Tim Lewis

American tourist in Dudley - he must have been well lost! Tim

The towpath on the Southern Oxford was in a terrible state last year in terms of being overgrown, so much so that BW made an apology and scaked the contractors. Not been down it this year though. Tim

The cloths cost about £1600 at 2006 prices, no lettering. A few pictures of us replacing the cloths here. Tim

On Fulbourne we had always used black canvas from which we tended to get about 5 years useful life. The last time we went to replace them we could not find anyone supplying black canvas for love nor money although I believe that you can still get green ones. In the end we went down the synthetic route and used a material called Regentex. We got it made up by a black country firm call DH load Controls, details here I believe that Kildare has cloths made from the same material, bothboats should be at the Braunston event if you want to check out the material. Tim

There is an article about the opening including a couple of good aerial shots at: http://www.nce.co.uk/5203248.article Tim

Thee are reidential moorings at Sneyd, don't recall seeing any other moorings on the canal. A few pictures from the recent BCN Marathon Challange at: http://www.pbase.com/timlewis/2009_bcn_mar...ge&page=all Tim

Have posted a few pictures of the opening and the trip back up the Regents Canal here. Enjoy Tim

Yes it is GSK House, I was involved in its construction. Tim

BW paid for transporting boats when the stoppage overrran whilst constructing the current North Circular Road aqueduct over the Paddington Branch, can't remember how many or for how long. Tim

Have posted a few photos from the weekend at: http://www.pbase.com/timlewis/2009_bcn_mar...ge&page=all Enjoy Tim

Archimedes is still trading paired up with Butty Ara and is in a blue livery. Not sure about lots of Archimedes, JIm Sheads site list eight registered boats called Archimedes, none of the others being working boats. Tim

A friend of mine has a boat with a 12mm bottom - it is a bugger to manhandle! Tim

Having regained my sense after being absolutely knackered from the weeksnd I realise that it wasn't the Cannock extension we went up but the Anglesea Branch. It did mean that I got to see my second favourite bridge name of the weekend: Why do they bother? Tim

Last couple of times that I have moored in SOT has been at Westport Lake just North of Etruria, a very safeand popular overnight mooring but slightly lacking in beer token spending facilities. Seen many boats moored at Festival Park and at Etruria. Tim

Time to get the bitumastic paint out! Tim

We got up there, unfortunately having to drag Fulbourne through every bridge hole made us late so we abandoned getting to Walsall! Tim

It's open now! Tim

I will admit that we didn't actually get to end of the Bradley arm, we gave up about a quarter of a mile passed the last winding hole after stopping three times in a hundred yards to clear the prop (Fulbourne doesn't have a weed hatch - Sob), we then had to stern haul it back to the winding hole as the weed made it pointless trying to use the engine. We almost turned back at Wednesfield as we were finding it impossible to get past the site of a new bridge being constructed but were eventually pulled through by a combination of Atlas and a small private narrowboat. Oh the shame! - A bit later we passed a dedger on its way to clear the obstruction :-( but even they were struggling. Tim

We got so far behind schedule on the Saturday doe to a weeded up Bradley Arm and the bottom being too near the top at the bridgewowks at Wednesfield that we gave Walsall a miss, the organisers were aware of this. Photos to follow but don't hold breath as I took far too many and I've run out of round tuits for the time being! Tim BN Fulbourne

We counted 17 bollards at Perry Barr Bottom Lock! Tim

There is also a Trupp on the Thames & Severn canal but the canal is not yet in Water - hopefully not too long though. Tim

Went last year, not the biggest event but a good little local festival. Tim

I couldn't possibly comment! Tim Having done many BCN Challanges in Fulbourne I can categorically state that you dont't win anything racing a three foot draught boat around the BCN! Tim

Fulbourne will be taking part, probably starting from Deepfields, look forward to seeing some of you. Tim