Start from the beginning.
Scotland being a long way from Norfolk, we decided it would be a good idea to stop off for a couple of days on Lindisfarne - Holy Island. Holy Island is joined to the mainland by a causeway that is under water during high tide cutting the island off twice a day. Tide tables are published telling everyone when its safe to cross the causeway. They are posted at the causeway and car parks. There's also a big sign on the mainland side. Basic information - if there's water on the causeway, don't cross.
So, high tide we go down to take photos of the causeway as the tides gradually covered the road.
Then stayed a bit longer than intended as people kept driving across the causeway... then realised the water was deeper at the other end... then turning around and driving back... by which time the water this end was also deeper...
Thinking about it...
That one turned around at the other end and came back... but left something behind...
A few others went out and came back as well...
But, to be fair, lots of people do the same.
Even plankton know when its time to keep away!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many of those are ignorent tourists and how any are locals who know that sometimes they can beat the tide and make it all the across the submerged causeway before it gets too deep?
ReplyDeleteThe locals can and do sometimes cross at high tide - if you're used to driving across it with the right kind of vehicle and high tide is on the low side. On the other hand, even if you can, salt water is not good to drive through on a regular basis - and locals know that. This lot weren't getting across - they kept coming back. The causeway is not just a hundred metres or so. It's a couple of miles, and the tide there comes in quickly. No, this lot were tourists. With water, stop and you're finished, drive too fast and you're finished - not easy to judge.
DeleteIt happens every year, and usually ends up with the coastguard having to rescue the occupants. The times of the tides are really well publicised, but like lemmings, people still think they can defy nature. The worst one I saw was a new Range Rover driver who was very indignant that his new car couldnt handle the incoming tide.Funnily enough it was another Range Rover driver that thought he could drive across our local flooded ford, he was surprised when the car was carried yards down the river. Perhaps they could fit a propeller to cater for such arrogance.
ReplyDeleteIt happens most days! We saw 2 cars and 2 vans try to cross plus a couple of others that had the sense not to try. Our host at the B&B said islanders would sit on the hill overlooking the causeway taking photos - the insurance companies would buy these as evidence and refuse to pay up.
DeleteA former colleague of mine got caught like this a few years ago. "Go on Dad" said his kids. He did. The car was a month old and needed a new engine - £3k. Ouch.
ReplyDeleteAnd later corrosion problems? Not good.
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