captain birdseye
-
Posts
705 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Gallery
Blogs
Store
Posts posted by captain birdseye
-
-
Togged up on this cold morning, still it's good for clearing the head after all the mud last night. Ready to trudge off to t'stables for th'hos
-
1
-
-
1 hour ago, TheBiscuits said:
That sounds like one for @Capt Ahab, but I thought it got chopped when they built the new main line.
I do like Tin Plate, but Pete the brewer slightly prefers Bank Top Dark Mild. Doesn't stop him drinking Tin Plate though!
If we are going to talk mild from different brewers, have you tried the Dunham Dark, a cracking pint of mild
-
10 hours ago, TheBiscuits said:
You do know that Pete who was my crew on last year's challenge, a great friend and a regular boating buddy is the head brewer for Irwell Works? Now we know you are a fan, we will bother the volunteers when the Rochdale reopens .... and bring bribes!
Tin Plate is OK, but Marshmallow Unicorn is where it's at. He did offer to bring a few casks down for the challenge finish but ... pandemics ruin plans!
I must agree with Ian Mac, the tin plate is my favourite, let me know when you are coming up north, I will put my blue tee shirt and life jacket on and give you a hand, I'm also used to drinking with Mac and getting home afterwards!
-
10 hours ago, Ian Mac said:
Oh I get it now, still not sure what the OR means, but Hey Ho. Currently having to share my polly pin of TinPlate Mild from Irwell Works Brewery with the First Mate!, hope he's brought some as we appear to be make a large hole in it
I never really plan to attend these events, however every now and then we seems to take part, its always just a bit of a mystery!Oh I do get it you and only claim one OR the other!
I'll get some Milltown Mild in from Howard Town Brewery, not sure how far from Glossop they will deliver, but I'll make enquiries. Anything to keep the captain off my back
Ian Mac. if we can get out next year we will take my boat down and do the challenge for real and in comfort. It's a while since I did it, last time we finished at Bradley not sure when that was but probably five or so years ago
-
My wife and I have been boating since we were both children and our two children have been on boats all their lives. They were pushing lock gates as soon as they were old enough to reach them.
We have always tried to plan routes to take in days away from the boat as we are away on the boat for most of the school holidays, for instance Drayton Manor Park is near Fazeley Junction, Waterworld at Stoke, Chester Zoo etc, so they have a few days out in the summer
They both can steer the boat and now they are teenagers the only problem we have when out on the boat is the moaning about lack of internet and absence of the xbox.
-
1
-
-
I bought this cook book in the eighties and still use it. Makes the best curries I've had at home. This edition is available on amazon. other buying platforms are available
-
So potentially, that means even if they manage to get the Bollington stoppage completed on time we still won't be able to get out other than by going through Manchester. Still it will make water management due to the Todbrook Reservoir incident easier as less people will be using locks.
-
5 hours ago, Slim said:
I'm in the Android camp.
All my smart phones have been android as have my tablets. last year I bought a fairly high spec I Pad. I hated it and could never get on with it. Thinking it was just a matter of adjustment I preserved to no avail. In the end I gave it away and went back to my android tablet.
My sister's grandkids recently bought her a smart phone as a family joke. A DooWee (spelling) they bought it new on E Bay for about £60. Apart from the fact that it's only 3g it's amazing for the price. It even has 2 sim slots. Build quality seems good and battery life better than any smart phone I've had. Well worth the price even as an experiment
I think you mean a Doogee, I have one which cost about £80 and is 4G works well and at that price if it falls into the canal with me then I'm not too worried if I have to get another one. It works well and I find having used both apple and android that android is easier, but each to their own
-
Do your research well, try a holiday for a week or two to see what you like or you will end up with lots of things which you thought were good when you first looked at the boat but you grow to dislike the more you live with them.
If you have a healthy budget look at brokers like https://www.abnb.co.uk they have a reputation for selling good boats and when we bought our latest boat through them they were very good. They have reverse layout boats on their lists at the moment ranging from £40K to £100K asking price.
-
1 hour ago, Arthur Marshall said:
Longport Wharf certainly sells diesel. Other nearest depends rather on which way you're going! The diesel/coal boat Bargus is at the moment heading down the Macc and then to Northwich. There's Heritage just up the Macc, otherwise I can't think of anything until Middlewich going North or Stone going south.
