nine9feet

Northampton Becket's Park :-)

In the end I moored just above the top lock (42E). Two other boats moored there. I left the boat for four nights while off visiting friends. Didn't seem to be a problem and as Mac said there are no signs. Whilst moored another boater walking the towpath to the tunnel began talking to me. His boat was moored at the tunnel mouth on the off side and would be there for two days until his booked passage time. I moved up to the tunnel the night before my booked passage. It turned out I was the only boat going through from Marsden to Diggle.

"In his latest plan to communicate with boaters, Canal & River Trust (CRT) chief executive, Richard Parry, will be holding a live Twitter Q&A session, writes Harry Arnold. This follows a spring programme of Open Boaters meetings and public briefings such as those at the recent Crick Boat Show. The Twitter session will take place between 6 and 8pm on Tuesday 17 June. You can take part by tweeting @CanalRiverTrust using the hashtag #AskRP, in a maximum of 140 characters. Richard Parry said: “I have made it a priority to get out onto the cut to meet boaters, to listen to what you want from the CRT. There’s been an encouraging amount of interest in the open meetings that I have hosted and some constructive discussion.” Now, at the time of year when many people are out boating, a virtual get together on Twitter is another way to get involved and have your say. I’m interested to hear your views and I’ll try to answer as many questions as possible, so please get in touch, he added" http://www.boatingbusiness.com/news101/industry-news/tweet-richard-parry

Thanks for the responses, guys. I have been told by a passing boater (the only one today ) that there are moorings immediately above the top lock 42E but he did not know if there was any time limit less than 14 days. Cheers

Can anyone tell me what mooring is available between Slaithwaite and the tunnel portal at Marsden, where a boat can remain for more than 48 hours? Mooring points seem few and far between on this canal! Thanks.

Perhaps there was no expectation that the British Trust for Ornithology would misuse the data, or those gathering data on birds knew how the data was going to be used. If I were gathering data I would need to be convinced of its careful and appropriate use. Some boaters simply no longer trust CRT. :-(

That's a bit unfair! :-) If you are referring to Leon, he does a good job, but I know what you mean!

Apologies if this has already appeared elsewhere but I could not find a new topic which might include it. Staffordshire Police NEWS: Two men have been arrested following an incident in the Northwood area of Stoke-on-Trent this morning (Mon). Officers were called to a stretch of the Caldon Canal between Northwood and Birches Head at approximately 8.50am, after receiving reports from members of the public that two people were at the location in possession of a firearm and taking shots. As a result of the information received armed officers were deployed to the scene, with aerial support from the force helicopter. Officers arrested two men, aged in their 20s, and they have been taken into custody for questioning. A firearm, believed to be a long-barelled type weapon, was also recovered. This will now be subject to a detailed forensic examination. No reports of any injuries have been received. An investigation into the incident is now underway and anyone who witnessed the actions of the two men is asked to contact us if they havent already done so. Please call us on 101 quoting incident number 164 of May 26, or independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111. As a result of this mornings increased police activity in the area, local neighbourhood officers will be carrying out high visibility patrols throughout today to reassure the local community and respond to any concerns.

Just want to add my thanks for all the updates and especially the photos. Just hope I can participate next year :-)

Really sorry to hear about your ordeal, MP. Seems I got off lightly a few weeks ago on the same stretch. Just one window broken, but a big one :-( (5ft). Cost ~£190 to fix, unfortunately less than my insurance excess. Done at Stone Cruising. Never actually saw the culprits as I was down the weed hatch at the time.

See http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=63231&page=67#entry1318883 for latest on Walsall locks!

