Dave123

I meant it was absurd because of the volume of water used given we are in a drought; whether they have paid or not wasn't my point.

I always assumed the feed down the caldon stopped orange water being taken from the other side of the tunnel down towards Stoke locks.

Locking the head gear and gates is exactly what the EA are going to do on the Thames, to prevent people working along at their own pace and instead make them wait and share with as many boats as possible. I don't recall this happening in the last 12 years since I've been boating, and the lock keepers couldn't either...they didn't even know exactly how it would all work. It is absurd that a single canoe can pen through something as huge as Sandford lock!

Restrictions soon to start on Thames locks from Pinkhill to Abingdon if there isn't more rain (which there isn't going to be...) Assume they meant to include Osney. And doesn't yet make it clear if they will be manned the whole time from 9am to 6 or if it will be haphazard midweek depending on lock keepers other duties...needs to be done though.

It gets fed at Haywood Junction by the Staffs and Worcs (which shouldn't ever struggle for water as all of Wolverhamptons sewage goes into it) but I don't recall anything flowing into it until then. Either those locks don't leak as much or aren't as busy?

I think it's an unfortunate combination of dry weather and poor maintenance coinciding with the time of year when a lot of inexperienced holiday boats are out and about. Just experienced a very low pound just at Kidlington, but not the pounds either side, which is probably down to mismanagement of the lock, not fully closing a paddle or something like that. But the lower than usual levels in the Cherwell further up make it harder to replace the wasted water like one would in a usual summer.

What's the point of them quizzing you about reason for transitting the Rochdale? CRT haven't the power or means to verify anything you tell them? Eg family commitments, a new mooring, new job, work booked in a yard etc...

I think everyone thought the hot weather would make it busy everywhere, so they all stayed home making it quiet everywhere🤣🤣. September is the busiest month now usually anyway...when the silver surfers all come out to avoid the school holidays. Lock keepers on the Thames been saying its much quieter than last year. Plus likely to have restricted lock opening times to save water soon, so will be even quieter.

I'm amazed CRT haven't yet restricted the opening times of at least Claydon locks if not Napton too. The lack of a winding hole above Claydon means a lot of boats coming from Napton go down the locks just to wind and go straight back up. Hopefully this is because the reservoirs and back pumping at Napton are coping. The feed through Aynho weir lock and the adjacent Cherwell weir height are presumably set so there is always an adequate supply to the canal even if the Cherwell is barely flowing, same goes for Shipton lock. So this is hopefully all just localised issues with Grants lock being used too much relative to Banbury lock? On Facebook people were suggesting unspecified boat yards were running water down locks to keep their pound(s) topped up...

There isn't even a sign explaining what to do at the lock so someone that hasn't read the online stoppage notice could come through and cause havoc. And the canal is only going to get busier as Easter approaches

They have at least revised the ridiculously long stoppage for fairly minor work at Goring and that lock is now opening start of April instead of 21st

Been some updates about this. Reading between the lines of the email it seems they have had too many boats coming through and winding to go back up. Why this is an issue but traffic going to or from the Thames isn't I'm not sure? When I phoned to book the manager of the contractors called back to give instructions and just said to go slowly using just 1 paddle but that I could do it when I wanted. They didn't need to know the exact time. I'm surprised, given how close the dam is to the locks, that they don't want to supervise and aren't padlocking them outside of hours. They are keen enough to do this elsewhere for water supply reasons etc...

Had a walk down there the other day and they have lowered the level in the junction pound. Presumably they don't want the lock emptied rapidly and sending a wave down to the dam? There were no staff or padlocks or signs to say the locks at the junction needed booking however. It isnt in the stoppages anymore either (the stoppage notice for bridge 223 is updated but doesnt mention booking Dukes cut anymore)... On another note, does anyone know why they are making all the lift bridge on the south oxford hydraulic?

Think I've sorted a fairly secure mooring ready for the storm, armco, a decent hedge and hill to the windward side so not too exposed, but no trees. Wondering what wind speed will shatter standard narrowboat single glazing?😅🤦‍♂️

Oh right...Will keep an eye on junk email. Thanks

And I expected this thread to be about the closure of Marple services/bins😂😅. Turned out to be much more entertaining.

I wonder if this breach had to be given higher priority as it was on a river not a canal? Possibility it could have impacted management of flood water if not repaired?

I've never had a diesel stove, always solid fuel. Judging by the steady trickle of Facebook posts on the subject over the years, it seems diesel stoves are a bit more prone to issues and breakdowns plus I just don't like the idea of relying on fuel hidden out of sight in a tank for heating. Bags of coal and wood are so much simpler and easier to source and carry.

Apparently this is actually going to be open before xmas. Quite surprised and fair play to CRT

No experience of the Rochdale yet (outside of the Rochdale 9 in manchester) but another vote for Droylesden, its totally secure/locked but might be full up this time of year of course. Otherwise even the bottom of Marple locks would be ok, some nice armco the manchester side of the opened out tunnel (rose hill I think?) or anywhere at the top of them.

Gas fired central heating on a hire boat sounds unusual! It's normally a diesel system or even better - some hire boats have stoves.

Thanks for that, prices not up on the CRT website but will try just selecting it on the online licence renewal page. Now just need to hope for a dry(ish) spring to be able to get on the river soon

I think by the 1930s widening electric back pumping was available so presumably water wastage wasn't such a concern.

Granary wharf is the only nice place likely to have space in Leeds. The river pontoon by the services was pretty battered by the floods and hadn't been fixed (in June at least). Only 2 boat spaces in Clarence dock and they are always full. Granary wharf is nice and hardly any extra journey from the Armoury/Clarence dock. Leave lines loose when away though, as despite the back pump levels can drop a bit. Apparently people do sometimes overnight at Kirkstall, seen one of the hire companies (and hotel boat I think) post about this but they were probably not leaving boats unattended. The brewery there is fab and I really considered it but had teamed up with another local boat and they wanted to push on to Rodley, which is the standard thing to do.

Ah right, thanks. I changed back to a standard CRT licence this year as I was mostly up north but it's the same start date as a gold so I guess I'll just wait a bit longer. Glad to hear they are still offering it. Obviously also emailed CRT about this but as I expected, got a faster and probably more informative response on CWF😁