noddyboater

Just checking on the average daily rate for professional boat movers. (By water, no trucks or cranes) Thanks in advance.

Yes, I realise that but you won't be finding a boat builders yard in action if you turn up to that address. I think there's a current phone number on the moorings sign on the Erewash.

I don't think they're in business at Sawley marina anymore, but still have moorings near Trent Lock at the bottom of the Erewash canal.

With a narrowboat that's capable of making some headway against a tide, I leave Torksey early and aim to get to Stockwith as close to high water as possible. Even better is to arrive early, hang on the wall and go in at high water. This obviously isn't really possible at Keadby though. Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable with a boat on the river that can't punch a tide, although I know a lot of people do it safely every year.

I'd agree that particularly over the last few years it's advisable to check the times given by the inexperienced keepers yourself, or with someone higher up the chain, or river, that may actually know what they're talking about. If I'm told to leave Torksey at "X" o'clock, to arrive at Stockwith at "Y" o'clock it's normally a couple of hours out to make life easy getting in the lock. Much better to punch an incoming tide for an hour longer than arrive on the ebb, in my opinion.

Semi-trad boat moored up for the night, cabin doors open, cockpit doors to stern deck shut. Generator on bench seat running with exhaust pointing towards open cabin doors. You can't educate pork.

I've done it a fair number of times but I always find it daunting too. I normally start thinking about it as I exit Cromwell lock.. It's not exactly an inviting place in the best weather, and high walls/steep mud banks don't lend themselves to an emergency landing. Heading for Cromwell with it's low grassy banks and gravel beaches is completely different.

There's no rush at the moment as the Black Lion is unfortunately closed for a while due to a fire.

Here's a nasty modern 4 bed detached, but you'd get a mooring ok. On the bottom end of the Chesterfield, near the Trent.

It's an end terrace, or what's left of one. The extension off the back of the neighbour's house would really pi$s me off, but no doubt they'll be one going up to match it soon.

Turning into the tide out of Torksey cut and heading for the viaduct on a pitch black, crisp winter morning is one of inland boatings finest experiences. It certainly concentrates your attention. As you say, the wait for daylight tides can be days sometimes, so it's often necessary.

Not true if you're heading for a unmanned mooring, such as Dunham or Torksey pontoon. I've been through Stockwith and Cromwell with less than an hour of daylight in winter, but that was by proper lock keepers who actually had boating experience. I've lost count of the number of times I've left Torksey on a winter's morning heading for Stockwith and done the first hour or so in darkness, under the advice of the keeper to arrive on time.

We had a volunteer at Atherstone last week who told us he "Didn't see the appeal of boating"

You're right Arthur, it is a relatively quiet canal and everybody has got to be somewhere. What pisses me off is that the same people are often on the only moorings suitable for deeper draughted boats for months on end. If they chose to knock pins in the bank miles from anywhere I really wouldn't care, apart from the shit that's usually left behind. CRT are obviously turning a blind eye for some reason, probably prefer them up there than on the main line. I'm not against dossing in general, I've done it myself for months in the past. But I never hogged visitor moorings and always left the place cleaner than when I arrived.

If anyone fancies a few months dossing on the towpath head to the Ashby. It appears that once through the junction it's a free mooring zone now, with the same boats in the same places as my last visit in Easter. The tent/boat/fire/pile of shit combo as you enter through the old stop lock is a welcoming feature, but if you're intending dossing long term head higher up. Parking your motorcycle on the towpath is the latest perk, semi - rabid dogs loose always add interest for walkers. Be quick to get a visitor mooring soon though, they'll be gone for the winter.

I always found him a pompous pain in the arse. He "impounded" me in the lock one afternoon, I wasn't displaying my licence due to a clerical error, but I pointed out that I could carry on my journey using my key as soon as he knocked off. Another day I approached from upstream, stopped at the red light and went for a wander to the lock. Finding it deserted and no boats around I pulled up to the top gates and went to empty the bog. On returning to the boat he had appeared, and the conversation went; "Colour blind are we Sir?" "Err.. no." " Then why have you ignored a red light and moored in a prohibited area?" "There was nobody around, I went to empty the toilet. Can you open the gates please so I can be on my way?" "No. You'll have to reverse back beyond the red light, there's a cruiser on it's way up from Cromwell. You can't stay there he won't get past." "But the lock is full, I might as well go through. And unless he's the QE2 I'm sure he'll get past me here!" Funnily enough after a long wait the cruiser never materialised - apparently he turned around and went back, and he reluctantly allowed me passage of his kingdom.

I broke the T- stud off a Tyler/Wilson boat once descending the Tinsley locks when it nudged a walkway on the lower gate. It was welded to the deck, rather than pierced through and welded top and bottom. I don't think a snatched anchor would have done it though, as the pull would be at the base of the stud 😉

Thanks for that, Gannow is definitely a simplified version of the patterns. While we're on the subject.. Foulridge was built mainly I read as a "cut and cover" tunnel, wouldn't it have been cheaper to leave it as a steeply sided cutting, or would the land access above have influenced the final outcome?

I'll help you all out with the one of them I deciphered.. " Beware the two crap pubs that will be shut at 9pm, seek out the excellent social club with it's 3 real ales at £2.75 a pint"

Can anyone shed some light on the carvings in the stonework of the western portal of Foulridge tunnel? They look like random patterns at first glance but the longer you look the more you see.

That's funny 😉

Personally, I can't see the point of a fake Epping. Unless I can warm my cockles on it with the cabin doors shut behind me while enjoying a single malt I wouldn't bother. I've given up boating in winter several years ago on anything that doesn't have a back cabin stove, it really does make that much of a difference. And what's next, a mock JP2 that opens up to reveal a cocktail cabinet? Says the man whose boat is reputedly the original "washer Josher" !!

Is it true that the engine in Dory was the one in the Birmingham pub, where people often took the odd bit home after a pint?

Sorry, I didn't say but the lower lock jetty is in the flowing water of the river, so hopefully not too full of stagnant rat piss. I was agreeing that very often it's not the fault of anyone in particular - just the individual for their actions. A group of lads might all have had the same education, but it doesn't always sink in. Pardon the pun.

Sometimes it's nobody's fault really is it. Picture a sunny day on a Rotherham council estate.. Tarquin, Rufus and the gang decide to go down to the cut for a swim. On arrival at Aldewarke lock Tarquin and Rufus settle down on the jetty below the lock, dipping the water with sticks to check the depth, testing the temperature.. Shane on the other hand climbs straight up the paddle gear and launches himself headfirst into the murky depths of the empty lock, where his body becomes entangled with a stolen motorcycle frame dumped by his brother Wade, last week.