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Chickadee

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Posts posted by Chickadee

  2. Saul to Audlem

    in Holidays Afloat

    Posted

    Well we made it! 114 miles 70 locks most done twice (other than the few wide locks) 7.5 very long days its taken us.

     

    The very last bit late yesterday getting into Nantwich basin was probably one of the most challenging bits.

     

    Thanks to Tony the cratch maker (don't know his second name) who lent us proper cross straps. I wish we'd had them on day one! Made so much better progress with proper ropes!

     

    Now we've got to do it all back the other way but with only one boat. Its going to feel like we're speeding back. :)

  4. Lock crossings safety upgrade

    in General Boating

    Posted

    It has already been pointed out elsewhere that some of the modifications being made make operation more dangerous by single-handers, who prefer to pull their boats in and out on ropes, and who do not wish (or are not able) to climb lock ladders.

     

    Exactly.

    Having just been through towing a boat and I will be returning single handed some of the way. It makes it very dangerous and also encourages people to take risks to get through quicker. I'm 5'3 and some of those locks are deep! I dont want to climb in and out of them if I can help it.

     

    I'll put some pictures up later of the more stupid fencing offs. I guess the guys at BW felt pretty silly putting some of them in.

  5. Saul to Audlem

    in Holidays Afloat

    Posted

    Yep, I'll put some up later.

     

    Frustrating day today had to replace towing line and had it to long to start with. The boats were all over the place. Passed loads of people today to and I keep grounding us trying to make sure I'm out the way in time. Ah well another day of learning!

  6. Saul to Audlem

    in Holidays Afloat

    Posted

    Blimey! good job you didn't see us then. We look like we need rescuing. ;)

     

    We're up to Wolverhampton now. It was hard going from Stourport to here as the canal is so bendy. Took a while for me to get the hang of getting over 100ft of boat round some of the tight bends and working out how to slow down the 60ft boat with my 42ft boat! I've snapped one rope but other than that its been pretty good going and my little boat hasn't let us down... (probably regret saying that!)

     

    We've only seen three or four other boats on the move since Sunday which is good as I can't really move to quick so I just have to stick to one side and hope they work out that i'm towing. I have total respect for working boats that do this kind of thing year in year out.

     

    Doing the staircase locks was interesting i've never done them before so I had to learn how quick and then get the boat with the knackered engine through to.

     

    Can't belive all these fenced off bridges on the Staffs and Worcs canal I'm guessing this is from that kid that died. While its sad that he died I think they've made it more dangerous instead of safer.

  7. Fishermen blocking the towpath

    in Fishing, Cycling and Walking

    Posted

    Argh!! I think this is just the thread I need!! Near the end of a very long day today we came up to a lock somewhere below Wolverhampton where a husband and wife were fishing off the lock landing. They had plenty of chance to move but all they did was take there rods in leaving their keep nets and all their other gubbins right where I wanted to pull in knowing that the lock would probably be against us as we'd passed a boat a couple of locks down. I'm also steering a 42ft boat pulling a 60 something foot boat! I'm not hard to miss and I would have thought quite a concern to someone as I'm heading towards their fishing gear!

    I was all for plowing into their gear when Dad told me to head for the lock mouth and we'd work it out from there. It wasn't just that we'd need to get the boats on the lock landing but we'd need to be able to bring both boats to a stop without tripping over fishing crap.

    My Dad said something to the guy and he said he would have moved. Bit late by the time i'm already right next to you!

     

    The fishermen that fish near my mooring on the G&S love setting up right next to my bloomin boat this is when I've had my fire lit i'd have thought smoke coming out of a boat is a pretty clear indication that someones home. Had one guy set up a tent across the tow path right next to my boat once to. Even though theres a larger space of grass thats not right on the tow path near by. He moved after a few cyclists nearly got taken out by it.

     

     

    Such a long day today I think i'm a bit over tired. :closedeyes:

  8. Saul to Audlem

    in Holidays Afloat

    Posted

    cough, piccies......cough.

     

    I took a few but I've yet to look at them to see if any are in focus. I did video the bore for a bit but not until the actual wave had come under us as it joined us on a corner and took a fair bit of concentration!

  9. Saul to Audlem

    in Holidays Afloat

    Posted

    Well we're on the river. Came out of Gloucester lock and felt like we were hardly going forwards. Such slow going Then once we hit the parting... Wow the bore was fun! All of a sudden woosh! The bore hit and we were off! Loved it! Still scared of the Severn but nice to have a fun run for a change. Fun and games towing another boat but we got there in the end. Just got to work out locks now.

  10. Saul to Audlem

    in Holidays Afloat

    Posted

    Got plenty for now unfortunately but I'll keep that in mind if we use my boat to take the other boat all the way. Just limped into the docks with me towing for the last bit. I can see me having to tow tomorrow to if my Dad can't sort the problem out. Fun :-/

  12. Breasting up

    in Boat Handling

    Posted

    mmmm ok i'm lead to believe my 40ft has the better engine and we don't know much about the 60ft engine. So probably best to use mine to tow the other then?

     

    Still don't know much about engines but since i've been unemployed i've been learning fast!

  13. Breasting up

    in Boat Handling

    Posted

    Hope you don't mind me using this thread rather than starting another one :rolleyes: (totally agree about the search engine, I can never find anything but don't have problem on other forums)

     

    Looks like we will be going up the Severn at some point over the weekend and taking a 60ft boat with us. My boat is only 42ft we are thinking that it would probably be a worth breasting up but just wondered the best way to do it. Would a center line point be strong enough to take being used for this?

  15. Saul to Audlem

    in Holidays Afloat

    Posted

    All that water will/should arrive at Gloucester by Friday or Saturday.:(

     

    The lock keepers will advise.

     

    How the heck do I always manage to catch the river at the worst times!

    Thanks for the advice. One day I'll hit this river when it's not full of water from one way or the other.

  17. Saul to Audlem

    in Holidays Afloat

    Posted

    Thats pretty much our plan. :) Not sure if we've booked the locks yet. This is Dads idea so i'm leaving all that to him. I've just got to drive the boat. :) Hopefully we'll get to Upton on the Friday night.

     

    I noticed that tide the other week when I was looking to see when the bore would be... didn't expect to be taking the boat up through it! Bloomin typical! I just wanted to go and stand by the river and watch it. Ha. :rolleyes:

     

    We wont be stopping much on the Severn so just looking for shops and pubs above Stourport really. It will be my first time going up that way.

  24. River Severn

    in Holidays Afloat

    Posted

     

     

    I think the moral in the story is not to listen to any nay sayers (however good their intentions) but go have a look and if you don't like it don't go back. If you do like it you might have missed a gem by listening to others.

     

    Oh for sure! I'm glad i've done it and it wasn't so horrible that i'll never go back, although the weather was pretty horrible so maybe that didn't help. I also think people made it sound alot nicer than I found it. Maybe they raised my expectations a bit.

  25. River Severn

    in Holidays Afloat

    Posted

    I just did not like it.

     

    I got fed up with looking at high banks and having to moor at locks with nowhere to walk.

     

    Partner did not like it either but if anyone wants to find out for themselves so be it.

     

    I was just giving my opinion as it appeared everyone else was praising it, so maybe it was just us.

     

    I felt similar to be honest. Other than the island where the dry dock is where we blacked the boat. That place is heaven. Every where else is kind of like 'oh thats pretty' as you float off out of sight from what ever it was.

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