Wanderer Vagabond

I've still got that 'teenager' inside who thinks he can still do that sort of thing the effect was rather lost however when some young sprog on the side of the pool said, rather loudly,"You look like a seal coming ashore". I was going to say,"Would you like a slap little boy?" but thought better of it

I would guess you'll be coming past us at Westport Park, Stoke on Trent then if you are heading up the Macc. We're here until Monday as we've booked the 9.00am slot through Harecastle.

Back during lockdown I went swimming in the Great Ouse at Ely (all swimming pools except Jesus Green Lido at Cambridge were shut). Getting back out wasn't too problematical, although I'd had the opportunity to work out how I was going to get out before I got in. When I finished swimming I then stood on the skeg in front of the rudder, then climbed up onto the rudder and finally onto the back button before getting onto the back deck. I'm not saying it was dignified, but it worked

Whilst I accept that it probably sounds a bit counter-intuitive but on my 'training' sessions getting out of the swimming pool onto the side without using the ladder, I often make a bigger mess of it when it is a pool where the water is level with the side. Swimming to the side, catching hold of it and hauling myself up (usually in the deep end) onto my elbows and then clambering out seems to work better when the side is 6 - 9 inches above the water level. Don't ask for an explanation 'cos I haven't got one, it just seems that is the case🤔.

The problem is that if you cannot swim, 3 feet of water is plenty enough to drown in. You start wading towards the side and trip over a shopping trolley and go under, for a non-swimmer that is enough of a shock to start total panic, particularly if they ingest a mouthful/lungful of water. As others have identified panic is the main killer when drowning, logic doesn't enter into it. Anecdotally I was at a lock, I can't remember which canal but it must have been a broad lock, when a little old lady (about 75 years) came up and asked for me to wait for her husband who was coming up in a boat behind us (I'd already seen him and was waiting anyway). She lent forward so that she could see under the bridge below the bottom gates to wave to her husband to indicate we were holding the lock for him. She then lost her balance and pitched head first into the lock entrance. Fortunately she was wearing an automatic lifejacket that inflated immediately. My first question to her was,"Can you stand up?" but no matter how many times I tried, it just wasn't registering with her, she continued to splash around (although safely supported by the lifejacket). Getting her back out of the water was a whole different issue. Being quite elderly when I tried to pull her up by her arms, she screamed in pain, so that idea was out. Much the same when a couple of others came along to try to assist (it was about 15 - 18 inches down to the water). We eventually got her out when I utilised a tarpaulin that I had on the boat roof covering a tandem that we had. Two of us on each end, allowed the tarpaulin to sink beneath her then hauled her out on what was essentially a 'hammock'. It is a method also used in sailing utilising the sails. The big issue is always how to get out of the canal, I try to 'train' for this every time I go swimming (once a week) by always getting out of the pool without using the ladder. Whether it would be as effective getting out of a cold canal having swallowed a load of canal water is subject to debate, but as long as the side is no more than about 9 inches I think I probably/possibly can. On a slight tangent, for those who know the Staffs & Worcs above Autherley Junction, there is a narrow section near to Fordhouses Park where, whenever I have gone along there I've thought,"If someone fell in here, how on earth would they get out again?" the embankments are sheer and about 3 feet high. The section is about 400 metres long and the only way I could see for getting out would be to wade to the end, but then I don't know how deep it is, you might need to swim.

You really like to live dangerously don't you?

Have to say that I'm kind of puzzled on this one. CRT don't have the authority to close the road, which is what they seem to be doing (and have done again) but all they need to do is apply for a statutory Emergency Road Closure Order (have they done this?). Once they've done this they can block the road with builder's bags full of sand if they want to, and motorists will have a job moving them out of the way. From a personal perspective I'd like to know whether the canal is open or shut since my current route takes me through there next week (Thursday?) so if it is open it needs to stay that way.