Djuwenda

I find the square openings quite puzzling too, but even more so he rectangular, vertical ones!! edit: in the name of clarity, and as an apology for the poor quality of the picture, There are types of elements which show - a vertical steel girder, which looks like it may have a positionned the way it is to help support the crumbling wall - square opening with steel doors. There are three or four of these barely visible as hidden by the vegetaion, about 2ft above the waterline and a 2 others either side of the steel girder - two rectangular openings on the left side of the girder. they are less visible as their openings have been infilled with bricks, however the door of one is still in place - albeit not visible as at the wrong angle on this picture! The hinges to the other one are still visible on the picture so it definitely used to have a closing door in place? -the 4th thing is possibly the most difficult to see and protrudes at a right angle about a foot from the top of the wall. It goes out for about one foot and hen has a right angle, you can just about make theoutline of its vertical element in the foliage, against the white sky. to me this looks like it may have been a moving, mechanical element, like a governor? edit again just some sort of lever...

thanks chaps. I dont know if the full flavour Society is for me yet. Although I like the idea, the reality of interacting within groups of people does not always work for me. The other 60 miles book/website and the yahoo newsgroup may be better starting points the reason why I have asked this question is a specific feature which has been bugging me. I cant really make sense of these openings. This was taken on the Smethwick Engine arm, roughly midway between the turning point and bridge street. I am aware the steam engine used to be sited where bridge street crosses the canal, but thats probably a good 100 yards away or more. the picture showing the upper part is a poor attempt at capturing the sort of arm at the top of it.

thank you, you big gruff! there is indeed a fairly prominent BCN society! Somehow I expected it to be some shadowy organisation.

hello, can anyone tell me where I can find more information on the BCN specifically? Is there a BCN society somewhere? I get frustrated wondering about the history of each filled in arm I pass... I also keep spotting features I cant explain, drives me insane!

are there two diferent "that seventies boat"? The one I know normally moors in Willoughby/Braunston. Never seen her leave the area befre? The reason why there is never anyone near her is because she likes to moor far away from the road etc. In that respect I think its ok to have such a sign, maybe a less crude way of saying you'd like to be left to your own devices, you know to deter those who view an isolated boat as needing another one moored right against it? I'd have a different view if this was done in a place where others are likely to want to stop.

was moored behind a boat yesterday which displayed the following sticker in its windows "so what part of SLOW DOWN dont you understand?" I cant say this sort of attitude would make me want to be nice and compliant!

there is the small question of what he BMC will be pushing through the water? It would be fine on most narrowboats but possibly a not enough to propel the QE2 on a transatlantic voyage.

accepting a rule which is beneficial for everyone, but inconveniences me is a form of judgement. So I go through the minor incovenience of closing both sets of gates hoping those who have less experience (hirers etc) will replicate.

and then you are happy to leave a paticularly leaky lock to it during the day? Do you also use you judgement about how busy the waterway is? the time of the year? if its a weekday or a weekend? the captains age? this isnt really a principle you can argue. You can probably do it, you are experienced and all I am sure, but the message should be that both sets have to be closed as one leaves the lock.

the problem is by chosing not to close a set of gates, you are deciding which gates will effectively contain the water. Closing both means that the tightest set of doors will be put to work naturally. ie: going down, close the bottom gates as you leave and the lock will have a chance to refill its self if the bottom gates have a better seal than the top ones. this is my undertsanding of the logic of having to close both sets.

how is a 50/50 beneficial??? what if your hypothetical single hander is travelling the same way as you are??

currently doing the north section of this canal and was quite puzzled to notice the remnants of a lock (stop lock?) outside the bluebell pub, pretty much under the bridge. does anyone know the history behind that?

I'd hasard a guess that Peter Ponce's actual intention is to launch another discussion on the topic of unlicensed boats, something he has achieved quite brilliantly here... Seems like yet another keyboard warrior who only ever stands for anything when not actually facing anyone. I'd be inclined to remove my licence, set a video camera and wait for him if he were to cruise past me.

I think Alan hit the nail pretty squarely... Its easier to auction a product. Once the auction is won, the winner takes his product away and you can star a new auction. But auctionning a service, or several services services of the same kind consecutively means you are at a risk of concurrence form your own fuure auctions...

Just idly wondering how/when cart decides to lower the reserve price on moorings where there appears to be no takers for them? I am interested in a mooring in a location where the last two offerings have not seen any bids at all/ Now a further 4 are being advertised, I know there are another few which are still to be advertised yet! in a normal market, the reserve price would drop as a result of the lack of interest, yet the reserves here seem to remain the same. Does anyone have know if there are any guidelines directing this?

I used to be in exactly the same situation, and know of many others who do edgzactly. I dont understand why so many people have a problem figuring this out!

one of the things I love best about running and living on a boat is the run to get back to the vehicle when I have moved the boat. Its great to run for a reason rather than just do a loop. Also I tend to spot stuff when cruising I want to investigate but its not practical to stop and tie up each time I suspect there may be a historic feature somwehere, so I take the time when running back, to enjoy the canal a different way.

Bloody hell, imagine the crane they must have used to lift these that high!