Stroudwater1

The section 106 reforms could be of particular interest then. @IanD no more of these signs then?

Whether CRT or a developer did this it is rather irrelevant (And with the restrictive boating it is probably developers). CRT should have played a close watching brief with the aid of IWA who are usually good at this. I suspect these were all Section 106 / equivalent funding, additional payments by developers to enhance the surrounding area. These could be roundabouts, lighting on roads, schools and the like. It seems that these all were intended to be inclusive of boaters and their needs (To add to the community as generally they do) However the developers appears to have done their bit without allowing boaters to join in once the development has finished . Unless the wording specifically allowed boaters the no engine running, mooring for 3 minutes only or other such nonsense was allowed to be enabled. I would be surprised if the no engines or no boats allowed at Stourport was an agreed stipulation. If the project was overseen by the Council planning department who had no idea of boats their needs etc then finito. Its interesting that Tividale Quays is freely available for boating and mooring. Boaters have been known to turn (quietly) at 4am without issue apart from a couple of pleasant lads who came out and wished us luck. I wonder if the BCNS kept a very close eye on this development maybe? I fear with the even greater no holds barred build houses to get growth policy we are likely to have this could get worse without closer attention to detail.

That looks sadly neglected in Slaithwaite. How was it to steer through there Peter? Interesting how in contrast it’s mown round the tunnel portal. The trouble comes that more invasive plants take over with roots that start to penetrate the edge of the canal. It’s not much of a showcase like that. Bring back this activity, HNC 2nd July 2021. They strimmed many miles just on that day.

Being nit picking now but how can a boater adequately get in and out of that basin when no engines are allowed? It’s not great for poling and bow hauling? Im with Tonka on this. Section 106 or whatever it is now should have been used to allow boats engines on as well as development of the basin. I fear that wasn’t in the agreement but it’s the sort of thing that the IWA were once hot on. The flats are not in the quietest place in Manchester, the A665 Great Ancoats Ring Road dual carriageway is only 100yards or so away. As ever in Manchester we return to the missed opportunities for proper moorings and enhancement of the area.

It’s very possible the previous owners have left them elsewhere on the boat. That’s what happened with us, two nice handcuff keys and three crt keys left on the boat (amongst other things) there are some really nice people around still. If not then it’s worth an ask, as they will have been on the boat probably until sold. If it’s a new boat rarely they may throw them in as a freeby if you ask nicely.

Agree with Alec about the timings , it depends on what time you set off whether you stop for lunch as well as time of year. The “in a rush” comment is unhelpful. It’s hard to rush on a canal, but with thought easy to do locks efficiently saving considerable time. If you don’t stop for lunch and set off early when no one but lovely mist on the canal is around you save time too. That’s not rushing but making good use of limited time due to work to enjoy canals.

I must have missed this, owning a pre 1998 boat thankfully. I’m unclear though why can’t they be fitted retrospectively to a more recent boat? I’ve seen a few younger boats with set ups including an older engine.

Yes 14 days is not difficult to do, wouldn’t say it’s 14+. A nice detour to Marple aqueduct and decent overnight mooring could easily be included. It’s fairly difficult to do it in more than 14d without just tootling TBH due to the need to do lock flights in a day and the limited mooring on the Huddersfield. The only limiting thing is synchronising available tunnel and lock 1E bookings and the likelihood of closures due to sudden repairs/ water shortages. Sadly it’s not at all popular

Quite a few Rally’s sell second hand ones too, canal society’s especially to raise funds (thanks @Jen-in-Welliesfor the Huddersfield link) The shop by Braunston bottom lock sells new ones. The nicest ones though usually are from attending events. Quite a few have the plaque included in the fee for taking part.

That’s impressive from the BCN 😂 Meanwhile up North we moored over a group of 6 attached together and another two loose that we put back in Stalybridge Tescos. Not sure if they noticed them. The six were too heavy to lift out. Sadly there didn’t seem to be any coins in them. However this may near to a record at Marple lock 3. It’s near to Asda. All were squashed by boats descending. Retrieved by a magnetfisher.

Looks very good. The pessimist would at least be reassured that it can be used as a mirror if it falls off.

