Jump to content
Print your own personalised forum logo

Late October On Jade Emblem

Travelman

By Travelman
in Holiday Tales & Blogs

 Share

Recommended Posts

Travelman

Travelman

Posted
Posted

The night before...

 

Based on very useful tips and suggestions I've picked up on NBN, we are ditching the suitcases in favour of shopping bags and soft bags for our packing this time. It makes complete sense and should allow for much more room on the boat.

 

Packing for two adults and two young lads (14 and 8) is not equal to twice as much as two adults. It's more like about five times the amount of packing, but we will get there. I also feel like I've done about two weeks of shopping in Sainsbury's, and the bill appears to support this. This is separate to the Majestic Wine bill...

 

We are planning to leave at about 9:30 tomorrow morning. This of course clashes with a very important rugby game, but I will have to rely on Radio 5 Live to follow the game during the drive. Hopefully we will be in Horning between 12:30 and 1, depending on traffic. The idea is that we have lunch there and then collect the boat.

 

More later...

 

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

 

 

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Travelman

Travelman

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Hope the wind drops by tomorrow as it's quite strong at the moment. After some rain tomorrow the forecast for next week is good. Hope you have a great holiday. 
It looks like the weather will be pretty good once this band of rain passes. Sunny, but a few degrees cooler. Extra bedding has been requested!

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites
SwanR

SwanR

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, Travelman said:

Hopefully we will be in Horning between 12:30 and 1, depending on traffic. The idea is that we have lunch there and then collect the boat.

 

There’s a really good cafe come restaurant that has opened where Pedro was right by Ferry Marina. I would highly recommend it for lunch while you’re waiting for the boat. Hot and cold food, all day breakfasts etc. Very friendly staff and a good atmosphere. I’ll be mentioning it on my holiday tale when I get round to it as we ate there twice when we were out last week. 

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Travelman

Travelman

Posted
  • Author
Posted
There’s a really good cafe come restaurant that has opened where Pedro was right by Ferry Marina. I would highly recommend it for lunch while you’re waiting for the boat. Hot and cold food, all day breakfasts etc. Very friendly staff and a good atmosphere. I’ll be mentioning it on my holiday tale when I get round to it as we ate there twice when we were out last week. 
Traffic was light all the way up from Surrey and we got to Ferry Marina at 1:30. The boat was ready so we headed straight out. I have to go back tomorrow morning as I left my sunglasses in the car, so might actually have breakfast there.

We went straight up to Wroxham this afternoon but bridge clearance was 6'3" and our air draft is 6'7" so we did a quick u-turn, headed down to Salhouse Broad, and dropped the mud anchor. We plan to head up the Ant, with stops in Ranworth and Ludham tomorrow and maybe get to Neatishead in time to find a mooring.

For now, the wine is going down well and I'm looking forward to our first night on board. 1572116548290.jpeg

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

  • Like 11
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Travelman

Travelman

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Day 2, Sunday 27th October.

After a cold night (it was 5 degrees in the boat when we woke up) we set off fairly early from Salhouse Broad and made a quick stop at Horning Ferry Marina to pick up my sunglasses from the car and also to get a mop from the boatyard as we realised our boat didn't have one. We then cruised down to Ranworth where we walked up to the church (and climbed the tower... the view was spectacular as always.

After a light lunch at the Granary Stores we set off for Ludham, hoping to get water there (we moored at the far end of Ranworth Staithe, out of reach of the water hose, as it was busy). There was a day boat moored right in front of the water point at Ludham and we still had nearly half a tank so we carried on up to How Hill. We've never stopped at How Hill because it has always been busy, but there was lots of room now so we moored up and did the nature trail. We then carried on up to Neatishead - I had reserved a table at the White Horse for dinner. Neatishead Staithe was full so we turned around and moored at Barton Turf. The meal was fantastic, as expected.

I forgot to mention this before, but I found Ferry Marina really good. The welcome on arrival was quick and friendly, and we were away in our boat after a very effecient handover within about half an hour of arriving there.

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites
vanessan

vanessan

Posted
Posted
12 hours ago, Travelman said:

Neatishead Staithe was full so we turned around and moored at Barton Turf.

Did you check out Gaye’s Staithe? Often room there. A good walk to Neatishead from Barton Turf, built up a good appetite for a good meal no doubt. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Travelman

Travelman

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Did you check out Gaye’s Staithe? Often room there. A good walk to Neatishead from Barton Turf, built up a good appetite for a good meal no doubt. 
We did, but it was full. The walk wasn't bad... about 15 minutes, and worth it for the meal

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Travelman

Travelman

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Did you check out Gaye’s Staithe? Often room there. A good walk to Neatishead from Barton Turf, built up a good appetite for a good meal no doubt. 
Sorry - that was me getting confused! We moored at Gaye's Staithe, not Barton Turf. In my defense I had consumed a couple of pints at the Sutton Staithe Hotel when I posted that...

