john6767

Seconded. Are we saying that for the booked boats it is open 1-3 July, and the after that it is generally open to all? Would be nice to see that officially confirmed somewhere. I would hate to go down the big hill and find it not open!

PM sent.

Send Graham an email. I had sent one thanking them for their efforts in organising the event and it was in response to that.

I got an email with our placing yesterday, we came 6th. Anyone else going to own up to where they came? I don't know where the points total that they got comes from though it's (a little bit) more than I thought, and includes fractional points and the only thing that I can see will give that is draught bonus and I find it hard to believe we were measured as 26in. Although draught bonus still does not make the points tally. The winner has way more points than us though, and fractional again.

Good to see you again, as we passed through Kingwood yesterday. The party looked to be in full swing when we passed, you going to keep that up all week!

Here are some more pictures of Joanna. Accoring to the note there built in 2000.

I too drooled over Joanna, a great looking boat. Looking at the bow it smacked of S M Hudson to me (complete with fake rivets), so I looked it on on Jim Shead JOANNA Built by STEVE HUDSON - Length 14.33 metres (47 feet ) - Beam 2.08 metres (6 feet 10 inches ) - Draft 0.76 metres (2 feet 6 inches ) Metal hull, power of 21. Registered with British Waterways number 506029 as a Powered. Last registration recorded on 11-Apr-2010. Is that her?

Not un-navigable at all, but there is a lot of rubbish in there, much much more than any other section of the BCN that we saw over the weekend (second was Tame Valley). We had one weed hatch trip of the way up, did not dare have more as Tawny Owl was on our tail, and 3 weed hatch trips on the way down. To be fair on the way down, one was to clear a car wiring loom we picked up at the bottom of Ryders Green locks, and then one at Pudding Green Junction so we had a nice clear prop for a refreshing tank down the New Main Line.

I did speak to them as we went past. They had come from from Napton's Autherley Junction base not from Napton. If they had come from Napton that would be impressive, but still this was not just the BCN, this was the Walsall Canal

Didn't do the trip home, should have done I guess. Passed Tawny Owl about 9PM, moored not far away.

And the video of day 2

We had a web cam mounted on the front of the boat taking an image every 5 seconds. This give a record of the full 24 hours travelling time as a time lapse video. I have uploaded to YouTube, and day 1 is ready for your viewing pleasure. Had to split into 2 parts and just over the YouTube 15 min limit. Day 2 to follow.

As we were a crew of 2 the strategy was not to do too many locks (we did 21), and to do as many of the sections with high multipliers. 50ft boat, draft 20 in, finished before the 2:00pm deadline. This is the route that we took; Titford Pumphouse Navigation Winding hole Titford Pumphouse Oldbury Locks Oldbury Junction Spon Lane Junction Spon Lane Locks Bromford Junction Pudding Green Junction Albion Junction Brades Locks Brades Hall Junction Tipton Junction Factory Junction Deepfields Junction Bradley Workshops Deepfields Junction Horseley Fields Junction Broad Street Basin Horseley Fields Junction Birchills Junction Pelsall Junction Cannock Extension Pelsall Junction Catshill Junction Ogley Junction Catshill Junction Newton Junction Tame Valley Junction Walsall Junction Walsall Town Arm By my calculation that gives a total points of 388. Plus what we get for the questions, which I think was 7 questions (6 for 5 points and 1 for 10 I think) so another 40points. So I am guessing 428 total.

The Walsall was really the only part that was bad. Plenty of water (well enough), but the amount of debris in there made it a struggle to the finish going from Tame Valley Junction to Walsall, with Tawny Owl hot on my heals (1 fast weed hatch trip). On the way home yesterday, it took 3 trips to the weed hatch to get from Walsall to Pudding Green Junction. In contrast from there to Lapworth not been near the weed hatch at all. Below the bottom lock at Ryders Green is a bit of a mess, not really sure that is water you are floating in. As a Walsall canal virgin, it has reset my opinion of what bad is, it is such a shame, but I would do it again....

Tied up in Walsall basin, time for a beer.

Good morning challengers from Pelsall Common. Just taken our full 6 hours rest (my eyes don't work well in the dark!) so time for the off at 4:10 AM Bunting still in place!

Well I could reveal where Tawny Owl is, having just spoken to them, but then that would reveal where I am......... what's it worth

That's where were spent last night. Now in our top secret start location. Nice evening, let's hope for more of this weather wise tomorrow.

Not surprised the Jacobean Lane one has not gained approval. The Lawsonford one does not seem a great location either, it impacts on a small village, and the canal location puts in amongst a large number of locks, so increased boats will have a bigger impact. I would hope that the Stripes Hill (bottom of Knowle locks) one would get the go ahead. To me that is a much more suitable location, not near housing, good road links, and the land is low lying wet land which is not great for agricultural use. The canal location gives access to a sizable pound from Knowle ot Hatton. Living in the area I would say that there is a shortage or marinas, ie there are basically none of any significant size on the GU until Napton, and nothing on the Stratford at all.

Grey and windy here at the moment. Forecast seems to be windier tomorrow Was very windy when we arrived yesterday later afternoon, just after the torrential rain had stopped. My passage through Worcester bar was less then perfect!

We arrived yesterday. Currently moored at the start of the Ozellls Street loop by the NIA.

That one has been for sale for some time now, 12 months or so. It is moored by the maintenance area at Calcutt. Not sure if the asking price has changed at all in that time though.

We shall have to see about that.