marshman

And like it or not, he is still trespassing and camping without permission. Where he is between White Slea and Heigham Sound is on Norfolk Wildlife Trust land and whilst in winter, the likelihood of damage by fire is lower, it can still happen. Fires burn down into the peat, or even old mud which it is in that spot and can spread underground - believe me I know as I once had it happen on part of Catfield Fen - the fire burned quite some distance underground overnight despite having taken great care to have put out the original fire. At the time we were burning some old reed and the aftermath was quite an area of reed bed - fortunately we were out again the following day in the same spot and eventually dug down to ensure it was out, but it can be so dangerous however careful you are! Fortunately it was quite fortuitous that it actually burned the wrong way - towards the edge of the bed and not the rest of it.

Looks as though he is on that bit of land going northward through where the silver birch trees are between Heigham Sound and White Slea on the starboard side - used to be nearly all silver birch trees but the NWT cut most of them down fairly recently. Interestingly, or not that piece of high ground where the trees were, and he is "camped" and is where mud was dumped many years ago when Hickling was dredged years ago , probably by the GYPHC. The birch trees grew on the "raw mud" and it has been the aim of both the BA and the NWT to remove the trees - they would never be able to get back to marshland but shows how just dumping mud anywhere can inadvertently changes to landscape which would have been just open reedbed!! Yep definitely to be discouraged - there are bittern around that area and its not far from the Cadbury White Lodge. Pretty isolated but he would never have got permission and is quite definitely trespassing. Does he care? Of course not!!!!!

A chart of the Broads? I have an old Hamiltons and an OS map!!!!! Generally speaking if you can see the bottom is probably too late as you are aground - if you can't then its probably ok!! You don't really navigate the Broads, normally you just point and follow the water!!

Must admit I have never had any problem on Salhouse either - cannot think how many times I have mudweighted there either in the bay round the corner or close up to the trees the Horning end. The advantage of Salhouse is that as its virtually surrounded by trees so there is a lot of shelter available - indeed I often tie up to the trees so I don't have to get the mudweight dirty!!!!

Camping on private land IMHO is not really to be encouraged, unless you have permission from the landowner. The last thing we need to do is encourage wild and unauthorised camping leaving behind the detritus often evident from irresponsible individuals - well thats my view anyway!!!!!

Don't be too concerned about the tide issue up north - cannot really think of a Broad where the rise and fall exceeds about 6" so its pretty irrelevant. Down south its a bit more important on Rockland, Surlingham (Bargate) and Oulton but just let out a little more slack at the outset and Bobs's your uncle. Even if he's not most Broads are surrounded by trees or scrub and you won't come to a lot of harm!! Dangling to clean the mud off is highly effective but you must expect the comments - I was doing that on S Walsham Inner Broad where you cannot mudweight, when I was chased by an irate old git in the local trip boat who told me I couldn't stop, so I just had to politely point out, that as the boat was moving, all be it slowly, I wasn't actually stopped and that he could buzz orf!!!!! He did much to the amusement of his passengers!!

Perhaps now I should advertise the rowing /sailing dinghy I have sitting in my front garden!! On mudweighting, check which way the wind is blowing and nose slowly towards the side from where its coming i.e. head to wind. I have only been caught out once in 20 years when the wind went round 180 degrees overnight. Usually in summer months the wind dies away anyway and you can have those stunning evenings the Broads are famous for. Don't lower the mudweight slowly, just let it go making sure your foot is not in a loop and the weight will take itself into the mud.

And there was me, foolishly having read it, thinking that exercise was good for you!!!!

Hipperson at Beccles have some really great houseboats

Well - whats 200 miles in the general scheme of things!!!!

Whilst there is no denying that perhaps in this case, the satisfaction of the treatment was first class, what is much more worrying is that quite clearly in some areas they just do not have a clue whats even going on!!!! A friend of mine, who has had a serious gynecological problem for over 5 years, and I mean serious as it affected radically her day to day life, has just had a letter saying that there is no possibility of her even getting an appointment as a result of her numerous referrals over the years as there are just no appointments available in the gynecological department whatsoever. Not quite true as she had already seen a consultant some 9 mths ago who explained the wait for an operation could be a least 3 years! Funny that if it was still not entirely true - some 4 months ago she just rang on the off chance the Dept to question her progress on the list, who when pressed, asked if she would take a cancellation? Of course was the reply - well could you come in for op on Thursday? Done and dusted that week, and very successful it was as well - she was on the table for nearly 3 hours putting right some previous botched repairs and is now on her way to full recovery. Funny the Department have no record of it despite it being done by one of the Depts senior consultants!! Someone else was referred for a straight forward scan on her upper back- oh sorry we currently have a backlog of over 6000 scans. "We are afraid it could take some time to catch up" I have always had such faith in the NHS but its not money that is needed, but a complete change of culture - others I know have always dealt with the NHS in the walk in hearing aid department - that of course is no more as you have to make an appointment. Don't ask to change the type of aid which is malfunctioning and cutting in and out -that decision now has to be discussed by a bl**dy Committee! So don't get your hopes too high that any "ordinary" problem can be easily fixed!!!!

Saw that elsewhere - he is good but of course, nobody believes him! He makes a valid point!

Its not the smell that causes the problem but the phosphates in the shower gel!! As for your bath was that when you were only allowed 4 inches of water????

