Scholar Gypsy

Thanks again to all for their advice. The project was completed successfully today. I added a control switch so that the pump is on, off, or on when the engine is running. There are a few photos on the blog here, and also of the new paintwork!

I really don't think that is a good idea. As far as I can from the various regulations and other PLA documents: all the designated anchorages are downstream of Limehouse until you get down to Earith they can only be used for up to 2 hours at a time you need to maintain a continuous listening watch on your VHF, "by a suitably qualified person, capable of communicating effectively in English". As others have pointed out, there are limited visitor moorings (to buoys or to pontoons) eg Chiswick. Personally I would rather be off the tideway and in the pub.

There is some guidance on emergencies on the website I mentioned earlier, here. I can't lay my hands on the PLA guidance on anchors but basically for the Diamond Jubilee Pageant we all had 15 metres of chain and 35 metres of warp. The challenge for me is to: find a way to store the chain and warp, so they do not get tangled in a big mess when you need them make sure your crew's feet, arms and other appendages do not get caught when you chuck the anchor over the side Based on my experience when crewing on another boat where the engine gradually failed (fuel line blockage) I cannot stress too much the key messages: as soon as you think you may have a potential problem, get on the radio and call for help. Don't wait to see if you really have a problem. if the engine fails suddenly then drop the anchor first, and then call for help -- unless there is another boat with you that can get a tow line attached and get you under control before you hit the next bridge (or something larger - see here!!!) For the particular incident mentioned above, a passing rubbish barge gave us some assistance to get tied up alongside a mooring barge. 15 seconds after we tied up the engine conked out, as the fuel filter was completely dry. Anchoring is allowed at certain locations, but (and I may have misunderstood your posting) you should not anchor except in an emergency - not least as you may well not get your anchor up out of the mud. If you get caught short in transit I would pee over the side. :

Recent email from C&RT: good news! The Canal & River Trust will be investing £250k in tree management on your local waterways in South East between Monday 20th January 2014 to Monday 31st March 2014.A total of 100km of offside cutting works have been identified on the South East. One of the four Trust work boats will be working North to South finishing at Pigeons Bridge 213 The work aims to open up the navigation to maximise visibility specifically on bends, and in the vicinity of structures, in order to ensure safety for boaters. We advise all canal users to approach the areas where tree works are being undertaken with caution and to follow any warning notices which may be in effect. The works consist of cutting back overhanging vegetation to waters’ edge up to a maximum of 5m in height. Trees growing from the waterway wall or at the waters’ edge will also be removed if they are creating a navigational hazard. A powered floating platform will be in place, with the cutting works using pole saws, chain saws and hand tools. The cut vegetation will be placed primarily on the offside of the canal on Canal and River Trust owned land. The works will be delivered through our National Vegetation and Environmental Services Contractors. You can view this notice and its map online here: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/583/oxford-canal-bridge-183-kings-sutton-to-bridge-213-pigeons-bridge You can find all notices at the url below: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices

and back on again today. I am not surprised, given the amount of water I saw from the railway viaduct just north of Wolverton ....

Dear Anna D There are a number of people (me included) who would be happy to come along as crew for your first tideway trip. I even bring my own VHF radio (and lifejacket). Fee = 1 cooked breakfast. St Pancras Cruising club also organise convoys - see their website. And there's a nice website, built by some regular tideway cruisers, that brings a lot of the tips and guidance together

Indigo Dream's latest blog records their visit to Fourteen Locks etc last weekend... http://indigodream.wordpress.com/2014/02/23/odds-blog-rugby-and-an-unexpected-canal/

Here's a photo of Delph - NB excellent views. I would also agree Walsall is worth a visit, I would suggest you go down the flight and then back up to the W&E, not least as the Walsall canal over to Ryders Green was very shallow and weedy when we went there, Here's the basin & art gallery ...

I would commend the Dudley / Stourbridge. Quite pleasant moorings here, just below the Delph flight; and near the south portal of Netherton tunnel here.

