"Duncan Heenan" <duncanheenan.TakeThisOut@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:47610048$1_3@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
> "TonyB" <hatt.j.bennett.TakeThisOut@tesco.net> wrote in message
>>Tony,
> Tony,
> Excellent! Many thanks.
> The main criteria for start & finish places are that a) they are the same,
> and b) we can leave a car there reasonably safely. It will most likely be
> a
> motor boat as, though I love sailing I am used to a bit more sea room than
> on the Broads, and I think Vivienne is hoping for a more restful week that
> she'd get under sail.
> I tried your email return address, but it cam up 'invalid'
> Thanks for all your trouble.
> Best wishes,
> Duncan Heenan
Ah, sorry I forgot to mention. Remove hat before replying, leaving just
t.j. etc.....
In that case I would reccommend Royalls of Wroxham
http://www.royallsboatyard.com/
with whom I have had very fair experiences. Royalls are an old Broads
family,
the Grandad used to be a trading wherry skipper. Still a small family run
company.
Barnes Brinkcraft are also said to be good, they are a larger company
with greater choice:
http://www.barnesbrinkcraft.co.uk/
Both companies have secure car parking available.
Bear in mind two things. It is not comfortably possible to do the northern
broads and the southern in one week. The northern bit is busier but it's
where almost all of the Broads are,
the southern is quieter and with more river work although the rivers are
generally wider.
The second thing is to check whether your proposed boat will pass under the
bridges you want to
go under. They do say in the descriptions - " Will not pass under ****
bridge."
This is probably the most useful Broads guide:
http://www.broadsnet.co.uk/
If at all possible pick a start date other than Saturday. Saturday pm on the
Bure can be a bit "processional"
and even manic as all the newbie boaters are still in M25 mentality, seeking
a mooring for the night and not
realising that a motor boat steers from the back and reacts slowly.
Generally speaking you do not need to worry about the tides when motoring
unless you go downriver of
Thurne Mouth, the junction of the Thurne and Bure rivers.
If it were me on a first trip out from Wroxham I'd footle down the Bure past
Horning where there are many
Broads to look at, and loads of moorings for the first night. There are pubs
at Horning on the riverside but they are lively,
or a quiet mooring on the bank between Wroxham Broad and the river.
Accessible only by water you are assured of
a fairly quiet night. One "must do" is to moor at Salhouse Broad, stern on,
Med style and walk about a mile to your
pre-booked table at the Fur and Feather in Woodbastwick. It is the brewery
tap for the thatched brewery
of Woodfordes, has great food and better beers. The village itself has a
small forge and lovely cottages.
The downside is the mooring, while quiet and always has vacancies, is the
most expensive one that I know in Broadland
at £8 for the night.
Then a day or two up the River Ant to Barton Broad where Nelson learnt to
sail followed by a day or two north
of Potter Bridge where you must use the free bridge pilot as the air draft
is only about 6' 6" at LWS!
North of Potter, West Somerton has crystal clear water safe to swim in,
although this is discouraged
by the Broads Authority. You do need to watch out for anglers - this stretch
is closed to boats
Sunday mornings prior to 10 a.m. for match fishing. Not usually a problem
for me!
On the way back, turn up Candle Dyke, past the last working eel sett ( stop
idf the red lights
are on, or risk a prop wrap! ) through White Slea and Heigham Sound to Deep
Dyke and Deep Go
Dyke which lead to Hickling Broad, the largest Broad. Here you'll see world
class windsurfers practising,
Marsh Harriers for sure and if you're lucky you may hear a Bittern or see a
Swallowtail butterfly.
There's a nice pub at the end of the Broad - the Pleasure Boat Inn. Mention
me to Fiona the restarant
manager or Julie the landlady.
On the way back turn to port after the Deep Dykes and go up the delightfully
narrow Meadow Dyke
for a mile or so to Horsey Mere where you can moor at the staithe, visit the
windmill and walk to the
rustic Nelson Head pub across the fields - watch out for the bull. Andy and
Barbara will serve you the second
best pint in Norfolk, and excellent meal which you can walk off by strolling
through Horsey Gap onto
a three mile long golden sanded beach. There may be a seal or two there if
you're lucky.
Say hello to Andy for me, he's an affable chap, an ex hippie with loads of
bling and the deepest voice you ever heard.
If you see Derek who will probably know you've moored up before you've
finished your half-hitch
a little sympathy may go down well - his boat caught fire and sank this
year, just by the windmill.
Some say it was arson but it may have been a gas leak and a bilge pump
kicking in. Derek will
relieve you of your mooring fee and talk to you in real Narfaark.
Horsey staithe is also pricey at £4 but the starboard bank is cheaper than
the port oddly. Well, this is Norfolk.
( Motto: "Do different." ) Cries of "Hev yew gotta loight bor?" are
tolerated by the locals with a weary grin
as they have heard it before. Should they respond with " Hev yoor faar gota
dickey, Bor?" the correct
answer is " Ho Yus, and he be alookin' fur a fule t' roide him". Roughly
translated this means " Does your father have a small horse at all old
chap?"
and the answer " Yes, and he's looking for a fool ( like you ) to ride him."
Do not, under any circumstances, mention dwile flonking. It'll start a fight
because everyone has a different opinion as to
what it actually is. I know what it is but everytime I try to tell the
locals they just start fighting.
There's a very fair chance that you'll have a nice time, will not get mugged
or burgled, will meet
fairly friendly and tolerant locals, get good food in selected places and
will sleep well.
TonyB
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