DAVIDH

I know that's true Andy. General availability for the next few weeks is predominately only for the more expensive boats now. It shows people are having to count their pennies. I have noticed in past years that the boatyards would rather see a boat stay tied up than let it out at a discount (in most - not all cases). They clearly don't want to alienate their early bookers. I suppose they calculate what they earn from stable pricing as opposed to letting people know the longer they leave it, the lower the price will become. As I said before though. I can't see these prices holding for 2023. At the least I think they will freeze them.

Sorry Andy, missed you're reply. I'm bewildered by this. Can I ask if you booked the £1,300 quid boat out of last season's prices for this year? Just wondering if they increased the cost when they published the new season's rates.

Not sure about that Andrew. I've just checked some prices for boats available in October 22 and 23 and the hire charges are unchanged. Broads Harmony is £1021 on the 7th (2022) and £1021 on the 7th (2023). Carousel is £1267 on the 8th (2022) and £1267 on the 9th (2023) Clear Gem is £451 on the 8th (2022) and £451 on the 9th (2023). It looks the same for the other boatyards that I've seen too. Maybe on one of the years you have hit a bank holiday? I think the convention is that you can book the following year's boats at this year's prices until the end of October (I believe).

Many people are already booking for 2023 and paying these rates. If they reduced prices, I guess they would have to reduce theirs too, or it would put off early bookings. I've just seen that only 6 boats remain for hire starting tomorrow on Hoseasons (for 7 nights). September bookings look good too. Someone still has money! Having said all that, people have been booking closer to their start date, clearly waiting to see what they can afford. We will all be able to afford less next summer with energy rates going through the roof and a level of inflation which will far outstrip salary rises. It's bound to make a difference. My guess (for what it's worth) is that prices will stay the same and not increase for 2023.... but who knows!

Just noticed that Broom's White Heron has been reclassified as a 4 berth cruiser. Guess the price was excessive for two people. https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/white-heron-bh2728

I'd have thought, the more people see and watch the "induction" the better.

Colourised

Oh Ian, youve had enough thrown at you this last year or two (not least concrete bridges). It's that whole bubble of misery you're cast into following a cancer diagnosis that hurts. It affects you and all your family and it doesn't go until that bubble is burst by a successful outcome. No point telling you not to worry. Just do everything the docs tell you, and and on the basis that peace and solitude are healing for the body, get back on the boat as often as possible.

Thanks Griff, but it's not the setting and removal of the anchors, it's how to keep the boat alongside while doing it. I only have so many hands and have to let go of the ropes while placing/removing the anchors.

The mention of using rhond anchors on a solo cruise reminded me how difficult this is. I knew I would need them if I was to moor on the top end of the dyke at Thurne where there are limited posts, so had them handy. Stepping ashore with two ropes and the anchors was easy enough. It was holding everything in place while trying to dig the rhond anchors into the hard turf that was difficult. Casting off is also not easy as you have to untie the anchored ropes then prise the rhonds out of the ground. Anybody have any tips?

Agree with Ray on this. If the wife is able to guide the boat in while you step ashore, bow thrusters will help to get you/keep you alongside.

Agree with Simon. Don't forget bow thrusters and if possible a centre cleat. Makes getting ashore much easier.

As far as Hoseasons yards are concerned, there's just 4 boats available from this weekend for 7 nights, so most of their hire fleet will be out. I think it was the same last week also. School holiday weeks nearly always sell out. September (apart from the first week) also looks to be selling well. My concern is for the future months and next year. Perhaps the worst of it won't really set in until October's fuel cost rises. Disposable income will really be under pressure then across all business sectors.

