mykaskin

I wouldn't go down the Oxford if I were you: For my money, GU, North Oxford, Cov, Trent and Mersey, Staffs and Worcs, Shroppie. Shroppie locks have to be at least 72 feet, loads of room. Staffs and Worcs locks will be tightest for length but no bother uphill anyway. Lock length is only an issue on the BCN and then only odd ones.

I would repeat what Neil said about doing the Driffield Navigation while you're up the River Hull. It's Beverley Beck BTW, not Beverley Canal. Timing are fun for the River Hull, talk to a local who is used to narrowboats. You also need your wits about you, and to understand how to deal with fast flowing tidal rivers of which the Hull is often narrower than many canals. Along with an anchor at the bow, having a mud weight at the stern would also be advisable. Have a read of my trip here: http://hnbc.org.uk/sites/default/files/newsletter/2010-1-page4-hull-high.pdf Not a trip to be made lightly, but if you know your onions then it's an interesting run. I'd also advise that weather will be against you at that time of year, and waiting for a weather window isn't always easy for a Humber crossing. If in doubt night time crossings are often calmer, but then you have more navigation to worry about (counting flashing rates and looking for light ships against the bank lights takes some doing even when you know the area!). Cheers, Mike

You can "run" the stop lock at Dutton (without the run up BTW), and I have no problem in believing a loaded boat could push through 1-2 foot of drop on a gate assuming the friction wasn't too great against the mitre posts while the bottom gates slammed shut again and reduced the head. The biggest problem, of course, is getting both stuck at the same time! Otherwise eventually the lock would make level and off you go again! Oh, and to answer the original question, eventually the levels would equalise to a point roughly the same as before the river was made navigable. Mike (not that one, the other one).

Ditto - helps shut the gate behind you too...

Actually look very serviceable, the split beams will probably last a good few more years, the doors look fairly good above the water. I've used gates that looked like this in the 80's and worked better than many new ones! Mike

The centre of canals tend to have a hard bottom where prop wash has removed the silt. I assume this isn't hardened clay, but actually the bed of the canal? Tends to be around 4-5 feet deep on most canals. Interestingly Bradshaws show completely wild depth readings for canals. Staffs and Worcs has lock cills at 3' 6" yet Bradshaws showed 4.5 ft IIRC! There are two important parts of dredging for a canal. Channel depth and channel cross section/width. The Ashby has a narrow channel but for the most part quite a good depth in the middle. Cheers, Mike Ps. I was drawing 3' 3" over full width and length when I took gravel from paddington to Mancetter. The pounds were down at least 2 inches and some cases 6 inches on the GU and still got through. I was at the limit on the Oxford and Coventry canals, 4 inch and 2 inch down respectively.

Last run before Christmas, setting off from Whittington this morning, should be around Great Haywood tonight, then up to Stone, then back down reaching Coven by Friday night and then off to Market Drayton for Saturday. Please call 07414 707110, or stop me and buy some ...and here is a little video of my trip down the locks in Birmingham helped by some friends: Cheers, Mike

Love to try this!

I think she was nearly flat out, but there would be more if I over rode the governor. About 6.5 mph through the water I think. The tug, Major, that I'm filming from has a 110 hp 6L3 in it, and only managed 11 mph Mike

Interesting, as the most comments I've had from people think it burns too hot and melts the grate... it does seem that horses for courses when it comes to coal and stoves. I'm sure there is rhyme and reason for it all, but at the end of the day, you need to find the fuel that best burns in your fire. I know that doesn't help, but try a bag of each type. Homefire Ovals are good, but then they are also the most expensive. Cheers, Mike

To give you some idea of what the narrowboat version of them royalty plans look like in it's natural environment have a look at my video: Cheers, Mike

While bridges may open, there are other fixed structures that cross canals, for example electricity pylons, which will limit maximum headroom. If there are no stoppages and the staff are working when you want to go through there should be no problems up to the height indicated. Larger vessels may have to book, so it will depend on the size of your boat some what. Cheers, Mike

