Tim Lewis

From the Staffs & Worcs last weekend: Tim

It made page 4 of the Times along with an article by Libby Purves describing her days digging with WRG! Tim

Except that this is not an extreme example, they are on every River Nene lock. It would only take one BW bod to make an edict, as it would appear to have happened with the cill warning signs, to make sinilar signs to appear at every lock in the country! Tim

See Press Release for update from BW Tim

There was once a tidal barrier on Bow Creek itself but if I remember correctly it was dismantled in the 1980's. Tim

re As Patrick has said before Bow Locks (careful how you say it) were rebuilt as one lock with outer gates facing both ways tides would push the gates open and fill the poud to the top level of the tide. The rebuilding has stopped this (I was told that the very highest tides will overtop the new lock and the raised bank protection but I have never witnessed this). There was also a small weir behind the House Mill on the Three Mills Wall River where the tide would overflow into the navigation but this was raised at the same time as the locks were rebuilt, a new weir has just been built here as part of the Prescott Lock works (BTW the not yet finished Prescott Lock has just been renamed 'Olympic Lock') One of the major problems before the rebuild was that as each tide came in it bought with it silt which was deposited in the canal as the tide receeded. In the days of commercial traffic the pound was reguarly dredged but when this traffic stopped dredging was sporadic making major problems for the navigable channels and making the Bow Back Rivers (a remainder waterway) as good as unavigable. Recent dredging should have made this a problem of the past! Tim

Have been asked for advise on buying a second hand boat, i seem to recall that there was a thread recently giving some useful advise - can anybody point me in the right direction Tim Edited to say that I would like to change the thread title to buying a second hand boat but don't know how to/if you can

As others have said the rules changed a year or so ago, the transit rule not requiring you to have VHF only applies if you are only doing the Brentford to Teddington section If you go out early enough from Limehouse there will be no need to punch the tide, we rarely travel on much more than tickover on the interesting bits just to get more out of the experience! Tim

Normal visitor fees are: Here although I imagine that the moorings will be at a premiun for this weekend so best ring them first! Tim

I don't know how many times you've enterted limehouse lock from the Thames but I have a few times and it has never been easy. The one time have been on when an inexperienced steerer attempted the 'torpedo' method was probably the scariest moment of my boating life, it was only an experienced steerer grabbing the tiller and taking over that saved us from a very serious accident. I have also known experienced steerers cock up the entrance when approaching from downstream (one of the dents in the upstream wall is ours! ) Just judging the point at which you trurn into the tide is not easy - I have seen boats swept down towards Canary Wharf before they have managed to turn. By all means talk to the lock keepers but remember that they do not have a good view of what is happening upstream. If you are inexperienced on tidal waters take the advise given and do the trip out of Limehouse, it will be one of the highlights of your boating career, don't make it one of your scariest. Tim

We to went over the Rochdale Canal soon after it opened, it is a wonderful canal! A few pictures: http://www.fulbourne.org.uk/rc0802/Index.html http://www.fulbourne.org.uk/rc0902/Index.html Tim

I would also agree about the route, we have had a couple of scary moments getting into Limehouse whilst Limehouse to Brentford/Teddington is a doddle. As others have said you will need VHF if you are over 45' and on your own, the PLA regs are at: http://www.pla.co.uk/display_dynamic.cfm/i...site/navigation Also worth checking your insurance, ours states that we must make the journey in company with another boat. Also BW, IWA and SPCC have produced tideway guides which are recommended reading. A few pictures of Fulbourne on the Tideway: http://www.pbase.com/timlewis/excel_trip_january_2006 http://www.fulbourne.org.uk/th0506/index.html http://www.pbase.com/timlewis/protest_crui...07&page=all Enjoy yourself - its prob the most exciting trip you can make on a canal boat! Tim

I remember when the residential moorings at Battlebridge basin went up for sale in the early Nineties for £35K (Can't remember the length of the lease) and people were astounded at the price With the Ice Wharf moorings (at the other end of the basin) now going for 7K per annum theres a lot of people wishing they'd paid the 35K!! Who knows what 70k will look like in 25 years? Tim

The boat size is no problem for locks and navigation. What you shouldn't expect to do is find an easy mooring at 'honeypot' sites such as Henley and Windsor but this applies to any size boat. Enjoy yourself, the Thames is one of my favourite bits of cruising on the system. Tim

I think you are confusing yourself or confusing others. As calamity has mentioned you do not need to go via Salters Lode and the tidal Ouse to get to the Nene (you can do this of course by going out at Salters Lode and back into the Tidal Nene but I would suggest that this is only for experienced boaters and with the assistance of a pilot) Going by the more sensible non tidal route via Stanground sluice a fit crew doing long days could possibly do Northampton and back from Ramsey in a week but a more sensible week would possibly be Ramsey to Irthlingborough and back. Tim

Not found the tube train one but here are a couple from Canalway Cavalcade in 1989. Looks like Fulbourne is about to run it down! Tim

The area before Froghall Tunnel has been considerably rebuilt over the last few years with a hard towpath edge and gabion walls to the winding hole. There is no way that A 70 foot boat will turn there now. Tim

Picture from a couple of years ago of the boats at the side of the pub access road.

http://www.whenlondonbecame.org.uk/new_page_9.htm It's also a good site for exploring the Canal. Tim

Having had to hand start on our normally electric start DM2 on Fulbourne recently and knackering myself I would say that electric start is a definate selling point! However the asking price is not. Tim

Best Black Prince I've seen on the Canal! Tim