Amber34

We spent a week in and around Bristol in august last year, after coming down from Sharpness. Himself wandered up to the harbourmasters office when we first arrived but found it unoccupied or closed (can't quite recall details). After a couple of days we went out to the old lock and weir, picked up our visitor then returned to Bristol. We saw we should pay at the lock (Hanham?), but this was unmanned every time we passed through it. Both visits there we moored opposite the SS GB and weren't bothered by anyone.

Lots of bike (and other) thefts reported on a regualr basis on the K&A Facebook group, also a guy getting beaten up by a group of teens on 14th November

There are visitor moorings at the Old Lock and Weir. Seem to recall they were 48 hours which should revert to 14 days, but we doubled up with a couple of boats that had been there for a month (!) Really convenient car parking as well. We spent a good few days in Bristol on visitor moorings opposite the SS GB and several happy afternoons in the Orchard pub on Spike Island We're looking to escape the K&A in March as well. We're moving very slowly and making the most of the lifted restrictions on the visitor moorings. Had a nice couple of weeks at Great Bedwyn and currently at Hungerford. Hearing quite a lot of unpleasant goings on at Bradford on Avon, although hopefully the bad weather will keep the little darlings indoors for a bit.

An update to this: UPDATE.... I have had lots of people asking why I am looking for Michael and his boat BODO. There is nothing weird or sinister here just genuine concern. He left our local area on Sunday 27th August as he is not coping with our mums terminal illness (probably weeks if not days now before we will sadly lose her). As a family we are concerned about his wellbeing but equally don't want to attract alot of attention to him as it is his choice to distance himself from the situation, hence the reason I have chosen not to add a picture. I reported him missing to the police on Tuesday 29th August and we had a confirmed siting at Winkwell Marina on GU Sunday lunch time. (3rd September). He is heading north so probably way past MK by now. We would just like up-to-date sitings so we can hopefully visit him to check he is okay. We understand why he has felt the need to do this but no contact for 11 days now is causing some distress to the family. Thank you all for your help and concern x

This plea is being shared on Facebook. The best course of action would be to report any sightings to the police, rather than to his sister, just in case he's not wanting contact. Hi all with admin's permission I am posting for help. My brother Michael and his boat BODO have been missing since Tuesday 27th August with no contact at all. He has a residential mooring at Roydon Marina but hasn't been there for a good few weeks. He was moored up near stanstead abbotts on the weekend of 25th/26th august and was last sited via C& R T at Springfield Marina near Hackney Marshes on Tuesday 29th August. He is reported missing with the police and we are getting increasingly concerned about him now. Please could I ask you all to look out for his boat - traditional narrow boat, small 2 berth colour green - named BODO. Any sitings please let me know. Kindest regards Amanda

I did a search but can't see this has been posted already. Someone far cleverer than me has created a google map of all canals and locks. It can be opened on phone or desktop. He is still adding other useful information to it, such as sanitary stations, and is asking those who use it to submit information for him to add. Apparently you can add a shortcut on your home screen, but I've yet to master that skill Link below for anyone interested http://opencanalmap.uk/

We picked up our ex-hire boat in February and have been using it as a holiday boat rather than live aboard since then. All very well maintained although rather vanilla internally, but it was ready to go with no issues that needed immediate attention, and we've been too busy enjoying the canals to worry about decor. For us, it was the layout that sold it - we need accommodation for the kids, so already having 2 cabins with single/double bed options was perfect. Also has 2 loos (pump out, of course) but no solid fuel stove. There are little things we would like to change, but as we only want a holiday boat for now, it totally fits the bill.

Interesting post on facebook. I've hidden the name of the poster, but still unsure whether this is allowed. I'm sure I'll be edited if it's not

We passed there a few weeks back and sadly pulled a couple of their lambs out of the canal It didn't look like it was due to open any time soon, but maybe they've got a wiggle on

Just reached the Partings and duly called the Gloucester lockie, only to be told the canal is closed due to a tree blocking the navigation. Very limited interwebz, so not been able to check with crt website.

