1st ade

Thank you for the update - you'd be amazed how many seek advice and then vanish leaving no one the wiser whether the advice was good or not (or even taken or not) Safe Cruising

Be wary of "the Council" - there are two layers... Local Authorities provide litter bins (which may also accept dog waste) at spots which are heavy on litter. Sometimes after applying pressure to the local McDonalds / Starbucks that actually it is their litter. Town or Parish (or Village) Councils provide Dog Poo bins in isolated places. we have (at the last count) 72 for a parish of 12,000 people. We do it because it makes the area more pleasant - but if someone dumps four coke cans and a big Mac in our Poo Bin then Dog waste gets left laying around... For reference each Poo Bin costs approx £150 to install and £2 a week to empty - this comes (if you live in our Parish) from your precept. As has been said before "you do the maths"

They may have done a Risk Assessment and (bearing in mind the unstable ground) concluded "can be used providing 'X' people supporting the ladder"... Which goes back to the original post Would I have climbed that ladder to the top with no one else around in the middle of a grassy towpath - no Would I have rung my union rep / company lawyer and demanded a Cherry Picker - no Would I have said "OK, provided a few of you add stability" - probably Which is probably why I've been "not suitable" for our Fire Warden, "get job done" rather than "crossing t's"

I used to walk past Arthur Beale on Shaftsbury Ave every day - I didn't realise they went online rather than "shut up shop" and, in a way, I'm glad.

Someone told the driver "dip your headlights"...

Like this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hawkeye-DepthTrax-Handheld-Depth-Sounder/dp/B06Y3BGTM7 Be aware - Echo sounders can read double the depth without warning ("ping" goes surface --> Sea bed --> surface --> Sea bed --> Surface). On a graphic display, it's fairly obvious - a "fake" sea bed (which is actually the real one) at half the depth it's telling you - on one with a pure digital readout not quite so obvious...

As others have said, rising tide and a weight on a rope - be aware that "runny" mud may feel like water (as in the weight sinks into it and you don't realise). If worried get friend to hold it at (say) 6ft, deeper than the keel, and shout if they feel a drag! Old fashioned sounding leads had a hollow in the bottom which could be packed with tallow and bring up a sample of sea bed - you'll see on the chart "Sand", "Shells", "shingle", "Mud" etc - it's not there in case you run into it, it gives you more of a guide where you are!

Genuine quote from someone in the office from his (grown up) daughter. Did Grandad teach you how to change a light bulb?