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From the CaRT website it seems that Bath locks are closed until 15th March so that is the earliest you can make the trip from Bristol. On the Thames it seems that Moseley is the last to open on 8th March. However, with all the rain that we keep getting there is no guarantee that you'll make it even if the stoppages are over. My current understanding is that CaRT are advising boats not to go east of Kintbury because of dangerous flows and have closed some locks. The Thames is on red boards on its entire length. In case you don't know, red boards mean that you are very strongly advised not to travel, the environment agency don't have any legal power to stop you but you may find you are not insured if you ignore their advise. Rik

Try googling acrylic mirror. I've used this supplier for acrylic sheet but not tried their acrylic mirror. Rik Try googling acrylic mirror. I've used this supplier for acrylic sheet but not tried their acrylic mirror. Rik

That's interesting, I'm moored on the 'island' and don't fancy being cut off because the banks been washed into the weir stream. I'll have a good look tomorrow as I wander that way Rik

They are currently completely rebuilding the weir above Dreweatt's lock. It's currently dammed off which is what is causing the problem. There is another weir on this pound, just below Kintbury lock but there is so much water about the levels either side of it are almost the same and they can't get any more water over it. I walked down to Dreweatt's a few days ago and in places the water is flowing over the towpath. Not just flooding the path but flowing over it like a weir, several inches deep in places. It going to cause damage to the towpath but there's not much that can be done to prevent it I'm afraid.l Rik

There have been 2 announcements today that basically close the K&A from Kintbury to Reading until further notice. ----------- County Lock 106 to Copse Lock 80 Tuesday 15 January 2013 until further notice UPDATE (15 January 2013): County Lock 106 remains impassable and likely to remain so until the end of January 2013, possibly throughout February depending on weather conditions. The whole stretch, including the River Kennet, is in a dangerous state with flood water, and boaters are advised to stay put. ------------ Dreweatts Lock Tuesday 15 January 2013 until further notice Due to excessive water levels, Dreweatts Lock has been closed to boat traffic. Craft wishing to navigate through this lock should call 03030404040 and ask for the Kennet & Avon Waterway office, where you can book an assisted passage through the lock. A minimum of 24 hours notice is required to book a passage. This restriction will remain in place until the current high levels subside, and work is completed on the Adjacent flood relief weir. ------------- For those who are unsure Dreweatts is the lock between Kintbury Lock and Copse Lock east of Kintbury Anyone heading east there are currently one or two spaces on the 48hr moorings at Kintbury Rik

The following update on the situation at Widmead Lock has just been issued. Widmead is between Newbury and Thatcham. Widmead Lock 89 Tuesday 18 December 2012 until further notice UPDATE (07 January 2013): Whilst investigations and repairs are organised, Widmead Lock 89 will be open on Wednesday 9 January, for assisted boat passage. The Lock will also be open on subsequent Wednesdays until the repairs are completed. ---------------------------------------------------- Stoppage history: Widmead Lock 89 Following recent flood damage, Widmead Lock 89 chamber brickwork has become unstable and unsafe. Boats entering the lock would be at risk of damage from falling bricks. It will not be possible to repair the lock before Christmas, and as a result it will be closed until the New Year, when investigation and repairs will be undertaken as soon as possible. The Canal & River Trust apologise for the inconvenience this will cause, and hope you appreciate we have made this decision for the safety of our users. Enquiries: 0303 040 4040 You can find all stoppages at the url below: http://www.waterscape.com/things-to-do/boating/stoppages

yes, you've missed this announcement that came out at about 7pm tonight. Little Bedwyn Lock 67 stoppage. Monday 14 January 2013 - Saturday 2 February 2013 Engineering works to support collapsed approach walls, and unblock the ground sluice culvert, are required to lock 67. Many of you will be aware that this culvert has been blocked for years; it features in many previous User Group Meetings as an on-going, unresolved problem. Previous attempts to remove the blockage without closing the canal (jetting and remote drilling) have failed. We are taking an opportunity to finally repair this fault. To enable these works, the canal will be closed, between locks 65 & 70 from Monday 14th January, and re-open on Saturday 2nd February. The window for craft movements through this area is Saturday 5th to Sunday 13th January So it seems that you'll get just 9 days to get through that stretch. Rik

