Victor Vectis

This has just come through: Many thanks for supporting us by attending the first event of this campaign, it is great to see members of so many waterways’ organisations coming together to demonstrate our concerns. It will be good to show this to visitors so if you have banners or flags from your organisation please fly them. Banners for the Fund Britain’s Waterways Campaign will be distributed to boats as they approach the site. We have a good number of boats attending although more will still be welcome if you want to encourage your neighbours to join us. Of course, the campaign is not just about boating so we want to see the towpaths adjacent to the Mailbox full, from 11.00am to 1.00pm on the Sunday, please encourage people to come and support us. Just a few ‘instructions’, the event has a serious objective but we are sure that you will enjoy the weekend and the opportunity to meet up with fellow boaters. We are not managing the moorings on the Saturday evening, just gather at a convenient location. Some suggestions were included on the entry form and we hope to get around to most of these to say hello! You just need to be near enough to the city centre to cruise comfortably to the Mailbox by 11am on Sunday, remembering that it will be busy. On arrival at the Mailbox (Salvage Turn) there are no precise moorings, we will have volunteers to assist with getting the fleet into as good an order as we can (ok a degree of chaos is part of the fun), To speed up the process please avoid complex manoeuvres and when leaving just continue in the same direction, there are plenty of winding points a little further away. As near to 12 midday when we have the fleet reasonably located, listen out for three short blasts of a horn and then let’s have a long and loud 10 sec blast to wake Birmingham up. Soon after that, there will be a presentation including short speeches. A PA system doesn’t work over the large area so we are going hi tec and using an online webinar link which you can access from the link or QR code below. This will also be shown around the site for the benefit of spectators and we have a gazebo by the bridge to the Mailbox if you need help or more information. Please take the opportunity to explain to the general public why we are there and encourage them to support the campaign. We are expecting good coverage from the press and media, getting the message spread is what the event is all about, so be prepared to be photographed or make is clear if you would rather not. Once activities have quietened down, please move away slowly to gradually clear the area around the Mailbox. Again, we are not organising moorings on the Sunday evening but we are sure that boaters will gather and make their own entertainment or visit local hostelries. A couple of general points; trip-boats, hire boats and the go-boats have all been notified and recommended to stay clear of the area but please be sympathetic of other canal users. We are not expecting canoeing or other non-powered craft but do keep a watch out, just in case. In case of any emergency please ring Ivor on 07778 685764. Many thanks again and do enjoy the weekend as well as contributing to this important campaign.

Yes, the Black Lion. On the right walking towards the town centre. But then the Crown Hotel isn't bad either. In NANTWICH

Yes. Dorridge has a large car park too. Bigger than Lapworth and a more frequent train sevice. Trains up to Moor St. and Snow Hill. ETA Dorridge has a coffee shop too, but not sure if its open on Sundays. And I think, repeat think, parking is free at both those places.

I reckon there are 17 or 18 boats in this pic. Given that there is talk of 50 or so boats taking part I would suggest anywhere between Old Turn and Salvage where you can fit a boat in! Boat Tetris anyone? 😃

I'll be coming in from Lapworth, via the W & B. My reading of things is that boats coming in from this direction will gather by that new winding hole at Selly Oak (Sainsburys) on Saturday and and cruise to the Mailbox on Sunday morning. I'm guessing boats coming from the north will gather at Smethwick on the Saturday and head in on Sunday.

Hmmm, yes. I'd heard talk of this too. Apparently he wanted to stop use of the lock after 5pm. He sounds like a really nice bloke. (NOT!) And a good argument against second 'home' owners.

Or the lazy fat barstewerds who are too idle to get of their lardy arses and walk to the takeaway. I feel the same about those who use the table service app in Wetherspoon pubs and expect to be waited on.

A pity one can't do this in places like New Street in Brum where pedestrians are at risk of being mown down by fast food deliverers on electric motor bikes. 😠

Thanks for that but that's the one I've used so I'm guessing it is the entry form. Where did you get the '50 other boats' figure from? Sounds like it could be a good do. And as the rally is right outside the Mailbox, and under the nose of the BBC, it should make the news. It might even get a mention on The Archers ! After all one of the characters (Can't remember if it is Rex or Toby) lives on a boat on the River Am. 😃

Sooper! Looks like it could be a banterette then. Has anyone heard back from the organisers? I registered an interest in attending last week. The email from the BCNS said 'If you have registered to join the Campaign Cruise you will have received an entry form', and I haven't. (Unless the 'registering an interest' form and the entry form are the same thing)

Yes. A Black Country pub. Just round the back of the Cube, not far from the Mailbox. A nice quiet pub with an excellent choice of beers.

See you in the Craven Arms?

Oops. Sorry. I should have put a link up. Thanks Glen.

Anyone else signed up for this?

No advice about red boards apart from get off the river asap. (Not very helpful, I know) but..... Have a look on the CaRT website to book a mooring in Paddington CaRT bookable moorings You need to register with them or already have an account. Paddington Basin is a bit of a souless wind tunnel. The two moorings at Rembrandt Gardens are nicer and next to a little park but are on a slight curve which makes tieing up a little difficult. Keep us informed how you get on, and, BTW, whereabouts on the Island are you from? We're in Ryde.

Your old man, Bizzard? 😃

Radio 3 in our case, previously known as the Third Program. Radio for grown ups.

Was that bl00dy footbridge behaving itself?

Quite frankly, no. Well, not on the Paddington Arm at least. If I had gone into tick over I would have taken all day for what should be an hour or two of boating. I echo the comments made about CMers mooring properly. And...... The number of nose to tail, double moored CMing boats there has put me off wanting to visit the southern part of the GU again.

Yes!

The fall there is so small I can never work out if the boat is going up or down.

A while back I remember a shiny boat woman trying to claim priority over hire boats in a lock queue saying they "Were late for meeting their friends at the pub for lunch" Nasty lady.

Same location on the lowest tide in Cowes week. (Image from Island Echo)

Crash helmet, ski mask, Guy Fawkes style mask? 😃

Yes. And I'm so old I went to a university.