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
vanessan

vanessan

Posted
Posted
48 minutes ago, Travelman said:

Sorry - that was me getting confused! We moored at Gaye's Staithe, not Barton Turf. In my defense I had consumed a couple of pints at the Sutton Staithe Hotel when I posted that...

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app
 

I did think 15 mins from Barton Turf was pushing it a bit but thought you might be the ultra fit type and run all the way! 😁

  • Like 2
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Travelman

Travelman

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Day 3, Monday 28th October.

After filling water we set off from Gaye's Staithe at about 9 am and made our way to Stalham. We have never visited the Museum of the Broads before, so after mooring up at the free moorings just outside the Richardson's yard we walked over to the museum, and later popped across to Tesco to stock up on a few bits. We left Stalham at about 1:30 pm and went across to Sutton Staithe, where we moored up for the night. I bought some electricity cards from the boatyard - really friendly bunch of people here - and then we let the boys run around on the green and burn off some energy. We had a drink in the Sutton Staithe Hotel and then it was back to the boat for dinner and bed. Being hooked up we were able to leave the heating on at a low setting through the night, which made getting out of bed the next morning somewhat easier!

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Travelman

Travelman

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I've fallen behind with my updates, but now that we are (sadly) back home I shall continue...

Day 4: 29th October.

We got a way from Sutton Staithe at about 8:30 and cruised across to Wayford. The river was remarkably quiet and we even spotted a little water vole frantically swimming across our bow as we glided along. We turned around at Wayford and cruised to Ludham where we stopped for water and to pick up a few things from the shop. We then carried on down the Ant and on to the Bure where we made a stop at St Benet's Abbey. After a look around we headed down to Stracey Arms - my younger son loves the windpump there and also the animals. They said the windpump is due to reopen for visitors next year, which will be nice. After saying hello to Henry the goat we cruised back upstream to Stokesby, where we moored up for the night. The sunset was amazing - unfortunately I can't upload pictures from my phone so will try from the laptop later. We had a couple of drinks in the pub and walked back to the boat for dinner.

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Travelman

Travelman

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Day 5: 30th October.

This was a special day. I had long ago given up hope of getting a cruiser under PH Bridge, and had also resigned myself to hiring a day boat for this purpose. The sun was shining, so we got an early(ish) start from Stokesby and made our way purposefully up the Thurne to Potter Heigham.

An observation I made during the week was that many of the Faircraft Loynes/NBD boats seemed to be in a terrible rush to get wherever it was they were all going. Our boat had a reversing camera, and it's most practical use was to see when one of these boats was a couple of feet off our stern so that we could make way. This happened on the way up the Thurne, so we slowed down and allowed him to rush past as safely as possible. We then arrived ten minutes later at PH to see the same boat performing some sort of turning maneuver near the bridge. Anyway, we moored up opposite Herbert Woods, right by a socket which was handy. The NBD boat then came alongside and attempted to moor up at the next space up from us. The wind was brisk, and blowing away from the moorings, and they were struggling to get alongside so I shouted to them to get as close as they could and throw us lines so we could help them get moored up. Unfortunately they couldn't get close enough, despite having a bow thruster, so they abandoned the idea and went back down the river. So much for all the rushing about.

Anyway, we walked up to Phoenix and hired one of their little electric boats, and were soon on our way up the river towards Horsey Mere. There was 5'6" clearance under the bridge and it didn't even look like the Martham boats were getting through. One was moored downstream, near us. We chugged along to Horsey Windpump and tied up the boat, then walked about half an hour to the beach. This was absolutely worth it. The beach was full of seals and with the sun shining it was truly spectacular! We then went round to Hickling Broad and tied up at the Pleasure Boat Inn, where we had a lovely lunch. We got back to PH just after 4 and after stocking up on a bit of food and water we retreated to Jade Emblem for a bit of pumplin carving.

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Travelman

Travelman

Posted
  • Author
Posted
That sounds like a great day. I've noticed the same with some boats that feel the need for speed ... and then you see them later on and wonder what the rush was for.
Obviously just a coincidence, but it was always boats from the same company. Perhaps we weren't being observant enough and maybe it was the same one every time!

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Sponsors

    Norfolk Broads Network is run by volunteers - You can help us run it by making a donation

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

For details of our Guidelines, please take a look at the Terms of Use here.

  I accept