SPEEDTRIPLE

Hi Mandy, i think you might like this?, Moonlight Shadow moored next to Swallow at Rockland staithe. Karen and i were on Swallow next to MS, and we invited the American lady abord to have a look around. I think it was Sue H?, and she invited us aboard MS to have a look as i was interrested in buying a share, though i ended up buying a share in Lightning. The leccy post is on the western quay, and Swallow and Moonlight Shadow are moored on the northern quay. The only part that requires careful navigation is the dyke at the entrance to Rockland staithe, but once there, there`s plenty of room.

My regular jaunt up to the Broads always used to be the A12, but now coming from Dorset, we join the M25 from the west, so it`s M11 / A11 these days. But whenevr we got to Blyghburgate on the A12 where we turn for beccles, i always got that exciting feeling of bein "nearly there", and when we got to Beccles, it was always a stop, and a walk along the quay looking at the boats and the river, and i swear i could virtually feal the stress and anguish of everyday life just melting away. The only way i can describe it is to say "it gets in your blood", and leaving to come home was always very upsetting. The worst part of the journey home was when we used to go over the top of Swanscombe cutting on the A2, as i was almost home, and back to reality, though i suppose when we exited the tunnell, and later the bridge, my mood used to change too.

Forget the cakes Iain, i think a nice Brie and Bacon Baguette or Pannini will do it for me.

Just to be cruising along the Bure beyond Wroxham to Coltishall, with a flat calm river with whatever you see ahead being a perfect reflection in the river. The same goes for the Ant above Stalham dyke to Dilham, even better if the sun is out and shining through the riverside trees, and the stretch from Beccles to Geldeston lock. What is also quite magical is to be moored somewhere like Acle, when you go out in the dark, and see all the boats with lights on behind the curtains, feeling that everybody is all snug and tucked up for the night. Very cosy. Being afloat on the broads is magical anytime.

On the Southern rivers, it would have to be Rockland or Loddon, on the Northern rivers, Dilham, Summercrafts yard Wroxham, or round the back of Womack island, if there`s space.

I often use google maps / satelite / and streetview to plot a route when going somewhere i`ve never been to before (after getting to the location with an atlas) but it`s always worth remembering the satelite view and streetviews can often be several years old. I checked on the street view of our house a few weeks ago (yes, i do agree, i must get out more) and it showed me washing down my bike on the drive, with my old silver Astra. I got rid of that Astra nearly 3 years ago. But as Strow says, they can be very helpful providing things have`nt dramatically changed.

I know exactly what you mean Ian, although we`ve now got a share in Lightning, Karen has asked if we can book a week on Swallow for next year, as she misses her. She`s a wonderful old girl, but in superb condition, and really easy to handle. I love the layout too, with the wc aft, it makes for an excellent wet locker if you come in out of the rain. The only thing i can fault her on is the small work surface in the galley, otherwise she`s great.

Hi all, It`s all up and running again now, so i`m releived.

It`s not been too bad down here, we seem to have escaped the worst of it, but we`ve still got a few twigs in the roads, and roadwork signs etc blown over, but that`s all. Even our bins have`nt blown over, so it sounds worse than it obviously is. I hope it`s nice and still in late May / early June, as the in-laws have never been on the Broads before, although Karens dad used to work at Sunseekers, so he should be used to movement on a boat after all the sea trials he went on?.

Hi Jason, i`ve never had any dealings with you or the folks at the yard, but have heard nothing but excellent reviews of your services and skill levels. It`s always a great shame to lose a small family buisness, so i hope someone somewhere will be able to take the yard over as an operational concern, as nobody would be happy to hear all the lads losing jobs. I wish both you and Sonia all the best, and if we`re stopping at Ludham whuile on Lightning in May June, i`l be sure to come and say hello. I can imagine it must have been a hard decision, but hopefully the right one, and that both you and Sonia can enjoy a much less stressful life, which will hopefully see you both in better health. Also, please keep posting on the forum, as i`m sure people will always be pleased to hear from you, and keep in touch. Sincerest regards and best wishes .......................... Neil.

Thanks Iain. We`re up in late May early June, so i hope things are fine then.

A pity you did`nt get any pictures or film footage on your phone Peter. When we were on Lightning last October when it flooded at Beccles, we were cruising at around 4-5mph, and the wind almost knocked us to a stanstill. Never been on the Broads in wind like it, and the same with the floods at beccles. Nearly 2ft over the quay heading. I had to wear several bin liners over each leg to wade in and cast off, and the tide was still coming up. And yes, i did get some pics, which i posted elsewhere on here.

Comparing it to the Bounty 28 fwd drv, i think itlooks a bit bland and boxy. Also, with their pronounced cut away cabin / coachroof, the Alpha range have far more carachter, as do the bounty range. But with that deep raked screen, it looks like it has more space in the salloon are.

It does seem quite high, with a wide flat coacroof. Very boxy in appearance. I think bridge clearance might be an issue at Wroxham, or even Beccles old, or St Olaves on a high tide.

