Samuel

Just checked elsewhere and I tend to agree with the AA on this issue: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/cost-of-motoring/dartford-crossing-dart-charge.html

Sorry, read it all again and not sure if payment by cash is possible, I noticed that there are arrangements for 'evasion' charges. If so I would feel sorry for any foreign visitors who innocently drive down a non-toll motorway and later find out they have evaded a charge!

"What about us northeners who may use it once a year..... Do we need to show our passports, or can we pay cash..... Or should we just go the long way round..... Or should we send the boys down first..... Seriously, How will people who do not use it find out before they go, or do you get a letter (number plate recognition) saying you have gone over and need to pay..." Same question as above to the OP. Having read through the link it seems occasional users of the M25 will still be able to pay in cash. How else could it be on a major motorway? Can anyone confirm?

Iain, annoying I agree, but hardly a 'wild animal'. Perhaps you should have tried to find out the person responsible for rearing it with the aim of being shot by sports men and women. But then again they might have tried to sue you for their loss of income.

It's interesting that the EDP report and contributors so far do not mention the potential impact of non-indigenous species on native ecosystems (apart from the Ted Ellis quote about plant life). In the Carmargue, another low lying wetland, they gave up on eradication. So if you are fond of them pop over and have a look, they are difficult to miss.

As an owner of a Broads yacht I have generally found most motor boat helms very helpful despite some of the seemingly strange manoeuveres we sailors perform! I would like to point out some additional points and it would be interesting to hear the views of fellow sailors and motor boat helms: Because when using the engine I am also a motor boat, I too have to give way to yachts under sail. I perhaps have an advantage that I am in a better position to judge the intention of a yacht than those who don't sail. However there are occasions, especially when approaching a flotilla of yachts racing at close quarters, that it becomes impossible to give way to them all within the confines of a river. The only sensible method then appears to to hug the right hand bank at a reduced speed. And if I support the concept that yachts racing have a heightened 'right of way' than those not racing then I am likely to provide a more equal disadvantage to each yacht. When sailing downwind I will if possible keep to the right. If it means gybing then I will gybe. Of course there are occasions, with the wind on the beam for instance, when I might be hugging the 'wrong' bank because I know the next turn in the river means I will be heading into the wind and so I want to keep as far to windward as possible. But I don't think that absolves me from considering what is coming towards me around that blind bend and being prepared to take avoiding action despite my right of way over motor boats. For all I know it could be a yacht sailing fast around that bend. Perhaps I might not have time to work out which yacht has right of way. Compared to other places I have sailed I do think there is a minority of sailors who have a rather gung ho attitude. Broads yachts usually have a very large sail area for their size and can be fast, large and powerful boats. There is a tendency for some, because the Broads is a relatively benign sailing environment, to push it just a little too far and that can be rather disconcerting for other Broads users.

JM - this is interesting, if not alarming. Where can I find the info that shows how toll revenue relates to overhead and other expenditure? I agree with other posters that short stay tolls appear excessive especially for smaller craft like this.

JM - Ta for the apology but I was more irritated than offended. At least your generalisation was a positive one! Enought pontification from me and back to subject............... In the seventies at the age of 18 me and my friend hired a Drascombe Lugger for a week on Loch Lomond. It had a simple boom tent but no other domestic facilities. I remember it cost us £14. I don't know how we managed to sleep (i chose the cockpit sole) but we did. I don't think we had any foam mats, pilows etc. I do remember that my planning was not too good as I did not take any cooking utensils, plates, cutlery etc. Fortunately my friend, who was an experienced camper, had brought the basics. He would have his breakfast first then, after washing his bowl, knife and fork etc in the Loch, I would have mine. I have no recollection what we ate but perhaps it was similar to the diet I had when I spent six weeks at the age of 16, mostly alone, on my family's 20' yacht on Windermere. Breakfast then was bacon butties and tea was fish and chips. This is beginning to sound like a well known Monty Python sketch where the importance of cardboard boxes in the mythic Northern past plays a part.

JM - "Such lovely people, seemingly a Yorkshire trait" I really dislike stereotyping. I am from Yorkshire and I am definitely not lovely.

Where do they put the jaccussi and will I be able to use hair straighteners?

