Unicorn Stampede

Is this now related? https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/23384-tuel-lane-lock-to-bridge-4-longbottom-bridge

I must have blanked that entirely when looking!

Unfortunately I don't know the specifics of depth at the location, my friend sent me the images over WhatsApp after he walked by today. There's no notice on CRT website about an issue, but clearly something is going on. These were taken between Tuel Lane lock and the stretch towards Luddenden Foot. It's unusual to see water level this low along that section (and the wall side doesn't seem to like the lack of water either!) As a side note, I've just seen the bizarre notice of Fuel Theft from a river pump at lock 16. Apparently someone keeps stealing the diesal, which CRT keeps refilling. I assume that isn't helping things on the water front! Edit: Just received this image - it appears CRT is on with whatever the problem is!

Oh, I'm not saying it's good that someone long hauled it for three months. It's just considering they came up past Salterhebble to just moor in winter on the visitor mooring, to then leave 3 months later back down same way, and CRT seemed to do nothing about it. Well, it just gives the notion of not fretting about any potential enforcement.

They did that to us couple of winters back, pointing out that we hadn't moved from Salterhebble in months and they'd cut out license if we didn't start moving. They were right however. Considering we had bought a winter mooring, we indeed hadn't moved... Took a couple of weeks going back and forth till they 'found' our payments and agreed we had paid for a winter mooring... All the while the boat in front of us who didn't have a winter mooring never received a single message. It's absurd the length of time particular boats just hang around the area. I wouldn't be against them actually enforcing it, however they seem reluctant to bother and when they do it's generally done badly (or just incorrect)

You'll be absolutely fine. We spend several months a year along Rochdale and C&H and the enforcement along those stretches are a joke. Some people haven't moved in literal years and others barely bob between Mythmroyd and Salterhebble (or Brighouse/ Elland as the alternative) If it's the 48 hour slot I'm thinking of, someone spent the best part of 3 months on it last Winter - four weeks is nothing.

The water levels dropped a couple of inch in Shipley - gonna take a while for this to recover I reckon

I'm not entirely sure how much the winter stoppages are going to stick in all honesty - they already trimmed the list once. The main stoppage penned in around Skipton, is the closure of canal after the five/three rise. If you're past there, then in theory you could shuffle your way down to Leeds and beyond. There was a four month closure planned on the Aire and Calder but that's been subsequently pulled following the latest winter stoppages update. We are currently locked in around Saltaire and very much wanting to get back around to Calder or Rochdale.

The biggest issue with staying at Hebden from our experience is it's the main turning point for Shire cruisers - last year they would come up en force to the VM, turn around and go back down, which when coupled with Brontë Boats day hire (and a lack of people coming down) meant there were plenty of evenings with very little water in the pound. I'm surprised to see it so quiet from the picture but seems you picked a good time!

You can approach Bingley from either Wigan side, moving at the times when the locks open (be aware there's now not always active volunteers on the Wigan flight) Or you can take the longer route via Manchester > over the Rochdale > down along Calder & Hebble > past Wakefield and back up towards Leeds on the Aire & Calder > then head up from Leeds to Bingley. The alternative route is a long one... There's a fair amount of locks in-between AND you need to ascend the Rochdale which is a trial in itself. I'm unsure if there's any current stoppages on Rochdale, but it does tend to have problems year on year... I'd say if you're gonna do the Rochdale, make sure you get up to the Summit sharpish to avoid any closures that side... I would say enjoy the trek down then to Sowerby Bridge but threat of closures mean you might have to rush it. It all depends if you want to deal with a long trek around - at least you'd have the light on your side!

People don't use the Rochdale, so CRT don't put money into it. CRT won't put money into the Rochdale, so people won't use it It seems reasonable to think if money was put into maintaining (and dare I say, upgrading) the northern canals, more people would use them. As it stands, people know they're a nightmare and that's gotta be off putting for certain boaters. As it stands, I can't recommend going over the Rochdale as is to boaters interested in that stretch. I wish I could, it's really nice up the summit, but going down into Manchester (or coming up) isn't fun and isn't relaxing.

Still £33 for a 13kg bottle at my local hardware store

If it helps, we have a PS4 on board and are CCers - we get about 2-3 hours of play from it when not running the engine. Goes without saying you need to put the charge back in the next day. It's preferably if you can run the engine (or likely in your case, generator) while playing but obviously that becomes harder when you're obeying the limit (assuming you're not near any boats).

Directly from the council when speaking to them via email/phone about booking the dry dock the previous years

parks@calderdale.gov.uk Telephone ‪01422 288002

The two times I enquired about (2019 and 2021) it's availability from the council, I was quoted periods of 3 months to pick from where nothing was booked in (they said I could pick any week in those months), as it's booked on a weekly basis. I will say the 2021 availability was to be taken with a pinch of salt because after discussing potential dates they came back and apologised that it was closed due to H&S (which would explain why no one was booking it ) Maybe people were using it without letting the council know? That might explain why it seems busy but on their records it's not? That's speculation on my part. In 2019 it wasn't that busy - maybe things changed when the first lockdown hit, due to people not being at work (so time to repair etc)

The council owns Hebden bridges dry dock - got multiple email conversations with them about it, as it's been closed for some time due to 'health and safety' measures. I imagine the lack of time to get it repaired was because it wasn't as frequently booked as some people expect. Dave from Brontë Boats went through a period of saying he had control over it because he's set up shop next to it - but he dropped that when it was closed by the council. Apparently he's been putting 'pressure' on them to fix it.

Then simply put, you wait until it's sorted, rather than bolting any of that crap to your vessel Why you'd be grateful for using rubbish is beyond me.

I wouldn't exactly use Kedian as an example, at least not on its own. Having spoken to him, he's clearly very knowledgeable about how he would do it, but the expense is great via his route (from what pricing I got anyway) It does depend @Juliansum where you can also get the boat to, for over plating. As an example for us, we got it done via Gallows Bridge and following that independently surveyed. The surveyor confirmed it was one of the best over plating jobs he'd seen, and the Gallows lads were a stark bit cheaper than Kedian. Sure theres a way to comment on the north/south divide for prices here Regardless of if/where you get it done, ensurw you get confirmation of the steel manufacturer. Avoid anything Chinese if possible, for qualities sake.

To be honest I wouldn't be chuffed if after a heated conversation let's call it, you came back with a phone trying to take my picture... Clearly he shouldn't have swung the windlass, by accident or not, but you can't go shoving cameras in people's faces when they don't want you to, regardless of who they work for. Poor form and the wrong person might remove the phone from your hand without asking...

As a continuous cruiser whose tried to directly avoid marinas I'd actually welcome a toll system. Gives more responsibility for the specific businesses to look after their patch. Might actually see some love for the canals up north as well with actual investment.

Currently out of operation and has been for the last two weeks. Control panel won't turn on so assisted passaged is required via CRT (they have the master switch in the locked control box opposite). You'll need to ring ahead or just sit around and wait till they turn up. Currently there's no stoppage or notice on their website.

We are currently using 60kg every 2 weeks when we don't have any wood. It helps that we have a large shed full of wood that we rotate through each year. We can last about 2 weeks at a time with it when our top box is full. The only down side is the labour, as it's pretty much a full day's work when we are there (to make the most of everything). I couldn't fathom going through that much coal however. In desperation last week due to weather I used some of those compressed saw dust bricks from B&M and they were surprisingly very good, especially for their price.

That's pretty much how I sit and steer