I've also heard rumour that Froxfield won't be open by the time that Hungerford swing bridge is closed at the end of Jan. Lets hope it's just a nasty rumour that has no basis in fact. Rik

In terms of length, don't assume that because there is some space in a row of moorings that they can be shuffled up and make a larger space. It could well be that, because of the auction system, people are paying for a space that is longer than their boat and, from what I'm told by the CRT mooring coordinator, they have the right, at any time, to moor a longer boat on their mooring up to the length that they are paying for. While on the subject of the length of moorings, there's one at Hungerford at the moment that is 23m, 75'6". Shame the locks on either side are only a bare 70'. Sure the're be someone that will pay for 5' that they can't use but it won't be me! Rik

Hi Mark, This nearly got me earlier in the summer too. I think you'll find that the chain, which is padlocked to the gate with a non-CRT padlock, only has the other end looped over the gate post and it is easy to lift the loop over the post and open the gate. In my experience there are very few places where the towpath is closed by a locked gate. There are one or two places in London that I'm aware of where the gates are locked at night giving extra protection to visitor moorings. These are locked using a BW/CRT key. Rik

Don't rule out the lorry option. My uncle had a boat on the Broads for a while and stuck it on a lorry to France. If I remember correctly it was put on on a French canal not far from Calais and he cruised all over the country from there.

I'm moored on the 24hr visitors moorings above Abingdon lock. The lock keeper has told me that mooring charges and visitors licenses are suspended from the time the river goes red until it is safe to move again and as it is he who levies the charges I'm hopeful that I'll get to the K&A without having to part with any more of my hard earned cash. Rik

Like Dave, I scooted through Osney as it went yellow last Wednesday. I went to the left and past the "Heads of the River" pub. I had no problem getting round that way (I'm 70ft) but did worry a little day launch that was coming upstream just at the wrong moment! It looks from the EA website as if the lock closures at Abingdon and Whitchurch have been delayed and now start on 5th Nov. Link If you are heading up the K&A like me, remember that Sheffield Lock at Theale is closed from 5th - 19th November. I'm sitting at Abingdon at the moment waiting for a chance to get down through the Culham-Clifton stretch that is still red, but things are looking up as a Salters trip boat full of kids has just gone down that way so it must be improving. Rik

Don't know anything about them but Tollhouse have a couple of 70' boats on their website that read quite nice. May be worth a call. Rik

You can get a bus to AltonTowers from Stoke, if you want a full day off the boat. Found this BW document that may also give you some ideas Linky Have a great trip Rik

I came over the top last week and the hours were basically 10am to 1pm so you're clear of the flight by 2pm. I came from south to north and there was a queue of about 8 at Claydon but we hit a queue of 15 or more at Marston Doles. At the Napton end it's only locks 15&16 at Marston Doles that are locked. I understand that there was a problem at Claydon last Wednesday morning, a paddle was stuck open and the flight was closed for the morning, because of this they listed the restrictions allowing free flow of boats until 1pm on Thursday Rik

Hi I think you may be looking at the wrong figures on the shoreline web site here. It's a very messy layout but I think it says that it uses an average of .95 amps/hour at 12v and the number you quote 1.42 amps is the rated current at 24v. Also, don't forget, unless you are have a mains hookup, to take into account the additional power required to run your inverter. Hope this helps Rik

Thanks for your help with this. I am planning a gibbo wiring scheme to optimise the load on each battery and think I'll run 2x50mm2 cables pos & neg to the combi as recommended by the manufacturer (victron). Thanks again Rik

I'm about to wire up a similar combi, am I right in thinking that if I connect the combi with 2x50mm2 cables pos and 2x50mm2 neg then I should also use 2x50mm2 cables between all the batteries in the domestic bank? Thanks Rik

