Mac of Cygnet

There was frost on the roof this morning. But the river looked so beautiful that I put on my padded jacket, winter trousers, wooly hat and wellies and went out to take some pics. And then went back to bed An hour later the scene was very different but just as beautiful: And there was a cuckoo. Mac

Moored today against the large field below Halfpenny Bridge, Lechlade, assuming it was the EA mooring, but was pursued across the field this evening by a chap with a small child, two dogs and a large herd of cows to demand £4. Where exactly is the (free) EA mooring in Lechlade? OK, I know £4 is only numbers, but it sort of took the gloss off Lechlade, which I thought perfect. In addition, can anyone point me to the very useful thread from a few months back about mooring on the Thames? I meant to bookmark it, but of course forgot. It would be extremely useful on my journey down the river. Mac Mac

If they exist - most of the C&H locks don't have steps. And even if they do, I've come to the conclusion that I'm safer climbing a ladder than stepping off onto a set of slippery overgrown steps - at least I've got both hands holding as well as feet. I wear a pair of rigger gloves for slippery rungs.

It's not so much the walkways and bridges - there are ways of circumventing them - but the shape of the lock tail of big locks, especially giving onto rivers, makes it unavoidable to use a ladder. Having said that, of the 200-odd locks I've been through since April, I've only had to descend about 3 or 4 ladders (I don't mind climbing them).

Oi! I like churches, tho' not religious. If it weren't for Nicholsons I wouldn't have discovered several real gems, such as at Wolfhampcote, very near Braunston. You can't please everyone, but I think they've got it about right, give and take some inaccuracies mostly due to the changing scene. If you compare them to the awful Imray Guides to the East Anglian waterways, for example, then you'll really appreciate Nicholsons. Mac Edited to add to Lady M : I met a canoeist who had a map of all the canoeable waterways of England & Wales. It was from the British Canoe Federation (?)

Where does the wind go at night? Yesterday was blowing a gale, but died down in the evening. I deliberately set off at 6.30AM, when there was hardly a whisper, in order to get somewhere before the wind got too intolerable. Sure enough, by the time I got here (Radcot, upper Thames), it had increased to uncomfortable levels. So what happens at night? Any meteorologists out there? It's a well-known (but not infallible), phenomenon, utilised by balloonists among others. Mac

Just learned from the back of a beermat (where else?) that Waterstones are selling Nicholsons Guides at half price. I just had a look, and it really is half price, as it's free delivery. Only online, until end September. You need the promotional code, which is BL3682. Mac

Looked at Metcheck this morning and they had a RED alert for Northwest Scotland, amber for the rest of Scotland and parts of Ireland, but nothing at all for England and Wales. This for tomorrow. But I gave up and battened down the hatches this morning after an hour on the upper Thames. Oddly enough, they forecast the wind to actually drop tomorrow round here, which seems unlikely. But it's to stay pretty windy all week - so much for my idyllic potter up the river!

Well I am local and use the canal a lot, but like Daniel I've just used various suitably sized bits of wood or metal. I wouldn't think 2by2 deal would last very long, though - I bent a length of 1" square section steel from my market stall trying to work Cromwell Lock a few years back, and they haven't got any easier. Mac

Edited to say that in the thread referred to, most people thought dogshit going into the canal was OK Mac

C&H, Huddersfield Broad & Narrow, Peak Forest, Macc, T&M, Coventry/Birmingham & Fazely, Oxford North & South. Does that count as a trip? Yes, the weather has been generally very kind.

That's all right, then. Means the water doesn't splash about. Sorry! Coat

Well TBH I only use a centre line when I'm in a (wide) lock by myself. In fact, being singlehanded with a 27ft boat, I use a centreline even in narrow locks (and centre bollards too, if present! ) because Cygnet will often end up out of reach of the ladder when going down. But I believe I'll be obliged to use two ropes on the Thames, which is where I've nearly reached.

Have you only been on narrow canals, then? If you were in a steel boat and it got swung about while the lock was filling, at the very least you could be bashed against the side, and any plastic boats in the lock with you would object strongly.

I'm moored next to Maffi's boat. Dunno where he is. Tried hard to include at least one of the various 'No Mooring' notices, but couldn't manage it. Edited to say he did eventually turn up - and Bones, too!

It would solve all the problems if a back-pump could be installed from below Lock 1, as this is a very long pound and large basin and its own feeder from the river further down. This would need about 200 yards of pipe, however, and a pretty large pump to pump it up 40ft. I just can't see it happening. Nigel at Shire has quite a bit of influence, but I don't think even he can conjure money out of thin air.

What's special about the windlass, then? I'll be heading down that way and have quite a selection of windlasses, including Middle Level and an ancient single-eye thing.

I just love these totally opaque electrotechie threads. It's like reading the Classic Tractor magazines my neighbour insists on giving me.