I just read it through again and that bit made me smile too. But this isn't about the canal, just a new high speed commuter route.

I don't think I'm familiar with this stretch of canal https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/sandwell/2017/07/24/more-than-1-million-to-be-spent-improving-birmingham-canal-in-sandwell/#FiZBx30LEIAZomi3.01

This information is excellent, thank you. We're currently moored on those bollardsand couldn't work out whether long or short term

Trying to prepare for the Great British Summer and we have these draughty bits around the sliding hatches. Only thought so far would be to cut a piece of foam to wedge in the gap, but wondered whether anyone has a better solution, ideally with pics. We don't have the luxury of a stove so rely on central heating to warm the boat, and the wind really whistles through these gaps.

The BCN Challenge gave us more weed hatch treasures than we could ever have dreamed of, although I only photographed a couple

Well we came 21st and I am not just surprised but rather delighted with that. And we won the stunning Trolley Trophy. Couldn't ask for more - yes, I am easily pleased

Our morning can be summarised in pictures. Huge breakfast Lazy crew Matching fire extinguisher New fender Can't open front doors

Team Maxwell are miserably behind before we even start! Losing the boat keys before we left the house wasn't the brightest start. 5 hours in bank holiday traffic with no air con in the car pretty much sealed the deal. Arriving at the boat and realising we'd left tonight's tea AND tomorrow's breakfast in the conservatory floor was just the icing on the cake. Currently enjoying a nice night time cruise in the hope we can get vaguely near the start. Therapeutic alcohol means we won't be working the locks we need to get through to get onto the BCN until the morning. Very early in the morning. With no breakfast. Himself has already declared this will be the first and the last challenge we 'enjoy'. More stamina needed

Hoping we'll see you too - the floating bar is going to be one of the highlights of our weekend

They are rather more keen on lying in their beds, doing their hair and applying make-up than they are working the locks. Our daughter's pal only came on the boat for the first time last weekend - she wore white jeans Hoping they will embrace the challenge this weekend though

Late entry from us, boat name Maxwell. Very grateful to Ken for squeezing us in, especially as our entry arrived a day late! Having read through everything several times, I can honestly say we have no idea what we are doing of our route or how we're going to get through this with our crew of 15 year old girls! I think it's safe to say we present zero competition but are thoroughly looking forward to taking part. Jaki & Kenny

We were on the Ashby earlier this year. I managed to download a map from canal river trust which shows the canal terminating after the snarestone tunnel. The legend states the winding hole is "full length". We didn't explore much as it was bloomin freezing, but did wander up the hill to Market Bosworth (we were at Bosworth marina). The signpost suggesting it is a half mile walk tells lies! It was at least a mile, but we managed it a couple of times. The pubs were OK, but nothing outstanding that I would recommend. We also visited Coventry and moored in the basin, which is a great location to visit the town and very quiet but limited space. Coventry Transport Museum is excellent and well worth a visit.

I'm still getting to know our boat. I enthusiastically took part in some of the maintenance at the weekend, first topping up the fresh water, then opened the pump out cap to put the diesel in.... Thankfully the bloke at the marina knew where the fuel was supposed to go

I bought ours for the boat in Asda for 7.50. It's worth looking in charity shops though - I bought a huge one for home for about 4 quid at or local hospice shop. They really make the most of cheaper cuts of meat. Shin of beef stew is a favourite, but also use it for chilli, currys and pulled pork.

Excellent news, so pleased he's back! He was probably just having a nose around the deer - cats and curiosity are a well known combination Do you have netting from your boat in case he falls in the cut? One of my mogs keeps managing to get himself shut in one of the outbuildings, where I store my hen's food. He is always nosing for mice in there (not difficult to find) and then when I let him out, acts like I dumped him 1000 miles away and made him walk home!