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Just some random moments in boating that I love (in no particular order or priority) …. Peeking out of the hatch first thing in the morning on an isolated countryside mooring – quiet sunshine greeting my upturned face – thinking ‘this moment is mine and no one else’s’. Pushing gently away from the bank, pausing before engaging forward gear, and then looking back to see the first ‘cut’ of the propeller in the glass-smooth water. Passing an oncoming boat – to share a conspiratorial nod and a smile in greeting, because we both know how lucky we are to be out on the water. Rounding a bend to approach a lock, to meet a boat just coming out – and the gate is left open in friendly welcome. Seeing a fox gingerly emerge from the bushes lockside and then we both just sit and regard each other for a long moment before going our separate ways. In town, coming into a lock with a group of youngsters larking about on the balance beam – to be greeted with “can we do the gates for you?”. Ruins of old canalside buildings – reclaimed by nature amidst tangles of roots and branches – fancifully trying to work out what the doorways once led to and what used to happen behind the now-glassless windows. Blackberries – fat and shiny and juicy, hanging over the waterside offering themselves to passing boaters. A moorhen comically pecking away at a fallen crab apple bobbing about in the water – a lot of determined effort for a small meal. Leaves turning from green to autumn colours – rounding a bend as the sun comes out to be greeted by a wall-to-wall blaze of yellow-gold-red-brown autumn leaves shimmering on the trees. The electric blue flash of colour that is unmistakably a Kingfisher darting ahead of the boat, keeping low and close to the edge. Clear water in riverine sections – underwater forests of aquatic plants and silvery flashes of myriad fish schooling between the stems. The smell of the diesel exhaust and the rhythmic sound of the engine ticking over and feeling its heartbeat through my hand on the tiller. Standing in the hatchway steering, with a mug of hot tea. The improbable hugeness and unlikely blueness of coots’ feet. Raising the paddles to empty a lock - endless childlike wonder at the simple spectacle of the water rushing and roaring out – and then the fade to quietness as the chamber empties and the gate yields easily to my bum pushing lazily against it! Please feel free to add your own. LCx

A rather insensitive post. Yes, Welsh people have moved to Liverpool looking for work no doubt Liverpudlians have also moved to Wales as well don't you think? There have been other drowned villages as well in Wales and England but Trywelyn was in the mid 1960s a time that should have been more enlightened for the concerns of social justice. It wasn't as if it was there or no where else. They used a private members bill to avoid having to go through local planning processes. How should people feel if not one Welsh MP voted for it but the act was still imposed? They wanted it and used a more powerful position to take it. It would have not made any difference if it was at the point of a gun. It is also debatable that the water was actually needed and is today still a backup source for the main reservoir for Liverpool at Vernwy. Lastly if it was all on the level why would Liverpool council feel the need to offer an official apology in 2005 to the people of Capel Celyn for the actions the Liverpool council took? The apology read thus “The council acknowledges its debt to the many thousands of Welsh people who have made their homes in the city. They have in so many ways enriched the life of the city. “We realise the hurt of 40 years ago when the Tryweryn valley was transformed into a reservoir to help meet the water needs of Liverpool. It would be like us agreeing to the flooding of the Dingle area of Liverpool to provide water for Birmingham" “For any insensitivity by our predecessor council at the time, we apologise and hope that the historic and sound relationship between Liverpool and Wales can be completely restored." Some good has come of the events as I said. A better view of what it means to be Welsh and protection for the Welsh language as people awakened to what was being lost.

The bright moon, on a clear night reflected on glass like water, in the early hours . Looking out in the quiet of an early hour to see a fox on the towpath sniffing the new snow . Kingfisher sat on a frosty rope on a winter morning . A fuel boat cracking ice . Enjoying it all with someone who smiles at the same time as you do , the silent 'thank you ' smile . Bunny .

So the answer to my original question about what the fisherman up the Ashby was doing trying to disassociate himself from some sort of dodgy electric gizmo; is ............ Thanks everyone, you sure pulled out the stops for me there ... and no mistake!

Not 'arf. Not the std H&L stem at all. Why would you ......

Just got off the phone with Andy, who reports that he is now safely off CaRT waters. He sends thanks to all those who got in touch with him, whether directly or via this forum, offering and giving various forms of help and suggestions. He has given CLP the go-ahead to appeal, though without any intention to return any time soon.

