TeamElla

You missed out the correction Perry :- .......................almost There is also another ^ Round Britain Race going on

Hope you get a good weather window. Comments please on a postcard :- http://www.beermad.org.uk/writings/belgianbeer.shtml

Have a good trip chaps. You're going foreign this time aren't you? All the best, Steve

It's time for me to stop being selfish by keeping this to myself:- http://www.blakes-cottages.co.uk/uce/bk ... 22&go.y=11 (If anyone wants specific info re the cottage, location etc, we've been there 3 times now) Steve

and another:- http://www.riverside-rentals.co.uk/

It seems that I'm a "Rogue Lakesailor" and the 2nd time as far as David is concerned. See Rule 7:- http://www.lakelandimages.co.uk/lakesailor/rules/ p.s. make that 7a (I don't like the sound of the others)

An unfortunate by product of diminshed velocity coupled with the appearance of the hitherto unforseen (Unintentional Lakesailing)

Hi Barry and Olive, The only feeds that would normally be left live are for the bilge pump and those considered as essential (which could possibly include 12 volt supply to an Eberspacher or Webasto, enabling it to be started remotely or via an onboard timer). Everything else should be completely isolated to prevent potential fire hazards. In practice we are reluctant to leave the Eberspacher powered up, although it does have effective inbuilt safeguards. Those jelly mould deckhead lights can sometimes be problematic and need to be isolated on a laid up boat. We had one that would switch itself on without being touched, due to a faulty switch that would get hot first and then pass enough current to illuminate the lamp (a fire waiting to happen). , Steve p.s. just seen David's reply. (Deja Vu?)

If you're not that good at haggling, there are still good deals out there (if you're prepared to wait until the last minute and risk something suitable not being available). We did it some while ago with Richardsons. We began our time off and took a drive up to the Broads. Jo went straight into Lathams and I stood looking expectantly at the tide gauge (you know where). Then we headed over to Stalham. We asked what discount offers they had for a holiday at very short notice. By this time they knew which boats were going to be sitting idly in the yard and gave us a good deal. We returned a couple of days later for a week's boating at a decent price, and with a tankful of diesel thrown in free. Not up to Dom's standards but we made a decent saving.

We have quite a history of inherited boat names that just have to be obliterated at the very first opportunity:- The first was a small speedboat with "Bonky" written on the side - aargh The second was a rather larger speedboat that thought it was a low flying aircraft (with a name that seemed more at home in a flower bed). That was "Perla Rosa." The third was called "Kipevu" which sounded to us like some sort of contrived reference to sleep, but turned out to be a place in Africa (now renamed after our young niece Ella).

Strange that nobody has mentioned the boat at Potter Heigham that has reserved stopping spots all over the Broads. Come on now, you all know which one I mean....

It's actually a fascinating subject (and it gets drummed into you before you are ever allowed to strap an aqualung on your back). The biggest relative change in ambient pressure when diving down from the surface is in the first 30 ft, during which time the pressure on the body will have doubled. A full lung of air taken at the surface will have compressed to half a lung full at 30 ft.

Jonny, I've just edited the post. Basically, we breathe air at the ambient pressure around us. With an aqualung, the deeper we go the denser / higher pressure air we are breathing (that's why a tank lasts longer near the surface).

Sorry Jonny but I reckon that idea needs dropping big time. It's inherently dangerous. As an ex diver, I would never leave the surface whilst my lungs were still connected to sea level atmospheric pressure (even a few feet below, it's just too risky). Holding your breath or using an aqualung is an entirely different kettle of fish. I've happily snorkeled to 20 ft whilst holding my breath but if I were to try it with an air line open to surface pressure, my lungs would have collapsed within feet of the surface.

In practical terms, our prop is out of reach unless you physically swim under the boat. Out of the question in shallow, weed entangled water.

Well, we've got the ladder, but our rope cutter has seen us alright on every occasion so far. An item worth it's weight in gold IMHO. Definitely something to beware of when working under the boat though. (I had the scars for a while to prove it).

Paddy's Lane (with "the heater" on the left)?

Clive, I got something like that wrapped around the prop above the bridge in Waxham Cut. It was a devil of a job to shake off and I had virtually zero forward movement for a while. Steve

Here's what to look out for if you want to venture down Catfield Dyke. From the main channel in Hickling broad, it's apparently neccessary to be dead in line with the channel markers before making a 90 degree turn into the marked channel to Catfield.

Hi Clive,Yes that's Ella.I thought that we had become infamous after joining this motley crew at Ranworth.We were the seating area that provided a ring side view of the night time sparkly lights (see pic)Â

It's a lovely spot in the evening and we enjoy the walk to the pubs in Hickling. Unfortunately, for the past few years, PH bridge has barred our way :x

The way out

Hi Clive, Got it in one

Most definitely p.s. there is an obstruction to pass first

Poppy, It seems we are in agreement But are we right??? (p.s. glad you can still see out of that eye )