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Naughty Cal · July 17

On this day 2017

We finally escaped the Caledonian Canal after a few days weather bound at Banavie and made our way down the coast to Oban.

PeterScott · July 17

9 hours ago, Stroudwater1 said:

That looks sadly neglected in Slaithwaite. How was it to steer through there Peter? Interesting how in contrast it’s mown round the tunnel portal. The trouble comes that more invasive plants take over with roots that start to penetrate the edge of the canal. It’s not much of a showcase like that. ...

Howard steered through Slaithwaite, and that bit was fine ...

... having moored overnight on the moorings above the lock on tha new strip-of-land that was once waterspace ...

Yestreday at Low Westwood Lock No 16E on HNC ...

I was surprised that leaving-the-grass to its own devices (and the bees) gives such an overall impression of neglect ...

... and below Br41 this grassy-stuff is taking over the channel. Our lock-winders-ahead advised of waiting before the bridge for oncoming boat to come through because it was struggling in this bit and passing us here might have been just-too-much-fun ...

Sadly I could go on ...

Jon57 · July 17

1 hour ago, PeterScott said:

Howard steered through Slaithwaite, and that bit was fine ...

... having moored overnight on the moorings above the lock on tha new strip-of-land that was once waterspace ...

Yestreday at Low Westwood Lock No 16E on HNC ...

I was surprised that leaving-the-grass to its own devices (and the bees) gives such an overall impression of neglect ...

... and below Br41 this grassy-stuff is taking over the channel. Our lock-winders-ahead advised of waiting before the bridge for oncoming boat to come through because it was struggling in this bit and passing us here might have been just-too-much-fun ...

Sadly I could go on ...

Yes it's very neglected on the towpath and the lock landings. You can't wear shorts if you have short legs with some of the nettles and brambles. DAMHIK 😁👍

IanD · July 17

22 minutes ago, Jon57 said:

Yes it's very neglected on the towpath and the lock landings. You can't wear shorts if you have short legs with some of the nettles and brambles. DAMHIK 😁👍

The HNC is hardly alone in that, regardless of how long your legs are... 😞

Lovely canal, shame about the maintenance/stoppages and how few people use it...

Jon57 · July 17

2 hours ago, IanD said:

The HNC is hardly alone in that, regardless of how long your legs are... 😞

Lovely canal, shame about the maintenance/stoppages and how few people use it...

Depends how high the grass is. On my travels this year which includes the Huddersfield narrow in April. The towpath and lock landings are up to my go nads now. Where they were only up to my ankles before. 😁

PeterScott · July 17

On this day in 1986

River Tyne looking downstream and upstream from the railway bridge in Newcastle Compare 19Dec1999 2Aug2018 16Apr2023

PeterScott · July 17

On this day in 2011

and 13 July 2024

Wharf Cottage Lock No 13W HNC

peterboat · July 17

7 hours ago, IanD said:

The HNC is hardly alone in that, regardless of how long your legs are... 😞

Lovely canal, shame about the maintenance/stoppages and how few people use it...

As I said, I tried to walk on the Macclesfield the other week, the nettles, brambles giant showed etc was above our heads! It was an impenetrable jungle, locals are complaining, I told them boats are having to carry tools to cut it back so they can moor.

Naughty Cal · July 18

On this day 2017

The Isles of Kerrera and Seil

On this day 2016

Reedham to Loddon

On this day 2013

Potter Heigham

Edited July 18 by Naughty Cal

Momac · July 18

Just now. Gunthorpe.

PeterScott · July 18

This morning 2024

stop planks lock 1E HNC ...

adjusting the offside top paddle ...

... removing top stopplank ...

... and lower planks floating up ...

... stopplanks on the towingpath, in order ...

... and second boat of two through the lock ...

... clearing the top of the lowest plank, which has remained in place throughout ...

.... replacing plank ...

... and the whole process is needed because of leaks. Tried resealing gate, replacing paddles, grouting, tracing-dye in the water, and it still leaks. Hence the regime of two timed openings each week ...

