noddyboater
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Posts posted by noddyboater
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6 hours ago, LadyG said:
I have seen this done, the perpetrators had to pull their ropes over my roof, they were foreigners, I was then alerted again when the owner brought the boat back, it had got as far as the first lock!
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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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4 minutes ago, blackrose said:
You don't lock your bike to the boat? If you don't lock a bike to something expect it to go. Bike thieves generally won't bother cutting through locks for cheap bikes.
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.
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18 minutes ago, MtB said:
Easy. Get a tug-style NB then erect a bicycle rack on the tug deck for an many bikes as you want.
This is reason number 53 why tug style NBs are AWESOME!
Here's a good example of a tug style, ready and awaiting its bike rack.
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.
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4 minutes ago, Victor Vectis said:
From Whatpub:
** Note: Ales are only available in the restaurant, and if busy they will have to be consumed in the Canalside Bar or marquee.
I called in there in October '22. Wasn't impressed.
Next time I'm passing I'll yomp up to the Church End Tap.
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.
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48 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:
Didn't fancy turning round and going back towards Nuneaton after I had got the Indian Takeaway in Atherstone
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.
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24 minutes ago, Slim said:
But at some stage you will need to buy the whiskey, to say nothing about food.
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.
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3 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:
I did because I wanted water and rubbish disposal first thing before going down the flight. I wasn't out on deck looking at the countryside, I was inside with the heating going so could have been moored in a shed and not know it
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.
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1 hour ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:
Ah, yes I know the George and Dragon well and it’s lovely list of beers
Might be in the Plum Pudding at the end of the month but otherwise haven’t been in since last summer.
The Golden Glow has always been on good form the few occasions I’ve been in.
Seeing as you mention the Ashby, have you been in the Lime Kilns the past year? It’s under new management and I’m wondering how it’s doing.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.
9 minutes ago, Captain Pegg said:I’ve also single handed the flight at various times of day including early and late and in near darkness. Never had even the slightest hint of a problem there.
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.
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35 minutes ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:
I tend to moor out by the BW yard, quiet and peaceful
Church End brewery tap sounds good, I’ll make a point of visiting there next time.
I usually drink their Stairway to Heaven in the Swan at Brewood if they ain’t got the Sarah Hughes on.
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?
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11 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:
I think you are right there, but I have never had a problem when stopping at the top, like last night. Normally going up we would go on a bit further towards Mancetter
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!
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29 minutes ago, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:
Simply curious, what makes the Atherstone flight your favourite?
It’s ok, easy enough and pleasant but I wouldn’t have it as a favourite.
Made me wonder if I have a favourite,
I’ll have to have a think 🤔
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..
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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.
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21 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:
The Chesterfield Canal has wide locks to Retford, but a narrow bridge hole prevents wide beams reaching them from Stockwith Basin and the Trent.
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.
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1 hour ago, Chewbacka said:
The person living in a house on the side of the canal with a smoky boat just a few feet from their doors and windows has a ‘right’ to breath clean air. Unfortunately in an overcrowded environment one persons ‘freedoms’ forces another to suffer. That’s why boats were included, too many selfish people enforcing their rights without regard to the consequences to others.
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.
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8 minutes ago, magnetman said:
I'm intrigued you found trebles though. I could only find doubles.
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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27 minutes ago, magnetman said:
They still sell them?
I thought they stopped doing them because of the coal ban. The ones I had were not DEFRA authorised.
My experience is on a small fire on a small boat so a somewhat different scenario.
I found they give very low heat (ideal in my boat) and stay in for ages.
Still sell em at Worksop, £13-50 for 20kg. Just says "not authorised for smoke control areas" on the bag, but I don't think Lignite comes under the ban as it isn't classed as bituminous is it?
I loaded the range up last night and as the wind got up I had a gentle orange glow on the range top appearing.
I'll try them in the Epping and report back.
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1 hour ago, magnetman said:
Interesting to see they also do Lignite.
This is a low grade coal but can be quite good if you want a nice fire which doesn't get too hot. An interesting alternative.
The enviro mentalists hate it but its a good fuel.
I had some when Mole Valley Farmers were selling the Union Lignite briquettes and it stayed in for ages 2 or three pieces would keep the fire going overnight. Not much heat but it did stay alight.
Also has a nice flame picture if that happens to be relevant to your usage.
I picked a couple of bags of lignite briquettes up from Mole Valley on Sunday.
I'm still not sure.. they give loads of heat out but don't last as long as smokeless ovoids, but the amount of brown ash they produce is frightening!
That's burning em in the kitchen range, a Belle portable, so not fully controllable on the air supply.
Smells lovely down wind though.
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1 hour ago, Captain Pegg said:
They must have had some reason to want to leave it there. One that you nor I know.Perhaps they lived nearby, or had left a car nearby, or had pre-arranged a lift from someone from that location having not been sure as to whether they would make it in time back to the marina.
Or quite simply they may not have had unlimited time to complete the journey on that day because they had another engagement or a partner had to go to work or one of them had some childcare duties. You know, stuff that normal working folk have to accommodate in their schedule. Or maybe you don’t?
It doesn’t matter and if they’d gone 50m further we’d neither know nor care. Perhaps they had no mooring pins so they chose to leave it on the bollards.
Yes, of course I have things that I have to accommodate in my schedule.
But I, and I'm guessing nor you, would have left it on the lock landing restricting the canal.
You can suggest an array of scenarios but It's just lazy and ignorant.
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1 hour ago, Captain Pegg said:
As a regular paid mover for a well known brokerage or two I’d say there’s no point in arriving after hours.For one of my regular clients I routinely moor up less than an hour short of destination where I have access to facilities and can arrive at opening time the next morning when the staff have plenty of time to deal with the boat and I have plenty of time to get home.
My point was it was less than an hour to the marina, with no more locks and not difficult in the dark.
As they were marina staff involved in the move there wouldn't have been an issue in where to leave it etc. It's also well lit once inside the marina area.
With freezing conditions forecast I'd have got it there rather than abandoning it so near.
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31 minutes ago, magnetman said:
Maybe the insurance doesn't cover operations after sunset.
Possibly, but I doubt it.
They certainly would have expected one of their regular paid movers to complete the journey rather than abandoning it so near in a crap place.
A case of office staff playing at boating I'd guess.
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3 hours ago, frangar said:
From the wording on the post it almost sounds as if it could be a boat mover…..and if they can’t cope with that it’s a worry!!
From Redhill to Mercia is a common move for widebeams going up for sale in Mercia, usually by marina staff.
What I can't understand is from where they left it to the marina is a straight run, even in the dark.
I'd guess it's more a case of they'd have enough for the day and didn't fancy any overtime.
Kill switch ?
in General Boating
Posted
No Polacks were involved in the taking of the vessel. Just cross straps.