Scholar Gypsy

Thanks for posting this - a fine trip! Lovely boat. Sorry I didn't see her on the Fens....

Try the Trent is the name of the Facebook group, and here is the website that holds most of the guidance notes https://trythetrent.wordpress.com/

Grateful if anyone can recommend a supplier of small radiators, for a simple pumped system (that runs off the Bowman heat exchanger on the engine). One of the radiators I installed 12 years ago has a pinhole leak. The current one is 400x300 mm, but is mounted sideways in order to fit the available gap. I think very similar to this https://www.screwfix.com/p/myson-300mm-x-400mm-680btu-white-type-11-convector-radiator/998rj. Standard 15mm plumbing. It's in the bathroom, to dry towels after the rare occasion of me taking a shower. Many thanks.

Much of the content is also available here: https://trythetrent.wordpress.com/

I think this should take you to the correct playlist on youtube. I should also have said that Dan the Denver lockkeeper is very helpful.

The only chart I am aware of is here: https://scholargypsy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/kl_denver_foote_1992.pdf Lots of other stuff here: https://scholargypsy.org.uk/washing/ I would strongly advise you join the Spotted on the Wash group on Facebook. There's a group of boaters who do this trip quite often and can advise on the sand banks and also the posts they have added to help mark them. There is also a youtube channel with some videos. I will look for that later!

There's no requirement in Colregs for powered boats to give way to rowing boats (just to sail). And all that is subject to the overriding responsibility of both skippers to avoid a collision, and to take account of any boats that have limited ability to maneuver.

I use this photo when briefing narrowboats about to go on the Tidal Thames, to stress the importance of keeping a good lookout, and shouting "Ahead sculler" or similar if they think a boat approaching from behind has not seen them.

5-7 June 2026. If you are interested please drop me an email at tideway@stpancrascc.co.uk for further information and details of how to apply. Applications have already closed, but we always have a few dropouts for various reasons, and I can put you on the waiting list. Best wishes

I guess that's the most appropriate sign they have. Still no sign of funding for this work.

I think you have two options: * buy a normal CRT licence for 6 months, get a refund, and then visitor licences for the Nene (I think you can buy in person at Northampton marina, 7 days is ample) and the Middle level (2 daily passes will be enough) * buy a gold licence and an Anglian pass, and then claim a refund once you arrive. You may be able now to get a gold for less than 12 months. Once you are on Cam Conservancy waters, then if you want to visit the Great Ouse system (ie north of Bottisham lock) you'll need an AP. This may be of more general use: https://goba.org.uk/a-guide-for-visitors-to-the-east/ to dig out the daily rate and do the sums. The MLC will check your licence at Stanground (Peterborough).

St Pancras Cruising Club are organising another of their regular Thames tideway trips on the weekend of 5-7 June 2026 (starting with a briefing session at Limehouse on the Friday evening). As well as the core voyage from Limehouse to Teddington, the optional extras will include a voyage through the Thames barrier, and an early Sunday morning downstream transit from Teddington or Brentford to Limehouse. We particularly welcome those who have not yet done a trip on the tideway. If you want to join as crew/passengers, then this may also be possible. To register your interest please email tideway@stpancrascc.co.uk as soon as possible, and we will send you further details. Applications close at the end of February.

Yes, I agree it's not a hugely convincing line, they are really joint assets that deliver both navigation and flood control benefits. In that sentence I was talking about summer (low flow) conditions. There is an even more bizarre standoff at Brandon on the Little Ouse (recent FBW event), where the flood defence team used the lock (reversed) to discharge flood water, filled the lock up with silt, and then the navigation team is expected to pay to remove the silt to make the river navigable again!

Thanks. There is an interesting debate going on in the Fens where the EA are classifying most weirs and sluices as navigation structures rather than land drainage structures. This affects which budget picks up the bill for repairs. In a sense that classification is sensible (if a weir failed in summer it would not create a significant flood risk downstream). But if an automatic sluice fails to open properly (eg St Ives, Brownshill, to name but two) then that could cause flooding upstream in times of high flow. The algorithm for the strong stream alerts on the Nene and Great Ouse is rather more opaque than the one you describe above!

Thank you. I am still trying to work out what predictive text has done here: "they are twisted to the smooth of feet of weir gates are open"