Either Bargus or Halsall will be on that part of the four counties ring at some point, they work round stoppages between themselves. Ask NB Alton on facebook or ring Martin on the boat on 07491149149. They are on their way up the Shroppie at the moment and usually do a fortnightly run round the ring so are probably five or so days away from you
-
The green and red boat on the third picture would be from Yorkshire Dales Hire Boats. They had a sister company Cheshire Plains. Their boats came with Water cans on the roof which were bolted down through their bottoms onto the roof so they couldn't be pinched or knocked off.
-
Chas Harden on the Shroppie at Beeston used to have boats with stoves in and is a nice run down into Chester. Not sure of stoppages around that area, but if you are interested its easy to look them up
-
From either Manchester or London or Birmingham you can get a train to Stoke on Trent and pick the boat up from Black Prince or change trains and go to Stone and pick a boat up from Canal Cruising
-
I stopped just outside Broad Street during the summer. It is handy for shopping and you can use the services by accessing the gate in the wall. I had no trouble and it was very quiet even on a sunny Friday night
-
Warwickshire ring with a trip up the Ashby canal taking in Bosworth Field and the Shackerstone Railway, Warwick itself and maybe a side trip into Coventry to the motor museum. You also might have time for a day at the Black country Living Museum depending on the length of your cruising days
-
1
-
-
As there have been no boats along the Lower Peak for two years the cannel has filled with silt. It will take a while for it to recover. There is some dredging programmed for this winter which will help.
Having been up and down Marple regularly since its restoration, I was quite impressed with the locks the times I have been through them this year, they are less leaky and the paddle gear is easier to work than previously, presumably somebody is lubricating them now. Three of us came down with the local fuel boat last week in 1Hr 25 Mins which is not bad going
-
The Caldon with a run up the Macc to Congleton and a visit to Little Morton Hall would make for a good week
-
48 minutes ago, Machpoint005 said:
I agree but isn't the Ring O'Bells at bridge 2 as good as it used to be?
A keen crew could always nip down the Marple flight then back up the next day - the Lower PFC is worth a visit too.
The Ringers isn't as good but still alright. The Oldknow is a micro pub on the shopping street with a large selection of beers and ciders and is very nice
-
Both routes are really good to do and are fairly easy. both have a number of good pubs selling decent beer and food. Highlights of the Caldon is the river section and the steam railway. Highlights of the Macclesfield and the Peak are the views and the basin complex at Bugsworth. I moor on the Peak Forest so if you want a list of pubs on all three canals let me know and I'll put one up.
Personally I'd go for the Macc, stopping at the Queens at Congleton, the Vale at Bollington, The Samuel Oldknow in Marple and Bugsworth where there are three good pubs within walking distance. The views of the peaks are fantastic, you will be hard put to find a more beautiful canal rooute
-
1
-
-
4 hours ago, nicknorman said:
Video not working, but anyway the point is that these sorts of engines tend to smoke more at idle and under light load, than they do at high power.
Whereas we never ever see any smoke whatsoever from our Beta43, idle to full throttle, save for perhaps 1 second’s worth as it starts.
Odd it works when I press play.
My RN smokes a bit when cold and idling but as it warms up and is put under load when running as the video shows it runs clean
-
Quote26 minutes ago, nicknorman said:
RNs are prone to smoking though.
Some may, this is mine running quite fast up the Avon the other week
-
Russell Newbery are still in existence and give the "vintage" engine effect in a new engine and between the company and the owners club have a very good support network. I have only needed one new part in my 32 year old engine and as I passed Hilmorton asked about it and David went down to the works, got said part and dropped it off to me at Newbold, not bad service
-
I notice non of the historic brigade who went to Hebden Bridge have been on saying as how they love the enjoyment of working all the locks themselves and don't like vollies butting in. They were only too thankful to have help up out of Manchester as are the vast majority of boaters we assist, lots contact CRT and ask if there is a volunteer available: either on the Rochdale through and out of the city and also up the Ashton and canal. Perhaps it just depends on where you are boating.
-
Scholar Green between the T&M and the Macclesfield used to have two
Team NB Styxl - Virtual BCN Challenge 2020 Cruise Log
in Cruise Diaries & Reports
Posted
Heres a swan I made sat nicely on the cabin stool