Victoria is now on the Shropshire Union at Brewood heading towards Norbury Junction, and then heading back to Fradley before heading back to Wolverhampton over the next week. Call 07414 707 110 if you need anything. Now got 13kg gas to sell too. Cheers, Mike

I really wish I could remember what the measurement was on Archi, but if she's only 2'10" on, then no wonder she's way faster than Vicky!! Mike

Normal water conditions on the Nene, and most rivers shouldn't really cause you a problem. However for lively or tidal rivers, understand the following: You can hold your boat in position on the water at very slow speeds, but the water will take your boat where it's going. If thats not where you want to be you need speed through the water. The speed of the moving water adds to your speed, and so obviously it can become a high speed danger. However, the faster you move through the water the less the rivers effect is in controlling your direction. Going around corner, remember to turn early (even well before the corner when travelling dead-slow) otherwise the water may throw you into the bank. The Ouse tends to be an exception to this, where there is a heavy flow back into the center on the outside corners. Don't cut corners on rivers, they are deepest on the outside of bends mostly. Watch where the flow of water goes, thats the deepest bit. Understand ferry gliding, not only possible upstream, but used downstream you can then place your boat anywhere on the river. Obviously on a high flow rate, or tidal river, you would have to be reversing at a good pace so practice this on still water first. In larger faster flowing rivers like the tidal Ouse through Selby, if negotiating a bridge or narrows, then it may be prudent to stem the flow (turn the boat into the flow), and then go slower than the flow to continue your journey. Use ferry gliding skills to position the boat. When turning the boat, remember that you will need a lot of space because at times you will be going sidewards along the river. Where it's safe to do so, you can use the bank to hold the fore-end in place when turning against the flow, and where really safe it's posible to turn the boat to go with the stream again by putting the stern aground - only to be done in known conditions otherwise you could get stuck. When going between water moving at different rates realise that your speed through the water can be a dramatic change, especially if the lock is close to the moving water, and you could be going faster than you realise. Different bits of boat in different speed flows can only turn or roll the boat. Ensure all items are stowed away properly (at all times, even on the canal). I've probably forgotten many things, but gives you some idea. Cheers, Mike

Done: Also, check out this Album I took this morning: Cheers, Mikey

I run an events calender on Google that I use to plan my movements, every time I know of an event it gets put on. You can link it to your own calender on Google and use it for planning. I add events on where I think I need to be on cirtain dates so I can see how it fits into the events - should be slightly easier for me this year now I'm boating full time! lol http://tinyurl.com/ukcanalevents Alan - you're not going to the Tug do at BCLM next year then? Cheers, Mike

Does that mean it's the last FMC boat, or were there later ones? Mike

Yes, a lovely lady, and we chatted about Victoria (known as Linda to her) a couple of times as I went through. More past passing... Mike

It was foggy this morning when I left Stone, but by the time I reached the top of Meaford the light wind had blown it all away. I reached Stoke nice and early, just as the rain started to fall, and I'm now moored up near the Toby Carvery (and completely full!). I'm heading back to the Stone/Meaford pound tomorrow, so if anyone wants any smokeless coal then give me a shout. Cheers, Mike 07414 707 110 http://www.facebook.com/nb.Victoria

Yep, I do believe they are lock counters. Mike

Indeed - too much water!!!! Not sure why they had to close the flights though - even if they are running water a sign, or volunteer could be put to good use. Mike

The bang, crash, wollop way. The only proper way single handed or mob handed is to let the boat find it's own way in under power, and then strap (stop) the boat with careful increase of the paddle until it comes to gentle rest on the cill (done this 4 times in this lock over the years with a very light kiss on the cill because it's so controllable), and then shut bottom gates and lift both ground paddles smoothly to full height. Easy. Mike

Even with ladders today, it's often easier to use a gate line, then stop the boat outside the lock to close up and shut down when you're on your own. Mike