magpie patrick

Carl, I am not dismissing the safety reminder, it was made with respect to the North Eastern Waterways, where I would say it is essential if you don't have VHF to know the signals (and to my mind, it would be wise to have VHF as well, especially on the tidal Trent! I). I am really having a go at those who regard it as foolhardy to venture down the Staff and Worcs without knowing the signals.

For those who are commenting on my post, I do know them, and I navigate the G&S and Severn mainly. The canoes on the G&S don't have VHF and don't know the signals, that's where the loud hailer comes in The gravel barges near Upton couldn't give a flying turd about any signals I make, they make one... "get the f*** out of the way" and I tend to do so. They are not impolite, but a fully laden gravel barge that can go faster than me isn't to be argued with. Just as many of you question my attitude, I question your reluctance to use VHF on such waters. On a narrow canal, there are too many messages you would send if you could for a set of half a dozen relating to your course to be that helpful. Where are the signals for "leave the lock gates open for me, I'm coming through", "I think you are nearer that bridgehole, I'll hold back", "Oi you bustard, that was my lock" and "you do realise there are other boats on this canal do you?"

It's Pont Dwr isn't it? edited to add, Gibbo, the latin is aqua ducere, I blame the conservatives for reducing the word to duct as a cost cutting excercise, saved two letters...

Well, most of you knew we had vague aspirations in this direction, but we've just had an offer accepted on "Juno" a 23 foot viking with mooring at Brassknocker Basin on the Somersetshire Coal Canal... Licensed and moorings paid until the end of the year. Just call me Patrick "two boats" Moss... Ripple will, in the fullness of time, be sold, probably next summer unless any of you want to make us an offer earlier, now, I'm off to find a four wheel drive and trailer...

This bit of your polemic Is badly flawed, to know what "left" or "port" mean for any vessel requires you to know which way the vessel is facing, that is all. No one would say "left" meaning "right" on the basis that they are facing backwards! For the rest of you, I'm sorry, but on, say the Staffs and Worcs the sound signals aren't worth a bucket of warm piss, the speeds are so slow, the vessels so small, that the danger presented by not understanding the intentions of another vessel are minimal. Inconvenience yes, danger no. The notice was issued for the North East Waterways where barges carrying six hundred tonnes, and with a gross weight in excess of 1000 tonnes are about. You need to know what these guys are doing because they'll sink your boat if you get in the way, and ideally you should have VHF for the job.

bit like the world cup final then?

500 boats, 3 main routes there (K and A, GU and Oxford) and I suspect the oxford will take over 50% of it (some of course will come from the Thames only) Chances are the lock in Oxford will see at least 200 boats through it going to the national, or about 3 days worth...

yes but before my time, Nick Holsens 1971 lists it as that, but by the late 70s it was the shady oak

Ah, assuming I've read that right that particular party is in the harbour at Wells... in which case, folks believe me, Phylis partying would be the least of your problems! Wells is tranquil by day, transformed by night

I think, Phylis, that in attempt to keep the argument going, people are looking at obscure angles. To me the point of your picture is that it is a busy urban environment and if you look at the (rather fine) ship in the middle ground it is stuffed with people presumably out socialising I will reiterate my view, if you or anyone else parties in Gloucester Docks and mutes the behaviour at 11pm you are not causing a problem and contrary to what some say you are not being inconsiderate. Do the same thing in the middle of nowhere and the opposite is true. You have told us you don't do the second version and that is good enough for me. Not sure what BW think of BBQ's on a pontoon though, although I'm sure you did no damage! edited because the "ship" isn't wooden, it's iron

Haven't been for donkeys years, It used to have one great attribute, Dad (or later, me) would park the car in their car park, launch the dinghy in the canal for a trip to Bunbury and back, and purchase of a pint secured permission to leave the car in their car park for the day, free of any other charge

I assume that is targeted at Phylis? It is said in response to my post!

PJ, there are two elements to your post that disturb me One, I've just realised that Baldock went around the unStable bar offering Ocelot Spleens for sale, I now have a suspicion that he was actually selling bits of your boat, the spill rail perhaps? Your boat has a daughter that is human... that's definitely a bit odd

since we seem to be boasting (or unboasting) I'll join in all in one day Most on my own, 27 (Tipton Factor 3, Woves 21, top 3 on |S&W Most wide locks 46 (Hatton Top to Calcutt Top, also the most locks without repeating any) Most ever 55 (Smethwick3, Oldbury 6 up and 6 down, Brades 3, Farmers Bridge 13, Aston 11, Perry Bar 13) Biggest Lock... the entrance lock to Preston Docks, which is wider than Ripple is long! Tam and Di, 136 hours in 11 days is some pace!

This is getting tedious, and I'm probably about to make it more tedious, it appears, if I am right, that Phylis is partaking of these events in areas where one might expect a fairly high level of ambient noise, e.g Brayford Pool and the centre of Newark, and they retreat at pub closing time (in fact, some time before these days). She will probably now tell me they also hold them in the middle of nowhere even if there are other boaters around but I hope not. If I moor in Gloucester Docks on the pontoons, there would be little point in me expecting a quiet night until about half an hour after the pubs close. We were the only boat moored in February but still couldn't sleep til midnight as the waterside bar was blaring piped music out (that is recorded, not bagpipes!), worse, it was blaring it out only for the staff's benefit as there were no customers, so if Phylis's lot were to party there it wouldn't be a problem. If however, they party at Gilgol, which is the middle of nowhere and doesn't even have a road nearby, then I'd say loud music at anytime would be anti-social