hamsterfan

as far as I know it was! he reservoirs were in the pound below the top two locks and water was pumped up to the summit around locks 27 & 28

whilst my reply is from me it concerns my mum who like me has done no end of single handed boating with our old boat 70' length she took it from the Erewash to London, back up the GU and then through the BCN, shroppy T&M and onwards to Liverpool before heading back down to London again. the only problem we have encountered is the lift bridges on the southern oxford which can be a challenge! unlike Carl We always used a centreline that reached back to the cabin slide and even if it fell in it wouldn't foul the prop as for wind only had 1 bad day in 30 years, on the Wyrley & Essington on a very windy day took all our combined strength to get off the bank but we still managed it with the help of a bridgehole!