Muddy towpaths

[doratheexplorer]

It's getting like a quagmire out there!  I'm Midlands based.  Could anyone recommend any areas outside of cities where the towpath surface is solid and doesn't involve sloshing about up to your knees in mud?

[roland elsdon]

When we lived on the boats i used to look quite natty walking down the towpath with wellies and a suit on the way to work in the winter. Its part of the rich tapestry.

standing on one leg changing into work shoes before driving to work was always a challenge.

[frahkn]

1 hour ago, doratheexplorer said:

It's getting like a quagmire out there!  I'm Midlands based.  Could anyone recommend any areas outside of cities where the towpath surface is solid and doesn't involve sloshing about up to your knees in mud?

The towpath north and south of Stone is good and there must be similar stretches elsewhere.

[sirweste]

Down around MK it's super busy at bridge spots where there's tarmac towpath. It's super sloppy this year

[Galilee]

It should be frozen this time of year. Not long before the canals boil dry every summer.

[doratheexplorer]

22 minutes ago, Galilee said:

It should be frozen this time of year. Not long before the canals boil dry every summer.

I was walking along some frozen bits yesterday and that was much easier.  Weather forecast is dry for the next few days which should help.

[Boater Sam]

4 hours ago, doratheexplorer said:

It's getting like a quagmire out there!  I'm Midlands based.  Could anyone recommend any areas outside of cities where the towpath surface is solid and doesn't involve sloshing about up to your knees in mud?

Panama?

 

Middlewich?  Birmingham Center?

[pete.i]

Don't worry CRT are doing all they can to attract cyclists, walkers and fishermen/women to the canals. Soon every towpath will be tarmaced because those people wouldn't want to get their booties and brightly coloured lycra all dirty with that nasty mud stuff.

[doratheexplorer]

38 minutes ago, Boater Sam said:

Panama?

 

Middlewich?  Birmingham Center?

In the midlands but outside cities is the criteria.

26 minutes ago, pete.i said:

Don't worry CRT are doing all they can to attract cyclists, walkers and fishermen/women to the canals. Soon every towpath will be tarmaced because those people wouldn't want to get their booties and brightly coloured lycra all dirty with that nasty mud stuff.

Sounds fabulous!  Maybe they could install those horizontal escalators like they have at airports too?

[sirweste]

1 hour ago, doratheexplorer said:

Sounds fabulous!  Maybe they could install those horizontal escalators like they have at airports too?

 

That would make carrying water, the petrol can, shopping etc much easier. 

[Iain_S]

2 hours ago, doratheexplorer said:

In the midlands but outside cities is the criteria.

Sounds fabulous!  Maybe they could install those horizontal escalators like they have at airports too?

 

1 hour ago, sirweste said:

 

That would make carrying water, the petrol can, shopping etc much easier. 

 .. to say nothing of the possibility of towing a boat with it ...

[doratheexplorer]

3 minutes ago, Iain_S said:

 

 .. to say nothing of the possibility of towing a boat with it ...

Ooh yes!  Like a sort of boat-ski-lift.  That might be even better than that crazy mini tractor idea from a few months back.

[sirweste]

8 minutes ago, Iain_S said:

 

 .. to say nothing of the possibility of towing a boat with it ...

Must admit I did think this. You could get a rope, fasten it to a horse, fasten the horse to the moving towpat

[doratheexplorer]

Just now, sirweste said:

Must admit I did think this. You could get a rope, fasten it to a horse, fasten the horse to the moving towpat

So the horse would be purely for decorative purposes?

[The Dreamer]

5 hours ago, Galilee said:

It should be frozen this time of year.

Strangely, the pounds between Perry Barr flight were frozen today, but the towpath wasn’t!

8 hours ago, doratheexplorer said:

Could anyone recommend any areas outside of cities where the towpath surface is solid and doesn't involve sloshing about up to your knees in mud?

Frankly, Brum was horrid yesterday morning, even though the paths are solid.  Those stupid brick paved ramps up to the bridges around the ICC, were like ski slopes...

Edited January 20, 2020 by The Dreamer

[cougie]

5 hours ago, pete.i said:

Don't worry CRT are doing all they can to attract cyclists, walkers and fishermen/women to the canals. Soon every towpath will be tarmaced because those people wouldn't want to get their booties and brightly coloured lycra all dirty with that nasty mud stuff.

You've never seen a mountain bike race. 

[Sea Dog]

7 hours ago, doratheexplorer said:

Sounds fabulous!  Maybe they could install those horizontal escalators like they have at airports too?

Depending on the direction, you might get to the shop lots quicker, but it'll be a proper barsteward running back as fast as your little legs will carry you with arms full of shopping bags!

 

On the plus side, you could give the dog a good long walk whilst you sit on the gunwales supping tea!

 

[Chris Lowe]

7 hours ago, pete.i said:

Don't worry CRT are doing all they can to attract cyclists, walkers and fishermen/women to the canals. Soon every towpath will be tarmaced because those people wouldn't want to get their booties and brightly coloured lycra all dirty with that nasty mud stuff.

But then the cyclists will think they own the towpath and have right of way.

[Dave123]

You either get mud or speeding cyclists...take your pick?‍♂️?

[Ianws]

I don’t hate cyclists per se, but cycle tyres carve up the towpath/mud/footpaths more than anything else does.