We`ll be on Lightning then, and with the in-laws who`ve never been on the Broads before .............what fun

If it`s going WITH the tide, ie an ebb tide with the wind coming from the south west, it should be as flat as a pancake. If it`s wind AGAINST tide,...........have fun :naughty: .

Being that loud, i think ear muffs might help too.

The basic boat`s fine, but check out the interior decor? http://www.nya.co.uk/funn27sc-1-for-sale.html I know one of Karen close friends who`ll love it, but to live with it?

You think that`s good Clive, how about the good old Vesta curry, and for added belt, some extra cayenne pepper for autumn cruising.

There are several issues mentioned in Peters op that concern me, they are. 1. The Broads plan review Just WHO will they be consulting regarding the updating of the plan review, are they local people, buisnesses, toll payers, or is it just the executive commitee themselves?, and why will it take nearly a year to undertake the first draught, which i assume wiull then be ammended several times over yet more lengthy delays?. 2. Broads Landscape Partnership Which projects are going to benefit from the Lottery funding, is any of it going to pay for way overdue drdging, or is it going to be purely for politically sensative "environmental projects" only?. 3. Hickling Broad Restoration Project. Why should it take 6 months to merely AGREE on a vision of this so called long term approach, and exactly WHO will be allowed to read it when it`s finally published, toll payers, lcal people and buisnesses, or again, just the execytive commitee?. 4. Promoting The Broads Has`nt the Broads National Park re-branding already be implimented, or are there other hidden agendas to vote on that we have not been told about?. 5. Stakeholder Action Plan. Who are the "KEY" stakeholders?. Does this mean they WON`T be having dialogue with ALL stakeholders, but only those that are of significant interest to them?, and just exactly who will be discussing the issues with them, the executibve comittee themselves, or those "appointees" that the executive put in the line of fire, (cannon fodder) to take the flak?. I agree with what others have said above that the BAs frontline staff (river and quay rangers) have mostly been excellent to deal with (with 2 exceptions), but it`s the backroom illuminate i mistrust, and the recent gagging orders, and scolding of one of their free speeking comittee members just encourages more mistrust. As for an employee having loyalty to his / her employer, loyalty is a two way street, and if an employer is going to abuse any employee in ANY way whatsoever, they cannot expect any loyalty in return, as loyalty and respect are EARNED, they are definitely NOT a rite of postion or status.

Hi Ian, yes, the Maffett Riverside one works okay, but the one purely for "Maffett Cruisers" does`nt. I wondered whether they have a more up to date website underway, or whether they`ve stopped hiring altogether?. Although we`ve got a share in Lightning, we will still like to hire from them from time to time, just out of loyalty.

Hi all, over the last week, i`ve tried to look on Maffett cruisers website, but it keeps on coming up "this site has been suspended", has anybody else tried, and if so, are you getting the same?. More to the point, has anybody heard anything regarding Maffetts operation, is everything ok, and are they still going?.

Contrary to popular political belief, sea levels are not rising. What is causing the bridge to sink is the whole of the east Anglian region sinking, resulting in water levels being higher. I think it is Cambridge university that have an ongoing study, and have been monitoring the amount over many years. In recent years, a remarked INCREASE has been recorded. It`s also worth noting the amaount of land around the Broads that is now significantly lower, and below sea level, it`s why so much flood defence work has taken place, and why many environmentalists are now considering allowing parts of the Broads area to flood naturally. As for carrying out a civil engineering job to raise the airdraught BACK to where it was, that in itself is nothing more than restoring it to its former glory, which must be better than just allowing it to further sink away forever. One other reason for an increase in its sinking could be that despite the new road bridge, the old bridge is now getting significantly MORE, and HEAVIER road traffic crossing it daily. The average family car, delivery van etc are now getting on for twice the weight of cars vans etc of 30 years ago, and with the increase in number, the bridge has to be suffering. Alan (jaws) also makes a very valid point in that the new road bridge will also be a natural barrier to high top boats, which are also on the increase, so by raising it by a max of 12" would see it have a maximum airdraught of arond 7ft 6ins at alws. Obsacles can mostly be overcome quite easily, it`s only human greed and arrogance that can`t.

To tput Strow rightr, i`m not in favour of removing Potter Bridge either. I do however think it should, because it CAN quite easily and economically be raised by 12" so as to allow the passage of traditional broads designed boats with either lowering tops, and single level floors. Yes, i have said jokingly in the past about "blowing up the bridge", but elsewhere i`ve stated that Repps would`nt be the same without it, and it should be raised. One thing i find annoying is the attitude "i live there and prefer it the way it has been allowed to become, as this as i said above is pure selfish NYMBYism. Where would we all be if we were ALL to adopt that attitude?. One other thing, using Strows theories, if a boat is unable to proceed through ALL the bridges, would it be fair to charge LESS for the river tolls because of the lesser amount of cruising water?. I wonder how much discontent that would cause?.

To be honest Strow, with your views belittling the e-petition on the subject of the BNP gathering a significantly few in number signatures, why do you think a poll on this forum would be representative of fealing on the subject?. Having cake and eating it, Pot calling kettle black, and the word Hypocracy come strongly to mind.