Another Week On Swan Roamer: 9th - 16th June 2018

[BryanW]

This will probably be a fairly short write-up but there will be a link to the video at the end which contains even more stills this time.

 

Saturday 9th June

As usual on arrival in the area we stopped at Hoveton to visit the toilets and have a look at the river.  Having noted that the car park behind the toilets (belonging to the Kings Head?) was now controlled by ANPR cameras and payable we parked in Roy’s car park and walked across the road.

We then went on to Womack to have our sandwiches and coffee.  At about mid-day decided to go on to Stalham where we went into reception to be told that they would open at 13:00 not 12:30 as previously because they had an awful lot of boats going out.  Duly opened just after 13:00 and we were checked in being told that the boat was ready so it was off to collect lifejackets and on to the boat on Swan Quay.

Once the boat was loaded the car was parked and after a short wait the instructor came on board, since we had been in April on the same boat it was a very brief handover and signing the paperwork.  Left the yard at 14:00 a bit undecided where would be our first stop but since we hadn’t been to Barton Turf in April decided to make for there.  We were going to moor on Paddy’s Lane but there was space on Barton Turf Staithe so we went in there.  We did see a couple of Kingfishers sitting together on a branch while we were coming down Stalham dyke but it was too busy to stop unfortunately.

Had a walk round to Paddy’s Lane in the hope of photographing dragonflies and butterflies but only a few very flighty damselflies however we did see some Southern Marsh Orchids so not a total loss.  It had been a dry day and evening but there was heavy rain overnight but thankfully this was the only rain for the whole week.

 

Sunday 10th June

Topped up with water and assisted neighbouring boat with water hose taken across Swan Roamer.

Left the staithe at about 08:00, destination Womack.

A slow steady run down the Ant and onto the Bure and then Thurne, passed a lot of paddle boarders after St Benet’s and on the Thurne, it seems to be the latest craze now on a Sunday.

Found plenty of space on the staithe at Womack, moored near the water hose.  A quiet peaceful, afternoon photographing a Grebe with boats coming and going, by the end of the afternoon the staithe was full.  At about 20:30 a HW boat next but one to us decided to start his engine but only for about 15 minutes so I guess he needed his heating on so no real problem, as a point of interest this was really the only occasion anybody ran their engine on moorings the whole week.

 

Monday 11th June

Topped up with water, usual slow job.

Having left Womack just before 08:00 we decided that a meal at Neatishead was called for so it was a slow cruise down the Thurne, up the Bure and Ant to Lime Kiln Dyke, near the end of the dyke we spotted a deer on the right hand bank in a house garden so it was a quick astern to stop the boat, we were only crawling anyway (Roamer really will go slow), and a short bit of video before the deer decided he/she wasn’t going to pose any longer.

Once at Neatishead Staithe we only found one of Nancy Oldfield’s yachts moored there so reversed in on the west side leaving space for a boat at the end.  Phone call made to book a table at the White Horse.  By 13:00 there was only one space left but there was some movement of boats out and in during the afternoon.

Lovely afternoon and usual good meal in the evening but on return to the staithe found one of Richardsons Commanders moored across the corner effectively blocking everybody in.  We were all a bit concerned what was going to happen in the morning but give Commander’s occupants their due they actually left just before 08:00 in the morning.

 

Tuesday 12th June

Topped up with water (again).

We left just after 08:00 and successfully navigated between the boats either side at the end of the staithe, actually hardly had to use the bow thruster so it was a quiet exit.

Decided to make for How Hill to check out the insect population but the only thing we saw were some baby rabbits which were fairly tame.

Left How Hill after an hour or so and decided to go Kingfisher hunting so proceeded to Stalham Dyke but nothing seen.  We then made for Sutton Staithe for the rest of the day and night and found plenty of space, I started to become surprised about having no problem with moorings even though it was busy on the rivers and very few boats left in the yards.

The weather started to improve during the afternoon with fewer clouds.

 

Wednesday 13th June

Lovely early morning with a light mist on the water.  Reversed out of the staithe and turned on the broad, then made our way to Richardsons for a pump out (red indicator not lit but played safe) and refilled with water.  Then up to Wayford Bridge and back to How Hill.

This time we decided to take the Nature Trail since the weather had been dry for a few days but the first field was still quite soggy, however, we were rewarded with Swallowtails and plenty of dragon and damsel flies.  The weather turned very nice in the afternoon.

