Kustomcut

Heading out see you all about ?

Hope you all have a great pre challenge evening, look forward to seeing you all about over the next 24 hours and at the finish sunday ?

Little sleep had checked supplies quick pint in malt house whilst waiting for pre challenge meal

He was at bournville when I passed him

I'm heading in tomorrow day time too from Lady Lane hopefully you wont pass me whilst I'm still sorting things out. Evening I'm out but I will hopefully moor by the NIA so I have use of showers/toilet. If you see me come say hi, I will be taking on board Prosecco on tap Ginger Beer 5.1% on tap Brewdog Jackhammer Clone 7.3% on tap All home made so come have a little drink if about

Spot on As for sharing locks I'm more than happy done this on many occasion, as we are only little its perfect.

Last minute route checking taking Place. Also stocking up on supplies. Ill be heading from Lady Lane into Birmingham on Friday then meeting the crew for me to take them all for a meal at SmokeHaus Brindley Place ( I had to bribe them to do it after all). Hope to see you all around and hope all have a great time. Out of curiosity do we have an idea of amount of boats entered this year? As for start positions ill need to get all up early Saturday and head up 3 locks for our start position. See you all over the weekend

I will be taking the tub to Birmingham City Centre from Lady lane on Friday day. Anyone around maybe have a beer? Also we will again be having a small bar on board with prosecco on tap. Whatever is left or if anyone wants a glass holler us down I would ideally get a small donation to this years charity, the BCN Society for those who didn't know. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bcns2018

Finally sorted Just Giving Page out, have done as a crowd funder as BCNS is not registered to Just Giving, where we will transfer monies at end of fundraise to BCNS. Hopefully we do well. Its here for those who may want a look. Regards Carpe Vinum https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bcns2018

Hi All, about to kick start the funding for our "chosen" charity and am wondering does the BCNS have a registered charity? One year we did Just Giving for C&RT and did ok but feel they have had more than enough support I know Dudley Canal & Tunnels have one available but cant seem to find BCNS? Any thoughts good or bad.

Carpe Vinum will again be taking part, as for the beer well I did have a boat full you should have shouted!!!! No idea on route this year and conscious of the fact that I normally leave later on the Sunday and head back to Lady Lane, it was fun trying to get down the locks whilst everyone was rushing up. And was shattered to say the least when I finally did crawl back into Lady Lane late the Sunday night. Still sorting crew and such, and will have the usual Just Giving page for a charity of sorts. May bring a few kegs along again this year although it did sink us a lot further in the water and even took a little water on in one of the back lockers, maybe I should have drunk the beer faster Look forward to seeing old and new faces. Daz

Majorly Concerned no one commented on the beer???? All fighting talk and disqualification talk..... Sorry for a huge post couldn't figure out how to quote just the top paragraph

