SPEEDTRIPLE

What a stunning fish, and beatiful colours too. What makes me laugh is all these anglers that never go without a van full of gear, then they sit in a tent for sometimes weeks, and hardly catch a thing. I`d much rather catch something like aboive than an artificially force fed mutant "specimen" any day. It`s definitely more rewarding to catch something wild, than something from a glorified fish farm.

So it`s true Peter, you ARE a bit of a rebel. :

Reversing a bathtub is always going to be difficult, due to the very shallow draught. When i used to reverse Swallow, i actually got used to her, and could steer her in reverse. Unfortunately, Kingfisher just goes one way, which is typical of that design. I think John (Hockham Admiral) has the right answer, a bow AND stern thruster, with a hand held remote unit. SIMPLES>

i`ve never heard of that, i wonder if it`s a rarity?. I`m sure if you could contact some wildlife expert, they`d want to know?. Maybe it`s an example of how wild animals are changing there behaviour to exist around a local environment, or even around man?. Certainly a new one on me.

Just right to accompany uour bacon rolls at the next meet eh Mark? :naughty: .

Having just looked at the picture for the first time, it looks to me tobe the Haddiscoe swing bidge taken from the Northside, or from down river, heading up river or south. It looks exactly like what you see when you come down the new cut and turn right towards Oulton and beccles. I think the river is too straight and too wide to be Aldeby?.

I`ve sometimes had the idea of getting an old dory, fitting it with a small economical 5hp 4 stroke outboard, and making a camping boat out of it. Being square bowed in shape would lend it ideal charachteristicks for a camping boat, and it would`nt be hard to fit it out with all the nessecary boards etc, and have an airbed which would be easy to roll up and stow. If i was on my own, i`d be happy to live out of tins, or have dried food, such as that old favourite "the Vesta Curry". My only concern would be to do with ablutions etc. Where would you go, and have a shower or wash, and what do you use as a toilet?. The idea does definitely appeal to me, as i`d be quite happy to rough it, but DEFITELY NOT to Karen. We once came across a guy solo sailing a 15ft Macwester Kelpie down the Ant, who later moored in front of us in Fleet dyke. I have to admit to being a tad envious of him, despite Karen and me being aboard Maffett cruisers Swallow at the time. I seem to remember many years ago we were moored at Salhouse Broad, where i had a stroll along the bank and got chatting to a guy on a Jaguar 22. He`d hired it from a small yard in Horning, so when i got home, i searched for them on Google, and found them. It turned out they had a small range of small pocket yachts for hire ranging from 16ft ply yachts sleeping 2, up to the 22ft Jaguars, sleeping up to 5. I did have thoughts of hiring one once, but never took it any further. These days, i have to consider Karens creature comforts, so it looks like it`s only ever going to be in my thoughts. I have to say though, this is a good thread,, and makes you realise there`s a lot more to enjoy about the broads than just cruising around in a big spacious warm motor cruiser which has hot and cold running showers, colour tv + dvd and microwaves etc etc etc. And some good piccy`s too. Thanks Peter. Regards to all ............................. Neil.

Hi Dave, That`s very interresting, what were you going to do with it, had you been successful?.

Yeah, I`ve worked a good deal, i booked Lightning for 4 weeks next year, for around £250 per week. The best thing is, i`l get it for the same price the next year, and the same after that. Also the owners said if others are`nt using it it for weeks they`ve paid for, we could take their weeks for free. £250 ish per week for a 43ft 6-8 berth dual steer cruiser. There`s definitely something to be said for this syndicate boating lark?.

Yep, it mcertainly IS a big place, we go by sometimes, as we live not far from there. They also have a decent restaurant in there(or so i`ve been told), which i believe is open to the public. Karen and i keep threatening to go in and have a meal, but we never seem to remember to do it :oops: . It must be an age thing?.

Sensible man :clap .

Yes, i`ve just checked on google satelite view. As you come to the southern end of the moorings, you take the pathway behind the bungalows toward the bridge, then after a few yards, there looks like a track to your left, heading east. Take that track, and it brings you out at the back of the restaurant. Even quicker than walking from the Bell moorings.

John at Maffetts told me there`s a direct walkway to the Priory Restaurant from the BA 24 hr moorings on the East bank just below the bridge. Have a look on the google satelite view, and you might be able to see it.

