Geoffrey Hammond

I have recently finished my first cruise on the Llangollen Canal. I got up as far as Frankton Junction and enjoyed hugely almost every aspect of the journey. However, by the end of the cruise I was occasionally acting in a way which might well attract criticism - I was leaving the lock gates open after me. And I was doing this for two reasons. First, I could not see that I was helping prevent any leakage by shutting the gates; the huge amount of water flowing down the side weir at every lock I encountered was a torrent compared to the trickle through leaks in the gate. Second, I did not enjoy, as a single-hander, waiting in or or even near the lock mouth in order to shut the gates. Below the lock, the flow of water once pinned me against the bank. Above, the lock, I was always wary of being forced onto the weir. Quite often, it was difficult to moor away from the dangers because of other boats waiting to use the lock. I would hazard that are many people for whom the Llangollen is their very first cruise; would it not be safer and simpler that on this canal there was the simpe direction to leave the lock gates open?

Having just journeyed twice along the Middlewich Branch of the SUC, I twice paused to consider two upright posts just back from the towing path just West of the railway bridge between bridges 22 and 23. Did the posts once hold a sign letting railway passengers know what they were travelling over? I ask this because of the elegant sign, in a similar position on the Lllangollen Canal at Quoisley Lock, which charmingly informs those trundling alongside on the A49. If I'm right, why did the Middlewich sign go? I'm sure I'm not the first to have asked this - apologies.

I thought I might add a basic itinerary of the journey so far - it might help someone. Friday Set off from Middlewich at 0900. Moored at Wrenbury at 1715. Highlights? folk evening at The Dusty Miller. Saturday Set off from Wrenbury at 0800. Moored at Ellesmere at 1615. Highlight? Succeeding in coping with lift-bridges single-handed. Sunday Set off from Ellesmere at 1000. Moored at Maesbury Wharf at 1600. Highlight? Eccentric and friendly Canal Central tearoom. Monday Set off from Maesbury at 0900. Moored at Bettisfield at 1640. Highlights? Violently coupling swans at Aston and the stunning GE Street church at Bettisfield.

Thanks for the friendly reply. I'm on a hire boat from Middlewich, Holly. It is proving to be great fun.

I set off from Middlewich on Friday with six days of intended bliss ahead of me and I have not been disappointed. On the first day, I went up Hurleston for the first time and could not have been better helped by the lock-keeper, Matin: he shared local knowledge unstintingly. On the first evening, I moored at Wrenbury. Never have I been better welcomed than at the Dusty Miller inn: cracking food and charming hosts. Today, Sunday, I am moored outside Canal Central, a gently eccentric cafe and shop at Maesbury Marsh at the end of the navigable section of the Montgomery. Again, I was welcomed strongly - probably because it seems that I was the first boat to get down to them this year. Now that Frankton locks are open again, I hope they are blessed by visits from all those who seek quiet and beauty and calm. Here's to another trio of great days.

Last week, I travelled down to Chester on my own and was lucky enough, in both directions, to find other boaters at the Iron Lock at Beeston who helped me through. But, if no one is about, how does one get through it singlehanded? There is no ladder and there is a tail bridge which prevents one hauling the boat in and out. I expect there is an easy solution. What is it?

In April 2009 I moored in Middlewich and found the Kings Lock - a pub I had often enjoyed visiting - closed. I heard that later in the month it had reopened. I returned to Middlewich last week to find it closed again Has anyone news to suggest that it may live again - and not just briefly?

On Apolloduck, there is a replica tug for sale. It is quoted as having a vintage regas engine. Could someone tell me about such an engine? Many thanks.

They are not related, but I thought I out to check the samller Strumble out, so hired it in October! It is a cracking little boat - and it should be as it was built by Doug Moore. The hire company was charming.

