MaryP

Good luck! I hope they fix it for you soon. What a nightmare.

Take care all of you!

Wasn't the plug hole great?

I went to the one at Hanwell, also today. Excellent experience. They even have installed a plug and hole there, so the water that doesn't exit over the cill can be removed by gravity to below the lock!!! Took photo's!

Exactly like this on my Springer - called a wet gas locker I understand. My boat is too small to be able to fit even the small gas bottles in a locker which is in the air, so they sit in 2-3 inches of water, and the upper hole at the waterline / slightly above keeps it all safe. I've passed every BSS so far, and expect to again. Boat built in 1989.

Ditto!

Yes, they have eg 20A between 20 and 21 on the canal. I made those numbers up, but I'm sure you get the gist.

We used to take the rabbit!

Here are a few, I have so many!

I got the email through the general stoppage alert email system. It may be worth asking....

A revelation (after 7 years)!!! I use a teaspoon - no longer. I have a Springer, and have 3 suggestions. Firstly, if you have a metal stern deck with a hatch, there should be drainage holes / channels which fill with crud, and so don't drain. They go from the lip which holds the hatch 'door' to the stern, and my engine bilge fills up with rainwater if they aren't clean. Secondly, my stern greaser was always tight when I first bought the boat (brass tap thingy). Still the engine bay filled with water, and when I asked for advice, and people said if you can't turn it, then all is well with the stern grease. The reality was, it was so long since anyone had put fresh grease into it, the old grease had hardened, and therefore there was actually NO grease going in to the stern gland at all..... Thirdly, someone had shortened the weed hatch to put a battery on top, and the top of the weed hatch was below the level of the water. Water came in by the gallon, especially when on the Thames going against the wind and the current!!! All sorted now, and not much water (apart from the drip from the stern gland). Good luck with it all!

Proposed Stoppage Thursday 25 October 2012 until further notice UPDATE (25 October 2012): Proposed Stoppage - Closing date for the consultation is 5 November 2012. In light of the recent breach and land slip on the Trent & Mersey Canal, we have investigated possible options to minimise the impact of the forthcoming stoppage programme on the sections of canal remaining open now and once the repairs at Croxton are complete. It is known that we are currently aiming to reopen the length at Croxton by Christmas. Clearly, with the previously published stoppages, we would be in the position of reopening the canal, only to close it a few days later and this is felt to be unacceptable. We have therefore looked at a number of options on which we seek your comments: 1) Removing the two stoppages planned at Locks 67 and 71. The gates at these locations have been re-assessed, and whilst it is felt that those at lock 67 could last an additional year, those at Lock 71 would not. It is therefore felt that this is not feasible, and that the stoppages need to remain in some form. 2) Keep the stoppages as they are currently planned, with the T&M stoppages starting after Christmas. Whilst this would be the easiest option for the Trust, this would cause navigation issues to our customers, as the canal would essentially remain closed until late March. Preventing any stranded boats re-entering the main network. 3) Bring the stoppages on the Trent & Mersey forward to BEFORE Christmas. On the face of it, this does appear a favourable option, as it would remove the need to shut the Trent & Mersey within the Manchester & Pennine Waterway after Christmas, allowing a certain openness for the customers that are currently isolated. However, this would impact heavily on available resources (both plant and staff), as the stoppages would need to be carried out in parallel with the stoppages at Marple. In addition, we would also reduce the available length now open, possibly with customers in isolated areas, and remove the currently open link to the Northern Shropshire Union and Llangollen Canals. 4) Keep the planned stoppages after Christmas, but REDUCE and modify the planned works, and DELAY the start time. With this option, the planned stoppages at Locks 67 and 71 would be changed. The full gate change at Lock 67 would be removed, however a short duration stoppage would be carried out in parallel with Lock 71, during which time preparatory works including new stop plank grooves would be completed. This would enable a ‘quick gate change’ at a later day if the need arose. At Lock 71, the full gate replacement will be carried out, but the works will be both concertinaed by working 7 days and longer shifts to a shorter duration (3 weeks envisaged), with a later start date of mid-February. This would then leave a period where the Trent & Mersey is open from Acton Bridge through to the Stoppages in Central Shires at Stoke, enabling the currently trapped boat traffic a period to move. This is our preferred option but does carry some risk if unexpected works are found at Lock 67 once that site is under way. In addition, we have been in discussions with the North Wales & Border Waterway, and they have expressed their preference to bring forward the stoppage at Anderton Boat Lift. This would then provide our customers with a greater opportunity for continuity of passage, through as much of the available waterway as possible once the stoppage at Croxton is open. Manchester and Pennine Office Tel: 01782 785703. Email: enquiries.manchesterpennine@canalrivertrust.org.uk ---------------------------------------------------- Stoppage history: Proposed Stoppage In light of the recent breach and land slip on the Trent & Mersey Canal, we have investigated possible options to minimise the impact of the forthcoming stoppage programme on the sections of canal remaining open now and once the repairs at Croxton are complete. It is known that we are currently aiming to reopen the length at Croxton by Christmas. Clearly, with the previously published stoppages, we would be in the position of reopening the canal, only to close it a few days later and this is felt to be unacceptable. We have therefore looked at a number of options on which we seek your comments: 1)Removing the two stoppages planned at Locks 67 and 71. The gates at these locations have been re-assessed, and whilst it is felt that those at lock 67 could last an additional year, those at Lock 71 would not. It is therefore felt that this is not feasible, and that the stoppages need to remain in some form. 2)Keep the stoppages as they are currently planned, with the T&M stoppages starting after Christmas. Whilst this would be the easiest option for the Trust, this would cause navigation issues to our customers, as the canal would essentially remain closed until late March. Preventing any stranded boats re-entering the main network. 3)Bring the stoppages on the Trent & Mersey forward to BEFORE Christmas. Ooops typo - opinion

