was no electric post (couldn't rely on Richardsons) and it was forecasting -1) so I opted instead to go to the BA moorings at Acle. En route I stopped off at Cockshoot Dyke for a quick walk around the trail, before continuing the journey. I arrived around 2pm and called The Bridge Inn to book a table. Amazingly, they only had space in the bar area...the restaurant was full. It was still sunny, so I decided to go for a walk into Acle, using the pathway that runs parallel to the road. I had a walk around the "town" and then came back via a pathway that takes you to the moorings at Acle Dyke..,leading down to the river where Easticks used to be, prior to it being destroyed by fire. Funnily enough, in the fifty years I've been visiting the Broads (first time 3rd March 1973), I'd never set foot on these moorings. Then I returned to Goosander and relaxed until it was time to visit The Bridge Inn. The cold set in as soon as the sun dropped behind the marshes. My table was booked for 6.30pm, and on arrival, it was clear the place was well patronised. I was seated in the bar close to a window, which I liked as I could still see all the comings and goings. I think the restaurant was actually pre-booked as a party, as there were cheers from in there from time to time. I ordered cottage pie for a change (usually have the steak pie), followed by white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake (oh wow!). Back to the boat at 8.30pm. It was cold and I had loaded the electric post with £1 before going for the meal. I flashed a second £1 card as soon as I got back, guessing that would be enough to see me through the night. Heaters switched on, I felt snug for the evening. The lookout point onto Cockshoot Broad The BA moorings at Acle. A real scramble to get a mooring. Looking out onto the Bure from the former Easticks site. Bridgcraft boats were sparkling in the sun Round the back of the Bridgecraft boatyard The church in Acle town No introduction necessary....but just in case - The Bridge Inn at Acle
  4. Thinking about it, £3 per day is probably about right. Over a year that's £1,095, though I'm sure the average household goes through more than £3 each day. No washing machine, electric shower, and many of other appliances that are powered by the onboard batteries.
  5. It's relative to how cold it was too Monica. I was using a fan heater and an oil-filled radiator at times. I'd credit £2 on arrival and find it nearly run out by bedtime and needing another £1 to see the oil-filled radiator through the night. That was while away from the home mooring, where the electricity is "unlimited" as it's paid for as part of the quarterly maintenance fees.
  6. I think it's more than a coincidence that they already have boats of that type in their fleet. Perhaps it just makes it an easy addition Malcolm?
  7. I was back onboard Goosander a week last Sunday (26th February). It was a cold week to be honest, but as I write this, it's currently snowing here in Leeds. So relatively, the weather was quite benign then. I was staying until the following Friday, and with the cold temperatures, a hook-up to an electric post each night was going to be a necessity. I decided to stay on the home mooring for the first night, and after unloading the car and then a brief visit to Wroxham to wander the shops and boatyards (a Le Boat boat looked out of place in Barnes' yard - guess it's newly purchased), I made my way around to the Ferry Inn for my evening meal. I had forgotten that with teh installation of their new kitchen, The Ferry was offering baguettes only. So I turned on my heels and took the car down to The New Inn. It was about 40% full, which I guess is about right for the time of year. I had the Sirloin of Beef Sunday roast, which was oh-so-tender. Mango and Passion fruit Cheesecake was really nice too, but I wondered if the portions had been made a little smaller to keep the price to £5.50. Overall, the whole meal was well-cooked and good value. I know much is said +/- about The New Inn, but I found it warm, welcoming, and not outrageously expensive. Then made my way back to Goosander. It was already getting colder, so I put on the electric heaters and settled down for the night. I prefer electric rather than diesel heating, but in truth, I'm not sure whether one is more expensive than the other to use. I noted it took between 2 and 3 electric cards to last the whole night (with an oil-filled radiator set modestly overnight in the bedroom/cabin).
  8. Probably many out over the half term but not much attraction in the rest of February with the weather as it is. Not seen any Ferry Marina either. The only hirecraft out are a few of the more modern Richardsons boats. There were two Commander types back to back outside the Wroxham Hotel as I drove over the bridge. Would have made a great photo as they were gleaming in the sun, but by the time I had unloaded the car they had gone.
