Kendorr

Last year, I turned right off the Leigh branch and moored there, about 50 yards from the first lock. It was very peaceful, no problems. Just be aware that there is a new building on the opposite side and they worked 24 hours, as the light faded, this factory was lit up with bright floodlights, not good for darkness in the boat, but good that there is plenty of light outside. Kevin

Thanks for the quick replies. Halcyon is only 36' long so I'll see how much time I have when I get down there.

Going to take a trip along the River Witham in a week or two and fancy turning along the Kyme Eau and up to South Kyme. Collins shows that this stretch has a headroom of 5' 6" and a draught of 2' 0". I have seen pictures of narrowboats at South Kyme, but don't think I'll be able to take Halcyon up there as my draught is 2' 4". Has anyone attempted this in a narrowboat and is it worth attempting? Thanks, Kevin

Treat it like a camping holiday and you won't go far wrong. Camping chairs are very useful, also tea, coffee, milk, sugar and breakfast for tomorrow. You can do some shopping when you're on the move if you don't want to take much with you. Camera, binoculars, hat, sunscreen etc. Bottled water, I personally don't drink the water from the tank, but fill plastic bottles from the taps on the canal side. Sure I'll think of something else once I've sent this! Have a good week :-) Kevin

Very true, hadn't thought my reply through!! I knew there was a reason why I inset the tape by 5mm. Kevin

I set mine about 5mm inside the frame, this gap filled up as the tape compressed and required no trimming. However, I can see nothing wrong with setting it right to the edge and trimming the excess off when fully fitted. Kevin

I've used neoprene tape, example here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Self-Adhesive-Neoprene-Gasket-Seal-Tape-10Wx5Dmm-x10m-/182194369121?epid=718760138&hash=item2a6ba17261:g:zuoAAMXQydtTKLbU Clean the windows as you've said, then stick the tape to the window trim about 5mm from the edge. Do the top first with a single piece, then start by butting up to this piece on the side. The tape will follow the curves at the bottom, hence you can do the sides and the bottom as 1 single piece. Quick to do, no mess and, more importantly, no leaks (so far!!) And 'Dor' has just replied with very similar advice :-) Kevin

Having just finished my 3rd cycling holiday of this year, I've again cycled along a towpath, this time on the Lancaster canal. Not sure why we are all labelled as 'Lycra clad', but, yes, as a 58 year old cyclist, when I'm touring, I wear cycling shorts and a cycling top, which both have an element of Lycra in them, but so does many other items of clothing, which the majority of you reading this are possibly wearing. My bikes don't have bells on them, but I have a mouth which I open and speak to people. When coming up behind walkers, I get about 20 yards from them and shout, 'excuse me please', I find that is so much better and polite than ringing a bell and expecting them to move. I don't get annoyed with the runners who have their earphones in and the music too loud to hear anything, I don't get annoyed with the dog walkers who are letting their dogs run freely and un-tethered, I don't even get annoyed with the dog walkers who have their dog tethered, and move to one side of the path leaving their dog on the other side with the lead stretched across the path!! On the Lancaster, I saw 2 boats moving, I gave a cheery 'good morning' to the first and was greeted with a 'good morning' back and a wave. The same greeting was given to the second boat, but the bloke at the tiller kept his eyes firmly to the bow and never acknowledged me at all. As for the speed, yes, less than 10 mph is going fast for a towpath, and that is on a hybrid bike with cyclo-cross tyres, think I managed about 8 mph, down to 3 or 4 when going under the bridges. I know this is a bit long winded, but as people have said, there's good and bad in all walks of life. I like to think I'm a good and courteous cyclist, but, I'm a good and courteous boater also. So, we need to be educating the minority of morons, not the majority of good, sensible people who enjoy all parts of the canal system. Just my opinion. Kevin

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cmft250-multi-function-tool/ I have one of these on Halcyon, it's got me and several others out of difficulty. They really are an excellent all round tool.

Just noticed this, might be some use for people thinking about trying boating for the first time.

Still on Hessle Road, but also in the old Woolworths building on Whitefriargate. Heck, there's even one in Beverley!!

and don't forget Boyes on Whitefriargate :-)

Oy, there's now't wrong with Hull, we're cultured now :-)

Yep, my thoughts, which is why I cajoled them and eventually got them off. Just to add, I've noticed a couple of CCTV cameras have recently appeared at the bridge, so, presumably, it was all caught on camera.

Good news then. I'm still intending to take Halcyon along the Chesterfield later in the year, I cycled along a good part of it a few weeks back (look in the fishing, cycling and walking section) and spent a bit of time chatting with some of the volunteers who were pulling a boat along. Kevin

Thanks for replies, I don't suppose we could go back to my original point though, could we?

Halcyon is now 30 years old, Coolidge wanted a Hull survey last year, even though the last one is dated 2012. They wouldn't continue the insurance without a new survey. I had the survey done for my own peace of mind, but moved the insurance to 'insure4boats' Half the price and never asked for the survey. Kevin

I regularly use Thorne pedestrian bridge and have rarely had any problems with it. Yesterday, however, there were 2 lads, probably 11 or 12 year olds, stood in the middle of the bridge when I pulled up. I waited for a couple of pedestrians to go over and asked the lads to move off the bridge, which got a flat refusal. One of the pedestrians also asked them as she walked by. They basically wanted to stay there and 'ride the bridge'. I did eventually manage to get them off by bringing all my old teaching skills into play and making sure I never touched them!! Just wondering if anyone else has come across this on any movable bridge, and, if so, did they leave the kids there? Also, how would you stand if there were to be an accident? Kevin

Good point. £24 to Waterways World on 7th March, Kevin

Thanks folks, was just getting a bit concerned with not even having an email confirming that I've paid!! Kevin

Thank you.

Can anyone tell me when the Crick boat show tickets will arrive? I've booked for the Saturday, but can't find anything in an email to confirm my booking, or say when the tickets will arrive. Thanks, Kevin

Just back from cycling the southern section of the Trans-Pennine trail. Set off Friday, train from Hull to Leeds then onto the Leeds Liverpool canal heading towards the Aire and Calder and through Stanley Ferry. Did this section on Halcyon last year and it was interesting to see the surroundings from a different viewpoint. After Stanley Ferry, a bit of cross country took us onto the disused Barnsley canal, I was surprised to see just how much of this canal still exists, with several parts still in water, although very overgrown. Through Barnsley and leave the canal system until we picked up the South Yorkshire navigation after Rotherham. Through the Rother valley and finally onto the Chesterfield Canal. Good to see all the work which is going on as we headed to our overnight stop in Chesterfield Travelodge. Saturday morning, back along the Chesterfield and into the Rother valley to pick up a route to take us across to the eastern end of the Norwood tunnel. Managed to follow the canal to just before Retford, where the towpath became very difficult for cycling, so we took a road route, following the canal as closely as possible. At Misterton we headed North to Thorne to overnight on Halcyon. Today, down to Gainsborough then up through Brigg and home. Altogether, 180 miles covered. Enjoyed chatting to the Chesterfield restoration society who were out fundraising near to Rhodesia. Those who have read my post about Halcyon will be aware that she spent some of her life on the Chesterfield at Rhodesia and I'm looking forward to doing the canal again later this year, this time on the water rather than the towpath. Kevin