owenk
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Posts posted by owenk
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53 minutes ago, Dunworkin said:
Not really too bothered....something around the Worcester area maybe good, I th8nk that there is a Marina at Droitwich...which is much less of a drive. Anybody know what it’s like?
The Droitchwich marina is very very handy for the Rugby Club, not been there on a boat but I have been when Banbury have been playing rugby against them. Looks nice enough.
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1 minute ago, Nightwatch said:
Owen, hi. I was away for the weekend just. Margaret was onboard, however you probably saw Nightwatch near Fenny Compton. Glad you had a good trip. We have moored in the Saltisford Arm twice now and find it very convenient.
My apologies for not making contact in Banbury. To be honest completely slipped my mind. We were, at that time, travelling with another boat and social life was hectic. People who are aware of our cruising patterns will be aware we don't travel to quickly unless we have a particular reason to get somewhere. At present we don'thave such reasons. We are making our way past Warwick and will perhaps visit Central Birmingham at some point. We are midway across the summit at present. Far too hot to cruise. We are moored under a tree.
Yup did spot your boat again just outside Fenny. No sign of you so I assumed you were off the boat. Must catch up at some point to pick your brains on water/electricity management when you aren’t moving much since we don’t like to hurry but find we are driven on by the need for electricity and water.
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Thanks. From memory it was mainly the cold so I’ll try a very weak bleach soak.
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When we were last on the boat a couple of months ago the water in the bathroom sink had little white flakes in it. Nothing visible in other supplies I.e. the kitchen and the shower.
this time when we went on and turned on the bathroom tap there was a pretty rank sulphurish smell and the water was initially discoloured. It cleared after running and I ran a lot t of hot water through. Not discernable flakes after this and the water smelled and looked OK.
i shaves in it but cleaned my teeth in the kitchen erring on the side of caution. I drank water all week direct from the kitchen tap often unboiled in squash and am still here so that is presumably OK.
on the bathroom supply i assume this is some sort of algae infestation so the question is do I need to get the piping stripped down and cleaned and/or replaced or does the hive-mind think it I near emptied the tank, made up a strongish Miltons solution, and drew enough up from r this to sit in the kitchen pipe for a week or so would this do the trick?
just wondered if anyone else has experienced similar.
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To complete this thread with so,e feedback we had a great week. Easily got to Warwick and back in the week, which included a day off the boat to celebrate some friends’ 30th wedding.
My wife found the locks, if anything, easier than the Oxford, although were lucky enough to have company both ways on the Stockton flight which obviously makes it easier.
We stayed as recommended in the Saltisfotd Arm which was lovely and welcoming.
All in all a most enjoyable cruise. Thanks all for the advice!
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14 hours ago, Nightwatch said:
Hiya Owen. We have done the journey you mention a couple of times and did it one way, towards Napton this time last year. Saltisford Arm is well worth getting into. You'll be well looked after and a short walk into Warwick. A pleasant experience.
we are on the outskirts of Banbury presently and will be staying here for a week or so, with a quick dive into Banbury for water and supplies and out again. How is Pipsqueak treating you? We may bump into you sometime.
It would be great to catch up with you whilst you are next door! Drop me a text and we’ll grab a beer. Equally if you’re by a road and need a left into the supermarket let me know.
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5 minutes ago, Athy said:
I don't know the Stockton/ Leamington area well - but welcome back, it is some time since we saw you!
You could always go up the Ashby (one of my favourites) unless of course you have already done so.
We have done the Ashby Athy and it was very lovely but could we do it and back in 8 days?
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Planning a trip in July and having been moored in or around Cropredy for many years have done the Oxford canal to death. Still love the stretch down past the Heyfords/Kirtlington etc but fancy a change next month.
A sensible seeming distance to aim for would be to trun left at Napton, through the Stockton locks, turn in Leamington somewhere and back. However I don't know that stretch of canal at all and so was wondering what it is like? Like boating through peaceful deserted stretches of country side but don't mind the odd bit of town/industrial landscape at all.
