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noddyboater

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Everything posted by noddyboater

  1. I had an unfortunate situation a couple of years ago where I was working on the canal and based half way between the Boat at Basford, and the Lion at Consall forge. Bloody awful job that was! The Boat had just changed hands, the new tennants were confident of it being a success. They were still there last October so must be doing something right.
  2. Hopefully it's better by now, but he didn't appear to be in a rush regarding the refurbishment. I'd guess the insurance hasn't paid up yet. I wouldn't let it put you off a trip though, the other excellent pubs more than make up for it. Re. moorings before Engine lock... I decided to brave a night in Hanley park a few years back, it was fine. Ok, my other half was convinced some local drug dealers were trying to steal our greyhound, but she does exaggerate sometimes. With the recent restoration work they've done recently it's a shame it's not a more popular spot.
  3. It wasn't great last Autumn. We made an effort to get there - in the dark, to be told they were now closed, despite the fact that the locals carried on being served in the marquee area for another hour. It was 8pm on a Saturday evening. There was no seating inside the pub, but apparently if you check on Facebook they do occasionally do basic food, burgers etc. It was closed the following Monday but we did find the landlord happily supporting the other "Lion" at Cheddleton! The pub at Froghall station had very recently reopened, the new owners were enthusiastic but we couldn't help wondering about the choice of decor, considering the customers they're likely to get from the station.
  4. Fair enough. What about the toilet and elsan sluice?
  5. VESTA now reduced to 45k. I know he's keen to sell and open to sensible offers, but could also do without the time wasters and dreamers.
  6. You're right, it was! I towed it half a mile away and tied it outside the pub. It was the only way to get him to fire the Gardner up and actually go boating.
  7. No Polacks were involved in the taking of the vessel. Just cross straps.
  8. I pulled up in front of a friends boat one night, strapped it to mine by torchlight and towed it away into the darkness. His neighbours watched through the window but didn't ask what I was doing!
  9. And don't forget that you don't have to start the engine to steal a boat. You untie it and pull it away on ropes, nobody will question you.
  10. Great picture, I know the bridge well. How I'd love to see a Thorry Transport artic in the same position on our bridge. That company are the main culprits, running power station ash back to their landfill site near Peterborough, constant daily traffic from 5am. How environmentally friendly! Going back to commercial farms and CRT.. They must have some clout as a bridge on the Chesterfield was strengthened quite recently to allow heavier farm traffic. Unfortunately the work narrowed the bridge hole thus restricting the navigable width of a historically wide canal.
  11. Our canalside cottage is on a lane near a listed bridge over the Chesterfield Canal, the road has a 7.5 t limit. Confusingly it's signed at either end 'Alternative route for high vehicles" just before the weight limit signs as it cuts a long loop of the main Retford to Gainsborough road with two low railway bridges. This results in constant use from HGV's, often well over 30t. Many of these can actually fit under the low bridges on the main road but use it as a short cut. When I brought it up with local authorities I was told it was an 'environmental' limit, not structural, and they turned a blind eye as a lot of the traffic was serving the nearby power station! I personally can't wait until the bridge finally gives in and crumbles into the canal.
  12. Yes, I'd lock it when leaving the boat but stupidly thought that the doors being open/broad daylight smoke coming from the chimney etc it might be ok. That mooring in Sheffield basin wasn't great, the first inline as you came into the newly renovated "quays" from the murky bridge holes and towpath.
  13. I kept my old commuting bike on the front deck with the handle bar end tucked up behind the wellie bar on the bulkhead. One evening in Sheffield I heard a noise, then felt the boat rocking. I popped out the stern and walked up to find a young gent with Eastern European accent who was "Taking this bike but leaving mine for you as this better" True to his word there was a rusty old thing leaning on the wall nearby. Some people are so thoughtful.
  14. I think that's about when it changed hands. I called in after a long cold day from Braunston, the place was empty apart from the new owner and his family. His plans were centered on birthday parties and fine dining rather than passing trade, but luckily he'd got a barrel of Landlord on that was perfect.
  15. Where's your sense of adventure? I'd have reversed back to the Anchor at Hartshill. Has anyone been in since it changed owners last autumn? He had big plans but I'm not sure they included boaters wandering in for a pint without having a three course meal.
  16. True, it's a sad day when the malt runs out. But it doesn't take much planning to tie up, stock up, and bugger off to somewhere more pleasant really. I often kip in my van when working away but I don't sleep in Tesco car park after an evening shop.
  17. I like to stand in the hatches with a whisky after mooring up, looking across to moonlit fields and trees is better than scabby back gardens and a derelict factory. Same thing in the morning, much prefer an early start from somewhere scenic.
  18. It's a couple of years since I tried the Lime Kilns, the beer and food was good but the outside area was going downhill rapidly. A cautionary tale then.. I was single handing down them early morning last winter, and a friend had driven out to meet me and set a few locks. Having got down to lock 3 he was approached by two men in a very threatening way, who managed to get him backed up against the empty lock chamber. Luckily although my mate is a short cheerful 70 year old, he's lived a bit - and could see what was coming next. They'd presumably followed him from where he'd parked his 70k car, it turned out another mugging had taken place the same morning by two blokes fitting the description.
  19. Straight up the lane from Mancetter bridge, but take a torch for the stumble back. I discovered their excellent ales in the George & Dragon at Stoke Golding, it's worth a trip up the Ashby just to go there. Have you sampled the Golden Glow in the Plum Pudding lately?
  20. I can't think why anyone would moor behind the houses opposite the knackered hat factory when you can be out in the open country again in 10 minutes. We had an evening walk up the lane through the woods to the Church End brewery tap last time, most enjoyable if a little further than I thought!
  21. They're easy to work, have a decent overnight mooring down the bottom near the old footbridge, but I think it's the changing scenery I like. Also interested in the architecture of the canalside buildings, bridges, sideponds etc. Mooring at the top ok for a stroll into town but I wouldn't stop overnight there. Stourbridge isn't bad either..
  22. Atherstone is probably my favourite lock flight, but there are unfortunately some real lowlife in the area. Be extra careful if single handing either end of the day.
  23. True, but that bridge width was reduced relatively recently to raise the weight limit to the nearby farm. Although it's hard to find evidence that barges ever made the trip towards Retford, I can't think of any reason why they wouldn't.
  24. Luckily I'm not in a smoke control area but I always keep check on the wind direction when loading the fires up. If it's blowing to my lovely neighbours on the West it's smokeless ovoids and hardwood. To the East and it's bank em up with the proper black stuff - stinkier the better, cos he's a prize Tw@t. It's not hard to be considerate.
  25. Coalhut are still selling trebles, Columbian and 5 star, whatever they are. Not much price difference anyway. Has anyone been tempted by the eBay ad for a 500kg sack of steam coal at £200 collection only?
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