kadensa

JM, you should try living in the West Country, if you want to be subjected to the 'yokel' tag - (I blame the Wurzels). It doesn't help that in every television programme whenever a typical 'simple country bumpkin' type character appears, they invariably speak with a West-country accent.

Now that's just being modest!

Well, I won 4 tickets for a 'Broads Tours' trip in a raffle and we will be using them this holiday, so I will see for myself. I must say that 650xs's description doesn't sound encouraging, but I assume (hope!) they have a bar onboard and, if nothing else, it will be a new experience.

Welcome Gramps. A word of warning to you and all of our new members - we have all been on our best behaviour lately (including Gracie, for a wonder!) but don't be surprised if threads wander off topic, or degenerate into a contest to find the worst pun imaginable or similar. We even acknowledge the existence of other bodies of water apart from the Broads (shocking, I know). We do discuss serious topics and our members are a mine of useful information, but we do like to have fun, too. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

I've only just noticed this thread. Extremely useful information, thank you Geoff; but I think you should alter the title to 'Gazunder?'

It's not so much the distance but the actual route we have to take that is my biggest bugbear! However, this year, as we will be accompanied for our first week by a couple of family members, we will be staying overnight in Derby and will, thankfully, avoid the hell that is the M25 (at least on the way there!) Even better from my point of view, I will be travelling to Derby by train, (1st class, of course,) as my husband actually works near Evesham and it seemed pointless for him to come all the way home only to have to retrace his steps. The only downside is that since he will be taking all the paraphenalia (including clothes etc.) that I feel is indispensible up to Warwickshire on Monday morning, I'm having to sort everything out a week early, just when the turn in the weather means I could get in some relaxing time in the garden.

Jason, although we have never met, I have come to regard you as, if not exactly a 'friend', at least a very valued acquaintance, whose knowledge and integrity has never been a matter for doubt. I am very sorry to hear of your health problems and hope that it will not be long before things improve. I think that, sooner or later, everyone is forced by circumstance (be it health related or otherwise) to review his/her lifestyle and make changes which at first may be both unwelcome and difficult, but ultimately can lead to a renewed zest for life. I do hope that this will prove to be so in your case and rest assured that you have many 'friends', both here on this forum and elsewhere who keep you in their thoughts.

Yes, exactly my point, when you have decided between yourselves; collective action being taken is entirely appropriate.and on NBN that action is taken quietly in the background without having any impact on the smooth running of the forum. I'm so glad that, whatever the reason, the NBN is now attracting so many new members and I do hope that they will enjoy the lovely atmosphere here as much as I do.

As far as I am aware, the 'bosses',as you call them, have never expressed a collective opinion on anything. In fact, I'd be hard put to name them, even though it is indicated against their usernames, so low-key is the moderation on here. I think that all the moderators deserve hearty congratulations and thanks from us all for making this forum a pleasure to visit.

My son, partner and baby son will be on Highland Gem for 2 weeks from 12th, and as our holidays overlap by 6 days we will be meeting up, so I will take some photos and post them when I get back.

Really?

I can't speak for others, but I've always done the tying up, primarily, nowadays, as my partner, sadly, no longer has the agility to enable him to do it (and anyway I've always been better at it than he is!). However, once I'm on the bank with a turn or two around one post, he will often step off to give me a hand. I don't really remember having much of a problem with holding on to the ropes (even at Ludham bridge in a VERY strong off-shore wind) and I'm 5ft 3in and barely 8 stone. But then, it's probably the years of humping the vacuum cleaner up and down stairs, moving furniture, carrying shopping, etc. that has given me a 'strong arm'!

Sorry to disagree with you, Gracie, but your ideal sounds just like every other pub in every town/village in the country. To make somewhere like the Berney Arms a success it would have to be different, otherwise why would anyone go out of their way to visit it?

I've found that's a small price to pay for keeping four grandchildren amused for a couple of hours!

The first picture you posted this evening has to be one of the most evocative I've ever seen. .

An easy experiment to demonstrate the difference between low and slack water and the currents experienced when travelling down the Bure through Great Yarmouth. - First make a paper boat (don't worry what it looks like, there are no prizes for artistic achievement, thank goodness) Fill the bath to a depth of +- 4ins /10cms (if you don't have a bath at home, a sink will do, although the experiment will not work so well). Allow the water to settle and then place the paper boat in the bath at the farthest end from the plug, then remove the plug. As the water begins to empty, you should notice that the boat will move towards the outlet, slowly at first, then with increasing speed as it nears the plug hole. The water level will, of course drop. When the boat is around half way down the length of the bath, turn on the tap(s). Immediately you will notice that the speed of the boat decreases and even though the water level may still drop slightly, it will do so at a slower rate. Now gradually increase the flow from the taps until the boat holds its position - that is 'slack water'.i.e. the force of the outflow through the plug is exactly balanced by that of the inflow from the taps. You should notice that the water level has risen (albeit slightly) from what was its lowest point (low water). (It would probably be more effective if, instead of increasing the flow from the taps, which will cause turbulence, you were to partially block the plughole until the outflow and inflow forces are balanced). Please note that this demonstration is not intended to mimic exactly the situation at GY, since the narrowing of the river there also causes the ebb current to flow faster, but, hopefully, it will give some idea of the principles involved.

Sorry, Marina, having re-read your posts I think I've confused myself as to which direction you're travelling. Not that it matters - your timing sounds perfect,

Marina, I assume you will be travelling from the south? Your timing at GY looks pretty good to me, but bear in mind that. the smoothness of the passage over Breydon depends as much, if not more, on the direction and strength of the wind, as it does on the state of the tide.

And that is exactly what I'm trying to highlight, not what happens once you've 'turned the corner'. If you're being swept down by the current at that speed there isn't much time to react should you encounter an unexpected problem.

11. Stargazing in Exmoor National Park, Somerset and Devon Whenever I've been on Exmoor at night, I've seen quite a few parked cars, but never realised that it was 'stargazing' the occupants were indulging in.

The problem I was referring to is when you're travelling with the tide down the Bure. If you reach the Yacht Station around low water, the ebb current is still flowing, which is why the tidetables given to hirers (or at least all those I've seen) give the slack water passage time. Experienced helmsmen, for whom clearance at the bridges is the predominant consideration, may choose to go through at low water. However, I am still of the opinion that for most people and certainly for the novice, the best time to go through Yarmouth is between one and two hours after the published low water time.

I can't be 100% sure, but I think I 'took' that snapshot. .

But surely, the tides/currents, SHOULD be a major concern, especially when coming down the Bure. I thought that was why the advice is to time the passage for slack water rather than low water. The speed of the current means that one has very little steerageway, and can easily lead to problems should unforseen circumstances require a rapid alteration of course.

Which day is that? (Not that any of us will want to watch on the webcam, you understand)

Siddy, my tide-table shows Monday 15/9 low tide at Potter 11:49 and Tuesday 16/9 12:40, so you should be fine time-wise.