zimzim
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Posts posted by zimzim
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17 hours ago, thewomble said:
Can I definitely turn after Dukes Lock? (it isn't marked as a turning place on my canalplan) Only because if we end up going past Thrupp I see it is 4 miles further on, so could be a problem if we can't turn there and have to go further still.
As posted - yes, you can definitely turn in the T-junction that is Duke's Cut, immediately upon exiting the lock (shown on photo above).
If you are short on time, you should wind at the right-angle turn at Thrupp (satellite view also posted above) - Handy way is to put someone ashore with a bow line on the water/pump-out point immediately before the right-angled turn. Let them hold your bow on the line while you swing the stern around to the left - easy!
That right-angle at Thrupp is something of a decision point (depending on your progress) - it's quite a way to the next winding opportunity.
If there is a space on the VMs just after the right-angle (you could send someone to look), and you want to stop at Thrupp, you might want to consider winding the boat anyway and reversing a few yards to the mooring - saves you quite a bit of time if time is tight.
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If you go as far as Duke's Cut (photo in a post above) you have done the best of the Southern Oxford. This makes a handy place to turn - you can leave the gate open, wind the boat, and go straight back in if there's nobody else about.
I would recommend:
Folly at Napton (maybe for your last night?)
Wharf Inn at Fenny Compton - really good and great value food, handy moorings, small shop
Brasenose Inn at Cropredy - 2 mins walk from canal - small shop on bridge 153
Banbury is not really a place I would choose to moor at, but go up onto bridge 168 and you are on the edge of a Morrison's car park.
Great Western at Aynho is really excellent, but not cheap.
Lovely countryside around Somerton Deep - great place for quiet mooring.
The Bell at Lower Heyford - signs from canal at metal lift-bridge - good value food, 5 mins walk
Boat Inn at Thrupp - good food, not cheapest but OK - always annoyingly difficult to moor - Thrupp is a boat storage area
Beautiful canal (until they build HS2). Hope you enjoy.
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My only thought is to add that I generally put the 'diversion' as close to the end of the main journey as I can. This means I've got those extra days up my sleeve as contingency against stoppages/breakdowns etc for as long as possible, which makes for a least stress option when tackling a ring in a fixed hire period.
If you are going anti-clockwise, you could wait until almost back at Rugby and then insert a suitably sized 'there and back' down the Oxford to burn off the days you have available. That would be a pretty and interesting part of the Oxford.
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Many's the time I have shared a lock with a boat to find that it is also tuned to TMS.... always makes a good conversation starter!
I think the very fact that someone is asking this question means it is very likely they will exercise good judgement in this matter.
I find that there are a few folk on the canals who behave inconsiderately, and also a few who are desperate to take umbrage at the actions of others. Most are somewhere in between!
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6 minutes ago, BWM said:
This depends entirely on the type of bend being moored on, if someone moors on a tight bend they deserve all that comes their way.
I remember appearing through a bridge on a bend and coming to halt when confronted by a boat coming the other way. The steerer of the other boat panicked, did everything wrong, hit my stationary boat and pushed me into a shiny boat MOORED ON THE TIGHT BEND, NEXT TO THE BRIDGE.
A lady emerged from the shiny boat and very loudly remonstrated with me, despite me pointing out the circumstances. In the course of the rant about this being her home, and everyone being so inconsiderate, she mentioned that this was 'the fourth time today' she had been hit!
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Like Richard, I have visited Tom O'The Wood since 1970s - never heard of the 'Ye Olde New Inn' name.
It is at one end of 'Dick's ('Dycks'?) Lane', which links Stratford Canal and GU and makes quite an interesting canal-loop-walk from Kingswood Junction, combining both canals.
It always struck me as odd, for such a prominent canal-side pub, that my copy of Pearson's does not list the Tom as existing!
I haven't been for a while. I shall make a point of returning soon (and take the dog!)
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Very sad. I wondered whether this was a fall from a boat or a pedestrian on the path, but then I read...
North Wales Police said they were alerted to the incident at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen shortly after 1am this morning.