Bedford Ouse SSA lifted today...

Indeed so - but that should only happen if one makes the return trip too soon after low water. That risk is also present on the Severn Estuary trip, I believe. If I do make this trip, more likely as part of crossing the Wash, I will take a pilot. Here's a TNC description from 2004, which does sound a little hairy.

That sounds a plausible number - predicted high tides at Kings Lynn vary between about 17 and 27 feet over the next month, although the high rate of fresh water flow will add to that. Was predicted to be 21 feet on Friday and 20 feet on Saturday, so that squares with the postings above! The lowest bridge (between Denver and the sea) is at 30 feet (9.15 metres) so that could get a bit exciting if you went that way (I have been getting advice on the GOBA forum on taking a boat down to the nice new pontoons at Kings Lynn).

PS I was interested to read you went through on a rising tide. I had thought the usual approach was to open Salters Lode only on a falling tide - I think in case the gate stuck open, in which case the EA had a few more hours to fix it! Am I making that up?

I would go via Oxford. The Thames is on red boards throughout. Details are here, and you can subscribe to email alerts very easily. Whether it is open by April will depend on rainfall (but NB rather surprisingly the Nene reopened yesterday after two months!). Equally, for C&RT, it is worth subscribing to email alerts for all the waterways you are planning to use. That's much easier than checking the website, in my view.

Thanks very much - I was at Billing on Friday and the levels were normal (though the sandbags were still in place to protect the pub, as indeed they were in Cambridge yesterday). Let's hope the Bedford Ouse will be next - SSA of 15 Jan is still in force.

Nene reopened today, after two months of strong stream alert... Yippee.

On our first boat (one of these...) we hung a camping gaz lantern on a bit of wood across the hatch. Very effective in Braunston, Blisworth etc. Could one argue that Dudley is a three-way tunnel ?

The gap between the stonework and the cast iron (at about 1:10) was interesting - scope for frost damage??

Here's my set-up, a bit Heath Robinson but works well (plus a couple of cabin lights). That thread also includes views on stern lights. I have also used it when navigating at night, or rather for the last 30 seconds to illuminate the bank when mooring. In that instance (fifty plus boats on the move, after a firework show in Henley) I just relied on navigation lights. The main function of lights is to ensure other boats can see you (and not be blinded by you).

Back on topic: "Tree fallen on a boat - Joshua". I hope Tree did not injure herself when falling on the boat ... ... and I look forward to meeting her when (not if) the Nene reopens.

You should also visit the secret nuclear bunker not far north of Audlem (Hack Green).. It's a lovely canal as others have said.

I think the cross-passage is big enough for one to crawl through to get to the bottom of the air shaft, but I wouldn't recommend it... Worth going through to get to the pub at Buckby top lock, and to explore the proposed line for the Daventry canal...

I have heard a number of weather experts saying that the key change is the path the jet stream is taking at present, and that it seems to have got stuck in an unusual pattern -- so it's the path of the jet stream not its speed that matters? As the BBC piece says, the data only covers a relatively few years.

My new year resolution is to upgrade smoke and CO alarms. I am quite interested in these three options and would be interested in views: * mains rechargeable CO alarm (and smoke similar) eg Aico. Will go flat if mains turned off for 4 weeks (which will happen at some point during the year - I don't run the inverter overnight). * Sealed units with 7 year battery like Fireangel * Dual unit (Kidde seem to be the only people who make this) but will require regular battery changes. Looks a bit flimsy perhaps?? The second option seems the most straightforward, they do 10 year life sealed units for both smoke and CO. Install and forget!

I would be interested in odds on the Nene reopening by mid-April. The loser would need to transport my narrowboat from somewhere near Gayton to Ely, by water (me) or by road (you)... I am glad to see that the Henley Regatta organisers are still confident - I had an email about these moorings today. These must be worrying times for all involved in water-related tourism, leisure & freight businesses.