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Hi there, I'm new to the forum (and boating) and have a couple of questions that I hope someone on here can help me with. My partner and I are looking to buy a 19m (mostly) liveaboard barge and we're looking for a mooring somewhere on the grand Union between London and marsworth, but there are none big enough for us that we can find atm. So we're thinking of cc'ing (even once we have a mooring we plan on cruising for several weeks at a time, but just coming back to 'Home base' in between) around the lower grand Union/regents canal and the Thames. I work full time in Marylebone and my partner is freelance with most of his work in Aylesbury/shepperton/London area. Is there anyone on here who works full time and manages to CC around the London area? Mostly concerned about fitting the maintenance and daily extras around the day job, as well as the more obvious challenge of moving every 2 weeks. Any insights/advice much appreciated! Another big factor is just how possible it is to get through London and find a mooring for a boat as big as ours?! We've seen a few similar boats moored up on regents canal but at 4.2m beam she's quite a monster.

Hello boaters I have a situation arising which is, in the next 6 months or so I will need to move my boat from the Stort to a marina on the Middle Levels; the River Lark, to be precise. Been boating for a few years but this is going to be epic; for me anyway. The problem with that? My boat is a 12' x 57' wide beam. Regardless, I would like to drive to as close as I possibly can get which, I believe, is to the Northampton Arm but because of width and/or draft restrictions beyond there that's probably as far as I'll be able to go. Unless, of course, you know different. Please tell me you know different I have done as much homework as possible and have exhausted a wide variety of options; web sites, phone calls (even Gayton Marina staff and CRT didn't have any helpful or appropriate info) and books (Nicholson which didn't turn up all the issues) to find this information but not all the restrictions are given. I have been advised of them purely through conversations with other boaters. My previous was a narrow boat so any problems wouldn't have been a consideration. Therefore, the plan is to drive the boat to a point as close as possible, which I believe is Gayton Junction and from there I am told it would have to be craned and transported to its destination being the closest river and craning point to the Marina. If there's anyone on the Lark or Middle Levels reading this, can they get in touch and give me some local advice please. Thanks. I would appreciate any information regarding restrictions on length, width, draft, phone numbers and names of any people in the know would be so helpful and also for craning (as I suspect that's what it will boil down to in the end) for a wide beam. I also need to know things like transport companies, procedures, all the facts and figures if anyone can help in any way. Thanks in anticipation for any help, info and suggestions. The only suggestion I don't want to hear is "You Can't". Cheers. Chrissie

HI All, setting off this Saturday (9th Aug) From Gayton to Oxford (Planning) for a 12 day trip. If anyone is currently on the South Oxford or Grand Union along that stretch can give me an indication on depths of water along that route and/or average length of waiting times on the locks at this time of year! Be looking out for Forum members on our route and looking forward to meeting some as well! David

Link to documents are here (http://www.southnorthants.gov.uk/4843.htm) (preamble below). I know this will not interest everyone but it may be of interest to those who use the GU in this area and I think it shows the value the local council place on the canal. Preamble from the website to set the context South Northamptonshire Council has appointed consultants The Conservation Studio to draw up proposals for a new conservation area to include the whole of the Grand Union Canal in South Northamptonshire, including the Northampton Arm and the Old Stratford Arm. The public consultation on these proposals runs for six weeks from 11 November 2013 until 23 December 2013. A public exhibition is being held on Saturday 23 November 2013, detailed below, when you will have a chance to meet the consultants and representatives from the Council. The exhibition will provide information about the process and encourages community feedback via a questionnaire, which should be returned to the consultants. After that, the consultants will prepare a public consultations report (copies will be available from the Council on request), agree any changes with Council staff, and make the necessary amendments to the text or maps. Finally the document will be fully illustrated with photographs, historic maps and any other appropriate material. It is the Councils intention to designate the Grand Union Canal Conservation Area once the final documents have been prepared.

Leicester Line (Grand Union Canal) Starts At: Lock 8 Ends At: Lock 17 Monday 8 February 2016 until Friday 12 February 2016 23:59 Type: Navigation Restriction Reason: Maintenance Original message:Change in Opening Times - Monday 8th to Friday 12th February 2016 - Foxton Locks, Lock 8 to Lock 17 To facilitate the installations of screens to the side pounds at Foxton it will be necessary to lower the levels within the side pounds accordingly. During this period passage through Foxton Locks will be via booked passage only. Please contact Amy McEleney, South East Waterway on 0303 040 4040 between the hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday to book passage giving a minimum of 48 hours’ notice.

Leicester Line (Grand Union Canal) Starts At: Bridge 10 Ends At: Crick Tunnel North Portal Monday 8 February 2016 13:45 until further notice Type: Navigation Closure Reason: Vegetation Original message:Please be advised that a tree has fallen blocking navigation and exit from Crick Tunnel, South Portal

I've recently been entrusted (by my sister) with several boxes of colour transparencies that were taken by my late father in the 1960's and 70's. A few canal related photos amongst them, mainly of the Kennet and Avon - Bath area, along with a few of the Grand Union at Stoke Bruerne and Weedon / Buckby. There is one that I thought the Forum would like to see - Gayton Junction - taken in August 1967. Not the greatest of photos - the original was way over exposed. Interesting things to note - at least for me : - The well tended hedges - therefore good visiblity - at the junction. The colourful 'flags' in the adjacent garden or allotment plot. The lack of blockwork around the house on the right hand side - which now extends around the sani station. The foreground Willow Wren motor - Dipper. The small fleet of BW work boats along the Arm.

http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-grand-union-canal-1937/ Following a pair London to Birmingham, wasn't expecting a GU liveried Mechanical Horse right at the end springy