ChrisB

I am old enough to remember when the above reaches were the playground of the rich and famous. Visiting The Complete Angler, Marlow, Ye Olde Bell, Hurley etc their preferred mode of transport being immaculate Bates Starcraft. I noticed the last time I crossed Marlow Bridge, Chris Evans had a beautiful Starcraft on his mooring. Where the old J G Meakes yard and chandlery once stood.

The bit I know best:- From Staines to Henley certainly has "Style" lacked by other waterways. 100% Vaughan is correct. Money keeps it pristine. Big Money.

A chap I used to work with took some fantastic photos and a short video of an Adder dance on Anglesey. A word of warning. Dogs react badly to Adder bites. A friends Springer lost a toe last year. A bite can often lead to Amputation. I normally see a few in the Marrams between Palling and Winterton but not this year.

Seals were first protected just before WW1, there were further conservation measures in the 1970 Seals Act. However under the fisheries Act nuisance Seals damaging nets and fish farms may be destroyed under strict licence rules. That as in most Wildlife Scotland has different rules. Marine Mammals can not be shot at fish farms since 2020. In some measure this was due to the USA banning the import of product protect by the destruction of Marine Mammals.

You are making me Home Sick! Even after 15 years in Norfolk..

Kris have always been "The go to" charter yard in that stretch of The Thames. Never at the budget end, but good.

The Autumnal Equinox is on 23rd September. Accompanied by the Equinoctal spring Tides which are often often the " Highest of Highs & Lowest of Lows" of the year. However, the Equinox is often a time of low pressure and strong wind, all of which have a bearing on water levels. You can be lucky ( which I hope you are ) or not have a prayer.

Not sure about now but 15/20 years ago seals were features of the RGO between Hermitage and Brownhills. Entering via the New Bedford or Delph they were miles from their home around The Wash.

Personally, I hate to see pub names change as often it wipes out a huge chunk of local history.

There is also The Spoonbill which started to breed again norfolk in 2010. Stiil rare but work is ongoing to improve their habitat in North Norfolk. This one was at Holmes Dunes. And flying over Cley

I assume by White Heron they actually mean the Egret. The Little Egret:- is widely distributed all over Norfolk and Suffolk along with The Broads. The Great Egret:- Is no longer considered a rare visitor and can be seen regularly in Norfolk. It started breeding at Holkham in 2017, fifteen years after the Little Egret who now number over 50 breeding pairs

Good to see that the bridge open again.

The twin cathedrals are a must "see" as well as the famous waterfront.

Now and again BBC 4 show a documentary which I believe is called " The Peoples Liners" if you get a chance to watch it, do so, it is most interesting.

Pleasure Boats and ships were a way of life in Britain until the age of the package holiday and expanded private car ownership. Probably the greatest pleasure cruising areas were The Clyde and the Bristol Channel. I fondly remember the paddle steamers running from Bournemouth to Swanage and the famous Western Ladies out of Torquay bound for Dartmouth and Brixham. Over the years Western Ladies had used a variety of ex RN vessels. One particular boat Western Lady Iii, later The Fairmile, was returned to her WWII livery for use as a classic cruise experience from Torquay to the River Dart. On the closure of WLF this Fairmile class was aquire by the RN National Museum and as RML 497 is undergoing restoration. Just after the war and in the 50s four of these RML were operated as pleasure ferries they were purchased without power due to their original petrol engines being returned to the USA under their " Lend Lease" agreement I think they were all fitted with Gardners. There used to be a photo of me, as a two year old on one of them at the family home. But sadly my Father in a mixture of grief over my mother's sudden passing and the onset of his dementia destroyed hundreds of photos, many of historic interest. For example there were dozens of the French Riviera from just after WWII until the mid 60s.

In the 80s I spent a lot of time in Liverpool. It was not the best of times for the city but I still loved it. A visit is long overdue for me as well. I made some really close friends there but sadly our paths never crossed after about 1994 and we have become estranged.

PS. We were all from Machine Tool companies so in those days when we had a machine tool industry we were mostly dealing with 415v 3 phase, which you don't get a second chance with.

My College lecturer used to say (I was doing Mechanical Engineering) :- " you can't see it, you can't smell it and when you feel it, It's too bloody late" With 240ac if you are not 100% sure get a qualified electrician

So was I, not really the same. But:- From a safety point of view when its out its out. Turn the valve and it is safe.

Our village was traditional log fired Maybe the shortage was caused by people saving them for Jubilee night

The Black Spot is the West point of Scolt Head Island up here. People are constantly trying to get to the wreck of SS Vina and get into difficulties. They are always sending out Hunstanton's rescue Hovercraft. Unfortunately a number of people have lost their lives walking/wading out to the remains. There is not a lot to see as for many years it was used by the RAF for target practice.

Should you be coming up to the north coast?

Is the Adventure Centre, Ex Hertfordshire Schools still active? They had their own slipway. It could have been a good revenue stream for them launching canoes and SUPBs

Flipped & enhanced