mykaskin

Hi, I made a video about Cowley Lock while it was empty, and explained what you asked. I knew I'd got the information from somewhere - must have been from this book. Basically, any boats bringing the companies water with them as they descend, took the water into the Paddington Arm. It was known where the boats came from when the toll ticket was inspected at this spot. Any boats not having come from above probably Berkhampstead but I can't find any information about it would have been using river water which would have normally ended up in the Colne had a boat not used it, so at this point it was returned to the river. Why it was important to keep the water in the river at this point can only have been a mill or mills downstream of this point objecting to loss of water. Of by the water - was the photo taken at normal water levels - It looks a little low from the tide mark, but I can see from your photo the bottom of the paddle surround is just spot on the right level. The video: Cheers, Mike

Are you talking about these layby piles?

Not far from Southend I believe....

Doesn't half go though!

Hi Folks, While not the best example of pair boating, I've recorded part of a trip up the GU we had last weekend. Enjoy: YouTube Clicky to 2 hours of real time video in HD

IA Recordings/Sight Seen have several DVD's available documenting historic canal techniques. It's not directly CRT/BW that were involved, but I believe they helped ensure it was possible to do the recordings, for example re-instating canal furniture, or giving access to their buildings. https://www.iarecordings.org/friends/sightseen/sight_seen_index.html All good stuff. Mike

It gets quite tight in there, especially when unloaded...

In Summer 2007 we had a good amount of water in the Trent: Youtube Playlist Clicky Not for the inexperienced... Mike

Here is a drone video of NB Alton breaking the ice on the embankment at Bollington during the cold snap earlier this year. Enjoy: Youtube clicky Mike

It was plenty deep enough in 2011 for fully loaded boats on the offside, probably better now that the gravel barges aren't pushing it all up the side. Mike

Ah, but if you're in a boat you can go upstream!

I think, but don't know but there seems to be some water control at the end of the arm - I'm guessing there is a weir to hold a level higher than the canal allowing some feed - however it was probably important not to limit the flow, or normally mix the waters maybe even, on the stream for people who used the water downstream...

Wonder no more:

If I've not got my rally's mixed up - it was at Brentford that there were some large 'dinner plate' plaques, and my Dad bought one - don't think I've a picture of it however. There was also a ring plaque to go around the IWA one for people who did the London ring!

Hi Folks, I've had the chance to edit together some video recorded from the 1995 Jam Ole run. It's proper Bolinder porn as Captain Ron Whithey gives it plenty of beans, and of course Trevor Maggs can be seen with Corona. It's two hours long, but worth watching through as you can really see how the canal has changed over the last years. Watch here: YouTube Link Cheers, Mike

A flight up a flight! Enjoy the views over Marsworth locks, and reservoirs. https://youtu.be/72OPhBfo5hQ Cheers, Mike

I think it's Lenny (as in Little Lenny). The engine is something like a 2.2 litre 4 pot modern lump, generating in the region of 50-60 HP. The boat is all swim, and looks like two backends of a square sturned narrowboat back to back under water. I also think that Paul wasn't using the overload pawl...

Hi all, I've been out with my camera again, and filmed some of the events at the Ricky Fest, a nice friendly playlist with all my videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8HwGbPmKqSfEiY2pLCXq7ZA7vRTavYiw Cheers, Mike

This picture also shows my parents boat Rose of Yorkshire following behind. Is it OK if I put it up on my Facebook page please Laurence? That will surprise my Dad!

Hi Guys, A little video of views over Ellesmere Port. I didn't want to get too close due to the general public being on site. Cheers, Mike

A videos from my time working on tugs at great haywood. Just some random moments really: Smaller the boat, greater the fun - so just imagine the fun you can have in a canal tug boat! I happened to be involved with dredging operations at Great Haywood in early 2015. While I was there, I did some filming of the operations. Some of it is a bit shaky as I was concentrating on steering rather than filming! Two tugs were employed on the job. Plover had an ex-Genset HRW3 in her. Thor was IIRC powered by a 3-pot Perkins. The crashing about in ice was the only way to get the flat fronted tug through the thick ice. By setting up a wave ahead to break it first, and then using the bow wave to break the ice into smaller manageable bits. It was a bit rough and ready, but did the job.

A little taste of winter boating: In other news, the Tring summit was well watered, and after a bit of filling had plenty of water down the flight. Even had plenty of water through Berko for a change.

Well, after to speaking with Trevor this weekend about the incident, it went like this. His mate, Nick got off at the junction and went ahead to get the lock ready, Trevor found the top gates still closed, but as he was about to pull in they opened. He navigated in, but had more pace than he had thought (mentioned it's not always easy to judge speed by looking forwards, and looking sideways might be a better way). The boat didn't stop in time, and as I suspected he was wanting to trap the fore-end in the gates so as not to loose it, hence the late breaking. Nothing unusual, just one of them day to day mistakes people make when boating. Cheers, Mike

I've done it with my Dad's 50ft boat before now, but it's not so problematic to stop it where you want!