This was taken on 2nd July just as the tide was covering Lindisfarne Causeway. The tide comes in fast and the tourist bus was running late. Other films can be soon on www.bluelightmedia.org
I did this in a circa '60 Land Rover as the tide was going out. A big rubbish lorry had just made a go for it without a second glance, and it didn't look too deep, so I set off. I didn't realise that the water was deeper on the other side of the emergency bridge. We parked there to check out the little hut and read some of the messages then set off towards the island again. Fortunately I managed to keep a steady pace and the bow wave kept the water away from the doors and the electrics and we made it to dry land. Unfortunately that's sea water, and no amount of spraying with clean water could keep the metal moth out for long. In less than 2 years I was having to replace the undercarriage. I guess I was lucky the 'living quarters' in these things are aluminium. Back then I revelled in the congratulations on making it, nowadays I look back and think, 'Shoulda stayed on the bridge'.
Staying on the bridge might have been even stupider. The bridge gets completely covered too. To be free from the water you need to climb up to the elevated hut. In low tide your car will probably still be sat on the bridge after the water goes out, although it might have engine damage. In high tide or stormy weather you will stand in the hut and watch your car be carried away.
40 years back me and a girl are on a little Honda trail bike waiting to cross, we decide to ride over with me putting my legs over the bars and she is kneeling on the seat, a big American SUV full of American tourists see us and decide if we can cross on that little bike they will easily get over. wrong, they swamped out and ended up in the shelter with the car partly covered by water, we seen them later that day and they all looked very miserable and wet. at least it was a nice sunny day for them to dry the car out, I bet it's the highlight of many a story they tell their mates about their trip to Britain in the 1980s. . .
I see that Land Rover at the end has a Birmingham registration ……….Brummies are furthest away from the sea than anyone else so probably hadn’t got a clue about tides etc 😆😆😆
I dont know why the person with the camera decided to end the film with that range-rover with everyone agast at the bravery of the driver in the range-rover. There was probably up to another hour of cars coming across the causeway after that rangerover. On a daily basis convoys of vehicles race across the causeway at holy island up to 1 hour after the tide has began to come in. The rule of thumb is if you can still see the white lines you are safe to break the rules.
The wading depth of a discovery is 50cm without any additional kit and that water is maybe 5cm at the most so it's hardly a big achievement or a big risk.
I agree. It's suicidal doing this in the Berwick Advertiser since they stopped printing on Folio 15g. There's a reason why Bede swore by vellum when he was reporting for the Lindisfarne Gospel.