I have looked at a boat recently which, as the centrepiece of its kitchen, has a diesel Heritage Uno Cooker - for both cooking and for heating the boat. It was most beautiful, but I am a cautious person. Is there any one with experience of such an oven - the single variety? Does it allow one to keep the boat safelyand gently warm for long periods if one is away from the boat? Will it mean that the kitchen will get jolly hot in the Summer? In general, will it be markedly different in terms of running costs from a standard gas cooker and diesel central heating unit? Many thanks.

I am quite interested in a particular new 46ft narrowboat. It has been fitted with a 12hp Lister SR2. This is a far smaller engine than I am used to. In general, will it be powerful enough to allow me to use rivers confidently? In particular, at some time I should like to try the Ribble Link - would that be beyond this boat? Many thanks for any advice.

I recently tracked down and purchased John Seymour's delightful book, Voyage into England. The book describes the four month voyage he undertook on canals and rivers in 1963. The whole book is a cracking read and I especially enjoyed his bizarre and tiring encounter with David Hutchings during the restoration of the Southern Stratford Canal. But there is one chapter which I found such a masterpiece of story telling and circumstance that I have happily read it three or four times more. And it concerns his journey up the already-closed and abandoned Runcorn and Weston Canal. The moment when he meets the Runcorn Locks lock-keeper is sheer joy. I will not spoil it by retelling it poorly, but urge you to find it and read it. What I want to ask is this. Can one still get any way along the canal from its junction with the Weaver? I know the locks have gone in Runcorn, but Seymour 's words tend to suggest that the early stretch of the canal at the Weaver end mght not have any obstruction. What a suberb circular cruise it would have made: the Weaver, the Runcorn and Weston and the Trent and Mersey; how now it could have tempted more people now down onto the Weaver. Gosh, I wish I'd been there in 1963.

I apologise if this repeats something I wrote before, but I think I buried a question too deeply in an earlier topic. Is there a way of getting a boat into an L and L lock with a centre rope when going uphill? When I was on the canal last week I was happy to wait for another boat, but I'd like to know if it can be done single-handed without having to use the ladder. I'm keen to learn!

I have just spent a week on the Leeds and Liverpool canal. I hired a boat from Barnoldswick and travelled a few days East and a few days West. The trip was excellent, if not always easy and it raised these points. First, the company I hired from was outstanding - Canal Boat Escapes. Not only because they had interesting boats for hire - I was at last able to steer a Doug Moore boat - but more because of their absolute concern that I had a good holiday. The boat was thoughtfully equipped - never before had I encountered a towelling dressing gown and slippers, never before had I been rung to check that I was happy with my journey from home to boat yard. A small company with a big understanding of how to make someone feel valued. Second, it was an utter joy to encounter unstinting friendliness and help from everyone on the canal. Help from charming lock-keepers who made the passage to Gargrave faster and easier; help from everyboat I spent time with. Twice I was taken under the wing of more experienced boaters and guided through locks and to good moorings and to wise choices of where to eat and drink. Third, I could not work out how to work the locks safely on my own. I had intended to enter each lock - when going uphill - by hauling the boat in, but this was made nigh impossible by footbridges at he bottom of each lock. When I resorted to entering the lock in the boat and climbing the ladder, I found that the rungs were so close to the lock wall as to make the climb unnerving. In the end, I resorted always to waiting for another boat. And that meant some jolly long pauses. Finally, I was dismayed by what I was told was going on at the top of Greenberfield Locks. I was told that the lock-keeper had been forced out of his house so that it could be sold and developed and that the new owner did not want boats outside his house. Indeed there were official looking 1 hour only notices posted along the tow path near the lock. Later I was told by the same boater that a single-hander waiting to join another had been asked by the owner to move on and use the lock on hs own rather than wait outside his house. Can this really be true? All in all, it was a cracking trip: a new favourite section - that from East Marton to Bank Newton - and a new source for excellent bacon baps - the top lock kiosk at Barrowford.