Hi All, Not had chance to get on here since the challenge that seems an age ago. Yet again Great Fun and managed the full 24 hours straight through. To those who shared a beer I hope you enjoyed, I will comment re about one Boat who we saw on the way out Sunday who were looking for 4 litres of beer (for an online donation) You had 2 litres but no donation has been forthcoming as of yet so a little shocked at that, just incase you have lost the link to donate I have added it at the bottom We really put our all in this year but just couldn't quite get their here is our route below on what photo/quiz points we managed. I did leave on Sunday about 2pm as I had to get the Boat back to Lady Lane on the Stratford Canal and managed that route straight through on top of the 24 hours so I was basically awake from Sat 7am through till Sunday midnight. Although I didn't feel the best come Tuesday Great to meet you all and loved it again, for the next 12 months I may see some of you about on the network if so give us a holler, we may even have beer on board. For any that wish to donate check out the just giving page at the bottom. Finally Congrats to Team Tawny Owl, great score. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BCNS2017 Section All mileages to the nearest Half Mile Miles Locks Bonus Factor Points 1 Tame Valley Junction to Pudding Green Junction 2.5 8 2 21 2 Walsall Junction to Tame Valley Junction (Ocker Hill) 5.5 0 3 16.5 3 Walsall Town Arm and return 0.5 0 2 1 4 Birchills Junction to Walsall Junction 1 8 2 18 5 Birchills Junction to Pelsall Junction 4.5 0 2 9 6 Cannock Extension Canal UP to Grove Colliery Basins ONLY and return 2 0 2 4 7 Pelsall Junction to Catshill Junction 2.5 0 2 5 8 Catshill Junction to Anglesey Basin and return 5 0 2 10 9 Catshill Junction to Newton (Rushall) Junction 8 9 2 34 10 Newton Junction to Salford Junction 5 13 2 36 11 Aston Junction to Salford Junction (either route) 1.5 11 1 12.5 12 Old Turn to Aston Junction 1.5 13 1 14.5 13 Old Turn to Sandy Turn via Ladywood Junction 0.5 0 1 0.5 14 Sandy Turn to Winson Green Junction(any route) 1 0 1 1 15 Winson Green Junction to Smethwick Junction 1 0 1 1 16 Smethwick Junction to Engine Arm Junction 0.5 3 1 3.5 17 Engine Arm Junction to Spon Lane Junction 1.5 0 1 1.5 18 Spon Lane Junction to Bromford Junction (via Spon Lane Locks) 0.5 3 2 7 19 Bromford Junction to Pudding Green Junction 0.5 0 1 0.5 20 Pudding Green Junction to Albion Junction 0.5 0 1 0.5 21 Albion Junction to Dudley Port Junction 0.5 0 1 0.5 22 Dudley Port Junction to Factory Junction via Factory Locks 1.5 3 1 4.5 23 Brades Hall Junction to Factory Junction 2.5 0 1 2.5 24 Oldbury Locks Junction to Brades Hall Junction 1 0 1 1 25 Oldbury Locks Junction to Oldbury Top Lock 0.5 6 2 13 26 Oldbury Top Lock to Navigation Winding Hole and Return 2 0 2 4 PHOTOGRAPH OPPORTUNITIES POINTS Main Line Aldersley Junction 2 Soho Loop Hockley Port entrance bridge 2 Icknield Port Loop Icknield Port Workshops 2 Old Main Line Tividale Quays 2 Titford Pools both pools 3 Cannock Extension Grove Colliery Basins (Entrance only) 1 Walsall Canal Walsall Art Gallery 1 Wednesbury Old Canal If you wish to walk to and photograph the winding hole you will be awarded 5 points -DO NOT CROSS THE ROAD 5 Birmingham and Fazeley Canal Fazeley Junction 2 Grand Union Link Bordesley Junction 2 Quiz Castshill 3 Birchills 3 Anglesey 4 Pudding Green 5 Tame Valley 4 Salford 3 Rushall 4 Digbeth 4

Anyone checked to see whats inside barney

Good news do we know where else is shut/open Brades? Factory Junction?

ok so arrived in city centre moored by NIA beer is all connected but it is also frothing a lot hoping it will settle overnight. If I don't drink it See you all on the cut tomorrow hope to have some fun again.

Holiday Wharf? That by back of mailbox? Thanks Indigo Dream for donation we will be supporting and seeing you guys on route

Hi All, for those up Birmingham central can you advise is the shower working at the services by NIA Barclaycard arena (ones by farmers bridge top lock) Little plastic boat has no shower and very little room with all the beer