My understanding is that you will be charging your batteries at a voltage somewhat nearer to 14v than 12v or they won't charge and so you will actually need your controllers to handle more life 70a. To me this means you could use a 20a controller for each panel. As to using a controller for each panel, I think this is OK. As your batteries get to nearly charged it is likely that the individual controllers will sense the batter charge differently and go to float charge at different times until you end up with just one controller and panel finishing the absorption charge. But I am know expert and I hope that others will be along to confirm this or put me straight. Rik

This has just been issued: Following a dry winter and spring, there is limited water availability on the Kennet and Avon Canal. It is therefore important that we all conserve available water resources as best we can for the good of the navigation, the environment and everyone who enjoys our canal. There are a number of steps that boat users can take; sharing locks and ensuring that paddles and gates are closed as directed being obvious ones. In order to allow pound levels to recover overnight and not stress the waterway system unnecessarily, it will be necessary after Easter to restrict navigation in the evening and overnight. This restriction will apply to the whole of the waterway between Bath (Lock 7) and a point east of Kintbury (Copse Lock, Lock 80) . Clearly, locking the canal up every night would be a huge undertaking for the staff who work on the canal and would detract from essential maintenance and repair work. I will be requesting that users of the canal observe this restriction, irrespective of whether locks are actually chained shut. If it becomes apparent that this approach is not working, it will be necessary to shorten the navigable day further and padlock as many paddles and gates closed as possible. As the season progresses it may be necessary to extend the extent and duration of any restrictions. The River Kennet east of Copse Lock will be monitored carefully and action taken if levels are too low to sustain navigation. Similarly, the River Avon which supplies water to the canal between Bath and the summit will continue to be monitored; continued navigation relies entirely on maintaining a water supply from the River Avon. At present, to the east of the summit, Wilton Water (Crofton) and the associated aquifer is at a sufficient level to supply water to the east side of the canal. Imposing a restriction to navigation on this section of canal will not directly prolong the availability of this resource (ground water level will reduce naturally as the season progresses). However, forthcoming restrictions will give the canal the best opportunity to recover levels overnight and for a freshening flow to be maintained. West of the summit the overnight closures will similarly give the best opportunity for pound levels to recover and create additional capacity for feeding the summit. Thank you in advance for actively supporting the long term sustainability of the Kennet and Avon Canal. MARK STEPHENS BEng(Hons) CEng MICE WATERWAY MANAGER Kennet and Avon Waterways The Locks, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1QR

I understand that Hungerford Marsh lock is now open but Wire is still closed. According to the latest BW stoppage notice Wire will open tomorrow, but don't bet your life on it! Rik

Don't hold your breath! They were stickering boats at Hungerford a few days ago between Hungerford Marsh Lock and Wire Lock which have both been closed for weeks for new gates. When challenged the patrol officer's response was "Oh are they closed? No one told me!" So if they BW can't communicate planned closures to its staff then we've no chance during the water restrictions. Rik

My understanding is that Wire and Hungerford marsh locks are closed. Wire is scheduled to open on 30th March but could be delayed. Hungerford marsh was supposed to open yesterday but I don't think it has. Rik

From reading what Mark Stevens (BW K&A waterways manager) wrote in the last edition of the K&A Trust magazine it seems that they now have the ability to pump water from the Avon to the summit pound so the western end can supply water to the eastern end. This may help if there's enough water in the Avon and they can afford to run the pumps. It probably means that they'll manage to keep the K&A open. There will be restricted opening hours, this is announced in the same article, but the hours of opening have not been announced as yet. As for Whilton Water at Crofton being full at the moment, I understand that this is true, even overflowing, but also understand that the reservoir capacity is relatively small and underground springs are relied upon to continuously feed the reservoir during the summer. As these springs dry up, restrictions will have to be introduced. There's more here http://kennetavontrustnews.blogspot.co.uk/ Rik