If you've got time, take a trip down through Gosty Hill tunnel to Hawne Basin. Exceptionally cheap diesel -- and they'll find you a mooring if you fancy staying the night there.

Can't resist an excuse to re-post these videos of our boat "Sickle" recreating its former role. Here is one of "Sickle's" more modern replacements on the maintenance fleet attempting similar, but with much thinner ice, I think.

'ark at Rachel, the expert on speed limits. Teeheeheehohoho....

Yes.......as the water "sloshes" it also helps break a wider passage than just the hull forcing through

Yes they do degrade but over 20 years its something like 25% degradation of the output. I'll try and find the figures. Edit - found some stuff : ............The warranty conditions for PV panels typically guarantee that panels can still produce at least 80% of their initial rated peak output after 20 (or sometimes 25) years. So manufactures expect that their panels last at least 20 years, and that the efficiency decreases by no more than 1% per year. What makes talking about lifetimes for PV panels difficult is the fact that very few panels have been installed for long enough. In the UK, more panels have been installed between 2006 and 2008 than in all previous years together. Globally, only a small proportion of all PV panels installed is older than 10 years. What we found at CAT Here at the Centre for Alternative Technology we installed our first integrated PV roof of 180 panels, rated at 75W peak output, in 1997. In spring 2010 we did some refurbishment on that roof and used the opportunity to inspect and test each of the panels. We performed a so-called “flash test” for each individual panel to establish how much of the original rated peak output of 75W the panel can still achieve. The result averaged to around 68.5W – only around 9% decrease over 13 years (0.7% per year). There were some differences between individual panels, but even the lowest performing panels still produced around 60W (20% decrease). We did find some damage to some of the panels - there was laminate peeling off at the back and some colour changes (yellowing) at the front – but none of the 180 panels was in a condition that required replacement. While 13 years is old for a PV roof in the UK, it is not a lot in terms of PV panel lifespan. Fortunately, there are some examples of very early PV roof installations which tell us more about the long-term durability and performance of solar electric panels.

Some dog owners are good, some are bad. Dogs are creatures of habit and a good owner will know how the dogs digestion works so its quite possible that they leave the house, the dog does its stuff in the first minute or two, then they go for a run together.. Some folk do get a bit over the top about picking up poo. I only get about 95%, I am sure she does the odd one when i'm not looking, but when we moor I go round and pick up lots from everybody else so on average we pick up more than we leave behind. And I'd love a couple quid for everytime I've been shouted at (usually by boaters) who don't understand the difference between a dog having a crap and a girl dog having a wee! ...............Dave

Quite so. Another Welsh anniversary of 50 years ago still painful in the minds of many still living although not so for any loss of life more way of living is Tryweryn. This for those unfamiliar with it was the building of a dam to fill the Tryweryn river valley (forming Llyn Celyn) near Bala in North Wales for drinking water for Liverpool. The process led to the drowning of the village and surrounding farms of Capel Celyn one of the last all Welsh Speaking villages. An example of those embittered by the experience of people with power taking what they wish (that which was not for sale) via a private members bill (no welsh MP voted for it) regardless of the wishes of those directly effected. The Capel Celyn locals marched in Liverpool as a protest and had abuse and objects thrown at them and their representatives in the Liverpool council chambers shouted down. An example of social injustice even in modern times. Still, many say that the experience has formed opinions in modern Wales and led to many political changes for the good in Wales and highlighted issues of Welsh language and culture. Cofiwch Dryweryn!

It is also the anniversary of the Abefan Disaster in 1966. Rest in Peace!

No! The canal is a navigation by Act of Parliament. Cyclists and Fisherpeople are the "Johnny Come-Latelys" and personally contribute almost "Bugger All" to the coffers, which seems to be our happy responsibility. However we live in enlightened times and must magnanimously embrace change in order to include the antisocial elements of their hobbies. It seems to me there is a simple and obvious solution. Both parties Have a need to be only seen at the last possible moment. Fisher'ers hide behind bushes and amongst reeds and bullrushes. Bicycler'ists have a need for speed ... "You don't see me, but here I am" Only by allowing for their strange desires can we expect them to accept ours, like ... * Wafting the smell of our cooking dinner wherever we go. * Chugging along at 4mph, waving and smiling indiscriminately. * Having 3rd party insurance to compensate others. * Insisting that we pay for being there. * Forcing double that amount into others coffers so we can moor. So in order that we stop our selfless activities with total disregard for other inland waterway users I return to my earlier comment ..... "It seems to me there is a simple and obvious solution." They both need to be seen, not only so we boaters don't hack them off, but so that they don't fall foul of each other either. The Solution - All cyclists and Maggot Drowners must tie a large Helium filled balloon to their hats. It needs to be very large in order to remain vertical in wind. Because we need every opportunity to spot them quickly the balloon should be in the shape of Mickey Mouse's head and fluorescent in colour (I like orange) To allow for Bike'lerists bursting it on the underneath of a bridge or an angler'ist puncturing his balloon during his 3 mile hike to his peg, it should be insisted they carry spare balloons and a tank of Helium. Just like we carry numerous fire extinguishers when we go out. All sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