I think the boatyards have already made up their losses from 2020, due to the rammed seasons from July 2020 and most of last year. Prices also rose last year. Covid could well strike again should a deadlier variant arrive, but I think the real dampener to businesses afloat and ashore, will be the soaring inflation we're suffering at the moment. Forecasts of 15% inflation, the energy cap being increased both in October and in January and a commodity limiting war in the Ukraine are all affecting our discretionary spend. Unemployment will follow. Something has to give.

i think booking agencies (of any holiday type) are regarded as a necessary evil by the principles (the boatyards in this case). They would rather not have them and not pay the commissions, but really cannot do without them in general. Yes, Herbert Woods and Ferry Marina survive without them, but Richardsons with all their clout, Barnes Brinkcraft and Norfolk Broads (not only) Direct see the need to continue their association with a booking agency. There will always be a need to connect with the masses who don't know anything about a Norfolk Broads holiday and the first place they will look is on the internet. Try searching for norfolk broads boat hire (the most searched term) and you will see this advert come up first. It's very expensive - costing in excess of £1 per click through to Hoseasons. (perhaps 1 in 100 clicks turn into sales) The bookings made flow through to Hoseasons' partner boatyards. This is where the value of an booking agent comes in.

just surprised that yellow boat isn't shaped like a sore thumb!

The third an fourth images taken in the mist, are very evocative. If it wasn't for the modern cruiser, I'd have enquired if you have a time machine and went back to the turn of the 1900s

They surely will be able to tell that. My own data shows that in comparison to 2020 and 2021, the market is down. You only have to look at what's still available for the school holidays to see that. In the previous two years, these would have been sold out for months. It stands to reason that the windfall of bookings brought by the perceived closure of our borders, has now gone elsewhere (in part). Maybe some people are going for less expensive holidays this year too, with the state of everyone's finances. I saw that the West Country tourist associations were saying ther was still availability, and not to think of the place as full, like last year. My guess is that it will stabalise at what we were all used to before 2020, where the school holidays sell out, though closer to the date, and the shoulder months will still have availability.

There was a pop-up bar behind teh building when I visited, with customers eating and drinking. You can see it on this image:

I've more or less resigned my self to not doing it. Needs lots of planning, which you can't really do until the last minute. I would hire a dayboat I tthink, though the drive around got me to see places I had'nt been to for years. Similar boat last time we were through in 2008 - Gala Girl from Summercraft. Some photos of the time: West Somerton - only just enough room to swing it (not ours) The Pleasureboat Inn at Hickling

Goosander is now on Flogas too.

Not with our Syndicate Simon. It does go to the vote every so often but so far not enough people want it. which makes it unattractive to anyone as it's just 4 hours or so every so often.

Saturday 25th June It was a 7am alarm this morning as there was the small matter of cleaning Goosander from bow to stern, to leave her in the manner I had been greeted with a week ago. If you've readd my previous tales, you will know this is my least favourite part of the whole holiday. Being a sole sailor means there's only one of me to do all the cleaning, which makes it a race to get everything finished for 11am, my disembarkation time. One pet hate of mine is cleaning the large panoramic windows, which are always sparkling and smear free when I first come on board. I always joke that I pray for rain on Saturday morning, to hide my inefficient window cleaning. I had booked Goosander in at Boulters for a refuel and pump out at 8.30am, so 15 minutes before, I cast off and made my way around, knowing - but looking forward to - these last set of tricky manoevres before I leave Goosander for home. Boulters is awkward in that you have to reverse into the small space they set aside for pump outs. When I got there, a boat was moored almost across the opening, so I had to wait until the staff juggled boats about like the tiles in one of those slide puzzles. Considering the mileage I had done this week, I didn't think £78 for fuel was at all bad. Clearly not rushing anywhere and being fortunate with the tides had made a difference. I also had no pump out to pay for, as my loyalty card was full and indicating a free one was due. I was soon out and making my way back around to Goosanders pad. The cleaning then resumed and I was ready to leave by around 11.10am. Not too late. When I was here last in March, at the time of that warm summer like week, I called at The Rising Sun In Coltishall before setting off for home, so thought I would do that again. So the car and me both waved goodbye to Goosander and we were soon back on the road. I arrived in Coltishall around 11.45am, parked up and claimed a table quite close to the river. It was a warm day and the outdoor tables soon filled. I had the 6oz Rising Sun Burger with maple bacon, caramelised onion and skinny fries. By about 1pm, i was back in the car and the journey home had started. A bit of a wait now until I'm next aboard in November. There was only one image from the day, so I've added some I had missed out from earlier in the week. My view at Coltishall Reedham The New inn at Horning St Topez - I mean Great Yarmouth beach Scoby Sands (?) wind farm. Ludham Bridge Crossing Breydon Sutton Broad

Love that shot Malcolm. You're really taking advantage of the good weather. I've been thinking about what to do drone wise, when I've filmed all the places I want to. Might go for something like this to add to each page. Can you remind me again what you're using please - is it the mini 2 or mini 3?

