Norwich And Swan Roamer

Broads01 · May 26, 2018

In the morning my wife, Mel and I are driving to Norwich for a two night stay before we board Swan Roamer on Tuesday for four nights. It's Mel's first visit for four years and I'm so pleased she's with me this time. I'm hoping she enjoys it as to be honest boating has never been something she's passionate about but she is looking forward to it.

We picked 2 nights in Norwich first because most of it is unexplored for both of us, save for the Yacht Station and immediate vicinity. We're staying right on the river at Premier Inn, Nelson Street.

If you spot us on Swan Roamer from Tuesday onwards give us a wave and say hello.

NorfolkNog · May 27, 2018

Enjoy Simon, Norwich is brilliant, good shops, some superb pubs and the Grosvenor Fish Bar :default_beerchug:

SwanR · May 27, 2018

I've stayed in that hotel and it was very good, it's one that I would definitely go back to. Loved looking round Norwich, the Cathedral is amazing.

Enjoy the trip on Swan Roamer ... I will look forward to hearing how you get on and how you like the boat. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Remember it's half-term week so I'm guessing that it may be busy at the popular moorings.

Gracie · May 27, 2018

Have a lovely time Simon and Mel

That's a cracking little boat you've gone for there, I'm sure Mel will love her and hopefully fall in love with the Broads as much as you . It may have it's down side though, you may never be able to solo cruise again :default_biggrin:

Grace

Broads01 · May 27, 2018

It was hammering with rain when we left home in Cardiff this morning but it didn't last long and it was a straightforward journey. The Yacht Station is quieter than I expected given its a Bank Holiday weekend and the weather is quite nice. Our room overlooks the Wensum but I've seen zero boats pass since we arrived around 3-30.

Graham47 · May 27, 2018

We have hired swan roamer twice. It is a really nice, spacious and comfortable boat. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have.

grendel · May 27, 2018

if its the Premier inn I went to its quite a way up under a fair few bridges, so I wouldnt expect many boats to pass.

Broads01 · May 27, 2018

No Peter, it's the one immediately before the Yacht Station on the left, as you arrive by boat. By road, we came in past the football ground and station on our right and then turned left over the bridge (Prince of Wales Road).

grendel · May 27, 2018

Ah, I went to the other one then, quite near the town centre on the North side.

Broads01 · May 28, 2018

We made the short walk to the Riverside area of bars and restaurants. We chose Wetherspoon for food which was probably a mistake in hindsight. All Wetherspoons are large but this one is absolutely huge and being very busy it ft like a school dining hall. The whole Riverside area was something of a disappointment being rather soleless and devoid of anything that makes the environment attractive. Strangely, restaurants tend to back on to the river rather than make use of the river frontage. We finished up in the Compleat Angler by the Yacht Station which is nothing special but was reasonably quiet and friendly.

NorfolkNog · May 28, 2018

Hi Simon, agree the Riverside area is nothing special. You'd be better heading to the Red Lion or the likes of the Wig and Pen, ribs of Beef etc the Norwich lanes area has some of the best bars restaurants shops etc well worth the walk IMHO

SwanR · May 28, 2018

We ate our meals in the Table Table restaurant on site at the hotel. The food was good and we had a lovely river view.

VetChugger · May 28, 2018

I used to enjoy a stroll round to the "Adam & Eve" via the cathedral grounds or is it some bish's palace? Is the "Adam & Eve" still there?

NorfolkNog · May 28, 2018

43 minutes ago, VetChugger said:

I used to enjoy a stroll round to the "Adam & Eve" via the cathedral grounds or is it some bish's palace? Is the "Adam & Eve" still there?

Adam and Eve still very much there Trevor. Nice little pub although we tend to also visit the Wig and Pen a bit further on. Highly recommended :default_beerchug:

Broads01 · May 28, 2018

It's been lovely weather in Norwich today. We spent most of the day just mooching about, taking in the shopping centre, the market (although most of it was closed), The Lanes and Elm Hill. The Yacht Station is significantly busier this evening with hire boats that have now had time to reach here after a Friday or Saturday start. There's only 3 or 4 spaces left.

