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Missed Opportunity or is something not right?


matty40s

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1 hour ago, Big Bob W said:

My better half worked at Stoke Bruerne as a “Towpath Fundraiser” for a few weeks recently. They fired her in February as she wasn’t getting any sign ups. There’s hardly any visitors there midwinter, so not surprising really! 

This doesn't surprise me in the least, the fact that for years they have completely shut the cafe from Christmas to mid Feb doesnt exactly get the crowds coming to see nil boats because the lock flight is shut for Winter maintenance.

1 minute ago, roland elsdon said:

Whats with the flag?

do i need a quebec flag to wave back?

He's got a red one and a green one, thats all I know. I just carry on as normal.

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9 hours ago, David Mack said:

We were the 102nd boat to be worked through Sawley Lock yesterday by the volockies. 

We were a few earlier than you - we were moored at Trent Lock and saw you turn out of the Erewash onto the Trent. We counted twice at sawley yesterday as we went to the marina to get a pump out and then returned to Trent Lock.

The lady on duty at Sawley is a very experienced boater - we have known her for many years.

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13 minutes ago, matty40s said:

This doesn't surprise me in the least, the fact that for years they have completely shut the cafe from Christmas to mid Feb doesnt exactly get the crowds coming to see nil boats because the lock flight is shut for Winter maintenance.

He's got a red one and a green one, thats all I know. I just carry on as normal.

 

The red one means the green one is next. 

 

The green one means the red one is next.....

 

Hope that helps.

 

 

Who wants to be normal anyway?

 

 

 

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Vlockies, Towpath Fundraisers, ye gods - I came onto the canals to get away from all the bull shirt.  But that was fifty years ago - proper lock keepers, lengthsmen, boaters, who all were friendly and knew what they were talking about.  If you listened and respected them. 

I keep well away from it all now - let them get on with it.  Even 'The River' isn't what it used to be.  Environment Agency indeed!

Sorry - getting too old.

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12 hours ago, roland elsdon said:

Im red green colourblind thats why my boats are blue and grey

 

12 hours ago, Mike the Boilerman said:

Are you SURE they are those colours?

 

He is - it's just that nobody else is!

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24 minutes ago, cuthound said:

Went through Glascote Locks on Monday. Absolutely disgusting that CRT didn't have any volockies operating this long and arduous flight. ?

 

Lost your windlass again I expect...?

 

 

 

 

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4 hours ago, cuthound said:

Went through Glascote Locks on Monday. Absolutely disgusting that CRT didn't have any volockies operating this long and arduous flight. ?

Be careful what you wish for.

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On 22/04/2019 at 22:15, matty40s said:

We finally had the chance to spend the second half of Easter out on the boat after hardly moving at all for 12 months.

A sunny and hot Easter Sunday saw many boats moving and even more towpath walkers out. 

We hit Stoke Bruerne locks (one of CRT's crown jewels) at early afternoon (unusual for us but beggars cant be choosers). It was packed full of day visitors and boats too. 

However, not a volocky or chugger to be seen, even though we have seen the latter there in late October and mid January before now.

We had a lovely cruise below and found a wonderful peaceful mooring in the middle of nowhere to spend the sunset hours in.

 

Monday was again a late start, cruised a few miles to turn and then back up the 7 Stoke Bruerne locks again. Very busy with walkers and plenty of boat movements. Reached the top and it was like Blackpool prom!!

...but not a single volocky or chugger.

 

I know that CRT threw a lot at the Easter Ellesmere Port bash, featured on NW and national news channels (well, I did see a weather forecast from there), however, missing all that footfall from potential Friends, and having 90,000 volunteer hours a year but not managing to have one on duty at the first big boating weekend of the "new boating season" is a massive missed opportunity in my eyes. 

 

Perhaps there was a stall in the museum, perhaps in the car park???There was nothing seen from the canal side.

With regard to VLK's, the annual recruitment drive was rather muted this year. I put this down to the reorganisation and redundancy programme that C&RT has been going through for over a year now.

With regard to Friends - C&RT's aspiration was 100,000 Friends in its first ten years with charitable giving contributing £10m pa. I have no doubt that when C&RT publishes its 2018/19 Annual Report we will find that, once again, "Charitable Giving" continues to operate at a loss.

There is a suggestion that, in future, C&RT will concentrate on "supporters"  rather than "financial supporters" (i.e. Friends) in order to distance itself from its recruitment failure.

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5 hours ago, cuthound said:

Went through Glascote Locks on Monday. Absolutely disgusting that CRT didn't have any volockies operating this long and arduous flight. ?

The only help I need at those locks is a volunteer gate paddle on the top gates to appear everytime I go through.

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9 hours ago, matty40s said:

The only help I need at those locks is a volunteer gate paddle on the top gates to appear everytime I go through.

 

Yes, when I first went along the Coventry, both Glascote and Atherstone locks had top gate paddles and were very quick to fill, unlike today.

 

Why they removed them rather than fitting a baffle has always puzzled me.

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We went up and then down the Watford staircase yesterday, two lovely blokes on duty in the morning at 8, then 4 on duty when we came back down, grass being mown, weeds being weeded, smiles everywhere and the flight looks really nice, you can tell they are proud of "their" locks. Really helpful and genuinely nice people. 

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7 hours ago, cuthound said:

Why they removed them rather than fitting a baffle has always puzzled me.

Anything to make your life more difficult.

6 hours ago, Heffalump said:

grass being mown, weeds being weeded,

Had they oiled the paddles?

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The Watford lot are generally ok, they don't get opportunity to perform or show off like most flights as there is no local parking access. 

It was however the flight I was ascending, where one kept shouting at me to move back, I didnt/couldnt, MOVE BACK, I didnt/couldnt, came stomping down to admonish me until I pointed out that at 70 feet I had nowhere to go back to.........

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Came down Watford today, guys are always helpful, leave a lock between boats so that I don’t get soaked standing on the back going down something I nearly always have to point out at a Foxton. With all the reorganisation the guy who oversaw Foxton ( young enthusiastic etc etc) has gone as his 22 month contract was not renewed. Obvious the cynic would say that at 24 months he would have employment rights. CRT have lost a good guy. But the same volunteer group now covers Watford down towards Kilburn bridge I believe.

 

Doubt we will see anyone going down to Braunston in the morning , which is fine by us.

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Hi as a Boater and now a Volockie [in training]   I thought I must reply...many Volockies are not boaters But are still keen to give their Free time up to assist boaters at various sites across the system . If a Boater Declines help that's Fine ,But many are Glad of Help , So please Don't belittle Volockies...They're Giving up their Time For YOU

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8 minutes ago, Gordon M said:

Hi as a Boater and now a Volockie [in training]   I thought I must reply...many Volockies are not boaters But are still keen to give their Free time up to assist boaters at various sites across the system . If a Boater Declines help that's Fine ,But many are Glad of Help , So please Don't belittle Volockies...They're Giving up their Time For YOU

Gordon, no issues with anyone who wants to Volunteer , but I would question whether they are giving up their time exclusively for me the boater.  That MAY obviously be part of the reason along with fresh air, keeping fit, socialising etc etc but it is by means  the main reason for many.

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12 minutes ago, Gordon M said:

Hi as a Boater and now a Volockie [in training]   I thought I must reply...many Volockies are not boaters But are still keen to give their Free time up to assist boaters at various sites across the system . If a Boater Declines help that's Fine ,But many are Glad of Help , So please Don't belittle Volockies...They're Giving up their Time For YOU

I think it's fair to say that the majority of boaters here do appreciate the efforts of the majority of Volockies Gordon.  :)

 

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