See my last post few of the above are on my line up

Ok so Carpe Vinum will be heading out from Lady Lane tomorrow morning heading to Birmingham, hopefully I will find a mooring by NIA and we will set off on Saturday around that area My Only Issue is the kegs may warm throughout the day and therefore we may get a fair bit of frothy beer so bear with me. Now for the important stuff The line up is as follows PUNK IPA Clone 19 Litres on tap 6.2% Sonja Blueberry Double IPA 19 litres on tap 7.6% Totally tropical approx. 6 litres on tap or maybe ill bottle it if time permits 7.4% IPA Jackhammer Clone approx. 5 litres again on tap or maybe if time permits bottle 5.6% Bonus B Sides Melon & Cucumber Pale Ale about 7 500 ml bottle Summer Lightning session Ale 3.7% about 12 500ml bottles Spirits Various (all home made of course) So for those who are about tomorrow come say hello and maybe have a taster, all I ask is a couple of things any empty bottles please return to me if possible and again if possible make a donation to the charity for this year (either to me on the day or vis the just giving page) https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BCNS2017 Most of all everyone have a great time see you all around about the weekend

Yep my youngest wants no part in it all now. The eldest loves it though. This year if I can get my act together we will all be in fancy dress too. See you on the challenge

First time I did it it was me and my 2 girls both aged 17 and 15 so don't worry was great fun however

Sorry all just back from Spain for a spot of Catfishing. Yes we are in again Carpe Vinum (seize the wine) However as a twist this year I am bringing along a fair bit of my home brewed beer, this is welcome for a tester based on the fact we are this year raising money for British Heart Foundation (via just giving), so amble over and have a taster but please if possible donate. On the Menu so far. Brewdog Jackhammer Clone in Keg (only half or less left as I have drunk some so that could be empty by the end) Strong Double IPA Blueberry full keg 7% (ish I need to check) Punk IPA full keg 6.4% approx. 10 half litre bottles of Melon & Cucumber IPA 5.6% Few other odds and sods. Also RE Pinfold Bridge. Again I am assuming this WILL be open? or will we find out Sat am I also think they should let us know or open it on Friday. Finally the Finish. Agree it will be mayhem at the locks and more than likely a little funny but on a serious note I have to leave about 5 or 6pm so would it do better finishing then coming back down the locks and getting out the way? Or would the boat be safe at Titford Pools area/pumphouse until the following weekend? Is there any secure moorings from last year I remember not? Either way look forward to seeing you all, stay in toch on the day and if passing ill even hand out the odd sample to try

First 3 barrels racked last night Brewdog CLone Jackhammer (watered down a little by mistake) so not the 7.2% Brewdog Clone Sonja Blueberry IPA Totally Tropical Pale Ale (yes it smells like lilt) Plus a dozen bottles of Brewdog B SIdes Clone Melon & Cucumber IPA I will also this weekend be doing an imperial stout and hopefully another batch of PUNK so holler me on challenge. Oh and Vodka, Bourbon, Schnapps, Brandy Etc All available for a "donation" to our just giving page. And fingers crossed will be there early sleeping before all arrive as I plan to boat straight through again. Now to just figure out where to store all the barrels and CO2 bottle, strapped to my front pulpit rail maybe lol

Crew sorted although they need some training lock wheeling. Charity for the year sorted (see Link) https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BCNS2017 This year something different on board Carpe Vinum, I started all grain brewing and blending spirits last year, So I am going to setup a mini bar on a mini boat, hopefully with 5 x 19 litre kegs of all grain beer, each one will be on tap so we will literally be a floating bar. So far the beer list includes the following Blueberry Double IPA (from a brewdog clone recipe) come out nicely around 7.5% Passion Fruit IPA around 6.4% summer single hop ale 3.8 % More to add just deciding what else to brew, I have managed to clone the renowned PUNK IPA from Brewdog, a very hoppy beer so may do that too 5.7% Plus on the spirits side anything from Spiced Rum,Bourbon, Brandy, Flavoured Vodkas, Gin, Schnapps, Sambuca and more. Now obviously I cannot sell this for even charity purposes as Mr Inland Revenue would be after me like a shot. However if anyone is interested I will be handing out samples of the above on the day, if you feel obliged then a donation to the above charity would be appreciated and welcomed. So as our theme is pirates, don't forget to shout out to the grog boat as we pass and good luck to all and lets have a great weekend.