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In the topic covering paulmeds' first trip on his newly acquired boat nb Tara from Crick to Caen Hill marina, which he wants to reach by Thursday 16th, I've appealed on his behalf for someone to crew the last part for him, so far with no response, so I'm starting a topic here in the appropriate section to draw attention to it. I'm on the boat this week, trying to help him get as far along the route as we can before I leave on Sunday evening; I have to get back to Croydon then. We've made good progress so far, reaching Aynho in two days, and provisionally will get to Oxford tomorrow, Reading on Friday 10th and Newbury or a bit further on Sunday 12th, leaving four days for Paul to do the remainder, which should be comfortable if he can find someone to do the locks, including the big flight at Caen Hill near the end. While ideally Paul needs someone who knows how to do locks and is available for long enough to get him from Newbury to Caen Hill during Monday to Thursday, it could suit someone new to boating if you can join the boat by Sunday lunchtime so I can teach you how to do it. Alternatively, if someone is only available for one hectic day on Thursday involving a lot of locks, that may be enough to make Paul's journey a lot easier. The original topic covering Paul's trip is: http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=77159

We have the opportunity of spending 3 or 4 days on the eastern section of the Kennet and Avon next week, and would welcome any advice from forum members as to places to visit, pubs not to miss, good places to moor etc - along with any necessary navigational tips. I know every twist and turn of the western sections of the Kennet and Avon - having been brought up in the village of Winsley, just above Avoncliffe and Limpley Stoke. This year we have the opportunity of exploring the eastern end. We're planning a handover of our 'share boat' on the Thames near Reading at the week-end and plan to be back at Oxford for Easter week-end, before returning north up the southern Oxford. We'd be grateful of any suggestions or recommendations. Love peaceful and tranquil places, but with the Western Region main railway line alongside - guess I'll have to brush up my loco spotting knowledge.

CANAL & RIVER TRUST PUBLISHES RESPONSE TO KENNET & AVON TOWPATH MOORING PLAN CONSULTATION We are today publishing our response to the consultation on the towpath mooring plan, proposed by our Kennet & Avon Waterway Partnership, to encourage fair use of the busy stretch of the Kennet & Avon (K&A) Canal between Devizes and Bath. Large numbers of moored boats, complaints about boats moored in one area for long periods of time, and concerns from boaters and other stakeholders about the continued growth in boat numbers, led the Trust to support the development of a local plan for this part of the network. We had worked extensively with local partners over many years to try to reach an agreed way forward, and over the past 12 months our K&A Waterway Partnership made up of a group of local stakeholders developed and consulted on a towpath mooring plan for the area. We are very grateful for the work that the Partnership has done and the contributions made by the many people who responded to the Consultation. With some modifications, discussed with the Partnership, we will implement the bulk of the proposed plan from 1 May. Boaters without a home mooring on the western end of the canal between Bath and the bottom of the Caen Hill flight, who adopt the range of movement and mooring described in the response published today, will not face enforcement action by the Trust for a 12 month interim period. Overall, we believe that this offers the best way of achieving the long-sought improvements to the canal that will benefit all users. We will work with the Partnership to monitor the impact of this plan over the 12 month period. We are now working on the steps needed to put the new arrangements into practice. These include developing communications materials for boaters, adjusting monitoring systems and updating signage. We aim to be ready for the measures to come into effect on 1 May 2014. To read the Trusts full response, please visit: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/consultations/completed-consultations