p6rob

I have a full time non boat based job and manage to CC and get to my office without many dramas. Previously I completed a couple of laps of the Warwickshire Ring but now I no longer work in Coventry, I've reduced the route around work in Birmingham. Where I moor (West Midlands, between Birmingham and Lapworth) there is a niceish circular route which is about 21 miles. It is quite lock heavy in sections and I tend to always stop in the same spots en-route. It takes 10 weeks before I return to any of my previous stops. When I get bored of doing the same route, I tend to spend a month in Birmingham on a winter mooring, then reverse the route. I tend to moor off the VMs where possible and don't mind a bit of a walk, so have always managed to find a spot. Not sure what your cruising area is like though. So far, the only time I appeared on C&RT's watch list was nearly three years ago when I was moored in Sherborne Wharf. It was only supposed to be temporary, while I dealt with a bereavement, so didn't notify C&RT that I was no longer CCing, however, it ended up as a six month stay and because I hadn't been 'sighted', they said I could only have a six month licence at renewal time. It was all sorted by a couple of phone calls and I have always been 'allowed' a normal 12 month licence since. To answer your question; the rules are thankfully deliberately vague but reading C&RT's paperwork, I think the very basic minimum requirement is to not stay anywhere for longer than two weeks at a time and not return within 28 days and cover 20 miles per year. Therefore to comply with the absolute minimum requirement (as I currently understand it), you need to find four stopping points about five miles apart. When you get to the fourth, return to the first and start again. Rob

Just booked my room at the Travelodge.

I've missed canal events this year. So, really looking forward to the Loughborough Banter. Can only do the one night though unfortunately. Rob

Good to hear how successful the overplate has been. My boat is booked in with Martin for exactly the same work, early next year.

Last time my bmc 1.5 would only run for a couple of seconds was after I replaced the fuel filter and hadn't got the seal seated correctly. It was sucking in air. Once I got the seal sorted, and the fuel system bled, it ran as normal.

Congratulations to the Chesterfield Canal Trust. I'm in awe of everyone that helps keep the waterways wet. Rob

I think you mean pedanticism.

Is there a connection from the panel to the -ve terminal of the battery?

Try this one: https://www.eberspacher.com/download-centre/technical-documents/operating-instructions.html?&eID=download&file=fileadmin/data/countrysites/EB_UK/pdf_files/info_pdf_ebuk/technical_docs_pdf_ebuk/operating_pdf_ebuk/calltronic_22_1000_90_96_23.pdf Or this if it's a different model. https://www.eberspacher.com/download-centre/technical-documents/operating-instructions.html

Is that definitely the right torque setting? All the engines I've built (Armstrong Siddeley star sapphire, rover p6, and bmc 1.5) the main bearing bolts have been around 65lbft and the big ends more like 35lbft.

Our trip to the Dolomites last September made me seriously question the fun in Rock Climbing as a hobby. My friend Thomas has wanted to do this climb for about fifteen years and has tried unsuccessfully about four times. Well, the whole trip was a bit sketchy to be honest. It's too much for here, but briefly... The friend I was travelling with failed to arrive at the airport because his taxi crashed and rolled on the way. I crashed the hire car within 1hr of collecting it. At the start of the 'big' climb (Dibona Arete) a group of UK army bods overtook us to the start of the climb so, rather than argue, we moved to an alternative (wrong) start position. Another climber fell from about 30 meters above me before smashing into the mountain side. His belayer then dropped him the last meter or so (I thought I'd watched him die, then had to do a very scary, 10 meter unprotected traverse). The large group of climbers and delays caused by mountain rescue meant lots of lost time. We made it to the top but, halfway back down, it became too dark to continue safely. So, two of us spent a night perched on a small ledge, tied into the rope so, if we managed to sleep, we wouldn't fall. We both got a bit of hypothermia and the conversations were about how neither of us wanted to climb again (the previous year I broke my coccyx before we even got to the start of this climb) When dawn broke, we managed to find the next abseil anchor and made our way to solid ground about 150m below. We then had a two hour walk back to the car, a 45 minute drive to the cottage where we spent the day and night sleeping. The next day or two were pretty uneventful, I think we did a few mountain walks rather than any climbing. The hire company were very forgiving about the car, luckily I had taken out the extra insurance so it wasn't too expensive for me. Next disaster was the flight home, it was delayed by six hours , so instead of getting home around 10:00PM we finally arrived at 4:00AM and I was working that day. We heard that the guy that fell, although very broken did survive but to this day, I still have flash backs and can hear the groans of him taking, what I thought were, his dying breaths. Rob. PS We have both done some climbing since and are planning a trip back to the Cullen Ridge this year (where I fell and snapped my leg 5 years ago).

Yes. It was great to catch up with everyone again. Sorry some couldn't make it. I think we even left some beer in the pumps. Looking forward to the next one. Rob

Boo. That's a shame.

Just don't use all the hot water as I have similar intentions. Great stuff. I've forgotten what I won, so it'll be like Christmas all over again. Dibs! I also plan to donate a few things.

Thanks and apologies for the tardy reply. I've been working in a place with limited internet access. Managed to get hold of them today and replenishing diesel tomorrow. Rob

Hi, I'm currently moored in Brum, just up from the Fiddle and Bone, I need to get some diesel but half noticed there wasn't any one manning the services there over the weekend. I tried phoning today, but eventually got the fax tone. When I called at the weekend it was past 4:00PM, so got an answer phone message. Anyone know if they still sell diesel, coal and gas from the Fiddle? or has everything moved back to Sherborne Wharf? Thanks in advance Rob

That's it, I'm committed. Travelodge booked! Looking forward to catching up with everyone. Rob

It's a reference to the film any which way but loose. In the film Clint Eastwood says "right turn Clyde" and his orangutan, Clyde, hits someone to his right. If he says "Left turn Clyde" Clyde hits someone to his left. My boat has a tendency to hit something on the left or right and occasionally straight on at that particular junction. I was practiced a low speed 'U' turn at Cambrian wharf this afternoon. Pulsing the throttle worked extremely well. So thanks everyone for that advice. Think I'll be trying that at the Ozells loop junction next. Rob a stationary manouvre

You definitely win with that one! As for the temperature; I think the prop is a bit fouled, just not badly enough for me to want to stick my arm in the cold cold water at the time. Must do something about that, though I've just booked a winter mooring in Cambrian wharf for January, so I shan't be moving very far during the next six weeks.