john6767

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.

I believe you can take the 6 hours "off time" however you like, including at the end like the 2009 winner did. Oh and on additional awards, how about the most naff bunting award. I thought it was cheap and ebay and now I know why.

Seconded, I am using 3 sims purchased from ebay; 3GB for 3 months and chuck it when it runs out. Looks like those have gone up a bit too though I think it was around £8.50 last time I bought some. For casual infrequent use I can't see that any other deal beats these sims.

Just what you need for the engine room of a working boat!

So that is the second part of the challenge; drink the pub dry

Nice....

Remember the rules though; the crew size is the maximum number of crew that you have an any point time. I suspect you are already at 6 though. It does raise an interesting point , you are in a queue for a lock and some from another boat works one side of the lock, does that count as extra crew?

Not sure it is really that much of a spectator sport, but the "finish line" is Walsall Town Arm. Finish is at 2:00PM on Sunday 29th, but you do not absolutely have to be there at that point (there are bonus point for doing thatt hough). So it is not necessarily going to be 50 or however many boats all racing up the arm, or perhaps it will be

That is not how I am doing it with my mother of all spreadsheets, and I think "the cat" planner is agreeing with my calcs now, at least it does on my route. So for Tame Valley Junction to Newton Junction 3.5 mile = 7 points, bonus factor is 3 therefore 21 points. Remember you get a point per half mile not per mile! So similarly Newton Junction to Catshill Junction 8.0 miles, 9 locks = 25 points, ie the 8 miles gives 16 points at 1 point per half mile, plus one point per lock give 9 points, 16+9=25. You can do a lock as fast as you like, but will it fill/empty that fast! This is not real life you know Getting excited now though.......

Yes the bonus points are definitely a multiplier on the points for that section. The Cats Planner will give the correct points values.

Down the Avon is certainly easier than up. 1. You are going with the flow, so faster, 2. The locks are much more gentle going down, particularly with just 2 of you. see here. On the other hand, with just 2 at least in my mind, going down Tardibigge is easier than up. So six of one etc.......

1 bonus point per 6 locks. Have I missed something?

Yep we are definitely on. Stage 2 of pre BCN boat move completed on Saturday, and I spent yesterday afternoon doing a recce of various strategic locations by car. This will be just the 2 of us, so disappointed in the points scheme that you don't get more bonus points for a small crew, the winning strategy would certainly seem to be to go mob handed! We may be fighting it out with Nine of Hearts for the wooden spoon. Current plan is to arrive central Birmingham on the Thursday and on the Friday transfer to our top secret start location.

Not going to Crick because we are doing the BCN Challenge that weekend.

But it is not standard practice that Watford locks are closed outside hours, is it? I thought that was only at the moment due to an issue with one of the locks.