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DAVIDH
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Posts posted by DAVIDH
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18 minutes ago, Hylander said:
Jean - life is too short for a fruit scone. Have a slice of that Black Forest Gateau.
my problem is I know I can only choose one...but really want to try two or three of the others too.
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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.
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4 hours ago, kpnut said:
You seem to have seen more wildfowl in one visit to cockshoot broad than I’ve seen in my many times there.
Maybe they just didn't expect anyone to be coming along the boardwalk in February.
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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
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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.
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12 minutes ago, Hylander said:
Crumbs nearly £3 for the night, we used to plug in sometimes with 70p left on it and it lasted. Shows how times have changed.
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.
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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?
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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).
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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.
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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.
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23 hours ago, Smoggy said:
4k video downloader is good for youtube and misses out all the ads.
Another recommendation for 4K
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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.
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Well if nobody else is going to do it!
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Balmy
in Broads Chat
2 minutes ago, NorfolkNog said:Good few out at the moment though. I think Ferry must have been having a January sale, lot around of them about as well.
It's children's half term week. Bet it will be quiet next week.
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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.
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Thanks Vaughan. Yes, that was it!
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13 hours ago, Vaughan said:
Notice the big fire monitors, on either wing of the monkey island
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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.
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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.
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Very sad news about Pele. Such wonderful skills.
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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.-
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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.
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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.
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2 hours ago, jeffbroadslover said:
I can't understand why there is such a major problem with refunding all monies paid to a company who can no longer supply the item ordered and not yet supplied.
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.
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Taking A Gander At Goosander
in Holiday Tales & Blogs
Posted
Wednesday 1st March.
Whoohoo, upon rising, checked the oil-filled radiator which was still on. Cloudy upon drawing back the curtains, so no sun to heat the boat up. Breakfast was a toasted teacake and a cup of tea this morning. You perhaps can see a theme here. Breakfast is always something that involves the use of the gasses to assist the warming of the boat. The electricity was still live - I hadn't been cut off - the bailiffs hadn't needed to force entry! So the heaters were still contributing. I was halfway through eating the tea cake when there was a click, and the heaters went off. Oh well, it was good while it lasted. I switched to diesel and continued.
Earlier in the week I had seen that the weather for Stalham was a minimum of 5c overnight so I had planned to go there today and manage without an electric supply. However, the BBC this morning was telling me to expect a minimum overnight now of +1c. No way Pedro (Fools and Horses won't put up with that). So I considered cruising on to Ranworth, where I had intended to spend the following evening. I remember reading on this very forum that the Maltsters was closed Monday to Thursdays, so I checked their Facebook page, which showed opening hours now for Wednesday to Sunday, and thought well that's a plan! So with nothing left on the electric meter, I cast off and made a slow journey out of Potter, arriving at Ranworth around 1pm. There were a few hire boats already moored so I reasoned, others must have the same plan as me. I approached the moorings and turned ready to reverse into a spot at the end of the quay, before it turns 90 degrees towards the taxi rank side on mooring? The wind was very strong, blowing across the moorings and each time I corrected the stern so it was perpendicular with the quay, I was blown around again. At the third attempt, people from a Broadlander moored "around the corner" had noticed my discomfort and stood on the quay to grab my ropes, should I ever get within spitting distance. Eventually I did, and their assistance was much appreciated. Note to self...need to find a way of being in two places at once when solo mooring in these conditions - that or rely on assistance from holidaymakers who are fed up of all the reversing noise, or worse still are imagining I'm going to tee-bone their boat if I get it catastrophically wrong.
So catastrophe avoided, I hooked up, credited my 2 x £1 electric cards, then went online to book a table at the Maltsters...well actually request a table. They get back to you I subsequently found out. While waiting, I made lunch and admired the open view of Malthouse Broad. I like the walk around the nature trail, so I put my coat on, turned the heating off and set out for the entrance to the boardwalk. I was passing The Maltsters, so I thought I might as well go in to confirm the booking. How discombobulating was it to find the door locked, and a notice showing the hours of opening as Friday to Sunday? I returned to Goosander and decided to contact the place find out one way or another if it would be open. I tried telephoning, whereupon the answerphone message informed me they were open Wednesday to Sunday over the winter. Couldn't speak to a human being, so I emailed for clarification. They did get back within 30 mins to say they were definitely closed. Not sure what to do next - I always want somewhere to eat out on an evening - I decided to do the boardwalk, in the hope that the fresh air would clear my mind. By 4.30pm, I was back onboard and with the limited daylight left, had decided to go back to the home mooring, which was just 45 mins away and with gushing electricity to fight the 0c temperature due overnight. So I unhooked the unused £2 electricity supply (grrr) and left the moorings.
Goosander was all tucked up on her moorings by 5.30pm, and I had decided to drive to the Sutton Staithe Hotel for my evening meal. The reservation was for 6.30pm so I didn't have much time to spare. It was dark when I set off, and the sat-nav took me down many unlit narrow lanes, but I eventually pulled up outside at 6.25pm. I noticed at least two boats moored opposite the green, one of them with lights on. I can only surmise that they had been happy to be marooned in there for the duration of the works. I've always liked the Sutton Staithe Hotel, so it was a treat to be eating there after all. Having said that, there were just 4 dishes on the menu. I chose fish and chips with mushy peas, which even came with 2 slices of farmhouse bread. So full after that! Couldn't face a pudding. Eventually, I drove back the way I came, ably assisted by the sat-nav (I'd still be driving around now if not for her directions), arriving back at Goosander around 9pm.
Just realise I have very few photos of the day, with all the messing around.
The lane leading to the boardwalk
Within the nature trail
The Sutton Staithe Hotel
The