Tom Morgan

While litterpicking early in my career - found the usual remnants of the local yoofs' "bring a carrier bagful of cans of beer to the tail of the lock, light a little fire and then sit drinking and throwing the empties into the canal." Overreached while bending and reaching to pick the cans out with the grabber. Slid into the canal head first - very gracefully, according to a boater who saw it. Note to self - go back to base and get the rake, next time.

As a CRT volunteer lock-keeper, I wear a life jacket for six or seven hours at a time. You very soon stop noticing that it's there. But when you fall in - properly fall in, head first, as I once did - it's very comforting to feel the "pop" as it inflates and turns you onto your back.

Not a collector, though I do have two. Favourite canal, and the man I have to thank for it.

Thanks, Alison!

Pardon my ignorance - is this Spon Lane, West Bromwich?

Think I saw you go past this morning - we were moored on the 48-hour moorings just opposite the entrance to the Whitchurch Arm.

Obvious, really. His anti-lock brakes must have failed.

Speaking only for myself, I'd be a bit worried about trying to take an unfamiliar boat on such a long journey as my first trip on it. Maybe I'm just over-cautious.

I've got three. One's a long throw one, which came with the boat. It gives great leverage, but won't make a complete circle without hitting the beam on some of the local locks. So I got two shorter ones, one alloy from the Bay of E and one steel (which I bought from the lock-keepers at the Bratch. I think they fish them out during maintenance, clean them up and sell them to raise funds for CRT.)

Stop just before Cookley Tunnel (or just after, as I do with a smallish boat) and walk up to the road. Village centre is just a couple of hundred yards. Cookley Fisheries is among the finest fish and chip shops and there are two good pubs, the Bull's Head and the Eagle and Spur.

I agree. We see this in lots of ways in many aspects of life. People overstay just a little bit. Say, one day. It's only a small transgression, so nobody does anything about it. So lots of people do it and it becomes the (tolerated) norm. So more major transgressions become the new minor transgressions (which nobody does anything about) and people begin to overstay by a lot. Then some people clear a bit of towpath and store their belongings there. Then sheds appear. Many people don't care to police themselves any more. Those in charge ignore breaches of the little rules and get swamped later.

Valid point. (Being dependent on two hearing-aids, I don't notice things like that!)

I would see if you think you have time to get down to Dimmingsdale Lock Moorings. This is a little over 5 miles from Autherley Junction, and there are three locks (not counting Dimmingdale Lock as the moorings are above the lock.) Should take less than 3 hours, I would say. Further than you ask for, boatsandsteam, but the moorings have rings, and they are on the offside of the canal. It's rather remote, so very quiet.

So many mistakes,there in your file, Alan! Buying overplated on the strength of a seller's survey, without a survey of their own, taking an unfamiliar boat out onto the Thames as a first trip, no lifejackets, no insurance. It was a tregedy waiting to happen and they were lucky that they all survived it.