Rob-M

Atlas and Malus go up and down the Crow. When Willow came down I think they went backwards to clear the cill. The Brades staircase is tight with 71'6", I thought I was going to have to reverse back up as it was a real struggle to get the bottom gate open but managed eventually with a bit of wriggling.

71'6" will make some locks tight so you just need to take care and keep an eye on what is happening especially going downhill.

The leaves at Wood End lock were terrible last week, trying to get in and out of the lock using the engine was very difficult. I ended up bowhauling in and out having watch a couple of other boats struggle. I think it is Bridge 88 before Fradley that is always bad for getting through.

From the website I linked to... This little pump house was built (1922-28) to supply the Uttoxeter area with fresh water from nearby springs. It’s unusual in that the pumps were powered by water turbines, using the head provided by an adjacent weir across the River Churnet - this weir was originally built to take a now-defunct canal across the river without needing major engineering works. There are 3 x 11 hp turbines made by Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon Ltd., each working a set of triple ram pumps, which had a combined output of ~ 15,000 gallons/hour under favourable conditions.

Crumpwood Pumping station according to Google image search which brings up https://m.facebook.com/RugeleyAndArmitageCameraClub/posts showing the image when they had a club visit. Another site showing the image https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/crumpwood-pump-house-staffordshire-aug-2019.119880/

I'm doing much the same as you but using Smarty at £20 a month for unlimited data and only paying for months when I am on the boat. I don't always connect the external antenna as I find generally the signal is strong enough to work and stream TV. I have the B818 router. If you want to try Smarty get a free month through my referral https://i.smarty.co.uk/ptE8nf.

I have the B818 and the Poynting 4g Xpol A0001, often I don't bother connecting the antenna as the internal antenna on the B818 are good enough. I also use Smarty unlimited option as I can just pay for it when we are on the boat. Spent most of today in Teams video calls with no issues.

We go past quite a few times a year, they were out doing repairs today after storm damage.

Today Rugeley

Today Fradley

Coming through Rugeley this afternoon

Just gone outside

Plenty of snow in Great Haywood over night.

Most boat moves are done by the volunteer boat moving team and as long as you have done the required assessment you can cut logs and use a chipper.

What do you expect for a £1000...? And as Alan says the pontoons might not be CRT managed.

Stourport has wide and narrow locks.

I think this is probably the bit the planner missed that there is another lock in the way that they are going to have to move stuff over.

I would be happy to pay a little extra to use HVO. I will be asking in the marina when I next get diesel to see if there are any plans to get HVO in.

I've had to cut through a line to remove it where someone had used a clove hitch and it pulled so tight it was impossible to untie. A lightermans hitch would not have had this problem.

Some hire companies offer a repaint and will do some refitting as well when selling their ex hire boats.