Shorter OED (a big book, not the internet): Rond - In East Anglia, a marshy, reed covered strip of land between a natural river bank and a man made embankment. c/f Rand - A border or margin of esp. marshy land. Interestingly the second reference has its origin in old Frisian and Old Saxon (Dutch). And of course the Dutch managed an awful lot of land drainage in 17th, 18th and 19th centuries in this country.

Interesting stuff. If you click on a photo you then find the option to download the whole book so you don't have to have your own personal copy like MM.

Hi The BSS does not cover navigation lights but if you want to travel by night on the Broads then you will need nav lights. That is covered by BA regulations. I expect others here will advise you on what they are.

Thanks Jonzo - I have read the new instructions and it works! On my second question I guess the answer is yes unless they 'view new content'?

Hi knowledgeable people Can anyone explain how "view new content" works? When I try it it says no new content found when obviously there is. What am I doing wrong? On a related issue if I post something in one of the sub sections of the forum will people see it only if they choose to view that sub section? Ta

Thanks BS & NN. Fortunately the width of the dyke is not a problem for my little yacht. Still not quite clear however whether there are BA moorings here or perhaps a parish staithe which can be used?

NN - I have never moored here. What is the normal mooring position i.e. free or pay, how much room etc?

Thanks Strowager, the pictures put it into context very well.

Hi Thanks for the ideas and sorry for this late second post, I've been busy. I had already decided that lead was the best option because of some of the reasons discussed previously. I also want it to be easily removable because I would not want the extra stress caused by additional ballast on an elderly wooden hull when she is lifted out of the water. The idea of the car tyre balance weights is attractive because of cost and I might look into it. I will keep you posted of developments

Hi all I'm considering adding some internal lead ballast to improve the trim of my yacht. The ideal would be lead ingots about 10 - 15kg which would allow me to experiment with the effect of weights in different positions.However lead in other forms would also be suitable e.g. the lead plates that are used as mast counterweights. A local scrap merchant has quoted £2 / kg for lead scrap so I do not expect it to be cheap. If anyone has any they want to sell privately or can suggest some good commercial sources please contact me by pm.

Interesting. Not sure about the green belt analogy. A very, very brief scan of this suggests to me the main draft alterations to this plan relate to the impact of climate change on the Norfolk AONB. E.G. As is already accepted by some public / charitable bodies in Suffolk coastal areas there seems little appetite to protect fresh water marsh/fen areas from becoming inter tidal (apologies is this shorthand is a bit inaccurate). Links below are to the article and the consultation document. Analysing this properly would be a full time job (perhaps that's part of the problem!) http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/norfolk_coast_partnership_aims_to_answer_questions_facing_norfolk_s_shoreline_1_3318418 http://www.norfolkcoastaonb.org.uk/pages/pspage.php?PageID=1000

Yes me and my girlfriend were those mad people who tried it. His legs must be longer than mine because I sank well above the knees. I concur with Paladin's assessment of current conditions but don't let that put anyone off doing the walk in a few months time. The river bank section was a delight and only a bit wet. The rhond section is the equal if not better than similar walks in nature reserves in the northern and southern broads. I imagine the insect and bird life will be prolific in summer. Thanks again to Paladin for suggesting this walk.

Fully agree with 650xs on that. I have always found the BA very helpful on these issues. Extra bit that might be of use to some is that if you have to buy a short visit icence whilst waiting for the BA to issue a new one year license they will refund the cost of the SVL.

Forgot to add: Is there any chance that the apparent error on the Google map re River Ant could originate from the possibilty that this was an earlier route of the River and the present route is an artificial short cut? This has happened elsewhere on Broads rivers.

Thanks to all for the welcome and thanks to Paladin for the grid references, further description and photo map. Public footpaths through around ths area are a bit scarce so it's great to hear of this permissive path. Photographs of my boat will follow once I have her in a suitable condition. Grid references are not difficult folks. Buy the Broads Ordnance Survey map (OL 40) and have a go, there are instructions on every OS map. Apart from walking I always use the OS map on the Broads when sailing longer distances. If you have ever used walking maps on the Continent you will realise that OS maps are far superior and the more that are bought the more likley this institution will survive. Of course you could always use a smartphone instead but where's the fun in that?