  9. I'm sitting opposite Herbert Woods now. Had a walk around the yard which is jam-packed full of their boats. Did see one boat - Olympic Light, depart this afternoon, but it was boarded by a family carrying very little, so guess it was being let out just for the afternoon.
  10. Great news Ian. The thing about being in the hospital set-up (a blessing in disguise), is that they do keep an eye on you and can locate problems before you even know yourself. I remember my wife not wanting to be discharged after 5 years because she felt safer under their watch.
  11. Well if nobody else is going to do it!
  12. DAVIDH

    Balmy

    It's children's half term week. Bet it will be quiet next week.
  13. Yes Ian, a sad loss of an era-defining musical genius. So many songs which will still be being played 50 years after his death. I suppose some people just have "it". He definitely did.
  14. Thanks Vaughan. Yes, that was it!
  15. The Visitor Centre is a desirable not an essential. In all walks of life, businesses are having to rationalise in order to survive. Doesn't seem the same pressures apply when you're funded by people who have no choice but to pay up.
  16. Here's a wonderful short film of someone's visit to Barton House. I've seen the signs many times as I've cruised out of Wroxham, and often wondered what it was like. Seems it has three narrow guage railways on the site.
  17. Very sad news about Pele. Such wonderful skills.
  18. Vaughan's focus on the provision of better facilities for the holidaymaker is the right one. Holiday abroad tour operators are the main competitors to the Broads businesses, not each other. Funnily enough, these tour operators see their main competition as the electronics and white goods industries, so all businesses are fearful of losing trade to other sectors. It seems in years gone by, the yards realised that facilities had to improve to compete, and came together under the Blakes organisation to make that happen. Today, the yards are once again competing against themselves and it seems are blind to the lack of available visitor moorings, as nobody wants to invest in something that would benefit all visiting craft, not just their own. That's what's missing today, an outward looking industry. Yet it's this lack of desire to improve the infrastructure that may sound the death knell of the Broads as a holiday destination. I've read on social media many times, compaints of returning holidaymakers of not being able to find a pub mooring after 4pm in the summer school holiday months... you know, like they see on the advertising images. The more experienced crews will know how to get around this, but for the first time visitor it's not a good look and they simply won't return. Bang.... a new visitor stream has gone. Perhaps it's time for the remaining boatyards to get together to prevent their business relocating elsewhere, whether that be overseas or elsewhere in the UK. It will cost money, but sustaining your business model always does.
  19. Yes, such a sad announcement. I too would probably never had got to see them live, such was the clamour for tickets whenever they went on tour, but this just confirms that things have changed. I have seen Rumours of Fleetwood Mac on a couple of occasions, and can recommend them to anyone missing the gorgeous music of Christine McVie and the rest of the band.
  20. Simpsons in Stalham do canoe hire - 01692 580288. Also Whispering Reeds in Hickling have Canoes and Kayaks - 01692 598314 - You would need to ask if you can hire over an extended period though.
  21. Is there some misunderstanding here? Jeff, as far as I am aware, Hoseasons - a booking agent - are refunding the deposits paid in full. The contract has changed (as has the start point), so a full refund is due if the customer doesn't want to accept the alternative offered. The low deposit situation talked about is in relation to people who have changed their mind about the holiday, not the booking agent ... disinclination to travel.
  22. Low deposits are a popular tool for tour operators of all shapes and sizes. Especially at this time of the year when most money is being spent on Christmas items. Many people can't afford to lay out money on holidays as well. It's a way of getting bookings in early. It's always (usually) the case that the customer is liable for the balance of the deposit in the event the they cancel the holiday. Hoseasons do make it clear that the deposit is indeed a reduced deposit, and what the consequences would be if the holiday was cancelled before the balance payment was due. The first image, describing the boat, shows the link to the conditions ( i Book for £100 low deposit) under the green book your holiday button. There's also a link to the conditions on the costings page... where you enter your name and address etc. It's at the bottom of the second image. I believe this appears on every booking where a low deposit is offered. Most people seem to get it, but I'm sure some, in the exuberance of booking, may miss the links.
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