Sea Dog

Indeed they are, although even if Castlefields was made into the most perfect Mecca for the boating visitor, it's plagued by some of the worst drug and alcohol issues I've ever moored by. Wait til you go up the Rochdale 9 before sealing your judgement too - clearly much effort went in to improving it... and then they left it to degenerate. Sad, but I guess pleasing boaters is quite far down their priorities list and doesn't bring much to the table in terms of "bang for buck".

To be fair to @LadyG and others, this thread already has quite a claim on a record for the number of times it has been exhumed!

Well, I'm not sure "Boogie wit da Hoodie" would be the most popular opening act amongst CWDF members, so I doubt there'll be moorings full of disappointed narrowboat owners this morning. It's a bit of a fiasco though isn't it, and maybe the Co-op would prefer it was happening to Sainsbury's Live, but best that it's opened only when the venue is safe and ready.

An unlikely scenario in Nantwich, I'll grant you! The plastic shell was a real shocker though - a crab comes with a natural one, and had I noticed before buying I'd certainly not have bought it for the uncertainty of origin reasons you go on to suggest. Not what should be expected from a fishmonger worthy of a recommendation, imho.

Always a bonus on any boat trip! Keep not doing it would be my advice.

Hmm. We bought some "dressed crab" there last summer. When I went to use it, the shell it was in was a plastic replica. Quite what was wrong with it's original jacket it had to come out of in the first place I fail to grasp. Didn't smell too fresh either, so it went in the bin. Maybe the off crab was an off day (everyone can have those, although it's pretty dodgy with shellfish) but the plastic crab shell was unforgivable for me and I won't be going back.

Thanks Jon, that looks promising! Mooring info doesn't get much more current than that!

Once you could get a job just pointing at things. The Chinese, Social Media and AI have ruined some promising careers between them.

Bishop, eh? Was the thrower an actress?

Thank you, good to know. Thanks, useful photo - one of the earlier recommendations and quite likely the choice, but on Google maps satellite photo there's 5 boats on the 6 spaces, so I'm trying to cover all options in case some areas are full.

Well that is kinda the point of the thread, so you probably should say it - as you did! My own boat is coming out there for a blast and 2 pack, so the more right you are in your opinion of Norton Canes work the better I sleep!

Well that's very encouraging! Thank you kindly both. The photo is helpful; the local knowledge priceless. Thank you especially for the above and beyond effort of taking the trouble to contact the volly @billh, much appreciated. I'm watching the venue fiasco with interest and hoping there's a few folks higher up the postponement list than The Eagles! I'd have put "Boogie wit da hoodie" in that bracket, but i think I might be working with stale intel...

I've contacted the Coop Live venue, but they appear to be rather distracted at the moment(!) so if anyone is cruising by or planning to, or walking the towpath there, would you be kind enough to check whether it's feasible to moor by the venue? It looks a possiblity, but if it's concrete with no rings or bollards it's clearly out. I have other options in mind (thanks everyone) but want to check if this is a viable option to add. Thanks.

In my case, and doubtless others, I did have a reason: I didn't want to drill holes in my roof. The Stixall solution I used has proven to achieve that admirably. YMMV.

Yes, following advice earlier from @TheBiscuits that's now exactly my plan. Not obvious you can do that though (see my second post above) so thanks for also coming up with the advice I needed. Thank you too, just the advice I sought. See my post above. You're obviously a very accomplished whiner! My thanks to you and the others who helped achieve this common sense approach.

That's fair enough. We're not doing that here though, and experience on narrowboat roof mounted solar panels through several British winters seems a pretty fair test for the OP's similar application.

Well, that's that sorted then! Thank you. For those who are not aware, this is what it says on CRTs page: "you will need to book your passage online and return to your home navigation authority within the ten days. You can revisit the other authority’s water again after a 28-day period." The 7 days and 3 more to return only comes to light when you sign in and complete their booking form and find there's a tick box at the bottom offering a return extension. Why don't they just say what @TheBiscuits said - it makes so much more sense. That's it, no more research - henceforth its straight to my oracle @TheBiscuits for all my north west advice!

I've done the Bridgewater before, but this time I want to do a pass through heading north and a southbound return later. The CRT agreement allows 10 days, which is ample, but no return in 28 days. I want to spend about 5 days on my outward leg and 2 or 3 on my return leg, about a fortnight later, which doesn't appear to be permitted. Is there a way to do this?

Obviously an army cuckoo. A navy cuckoo would have rung 4 bells.

This seems to be a simple job getting quite complex! Several years ago I stuck the (1 sq in) brushed alloy brackets for my solar panels to my painted roof with clear Stixall. No massive deliberation or discussion, no contact with the manufacturer, no pre-treatment, no mess, just a very quick rub with sandpaper and a wipe with white spirit and that was that. They're still there.