Holy Island visitors must pay attention to the tides
December 18th 2009 05:31
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is on the east coast of England, not far from the Scottish border in the overall scheme of things.
It's accessible by car, but only when the tide is out. There is no bridge, just a causeway connecting the island to the mainland.
Any visitor to Holy Island will be warned many times by signs in local shops, tourist offices, and on the road. Do not cross unless it's safe. It's safe when the tide is out. Here is a list of the times when it's safe today. How much more clear can that be?
And yet, every year, there are people who foolishly, stubbornly, who knows why, insist on trying to beat the tide.
It doesn't work. Helicopters have to come to rescue stranded motorists. One scary story was of a partly disabled man and his wife who got stuck. She could have got out of the car and made it to higher ground, but he couldn't and she chose not to leave him. He was driving, as far as I know, which makes one wonder how often near-fatal accidents like this happen to them.
They were rescued and now belong to the walls of shame, the collections of tattered news clippings posted on various local bulletin boards to warn others.
Holy Island is magical and lovely. Pay attention to the signs.
It's accessible by car, but only when the tide is out. There is no bridge, just a causeway connecting the island to the mainland.
Any visitor to Holy Island will be warned many times by signs in local shops, tourist offices, and on the road. Do not cross unless it's safe. It's safe when the tide is out. Here is a list of the times when it's safe today. How much more clear can that be?
And yet, every year, there are people who foolishly, stubbornly, who knows why, insist on trying to beat the tide.
It doesn't work. Helicopters have to come to rescue stranded motorists. One scary story was of a partly disabled man and his wife who got stuck. She could have got out of the car and made it to higher ground, but he couldn't and she chose not to leave him. He was driving, as far as I know, which makes one wonder how often near-fatal accidents like this happen to them.
They were rescued and now belong to the walls of shame, the collections of tattered news clippings posted on various local bulletin boards to warn others.
Holy Island is magical and lovely. Pay attention to the signs.
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