Alanji

To get back to the OP's (serious) question. I am nearly 62, was not at all fit when I started (I am now!) and have few problems with my 54 ft boat. Narrow locks are a dawdle. Broad locks you just have to take your time. Moveable bridges - that's another matter. But, on the L&L from Skipton to Castelford I did not do one of the 30? odd on my own - wait for another boat (not many up there) but usually just asked a passer-by if they will help - never been turned down. Kids love it (with their parents permission, of course). Go for it.

3 reception is pretty poor and I was told that all providers are poor. Check the coverage maps before buying.

Saw the free mooring when I set off this morning - two signs "visitor moorings" and "permanent mooring for the St John's Ambulance Boat" (can't remember its name). There is room for one decent size boat, apart from the St Johns one but it was taken anyway.

Where is the CRT pontoon? And, yes, I think £10 is expensive for an online mooring with no services. Most I have paid apart from Venetian (the same) but that was offline with all services. Twice I have moored for a bottle of wine - and that was my thank you, not a fee. However it is supply and demand and I have paid - and may pay another night as the forecast tomorrow is not good.

I ended up paying £10 at Farndon - it is a very good pontoon, if a bit pricey. Especially as no services. Hope you liked the Laphroaig.

We had some name badges at Loughborough. For someone with a memory like mine they are a great idea and avoid embarrassment, especially if they include the forum name as well.

Is there a specials board for food? About to embark on the second stage of the tidal Trent. Heading for Dunham tonight and plan to get above Cromwell before tying up for Sunday's predicted weather.

Gave in and lit the stove. Damp windy and 14 deg outside. Went against my better principles and did a few miles this morning - don't trust the Beeb forecast - again!

Well done David. Not sure you would make it now, though. I presume you are shown searching for the Nicholsons winding hole.

He will love that - are they into boxing? Hope you do not hide the Jura from me!

In my first year on the cut I have been amazed (and disgusted) by the amount of poo on the towpaths. Currently on the Chesterfield where they not only have plenty of poo bins but also a supply of bags at each bin - and there is still poo on the towpath!

9 out of 19 if you substitute whisky bottles for beer cans. And I was faintly considering cleaning the boat today but will probably mange to control myself and watch the Grand Prix instead. 4 boats moving in 4 days on the Chesterfield - and it is a gorgeous weekend! Not sure he makes 4 - I suspect he has a surreptitious shave on occasion!

What are you doing cruising, Matty - you are supposed to be finishing current job and coming to service my engine! Great photos

Well done. What a journey for your first trip! Hope they are at a more leisurely pace from now on.

Is that UK Bus Checker, John. Costs £2.49

re moorings, I did say "If the canal becomes more popular" which I hope it does. Yes, Eddie mentioned that it had been intended that Python had been scheduled to do some maintenance. I know the volunteers do a great job but surely this is be something CART should be doing? Presumably Sean McGinley is the local CART manager? Going back to plenty of moorings, it is from the point of view of a newcomer so I did not know what was round the next bend and there are very few shown on e-canalmapp. On occasion when looking to stop, I had to go quite a bit further to find somewhere. I quite agree for the number of boats at present, there are plenty. Might it be an idea to provide a leaflet for boaters, available at West Stockwith, showing possible mooring points. It need not be an expensive production, a typed A4 sheet would suffice. I would be happy to provide notes of where I moored#. I have no problem with using pins and am on them now and have found the (few) boaters on here very speed respectful when passing, unlike some places. Maybe you did not notice the amount the water level was falling with the draw of the boat in the top section - it was about 6 inches. I did not notice much of a flow when we were there. # I will make the effort and post them here - please copy and use as you see fit. Bear in mind, my main interest is an internet signal (three) and quiet (mostly because of James but also me). I did not moor at them all so a couple are just probables West Stockwith, although I am not sure how it works as it is also a boat club. Maybe the lock-keeper (very nice chap) allocates unoccupied spaces? White Hart, 5 minutes East has good food (a good appetite is required for the excellent mixed grill) and its own brewery (Idle) with 6 beers and live music (not to my taste) when I was there. I managed 3 and hope to try the other 3 on the way back. Non members are welcome at the clubhouse (50p) with, I was told, very good prices - some live music. Good TV and phone signal and good walks. Half mile below Shaw Lock. Pilings, good TV and signal. Very quiet. Above Drakeholes tunnel. Good TV and fair signal. No walks. Quiet. Pub. Half mile above Hayton Low Bridge. Pilings, good TV and signal. Very quiet. Retford. For Aldi and Asda, very close. Busy. Above Forest Middle Top Lock and below Forest Top Lock. Good TV and signal. Very quiet. Pub at Ranby and half a mile further on (probable). Latter has pilings and good signal. Immediately below Kilton Lock, just after the lock bollards. Good TV and signal. Very quiet, apart from occasional train and playing fields. Worksop, between Town Lock and Morse Lock. Pilings, Good TV and signal. Fairly quiet but I was advised by a local to avoid weekends when youngsters use the towpath to get back to a notorious estate late at night. The Lock-Keeper just after Worksop. Bollards and a bit noisy but may quieten down in evening. From here on up I had mostly no phone signal. Shireoaks Marina. BW marina with all facilities. Just below Shireoaks Bridge. Pins. Café and well stoked small shop just south of bridge. There were bollards above the bridge or between locks 39 and 40, not sure which. Above Thorpe Bridge (owls and fair signal), Alberts Dock and at last winding hole note Nicolsons is wrong, there is no winding hole at the tunnel and the last section (quarter of a mile well worth walking up) is not navigable except for canoes.

Agree with all your comments except one - there are not "plenty of moorings". If the canal ever becomes popular they will have to be improved by a bit of dredging by the bank at the very least. Saw no other moving boat in the two days and, so far, only one today (but it is a pretty miserable day). Oh, and the overhanging trees are a bit of a nightmare in places - you saw the damage done to my blind by a branch which came in the top hopper. Do not let that put you off travelling up but I would not attempt the upper reach above the top lock if you are much over 30 inch draft. Eddie said Python draws over 3ft and manages to get to Shireoaks OK.

It was chilly but no chilli offered. I was delighted with what I had - the game pie (or whatever it was called).

Well, another fantastic day, yesterday and many thanks to Eddie, who not only helped with the locks and provided good company, he also gave me a few very useful tips, including shutting a gate with the boat pole and a good way to tie up. The weather was lovely, the scenery great again and the company good - who could ask for anything more. It is so sad so few boats use the Chesterfield and even fewer travel past Shireoaks, we did not see one boat moving yesterday. We made pretty good time down 22 locks before a short hop, in Eddie's car, for some refreshment and sustenance at the Lock-Keeper, just before Worksop. Eddie then helped with another 3 locks before walking back to his car. There are good moorings at the Lock-Keeper but it was a bit noisy, so I decided to keep going in the hope of reaching a nice spot I had earmarked on the way up. Unfortunately all the locks were against me and it was getting rather dark. I have found a place below Kilton Lock, just through Worksop and will probably stay here today. A long but very enjoyable day - 6 miles and 32 locks (a new lock record for me). Thanks again to Jan and Eddie, without whom I doubt I would have ventured to the top - and I know I would have regretted it. How do I get my head of navigation certificate Jan?

Presumably Dean had lights on and the kids were making a noise. They did not need to knock to see if anyone was onboard? Seems strange they did not know which way to go though.

She spent that taking photos!

I had done 5 locks before you got to me and I am still up.

I think he was taking commands from you better! Great photo, as are many of the others