cornishdave

Update: Update 18 July 2025, 9:27am Our team will be carrying out further works to the cill over the weekend. Subject to satisfactory concrete curing times, we are aiming to reopen the navigation on Monday or Tuesday. We will provide a further update as soon as we are able to confirm a reopening date and time. Thank you for your continued patience.

Just been amended 10am-3pm, last entry 2.30pm. So shutting an hour earlier

Thanks both. Good to know my thinking was right, fill up the water tank and I may be able to move more easily but not necessarily stop (or steer) 😁

With water generally being shallow in a lot of places got me thinking... With no change to the weight at the stern (i.e diesel tank staying full) would filling the water tank at the bow raise the stern at all or just lower the whole boat? (With no expertise in the mechanics I assume that effectively pushing the front down a bit would pivot the boat around its mid point and the back would go up a little, or am I talking twaddle?)

Except they've just announced its closing soon too 🙄

Following continued monitoring of the exceptionally dry weather and its impact on water resources, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close the Leicester Line (Grand Union Canal), from Watford Lock 1 to Kings Lock 38, to navigation, effective from Tuesday 29 July 2025 at 4pm. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/01980e8f-a7ee-7611-9264-b2cef3d03f7b

How about if we all just leave any water point taps running to top up the cut? 😛 (For those of a nervous disposition I'm definitely not being serious here)

Bit of a stretch for a week's hire maybe? That's our current plan for a fortnight in August, so keeping a very close eye on proceedings at the moment 😬

Perfect, thanks

Sorry, being thick - which one/ where is that?

It's not technically moored so I guess the 14 day limit doesn't apply 😄

Is it this one? If so, then this pic was taken about 2 weeks ago I believe

Apparently back open again!

Yeah, sorry was on my mobile so in a rush and didn't post the content, just a link. My bad. Also of note from this notice (my bold): "If it rains enough to allow safe navigation, restrictions will be lifted immediately: this is likely to require sufficient and prolonged rain over several weeks rather than a sudden very heavy downpour."

From CRT: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/01977da6-c632-7891-8201-261377000edc

We probably could. However much better to get back if we can as cars etc will be in the right place. Will have a chat with the next users nearer the time when we've hopefully got a better picture of what is (or isn't!) open 👍

Yes, I feel your pain. We're on a share boat so would need to be able to return to the marina as well. In the past we've planned a busy trip without much slack when hiring but this year it'll be nearer a (normally) one week duration route but spread over two weeks to allow for changes. If all goes well then we can always add in a small detour or two. Either way, being on the boat doing not much is still better than being sat at home/office working!

With the exception of the bit on the south stratford down to the basin that's pretty much our plan for August as well (but the 'plan' is changing daily with each new announcement) If understand correctly it is still doable as things stand as long as the bit south from brum is via the north Stratford?

I posted this in the Stoppages section a couple of days ago (I know some of these but not enough to say if they're on your route or not): "Following the driest spring in a century, water levels in some of our reservoirs have dropped. To help conserve the remaining water, from Tuesday 1 July we will be reducing the opening times for Foxton Lock flight from 8am, to close at 4pm with last boat in at 3.15pm. This collective action is being introduced on Claydon, Foxton, Napton, Marston Doles, Hill Morton, and Watford Lock Flights."

Not a stoppage, but shortages coming down from Watford summit: "Following the driest spring in a century, water levels in some of our reservoirs have dropped. To help conserve the remaining water, from Tuesday 1 July we will be reducing the opening times for Foxton Lock flight from 8am, to close at 4pm with last boat in at 3.15pm. This collective action is being introduced on Claydon, Foxton, Napton, Marston Doles, Hill Morton, and Watford Lock Flights."

Update from CRT: "The earliest we can mobilise this equipment is Wednesday 11th June."

Depending how your timings work out, try not to be at Red Bull lock on a sunny Sunday afternoon, pub is right at the edge of the lock so a good audience drastically increasing the chances of stuffing something up 😂

Popped up on my Facebook feed - nice entertainment for gongoozlers at the pub yesterday 😄 (Mind you, it's not much worse than the attempt I made a few years ago)

That is the direction we did it in. All good, but watch the tyrley lock entrances as the bywash is fierce on a couple and can push you to the far side. Plus I think at least one of the pounds at Tyrley you can't get to the side so need to set the next lock before editing the previous

I assume you're hiring - do you know how long the boat you're planning on is? We did that that trip a couple of years ago in a full length 70' and although we made it things were very tight on some of the locks (to the point where we were considering turning back until we were advised by a friendly fisher to go down one lock backwards! )