Red Arrows bombing raid ??
- 11 June 2011 22:22109907Sadly the Red Arrows had to take a very wide course around the huge storm clouds over Dover and hugged the French coast.
I didn't realise that I caught them in this photo I took of this strange formation that I thought came from the ferry but looks like it is well behind it.
No idea what is was and I thought water spout initially but it was gone nearly as fast as it appeared.... any ideas??
Been nice knowing you :) - 11 June 2011 22:31109908Not sure about your water spout but the Red Arrows flew inland -low over Folkestone at about 20.15 this evening.Never give up...
- 11 June 2011 22:31109909could it be the cement works at Calais starting up some times we can see the smoke from Aycliffe
- 11 June 2011 22:50109910Not sure Alan, this was along a line from the Drop Redoubt through the Eastern Entrance so on a map that take is almost exactly easterly so well above Calais. Could possibly be that thoughBeen nice knowing you :)
- 11 June 2011 23:41109911There is a nuclear power plant at Gravelines.....
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson - 12 June 2011 00:09109914That is a tanker not a ferry. The red bit is the pipework and flying bridge along the top of the tanks, and the white bit in the middle is the hose-handling crane which connects the hoses from ashore to the manifolds on the ship when loading and discharging cargo.
A line from the Drop Redoubt through the Eastern Arm runs just south of east and bisects Dunkerque so I would guess that the smoke plume is emanating from the heavy industry in Dunkerque East.
I was a bit disconcerted last trip when we were departing Dunkerque West where the nuclear power station at Gravelines is situated. Sirens started going off consecutively in different parts of the power station. I was minded to tell the Old Man to put the handles down and not to stop until we passed the Azores.
Then I looked at my watch and saw it was noon French time so it was just a test. Bit eerie all the same!
- 12 June 2011 00:23109915Saw Peter's post after I had posted the above. Come to think of it, one does quite often see large clouds of steam vented off from the nuclear power station at Gravelines so that could also be responsible for the cloud in the photo.
Here is a photo of the Northern Merchant approaching the berth at Dunkerque West some years ago with the six reactors of the Gravelines power station in the background.
- 12 June 2011 01:38109920I appreciate one should be 'mature' about nuclear power stations and the good they do outweighs the 'bad' but they sure as hell give me the 'willies' when viewed close up.
I am also afraid of the dark......
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 12 June 2011 07:14109926Thats Ed, not sure where the word ferry came from but my brain was rather scrambled after the open weekend and the evening counting money (and a couple of glasses of wine!)
Been nice knowing you :) - 12 June 2011 09:19109941they terrify the life out of me, we cannot do without them though at present.
of cours there are many in the dungeness area who would love a nucler power plant to be opened there.
