Chakugan

Go google New Islington Marina

£100 from me - PM with where to send.

Personally I love a spot of gongoozling and so does my better half - so many interesting boats out and about. We gave a young girl a tour of the boat at the request of her Mum once which was kinda nice but the best time we've been on the receiving end was as Congleton on the Macc when we could hear a family chatting along the towpath and the Mum said to her young son: "Careful, here be pirates." The youngster looked through our side hatch to see Him, with his dreadlocks and Sea Shepherd beanie and exclaimed, "Mum! I just seen one!" A wondeful moment we will cherish forever. Chaku

Nice one Paul. Welcome to the boating world, it may seem full of hurdles but they are a LOT lower than those in Civilisation Street, really they are. Enjoy!

Thank you Loafer, they are really amazing shots and wonderfully capture the magic around us

I certainly think that it is in the interests of many people to create an environment in which there is this huge problem. It's a bit like governments always having to make sure we've got a war on, there's always got to be some existential threat because then all sorts of rules and controls can be put in place. This was the insightful part of the post, without chips we all might see it and no longer be divided to fall.

I'm not a single handler and don't know the draft of your boat, but a(nother) word of caution, the sides of the pounds are very shallow at times so (if you can) stay in the channel between locks. Chaku edit: typos

We always steer clear of oncoming boats ;-) but will definitely wave if we see you. Chaku

One of the ducks at Bugsworth Basin says, as she hops onto the ledge of my side-hatch: "Nevermind your two Jack Russels having a fit, just give me some more of those pumpkin seeds and ignore the other twenty or so ducks outside, they may be bigger but I'm smarter, I'll deal with them later."

Wow, what a gorgeous boat. Hope you have many wonderful times aboard and enjoy your life afloat. Chaku

Thank you Nigel. I believe things are now clear in my own mind which, worryingly, only serves to make me even more worried as regards what CaRT are attempting to / will achieve with unsuspecting fellow boaters.

Yes, thanks Arthur, I know where you're coming from but I was under the impression that as a statutory body, CaRT are only empowered to do what they have been specifically empowered to do. Thanks Nigel. They claim the power but has the extent / validity of that power to impose T&Cs ever been tested and / or was this the point I remember you and Mayalid debating at some length in another thread? CaRT seem to be wanting to add compliance with their T&Cs as a requirement additional to those that are clearly defined in the act for the issuing of a licence. What is concerning me I suppose is can they legally do this? And how on earth can we find out without someone spending £hundreds in the Court. I think I'm rambling now, so shutting up

Regarding Hawthorn's questions above, does anyone know / has anyone ever asked BW/CaRT under which of their statutory powers they purport to impose and amend T&Cs?

Congratulations Dave, hope you have many happy days on your new boat I was scared stiff of locks when I first got my boat but I love them now - they're my outdoor gym. We are heading down to MK at the moment but as Fools Nook swingbridge is closed (from today - mechanical failure) not sure when we're going to be able to get off the Mac, so won't be there to help but as others have said, boaters are a friendly lot, I'm sure you'll be fine. Chaku

Just lately I have been seriously considering joining a national boaters' association, looking at websites, reading historical stuff etc, but have yet to decide which. This letter has given me a good shove in NABO's direction.

Access to medical care is certainly not unique to CCers. It affects all of us without a residential address. As someone with a chronic medical condition and need for daily medication, I know this from personal experience and it is something I still need to resolve.

I would be willing to help if I could so you presume wrongly

Indeed and as I said in my OP I wish you well. Thank you also for clarifying that the new association is not intended for boaters such as myself. All the best Chaku

Obviously I am not a CCer for the purposes of or as defined by the Licensing regs but I cruise continuously without a Residential mooring and feel I face the same issues as Declared CCers. This is what I meant.

Whilst wishing the ACC well, I have a question. As I understand it, some CCers like to secure a mooring for some / all of the winter months. Personally, I choose to have a 12 month leisure mooring for winter use and as a "just in case" although in this, my first year of living aboard, I have not returned to my current home mooring since I left to cruise and explore the waterways in April. How do the issues I face differ from those whom I consider to be my fellow CCers who take a winter mooring? Chaku :-)