RLWP

Before I had a 'proper' twelve point offset socket, I used one out of a set like this: https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-crows-foot-imperial-wrench-set-8-piece/ Slightly more faff as you may have to keep turning the 'spanner' over as you tighten. Otherwise, works fine Richard

What you can't work out though is how the points break down. If you've got the route planner you can get your target score for boating. You can't tell how many points you are going to get for clues answered as they are only 'revealed' on the day* Richard *Unless you cheat and look at the sealed pack beforehand

The reason is - I can't remember what our winning scores were from when we competed. We've probably got the results from 2019 somewhere if Sue can find them. And as you say, we change the points and finish point each time, and vary the number of 'quiz' questions and photo opportunities. So it varies a lot from year to year I wonder what the top score was in the year that Factory locks held up a whole line of teams, including some of the 'competitive' ones? Richard

To be honest, Andy, it won't help you much. If you are going to have a go, best bet is to plan as carefully as you can and don't try to do too much. A stuck lock or a slow boat can blow a split-second plan to bits Richard

Not as far as I know. I asked about this recently elsewhere Richard

I'm waiting until Sue Gray reports

<sigh>I'm getting all nostalgic. Happy days

Email problems and Cheshire~Rose - that's new...

Personally I prefer: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=52.59680&lon=-2.08730&layers=6&b=1 Richard It's a similar problem with canoeists, maybe there could be 'campsites' e.g. Ocker Hill Richard

Awww, your belief in us is touching - if misguided.... We're at the 'wouldn't it be a good idea to include walkers!' stage. Nikki and John informally walked part of the challenge a few years back, so we counted them in as competitors. That's as far as we have got - it needs a proper think if walkers are to be competitive in some overall BCN Challenge Winner thing. Clearly having a walking category with it's own Golden Boot is possible There's another can-o-worms I'd like to open at some point which is canoeists. Equally as difficult to work out Richard

We've already co-opted Andy for other purposes Richard

Yes, you would be a 'proper' contestant - only the third from memory It's something that needs developing really. We haven't got a plan for people walking parts of the BCN that cannot be navigated by boat, and I think we should have. It needs someone to push the boundaries a bit and se where we end up Richard

We could have exactly the same multipliers on each section every year. We don't because it is likely to favour experienced crews who know the ins and outs of the competition. We change the points per section to mix up the routes each time And I don't have any evidence that the W&E is more in need of moving boats than any other part of the BCN - the Tame Valley section above Newton junction for instance. If you can have information on boat usage and maintenance need that could help with planning the competition I'd be interested to see it Richard

Not on Tawny! That's what all the crew are taken along for - bowhauling Richard

Hi Laurence, that would be an HW2, and it's going to be too big for Erebus's engine hole Richard

There's a braided hose coming out of the top of the tank Richard

No, we haven't sent out the forms yet, you haven't been missed out! Richard

It's getting good at that! Richard

My understanding is, if the chamber inserts are loose, you cannot skim the head. If you leave them in, they interfere with the tool tip. If you leave them out, they stand too far off the face of the head when you put them back in and the gasket will blow around the inserts. Richard

Where are the three missing combustion chamber inserts? Richard

It is the latter, of course Richard Is it possible to swim in the stuff at the bottom of Ryders Green? Richard

That'll be because she hasn't sent it yet! Richard

We are wondering if your email account is somehow bouncing emails with multiple recipients. I'll get Sue to send you an individual email Richard

Hi Jan, your email address is bouncing messages back - could you let us have it again to be sure we have it right Richard