 

Thursday 14th June

Very windy this morning and we had decided to pick up water at Russell’s on South Walsham, I don’t know why but it always seems to be windy when we go down there and once down Fleet Dyke the wind had really picked up, still Russell’s only charge a pound for water.

Decided that we would go back to Womack for the rest of the day so it was a slow cruise again, the staithe was quite full this time but we still found enough space for Roamer.

A lovely sunny afternoon just lazing and talking to people.

At about 18:30 ish a private boat came along the moored boats very close and could be heard complaining that there was no room for him, what did he expect at that time of day?  Then lo and behold a hire boat did the same thing just after 19:00 and he was quite intimidating coming very close to the moored boats bow on, eventually he left and was seen going round the island but where he eventually moored I don’t know since he wasn’t on the island in the mooring.

 

Friday 15th June

Last real day so we headed to Cockshoot for a few hours and then on to Paddy’s Lane for another couple of hours.

About 16:00 we left and proceeded back to Richardsons to find it very busy still with boats going out, in fact I had to wait for a couple of boats to come out of Swan Quay before I could venture in, while waiting we got a very slight nudge on the stern from a boat out on his trial run but it was only gentle.

 

Saturday 16th June

Loaded the car and waited for the quay office to open together with all the others.  Once open checked in with the office and refuelled to find that we had only used £22.41 of fuel (at £1.15/l) so plenty of refund (still surprised they give cash back rather than refunding to credit card), they must love us.

 

Overall an excellent week but still no Kingfisher or Otter photographs, we will succeed one year.

 

That’s it until next year now when we have the same boat booked again.

 

This is the link to the video:

 

 

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the write up, really enjoyed the video there were some fantastic stills amongst it 

[SwanR]

Loved reading your write up and will watch the video later. :)

[YnysMon]

Lovely video and stills Bryan. You and your wife really excel at wildlife photography and videography. Wish I had the patience to take such great photos. Glad you had great weather this time, after your last trip!

Helen

[SwanR]

7 minutes ago, YnysMon said:

Lovely video and stills Bryan. You and your wife really excel at wildlife photography and videography. Wish I had the patience to take such great photos. Glad you had great weather this time, after your last trip!

Helen

What she said!

Great photography. :)

[Broads01]

Thanks for your write up once again, Bryan. I'm sure you did the right thing getting the pump out when you did given the experience we had with the toilet a few weeks back. I completely understand why you want Swan Roamer for a 3rd time and you'll be accruing Richardsons loyalty discount as well. 

[Hylander]

 

Lovely early morning with a light mist on the water.  Reversed out of the staithe and turned on the broad, then made our way to Richardsons for a pump out (red indicator not lit but played safe) and refilled with water.  Then up to Wayford Bridge and back to How Hill.

 

I personally never trust these indicator lights for the loo.      Every 3/4  days regardless , the sniff test is also a good one to go by.

It just makes everything nice and fresh again.

 

Loved the video.

 

 

 

 

 

[Broads01]

23 minutes ago, Hylander said:

 

Lovely early morning with a light mist on the water.  Reversed out of the staithe and turned on the broad, then made our way to Richardsons for a pump out (red indicator not lit but played safe) and refilled with water.  Then up to Wayford Bridge and back to How Hill.

 

I personally never trust these indicator lights for the loo.      Every 3/4  days regardless , the sniff test is also a good one to go by.

It just makes everything nice and fresh again.

 

Loved the video.

 

 

 

 

 

I agree about the light although on Swan Roamer, there was never a smell even when the light came on. The toilet is just too good. 

[BryanW]

Thanks Helen & Jean for your comments, still photography is what we really enjoy but the video fills in some of the cruising time.

9 hours ago, Broads01 said:

I'm sure you did the right thing getting the pump out when you did given the experience we had with the toilet a few weeks back.

 

25 minutes ago, Hylander said:

I personally never trust these indicator lights for the loo.      Every 3/4  days regardless

Yes, I am never too sure, when  Richardsons were doing the pump out I asked how many flushes once the light came on and was told one maybe two.  This type of toilet is all very well but they use an awful lot of water, when we had boats with the old 'dump through' type we managed to last the whole week but now we only go 3 to 4 days because you can never be sure and we always use the shore loos at Womack or Ranworth.

[Markw]

Lovely write up - very enjoyable.  Thanks