Big Bob W

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.

How familiar does that sound?

We moored there for a couple of years. Great choice of routes. I can't remember it being any worse than other marinas in gusty conditions. However, we never really felt at home there. The long, narrow pontoons were a bit daunting when walking down them in wet/icy weather. Especially when you are moored at the far end with gaps on the way. Parking was very congested during the summer. The Black Prince operation took precedence over everything else on Saturdays. No diesel/pumpout available on those days to us mere mortals!

We were in that queue yesterday. Problem was the Lockette at the top wasn't letting anyone up until someone came down. Now fair enough, we'd have just gone, but there were quite a number of hire boats ahead being held in the pounds ahead of us who assumed the Lockette knew best!! Hence a shambolic gridlock. This despite us trying to tell them the queue was halfway back to Newbold! As has been said, this was all compounded by just one of each duplicated lock being operable.

We recently spent a night at Castle Gardens. To be honest we were a little apprehensive about staying right in the city centre, but these proved to be excellent. They are on floating pontoons on the offside. Probably room for 4 boat lengths. 48 Hr Max. You can access the city via a locked (CRT key) gate which takes you in to Castle Gardens. Very safe. There are wheelie bins for rubbish on the pontoons provided by Leicester City Council. Considering the location, it was surprisingly quiet at night, although we were there mid-week.

All still listed as restricted on the CRT stoppages website.

In hindsight, that is exactly what we should have done. But to be honest I think we were just caught off guard. What is more worrying is another 30 seconds later, the lock would have been empty and the gate half open when Volockie opened his paddles without looking. Gate would have slammed shut taking the Mrs and any number of gongoozlers with it.

The “Towpath Fundraisers” jobs have just become one hell of a lot more challenging! Mr Parry says we don’t need any more money!