Scholar Gypsy

It's now pretty clear that your statement is correct. Visitors with just an ordinary CRT licence will need to: buy a suitable EA visitor licence that will cover the Nene and Great Ouse; buy a visitor licence, or daily licences, for the Middle Level. note that visitor licences for the Cam Conservancy waters are no longer available. Ho hum.

This blog gives a good flavour of the New Bedford. Also includes a photo of the River Great Ouse tidal bore. Not quite as impressive as the Severn, I do admit.... https://scholargypsy.org.uk/2019/09/20/fenland-tidal-circuit/

Here is a new page on the GOBA website that I have been working on for people like you. The new licence situation is rather complex and still not 100% clear, so that section may change. https://goba.org.uk/a-guide-for-visitors-to-the-east/ And some photos of the scenery you will find when you get there. There are some interesting bits of the Middle Level (not levels) too: see my August 2020 blog. Includes photos of Reach and Wicken. https://scholargypsy.org.uk/contents/ I do (free) trips up the Backs in the winter, if you fancy a day trip!

That question (which has been christened the West Stockwith question, with apologies to the late Tam Dalyell) has been asked. I will let you know when I have the answer....

The split of revenue between CRT and EA for a gold licence varies (or rather it did last time I looked!) depending on where you declare your home mooring to be. It is a joint licence, but administered by CRT. Anyway, yes you are right that the options for someone with a gold licence who wants to transit the ML are a) 4 x 1 day visitor licences ( I make this £68 for a 50' boat) b) the Anglian pass for £75 or £100. Personally I would choose the latter and spend the time visiting some of the out of the way places on the ML eg Woodwalton Fen, Home Fen

I was talking about switching between EA and Gold, not CRT and gold. The former is a pain, and can cost you money! (I keep my boat on the Fens at the moment)

Yes, that would be nice. However an EA visitor licence on its own is £270 a month, for a 50 foot narrow boat, so I fear you will be disappointed. The complexities of switching licences between EA (1 April to 31 March) and Gold (1 Jan to 31 Dec) are one of the reasons why I have had a gold licence for the last 10 years....

Discussions are continuing behind the scenes on the position for CRT licence holders ! I will update the website again when the position becomes clearer. I am also trying to get some definitive information on MLC visitor licences. Thanks to all for their comments. Thanks, yes the debate has kicked off on the Cam Boaters facebook group.

My contacts are working on getting an outcome like this. It doesn't yet exist ....

Pedant alert: the basin was filled in to provide land for Nuffield College and for what is now a city council car park. There have been some vague plans to turn the car park back to a canal basin...

That sounds about right for turning. It all depends on the strength of the outbound current. I would slow right down before you get to Brentford Dock marina, ideally just drift with the boat stationary in the water, so you can judge the speed of the current. Then apply power to make a 180 degree turn to the left so you are facing upstream, and then if necessary let the current carry you backwards a bit until you are level with the entrance to the creek. It's better to turn too early rather than too late - adjusting for the former is much easier than the latter. Then apply a bit of power unti

Good point, there's a photo here. I think "art" should be in quotation marks, though close up it is more impressive http://thamescruising.co.uk/?p=36

I'm pretty sure I can't get under Exhibition Bridge. There are some plans for a water taxi from Yaxley to Woodwalton Fen.

I don't think so (though that is the best time of the day on the river!). The slot is for 15 boats which would take a good 60-90 minutes to lock through. I would leave Teddington at about 6, to get to Brentford about 0730.

Thanks, I had not spotted the need to selection direction of travel, that is rather neat. The slot will be for your arrival at Brentford. Teddington is (normally) open 24/7, and there is no need to book there. For reasons others have noted you will probably arrive a bit later than HW. The slots seem to be defined as HW-2 to HW (for going upstream) and HW to HW+2 for going downstream.