PaulJ

Thats strange. I cant imagine Bear Boating offering refunds on a rumour somehow. Can I suggest if the L&L shuts while Mac is on it that any local boater padlocks his boat up before he can back pedal to elsewhere.. ?

Maybe. In a roundabout way. I wouldnt expect savings to be passed back but that money be spent well elsewhere. Id personally rather contribute any licencing towards paying for a replacement gate that is worn out for all than a new gate that has to be replaced because of one numpty thats trashed it!

Does CaRT ever claim against the boats that cause the damage? Appreciate accidents happen -but surely thats the reason for having at mininum third party liability.

Are you stranded there? If so-Lucky buggar-if I had to pick Locks to be stuck at that would be one of them ☺️

Ive seen kingfishers on most of the waterways Ive been on recently-no more or less than I normally do. Ive probably been taking more notice than usual because of this thread.The only time I noticed a lack of them was in April. I have noticed this before though-our resident kingfishers do disapear every year at certain times-I always put this down to nesting/hatching or whatever kingfishers do.

If only life was that simple- bottom gates would be the wrong way round so you would probably still need a crane to install whatever sort of stop planks they would have to fit (and I havent a clue what) ?

Are the inlet/ outlets on the tank a decent size? I would remove the lowest hose and drain the system using a wet and dry vac. If the system hasnt had a decent inhibitor in it there is a good chance your bottom tank outlet may be restricted. A good poke and flush would sort that out cheaply too..

Well I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and scenery of L &L but have to say having just come down the Trent, it was bludy nice to have some water under the boat again. Its a wonder I didnt wear through the baseplate it grounded that many times ?

I came through there a couple of weeks ago on a 2' 9" -3ft ish draught widebeam. Was a bit of a struggle in several places then ?..

Just seen this on Facebook (posted by Bear Boating) although I havent seen the CaRT notice personally.. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS We have received notification from the Canal & River Trust that due to extreme water shortages on the Leeds/Liverpool Canal they will be closing the section between Gargrave and Barnoldswick later this month. This of course means that we can no longer offer one way trips and that all holidays will operate out and back of Apperley Bridge Marina until further notice. If you have already received your joining instructions you will receive a revised copy if your holiday is effected. Anyone who has booked a one way trip that can no longer run will of course be refunded the one way supplement. We apologise for any disappointment this may cause but as we are sure you can understand this is completely out of our control.

Did this in April and stopped for the night at Failsworth. Was only there for 10 minutes before a policewoman knocked on the side of the boat to ask if I intended to stay the night as the local youths 'were a bit of a nuisance'. Local taxi firm I was moored near said the same but despite this I didnt even see any local hooligans and had a very quiet night. Stocked up with supplies from a very convenient Tesco there too.

I really struggled (along with the CaRT chaps) to get through locks 72/73. Leakage was horrendous-as fast as they ran water down to get me off the bottom of the lock chamber so we could get the gates shut most of it ran away through the lock behind. So Im guessing putting all the boats through in a narrow window is going to help a bit. I did like the rubber tacked onto one of the gates in an effort to stop it leaking a bit farther up..

Took me days to remove the sand on my roof. I wouldnt do it again- though to be fair it did last for 20 years. I much prefer either using the additives made by International (for example) or the ready mixed paint if you can find the colour you want-I use the sachets slightly thicker than they reccomend- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/International-Non-Slip-Additive-Sachet-20g-Add-to-Toplac-Paint-to-make-non-slip-/282899815356

All the lockies on the way through from Wigan to Leeds were saying water was getting a bit short unless it rained pdq. At Newlay they were getting boats to wait until another boat came along to mininmise lock movements. Photo here of Barrowford reservoir- it was a good few steps down to the water..

6mm diameter- and it does make it alot easier

The Behemoth is only supposed to be 24-27 inch draught but it is 57 x 12'8" . It got stopped dead in its tracks more than a dozen times today- sometimes taking 15 minutes to get the rear end into the lock after the bow had entered- and that was with the ground paddles open to give me some water! Enjoy lol.

Not sure what sort of boat you have Hullygully but I had a mare of a journey up the flight today on the Behemoth. To be fair all those ahead had no problem though.Took me about 3/4 hour ploughing through the silt just to to get into the flight and then it was OK up to about lock 72 where it all ran out of water. Lockies and volockies sent loads of water down and generally kept things moving-took me 9 hours non stop (that does include a foray down the weedhatch though) !

Youre welcome. Tell the truth I was oblivious to all the goings on until I read your post and went and had a look. Me and the Behemoth would have been ploughing through it all in the morning possibly just to find all the gates still padlocked at the bottom of the flight. ?

Not long spoke to the CRT chappies who came to sort it out- they are running water down to try and fill it back up. May or may not be ready in morning Chap came through from Poolstock about an hour and half ago but he got stuck for a while-the pair of boats that went through earlier obviously made it through alright!

I am at Wigan at the moment. Wigan junction ( between 85 and 86) is very low but a couple of boats went through heading towards Leigh earlier. Dont know how far they got though. I am planning on going through in the morning -I am overnighting before 86 as its got a bit more water in it . Unless you have the beam of a canoe I couldnt share..

I arrived there late and chap from Calcutt told me much the same-hence my comment, let the river do the work ?Left early so didnt see the farmer- I left a fiver and a note tied to the post in a nan bread wrapper (all I had) -hope the sheep didnt eat it lol. When you get to Ouse look out at Hilgay Bridge(nr Denver) -you may spot this..

Hi Timx, Nice to meet you the other day ☺️ If you want a quiet night (The fair is on at the moment on The Embarkment) and dont need to walk to the shops-you carry on past the turn off for Stanground as if you are heading for Dog in a doublet lock. Very quiet and deserted...

A knife to cut the ropes of the boat that has taken to mooring on there may be helpful too...

Yep- and lifeboats too. My own is out of a lifeboat.