Blaker

The Stourbridge and Delph locks are in much better condition than most on the canal network and are very easy to use. From Stourbridge to Stourton the water is so clear that the bottom and fish can be seen. It's a much more pleasant route than the Wolverhampton 21. There is a good mooring in the basin, as PaulG states, it is immediately ABOVE Delph Bottom lock. From here it is a 10 minute walk to the Batham's Tap "The Vine Inn", better known as the "Bull and Bladder", an excellent traditional pub. Question for Heartland and others. Why is the pub called "The 10 Locks" when the existing 8 locks were converted from 9?

You have to place your 'photo in somewhere like Photobucket (it's easy and free), then import it from there to this forum. See this forums "Frequently Asked Questions".

Excellent idea, I hope it is well attended. It's a shame that some may be torn between two events as the Black Country Living Museum boat rally is the same weekend.

No it doesn't count. The Boatmasters Licence needs revalidating every 5 years, annually if over 65. The official site is www.mcga.gov.uk and the relevant document is MSN 1808(M).

The tug belongs to Bernard Hales.

You may be right, I hope so. The map displayed on tv was of the canal at the Wolverhampton 21 and Aldersley jcn.

BBC Midlands Today reported that 3 youths aged 13,14 and 15 have been arrested for assaults on members of the public in the Wolverhampton area. The incidents included six of pushing people into the canal. Unusual hobby.

There are signs up asking for these locks to be left empty, to avoid flooding the adjacent cottages. But hey, it's only a sign, lets ignore it.

Valid point. It's not always practical to pass moored boats on tickover. In strong side winds I aint gonna slow down much. The moorers would probably prefer having their tea stirred than having their boats hit.

Didn't Tam and Di work Stamford?

So what was Furnessvale saying yesterday?

As you are the owner of a large historic narrowboat I wonder whether you have considered the possibility, that perhaps, you may be one of those whose antics are being discussed in this thread. (edited for spelling)

I'm not disagreeing with your comments but put yourself in the loaded pairs position. (Unloaded on cross-straps shouldn't be a problem). Imagine meeting another boat at a bridgehole, the other boat should be able to stop very quickly, a loaded motor takes far longer. The loaded butty carries on regardless, stuffing it in the bank may not be an option due to moored boats, even if you could the result may mean an age trying to refloat it again afterwards. The motor steerer meanwhile has to throw the motor in reverse, try to steer, quickly pull in yards of tow line so that it doesn't foul the prop', worry about where the butty is going - all of this in the space of a few seconds. If the butty steerer doesn't manage to hit the motor square up the arse of the stern fenders (this is difficult to achieve) then the butty flies past the stern of the motor and all hell breaks loose. Nobody will be going anywhere for a while. Consider the same situation except that the other boat stops, loaded pair go through the bridge, then other boat goes through - no problem. Surely this is the far better and stress free scenario.

BW (C&RT?) Byelaw 17 a) a vessel which is not towing another vessel shall give way to a vessel which is towing another vessel or vessels vessels which are unladen shall give way to vessels which are laden This byelaw is in place for the reasons you have highlighted. Trouble is not many boaters know this byelaw, or perhaps don't wish to know. Realistically I doubt many hire boaters have read these byelaws or even know they exist. (Don't know how the yellow face got there, can't get rid of it)

Can't have been marooned for 4 years. In 2009, June I believe, there were two campaigning rallies on the Basingstoke Canal, one of which was at Odiham which is way past Brookwood. The rangers had to help boats through some of the less than pristine locks but Bernard Hales attended with his nb Enterprise, also there was historic working narrowboat nb Nuneaton and another fine nb, can't remember it's name , but I recall it had a Seffle hot bulb engine that blew smoke rings up through it's exhaust - brilliant! If deep draughted boats like these could enter and leave the canal, any boat could.