Caldon Canal DVDs released

Another great pair of canal DVDs are released from Waterway Routes in time for Christmas.

The Caldon Canal, considered by some to be the most scenic of canals, is cruised from Etruria Junction to Froghall where you can see if our boat fitted through the low profile of Froghall Tunnel or if we had to complete our journey on foot.

We also cruise along the Leek Branch, something that’s temporarily impossible after the breach earlier this month.  It’s a good job we filmed in September while it was still open.

Now these DVDs are the only way you can reach the terminus of the Leek Branch with a boat.

These are 1/2 hour DVDs retailing at £9.95 for the Popular version (rather like a television programme) and £5.95 for the Bowcam version (a speeded up forward facing camera for a little fun).

There’s also a Combined version at £14.90, with both Popular and Bowcam in one box saving £1 on the separate prices (and at least 75p postage).

They are in stock now, just waiting for you to order them, or any from our great range of canal DVDs.

Posted on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 23:00        Comments (0)
Category(s): Caldon , News

Small Bridge Signs

For some time the bridges around the centre of Birmingham have had temporary signs stuck on them.  Mostly encapsulated paper ones but large enough to read and adequate for a sign that wasn’t to last long.

It’s important that bridges and other landmarks are clearly identified so that boaters can easily report problems and they are logged with the emergency services so they can quickly identify the scene of an incident.

On my last trip to Birmingham I was pleased to see the temporary signs had been replaced by permanent ones, but very disappointed at how small they were.

They are far too small to be read by a boater needing to report a problem, and impossible to see there’s a sign there from the opposite towpath.

Just look at the lower picture, it’s not the sign on the bridge (which is the makers plate) nor the white sign at each end for walkers but set back on the right hand pillar.

Posted on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 12:41        Comments (0)
Category(s): BCN

Forth & Clyde and Union Canals DVD is Released

Another pair of DVDs have just been released by Waterway Routes.

The Forth & Clyde and Union Canals DVDs have hit the streets in both Popular and Bowcam formats.  As with all our other pairs of DVDs they are also available combined in one box.

They cover the Scottish Lowland canals between Edinburgh and Glasgow and, as a bonus, the Popular version also includes a trip along the River Clyde aboard the paddle steamer Waverley.

You can see extracts from the DVDs on YouTube from the links on the right.

Highlights of these cruises include

• Rotating on the Famous Falkirk Wheel
• Descending the Staircase Locks at Falkirk
• Passing through the Dalmuir Drop Lock
• Lunch at McMonagles (watch the DVD to see why this is a unique experience)

You can see more about these DVDs on their own page and see our full range of DVDs here.

I’ve just had the comments back from the proof watchers on the Caldon Canal Canals DVDs so I can finalise those over the next week or so, to make sure they are all ready for Christmas.  The Caldon Canal was filmed before the breach on the Leek Branch this morning.

Posted on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 22:42        Comments (0)
Category(s): Forth/Clyde Union , News

Past and Present

Andrew Denny, in his Granny Buttons Blog entitled Jumping Joe Darby, and who’ll be the new Baron De Coubertin of the waterways?  mentions an archive video from 1972 and asks where it was taken - hoping a blog reader can identify where.

It took a little detective work and careful watching of our BCN Bowcam DVD to identify the location but there are several clues in the video and I’ve visited the site today to confirm where it is.

The pictures show four extracts from the video paired with four pictures from today.  Some things have changed since 1972, while other are unchanged for hundreds of years.

The video is shot somewhere in the Black Country.  It shows a straight, wide canal with towpaths on both sides which narrows it down a little.  It shows a lattice sided footbridge with an almost flat base and not arched at all which narrows it down further, probably to the Tame Valley Canal.

I thought it was about 3/4 mile from Tame Valley Junction on the North bank between Jones Bridge and the former Railway Bridge.  The pairs of shots seem to match pretty well.

1. Shows the commentator - the bridge and building are still there but the trees have grown a bit over the years.

2.  The building is still in the background, although it’s had new cladding on the end in a different colour.

3.  Look at the reflection of the pylon and the corner of the building, matched in the two shots.

4.  The former railway bridge in the background is now painted pink and used by the trams and it has a footbridge added immediately in front, but it’s the same bridge.

Well, Andrew, have we identified the location well enough for you?  If you would like to stage a re-enactment then I’ll offer to come and film you getting wet.

Posted on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 22:44        Comments (2)
Category(s): BCN , Bloggers

Great for Christmas Presents and Holiday Ideas

Once we pass 25th October, with 2 months to go, I start to think about Christmas.  I think others start much earlier, and some are already planning their holiday for next year.

