warwickshireman

There is a British Standard for the installation of stoves on boats. So far as I know it is only recommended practice for new boats at this time but if you need to replace a stove in an older boat you might well consider following the recommendations. They largely refer to air gaps between the stove and the wall and materials used for the wall in the immediate area. A common cause of fires in older boats is that the tiles surrounding the stove are simply stuck onto plywood and if they get hot enough this can ignite. Out of site; out of mind etc etc. The standard is BS8511

I have an ancient Garmin hand held gps which I've taken on the boat sometimes. It reads to a tenth of a mph. Typical wash free canal cruising speed is about 3.1 to 3.3 mph. When crawling at tickover speed past lines of moored boats, which as we all know gets really tedious, our speed is still about 2.3 mph so the difference is really not all that great. On the Thames the current can be over 2 mph when the level is up a bit and with the deep water you can often see 6 mph downstream but less than 2 mph upstream. That makes a huge difference to your travelling time.

Highly recommended. Scenic and quiet. Slow progress as very shallow. The definitive guide book is published by the author John Norris. ISBN 0951799142 email: jrn@norbirch.demon.co.uk Well worth buying.

If you look at Krasnoyarsk on Google Earth you can find and some more photos. It looks like the turntable can point in 3 directions - I think the third direction must be a dry dock.

Warwickshirewoman is a lady with eccentric tastes !

The main thing is not to be taken unawares by the weather in late October. You may be able to go round the shops or work in the garden in chinos and sweatshirt but standing still on the back of a boat for a couple of hours is very different. I recommend thick socks and wellies or walking boots. Waterproof trousers - they're also windproof. Waterproof jacket with hood. Thin warm gloves and a pair of Marigolds big enough to go over the top. Scarf and fleece or wooly hat. Umbrella. Put warm clothing on BEFORE you get cold. Stay warm and dry and you'll have a great holiday. Get wet or cold and you'll be miserable!

Horses for courses I suppose but for me Llangollen (and Mont.) K and A Macc and Upper Peak Forest Caldon above Stockton Brook South Stratford

Another possibility is to hire an Anglo Welsh boat from their base on the Thames near Eynsham which is just a few miles upstream from Oxford. A Monday/Friday break would give you time to go up the river to Lechlade (very quiet and remote) then back down to visit Oxford (not so quiet). Then return via the Southern section of the South Oxford canal and the link to the river known as Dukes Cut which will give you a chance to try your hand at working narrow canal locks (just three of them).

Worth speaking nicely to the lock keeper. He might be persuaded to turn a blind eye if things are not too busy.

Beacon Park Boats on the Mon and Brec are real five star craft. Some narrow, some semi wide. They even have one with a hot tub on the foredeck!! Mon and Brec is a five star canal also.

Here's a tip to save you a few ££££. Join the K&A Trust - you can do it online - family membership costs £25 but includes free admission to Crofton and Claverton. Not sure of 2010 prices but I reckon you'll save about a tenner. Here's another tip. Spend it on some of Mr Wadworth's excellent sleeping mixture. Hope the sun shines for you. Rick

Dave I understand your desire to see Crofton in steam but I don't think you will get there in time on the Monday. Progress on the K and A is fairly slow because : a)West of Devizes there are many moored boats and b)Much of the paddle gear is very low geared and takes ages to wind up and down. (Despite this they are also very stiff) I suggest you try to visit Crofton en route to B on A to start your trip. It will be in steam on Sat 29th. Don't know where you're coming from, of course. Then start your trip by going to Bath. This will give you the chance to visit Claverton Pumping Station which will be running on both Sun 30th and Mon 31st. As Mr Pearson says, this is something not to be missed. Spend a night moored below Pulteney weir in Bath - you have to pay about £8 but it's worth it for such a fantastic place to moor. Then go east as far as time permits - the long pound is beautiful and much quieter. Rick

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