Leaderboard

Since returning from our holiday/blacking we decided Fairies Wear Boots was in much need of repainting, at 6 years old it was starting to look a bit tired and weary, so the last couple of weeks has seen evenings and weekends sacrificed to the paintbrush! We've very nearly got one side finished but yesterday I did put the finishing touches to the new fairy! Just got to turn the boat around and do the same again now!

When I learnt to drive lorries it took me a while to get used to the slowness and also the space needed by an artic. Lucky that was while I was learning back in 1996 on the old Wembley stadium car park!!!! Thank you Wallis School of Transport Since then whenever I've given a lift to friends in the cab of rigids, but esp in artics, they've always expressed amazement as to how different the road looks, how you can't try to outrun traffic lights changing to red and how cutting-in in front of a lorry can halve its stopping distance..... I've always thought that an hour or two as a passenger in the cab of a lorry would benefit every car driver and should be a compulsory part of the driving test. As for driving after being on a boat for a few weeks I always try to ease myself back into what seems a hectic and dangerous way to travel!!

A big thank you to all the Boaters we had the pleasure to meet on this part of the run the enforced stops at Claydon and Napton meant time for a chat with some very pleasant and interesting people. A very big and personal thank you as well to the people on "The Maggie" who got my very treasured and made by me many years ago windlass out of the cut with a magnet. The proffered thank you drinks money was refused with the words "please donate it to the trust from us". Thanks to all we met Barry Adams

Yes, what a good idea. We could go one better and get rid of all that nasty damp stuff around and then instead of a boat we could call it.... ...how about something that rhymes with 'mouse'?

I donate to a couple of charities and you can't give to all but you cannot fail to be moved by this little girl, as you say, she has such a beautiful smile and it does put things into perspective. I'll donate a little something, it all adds up but I realise it is difficult for people to keep donating to different charities, there is a new appeal nearly every month (or so it seems). It's such a shame that she can't get the help she needs in our country. Ann

I recall not so long ago being one of a convoy of boats all stuck behind a boat travelling far too slowly. It was not only neccessary to keep selecting neutral but also bursts of forward and reverse just to keep enough rudder authority to not ground. The vista ahead was full of other boats doing the same in intermittant spurts of uncontrolled drifting followed by a bit of engine to regain control. The boat at the front was quite determined, like Petain at Verdun that "they shall not pass" and caused a situation fraught with peril and frustration by his determination to impose his personal decision as an enforced speed limit. As for "If you're in a hurry you shouldn't be on the canal", why not take it to it's logical conclusion and stay on your mooring, what does it matter if you delay your journey by a year or two? Rather, if you have nowhere to go and no need to go there, save us all some bother and don't untie the ropes.

Wanted: Woman who can clean/cook wild game/fish. Must have own boat and motor. Please send picture of boat and motor.

I believe hearing a horn can give a few extra seconds to react and worthwhile on a blind bridge. If you hear a single long blast it is most likely to be a boat and not a car, and anyway a very high percentage of the blind bridges you come across will be farm accommodation not road ones anyway. To me it is nothing about giving you the right to carry on, it is just a case of saying "I am here". I don't see what is inconsiderate about it.?

Totally agree, have a greenie.

So what do you suggest I should have done. A gang of girls tell me to fuck off, or they'll call the police, the hire company laugh in my face, I don't do fully comp insurance (the excesses would have probably exceeded the value of the canoe anyway) and I am quite capable of repairing a wooden framed canoe. The fact that the hire company are owned by a bunch of tossers is hardly an injustice, or even hot news, around Rugby. I don't preach, merely comment, btw, and I am certainly not militant.

One last post on this unfortunate thread. Clearly Homer's recollection is completely different to that of everyone else that was there. They weren't, by the way, asked to respond. Apart from the members of my companion boat - who I have only met on this cruise - I didn't meet any of the IWA/K&A Trust volunteers who were helping us through the locks until that very morning. None of the people that were there Homer were my friends; they were witnesses. Why Homer remembers it differently is besides the point. The point is that I only left our lock because there was a space besides his boat - why on earth would anyone leave one lock and enter another that had no space to enter? Also, if his boat didn't move over to fill the space that was there previously, then why would I decide to backout? Sorry Homer, your story just doesn't hold water (even after you edited it). I didn't see you hit your dog with your windlass; I did however see your windlass when you were gesticulating with it when you were berating me. It was quite intimidating I can tell you. Many witnesses commented on that. But, as many have observed in this thread, what mystifies me is why you are getting so worked up about an incident that really wasn't anything to get excited about. No damage was done, even when your boat hit my companion's. The way you are prolonging this thread one would think it was me that lost my temper, me that didn't apologise, my windlass that hit your dog, my boat hit yours, and I named and shamed you but refuse to identify myself and boat. I know the name of your boat and its license number but I respect your right not to identify your boat on a public forum so will not reveal it. However, I am not quite so sure about your right to defame me or anyone else on the internet (indeed, is it even something that a forum like this should permit?). By the way, I note from your posting history, that I am not your first name-and-shame victim and this is not the first time you have lost your temper in 20 years. There is such a thing as internet libel you know; shall we just leave it there and get on with our lives?

Nothing personal, but WHAT BUSINESS IS IT OF YOURS? If somebody wishes to travel at a speed that is not damaging the banks or other boats, and is below the speed limit, what is it that gives you the right to criticise them for wishing to do so? You choose to boat as you wish, and allow others to do the same. For reference, I don't like to travel permanently at tickover. It is harder work than it is at a slightly higher speed, it doesn't charge the batteries efficiently, and it limits the amount of the system that we can visit from our base. Presuming to tell people that they should adopt the same attitude to boating as yourself is just arrogant in the extreme.