I read on another thread there aren't too many decent pubs, but we're not overly bothered by mooring by a pub every evening.
Any thought, comments or suggestions for an alternative 8 day trip from Cropredy gratefully received. Normal cruising day about 5 hours but I don;t mind doing a bit longer.
TIA
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A bit like a wicketkeeper.
If the commentator never has cause to mention them; they have invariably done a good job.
Except, of course, the wicket keeper is often (and should be) the gobbiest playe on the pitch keeping everyone else geed up.
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We made the move to Cropredy Marina last autimn from Nightwatch's reccomendation of Forge Farm, for mainly practical reasons.
Forge Farm was great and I would endorse Nightwatch's comments.
On the marina itself I have to say we have been very impressed so far. It has the advantage for us of easier toilet emptying arrangements, showers and the ability to stay on the boat overnight without mocing it. The team there are helpful and friendly, and having never moored in a marina previously having water and electricity on hand has made things like staying the weekend to give the boat a good clean much easier.
The walk to the village (specifically the Brasenose) is about 5-10 minutes and pretty level.
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There is this book:
From here: http://www.rya.org.uk/shop/pages/product.aspx?pid=G54(RYADefaultCatalog)
There is also this:
But I don't think it is available any more.
I believe the photo belongs to Mr Fincher, I stand to be corrected though and will remove it on request, if needs be.
Exactly what II thought. Potentially burned hand on the chimmney (although I did that mowing at the cricket club when I used the exhaust on the Massey to pull myself out of the tractor seat
). Drowning hazard, no life-jackets. Weil's disease. Toes chopped off by prop. The list is almost infinite.Edit - meant this to quote the comment about the heath and safety police having a field day with this piocture but c@cked it up.
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I have always assumed (poss: quite wrongly) that most boaty visitors to the Festival would be coming off the 'main system' rather than fro the Thames??
Agreed but I was wporking on the basis that the weekend before the event the canal at Cropredy itself would be pretty bunged up with festival goers.
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Looking for realistic suggestions as to how far my son could take our boat starting from Cropredy Marina on a four day round trip with his mates.
Probably a weekend eitehr side of Cropredy Festival weekend so I am guessing heading south might be a bit of a pain?
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Yes,I've seen one or two in that section.
Off topic. Nice to see you back on the forum Owen. How's your new moorings?
Martyn
Equally off topic - good thanks Martyn. The oldies are ghetting to use the boat a lot more. Would be good to catch up with you for a pint soon.
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I've seen quite a few snakes in locks. Strange sort of thing to see. More worryingly I've seen them at our moorings as well.
Don't relish the thought of waking in the night with a slivery friend.
I've got used to Mrs Watch.
Years ago, when we first started boating we were advised to get swans out of locks before operation as they can't take off and fly away from danger. Adult ducks are okay apparently. Spent a lot of time since encouraging swans out of locks with bread.
Martyn
I saw the biggest grass snake I have ever seen enjoying a leasurely swim on that straight just before the Claydon Flight and just after the winding hole. Must have been a good 3 foot.
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Have some friends heading down for a few days on the Kennet and Avon.
I have never been on this strech of canal but they have asked me where they might moor near Bradford on Avon with good access to pubs etc.
Any suggestions gratefully received.
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Nothing wrong with the time of year that you have chosen but the route would be very challenging.
I would suggest that you have as many alternatives available as you can.
The Nantwich, Chester, Middlewich and onto the Llangollen if you want to has it all in my humble opinion.
Your budget at £1500.00 is more than enough. I would not be happy to pay anymore than £1000.00 all in including fuel.
This has really made me want to go back to the Llangollen - had the most delightful week on it - really very very pleasant.
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Hi Dottyshirl, yes as everyone else has said, they are a pain. The only pleasure I have ever got from one is when it blocks an impatient car driver. In that situation I recommend slowing down a bit, but try to avoid eye contact unless you can do a better poker face than I can!