Thanks David, as you know the restoration of the channel was quite extensive in places. IIRC it was carried out by the Upper Avon Trust but could be wrong on the name. I hadn’t appreciated the EA had taken that on. Perhaps it was a given as a river. Rather fortunate for the ANT!

It would be interesting to compare their funding to CRTs per mile. The impression is of a highly productive and responsive Avon Navigation Trust in comparison

Strangely shillings were still in use for many years after decimalisation. They were schillings in Scotland. I hadn’t realised they stopped being legal tender only in 1990 but do remember them being around in the late 1970s. They were the same size as the 5p piece originally. I do remember using 6d bits also well into decimalisation, they went out in 1980. Looks like they are still currency in some African countries , Kenya Tanzania. It was also currency in Austria pre Euro so up to 2002. The sixpence was the price of a second class stamp in 1971, 2 1/2p. Like many things the price rocketed at decimalisation. The price of a second class stamp went up from 3d to 6d. Now it’s 85p @IanD how’s the rudder been performing this year?

Why never again Dukinfield to New Mills? It’s not particularly difficult on that section other than the occasional tree down and so forth. New Mills area is lovely. Apart from goose poo Stalybridge isn’t too bad either. The only trouble we had was at the bottom of Diggle (pretty shallow there) the guillotine lock and some fabric on the prop in Huddersfield.

It looked like some smoke at the other end. I forget some of these old diesels are pretty smoky TBH. This one was smoky at Minehead recently (the one on the left)

Take an umbrella whatever you do. The habit of chucking beer in the air when England score is antisocial- horribly sticky and smelly. Plus what a waste. Almost as bad as the champagne sprayers at formula one. Pass me the humbugs, cheers, bah.

What has age got to do with it? Some are good drivers, some will never be good. Same with boaters. You either get it or not. That’s more to do with various aptitudes unrelated to age.

I believe Sir Nigel Gresley was the locomotive on the front end wasn’t s/he with the diesel on the back? I’m not sure but there were mutterings of it being a mandated thing a while ago . The photographers are in effect having two bites of a photo cherry with these older diesels at the rear, looking like they are at the front end!

It’s best to do test trials but I suspect you would scrabble quicker in a panic by putting into neutral than finding and turning a key. Adrenaline has horrible effects one of which can make people shaky in their limbs. Its a moot point for us as the ignition is in the engine room. We do have an emergency one but the flywheel continues to rotate for a while anyway. Each trip I do a surprise test for others on board to put the engine into neutral.

It’s a thought, will that prove a hinderance to reversing though? Suddenly as well as concentrating where you are going, you are bent over pushing the control too? It could make it more likely to topple over by hitting a bank when looking at the control for example. Not all are near the tiller. I can see some folk putting a piece of elastic on to hold the control open. Bought a secondhand hedge cutter recently where the hand safely control was taped shut. Same with lawnmowers.

Hi it deepens on the canal The Trent and Mersey between Shardlow upwards to Middlewich probably fits that bill of village/pubs/ towns more. However it’s always good to have a couple of nights worth of planned food as even if found many pub moorings are quite busy. Most canals will have pubs and villages though, the Shropshire Union does and the Worcester and Birmingham in parts. Rivers less so, but there still are nice places on most rivers for villages and pubs. Most boats are similar as they follow the pattern of fitting people in with bunk beds etc. A couple of the smaller hire firms have more upmarket boats. This includes Armada, Cafwen cruises (near to you in Droitwich) Napton hire boats (a larger firm) and one that @IanD And Ditchcrawler reminded me, Aqua. Im not sure if any have bow thrusters. It’s not essential at all, and rarely if ever needed if your navigation skills are good. Develop your skills as you are “only a hire boater” but truth is many owners are worse than many hire boaters at navigating. You are probably better off choosing the canal first then the hire boat. I think Cafwen boats get booked fast as one is all electric. Coincidentally I had a friend live in Lypiatt Court Cheltenham years ago.

So was the late David Trimble a boat owner for some years. https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/lord-trimble-paddles-his-own-er-narrowboat/28061221.html The late Jo Cox alas murdered also owned a lovely barge moored up on mooring pontoon on the tidal Thames.