Have you spotted our advert on page 142 of the December Issue of Waterways World?  It will be in Canal Boat magazine too.

Our full range of DVDs are great for Christmas Presents and Holiday Ideas for anyone with an interest in canals and waterways.

Posted on Monday, November 9, 2009 at 15:35        Comments (0)
Category(s): News

Scottish Lowland Canals

In our last post I mentioned how busy we had been since our return from the Caldon Canal with editing the DVDs for the Caldon Canal, and one other.

I can now reveal the other DVDs will cover the Scottish Lowland Canals - the Forth & Clyde Canal, and the Union Canal.

These are connected by the famous Falkirk Wheel and include the unique Dalmuir Drop Lock.

These were filmed from a hire boat, rather than our own, but still include all the useful information to describe a trip along the canals, including a rotation in the Falkirk Wheel.

The photo galleries and route information pages are uploaded ready.  The DVDs will be available later this month, well in time for Christmas presents, so you can start dropping hints now.

And don’t forget to look at the rest of our great range.  They all make good presents and they are great for holiday planning too.

Posted on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 13:26        Comments (0)
Category(s): Forth/Clyde Union

Caldon Canal

We’ve been busy since our cruise along the Caldon Canal in September.  We were there to film for a pair of DVDs in the Waterway Routes Series and we’ve almost finished the editing of the Popular and Bowcam versions.

They went out to the proof watchers yesterday and they should be watching them carefully over the next week or so.  Then, a few minor tweaks they can be copied and should be available in around 2 or 3 weeks time.  We’ll let you know when.

They will be in plenty of time to order for Christmas presents, so you can start dropping hints to your friends and family about these, or any other DVDs in our range.

We’ve also been busy with another pair of DVDs which are also approaching completion but more about those next time.

We’ve uploaded the route information page for the Caldon Canal and the photo galleries so you can have a virtual cruise along the canal.

You can see Hazlehurst (or Hazelhurst) Junction and the aqueduct as we travel past Cheddleton and Consall Forge to reach Froghall and include the Leek Branch too.

Posted on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 09:39        Comments (0)
Category(s): Caldon

Stourbridge Canal Festival 2009

Another trip on the train today took me to the Stourbridge Canal Festival held at the Bonded Warehouse, and along the canal side.

There were lots of people there and it was starting to get crowded as I left.

I spotted the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society (BCNS) stand proudly selling the Waterways Routes range of DVDs.  I hope they do well.

Posted on Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 12:11        Comments (0)
Category(s): Festivals and Shows

Dot may be right

It was an early start for me on Thursday to catch the train to Manchester, then the bus to Fairfield to reach lock 65 of the Rochdale Canal.

This was the meeting point for Epiphany and Gypsy Rover who were to descend the Rochdale Nineteen locks into Manchester.  BW staff would meet them at lock 65 to unlock the gates and let them through, then help from time to time during the passage before reappearing to unlock lock 83 to let them out at the bottom.

Most of the journey was uneventful, just a little hard work at times.  Some of the locks have only one paddle - and have only had one paddle since reopening so they were a little slow to operate.

There was a little rubbish in the canal resulting in the occasional trip down the weed hatch, but no worse than other urban areas.  Derek was sceptical when Dot said the boat was becoming impossible to control and there must be something around the propeller.

Derek tried steering and announced that "Dot might be right".

As soon as the boat was in the lock he opened the weed hatch and he was still there when the lock was empty and was towed out by John on Epiphany,

The photo shows the pile of rubbish removed from the propeller when he was only half way through. There was just as much more to come off the propeller.

Eventually closing the weed hatch and looking at the large pile of rubbish he announced that "Dot was right".

So, 15th October 2009 will go down in history as the day Derek announced that Dot was right

The other problems centred around the excess of water flowing down the canal.  The paths along both sides of the canal were flooded in two of the pounds, although the weirs at the bywashes were clear of rubbish - so either the weirs are built too high, or the paths too low.

A few of the locks were difficult to operate when the water was coming in the top faster than the paddles could let it out of the bottom but we eventually managed to open all the gates.

I don’t know what has happened at lock 73 but the end of lock beam nearest the camera has been sawn off, making it rather short and hard work to push it open.

3 boats worked down, and 2 boats worked up so it was a busy day on the Rochdale Canal.