Of course if the car driver was in a real hurry, or a pleasant person they could get out of their car and help you with the bridge
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There are two stretches which are one boat wide where the signs say send someone ahead.Preferably both lookout and seerer will either have radios or mobile phones to tell the steerer when its clear.. The first stretch is through a recently built concrete channel. This stretch has passing places which are long enough for one boat and are marked by white sticks. On this stretch, if you are in convoy, its best to leave a good gap to the boat in front so that if the front boat pulls into a passing place, you can use the previous passing place. The second stretch is cut through rock without any passing places and is quite a long stretch, it takes me some time to get through here with a 2’ 4” draught boat. Of course, if any boat coming the other way follows the signs, they will send someone ahead and you should see their lookout before you enter this section.
Yup this is what we did and it worked fine along with communicating with people doing the same thing the otehr way around (if that makes ssense.)
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There're not having Pipsqueak then, Owen?
You seem active on here all of a sudden. Settled into your new spot?
Martyn
A stag part on my boat? Not on your nelly!!!!!!!! Yes settled in the new moorings, but have not made it to the boat for a while as it is my busy time of year with tax returns and we have all been sufferring with seasonal sniffles. To be honest hadn;t logged into the forum for ages, but got this vague and broad request for my son so came seeking assistance.
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I thought this would be the case but the newspaper article specifically refers to it an accident.
It says the police are investigating the accident, not that the police are investigating to rule out foul play. I imaging this is just sloppy journalism and the HSE will take over once the police are satisfied in was a genuine accident.
MtB
Off topic, but police are required to attend any "unexpected death" which is when the deceased has not been receving tretement or seen their GP within an X time period. When my poor old mum died at 89, after having been catatonic with dementia for some years it was an unexpected death so 3 (THREE!) police men arrived at the nursing home to escort the funeral director removing her body. Puxzzled the hell out of us - were they expecting her to make a break for it?
So sad to hear of this death of a boater and his dog - walk and boat down past tramway very very often and so muct have known his boat.
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My favourite moorings, working South:
- Near bridge 124 on the summit (pub in the village)
- Near Bridge 129, on the summit
- Just above Slat Mill lock
- Somerton, between bridges 196 & 198, lovely views over the water meadows (and the first point after Banbury where you really escape the noise from the M40)
- Kirtlington Quarry, now disused and a nature reserve. Offside, about half a mile above pigeon's lock, a pleasant walk up to the village
- Shipton Weir Lock, you can moor safely alongside the lock, in the River Cherwell (turn to face upstream first) to a couple of solid steel posts (which used to hold a sign saying no overnight mooring ...)
I would also recommend the Upper Thames - Lechlade is a good place to stay for a few days. And of course you can always try out the Thames between Eyhsham and Kings locks by entering via Dukes' Cut ....
Couldn't agree more with all of this post.
Just to add we have always been able to moor without much difficulty pretty near the centre of Oxford (usually in June) and there is tons to see. Jolly nice if like we have on three occassions now, you manage to get a mooring about 2 minutes walk from the Old Bookbinders in Jericho.
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My instant impression too!
The cut around Enslow now has a flow on it of about 1/2 to 1mph, I'd estimate. The immediately adjacent river Cherwell is a torrent and only an ace away from overflowing into the canal.
Fortunately before it breaches the canal bank, it will first have to top up several hundred acres of flood plain on the other side, which it is enthusiastically filling right now....
MtB
Which is exactly what flood lains are for and why daft-arsed politicians should stop buidling on them (which is exactly what they are doing with the new estate being thrown up in Banbury!)
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Look what I fished out.
I had a Perch about that size last summer whilst fly-fishing for Trout in a lake. Fly concerned must have been nearly as big as the Perch's head.
). Drowning hazard, no life-jackets. Weil's disease. Toes chopped off by prop. The list is almost infinite.
Banbury to Leamington for a week
in Holidays Afloat
Posted
Just to report back and say thanks to all contributors we had a great week. Mrs K said the locks and lock gear were fine. We loved the canal and Warwick. Saltisford Arm was a beautiful mooring and the Jambavan Indian restaurant in Warwick gets a huge reccommendation from us.