Having NOT been in all the restaurants in Broadland, i don`t know whether i can agree with that, though i will say it has a very VARIED selection. I think it was the Waveney we went in last Easter, and had a really nice meal. It was`nt cordon bleu or anything like that, just good honest pub food at reasonable prices. What more could you want?.

Hi Ian, am i right in linking your screen name to being a fan of the GREAT team, or is it nothing to do with football?.

I think you`re insane Howard lolool. I don`t mind a bit of a chil, but that`s sheer lunacy.

Hi Marina, I used to live in Gravesend years ago, then in Northfleet. I ALWAYS support the RNLI every month by direct debit. I think my monthly donation is about £13, give or take a few pence, and am more than happy to do so, and have done so for quite a few years now. What will £13 a month buy an average person?, not even one pint of beer a week, not even one good meal in a pub, but ask some people that can afford to eat out most nights to do the same, and they`ll turn away. Even when we go to pubs on the Broads, i always put something in the lifeboats on the bar. I don`t think there can be ANY other VOLUNTARY service that are primarily for saving lives while risking their own. One incident where a whole crew made the ultimate sacrifice was the Penlee lifeboat crew. In impossible conditions, they went to the rescue of a crew, knowing there was a very severe risk they may not be coming back, but still they went. I`l ALWAYS support the RNLI, and think EVERYBODY should make SOME kind of donation, as you never know if or when you`ll need them.

I`ve been thinking of swapping over to BT just so i can watch Moto GP on BT Sport. I have O2 at the moment, but that was taken over by Sky some time ago. With O2, all i had was Broadband for £12 pm, although over a few years that did go up to £14. But since Sky have taken over, in the last 12 months, i`m now paying £25pm, with surcharges thrown in be cause i don`t have their phone or tv packages. I signed a contract with O2 for broadband only, with no surcharges for not having their phone or tv packages, so surely, if Sky, or anybody else takes them over, are`nt they governed by my original contracted terms and conditions?. Thieving s..s i call them, and it`s NOT the first time i`ve had problems with Sky either, but that`s another story.

Karen and i have promised ourselves a meal there sometime soon, as it was recommended to us by John and Lynda at Maffett cruisers. They do get the chance to go out on occaisions, and they`ve always recommended it to us. As for trip adviser, i would`nt give them airspace, as when we`ve read reviews of places we`ve been to and enjoyed, some people have given them bad press. Give them a try, and give an HONEST opinion. I`ve met people before that think the Harvester is fine dining, and good quality food in quality restaurants is being snobbish, and i`ve seen some of their comments on trip advier which are totally undeserved.

I think, though i`m not 100% sure, that if you allow people on your property, no matter whether it`s a mooring issue, or doestic tradesmen/women, the simple fact that you`ve "allowed them access" to your property means you have accepted liability for their safety and wellbeing, and must have a duty of care towards them, no matter how many warning signs you put up, or whatever they say. As i said, that`s only what i was told, and have beleived, rightly or wrongly, for some time, but i wilfully stand to be corrected, does anybody know more about this?. Regards to all ....................... Neil.

If it`s private land, which i would assume it is, as there`s been livestock grazing there, i would`nt have thought the BA would have any say in it. I know i`ve often been critical of the BA for various reasons, but somehow, i don`t think anybody can blame the BA for this. It sounds to me more than likely the farmer / landowner because of a possible threat to livestock, or maybe the result of some personal injury claim by somebody who`s had a few too many sherberts. But as i said, that`s only my thought, but i can`t see the BA being responsible.

Yes, i know what you mean about the shops and recipes. You just have to try each one to see which is best :naughty: .

Lovely write up John, and some great shots too. I particularly like the the first one with the mist over the river. So atmospheric, and just makes all the trials and tribulations of life fade away.

We went to Bakewell in May last year when we were on holiday in the Peak district. We did`nt see any Merlin engines, but we did buy some Puddings.

We wre there last year, but moored in the lock cut. I took a walk over there to take some pictures, and i have to say, the land was in a bit of a state, making it difficult to walk. I know some riverside land was made off limits by the owners because somebody sprained their ankle when they tripped in a hole, and tried to sue the landowner, whether the landowner at Shipmeadow has done the same, i don`t know, but as you say Peter, a real shame to lose such a valuable mooring facility.