Posted on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 13:32        Comments (1)
Category(s): Bloggers , Rochdale

Gypsy Rover and Epiphany

A little detour on the way home today took me to Todmorden station and then to the Rochdale Canal.

Walking upwards I soon caught up with Gypsy Rover and Epiphany who were heading towards Walsden.

The broad locks are a little heavy, with some of the paddle gear rather stiff so they all appreciated another pair of hands.

There’s great views of the Pennine scenery as the canal climbs up through the narrow valley and the Rochdale Canal is the only one to cross the Pennines without a summit tunnel.

That’s why there’s so many locks and, being a broad canal, they are all broad locks making them just that bit harder to work.

After being treated to lunch at Grandma Pollards Fish and Chip shop - an amazing place - I headed home

Posted on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 19:56        Comments (0)
Category(s): Blog Readers , Bloggers , Rochdale

Canal Voyagers reach Bristol

An opportunity to cruise a little nearer home today.

Canal Voyagers Hotel Boats were cruising from Bath to Bristol and I had the opportunity to accompany today.

This gave me the chance do a little filming for some publicity material and to see a stretch of river that I’ve never seen before - the Bristol River Avon, not to be confused with the Stratford River Avon or any of the other River Avons.

I caught the train to Bath when I was welcomed aboard and cruised with them to Bristol.

They stayed breasted up throughout with Neil steering the motor and with Corinne also steering the butty at the tighter turns on the river.  The butty’s tiller can simply be left in the centre on the straighter sections with the steering done entirely from the motor.

At Keynsham Lock there was a little excitement when the boat coming out of the lock lost its drive.

Fortunately Neil was able to manoeuvre the hotel pair away from the landing stage for the other crew to haul their boat out with the ropes.

The journey was unusually exciting for narrowboat cruises with lots of rowing boats, several groups of yachts on the river and a surprisingly large number of boats moving in all directions once we reached the Harbour at Bristol.

It was a great day out and I was well looked after with their regular guests and I left them safely moored in Bristol Harbour.

Posted on Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 21:42        Comments (0)
Category(s): Hotel Boats , River Avon (Bristol)

Windsong

We’re still catching up on the blogging from our trip on the Caldon Canal and the bloggers we met on the journey.

We’d been to the end of the Leek Arm and moored while Christine and Susan went shopping and I went filming.

When we say we’d been to the end we really meant it, and we were using our bow thruster to steer as we backed out.

With the narrow channel and the wind blowing sideways I was suddenly surprised by a head appearing from Windsong and Roger shouting "we read your blog".

We usually have to reverse back when caught like that, but this time we went forwards to say a few words to Roger, and to Pip who had appeared by then.

They are more up to date with their writing and have already blogged about our encounter on their site.

Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 19:58        Comments (0)
Category(s): Blog Readers , Bloggers , Caldon

No Problem at Rothersthorpe

It was a trip on the train this morning to reach Northampton for a short walk down to the River Nene where No Problem was just arriving.

After spending summer on the rivers they were returning to the canal system for the winter and I was to help them work the 17 locks of the Rothersthorpe flight on the Northampton Branch of the Grand Union Canal.

There was just time for a little (or was it a lot of) shopping before leaving Northampton.

The first few locks near the town had anti vandal devices fitted.  I’ve seen many variations before but these are the first I’ve seen fitted with a Yale key rather than a handcuff key.  I assume it makes them harder for the vandals to gat around.

With Sue and Vic taking turns steering and working the locks and with help from Anne (from Moore2Life) and from me, we managed the flight in reasonable time.

I left them at Gayton Junction, shortly after the top lock to walk to Milton Malsor for a bus to Northampton and to return home by train. Sue had already written her blog by the time I had returned home.

Posted on Monday, September 28, 2009 at 22:56        Comments (0)
Category(s): Blog Readers , Bloggers , Northampton Branch

Northern Pride

On our recent trip to the Caldon Canal we passed several bloggers and we’re a little behind in posting about them.  Here’s one that took us by surprise.  It’s Northern Pride.

I was on the roof filming the bottle kilns alongside us and only looked at the passing boat when I’d taken the shot.

I was just in time to take a still picture of them disappearing into the distance.

Fortunately our Bowcam was running so I was also able to extract a still from that, although not such good quality.

We just had time to shout hello as we passed.  Hopefully we’ll have a longer chat next time we pass.

They were much prompter blogging about us. Their picture shows me on the roof of our boat, with a tripod so I could see over the wall at the side of the canal for a better shot.

