Midnight

Charge or no charge if it won't move or is too much trouble to move It's not going to be an option. It looked to me like the C&RT lads were having a lot of trouble putting it back into place when we passed.

Just a thought. Considering the trouble C&RT were having with the M62 floating walkway I wonder have they decided they won't be moving it again? In which case the new dimensions are correct.

Yes we can agree on that but as you are a 'think outside the box' sort of person, is the idea of the canals becoming a National Park going to help, hinder or make no difference?

Yes they should but it ain't going to happen under any colour government. Time to think outside the box. Clutching at straws maybe, but harping on about the same old, same old is going nowhere for sure.

If this will help in any way I will sign. Of course it probably won't reach the required number of signatures unless an organisation like NABO or IWA get behind it and that's unlikely. There's nothing to be optimistic about as long as Parry & Co run the waterways. And FBW will achieve nothing. Maybe a few MPs saying the right things cos it election year, but no extra money.

Funded by central government, National Parks have specific purposes that are enshrined in law. In England and Wales they are: Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage. Promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of national parks by the public.

Currently doing the rounds on Faceache. A petition to ask the Government to designate the canal system as a National Park. I live in the NYMNP but apart from stricter planning laws and rights of way stuff, I can't see if this would be an advantage for the waterways. Any thoughts? "The government recently announced the search for a new National Park. We believe our canal network offers a green space throughout the country that should be preserved as a National Park for future generations." https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/652357?fbclid=IwAR2bwSHDhc2Iv7fzsAsoEXzpnIXqvD0MdDn0aujA5r-3YmL4vvy_1igbQX8

New members welcome short waiting list for non-residential moorings. Dry dock, sanitary station, diesel sales. Good social scene. https://www.southpennineboatclub.co.uk/content/home-page

The C&RT lads were definitely having trouble with it when we came through last October. A widebeam was in the M62 lock going west but it seemed like the walkway was jammed in the open position. A young chap maybe staff was letting water down from the lock above.

Not much really. Although up here we dream that Parry & Co get the boot and someone takes over who knows how to manage a navigation authority. And here is next year's catastrophic failure, long term stoppage and £M+ repair. Notice Alert Leeds & Liverpool Canal Location: Culvert 80, Newburgh Starts At: Bridge 36A - Sewageworks Footbridge Ends At: Bridge 37, Windmill bridge Up Stream Winding Hole: Winding Hole - Appley Bridge Down Stream Winding Hole: Bridge 1, Junction Bridge Tuesday 2 January 2024 08:00 until Tuesday 2 January 2024 16:00 Type: Navigation Closure Reason: Repair Update on 02/01/2024: The Trust has removed this work from this year’s winter works programme while we review the scope and cost of the project. The forecast cost has increased significantly from initial estimates. We will look to deliver this work in a future winter programme and will monitor the leak in the interim. Original message: A stoppage is required to carry out some repairs to culvert 80. We will also be doing some wash wall repairs at Douglas embankment. You can view this notice and its map online here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/25380/culvert-80-newburgh You can find all notices at the url below: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices

C&RT "clear thinking" ?????

Rumours abound (from a good source) C&RT will find a major defect and close the Rochdale Summit. Seems they can't close the Huddersfield because the tunnel is a heritage site. Some Yorkshire folk would say they already closed it.

Lost me when we got to the fee increases. Having said that the Pennine canals are closed most of the time already. Three years in a row we have had to divert to alternative routes when trying to return along the L&L from summer cruises.

The Rochdale? In June? Dream on!

I went over awhile ago accompanied by a fellow aboard an old wooden boat which I was told had a 33" draft. Mooring on the Lancaster will be your main issue I suspect. Leaving Tarelton you get hit by the incoming tide but your Beta 43 will manage quite well. Give it some so you don't get diverted into Preston Docks. Coming back over it's better to slowly leave the sea lock and hang back in the brook waiting for the tide to ease. The first time I got some rope around the prop leaving the sea lock pontoon and was 25mins after the other boats. We were right behind them when we reached the Ribble. When I brought a boat over for a friend a few years back we were accompanied by a local boat. He suggested we go very slowly down the brook to the Ribble which worked a treat. We are thinking of doing it again in July. That's if C&RT can keep the Pennine canals open long enough 😜

Despite his obssesive and somewhat flawed view of the role of this government, I actually believe he could probably do a better job. You'd have to be really sh*t not to. Looking at the politics for a moment, does anyone here believe Starmer and Co will provide any more money to what is a failed organisation. Parry accepted the job based on the financial package at the time. He has failed. Normally when managers fail they get sacked, albeit in his case 'leave to spend more time with the family' and a big fat pension.

It's where the buck stops

Richard Parry!

I think a few on here just get frustrated when people like yourself, who presumably have no interest in canals and boating other than just looking for cheaper accommodation come along and ask the same questions that have been answered many times. It's probably not that cheap in the long run. Real residential moorings are expensive if you can find them. There are many issues like water, toilet, heating, fuel etc that are a bit more of a hassle than when living on land. People have a tendency to move onto a boat then when they find out it's a bit more complicated ignore or complain about the rules. Good luck with your quest!

And the hessian bag around Nancy David's prop which took 3 of us over an hour to remove. Most of it was picked up in locks. Between the 4 of us we visited the weedhatch 14 times. No wonder it's cleaner now. Next time we should follow @IanD 😆😆

Wolves! He wouldn't like the wolves on Summit

I confer upon MTB the title 'Honorary Yorkshireman' - one of us.

A tale of caution When Midnight was being fitted out I was advised by a so-called expert at Crick Boat Show that if I wanted to add a battery management system to my Beta 43 I would be better swapping the alternator for a Mastervolt system with an Alphapro regulator. As I had just bought a Mastervolt invertor and charger I could have a show discount and a free MICC - still cost £600. The Mastervolt pulley would need swapping for a polyvee but so-called expert would have one made for me - doh! Two years later on a holiday cruise the alternator stops working. When I sent it back to so-called expert for repair I'm told guarantee had expired and it needed new diodes - £200. Two years on on our 4th holiday cruise the alternator burns out and destroys the charger! So-called expert is called and visits but after offering no solution dissappears from view. So I call Mastervolt technical. After a lot of questioning about cruising destinations, Mastervolt Technical asks me to measure the pulley then tells me it's too big in diameter which wouldn't provide enough cooling at canal speed. My 1st and 3rd cruise was mainly on rivers so the alternator revs were high enough. 2nd and 4th cruise maninly on canals resulting in the overheat and eventual destruction of the alternator and charger. I call so-called expert's company but alas he is no longer employed and they won't accept any responsibility for the oversize pulley. New Mastervolt charger - £ouch! Prestolite alternator cos' it had a small polyvee diameter pulley from my local auto-electric company - £96 Moral - pulley size matters!

Blimey! It's all getting a bit complicated. I think when I peg it I'll just have my body laid on the roof and the boat pushed out to sea while you guys fire flaming arrows from the shore. @IanD can have first shot providing there's no blue signs on the beach.