john6767 Posted April 28, 2019 Report Share Posted April 28, 2019 1 hour ago, Graham and Jo said: I have 3 politicians on my crew, they have voted down my route 3 times but can't decide where to go instead, can we delay the challenge for a while? Cheers Graham What you need is strong leadership. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham and Jo Posted April 28, 2019 Report Share Posted April 28, 2019 1 hour ago, john6767 said: What you need is strong leadership. That's me 'Strong and Stable'. U turns my speciality. Cheers Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted April 29, 2019 Report Share Posted April 29, 2019 12 hours ago, Graham and Jo said: That's me 'Strong and Stable'. U turns my speciality. Cheers Graham Perfect politician material Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 On 28/04/2019 at 18:54, RLWP said: Our contact is back at work Monday Any update? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 1 minute ago, tree monkey said: Any update? Not yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham and Jo Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 I know people are concerned that the restricted hours will ruin the challenge but it is a challenge and we should respond to that challenge and plan routes that cope with those time limitations. We might all end up on the same route but that would be fun too. Cheers Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 3 minutes ago, Graham and Jo said: I know people are concerned that the restricted hours will ruin the challenge but it is a challenge and we should respond to that challenge and plan routes that cope with those time limitations. We might all end up on the same route but that would be fun too. Cheers Graham IF it looks like being a problem, we may issue a revised route planner Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 38 minutes ago, Graham and Jo said: I know people are concerned that the restricted hours will ruin the challenge but it is a challenge and we should respond to that challenge and plan routes that cope with those time limitations. We might all end up on the same route but that would be fun too. Cheers Graham I get that point of view and we’re have had a bit of a think around that, but if it came to that I would worry that CRT would actually be unlocking all the flights at exactly the stated time, that is going to take a lot of personnel. Perhaps they do actually do that as routine, but 7 flights with 2 people per flight hovering over the padlocks at 8am, is that what is happening each day, I rather suspect not. So there would be a massive potential for this to all be a bit random. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob-M Posted April 30, 2019 Report Share Posted April 30, 2019 If it is just the top lock of the flights leaving the Wolverhampton level then planning around that shouldn't be too difficult. For example if Wolverhampton bottom lock is accessible at 8:00 then the top lock would be open long before you arrived. I guess starting somewhere that would arrive at the top of Spon Lane, Brades, Smethwick, Factory or Rushall shortly after 8:00 but most of those are not right on a typical start point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheshire~rose Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 I might be speaking out of turn here but, if the reason for the overnight closure is to save water and the saving water is based on locking the flights so scrotes don't drain the pounds rather than reducing the number of boating movements then unlocking the locks could potentially be done at 8am by volunteers if they have sufficient people (and sufficient keys) to be at all the relevant places at the right time. Maybe if we all selected the top of a lock flight to take our enforced overnight break then we could "volunteer" to open them at 8am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 3 minutes ago, cheshire~rose said: I might be speaking out of turn here but, if the reason for the overnight closure is to save water and the saving water is based on locking the flights so scrotes don't drain the pounds rather than reducing the number of boating movements then unlocking the locks could potentially be done at 8am by volunteers if they have sufficient people (and sufficient keys) to be at all the relevant places at the right time. Maybe if we all selected the top of a lock flight to take our enforced overnight break then we could "volunteer" to open them at 8am You think we will be starting at 8am on the second day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheshire~rose Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 You know what time I am usually up so why do you have to ask? I didn't mean us I meant the tardy boats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kustomcut Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 And I normally take the break at the end 24 straight through, good luck with getting updated info from CRT they normally busy tidying round by the NIA doing flower beds and creating brand new cycle paths, sorry but I have very little opinion of them when it comes to contact and updating the people on the canal. Rant over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 14 hours ago, tree monkey said: Any update? Right, the latest update (just now) The restrictions depend on the installation of a second temporary pump which is planned to take place this week or next. The current single pump is maintaining the current level (which is slightly down) but doesn't have the capacity to replace a large loss, for instance by vandalism. The restrictions come off when the second pump is up and running. There are other contingencies that can be used. Probably the best summary is this: Quote The Region is absolutely committed to making sure the challenge goes ahead and I can assure you there’s a lot of work going on in the background making sure of just that In response, it would have been nice to put out a larger field of boats, fate seems to have got in the way of that unfortunately Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 22 minutes ago, RLWP said: Right, the latest update (just now) The restrictions depend on the installation of a second temporary pump which is planned to take place this week or next. The current single pump is maintaining the current level (which is slightly down) but doesn't have the capacity to replace a large loss, for instance by vandalism. The restrictions come off when the second pump is up and running. There are other contingencies that can be used. Probably the best summary is this: In response, it would have been nice to put out a larger field of boats, fate seems to have got in the way of that unfortunately Richard Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 8 hours ago, RLWP said: Right, the latest update (just now) The restrictions depend on the installation of a second temporary pump which is planned to take place this week or next. The current single pump is maintaining the current level (which is slightly down) but doesn't have the capacity to replace a large loss, for