Philip

Correct, anyone know the story behind the fairy lights?

Slightly different to the usual, but where is this location and why does it appear like this? (small hint - it'd normally be the last place you'd associate fairy lights with!) Not AI and the capture dates from 96-97, to provide another slight clue!

Interesting thank you. Quite a few in that list lasting at least more than 30 years, a couple more than 40. Now the lifespan is usually 20-25 years. The steel top gate at Quoisley Lock has just been replaced, but this dated from 1963, so perhaps the cheaper build cost and the longer lifespan makes a good case to move back to steel construction, even if it doesn't look as authentic.

Thanks for the link, looking at that it seems the first of the 'modern' steel gates started appearing around 1961-62. I can remember the 1970s-80s wooden gates often looking very tatty by the early 2000s, more so than gates of the equivalent age look now. There are very few wooden gates left now even from the late 90s. Wooden gates built before the 1960s would often last 40-50 years.

Does anyone know the year when Midlands/North West workshops (Bradley & Northwich?) switched from steel to wood for their lock gate construction? I've seen steel gates dated between the 1962-1975 range, but does anyone know the exact year please when wood started being used again instead of steel?

Ringing around sounds a good idea. I'm a bit uneasy about doing Bath deep lock by myself, but it'd be a shame not to go all the way onto the Avon if I manage to hire myself a boat to do that stretch! Caen Hill would be a heavy day's work, but the locks themselves don't look too intimidating.

Thanks both. For Bath it sounds like I'd need to book a temporary secure mooring somewhere within the western end of the K&A, if hiring isn't an option. I have done the last few miles of the Wey from Pyrford to the Thames, but this was delivering a boat and from what I've heard the best bit of the Wey is towards Guildford & Godalming. Two other big trips I'd like to do are Stratford-Avon-Severn-Stourport and the Lancaster Canal, but the latter isn't realistic until the Bridgewater breach is repaired.

I thought it'd be something like that, hence asking if anyone had any 'insider' knowledge! Just looking at cruising options for next year and 2027, at this stage. How long would it approximately take to cruise from the Shropshire Union (south end) to Bath, via Reading, if averaging 9-10 hour days and no stoppages? Is the Wey a better route to do than the K&A if you're planning to explore one of the southern waterways?

I had a look at the Foxhangers narrowboat hire website, can't seem to find any mention of minimum occupancy in their FAQs/T&Cs; anyone any the wiser?

I've read on previous threads that a couple of firms on the Shropshire Union allow single-handed hire, but not sure about elsewhere.

Does anyone know of any hire companies on the Kennet & Avon which allow single-handed hire, out of interest?

Jolly Tar had its moments too, we preferred it to the Barbridge at times over the years. It had a slightly unique atmosphere and we had some good meals in there. It was a bit less pretentious than its neighbour, particularly after the previous management at the Barbridge took over. It went down the pan in the last year it was open though, sadly. Other pubs in that region which we visited but which are now no more: Wharf Inn at Shebdon - visited in '98 for a meal, closed down 2013 and now a private residence. Felt like you were sat in someone's living room! Rising Sun at Stone (near the top lock) - visited in '97 and sat in the back garden, which backed onto the towpath. Closed around 2005 and again now a PR. Waggoners at Platt Lane on the Llangollen - visited in '96 and 2005, it bit the dust in early 2008, because of a fire. Admiral Rodney at Brewood - think we ate in here in '98 and 2008. It was located on the same road which goes past the parish church. Now a house, think it closed around 2012. Talbot at Market Drayton - near bridge 62. Went in here numerous times in the early 2010s, it was last run by a couple of friendly guys, before it closed in 2016. The building is still there but not sure of the current status.

In relation to the thread about the 1976 drought, what are your memories of the 1995 hot dry summer, particularly regarding locking restrictions and canal closures, and how does it compare with this year? A lot of people mention '76 when recalling droughts and hot summers, but '95 doesn't seem to be as well remembered, even though the late June-late August period was on a similar level both for heat & lack of rainfall; reservoirs in the Pennines were more or less dry by the end of that summer. In 76 the canals were still a little off the beaten track, the leisure market was growing fast, but it was still a long way off the peak, so droughts & canal closures wouldn't have had the same impact then compared with 95 (and this year), when we had reached the golden era of canals for leisure use, with many hire boat bases and a large number of privately owned boats. Would be interesting to hear of any memories and experiences from this summer and how it compared with this year.