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Dav and Pen showed these locks some time ago, a staircase on the Loire side of the Nivernais Canal. I used the second chamber as a drydock(?) once when we bust the propellor on our previous barge Secunda. This was outside navigation hours, working from a Sportyak dinghy, since the sluices leaked so badly. On the plus side Monsieur Cretier, who ran the tripping boat Aster, and who had been born on a barge, lent me his propellor extractor, a family heirloom without which we would be in there still. To work it you get the shaft nut off (remembering, in our case, it has a left-hand thread), then put the disc over the shaft end with the claws gripping whatever is left of the blades. Then, when all is tight, you whack the central thing with a heavy hammer. This, when working from dinghy, can be a life-threatening experience. My pal Edward Bonel, who helped, is pictured when the job was completed, around 4 am. We had passengers arriving that day, a healthy motivation to keeping the job on track.

Langley Mill is definitely worth a shot. Its a great tie up with friendly locals and great amenities!

I may be biased but the boatyard at the top is great and very welcoming...... pubs are somewhat scant en route, the steamboat at trent lock, Gallows Inn used to be ok and the Bunny Hop Ale House at Langley Mill is cracking. If you like a good curry, the gurkha at Langley Mill shouldn't be missed, and there's a lidl over the road and Asda 2 mins away. Watch out for the weed, its quite prevalent this time of year, but well worth the trip up. Some of the locks you'll find locals swimming on a hot day but most of the time they're happy to help push gates and help if asked and engaged with. Once at Langley Mill if you need anything give us a shout at the boatyard. Kind regards Dan Langley Mill Boatyard Ltd

Yes, check with the harbourmaster. I probably shouldn't have assumed people read that bit. There are regular swimming races and loads of canoes and paddleboards in the docks. They won't deny permission, but they sometimes say don't go between specific times if there is an event on. The safety boats are the dangerous ones because they don't hang about - overengined RIBs with a job to do. It was funny coming in last week, because Sid's usual navigation briefing to the first timers sharing the lock with me was essentially "Follow him, he hasn't got lost yet!"

Banbury has a history of hating the canal.....seems that's continuing!!! Its a shame when they have had so many redevelopment opportunities to make the most of it!

Obviously the cyclist need signs to warn them about the err signs... ???

You are on the route of the Desmond Coast to Coast canoe trail, hence the signs for canoeists. The people who put the signs up did ask why the signs were needed near swing bridges that can no longer swing as there are trees growing through them ... Word came down from higher up that it didn't matter - the signs were required anyway for Safety Elf reasons. A week later a cyclist crashed into one of the metal signs hard enough to bend the sharp pointy bit!

Actually, I might be the NIMBY here too ( very much liking the 'backwateredness' (new word alert) of East Anglian rivers)? I believe that with increased demand, facilities would improve and multiply perhaps. Though it took EA 2 years to fix moorings in Prickwillow. If I was to bet which of the new projects could materialize, it would be rather the Fens waterway link between Nene and Boston as to my best knowledge it does not require any expensive structures in place.

Yesterday in the Antipodes. All "sticks and string", winter racing on classic yachts Auckland. It was winter, 12deg day, colder on the water, and it rained. flukey winds and strong outgoing tide in the race start direction caused considerable grief for some at the start, including one boat that had a physical tussle with the start bouy, (in the background in the photo with the harbour bridge) 12 nautical mile course. Followed by an outdoor bbq here with the crew tanks to the gas heater .

No just tel number and name and only one of each group at each visit to the premises. To be fair everyone here has complied without question and in a friendly manner. It's not a problem here as people are just so happy to have a life. However I would think it may be different at a numpty pub in a town centre on a weekend night?

Rule one. If its going pear shaped, get yours in first, fast and hard, just the once, and retire. TD'

Learn how to tell people to f off darling when they come around looking through windows and also learn how to box and puch your weight in case plan A dont go down well. If they are living nearby go and put your face up against their windows and see how they like it, living a travelling lifstyle requires a no nonsense attitude for at least fifty peercent of the time unfortunately. Naturally some people will not like this approach and thats fine they are welcome to enjoy plan A or B or simply walk on if they are not able to be respectful of other peoples property.

We got up that way twice last year. (So pre-covid info). Beautiful winding cruising, but drive as if there's a dutch barge coming downstream just round the blind bend ahead .. because there could be! Public moorings at Lechlade plentiful with lots of open space. (Mind said cows). Excellent fish and chip shop - eat in or take away - and an equally excellent hand made sourdough shop ... that also does exotic pizzas in evening. Usual Co-op shop and good butcher/deli up street. Regular buses to Cirencester, where we stocked up with 2 weeks worth of groceries. We also like mooring on the curvy bits below Kelmscott. Watch out for the occasional wasps nest in the bank. William Morris's country house there is fascinating if you like classic countryside design - fabrics, wallpapers - design history ... or insight into the love triangle going on involving Dante Gabriel Rossetti

I agree. Chris Howes did an interesting online talk about this project recently, does look like it has legs (in part as driven by water supply requirements).

Just to note that Skipper's Guide says "SAILING WITHIN THE SOUTH DOCKS 8.1 If a boater wishes to sail within the South Docks from their mooring in Salthouse Dock, they must inform the Harbour Manager on 0151 709 6558. The South Docks are used by a variety of recreational users including swimming clubs and sub aqua clubs. Liverpool Watersports Centre is located in Queen’s Dock and activities take place on a daily basis" Lots of expensive-looking hulls in that direction ?