Great so now your promoting Assault as the right thing to do. I hope the cyclists presses charges for it as well. And people wonder why Boaters dont always have a good name, its the few tossers on boats that give all boaters a bad name and the few tossers on push bikes who give all cyclists a bad name too. - can you see a pattern? ( sorry I am having my say, I am fed up of been shot down on this forum ) I get what you say catweasel my dads got poor hearing too, I dont know what its like myself. The cyclists sounds like a toss pot for saying that to your wife. I guess tossers are everywhere no matter where, I bet you were fumin.

I guess you stepped backwards as the cyclist was going past you and the cyclist was probrably just as shocked as you even if he was going slow. Boats bump into each other on the canal all the time so do people in general on the towpath, I dont see the need to start an anti cyclist thread. Canals are for Cyclists Boats Fishing Anglers Walkers Pedestrians Tourists Nature lovers What ever next a thread called 'A Stupid Walker bumps into me as I was Tieing my boat up' ? Nothing shocks me on this forum anymore.

That would have been enough for me to prove him wrong :-)

I think i mite teach Zig to dislike cyclists/bikes , they must be as soft in the head as a stuffed animal as they speed away so quick and so god dam ignorant. `Gone in 60 seconds` i call this pic LOL

I can understand its a serious fishing match but it does'nt seem right expecting people to clamber over rods like their taking part in the Crystal Maze or something When I am cycling on the towpath I stop and let walkers go past me, it would be nice if others showed the same respect back but they dont.

Thank you Edd for contributing to this forum. I think it quite brave as you will certainly hear the critics view. As a past marketing manager, I suggest that all complaints are fantastic too. That's how you find out what's not working and where your effort needs to be placed. A good volunteer is, as you suggest, fantastic. Regrettably as reported here a minority (in my experience) of volunteers seem to want to take charge at locks rather than help. That's were it goes wrong as many boaters are probably more experienced and more alert to the dangers. This is something hopefully you will listen to and adjust your training program accordingly. I suggest more of your CaRT colleagues contribute to this forum. Sure they will hear the criticisms and get a good kicking from some. If they can get through all of that they will get some valuable feedback and perhaps a lot more respect than they get just now. I think respect for you has already increased despite the critical views.

Volunteer lock keepers are fantastic. They do a valuable role (not a 'none job' - I find this disrespectful and demotivating for the volunteers) of saving water, helping many boaters, doing practical work, sharing local knowledge, increasing face to face contact with the Trust and so much more which really adds to the life of the canals. Undoubtedly those who are negative about our work will counter this post with examples where they didnt help in these ways but, as the thread was started by a celebration of volunteer lock keepers, many of the posts already support and add to the benefits that volunteer lock keepers bring. We could also have a debate over the difference between lock keepers of old and the current role or we could just say thank you to all those who are giving their time to improve and sustain the waterways. Whilst things may not always go to plan 100%, the positive responses that we regularly receive show that many people really appreciate the support and help of the people who volunteer. I would ask that those making such negative comments think about the impact these comments have on the volunteers who, with equal passion and interest, are giving their time freely to sustain the waterway network you feel so strongly about. With regard to the roles that people volunteering do being pigeon holed into maintenance tasks, seem to ignore that the Trust is led by volunteers, our Trustees and Council. And that volunteers are giving experience and expertise through Partnerships and Advisory Groups. Across the Trust people give skills and experience to a range of specialist skills. I'd like to take this opportunity to say that you to all those who volunteer with the Trust either directly or through the 250+ partner groups. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Edd Moss - Volunteering Manager for the Trust