Historic beauty spot needs groyne surgery

One of England's most picturesque harbours is under threat from silt carried in by the tides.

Burnham Overy Staithe in the north of Norfolk is a Mecca for sailors, artists and bird watchers and is where Horatio, Lord Nelson, learned to sail as a child.

Locals are raising money to fund for the work involved in restoring the creek. 

This will involve the restoration of the groynes which are crucial in preventing the creek from silting up, as well as important in reducing erosion of the marshes.

Burnham Overy Staithe’s salt marshes and creeks are a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to their unique biodiversity, range of ecosystems and large number of habitat specific plants.

A groyne is a rigid hydraulic structure built perpendicularly from an ocean shore or a river bank, interrupting water flow and limiting the movement of sediment.

Burnham Overy Staithe beach - reached by trekking past the sand dunes - is lauded for being secluded, sandy and beautiful.

Burnham Overy is just 1.5 kilometres from Burnham Thorpe, the birthplace of Lord Nelson. 

Various letters and documents show Nelson learned to row and sail a dinghy at Burnham Overy Staithe at the age of 10, two years before he joined the Navy. 

The village’s only pub is called “The Hero” in his honour.

Today Burnham Overy Staithe, and its the associated harbour, is a recreational sailing centre. It is also the point of departure for seasonal ferries to nearby nature reserves. 

Strike threats loom as Paris gets ready for Olympics

As athletes around the world gear up for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, French transport workers are preparing for a series of strikes.

CGT-RATP union members have a strike notice in place until September 9 that could hit the Ile-de-France bus and metro network - including during the Olympics.

The French like nothing more than a good grève, and a manifestation (march) or two.

The French Senate adopted a bill on April 9 to allow the state to ban transport strikes for set periods each year to avoid disruption during major events like the Games.

It also calls for more advance warning of strikes and increased minimum service obligations.

But the bill faces opposition and must be adopted by the French National Assembly before it becomes law.

Workers at the state-owned public transport company say they are planning to walk out over a pay dispute.

Air traffic controllers are also unhappy, but called off a planned strike last Thursday following a breakdown in salary negotiations and the planned overhaul of France’s air traffic control system.

The air traffic union has said members will strike over a busy May weekend period if demands are not met.

Pilotless flying taxis could be in operation in 2025

It sounds like science fiction but China is hoping pilotless flying taxis could be in operation by next year.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China has approved the first permit for mass production of eVTOL autonomous flying taxis, leading travel news hub Travel Mole reports.

It is an industry first for manufacturer EHang, which makes the EHang EH216-S pilotless electric flying vehicle and has plans to mass-produce it commercially.

“Our vision is to introduce safe and reliable pilotless eVTOL aircraft to the global market, thereby offering safe, autonomous and eco-friendly air mobility services,” said Huazhi Hu, CEO of EHang.

The EHang EH216-S is a fully electric two-seater craft with a cruising speed of up to 100kph. It is
built for vertical takeoffs and landings.

 
EHang says it has been extensively tested with and without pilots. Just like driverless cars then, except you will be flying through the air.

The company is marketing it for air taxi shuttle services, tourism and commuter transportation.

The CAAC last year issued a guidance report detailing measures for large-scale operations for autonomous aerial services starting by 2025

A similar plan in the US has targeted a start date of 2028 for eVTOL commercial operations.

For more details see https://www.ehang.com/

How to enjoy some of Melbourne's secrets on foot

Melbourne is a city with lots of hidden secrets.

Laneways with impressive graffiti, tiny speakeasys with no signage, arcades offering gourmet treats and ethnic restaurants that fly under the radar. Until they don't.

There is one company that concentrates on showing off Melbourne's lesser-known charms to visitors: the appropriately named Hidden Secrets Tours.

Focussing on laneways and back alleys, this walking tour operator conducts small group walks in the urban centre with a focus on fashion, art, food, wine and urban design.

Guides offer a little history and architecture as guests descend into basements or climb discretely marked stairwells, to find the haunts locals love. 

You can do much of this on your own, of course, but there's lot you will miss, including context. 

The focus is on Melbourne-based businesses, and local design and the good news is that you will not be fleeced in some dodgy store selling expensive tourist tat.

"We take no commissions from any places we visit and ensure an authentic discrete local experience," Hidden Secrets promises. There is even a tour for French speakers on offer.  

Sounds like fun, Another one added to my Melbourne "to do" list. 

See https://hiddensecretstours.com

Image: Winsor Dobbin   

Discover the unique rural appeal of Stella the Stargazer

Here is an innovative travel promotion.

In a move aimed at showcasing the natural beauty of Victoria, a unique off-grid accommodation experience is set to travel around the state.

Aimed at inspiring Australians to travel into regional communities during off peak periods, Stella the Stargazer is a custom-built tiny home built by Port Fairy-based design and manufacturing business Ample.

Stella the Stargazer will be located at Delatite Winery in Mansfield from May 3-August 3 so guests can enjoy the Alpine scenery.

The environmentally conscious design features a roll-out sleeping platform for stargazing, an indoor/outdoor shower, wood-fired kitchen, as well as sauna and bathing tubs built into an outdoor deck.

A bespoke artwork by Taungurung woman, Aimee McCartney – founder of Aboriginal art business, Luruk-In – will help connect visitors to the culture, seasons, mountains and waterways of Taungurung Country.

Visitors will be encouraged to taste local food and wines and check out nearby attractions such as Swiftcrest Distillery, the Great Victorian Rail Trail, and local cafes and restaurants.



In 2023, bookings for the tiny home quickly sold out for all locations including in Gippsland, the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians.

After its stay in Mansfield, Stella the Stargazer is set to travel to a second location, to be announced at a later date.

Supported by Visit Victoria, it forms part of the Every bit Different marketing campaign which promotes Victoria to local, interstate and international visitors.

“Stella the Stargazer will showcase the natural beauty of our state to new audiences and help drive national visitation to our regions," says Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements

"Just like Visit Victoria's new Every bit Different campaign, this is another way we are promoting the best of regional Victoria to national audiences in a bid to boost tourism here.”

For more travel travel see www.visitvictoria.com

Seating free for all may be coming to an end

An American airline that is notorious for it's free-for-all seating policy is considering changes.

And the reason, you've guessed it, is money.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is known for its open single-class seating policy but could be changing, Travel Mole reports.

Southwest has one economy class cabin with no pre-assigned seating and mostly open boarding. 

Passengers are allocated to one of three boarding groups and it is then first come, first seated, unless you opt to pay a fee for early boarding.

Otherwise it is a bunfight as passengers try to save premium seats for their friends and anyone late boarding on a fuller flight gets a dreaded middle seat.

"Once onboard, simply choose any available seat and stow your carryon items in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you," the airline's website says

Now Southwest CEO Bob Jordan has said the airline is looking at changes.

“We’re looking into new initiatives, things like the way we seat and board our aircraft,” Jordan said this week.

Although, it touts its "simple and user-friendly" seating policy, this restricts the carrier's ability to make more money from fees.

Jordan said a review of passenger seating has resulted in "interesting" results.

“Customer preferences do change over time,” Jordan said.

While rival US airlines, including Delta and United, have introduced fee-paying choices for priority boarding, extra legroom seating, exit rows and others, Southwest has remained steadfast in its simple seating policy with no premium options.

But money talks. Stay tuned.