Posted on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 10:45        Comments (0)
Category(s): Bloggers , Caldon

Froghall Tunnel

There’s been rather a gap in our recent blogging as we managed to moor in a location with poor mobile reception every night on our recent trip.  One night there was no mobile, no data, no Freeview and no analogue TV. It was lovely and quiet at Consall Forge.

We’ve been filming along the Caldon Canal and wondering how far we would get as Froghall Tunnel, near the end, has an unusually low profile and many boats simply don’t fit through.

As you exit Flint Mill Lock, the last on the Caldon Canal there’s a gauge made of plastic sheets so you can check the profile of your boat and see if you fit through the tunnel.

We had stopped at the last water point to fill up the tank in our bows and had only one third of a tank of diesel at the stern to keep the front cabin corners, which are the highest part of our boat, as low as possible.  We just touched the plastic gauge which is said to be a few millimetres pessimistic so we might just fit.

With two crew members sitting at the front, and just the steerer at the stern we went in under electric power so we could go very, very slowly.

The tunnel gets narrower inside, as the photo shows if you click to enlarge it, and I’m pleased to say we got through the tunnel without touching the roof at all.  I’d been expecting to have to touch up the paintwork on the front corners.

The only problem was kneeling on the floor to keep my head low enough and holding a torch to shine along the roof to watch the front corners.

Having passed through the tunnel we could make the right turn onto the first part of the restored Uttoxeter Canal and descend the one lock to moor in the basin and take a photo to show we made it.

We passed lots of bloggers on our journey so now we’re home with lots of bandwidth I can publish some more posts to show who we met.

Now I’ve got a summer’s worth of filming to start editing to produce the next batch of DVDs during the winter.  Which shall I do first?

Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 23:18        Comments (1)
Category(s): Caldon , Uttoxeter

Wrong DVD ?

Having just returned from the IWA National Festival at Redhill and checked our stock back in we’ve found a discrepancy which we think we can trace back to Saturday 29th.

If you bought a DVD from us at Redhill on Saturday 29th and your receipt number ends in 0005 then please get in touch as we think you may have collected the wrong DVD and we’d like to post you the correct one.

Please email us (paul@waterwayroutes.co.uk) or phone us (07961 701 702) and we’ll sort it out.

As you paid cash there is no way we can trace you, so please contact us.

Posted on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 16:49        Comments (0)
Category(s): News

IWA National Festival 2009 is over

Sunday and Monday at the IWA National festival seemed similar in terms of overall numbers, but on these days there seemed to be more locals keen on a fun day out rather than boaters.

They were enjoying the displays in the main ring, and the opportunity to meet the owls close up afterwards.

The occasional light showers drove a few visitors into the marquees but otherwise it seemed rather quiet.

We were packed up quickly on the Monday after closing time, it was just a question of remembering how it fitted into the car when we came and packing it the same way.

Here’s the empty space between our two neighbours after we’ve finished.

We’re looking forward to next year’s IWA National Festival 2010 at Beale Park.

Thank you to all the visitors who introduced themselves - it was great to meet you face to face.

Posted on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 14:38        Comments (2)
Category(s): News

IWA National Festival 2009 - Saturday

Saturday at the IWA National Festival 2009 passed uneventfully.

It was our first show and we weren’t sure what to expect, especially in terms of numbers and for sales of our DVDs.

The marquee seemed emptier than I had remembered from previous exhibitions where we had been there as visitors and I wondered if everyone was outside - but a quick look outside showed that looked empty too. 

Chatting with other stallholders who were regular visitors they consistently reported their taking were well down on previous years.  Reports varied but suggestions were around 60% of previous years takings.

Hopefully Sunday and Monday will be better days for everybody.

We were pleased to recognise several boaters we already knew, and delighted when several others introduced themselves.  Please introduce yourself if you come on Sunday or Monday.

Posted on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 21:18        Comments (0)
Category(s): News

IWA Festival 2009

Here we are, with our stand set up and waiting for customers at the IWA National Festival at Redhill.

Having spent last night on our boat at Sherborne Wharf in Birmingham which we are using as our overnight base, we headed off this morning with a car full of everything we need.

We were able to park right outside the marquee while we unloaded most of our stuff, before moving the car to the exhibitors park.

Everything fitted together an by lunch time we were set up and wondering what to do next. We wandered round the site and saw lots of other stands in various states of construction.

When the sun was shining it looked great, with the cooling towers as a backdrop.  When it rained we were glad to be inside.

We’re looking forward to meeting lots of people over the next three days.  Please say hello if you are visiting the show.