Failing all of the above, get your wife to do oil changes on other people's boats for remuneration. That way you will.be able to pay for any necessary repairs! ???

Give us a wave as we go past you. We're coming up the locks tomorrow. Top tips for Liverpool: Get to the locks early and go into Eldonian Basin at the very end of the L&L. It's easier to reverse into it if you are longer than 45'. Just turning down Stanley Flight doesn't count as doing the full length of the L&L. Don't stay moored in Salthouse Dock, go for a cruise all the way to the end of Coburg Dock past Liverpool Marina. It's a fascinating place and most people don't go and see it by boat, so it's well worth an hour or longer if you fancy the pub at the marina ...

Isn't that like the "self-charging hybrid" that, it is claimed, has two power sources?

That's the one. It usually ends in tears because in many cases the boat handles totally differently afterwards, and if it was originally a real pig to handle then it wouldn't usually get stretched! One of the forumites stretched their much loved boat and it handled better afterwards, but I can't remember who it was. It's fiddly to fit out the new bit too, as you need to reconnect all the services and carry panelling through the already fitted bits to the new piece. I don't think I'd do it myself - as you say, just buy a different one that's close to what you want.

In a small grp boat,usually no ballast. Opinions do vary however,and I have come across some grp boaters who put ballast in the bow to make the boat track straighter.I have tried that with my Norman 20,but found no difference in the handling so I removed it. A light grp boat will rock a bit when people move around,so just tell them to sit down!

Like the maths with insurance policies/premiums. The chances of needing to claim (in most cases) will be very low but, oh dear, when you need it, you really do and you need a 100% chance of being cured/treated.

It's amazing how we have evolved, once we used to have to read books, go the the library etc to find information, but then came the internet, and you would be given suggestions as to where to find information without even leaving your chair. We then seem to evolved into expecting others to do all the research and gives us the answers, saving us even having to do any searching because we 'cannot be bothered' - I wonder what the next step will be ?

I was wondering instead of a boaters hat I think quite a few would be better off wearing a crash helmet the speed they go down the cut, perhaps they should stick too the roads and not the canals.

On this day in 2012 Leeds Lock A+C. The traditional A+C operating gear is retained for the outer bottom gates

No - you have to ring them up on the national call line - websites for the EA are ffar too modern... Try either of these methods:- Tel. 03708 506 506 (Mon-Fri 8-6) E-mail: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk More info on:- http://riverconditions.environment-agency.gov.uk/ It seems to be the general front page for many things to do with the Thames.

It is a bit like when I am with foreign friends who ask 'What is the difference between a canal and a channel?'

Thanks so much Alan. The Barrus Shire 40 was serviced recently and the engineer was impressed with it, according to the boat's neighbour in the marina. It has a PRM 150 gearbox, aquadrive & hospital silencer. All apparently in good order. Lucky because the boat hasn't done many hours since 2012 and we were concerned things might be seized. We set out with the intention of finding a boat that doesn't need much work but it is so true that the boat finds you! The state of the hull is now the possible stumbling block but we will soon find out. Love the name idea and perhaps the starting point for a new colour scheme!

Since January 2018,I have ticked off and photographed 18 ,so just 2 to go which will probably be Langley Mill and then the safe limit of navigation on the Warwickshire Avon.

I keep telling you it's not worth stretching that one, and I spent weeks looking at it! The overplating is sound, and the boat wouldn't be worth any more if it was longer. Put a steel cabin on it, fit it out and sell it is what that boat wants. You could even put a cabin on and sell it as a vintage sailaway so the buyer can fit it out themselves on the way to London

We have only done three or four, the "or four" is an interesting one. We have been to Five Locks on the Brecon back in 2013, that's cut and dried. In 2018 we hired a day boat from Potter Heigham and got to Brograve Mill on the Broads. 2019 saw us at Snareston on the Ashby, but not the absolute limit of navigation (through the footbridge) because the hire boat wasn't able to turn there. So does that count ? Someone was saying Snarestone is "main stream", but I was talking to few people on the canal and they were saying the Ashby canal gets loads of boats but relatively few get to the very top. Is that true or have I got the wrong end of the stick ? The potential forth is the debatable one one, the Sheffield and Tinsley canal basin. We've done that 2 or 3 times but on the restaurant boat ! We weren't going to count that, but surely, if the point of the Silver Propeller Challenge is to encourage use, particularly economic use, of less used or more vulnerable parts of the system, then it actually should count ! Next week we've got a boat booked on the Lancaster and are expecting to get to Tewitfield. But, like an earlier poster, I'd have thought Glasson basin would be a more appropriate destination for the challenge though we are hoping to get to Glasson anyway. We've got the boat for a week and with luck will get the whole canal done incl right to Ashton basin in Preston, but not the Ribble Link as that is not allowed for a hire boat. The fact we're still in semi lockdown (as in loads of stuff is still closed) will make that more likely as there is less other stuff we can do !

Fairleads are ok if bolted through with decent washers on the underside but when just tapped into the rail.......... I have had one come off (not fitted by me) it was like a missile.

On this day 2009 we were at Conde sur Marne and staying over until Bastille day when Floan came down the canal. Loaded with petrol coke for a cement works on the Rhône. The junction with the Marne canal is a 90 degree turn .

Yes, LED tunnel lights should be banned, especially if not angled towards the roof of the tunnel. Many justify their purchase because "it's kinder on the batteries", but unless you break down in a tunnel, the engine is running and thus the tunnel light is fed from the alternator.

We've done 24 (plus 2 near-misses where we tried and got within a mile but got stuck) but it's taken 30 years and I'm too old to start again