Friday 24th June Friday turned out to be the warmest day of the visit, getting up to around 25c, though there would be quite a stiff (but warm) breeze. Doors and canopies were opened on rising. I was heading back to the home mooring today, hoping to get there early afternoon, as I had a plan. The chances of getting Goosander under Potter bridge are remote, especially as I'm ofteN not there at times of lower than average water, yet I still needed drone pictures of the moorings at Hickling, Horsey and West Somerton. So I had decided to go there by car this afternoon. By around 9.30am, I was heading out of Sutton with the warm sun on my back. The cruise back down to Barton Broad was just wonderful. Not many boats were passing, as though it was a turnaround day, the new cruisers wouldn't be let loose until around 3pm. Barton Broad, Irstead, How Hill, and Ludham Bridge all came and went before I nosed back out onto the Bure. The sun was steaming down, which I guessed would make ideal conditions for a walk on the boards at Cockshoot Dyke. So I looked to see if there were spaces as I approched, and gently came alongside into one of them. If the sun is out, this place is magical, with all the insects and wildfowl darting around. I went for a 30 minute walk, knowing that Goosander's home lay just across the river. Back onboard, I made some lunch, then slowly took the boat back to it's moorings at Ferry Boatyard. Pretty soon I was in the car, and with the aid of the satnav, was heading for West Somerton or Hickling... whichever I happened upon first. This was indeed West Somerton. I'd last stayed overnight there around 20 years ago - nothing had changed! You'll see from the photos that there were no visiting craft. It was very quiet there. I had been expecting a strong breeze to cause me problems flying the drone, as speeds of up 18mph were forecast, and it's always gustier the higher you go. Comfort is no more than 15mph, but I wasn't going to be back here, with decent weather until August next year, so I just reasoned I should go for it - keep the drone relatively low and for as short a time as possible. The breeze at West Somerton, for some reason, was quite benign so I got my shots and hightailed it out of there (I was blocking the entrance to a farmer's field as there was literally nowhere else to park). Back in the car, I headed for Horsey, which was a completely different kettle of fish being closer to the sea. There were also many people about. People watching me and high winds = potential for things to go wrong. It turned out they were lining the dyke to get on Ross's Wildlife Boat Trip, which appeared soon after, guzzled all the visitors and then left. So now was the time to launch the drone. It really was windy, and the drone was being blown sideways at one time. I got the images and then brought it down within around 5 minutes. Back in the car, I made my way to Hicking. It seems the Pleasureboat Inn is closed, but a pop-up bar has literally popped up where the outdoor tables are. There were no hirecraft, but quite a few yachts were tied up. I couldn't tell if they were permanently moored. They didn't look like hired yachts. The breeze wasn't so strong here and nobody was watching, so I launched again, got the shots and returned to the car. I was back on Goosander by around 5pm, satisfied that my Mission Impossible, had been completed (the tape didn't self distruct and the images follow as proof). Having visited The Ferry Inn on my night of embarkation, I booked a table at The New Inn this time. On arrival, the guy wanted to show me to a table in the corner near the bar. It was too warm and sunny for that, so I asked if I could sit at a table on the upper decking looking over the moorings. Yes, no problem was the answer. I would say the place was only around 60% full, though topped up by a late arriving group of lads (to the horror of some moored nearby), at around 8pm. I was just leaving around that time, so I can't comment on whether their fears were justified. I had an 8oz rump steak with mushrooms, onion rings, tomato and lots of skinny chips. I had the same in March and can say it was just as good now and it was then. I had to turn down the offer of dessert, so filling was the main meal. Then back to Goosander to do a little of the dreaded cleaning chores needed before I vacated tomorrow. A little more to report on tomorrow then. Lots of photos to follow - drone images at the end Just a few geese The moorings at Cockshoot Dyke The Boardwalk The view from my table at The New Inn, Horning Horsey Hickling Horsey again West Somerton