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Showing content with the highest reputation on 08/04/19 in all areas

  1. Many of you will remember the fabulous "Last Cuckoo" archaeological dig at Bellhouse Lane, Staveley in 2017. Here is a link to the report on that: http://www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/the-last-cuckoo-project/ On the last day of the latter dig, we discovered the end of a third boat, but never had time to investigate further. The area where the dig took place used to be a basin at the end of a short arm to a gas works (for those who remember town gas the coal to create the gas was delivered by boat from local collieries) Inevitably as the canal went into decline the basin was a place where boats that were no longer being used ended up dumped. The area became dangerous as the canal silted up and it was a bog on the edge of the town so the powers that be simply bulldozed earth over the boats (probably with as much spoil or rubbish they could get from the surrounding area) The boat at the top of the photo is the third boat as seen in 2017. Since then the local authorities realise that they might be missing a trick if the restored canal simply passes by the old basin and if a new basin is created in this area it will provide moorings for visiting boats and a useful winding hole too and so the outline plan for that area has changed and Chesterfield Canal Trust's Work Party have been digging a few test holes here and there in readiness for when they dig out the entire basin (which will hopefully not be long now) The problem with digging test holes in an area which is potentially rich in canal history is that you are always likely to turn up something and so, at very short notice the archaeological group that had been involved 2 years ago were able to visit at the weekend to uncover the boat and take a better look at the narrows that were the entrance to the Gas Works arm. This is what they found: This is not a Chesterfield Boat (often referred to as a Cuckoo) but a maintenance boat or hopper, believed to date from around 1880. They also uncovered half of the narrow entrance to the arm And of course a stack of interesting artefacts: You can read the full report with more photos here: http://www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/archaeologiocal-dig-part-3/ I was really pleased to be one of the few in "the know" that this was happening at such short notice and was able to go down and see it before it was all covered over again. Hopefully it won't be too long before we are sharing pictures of current day boats moored in that area if HS2 get their lives sorted out!
    4 points
  2. No it wasn’t. Not unless you’ve changed your name from Miriam and have been having this problem since 2011.
    3 points
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  4. By a happy coincidence Towpath Talk have published an article this month that you may find helpful – see page 96: http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=d192940e-f732-42bc-a9d9-6fbce501da9a. Hard copies are available free from the Scottish Canals office in Applecross Street, Glasgow just north of Speirs Wharf and from most of the Lowland Canal mooring sites. As suggested, come and visit some of us residential moorers. We're always happy to chat. Bowling is a good starting point. Feel free to PM me – I've been living on the Lowland Canals for 10 years now. There have been some ups and downs over the past 18 months but the new CEO is now steering a steady course in the right direction.
    3 points
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  7. The best defence against midges is a good Malt Whisky. Scotland produces the finest spirits, and if these are too strong for your taste just dilute with a little of this
    2 points
  8. Midges promote the principal of survival of the fittest and this means that Scotland does not become too crowded.
    2 points
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  10. Only the Scots would put ice cream on a fish supper!
    2 points
  11. Thankfully - you cant!! What Frangar said...……………... Just accept that their are constraints, buy the right boat and enjoy the system as a whole, you will get on better with the task of getting about and you will engage with the community to the full (and they with you ) and get far more out of the experience.
    2 points
  12. I informed CART a couple of weeks ago about a leak along the length here opposite my mooring, it wasnt major but certainly noticeable. Anyway they thanked me and said it was probably nowt as the canal this time of year is full!! Anyway they turned up today with their workboat and bods and spent the day there and leak is now stopped. Ok so only doing their job some would say but it goes to show they do listen, at least on some occasions.
    1 point
  13. My husband and I have a long term dream to live on a narrowboat full time. We live near the Glasgow area at the moment and are beginning to make plans. However I’m finding it a bit difficult to get information about Scottish Canals at all, apart from the Living on Water website which is interesting, but I’d really like to read more about the experiences of ordinary people living on the canals. All the advice I have read comes from people based in England and Wales and it’s hard to know whether a lot of it applies to Scotland as well. Some questions I have include: Where can I get my narrowboat craned into the water? Are there marinas where I can get my boat maintained? All I have found online are moorings and info regarding prices. Is there a forum online for Scottish canal dwellers where I can chat online to people who are living there already? Where should I look to buy a narrowboat in Scotland? There are so many youtube channels dedicated to narrowboat living but I’ve yet to find any in Scotland. Are there any? thank you
    1 point
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  17. Actually I don't think there are.
    1 point
  18. Agree with Tim, Ed Shiers is a top bloke. And, relevant to another topic, is a specialist in Travel Power repairs too. A couple of years ago, I had trouble with my Travel Power intermittently shutting down (alternator brushes worn down). By shear luck I was at the Leek end of the Caldon, and Ed walked down from home, picked up the brush assembly, fettled it and delivered it back the following morning at very reasoble cost. https://fourcountiesmarineservices.com
    1 point
  19. When you look at some of the gormless dipsticks that are sent to fix your boat, you will realise that with a bit of help and advice you can do as well or better probably than they do, you have just done it! The "pro" left a leak, you found it and fixed it, does that prove the point?
