marshman

Answering a question on topic or nearly so, I would expect the greatest headroom under the bridges to be around low water and not slack. ( Thats the real answer - you can skip the rest as its just a bit of squit!! ) It is a very strange feeling when moored at GYYS at low/slack to see the tide still rushing past on the way out, and then to see the boats beginning to rise on the incoming tide!! This is because the incoming tide is largely saltwater and being more dense is making its way upstream, whilst the freshwater being less so, is still going out! However tides rarely run to time simply because they cannot read and more often than not, seem to run late - like buses! Tides also have another peculiarity in that to gauge how much is likely to come in and at what speed, you can apply the twelfths rule - in any given 6 hr hours of tide the amount of water coming in can be divided by 12 - in the first hour one twelfth will come in ( or go out) the second hour two twelfths, and on the third 3 twelfths , the fourth another 3 twelfths, fifth another two twelfths and finally another twelfth in the final hour!! Gettit! Now if you study Broadland tides in more detail, you may well spot that in normal weather the flow, as it rises, often only lasts for 5 hours whilst the ebb can go on for 7 hours - this probably due to the fact that the rivers drain a large large area and usually there is a lot of water coming down stream as it drains at least half of Norfolk. Add into the equation the fact that high/low pressure also impact tides here as do tidal surges out at sea!!!! If you have understood any of that you are a better man than me, and will just ring the GYYS boys the day before!!!!!

Clearly that was not entirely inappropriate of them to try - since then I don't actually think we have actually restored one in the area, nor are we likely to! Lets see how Stracey Mill gets on!! Neither is there anyone left I suspect, to pass those skills on anymore. Millwrights are a bit like hens teeth - getting rarer by the day! There are a few old boys around who have some of the skills but they are all knockin' on a bit I am afraid.

We used to use those tied on bamboos to shift coypus out of their holes in the banks - although you had to be quick!!

You may be right - but I think I will remain illiterate!!!! I usually only stop for lunch!! I know Tony Banks - he will know whats going on!! Why buy a small bit of land which you can do little with - shame the BA couldn't have come to terms to have done something with it, although I doubt they knew much about it, if at all.

Best thing of course is to buy an Explorer Map - OL40 is the one. Lots of very quiet walks around where you will be staying - its a quiet area particularly around Rockland and Surlingham. (Good pub at Surlingham Ferry) Acle? Not a lot to see! Yarmouth - well I wouldn't bother!!! Its a brassy seaside town, long past its prime and that doesn't sound your scene! Norwich is a must though -you could find a spot to park in Loddon and catch the bus in! Save you worrying about parking!! Fast bus X2 stops in Loddon and Chedgrave! Sounds as though you will be busy for just 3 days. Hardly relaxing though by the sound of it!!

Sad to hear the news about the mooring at Wayford - it was ok a couple of months ago. It was sold some years ago but the mooring continued- the proliferation of No Mooring signs is really beginning to hack me off - that mooring was always so lovely and I would willingly pay to moor there. Glad in a way that i shall be forced to give up in a few years if this continues - what on earth excuse can there be for curtailing mooring, its hardly as though it has any other function!!. Moored there for about 60 years, or perhaps a bit less - shame you cannot claim squatters rights. It will be this sort of attitude that hinders the Broads, not the increasing tolls!!!!!

i think the windy bit will be overnight. Or so Windguru says but it is not as bad as the earlier storm, despite the forecasters on the TV and in the newspapers ramping it up To be fair, some places have had it pretty bad with Wales and N Ireland copping it pretty bad. Down south, I just think we will be getting more wind, than rain. Cue for Jay....!!!

The NWT boardwalk at Ranworth is still closed I believe - they seem to feel that social distancing cannot be maintained, although the BA's Barton boardwalk is now open again. I think it could be something to do with the use of volunteers - I noticed from a quick peek the Ranworth one has become a bit overgrown and if they are a bit like the BA, the use of volunteers just has not got going again properly. They are both, imho, being overly cautious but many voluntary organisations seem to be finding it hard to get volunteers back in any organised way. Cockshoot also has the disadvantage that access from the road has been closed - all to do with the landowners, the Cators again I think Shame they should feel to deny the public access by withdrawing the permissive footpath rights, or so I believe, but what else can be expected? To restore them - if that is the case please? It was a beautiful spot walking down to the hide but us erks cannot expect everything! Disappointing too that I seem to recall the BA had to restore it as well - but to be fair I cannot recall the requirements of the old lease at Cockshoot moorings although something rings a bell!!

Why am I not really surprised to hear that??

Andy - not entirely sure it needs an "expert" to run PHE! For what its worth, I think too many "experts" think they could run any business - cue the NHS!!! It probably needs a hard nosed business man but its probably just too large even for that to happen now!!

I am afraid I would hold out little hope of any help from the BA! I actually know one of the owners of a pump supposedly getting help - enough said I am afraid! I accept that it is not really a function of the BA to get involved with windmill restoration - here in Norfolk there is the Norfolk Windmills Trust but that somehow has an involvement with the County Council, another well known organisation who could not organise a drink in a brewery, so little real hope there either!! As you say, there is little or no money available for such things - a real sham as they add so much to the landscape - there is grant money available but that then gets tied up largely in the organisation of the projects generally and is a) never enough and/or b) too widely spread. Intentions are good but in reality they tend to just fizzle out for a variety of reasons. A shame, as Norfolk will soon be without most of its windpumps, a vital part of its heritage - but to be fair the costs of restoration are huge and in reality the skills of the original mill restorers appear already to have literally died out and probably been lost. A real shame for the future of our Broadland landscape.