Edited July 19 by PeterScott
stoppage notice link

PeterScott · July 18

This afternoon 2024

Cooper Bridge C+H/Huddersfield Broad Lock1

Compare 7Apr1979/7Apr2010 8Apr1979 24Aug2002 22Dec2012 27Mar2013 29Apr2013 29Jul2013 18Apr2014 (#2) 7Jul2014 5June2021 22Apr2023 26Aug2023 20Apr2024

PeterScott · July 19

On this day in 2018

River Tyne looking upstream from the railway bridge Newcastle Compare 17Jul1986 19Dec1999 16Apr2023

Tyne Bridge RTyne Newcastle and some other Tyne bridges

Compare 5Apr1980 19Dec1999 1Aug2018 2Aug2018 19Jul2018 (#2) 3Aug2020

Edited July 19 by PeterScott
extra pic

PeterScott · July 19

On this day in 2005

Port Dundas Glasgow F+C Compare 16Jul1986 xx2011 7Mar2020

Twechar Bridge F+C

Edited July 20 by PeterScott
extra pic

Stroudwater1 · July 20

On 18/07/2024 at 20:33, PeterScott said:

This morning 2024

... clearing the top of the lowest plank, which has remained in place throughout

... and the whole process is needed because of leaks. Tried resealing gate, replacing paddles, grouting, tracing-dye in the water, and it still leaks. Hence the regime of two timed openings each week ...

Thanks for explaining the interesting procedure Peter. The pointing of these stones on the non towpath side image here look decidedly lacking. Perhaps it’s the photo exposure that makes it look like that. Maybe the leak is from there? Theres not much area to be leaking from now if the level stays fine on the rest of the pound.

The lowest stop plank remained in place at Slaithwaite. It floated up after the pound was low and we rose and fell over an obstruction that floated up behind us with handles either side. 😀

PeterScott · July 20

On this day in 2009

Rochdale Canal Castleton.

The floating towingpath for the M62 bridge. Wide boats have to give notice to have it moved to its parking spot.

Compare 8Aug2007

Rob-M · July 20

Today

Bows to bows in Gnosal.

PeterScott · July 20

On 16/07/2024 at 22:20, PeterScott said:

[16Jul] 2024

Lock 1E - HNC with the stop planks

On 18/07/2024 at 20:33, PeterScott said:

[18Jul] 2024

stop planks lock 1E HNC ... adjusting the offside top paddle ...

.. and the whole process is needed because of leaks. Tried resealing gate, replacing paddles, grouting, tracing-dye in the water, and it still leaks. Hence the regime of two timed openings each week ...

8 hours ago, Stroudwater1 said:

.... The pointing of these stones on the non towpath side image here look decidedly lacking. Perhaps it’s the photo exposure that makes it look like that. Maybe the leak is from there? Theres not much area to be leaking from now if the level stays fine on the rest of the pound. ...

Yes, another view of the a small area for possible leaks: has to be the lock walls or the floor/invert, all above the top gates. (16Jul2024, Lock 1E HNC)

Whatever the cause of leaking, the restrictions of opening (11am Tuesday or 11am Thursday) when added to the current restrictions at Marsden and Standedge creates a major disincentive to through navigation. Boaters are a diverse bunch and seek to navigate at different rates with different priorities; we have covered the extra 8 miles and 41 locks (Huddersfield -> Standedge) in under ten hours' boating (in 2015, 2014, 2009), with overnight stops at Slaithwaite to give some contingency for meeting Standedge bookings: lunchtime Wednesday in Huddersfield would see us through Standedge two days later at lunchtime Friday. A similar arrival in 2024 could only arrive through Standedge the following Monday five full days later. Or a Friday lunchtime in Huddersfield could only be through Standedge the next Friday seven full days later.

Our other nine through-navigation trips have been in the other direction (in 2024, 2016, 2014, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2008, 2006, 2001).