The boat I own and am used to has a vintage engine in its own engine room and two wheel contols. A boat I am interested in has a vintage engine in its own engine room and a morse control. I have enjoyed hugely the two wheel system. Apart from the lack of tradition and, presumably, a lesser sensitivity, are there disadvantages to having a morse control with a distant vintage engine?

I believe Saisons Boat Hire at Buckby Locks also has one traditional boat with a vintage engine. They are at http://www.saisons.co.uk/

A most fair point. The article implied that one yard hired dayboats alone and the other did no hiring.

I have just returned from a Summer cruise and found the September issue of "Canals and Rivers" awaiting me. I know this journal appears to find no favour among most who contibute to this forum, but I rather enjoy its quirkiness and that fact that it has some articles which are jauntily written. Well, this month there is an article concerning one man's difficulty in getting any help from a boatyard on a Saturday; the problem was domestic - a broken alternator - so RCR were of no help. Both boatyards declined to offer him assistance or advice. Luckily, a third, later, provided salvation. I just wondered, was this man unlucky, or should one reasonably expect to get neither technical assistance nor advice from the vast majority of open boatyards on a weekend? I am not mechanically minded so the article has spurred me to start to create a list of those yards who will always help if they can. Any starters?

I'm not quite sure what speed I travel at, but it's probably a bit slower than 4mph, because I am caught up quite easily. If the canal allows it and the people behind are not aggressive, then I pull over where I can and let them pass. The reason I don't travel at top speed - 4mph - is that I have found I use far less fuel if I travel a little slower; perhaps some older engines are like this. What has disappointed me, though recently, have been boats who have pulled up fast behind me, not in order to travel on, but in order, it would seem to seize a quick advantage, to get just one place ahead in a lock queue or to take a last mooring at a popular spot; in both cases within five minutes of passing me the boats in question had moored up or joined a queue.

Recently, I was moored in Marple. I was happy but the loo on my boat wasn't - it had given up. I rang my Midlands marina and they got in touch with a company who immediately contacted me. The company was Peak Forest Canal Boat Repairs. The two men involved - Tony and Phil - whizzed over, inspected the loo, ordered the replacement parts and then returned and spent the best part of a day sorting out a problem which was far greater than it first appeared. Thoughout the work, the two were patient, charming and courteous. They cleared up superbly, did a sound job and charged me very little. If you have a problem on the Macclesfield, Peak Forest, Ashton area, I would heartily recommend the two. Their website is info@peakforestboatrepairs.co.uk

This Summer I cruised through Ansty twice, and each time the section between 14 and 13A raised three questions. I wonder if anyone can help answer them. 1) Beyond the end of the long term moorings section, there is about 600m of towpath with severe BW notices stating that no mooring is allowed; is there a reason for this? 2) All along this same section, the variety of housing is extreme: 17th century cottages, Victorian terraces and individual examples of houses from almost every late 20th century estate that was ever built; again, is there a reason for this? 3) Finally, close by bridge 13A there is a Victorian house with the wonderful name "Alphabet Cottage". Sadly it is in poor repair. Does anyone know its history? Even if I get no answers, a few more boaters may be tmpted to look again at this rather odd stretch!

Many thanks.

Tony Redshaw at Braunston has a good reputation. If you contact him, he may know someone in your area. Tony Redshaw Vintage Diesels Morrisflex Works, London Road, Braunston, Northants NN11 7HX Tel: 01788 899123 Fax: 01788 571355

This is written in the hope that someone may be able to pass my thanks on to a helpful gentleman. Journeying north on the Oxford Canal near Claydon recently, I ran out of energy just above a lock. A boat was already moored there so I checked to see whether the owner would mind me mooring close by; he could not have been more friendly or welcoming. A day or so later I followed him down the last few locks of the Napton flight. No one was coming up. Despite the fact that he was on his own, he paused at each lock to refill it for me, thus saving me time and energy. Two acts of simple courtesy which are the very best moments of canal life and which I had no chance to properly thank him for. The man wore a cap, had a dog and steered a trad about 50 ft long, called Rosy.