Big Bob W

One day last year, we met a boat coming down the bottom lock at Buckby. He was convinced he was at the bottom of the Braunston flight. Then we worked out he turned left instead of right at the end of the Leicester Line! So he went back up the flight with us. I did ask if he thought it strange that Braunston Tunnel had disappeared! Not a hirer BTW.

Grandparents had a bungalow and a small launch on the Soar at Zouch in the 50's so I was on the water more or less from birth. Spent a lot of time in boats as a youngster, again, mainly on the Soar around Loughborough. My uncle built his own Steam launch - I remember trailering it down to a steam boat rally at Windsor with him, my Dad and Grandad in the late 1960's. Had a bit of a break then for a few years. After getting married in 1982, we started hiring regularly. Looking at prices for narrowboat hire nowadays, I really can't remember it being anywhere near as expensive as it is today. Then we bought a share in a 60ft boat. Great, but its really not your own boat. Eventually we bought Dougal 4 years or so ago.

I'm going to have a quick drive over to the boat just to check its still afloat.

Well, that's cleared up the mystery of what the radio was! I am fairly familiar with the 19 set - in fact I am sure there is one in the attic somewhere. I am guessing he was working the 40m band in that case. It would have been interesting to see what antenna he was using. I'll get looking through the photo's again.

Digging through some old photo's and came across this. My late Dad, some time in the late '50s. Probably on the Soar - my grandparents had one of the chalets at Zouch.

But there's still one working paddle on the other side - that will do. The system is falling apart in this area. Really? But theres no tea-hut up there!

Pound below lock 9 dry this morning. CRT running down water.

Could well have been! We also passed by you moored by Norton Junction around midday today. We came down Watford Locks late morning. There was a hell of a lot of water leaking through one of the cills there, 2nd lock down I think it was. The Vlockie had called for CRT assistance. I've not seen any notices, so I assume its OK / Been fixed / About to fail

I had a walk up the flight this evening to take a look. No water coming in from the pound above, but to my unskilled eyes, I could not see any evidence of any new masonry / timbers.

That's my plans for the week gone to pot! Notice Alert Grand Union Canal Location: Buckby Lock Flight Starts At: Lock 7, Top Lock Ends At: Lock 13 Sunday 2 August 2020 until Friday 7 August 2020 23:59 Type: Navigation Closure Reason: Maintenance Original message: Unfortunately, we have had to temporarily close the Buckby Lock Flight. One of the Cills has blown, on the third lock as you approach from the bottom of the flight. We will be on site tomorrow morning, to carry out a full investigation. We aim to have the lock flight operational again by Friday and will update the website tomorrow when we have more information. We appreciate our customers patience at this time.

Amazing really. This after a wetter winter than we have had for a while along with 3 months or so of lockdown.

We had a trip last year including some time on the Trent and the Soar. I remember seeing widebeams moving up there, and they just looked right. That's their natural habitat. I am used to seeing them on the GU: - Generally moored up in the most awkward locations imaginable. - Waiting by the northern portal of Blisworth Tunnel for an illicit midnight transit. - Or on the rare occasions they venture out in daylight, steering via the bow-thrusters. Still, its horses for courses I guess........

That and the fact CRT are only allowing boats through the Watford flight 10-00 till 14:15

I was right wasn't I?

I wouldn't worry too much. As soon as the restrictions are lifted, it will rain continuously for weeks!

Even if/when the hire boat businesses resume, I doubt the pubs will be open. From my experience with hire boat handovers, the question most customers ask is which pub should they head for on the first evening. If the pubs are not there, a good many people will not see boating as such an attractive holiday.

I've made a few myself over the last couple of weeks. I followed the following YouTube clip. I struggle following diagrams for ropework! Video makes it much simpler.

Take a look around Whilton brokerage!

Considering that CRT's pool of VLockies has a fairly high proportion of over 70's, I am guessing we are going to see a much restricted VLockie presence on the system. Not such a bad thing after last years experiences. However, how's that going to impact on the flights that are only unlocked when manned. Foxton? Watford? etc.

Whilton would soon sell it!

Initially I was a bit concerned on the security aspect of the magnetic mounts but unless you look rally closely, the mounts look as though they are screwed on. The cables route into the boat through one of the mushroom vents.

I didn't like the idea of gluing flexible panels to the roof and favoured rigid panels. But also did not really want to drill into the roof to fit brackets. So I have made up brackets for each corner of the panels with magnets. Its a surprisingly solid fixture. It is also possible to tilt the panels by lifting one side and propping with a short length of timber.

River Soar (When not in flood)

https://www.nenevalleyfirewood.co.uk/ Have bought off them for a few years now.