I have had Saga for the 7 years I have owned my Springer, and I am OK with them. The boat was surveyed before I bought it, and no mention of a survey has been made since then. I have made 2 claims - firstly for ice damage when out of water on G&S canal when the temp reached -16. The boat yard told me of many boats experiencing damage as they'd never know it so cold there. Saga moaned, paid out, but said they'd not cover frost damage again??? Recently I had a hit and float on the T&M. Again, they moaned, accepted my arguments and paid. So all in all, OK so far.

There are now fewer boats at VP, but Broadway Mkt is 3 deep!

Quite a few boats have left, but many remain. There are now A4 notices saying that the Police are patrolling the towpath.

They also have hens...... Not tried the pigs.

I was going to say the same kind of thing. The property in the link is a beautiful, huge converted chapel, hence the high price. There are still plenty of estates around VP, north and south of the park, so although it's gone upmarket in the past 20 years, it's not what I'd describe as 'posh'!!!

I have a 23 foot Springer, and the stove I have is very similar to the one in this pic The flue does pass in front of a window, but the flue has a protective half sleeve around it, and I have no problem with the window or the curtains. I use an ecofan (I know some people don't like them) but it makes sure the heat is evenly distributed. We used to have the stove end which was too hot to stay in, and a cooler end, but now this is better. I have a stove pipe thermometer to check the fire temp so I know when it's burning at the optimum too. The flue does go up through the roof, but this little stove keeps us toasty even in the coldest times! Good luck.

Snap. And their eggs are lovely!!!

Another one: Restricted access for craft with winter moorings in the area will be allowed and overnight the site can be accessed from the western end only (the Narrow Boast Pub).

The pics of Hackney on the website, if put into reality would mean the demolition of: A street of houses, a cleaning transport depot, the bridge which carries the main train line from Liverpool street to Hertfordshire, an iron foundry / smithy, and a pub. They thought that through then!

Snap!

GUN Headcutting South East Waterway Monday 8 October 2012 - Friday 1 March 2013 We have commenced the annual hedge cutting round ...... etc

I heard it was because there was the wrong weather at blossom time for bees to fly to pollinate, and also the wrong weather after that with lots of young fruits falling off. But obviously not in Essex! May I ask which part of Essex was so great John V? Are there any left in case I'm working in the area?

Snap!