instance by vandalism. The restrictions come off when the second pump is up and running. There are other contingencies that can be used. Probably the best summary is this: In response, it would have been nice to put out a larger field of boats, fate seems to have got in the way of that unfortunately Richard Thanks for the update. That sounds as positive a response as we could hope for. Let’s hope the installation of the new pump goes well, as you would think that the additional lockage that the challenge generates would cause a problem anyway with just the single pump and no supply from Chasewater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bearwood Boster Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 9 hours ago, Kustomcut said: And I normally take the break at the end 24 straight through, good luck with getting updated info from CRT they normally busy tidying round by the NIA doing flower beds and creating brand new cycle paths, sorry but I have very little opinion of them when it comes to contact and updating the people on the canal. Rant over Can I just say that the folk doing flower beds & tidying by the NIA are mainly volunteers,my husband being one of them.Volunteers are not the ones to contact & update people-they are minor cogs in a very large wheel. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom and Bex Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 2 hours ago, john6767 said: Let’s hope the installation of the new pump goes well, as you would think that the additional lockage that the challenge generates would cause a problem anyway with just the single pump and no supply from Chasewater. Out of interest, why is there no supply from Chasewater? I know they sold it several years back, and remember it being drained for work to the dam, but thought CRT kept the rights to water from there? If so why can't they exercise that right now instead of relying on a single pump to maintain levels? Either way let's hope the pump installation goes well, and they soon get Bradley back up to full capacity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 1 hour ago, Tom and Bex said: Out of interest, why is there no supply from Chasewater? I know they sold it several years back, and remember it being drained for work to the dam, but thought CRT kept the rights to water from there? If so why can't they exercise that right now instead of relying on a single pump to maintain levels? Either way let's hope the pump installation goes well, and they soon get Bradley back up to full capacity! Isn’t there some issue with the control valve the controls the supply from Chasewater, and there is a disagreement between CRT and Staffordshire council who’s responsibility it is, therefore the council have turned off the supply. Or something along those lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom and Bex Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 Shouldn't those responsibilities have been clearly defined at the point of transfer? Do CRT have right of free use of the water, or do they pay for the water they take from there? If free then surely there is no incentive on Staffordshire council to repair the valve! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 6 hours ago, Tom and Bex said: Shouldn't those responsibilities have been clearly defined at the point of transfer? Do CRT have right of free use of the water, or do they pay for the water they take from there? If free then surely there is no incentive on Staffordshire council to repair the valve! You would think they would have done that, and I agree it is only CRT that care if the water extraction works. I am sure someone knows the exact story behind this, but the end result at the moment is the pumps at Bradley are the only supply to the Wolverhampton level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted May 2, 2019 Report Share Posted May 2, 2019 On 30/04/2019 at 20:17, Graham and Jo said: I know people are concerned that the restricted hours will ruin the challenge but it is a challenge and we should respond to that challenge and plan routes that cope with those time limitations. We might all end up on the same route but that would be fun too. Cheers Graham 23 hours ago, cheshire~rose said: I might be speaking out of turn here but, if the reason for the overnight closure is to save water and the saving water is based on locking the flights so scrotes don't drain the pounds rather than reducing the number of boating movements then unlocking the locks could potentially be done at 8am by volunteers if they have sufficient people (and sufficient keys) to be at all the relevant places at the right time. Maybe if we all selected the top of a lock flight to take our enforced overnight break then we could "volunteer" to open them at 8am Coping with the restrictions to save water is all very laudable but in reality I don’t think the Challenge in its usual format would work if they aren’t lifted. One of the principal drivers behind the Challenge is to encourage usage of the lesser used parts of the BCN which is mostly the northern reaches. With restricted availability of the Rushall and Walsall flights in particular it becomes difficult to plan use of those waterways. The majority of usage of these flights in the Challenge probably falls outside the window when they are currently open and that’s a simple fact of geography and time. You won’t be able to get back to Birmingham for 1400 if you can’t work down those flights before 0800 on the Sunday morning. There’s little point in holding an event to promote and protect usage of waterways that are effectively excluded from that event. I expect a solution will be found. JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kustomcut Posted May 8, 2019 Report Share Posted May 8, 2019 So hows everyone's planning going? All excited, managed to stock up on the essentials like beer, spirits snacks etc? This year i am taking a more relaxed approach as i dont want a repeat of last year......... Finally any news on the overnight stoppages/closures of locks and am i right in thinking its just the following locks, Wolverhampton Rushall Walsall Factory Brades Spon Lane Smethwick 8.30am - 4pm they are open? And where is our final finish point? And the letter i m excited to receive my letter for the treasure hunt... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham and Jo Posted May 8, 2019 Report Share Posted May 8, 2019 I am excited, I have been monitoring my crew's pre-challenge exercise regime closely and have even strolled around the corner myself. I have two routes planned, one with the closures and one without. Boat is in good fettle this year ( as opposed to not working on the Tuesday before the challenge last year). We even have a new sofa arriving on Saturday which I confidently predict will improve our results considerably. Cheers Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bearwood Boster Posted May 8, 2019 Report Share Posted May 8, 2019 Reckon that new sofa could swing it for you...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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