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Some years ago I was hiring on the Shroppie for the first time and chatting to the guy doing the boat handover to me....
I asked him if there were many 'shouters' on the Shroppie.
He smiled and said that when he was steering his own boat there weren't any, but when he was steering one of the hire boats there were a lot!
Very insightful, I thought.
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There is certainly a 'downer' on hire-boaters from some parties, but I suppose this is just human nature.
I notice that whenever there is a report of speeding, colliding, cilling, etc, almost always one of the first questions is 'was it a hire-boater?'
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I can recommend Kate Boats, having hired from them many times.
I think if I was hiring from Stockton, I might head for the southern Oxford, as already suggested here - just go as far as comfortable in the time, and return.
If I was hiring from Warwick, I might head for Stratford Upon Avon and return - gives you a significant/interesting destination.
Depending on your taste, these may be more appealing canals than the route through Birmingham, although the Warwickshire ring is eminently do-able!
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Just a thought..... I tend to do 1.5 week hires (10 or 11 days) that many companies offer.
It's another good way to make your journey 'out of phase' with the bulk of other hire-boaters.
I would think that the journey from Arkansas to the Llangollen and back would be quite an adventure in itself!
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For Winter hire, you might want to consider whether you want to find a boat with a stove - there are a few.
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The main drawback with Pearsons, I find, is that North is oriented differently on every page! I have never seen maps presented in such a confusing way.
Most annoying feature of Nicholsons is trying to work out which pub description supplied applies to which pub symbol on the map.
Both contain a surprising number of errors and ommissions - keep a pencil handy!
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Trick is to find somewhere far enough from the A46 bridge to be quiet.
Strange thing about mooring by Cape of Good Hope is that access to the pub is over a lock gate only, with quite a long drop to the water (unless you don't mind walk to next bridge and finding your way around local roads).
Not great for elderly/infirm. I always think this is a dodgy way to return from a pub!
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Most often used phrase by the steerer of a hire boat in the course of a holiday? .............."I CAN'T HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING!"
Sometimes accompanied by "I CAN SEE YOUR LIPS MOVING"
Couple of years ago I hired a boat where the engine cover was just a bit of badly fitting marine ply. I had to stand in a certain place to cut down the noise of the vibration. Couldn't hear the cricket commentary, was difficult to hold a conversation, and ended every day with a headache!
It's definitely worth checking, when possible!
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Plastic very fast and convenient - flexible to install in awkward shaped spaces, and you don't need to go in with the soldering iron, so safer, and much less faff.
Also easier to disconnect/uninstall, when you want to change things, or have messed up!
Like previous posters, I always use copper where visible or near to heat sources.
Remember to use lubricant gel (!)
Always use a quality brand (I use Hep2o or Speedfit) - cheap ones do not age well - especially when subject to repeated/prolonged cycles of high temperatures and cooling.
Never put your finger inside the fitting (or let kids) - there are metal teeth in there designed to grip the end of the pipe!
I must admit, I still like the permanency of soldered copper, when the access is good and time is not pressing.
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Hello Peeps - Newbie alert!
For what it's worth, I think Sainsburys are abandoning carrier bags altogether.
If you need a bag, they will charge you the 5p, but issue you with a 'bag for life'.
That's a hell of a lot fewer bags in the world!
Warwick Ring - Warwick Castle....
in Holidays Afloat
Posted
Hired 'Robert' from Kate Boats last year. Have used them several times in the past and would also recommend them.
Also, have done Warwick Ring a few times, starting from Warwick, Stockton, and from Coventry. We have only ever done it by going through Birmingham centre, which is definitely worth a look. The 'big decision' is whether you actually want to overnight there, or plan your journey so that you scoot-through in a day. Much of the suburbs is not recommended territory for mooring, but there are a few possible spots.
My own preference is to try to scoot-through, as well as can be achieved. Also, I prefer the N Stratford route down to Lapworth over the GU Knowle locks route.
I would advise you to make the 'big decision' and plan from that.