Yes I agree with that - its all about being realistic. The more we test the more we will find but throwing caution to the winds, I have to say it has been some time since I have felt "threatened" of late. I agree it will probably be different when we all go back indoors!

I loved the optimism of the Trainee talking about restoring Herringfleet Mill. Lets hope he doesn't look back at what the BA did to Clayrack Mill on the Ant! Still nothing happening on that despite my digging every now and then! The trouble is that despite the largish grant given recently, the money is too thinly spread and as a result, my feeling more is more is being spent on organisation rather than actual real work and progress - now where have I heard before that being said of the BA?

I wonder how often they are sanitising buses and trains between stops? Are they sanitising outside tables at pubs between customers? Are they sanitising play equipment i in parks between each usage? I know you will all shout me down but I would suggest if you worry that much, you don't actually go out and use these items. These are by and large outside items and whilst I agree a day boat is often partially enclosed, I would rather use a day boat, than sit next to someone on a flight which many people are doing!!! Unquestionably washing your hands remains the best safeguard!

I think you are at least partially wrong - the piece on Countryfile is about the Somerleyton Estate and around I think - I read it somewhere else. It may be about the new Reserve as well but not sure that is the main bit - it is about the usual rewilding issue I suspect!!

Begs the question that IF an incident occurred whether the boat was under control??????

It isn't difficult but you do need to think, albeit only a bit - I think all hirers get the Broadcaster and they devote a whole page to it!!! But of course they cannot be bothered to read it - they largely think that they know best I suspect.The publications don't recommend crossing at Low Water slack or thereabouts for no reason and members here should encourage that - and no its not just about burning more diesel! If it doesn't suit, then leave it until it does unless you know what you are doing and are able to take responsibility. I am beginning to think we should continue to draw attention to the fact that Yarmouth /Breydon can present some problems instead of posters often portraying it as a "doddle". But more importantly the need to wear life jackets at the very least when in the lower reaches and especially when attempting a mooring.Should be second nature!

Oh dear - if James has stuck his oar in, then it must be important!! To those who wish to understand the logic of mud pumping Broads it is actually to keep them alive - or so I understand!! If they become too shallow the plants die and they become sterile. The idea of keeping fish out is to stop them eating the new growth - if they dont keep them out initially the fish eat the emerging growth and the plants die. If we want to upset the eco system, then that is the best way to do it! Pump it and they survive - leave it and they die!! Where they have done it, the Broads have recovered - the trouble is they are ones which public cannot access such as Barnby and Upton - however wildlife can!!!!!

If you think about it, you can see how useless they are when moving as the water flow is tearing passed the hole. Yes they are brilliant when stationary, or nearly so - very helpful when reversing as quick blips swinging the bow are the way to go - backwards anyway!!!

Nonetheless despite Griffs comments about the New Inn, guess where BA is moored tonight - of course it might not be him on board!!!

As Andy says, the **** hits the fan when the unexpected happens - its not what you can predict, but what you cannot predict. Some people consider a bumpy crossing fun but just say there was dirt residue in the tank and the bumping around stirred that sediment up? Could you cope? If you want an easier crossing hire in summer where the opportunity for inclement weather is less, and you have much longer daylight hours leaving your crossing window wider. Despite some urging you to proceed, the advised time for crossings is low water slack - and I would stick to that for whats its worth unless the weather is very settled and you know what its going to be doing on your return. As Andy has hinted, their is very good reason for suggesting that time as the tide is running less swiftly and a swift running tide merely adds to any problem - howeever at the end of the day its your choice And of course whatever time you cross, you and your crew should have life jackets on - plain sensible I am afraid.

Read the post carefully from Freedom and Andy! He knows what he is talking about! More importantly take note of what he says - at that time of year the weather can be much more harsh than on benign summer days and its not uncommon these days for Breydon to be closed to hire boats in windy conditions. And it is not just a question of "lobbing" the mudweight over - do that at high water and in more than a breeze, you could easily be blown a mile across the mud flats right up against the sea wall and even hole the boat! Thats very unlikely but it could happen and the consequences of that involve life! As a skipper you are responsible and you must make real decisions - whilst Breydon is easy in normal summer conditions, its not always normal, especially out of season and with a more limited daylight window. Inland waters are categorised and its not categorised at a higher level for no reason - its your choice but I wouldn't do it a high tide in the winter months unless I had to and unless the weather the weather was settled and the forecast was good. David H has said you won't die - its unlikely but never say that about the sea - I bet he has never been across in a proper S/W blow with wind over tide!!! Never trifle with the sea and Breydon in those conditions can seem like it for a good hour or more!!

The Otter Trust was effectively run down about 15 yrs ago or even more, so I would definitely discount that!!!!! Whilst they do actually exist, they no longer rear them to release them and are exist merely as a wetland centre, if that now!

You are right PW - I don't know enough about it it but was merely assuming that the EA themselves have their own scientific advisers who have agreed to it. I will leave the discussion to those who are fishermen and clearly know more than I do!! So why did the EA appear to change their mind? Incidentally whilst out on the rivers I did bump into the EA guys who where checking the transmitters in some fish - clever stuff!!

Best scientific evidence from one interested party??? Some scientific evidence to be fair!! I am sure they said all this and tried to stop the Clearwater Project on Barton, but you cannot deny that was a huge success for many reasons.