SwanR · May 28, 2018

Sounds like it's been a lovely day. I enjoyed walking along by the yacht station when we were there and seeing which boats were moored up.

Broads01 · May 28, 2018

Me too Jean. It's like going back in time over 30 years for me as I did exactly the same here as a teenager.

Vaughan · May 29, 2018

On 27/05/2018 at 21:55, Broads01 said:

No Peter, it's the one immediately before the Yacht Station on the left, as you arrive by boat.

This is the site of the Great Eastern Hotel, in the heyday of railway travel. The riverside area used to be Boulton and Paul's engineering works, and the locomotive works of the LNER, before that was moved to its present site on the Wensum curve. So it was always an industrial site and seems to have been developed piecemeal, without an overall plan.

Not the most pleasing part of the city but at least you can park your car there to go shopping, unlike the rest of the city centre!

Broads01 · May 29, 2018

Indeed Vaughan, Prince of Wales Road is particularly shabby, being a mixture of long-closed shop units and night clubs. We had a short walk yesterday evening though to a nicer area towards where The Lanes is. We had a good meal in Prezzo followed by a drink in All Bar One. Norwich seems relaxed and crowd-free for a city on a sunny Bank Holiday in comparison to the cities I'm more used to.

Broads01 · May 29, 2018

"Ooh, If you book something like this, I'll come again". That was Mel's reaction as we boarded Swan Roamer this afternoon. What a boat it is. By a country mile, it's the nicest boat I've ever had. It just oozes quality in the fit out and the attention to detail. I'll do a boat write up after the trip.

We arrived at Richardsons just before 1 and the boat was soon ready. As per usual I couldn't wait to get away. It was a relaxed handover, a quick unpack and we were away about 2-15. The weather was cooler than yesterday but still lovely and Mel was enjoying herself too, feet up on the luxury sofa. We made relaxed progress down a busy Ant. How Hill was almost full as we passed but Ludham Bridge moorings much less so for some reason. We turned right at the bottom of the Ant and opted for Ranworth Island for the night (the lunch time crowd were no doubt filling the Staithe). We had food to cook on the boat tonight so it was ideal. By around 6pm it had filled up here too, just the one gap I think. I'll post some photos at some point when I get a decent signal.

SwanR · May 29, 2018

I always enjoy mooring on Ranworth Island instead of the staithe.

As for the boat ... ex-Swancraft ... nothing else to be said!

NorfolkNog · May 29, 2018

Glad you are both enjoying it Simon. Yes, got to agree with Jean, Swancraft are a bit special. They didn't cut corners and would go for quality rather than cheaper options. In addition they listened very carefully to what customers wanted and incorporated this into their builds. We've hired Roamer previously in December and it is indeed a lovely boat. If a boat can be snug and cosy in December its got to be good!

SPEEDTRIPLE · May 29, 2018

1 hour ago, NorfolkNog said:

Glad you are both enjoying it Simon. Yes, got to agree with Jean, Swancraft are a bit special. They didn't cut corners and would go for quality rather than cheaper options. In addition they listened very carefully to what customers wanted and incorporated this into their builds. We've hired Roamer previously in December and it is indeed a lovely boat. If a boat can be snug and cosy in December its got to be good!

I wish Lightning was. It was bloody freezing when we were aboard in November 18 months ago. The year before, November was a great month.

Good to see you`re having a great time Simon, and good to know the better half loves your choice of boat. Brownie points earned or what? lol.

Matt · May 29, 2018

I wish Lightning was. It was bloody freezing when we were aboard in November 18 months ago. The year before, November was a great month.
Good to see you`re having a great time Simon, and good to know the better half loves your choice of boat. Brownie points earned or what? lol.

Those cold evenings are when the large saloon is a drawback!

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

Broads01 · May 30, 2018

Even though the weather is warm it was windy yesterday evening and I noticed how air tight the saloon seems to be. The sliding canopies have thick draft excluding brushes all the way around and they're fitted so well you feel like you're in a saloon with a fixed roof. It's a huge contrast to the older sliding roof boats where you can feel the wind if you put your hands near the rails and at the top.