jellybeano

Does anyone know if the new charging scheme for return trips on the Bridgewater Canal is actually taking place?

We drove past the Wharf pub late this morning, on our way to Napton to our boat. Lots and lots of police and ambulance activity there, wondered what was going on and if it was canal-related........any comments?

Thanks for info......sounds like we'll give it a miss!!

We are on our way up the River Trent from Keadby, came out this afternoon, overnight tonight at Torksey, then on to Cromwell and Newark etc early (0600!!!!) tomorrow, all very peaceful and lovely. Just wondered if anyone had any opinions re stopping on the pontoons at Gainsborough, they look inviting, but we have never stopped there.

Thanks, brilliant!

Hi, does anyone have up to date info re the reopening of Vicars Hall Bridge on the Bridgewater? I think it was due to reopen today'?

Thanks for that, will investigate.

We have recently replaced tired, faded carpet in the living area of our narrowboat with wonderful-looking Karndean flooring. So far, so good. But the advice with the new flooring was to not use a doormat with rubber backing. We feel the need for a mat of some kind, even if we can now sweep up the mud more easily. Anything we have tried is very slippy on the new flooring. Any advice very welcome, thanks.

We bought our first narrowboat from Mark Gordon in 1987, when he was about to hand the business on to Napton Narrowboats. It was indeed a Royal blue hull with a white fibreglass cabin. It was 55 foot long, called Worcester Navigator. We kept the top white, but did paint over it to smarten it up. The boat, having been through at least four more owners, is still afloat and back in the Napton area, now with the fibreglass painted a different colour. We loved the boat to bits, were very proud of it, and travelled extensively on the canal network, although we were not confident enough in the engine power to tackle the tidal Trent and Thames.

Does anyone know the logic to the issuing of new licence numbers to boats? Is there a new sequence each year, or do they just go on chronologically?

Just had a very nice meal at The Barley Mow, first time we have been in there, since taken over by Kelly and Simon in 2013. Lots of changes to the layout of the pub, all very friendly, welcoming and pleasant. Definitely on our list for next time we are passing.

We have just cruised slowly down the Thames from Lechlade to Dukes Cut, where we have (reluctantly, as we SO loved the Thames) turned back on to the Oxford Canal. The upper Thames was so quiet, all the boaters we met so friendly, especially the cruiser-owners, we had lots of good chats while sharing locks. The lock-keepers were so friendly and helpful. Plenty of moorings available all along the river, much quieter than when we last cruised up there. It was a joy!!

Am friends of friends of the boat owners, what a relief for you both. Great that CaRT are so vilgilent nowadays, without their checking, this could have gone in for far far longer. Well done to CaRT, good to be able to praise them unequivocally.

We just squeezed under with minor damage to a flower tub. There are three very low bridges in that part of the canal. The boat has been through Standedge tunnel, so is not that high out of the water! More warning on the bridges would be welcome. A local volunteer told us that the level can vary by up to a foot, so maybe we were very unlucky, but advance warning would be welcome. Will feed that back to the canal centre when I take in my feedback comment sheet.

Have just left the Basingstoke Canal, after two glorious weeks on it. There are still a lot of problems, mainly shallow stretches, and the canal-owned dredger is under repair, which does not help. The canal needs a lot more money to become fully functional, but it was a joy to cruise. The Rangers are on the case all the time, to cope with problems, and could not have been more helpful, friendly, speedy and efficient. The whole canal is tree lined and beautiful. We had the added bonus of plane spotting, as it was practice week for the Farnborough air show. By the way, this year, for the first time, there are cruising restrictions in the vicinity of the airfield in the afternoons while the air displays are taking place, as a knock-on effect of the Shoreham incident. The canal centre at Mytchett is a great place to stop, the café serves a very good range of food, (breakfasts recommended!) the pump out (token operated, buy it at the centre) costs £5!!!!! You still have to book to go on the canal, but the days you can enter and leave are far more flexible than three years ago, when we first went there. I hope more people will go to explore and hopefully enjoy this rather "adventure" waterway! Now back on the R Thames, what a contrast!!

We managed to moor yesterday above Aldermaston Lock ( the small visitor mooring between the lock and the lift bridge has just room for two boats and was occupied). Used the gangplank for the first time in ages. Went to the Butt Inn, a few minutes' walk south down the main road from the wharf. Had never been there before, having favoured the immediately canalside pubs, like the Cunning Man and the Rowbarge. We had a very good time there, excellent meal, very friendly staff, nice garden, good choice of beers, well worth a visit.

We have just booked to revisit the Basingstoke Canal at the end of the month. Although it is only a mile from where we live, we have only cruised it once before, in 2013. It is indeed so very pretty and rural. We stayed a week last time, are planning on two this time. There is a very 1950s feel to the whole glorious canal.

We are thinking of replacing the now quite worn carpet in the saloon of our narrowboat. We would like to try wood/laminate, and have now been recommended Amtico flooring, which looks very nice, and realistically wood-like. I would welcome any comments, recommendations etc. Thanks.

We have also stopped at Litherland, all as described. There is a pump out, water and rubbish disposal there. It is surprisingly quiet. Good transport links into city, if you are there for some days. The first time we did the link, we were told to moor overnight at Eldonian Village. We were the only boat there, and all was fine, but did make us a bit nervous. Enjoy the link!

Just cruised the Walsall Canal, no need to go down the weed hatch, all very pleasant, much to my surprise after earlier memories of it being bad. Peaceful, safe time in the basin at Walsall too.

We had excellent, friendly, really useful volunteer help last week for a lot of Wilmcote flight. Then again for the top locks on Lapworth flight, and then again later at Black Delph. Could not fault their attitude and assistance. Thank you to all of you who helped us, as there were just two of us on the boat the time, the unexpected help was really appreciated.

Many thanks, ditchcrawler, information about the Engine Arm closure was just what I wanted to know, and had failed to notice!

Thanks for all the comments, by the way, we stayed two nights, but less than 48 hours!!! On our way onwards, via Smethwick Locks, we noticed the Engine Arm was closed and drained for fairly major-looking work. Had missed hearing about it. Anyone know how long it has been going on, and for how much longer......there is a useful pump out machine at the end of it. We then lucked out with an open day at Smethwick pumping engine...fascinating!

We were in central Birmingham recently, where the mooring signs now say "2 days". Is this different to 48 hours? The latter is self explanatory, but does 2 days mean you arrive for instance during Monday, and leave during Tuesday? Or could it mean you arrive sometime on Sunday to spend ALL of Monday and Tuesday there, departing during Wednesday?