    1 point
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  21. We came up through the Stourbridge 16 last week to find a huge raft of cut reeds across the top of one of the lower locks. SWMBO informed CRT who thanked her for the report and promised to pass on the info to the local team. The next day she received confirmation that the reeds had been cleared and further thanks for reporting the problem. Some issues may require longer term fixes or have to be fitted in to the major works list and hence take time, but the above response was both speedy and effective.
    1 point
  22. 1 point
  23. Publish and be dammed! Go on you know you can (want to)
    1 point
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  25. You'll be OK as long as you don't get it from London or the western end of the K&A ?
    1 point
  26. Is there not a facebook group or something like that for the lowland canals, I'm not into social media but I know that they have something for the Caley, I'm not sure what because I'm not on it I just stand on the side of the canal and ask everybody else what it says is going on. I tend to find that the out and about approach works best for me. I'm not that tasty so I don't get bit much but If you want to avoid a broad spectrum of little biting beasties then I highly recommend SMIDGE, I know I sound like a broken record with this stuff but it really is the best that I've found (I'm really not sponsored by them) and as we're coming into tick season it's also really good for keeping ticks away and is therefore a frontline defence against Lyme disease. I also use it on my dogs, my dogs come home completely tick free but my friend's dog comes back from the same walk covered in ticks. https://www.smidgeup.com
    1 point
  27. Not for you as you no longer have a boat... ?
    1 point
  28. Not just a matter of opinion but also judgement. 'Risk' is inherently a stochastic (sort of statistical) concept which requires the user to state what level of risk is acceptable. The notion that something can be safe under any circumstances is the business of politicians not engineers. One person may look for a 100 year flood protection whilst another may accept 50 year levels. Of course, both may have an excessive flood this year - and the next year. I recall being told that one of the reasons that planning enquiries into nuclear power stations back in the 1980's? was that their design methods were inherently stochastic and lawyers for the opponents found it very useful to ask the question "Can you guarantee that your design is safe?" to which the answer of course is No. Most people don't realise that supposedly deterministic design methods just hide the indeterminacy, not eliminate it.
    1 point
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  30. Byelaw (No3) 3. No person shall bring use or leave in any canal any vessel which is not in every respect fit for navigation on the canal or part thereof where it is intended to be used.
    1 point
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  33. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  34. If they did simply invent safety risks then surely they'd end up with egg on their face? The boater concerned could simply and easily have it inspected and get the required certificate/proof which says the stated safety issue is a load of rubbish. This hasn't occurred here - I suspect that a correct safety notice were served and its run its time without either being inspected (maybe because it would have not passed.....) or challenged in the appropriate place. I think we need to take TD's sideways info with a pinch of salt - interesting twist as it seems. In fact, in common with many other cases like this, there is simply not enough info to make an informed decision. For example, what are the actual details of the safety issue? One could hazard a guess (that's all it would be) that the BSS was done with no outboard/gas/stove/electricity installed, and one or all of these have subsequently been added in an unsafe manner. Regarding the "BSS means its safe" - its fairly obvious and commonsense, that a BSS which has a validity of 4 years can't look so far into the future to say a boat which is safe when inspected, would remain so, 4 years later if unmodified. And of course, boats are modified rendering the BSS (or areas it covered) somewhat meaningless.
    1 point
  35. A 108 page report has just been published on the keel remains found in the Aire when the St Aidans opencast site flooded in 1995. They were mostly clinker built keels, probably sunk 100 years ago. Copies can be obtained from John Buglass for, I think, £12. His contact details are on www.jbasarchaeology.co.uk for current price including postage.
    1 point
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  39. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  40. That actually looks even worse than I had imagined. ? I went to Scotland a few years ago to do the West Highland Way. I've never seen so much water in my life. It was coming from the sky, the earth, the sides of hills. It was everywhere! It really had an elemental feel to it. Amazing. Then there were the midges. They weren't amazing. I'd like to do it again but I'll never go in midge season again.
    1 point
  41. There is hardly 'unlimited scope to make up imagined safety risks', given that a Magistrates Court can be asked to consider the reasonableness of any alleged identified risks, and if unconvinced of them can order CaRT to issue a certificate stating that it is no longer unsafe. Agreed that that would not prevent CaRT from trying it on, secure in the knowledge that few boaters will know of their options in such circumstances. That is why it is important to be aware of the relevant legislation. The time limits and options accorded to boaters under subsection 7 are generous; the relatively limited time under s.8 can be put on hold for long enough to address any genuine issues.
    1 point
  42. I'm off to the dentist next week to have a Wisdom tooth put in.
    1 point
  43. Its only the Yorkies left us with stoopid size lengths though....?
    1 point
  44. My only observation is, why would you restrict yourself to a lousy design and confines of a narrowboat on a proper sized waterway? Just sayin like.
    1 point
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  46. Ray, that is far too clean and tidy!
    1 point
  47. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  48. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  49. If you're trying to make me jealous........its bloody well working. I hope you spill your beer down your shorts and get sand in yer bum crack. PS you are not obnoxious, you are like a cuddly pink hand grenade.
    1 point
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