Posted on Friday, August 28, 2009 at 20:16        Comments (1)
Category(s): News

Juvenile Green Woodpecker

We’ve previously seen adult green woodpeckers on our lawn, searching for ants, their favourite food.

usually it’s the adult male, unless the weather is so bad that the timid female comes too.

Looking out the kitchen window when I went to put the kettle on this afternoon I spotted this bird, which kindly remained there while I rushed to grab my camera.

It’s a young green woodpecker, looking just like the picture on the RSPB website (click for picture 3 near the top right of their page).  It’s starting to grow its adult plumage and its still learning how to catch food.

It was finding the ants all right, but getting more of them on the outside of its beak than inside, as seen in the top photo, with some of them running across its face.

It kept digging its beak in for more so it must have been getting some to eat.

Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 at 18:29        Comments (0)
Category(s): Nailsea

IWA 2009 National Festival

Next weekend is the Bank Holiday weekend and time for the IWA 2009 National Festival at Red Hill on the River Soar.

Waterway Routes will be exhibiting there for the first time and we’ve started to assemble our stand to make sure we have everything we need.

It’s easy to find things at home and to print any missing posters or paperwork we might need to look our best.

These are our first attempts to lay everything out and there’s still room for improvement but I’m happy we’ll be ready for next weekend.

If you’re visiting the festival then look out for us and come and say hello.  Please introduce yourselves, and forgive us if we don’t recognise you instantly if we’ve met before.

We’re always keen to meet mail order customers and blog readers face to face but we can’t recognise you unless you introduce yourselves.

Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 18:20        Comments (0)
Category(s): News

Moved to a Secure Location

We’ve competed the missing sections of filming during the recent few days of summer and returned to our home mooring at Sherborne Wharf.

As I was walking to the station I spotted this notice attached to one of the bollards near Old Turn Junction in the centre of Birmingham.

This is what happens to boats if you don’t pay your licence fee and keep ignoring repeated reminders and requests to pay - eventually your boat is removed to a secure location.

If the owners finally decide to pay the overdue licence fee, and the late payment charge their boat will be returned.  If it is still not paid then BW will eventually sell the boat, take their fees from the proceeds and pass any money left over to the owners.

Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 10:51        Comments (0)
Category(s): BCN

Boats and Boaters

Were shuffling around a little in our cruising as we fill gaps in our filming when we have been rained off during our last cruise.

Today we passed Whittington and there was Jannock, with no visible crew, so I couldn’t call out to them as last time.

At least I got a picture of the boat this time, perhaps I’ll manage to capture both the boat and the crew next time.

Moored at Fazeley Junction I was looking out of the window and spotted a boat we had seen before.  It was Keith and Mandy on Takin’ our Time, with son and friend (whose names I’ve forgotten already - oh dear).  Just time for them to pull in behind us for a quick exchange of news.

We’re moored at Fazeley Junction, hoping to reach Atherstone and beyond tomorrow to complete another missing chunk of filming.  Then we’ll be returning to Fazeley Junction to see who else we spot.

Posted on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 20:18        Comments (3)
Category(s): Birmingham & Fazeley , Blog Readers , Coventry

Fradley Junction

We’ve had a lovely relaxing day today, moored at Fradley Junction. 

We’ve chatted to lots of people on the towpath, given out lots of our leaflets, and sold a few of our DVDs.

The sun tried to shine a little, but at least it was a warm dry day, for once.  It’s hard to keep remembering that it’s August now and these are the school holiday weeks when everyone expects sunshine.

The junction can be entertaining with boaters queuing for the locks on the Trent and Mersey Canal, with others heading on and off the Coventry Canal.

Quietly passing were Chris and Debbie on Ubique, almost unseen, but a quick grab for the camera made sure they didn’t get away.

We’re moored at Fradley Junction, hoping to return towards Fazeley Junction tomorrow if there’s a little sunshine for our filming to fill gaps in our earlier washed out cruise.

Posted on Sunday, August 2, 2009 at 20:36        Comments (0)
Category(s): Bloggers , Coventry , Trent & Mersey

Rainy Days

We’re cruising again, heading to Fradley Junction to film some of the bits we missed last time when it rained too much.  It’s still raining too much to get the camera out this time so there’s only one photo.  Note the mischievous alteration of the distances from kilometres to miles.

We’re moored near Huddlesford Junction, aiming for Fradley Junction tomorrow.  We’ll head back to Fazeley Junction filming, probably on Monday.

Posted on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 21:39        Comments (0)
Category(s): Recent