NB Alnwick
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Posts posted by NB Alnwick
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Yesterday, we moored at the secure mooring facility at Leicester's Castle Gardens and were surprised to see so many people sitting around in Castle Gardens and feeding the squirrels. The squirrels appeared to be so comfortable in the presence of humans that they were going right up close to people and taking food from their hands. Then we noticed that many of the 'squirrels' did not have the usual bushy tails! Castle Gardens appeared to be populated with a large number of very healthy and extremely friendly rats. We counted at least a dozen and they outnumbered the real squirrels by at least three to one. This morning we also noticed several rats at North Lock and like the ones in Castle Gardens, they appeared to be healthy and not at all afraid of humans. One even jumped in and swam round the boat before climbing onto the lock gate.
In Castle Gardens, there are notices posted urging people not to feed the animals but no one appeared to be paying attention to these.
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The boats that were coming upstream were Adrastea and Nebulae, crewed by the Buckles and trading as Star Crafts. Normally, one might expect boats coming upstream to give way and allow room to manoeuvre but this would not have been easy with a pair.
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Some years back I asked the same question on this forum. The answer provided by a well respected contributor was "use West System".
I did that and it remained good for more than 15 years. It isn't an easy process - the first coat needs to be thinned so that it soaks in well to the untreated wood. Just follow the manufacturer's instructions.
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Disappointed to find the Hope & Anchor is no more. We often moored at this once popular pub when cruising to or from Loughborough for our visits to the Great Central Railway. After negotiating all the locks on the way down from Leicester it used to be possible to enjoy a very welcome meal of generous proportions. Sadly, when we arrived there today, the former pub was boarded up and the signs had been taken down.
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27 minutes ago, nicknorman said:
Nasty. Hopefully you reported the accident to CRT?Of course!
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Perhaps we should say 'dangerous trees' but having noted from the CRT Boaters Report 2024 that £7.3m was spent on "Vegetation Management", the title is probably correct.
Today, while heading downstream and negotiating a tight bend on the River Soar north of Leicester in the vicinity of Watermead just before Birstall Lock, we encountered a pair of former working boats, motor and butty, coming upstream. In order to avoid them and maintain control, we were forced over to the side of the navigation under some overhanging willow - most of which could be brushed aside but among these thinner branches, was one that was at least two inches thick and, having been pushed aside as the boat passed, it sprung back with sufficient force to knock Graham (who was steering) off his feet. Miraculously, apart from a cut and some bruising, no serious damage was done. However this was a potentially very dangerous situation and the outcome could have been much worse. Incidents like this underline the importance of cutting back all vegetation that presents a hazard where it overhangs the navigation.
Especially at bends on river sections.
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We are currently on the River Soar at Sileby Mill Lock and there has been more than sufficient water all the way down from Foxton.
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19 minutes ago, MtB said:
You shoulda come ringing last night, we rang a course of bob Minor!
Well Done - Jane can manage Bob Minor but I still struggle with touches of Bob Doubles - like so many things, it would have been great if I started fifty years ago!
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4 minutes ago, MtB said:
How long before they disappear, having been used as fuel?
Good point! My first reaction was that someone has left a useful bit of wood under the balance beam.
It was only when I turned it over that I saw the lettering!
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We were there - it is almost a habit! We have attended with our boat at least 20 times in the last 23 years.
This year we left early having found very little worth buying apart from 20 metres of rope and a fuel filter.
For us, the best boats in the show were ‘Lamprey’ and ‘Cyprus’.
The entertainment is usually good but that’s about it.
That said we may well be back next year!
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Our uxter is usually out of the water when the boat is static!
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I do not believe this has been mentioned previously. We are currently on the Leicester Line of the GU between Foxton and Leicester and we have noticed these pieces of white painted wood with the legend “CRT Gate Prop” painted in black laying beside some of the lock beams. Having not been previously instructed on the use of this equipment, some “trial and error” experimentation was required - some of the lower lock gates have a tendency to swing open after being closed when proceeding downhill towards Leicester and we found that these bits of wood can be wedged under the gates to keep them closed! Who else has noticed these?
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On 21/05/2025 at 17:33, ditchcrawler said:
Bottom of the canal. I draw 28" and from Fenny to Marston Doles I just touched 3 MPH, yesterday Claydon to Fenny it was 3½ MPH apart from Fenny tunnel . But if they leave the pumps on it should keep improving.
