Boating on the Broads COMPLETED 5/19 - Page 27 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
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We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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There were lots of Charles and Anne as well as a few of Andrew and Edward-- those two seem to always be a bit overlooked, don't they? Many also of Princess Elizabeth, her sister and parents before they had any notion they'd be King and Queen. I was born the same year as Charles and so the photos of his childhood -- the cars and the way people dressed-- always look like my childhood photos. Minus the castles in the background, of course!
Monday 21 April – part three: eating in the Royal stables!
We headed outside, and got some more photos of the house…
… then headed through the grounds…
We made our way over to the stables, which is now home to the Sandringham Museum and the stables tea room, which was our first stop.
We had perfect timing again, and we didn’t have many people in front of us, although the family who were immediately in front of us took forever. Three members of staff were dealing with them at one point. Instead of them thinking “let’s get at least one person serving the next in line”, they carried on putting all their resources into this one family. What happened as a result? The line ended up out through the door.
Finally we were served, and I got smoked salmon sandwiches, although I confess I’m not sure what type of sandwiches Mark got. I didn’t bother taking photos of them, as pre-packed sandwiches are the same the world over, I’m sure.
Here’s what we got for dessert though – much more interesting! Coffee cake for me…
… and scone with jam for Mark!
Here’s where we sat – isn’t this cool?
Once we were done eating, we headed into the museum, which told the story of Sandringham, and also showcases some of the cars and other items from here, as you can see from this…
The first room had lots to see in it, but it was so hot in there, I didn’t give it as much time as it perhaps I should have done, which was a shame.
Then you head in to see some of the Royal cars, and wow, they are quite something!
There were some more to see inside the Royal garage…
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I never (again) gave much thought to the Royal Cars. Wow! That's actually pretty cool that they keep them all right there in one place. Fascinating stuff, actually! Kind of sad to read the last one that King George ordered.
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Tanya
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That was so sad to see those ducks fighting in the water. Probably, don't want to know the end result!
That was a great job of navigating by Mark with the bridge problems! I guess you picked the right captain for this trip!
Those were some amazing shots of the sunset, before dinner! Looked like a good meal.
So happy to see your boys made the trip! You know, they'd be there to greet their number one admirer!
Great way to spend the refund money at Sandringham Estate. The place looks amazing and so well kept. Loved the royal cars!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I do seem to have a habit of finding them on every trip!
Or perhaps, they're finding you!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Great pictures from around Sandringham! I love seeing pictures of the royal family walking to church on Christmas! I didn't realize you could actually tour the estate.
Monday 21 April – part four: this is a bit creepy!
Then you’re back into the main part of the museum, and I’m sure the next exhibit is one that boys of all ages would love!
The next section looks at the staffing of the Sandringham Estate, which was an eye opener, as you finally get to see how many people work here. This is the latest group shot from 2012…
… and this one dates back to 1979…
This room was a bit creepy to me. This is what they talked about at the entrance, the fact that there’s a collection of big game trophies of King George V, but now the Royal family work hard to conserve some of the very animals pictured in this room.
The next room includes various artefacts gifted to the Royal family over the years…
Trust me to find a cow in here…
Then you’re back to the entrance. We headed out into the grounds, taking the short walk back towards the entrance. This is where you get some really stunning views of the house and the estate.
We also saw these guys – too cute! Fortunately, at least this time they were being looked after by their parents.
The flowers and trees in bloom really added to the garden. They just looked beautiful.
We made our way out, and took the walk that the Royal family take every Christmas Day over to the church….
With that, we headed back to the car with one quick stop for the obligatory fridge magnet, and we were soon on the road. The first hour or so of driving was pretty painful on single lane roads, and of course we met slow moving cars, and trucks. I know Mark got very frustrated at points with them.
Finally thankfully we were on the motorway, although even that was a bit stop and start. I guess you can’t expect anything more on the final day of a four day Bank Holiday weekend.
Both GPS systems (Mark put his in as well as our in-car one) told us there were problems on the M25 heading for the Dartford Crossing. His was talking about a half hour delay, which we weren’t too keen on, so we followed the diversion route they both sent us on, and that was fine. We even got some nice views on the way…
When we re-joined the M25, right before the Dartford Crossing, this was the sight… just a little busy!
We made our way slowly over the bridge, which at least allowed me to get some photos as we did.
Then we were back into Kent…
… and back into our home town of Maidstone:
Just a word here about the camera. Pretty much the whole time from the Dartford Crossing photos to getting back to Maidstone, I must’ve turned the thing on and off about seven or eight times. Each time, no error message! I thought that was it, problem solved, and I was figuring it was down to the battery in the camera discharging completely, which is what happened just as we left Sandringham, but sadly the error message started up again with these shots. I guess the problem is not yet sorted.
It had been a very relaxing long weekend away, and we both really enjoyed it. I learnt a few things:
1) I don’t like not having proper shower/bath facilities on a boat – we will ensure that’s corrected for the next time.
2) I don’t like having a bed next to the exterior of the boat, as it gets very cold. Again, I won’t make that mistake again.
3) On any future trip, I need to take a hot water bottle and slippers with me to stop the issues with the cold!
4) The Norfolk Broads is more of a hen and stag destination than I ever thought possible.
5) Mark is a very good boat captain, which is just as well, as I’m absolutely useless!
6) We need to do this again at some point…
… and on that last point, we’ve booked to do exactly that! We’re going back on the Broads, this time the southern Broads for the early May Bank Holiday weekend, for another three nights. Doing it then means only taking one day off work, so that works great. The boat we’re renting next time is the Alpha Swordfish, which comes complete with proper shower/boat facilities (see photos for evidence ) and a bed that isn’t next to the exterior of the boat (see the boat plan and photos), so it meets points 1 and 2. It looks wonderful, and I can’t wait to see what it’s like, and try boating around the Broads for a second time!
The weather today was dry and sunny with temperatures in the low 60s. The best thing today was Sandringham. The worst thing today was out vacation coming to an end. Today we tried visiting Sandringham And the result was I’m glad we got to see it. The most magical moment today was seeing the lambs along the riverside.
Thank you for sharing this trip with us! What a great way to spend a weekend! And the boat for next trip is GORGEOUS!!!! Even those recliner chairs look comfy enough to sleep in! And I really like the walkout on the bow!
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
Thanks for sharing another wonderful TR! This one was very interesting because I was completely unfamiliar with this type of trip. The next boat looks gorgeous!
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Congrats on the fuel refund! 
they carried on putting all their resources into this one family. What happened as a result? The line ended up out through the door. 
Coffee cake for me… 
Looked like a good meal.
Fortunately, at least this time they were being looked after by their parents. 
I thought that was it, problem solved, and I was figuring it was down to the battery in the camera discharging completely, which is what happened just as we left Sandringham, but sadly the error message started up again with these shots. I guess the problem is not yet sorted. 
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