Will this have any impact? : Notice AlertWalsall Canal Starts At: Lock 1, Walsall Top Lock Ends At: Lock 8, Walsall Bottom Lock Saturday 24 May 2014 18:00 until Saturday 24 May 2014 22:00 Type: Navigation Restriction Reason: 3rd Party Works Original message:West Midlands Fire Service will be carrying out water rescue training at Walsall Locks between 6pm and 10pm. Banksmen will be present to advise customers who may experience a short delay whilst the fire service either complete tasks or exit the water. You can view this notice and its map online here: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/1134/walsall-lock-flight-walsall-canal You can find all notices at the url below: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices

People's experiences can be so different. I moored outside the museum on the Caldon on 4 separate occasions in March and then April without any problems. It was further up the Caldon where my large (5ft) window was shattered - presumed to be by an air gun pellet!

I'm not sure I am reading this right, but are you aware that there is to be a new bridge to be built and therefore the current bridge and slip roads will be removed which then allows the restoration to take place?

Surely you are only "defrauding the Local Council" if you have taken steps to avoid payment. The council will require payment of Council Tax if the Valuation Office has banded the mooring and added it to the list. The rules are not as straightforward as you have portrayed and this subject has been covered in depth previously. The relevant section of the VOA manual is at http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/Publications/Manuals/CouncilTaxManual/council_tax_man_pn/ct-man-pn7.html#P73_861

I had an Ouse key and it worked fine on the Ashline paddles. But maybe not all Ouse keys are the same?

I have an intermediate stage which is when the black sack comes into use - it goes in the bow locker until the size when added to will no longer fit through the lid. That's when it ends up in the bow well :-)

Many narrow locks have bridges across the tail (bottom) end that prevent you "stepping off with the centre line" when going up and similar problem when going down. So you have to do things differently! Not so true on the BCN though!

The bits about technique when single handed - yes, narrow locks :-)

This is true going down. Gates are a pain :-) Going up you use the boat to open the bottom gates. When the lock is nearly full, ensure the boat is against the top gate and put in gear. The boat opens the gate when level is made while you drop paddles and walk to the back of the boat. Power boat slowly out of lock and as just passing gate put into reverse, step off and close gate. If you get it right the boat slowly motors back to you so you can step on and off you go :-)

Everyone who is single handed will have their own method of doing locks. I do exactly as you have described when going up. If the lock is not empty, I leave the boat against the gates and in gear whilst I wind paddles and usually have plenty of time to get back on the boat before the gates are ready to open, I let the boat slowly drift into the lock having stepped off below and made my way lockside. If you get it right the boat just touches the front when you have closed gates, dropped (wound) paddles and walked to the ground paddle ready to raise :-)

In my youth, when I got hooked, I walked canals (mainly the BCN) with my trusty windlass in hand and offered help at the locks to the few boats I met. Most boaters were happy enough and some were grateful for the help, especially at Aston and Farmers Bridge flights. I have been ccing for a while and have come across "helpers" on various parts of the system, most of whom appear to expect payment for their services. There is Leon on the Northampton arm Rothersthorpe flight "Rob the Lock" on the T&M Stone to Stoke and Caldon Canal A guy whose name I do not know on the Stourbridge 16 A guy whose name I have forgotten ( :-( ) on the S&W south of Stourton down to Stourport. Any others? The guy on the S&W says he does not want any kind of payment and told me he is harassed by CRT who say he should not be operating locks. He also said he only prepares locks (lock wheeling) and never raises/lowers paddles whilst a boat is in a lock unless asked to do so. Are these "helpers" welcome?

I don't think you can expect things on the canals to be the same as the areas you cruise and moor in. For example, how often do you find that you have to travel slowly past a long line of moored boats? Because some people get frustrated with having to travel at tickover for long periods they question why the boats are moored where they are. Long term moorings are kind of acceptable but people mooring long term where they should not (CMers or bridge hoppers) raise the emotions for some. This leads to the debates about what CCing is, how far CCers should travel and what CCers are "getting away with". At least, that is how it appears to me! :-)

I don't know the river well so was wondering how bad this boat situation is? http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/60ft-narrowboat-becomes-wedged-across-7035650