Well - it would help if all boats had grey water tanks and people didn't insist on showering so often!!!!!! The causes of pollution are many and varied and you should remember too, the the rivers drain a huge agricultural area, much of which is fed by rivers that accept runoff from many many fields fed with fertiliser granules. But take some comfort from the fact that there are now many more white water lilies around and they, to me, are an indicator of better water quality - yellow ones are more tolerant of dirtier water. Perhaps you should remember what the rivers were like before holding tanks and with many many more hire boats! I am sure Vaughan will confirm that situation!! Kids used to swim in that then and I frequently see kids still swimming today - most seem to survive! Incidentally the Potter barrier is not controlled or operated by the BA but the raising and lowering is controlled, or otherwise by the EA

I guess its similar but perhaps not so evident as I think the tidal rise and fall is much higher - even at Geldeston the rise and fall must be all of 18" or thereabouts. I think we sometimes forget that the BESL scheme cost £150m raising the flood defences around Broadland - because of rising water levels!

Despite the fact that some people blame the so called Bure Hump on the situation at Potter, I am not sure that it convinces everyone! If the Bure Hump does exist can anyone explain why it does not hold back salt incursions? Salt incursions continue to come further up the Bure year after year - some 15/20 years ago the furthest they came upstream was Horning Hall Farm, then it became Horning Waterworks, this last year I think it was Swan Corner. Meantime comments on the dredging above the Bridge as if it doesn't happen - they have been dredging for some long time above the Bridge. Heigham Sound, Waxham Cut, Catfield Dyke, Horsey and the channel in Hickling have all been done, and this year above Martham Ferry, particularly around Dungeon Corner has been done as well. And for those with long memories, I can assure you Wroxham HAS got a lot worse. It is a wider arch which helps but 15/20 years ago there was hardly ever an occasion when I could not get under, often with a foot or more to spare, but it seems a lot closer these days! Perhaps it is all just about rising water levels? There is plenty of evidence all around Broadland of general water levels rising, and on threads some people have posted just how much they had risen over the last years - or do none of you actually believe it? Just why have they had to increase once again the height of the defences around GY - or is that due to the Bure Hump as well?

Andrew - I wouln't get too stressed about what is being said in some of the " Press" about cold weather at the end of the month just yet! It will get colder there is no doubt as currently it is unseasonably warm, and it is certain to get colder as it is still winter, but there are plenty of forecasts not predicting what you seem to suggest - it may well happen but there are plenty of other outcomes possible!!!!!

15 m length or have I missed something? Clearly I have because 4mm rope is string and 4 m is nonsensical. Could it be 4 strand but don't you need to know the diameter? Or am I just showing that I am suffering from having too much drink?

Try Buckenham - the nearby church of Hassingham is usually locked. Also out my way is Hemblington, a beautiful round towered church surrounded by open fields, immaculately kept and always open during daylight hours. These days, I really don't like going to funerals but I always go up to Hemblington Church and sit inside, or out as they have a lovely churchyard with a great bench, and have a period of reflection. I prefer to do that on my own, and not with others, and there, I can find myself at peace with the world. Its on one of my walks and I find it good to often pop in and reflect on things now and again.

Worthwhile sentiments but practically you do have to put the silt somewhere when you dredge, don't you? But as I say, talk to the Rivers Engineer - doing something proactive is positive!!!!!

The MN does say it all - repairing the steel piling and refurbishment of the timber work, but not closing the navigation up to and beyond the Staithe. I suggest the BA have read this thread and have now put a notice up saying the Staithe itself is closed - if not tell Broads Control and I bet it will be done. To be fair if they closed the navigation for the two months you lot, and people like the Nancy Oldfield, would be up in arms - although it is not enormous, I have never had problem turning in the turning area. Of course the ground is muddy, its marshy and muddy, and its winter - better now than closing it for two months in summer when its probably drier. And the walk from Gayes Staithe will give you an appetite and thirst and you had a chance to look in the gardens of those poncy houses and the opportunity also to nip in and view the Wherry Arch under the house! I doubt they are doing any dredging as it is probably not possible to get a mud wherry up there - I am sure they would like to just chuck it on the ground but that would make it more muddy! Thinking about it, where would they put the spoil but I suggest if anyone wishes to, ring up the Rivers Engineer and chat to him about the issues. In the past I have found him a very pleasant and approachable chap!! Trouble is, dumping a load of mud into a tipper would create more issues as it would all run out!!

You can buy a synthetic hemp equivalent called Polyhemp or Hempex - it has a similar feel but a much higher breaking strain neither will it tend to rot or discolour. It really is very good stuff and you would be hard pushed to tell the difference. https://www.ropeservicesuk.com/product-category/store/rope-products/marine-ropes/ In another life, always used to use these people and have purchased and used Polyhemp by the reel and without issues - its good stuff,and although synthetic, not hard on the hands either. Coils nicely too!

Shhhh - you will have the Mods taking you to one side!!!

When you are working the tides out at sea, it actually ,usually, gets easier less complicated. Broadland tides as your extracts illustrate, can get a bit complicated and as has been pointed out, whilst tables help, bubbles help more!!!

Depends what purpose it will serve - I have many different lengths and sizes and all come in handy although nothing is more than twice the length of the boat!!! Helpful that!!!!