BW staff were letting water down after a pound lower down (below Slat Mill Lock) had been drained - possibly due to a paddle being left open. Following the dry weather, we had anticipated a low water level on the long summit. With some careful trimming (adjusting our diesel and freshwater levels), our draft was reduced to less than 30 inches under the bow and 33 inches at the stern. We know that, as long as we keep the speed to about two miles an hour and stay in the middle of the cut, we can plough through the mud.
The real problem with the Oxford Canal’s summit stretch is the mud or silt that has been washed in from adjacent farmland. Even when the canal is at its maximum water level, we still see the quagmire of mud and debris thrown to the surface as our prop churns through it. We can rarely make progress very much quicker.
On 21/05/2025 at 17:37, Phil E. said:How does one measure draft? At a guess measure from the bottom of the rudder to the top of the water and add a couple of inches? Off to try this now…
Mark your waterline with chalk just before the boat is dry docked for annual blacking - then measure from the lowest point(s) to your waterline when it is out and dry. -
5 minutes ago, blackrose said:
I see this sort of "either/or" thinking all the time on this forum. I shouldn't be surprised by now but I always am. Boaters should know that multiple systems are best - don't choose between one or another - if both are easily available then have both so that if one doesn't work you have backup. I have multiple ways to heat the boat, get hot water, produce electricity for example.
Thinking "back-up" is not just for computer nerds! We have a back-up power supply and we can cook and boil water with alternative fuels.
However if the engine ever fails us, we may have to borrow a boat horse!
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We use a 'Technisat' dish on a custom-made mount with a smart TV that doesn't need a separate decoder. We also use mobile Internet and a Freeview terrestrial antenna. Having three alternatives is helpful on the canals because there are many locations where only one of the three can be relied on.
As an example our marina mooring is one of the few locations where only the satellite dish will provide a decent signal.
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There are those of us who share one and the same account (including the name) . . .
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Back to magnets - a piece of kit that we have not needed to buy in more than 20 years of boating but we have occasionally used the remains of an old loudspeaker on a line to fish for overboard chimney caps.
Searching on Amazon, there appear to be a very wide range of magnet fishing kits available - the inference being that this is now a fairly popular hobby worldwide. It would be good to see some advice from our long established expert . . .
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We did a similar Winter trip with a hire boat in 2004 - be sure to follow Ditchcrawler's advice and check out Coventry - also include the Welford Arm when you are on Leicester Line summit - the Wharf Inn at the terminus is always good for a hearty meal and excellent value. There are good pubs a plenty on your route - the Greyhound Inn at Sutton Stop (aka Hawkesbury Junction), the wide choice of pubs at Braunston, The Waterside at Hillmorton, The Barley Mow at Newbold and many more. We would suggest that you equip yourself with Nicholson's Guide Number 3, 'Birmingham and the Heart of England' available from Amazon UK if you don't already have it - also torches and a few candles to save batteries on dark nights.
Edited to add that back in 2004 we were obliged to boat along canals that were frozen over with ice - no problem at all except that breaking ice can be quite noisy!
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17 minutes ago, Tam & Di said:
This morning's news headline said Red Wind Warning, which I misread as Red Wine Warning. Now that really IS serious 🍷😟
Especially since our new government took away our annual Red Wine Allowance!
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Years ago we used to buy used batteries from Vince69 a former member of this forum - they were £25 each for the 105 Ah bateries and they would last several years when we were living aboard - best value ever!
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49 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:
Hole to Ole and Horse to Ors how many other words like maybe Helm and Elm and maybe more
Of course, any word that ended with the letters 'lm' would have been pronounced 'ell-um' and, as with 'hole' the 'h' would be dropped as in: 'helm' pronounced 'ell-um'.
Similarly in Northumberland, the old port of Alnmouth is always pronounced (by the locals) as 'Al-un-muth' and the River Aln is similarly pronounced 'Al-un' - so why is the town of Alnwick (on the same river) always pronounced 'Annick'?
It was good to get an explanation of 'Reverse Layout' I always thought that might be something to do with the gearbox but I see no explanation for the term 'Tug Deck' - I guess that was something else invented by 21st Century boaters . . .
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Trying to cut expenditure inevitably results in a miserable existence - the only way to be happy is to work harder and increase one’s income!
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In Cropredy (pronounced ‘Cropperdy’ by boaters) ‘Hell Hole’ is the narrow path leading down towards the canal from the church!
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This who he is:
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Dangerous vegetation!
in General Boating
Posted
That is all very well on a canal but when going downstream on a River and meeting a pair of boats coming up on a narrow bend the choice is very much more limited. Ideally, boats coming upstream should give way but in this case they didn't and there was nowhere else to go.