A Long Weekend

[Stranger]

Hi folkes just got back from a brilliant weekend on the water so here goes with a tale ,

We booked with Martham 25th July for this weeekend just gone 31st to 3rd with a bit of swopping and shifting from Diane otherwise we wouldent have made it and we got Judith 3 for the 2 of us so better still.

So early up at 4am friday, load the car and set off arround 4.30 just breaking light A57 through to the A1 then the A1 to the A17 (worst bit of road in England im sure) no problems tho at this early hour got to Kings Lynn and the A47 no probs carry on to Norwich saw Sainsburys thought ooooo breakfast but no still closed branch off on to the Wroxham road and ended up at Tesco 24 hour store for a very good breaky and nice break had 3/4 hour stop.

Carry on to Martham and arrive at 9.15 to be greeted by Terry oh no not you again with a big grin on his face great bloke cant do enough for you what boat you on he askes Judith 3 i said oh she needs cleaning and topping up yet so we go into the office and are greeted by Diane who immediately offers tea or coffee which we decline as we are still full from the breakfast she sorts the paperwork and gets us a life jacket each so we can get off as soon as the boat is ready . The cleaners are on Terry is doing the pump out and filling with fuel Batterys are checked and the engine geta a once over as the cleaners leve the boat we start loading all the stuff we have brought . Then we notice a House Martin has nested in the shelter cover of the fuel pump and has 2 hatchlings which they are busy feeding and this is the first time they have done it. Gets to 10.30 everything ready done and dusted so we set off down the Thurn towards potters where Tim takes us under the bridge and sees us off We intand to get to Coltishall for the night so we keep going and see lots of Herbert Woods boats heading for home for the saturday swop overs

to be continued

[Stranger]

[jimbo]

What a gorgeous day to start a boating holiday! You lucky thing you!

[Stranger]

as we clear the dyke leading to Womack lots of peepe waving and happy in the great sunshine as we get to thurne dyke we eyeball swordfish and his wife heading up for the return of their boat to herbert woods . We turn right at the Bure and head for coltishall lots of boats on the water.as we pass the Swan in horning we see Pete Sue and Hank moored there , as we reach wroxham broad we see Sue and Robin heading for Roys at wroxham for shopping for the group with them and no doubt a good barbie we pass under wroxham bridge and also visit Roys for bits of shopping we carry on to coltishall amazed as the water is clearing the further we go so we arrive at the lock and moor with rhond ancors and do a bit of fishing April gets a few tiddlers i get bored lol so we pack up and move down to the Green and moor for the night what a great day all in warm sunshine and lots of room to moor as well looks like a nice salad for tea then

to be continued

[Stranger]

[Stranger]

[Brian]

A Fantastic Pic there

[Guest]

Keep it coming Dave

Jonny

[jillR]

that is a lovely shot

jill

[Stranger]

salad for tea it was followed by a little more fishing and a few of theses green things oh stellas they were very nice thank you moored here at coltishall green we kept see ing a large Barn Owl flying arround the open meadow opposite the moorings and yes forgot to get any pics .

so bed time as its been a busy day

Next morning early awake as i always am on the broads up at 4.30 nice brew of tea and a listen to the local radio for the weather letting me know to expect some rain later today so as i lay dozing watching the wildlife scooting around and an occasional tap from a ducks beak on the side of the boat asking for bread with a disatisfied quack as they carrry on to the next boat and do the same another tea and April getting up so a coffee for her and make us some breakfast of egg bacon sausage and toms mmmmmmmmm cant beat it on the water can you so a quick wash up and wash down lol drop the cockpit canopy and check the engine over alls fine 8.30 now so ok to start the engine at a tickover and untie the lines and move off heading for Wroxham and roys again for a few things as we dont know where we will get any other stuff on our travels.

[Stranger]

[Stranger]

[Stranger]

a couple of views as we make our way back to Wroxham

[Stranger]

some nice houses on this stretch

[jillR]

that looks idyllic

[Jupes]

Thanks Dave. More please

[Stranger]

we manage to get into the free mooring spot just before the bridge at Wroxham warm sunshine again a few clouds but no bother.

into Roys shopping done and out again as quick as you like on the way back to the moorings we call at the butchers and stock up with meats and pies 2 mins and on the boat cast off and away we go under the bridge ,

no worries easy under again lol

[Stranger]

a nice steady pootle down to horning and ooops someone still hogging the moorings can you see who lol

[Stranger]

its wiered isnt it how you look for peeps and site logos on boats and never see them we decide to make for neatishead for the night so a nice steady plod to the ant and more waving to others on the water lol including a BA launch oh we asked about the wind up torches that they are suposed to be selling and the ranger knew nothing about it

so we turn up the ant and meet a few sailey thingys on the narrow streaches but no problems as we manage to pass behind them all the way Ludham bridge is crowded at the moorings so we carry on up towards irsted we get about half a mile from the staith and we notice some thing in the water ahead then we realise waht it is an Otter camera out and click click click it then dives away and reapears behind us for a glimpse then gone

[Stranger]

typical cant make it out on the pic but we are sure it was one sorry folkes we diddnt get a better pic

so we go past irstead staith as its full (surprise) up past the ranger sheds and on to Barton Broad left turn and head for neatishead staith worring where the boats coming down from Richardsons are heading into the low water area south of the broad as they have missed the exit back to the ant but they seem to be able to keep moving ok we carry on up the dyke to neatishead only to fing the moorings already full so we decide to go back to Gays as it looked quite empty hard right to the turn area reverse still foreward hard right and shes round as easy as that back to Gays and moor up with assistance from a boat already moored so we moor at the side of them and stsart chatting ......... more to come

[jimbo]

Loving it Dave! Keep it up mate

[Jupes]

In the first picture of the two of the water, you can see what looks like a head in the lighter area of the water just below the surface and the ripples appear to be coming from it. Is this it, or am I imagining things again lol??

[jimbo]

Jupes! What an earth are you on about?

[Stranger]

i think so suzanne

[Stranger]

at Gays staith the couple at the side of us are smitten with the broads they usualy go abroad but thought they would have a change and try boating best move they had ever done and i informed them ans pointed out the site logo in the boat window so theres a chance of a couple of new members soon.

The boat that moores at the other side of us is full of fishermen well 5 of em and they moor up next rods out and start fishing 6 tons of groundbait dropped infront of their boat may need a tow to pull them off the groundbait banking lol and the rest of the moorings fill up quickly even the BA mooring for the solar powered boat is taken the clouds are thickening and it starts to rain about 8pm the fishermen are braving it still till the rain turns into a deluge then everyone scatters inside the boats for a drinkies or two and a bit of telly then to bed after another brilliant day

Wow cant belive it ive had a lay in 6am on a Sunday morning ......

just an excuse to drop a few more pics in lol