Francis Herne

Current stoppage dates are 3rd-24th January, then 13th February to 17th March. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/22196-lock-5-wolverhampton https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/22195-south-of-top-lock-between-lock-7-and-8-wolverhampton So "early February" should be okay.

That's below the junction, so not a problem for bypassing the main line stoppage. BCN -> Stourbridge -> turn right at Stourton -> Aldersley Junction or the reverse. Needed anyway as the 21 is closed for lock repairs for most of the next couple of months.

A cold day on the Walsall, about three weeks ago. Crunching through the first day of ice in company with Nb Temujin.

Were I choosing the stove's location it would be near the middle of the boat and nowhere near the end windows. It might move there next time the flue pipe needs replacing, or if I ever succumb to temptation and buy a stove with an oven. In the meantime I see a lot of boats with the chimney in that front corner and very few of them are on fire!

(reminded to ask by the bin bags) I have a stove in the same place, and curtains across the front windows. There when I bought the boat; the surveyor reasonably pointed them out as a fire hazard. I make sure to slide them over to the far side of the boat when burning wood, but tbh with a low coal fire overnight I shut them fully including the window near the flue. Since that's pretty dubious and it's a common stove location, what's the correct practice? Curtains or shutters made of some non-flammable material? Heat shield between the stove/flue and window? Just leave the window clear? (last one not ideal because that would let both light and the gaze of passers-by into my bedroom!)

Looks pretty, acts as a stovetop thermometer (gauge speed at a glance or from the pitch of the faint whirr), I find it an elegant concept and enjoy seeing it. Mine at least is minimally effective when it comes to actually moving air though.

2ft sounds about right for the Wyrley & Essington. Did that in company with Nb Temujin to go around this stoppage, not a particularly deep-drafted boat but he could barely manage 2mph from Horseley Fields to Sneyd. Lark thankfully draws next to nothing so alright for me!

I've just gone around Horseley Fields junction. Main Line is closed south, there's a policeman at the junction warning off boats and towpath users. Access between Wolverhampton and the Wyrley & Essington is possible. They're still spraying the fire from a large cherrypicker, big cloud of steam. Urban Moorings and other things in that area are cut off by road currently.

I stopped there earlier this year. Locals very friendly, invited me to the pub round the corner which is quite good. You can't get out on foot without a non-standard key but I was lent one to do some shopping. "Visitor" moorings were full of workboats so I moored on an unoccupied residential spot for the night. Mind the low bridge if you're doing that!

Pretty sure we just met at Titford, there can't be many "Vulpes" based at Droitwich!

I have a squeegee as used by window-cleaners - rubber strip on one side, cloth on the other, spray bottle built in which helps to lift dry stuff like dust or bird shit. Water on my panel makes about a 10% difference with the sun low in the sky. At higher angles there's no difference; if the weather's hot it might even help by cooling the panels.

That sounds right to me, at least the BCNS characterisation. Not sure if the OP meant Birmingham centre or the area more generally. One time I made the mistake of referring to the whole Black Country as "all Birmingham really" and got threatened with a good lynching...

There's a "boat gathering" of the BCN Society at Titford Pumphouse (Oldbury) this coming weekend. Nominally Friday and Saturday, but there'll be people and boats around for a day or two either side. Do come by if you can. I met several really helpful people at the last one - being newish to the canals it was the first boating event I'd shown up to - and am heading back onto the BCN for it this time. At Kings Norton so far.

Mooring in the docks is currently suspended due to a silt buildup. Llanthony Bridge is being opened for access to/from the lock only, by the lock keeper. The river has been so low this summer that the pumps have been pumping up mostly mud, so the dock basin is inches deep in places and even narrowboats were getting stuck. Dredging is scheduled in the next couple of weeks. Sadly I didn't get a photo, but learned the other week that the bridges can display both red and green simultaneously if the keeper forgets to switch one off!

The Explorer cruise happened as planned, after traversing Wednesfield etc. they all turned up at Bradley just before the BCNS event there. Here's a photo of the flotilla just after arrival.

The one on the Severn at Diglis beside the basin locks -- not particularly important with the other point a few hundred yards away, but I was surprised to find it locked up despite being on the online map and marked with shiny blue signs. They've since taken it off the map, but left the signs up so that future visitors can share in the confusion. EDIT: and the floating one at Upton, replaced by an agreement to use the marina's. Seems more straightforward really.

Does depend where you are. I've seen quite a few wind turbines on narrowboats in the Fens and they're usually spinning fast. So long as the pole lifts them above the bank, the rivers are the highest point for miles in any direction!

Well, that's a surprise...clearly one hand not talking to the other in CRT given what I was told a couple of hours ago! Good news, anyway - looks like I'm on my way whenever the rain stops.

I wandered down to have a look, but at the moment there's nothing happening and no-one on site but the lock keeper. There's a shiny-new-looking collar on the affected gate which is still strapped in place. Keeper didn't know very much - still no progress on getting a crane down the lane, but there's pressure from Above to get it sorted "pretty imminently". Not sure how to square that.

Today's update; no news really ----- Further to the notice below, we are sorry to advise that Upper Lode Lock remains closed whilst our teams and contractors continue to mobilise to site. As previously mentioned, the gates require lifting before the new collar can be installed. Contractors are currently assessing the site to confirm access arrangements for the crane, once this has been confirmed we will be able to confirm the date for this repair to take place. We will update this notice tomorrow when we have more information from our contractors.

I'm still here - no urgent need to be anywhere else, but leaving the boat for a few days late next week so I'll have to find somewhere with safer moorings if this goes on. ,The guys moored next to me were worried about river levels on the Severn with the thunderstorms forecast and went back to Diglis. Wondering if I should join them.

I was told second-hand on Friday that they did hire a crane in, but it couldn't reach the lock because access track too overgrown. 🤦‍♂️ Need some trees cut back before trying that again.

I'm here too, Lark is the little blue boat at the end of the Severn level moorings. You're the 'Midnight' by the mill bridge?

Collar has failed on one of the top gates at Upper Lode (just south of the Avon merge). Lock closed until further notice; next update Monday. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/23241-river-severn-navigation-upper-lode-lock I went to have a look, they seemed to be securing the gate with big ratchet straps or similar.

Alright, I concede that makes no sense at all! 🙄s