Tuscan

Currently just started up the Braunston flight booked through in the morning.

Some entitlement remains as a couple of boats are still on the 48 hour moorings at Braunston after the show. Or perhaps the owners are ill, I hope not.

Spoke to the skipper of the Tranquil Rose today as we crossed , he says that the blue lias bridge has shrunk to 12’5” (crt measurements) from 12’6” hence they couldn’t get through although previously they could.

Just Spoke to skipper of tranquil rose as we crossed bridge has narrowed to 12’5” which is why they can’t get through

But isn’t the next bridge at Blue Lias advertised as being only 12’ wide ?

Saw two otters running along the bank along the summit of the Leicester section last Wednesday

Brilliant

We are all electric , with inbuilt silenced generator and fairly big battery pack. Have been running large induction hob etc for the last 8 years. Generator comes on automatically to keep batteries topped up if not charging via the engine.

Suspect the government has changed its distance criteria , at my school I had a free bus pass as I lived over 3 miles away. This was a CRT draft that was dropped presumably on the advice of their legal team - only one license etc etc.

I thought it was blue lias bridge they were stuck at is this not the case?

I was told recently that CRT are effectively powerless to prevent a licensed boat from attempting to navigate a specific section of canal. Hence why they cannot prevent widebeams navigating narrow canals like the North Oxford not withstanding that they disapprove.

Is the boat still stuck , didn’t lifting the coping stones get it through?

I think you are perhaps putting up barriers where few exist in reality unless you want to stay/cruise in a very busy part of the country like London or perhaps the western part of the K&A here moorings residential or otherwise are at a premium. take a walk along the towpath and talk to boaters with few exceptions we are friendly lot and you will get good advice.

What is the ‘summer boating season’ referred to? Do we all have to be safely moored up when it finishes ?

Either Linslade (close to the station) or I’ve also used Tring Summit Both safe moorings.

For the vast majority I’m sure you are right, it’s the same for many shows (not just historic) not just Braunston and few would pretend otherwise. However the fact remains the public flock to shows like this , have a good time, spend money go home and in the evening let the boaters enjoy the beer tent.

Coincidentally we will be going to Braunston the week after the show , hopefully there will be a space and we can stay the balance of the week rather than 48 hrs......

There is only life, if you want to do it make it happen. It’s the best philosophy you can have.

Is it new mills where the marina now manages the long term moorings on behalf of CRT?

Well I’ve tried to get Aber upon the plane several times but never succeeded, this must have been amazing to see.

Who remembers the reverend on his hotel pair, he set the bar. Having owned converted working boats for 30 years I’m happy to hold my hand up and say I still make mistakes and am still caught out normally when the bottom is to nearthe top. In recent past going through Braunston as boats were leaving the show I was queuing at the bottom lock and let the pair behind me go through as they were travelling together they then left paddles up and gates open all the way up the flight. I think twice before giving way to hobby working boat boaters unless they are loaded. opinionated experts are to be found in all walks of life whether they are volunteers or not. Surely not worth worrying about unless they cause serious inconvenience or risk.

Seems crazy you would either moor or leave a glass in such a way that a glass of wine could be spilt. Life is far too short to worry about these things. Boaters generally are becoming more inconsiderate like the world at large. Pour another glass and Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/crime/unregistered-boaters-from-peterborough-and-whittlesey-fined-1-8919256 Wish CRT would do the same for boats not displaying index number

Unfortunately at Foxton they do not ask boats to lift pipe fenders, boater was moaning how he’d lost one last time. The previous year we collected one wound round the prop shaft going down. Just make sure they are aware they need to leave a lock free behind you when going down if long if you don’t want a shower. The guys at Watford are always helpful. Foxton is more of a challenge due to the number of visitors and the need of some to play to the gallery diverting the attention.

Quite often you come up two locks or down one if it’s busy but of all the lockies these guys on the Watford are normally on the ball. Now they have fixed the leak on the bottom lock it was always good to get into the flight before they came on duty to avoid the queues.