noddyboater

I was confused by the Lonely Water campaign as a kid. It certainly did haunt me but I couldn't work out why it was wrong to be around such places as I'd been brought up playing in tidal creeks, backwaters and reedy pools quite happily!

You need to shock young people into taking notice, and that probably isn't allowed at school now incase the little poppets have nightmares. Around 13 maybe 14 yrs old we were asked to skip a school assembly as we had a talk to attend by a retired policeman. He was ex traffic, and was trying to get across the dangers of stolen cars, motorbikes etc. Many graphic photos were shown, extreme by any standard, but it certainly stuck in our minds. To the point where I still physically cringe when I see a pillock in gloves and a T shirt on a motorbike.

Exactly. If thousands of kids suddenly take to the great outdoors for a few hot days and half a dozen don't return it really isn't that bad on average is it?

What are the actual statistics of children drowning in open water in an average year? If half the kids in the country gave up sitting in their dark bedrooms and went out and actually enjoyed themselves in the open air for once is it really that shocking that some don't come back home? I learnt to swim as a young child in the tidal Dorset Stour, under supervision by my mother who couldn't swim herself! When we moved up North it was bike rides out to the nearest ponds, reservoirs and weir pools for a dip as kids, that's what the summer holidays were all about. Should we discourage this because several kids are lost every summer? I'm sure more are lost through cycling injuries but that's actively encouraged.

I think you did right having the Stella.

More importantly, has the Cross Keys still got fake hand pumps on the bar that actually dispense keg beer? I haven't been in for a few years since I discovered this treachery!

Wolverley definitely worth exploring, look for the footpath cut through the rock up to the church. Don't miss the Cross Inn as you walk into Kinver, it's on the left up Church lane after crossing the river. Great selection of beer and cider and open all day.

Depends what style of boat it's based on. A josher shell won't have much headroom but a Northwich style will be fine for sitting in bed. Tugs are great in locks for nipping across the deck without breaking your ankles.

I believe their office was in the room that's currently a pub!

The novelty must have worn off..

I don't think it's twaddle to mention it, I think it's twaddle to drone on about it in any thread that mentions the Trent. I'd be more interested in getting the other points across such as anything fuel related that is likely to put you in a position to need help. I also DO care when people give the wrong advice, like taking the lock keepers advice as gospel when they might have never been on a boat or started the job yesterday.

Having been out in the kayak when the farmers are spraying the canalside fields on the Chesterfield I'm amazed there's any life in it at all. It should be banned, but it never will be.

I'd agree. Dozens, if not hundreds of boaters make trips between Keadby and Cromwell every year without VHF, often single handed, quite safely. Mobile phones must have been none existent when the rules were applied to carry radio, the only time I've failed to get a response from a keeper by phone has been when they were out cutting grass etc. so VHF wouldn't have made any difference. Every time someone new to the Trent comes on here asking sensible questions it slips back into the same old "VHF and the law" twaddle which probably puts a lot of people off exploring a new cruising route. Yes get an anchor, chain and charts, get advice from the lock keeper you're leaving from and your destination (they often conflict, come on here to check if in doubt), make a flask and sarnies if you're single handed, keep wet weather gear in reach and even a bucket if you're shy.. Then go and enjoy it.

Isn't that the original one? Wooden, formerly bolinder pup powered. Or is that a copy of the original one, and the other one is a copy of that..

When travelling with plenty of water - especially a spring tide, there's really no need to follow the marked channel religiously on a narrow boat. In fact it can cause problems, like tight bends with "boils" that can lead you to a tangle with the willows if you're not careful. The middle is fine, but obviously this isn't applicable at anything approaching low water.

I've had the gates closed on me whilst ferrying across the river by the Keadby keeper. His excuse was he "didn't know it was the boat booked in"

Pete Tuffrey was selling his paintings again in the marquee. They're excellent.

It's all becoming too civilised now. In past years the unnecessary grid-lock was the entertainment! I might just watch "Mostly loaded Joshers" by Mykaskin on YouTube next year and save the fuel cost.

Without wishing to be too pedantic, I did say Sunday, and all I saw was Dory leaving the arm and not returning for a circuit of the marina. I don't think I'd have missed William if in attendance, but could have when I went to visit the closets. Bison was leaving later in the day, BM powered I believe, but for the general public it's obviously the hot bulbs that add a bit of variety to the parades. Maybe it was the amount of historic boats tied up and not taking part on Sunday that made the difference, it always seems a shame that people make the effort to attend but not parade. A bit like going to a beer festival and standing in the corner with a bottle of water. He doesn't appear to be having much luck with Dory does he? Despite the amount of time and money put into the engine.

I've never paid for parking, just find a spot down the road towards Willoughby and walk in. There was plenty of room this year without a hike back. It might not be in the spirit to get out of parking fees but £20 is a bit much and we always spend money on other things.

We arrived on Sunday morning and actually caught all the parade which is unusual for us. Although it was an enjoyable day we thought the attendance was down markedly compared to rallies of old, both boats and the public. One bolinder powered boat in the parade for instance, and that didn't hang around. Maybe the price of fuel is having an effect now on visitors to such events. (Cars, not boats)

Interestingly the original mooring had to be constructed by CRT approved contractors using natural "green" techniques. When this later failed it was rebuilt using steel piling and used sleepers (we all know how green they are!) by the owner with no complaints.

The mooring is still being paid for although as Cheshire Rose says it hasn't had a boat on for a couple of years. You'll be aware that it's not the deepest canal but the previous boat was a 60' Dave Harris tug so it can't be too bad there.

Anyone fancy a project? Hayton, Chesterfield canal, current mooring - towpath side. Permission granted for demolition and rebuild or could be renovated. There's a large new barn/workshop behind the house, and a decent sized piece of land that had to be bought to put an access drive to the nearby lane. Best viewed on Google maps, Church lane, Hayton nr Retford, It's the 2nd house from the bridge. Will be going to auction soon (Mark Jenkinson), but pm me if interested.

Exactly. We've all seen/smelt them, festering away with black windows and mouldy curtains, clutter all over both decks, a manky dog tied to a mooring pin.. and you cruise past and think, "who the hell would go in there long enough to do a safety cert?"