Ivan

A couple of weeks ago, the Wayfarer's Broads Cruise sailed up to the East Ruston Branch, staying overnight - much to the pleasure of the Butcher's Arms, before returning, but this time using their outboards (to their dismay). Their overnight camp was on the East Ruston Branch, as moorings are not permitted on either side of the canal below the East Ruston Junction, or the west side above. It's good to see the canal being used. On another point - it is often stated, incorrectly, that the canal never had enough water to fill the locks. The flow at Ebridge was 48 tons per minute in the 1950's, it doesn't take long to fill locks with that flow - plus the lockful comes out of a mile+ length of canal, so would have little affect on the level of the reach. The only lock that may have had problems would have been Swafield Lower & Upper Locks, which is but a hundred+ yard long reach - and may have been the reason for the spillway to have been heightened by three bricks at some time in the 19th Century.