Canal Boat magazine

Friday was a busy day and I’m still busy downloading photos and catching up with the blogging.

We were honoured with a visit from Kevin Blick and David Oakes, the editor and photographer from Canal Boat magazine.

They joined us at Great Haywood Junction in the morning and we cruised to Tixall Wide and back in search of sunshine and the great photos which I’m sure David will have captured.

We paused at Tixall wide, during the showers for some inside shots and a bite of lunch.

Kevin was making lots of notes for the feature and asking lots of questions about the unusual features of the boat, like the electric motor and we spent most of the day travelling near silently under electric power.

 

Kevin took the tiller and was soon at ease with the electric controls as you can see in the top photo.  His left hand is lightly touching the electric controls for fine adjustment with just a slight movement of his fingers.

David got the most exercise walking briskly along the bank to capture photos from the bank, from the bridges and anywhere he could.

Everyone worked hard for a successful visit.  Look our for the October issue of Canal Boat magazine.

Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 21:28
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Hadar

Hadar was re-launched early in July - you can read the full story of Hadar in their blog.

Yesterday, Sue from No Problem, reminded us to keep a look out for Hadar as we passed through Stone, and it’s a good job she did.

I was casually looking around and spotted the shiny new nose with the name “Hadar” peeping out at the end of a row of boats at the side of the canal,

Slowly my brain made the connection with Sue’s comment yesterday and I grabbed the camera.  Too late to shout hello, but at least there’s a photo of a fellow blogger’s boat.

Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 20:43
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Spotted Again

Just as a boat passed us a few days ago the crew shouted “We read your blog”.

“Great” I shouted, “Leave me a comment”.  I tried to look back to catch the name of the boat but it was disappearing out of sight and I couldn’t read all of it and, by the time I went to write blog that night I couldn’t even remember the part I had read.

I didn’t have time for any sort of conversation or chat as we passed on the Llangollen Canal and I thought the contact might have been lost.

Fortunately Elsie from Bendigedig left me a comment this morning so I can now write this post.  I guess from that Elsie’s blog that she found ours from reading the Sue’s excellent No Problem blog.

Hopefully we will get a chance to chat next time we pass.

Now I just need to work out the significance of the name Bendigedig.  I suspect it might have Welsh connections and mean something like wonderful or blessed.

Posted on Thursday, July 5, 2007 at 18:13
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Filming on the Llangollen Canal

We will be filming the Llangollen Canal intermittently for the rest of June - especially on sunny days. Please look out for us and say hello. We will also be exploring the walks around the canal for the next in the Waterway Walks series. We expect to cover all the branches and the northern open part of the Montgomeryshire Canal. Publication is planned for the Autumn - watch the blog for details of our progress.

Posted on Friday, June 15, 2007 at 07:28
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Happy Anniversary

While ascending Grindley Brook earlier in the week and chatting with the crew on Shadowfax, the boat behind us, I discovered we both had a career in the railways.

I also learned that it was the couple’s tenth wedding anniversary on 7 June and they have a pirate theme planned for the day.

We passed them again yesterday, moored on the Whitchurch Arm when we took this photo of most of the crew.  Just one person missing - inside, and still getting ready.

I do hope the anniversary goes well.  Perhaps they will leave a comment on this blog.

Posted on Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 05:00
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We’ve been spotted

Sooner or later it had to happen, and today was the day.

Sitting in the queue to descend the staircase at Grindley Brook we were chatting to the couple on the boat ahead.  “You’ve got a Blog haven’t you?” he said.

Apparently Granny Buttons led them to our Blog.  So well done - you’re the first to recognise us - or at least the first to admit to recognising us.

And Simon has an interest in walking publications so I provided a complimentary copy of our Cotswold Canals Waterway Walks.

I do hope they will leave a comment on the blog or get in touch by email.

Posted on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at 20:51
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No Problem on the Thames

Our friends on No Problem are moving their two narrow boats northwards from the Kennet and Avon Canal towards Braunston.  Christine and I helped them into Reading on Monday, then I stayed with them on Tuesday and Wednesday to help them along the River Thames from Reading to Oxford.

Last time I was on the River Thames all the locks were staffed, but now the financial cuts are biting and some of the locks were not staffed and we had to work them ourselves.

The correct procedure is demonstrated here - Sue winds the handle for around 100 turns to open the gates while Vic supervises.

To be fair to Vic he did his share of work throughout the day and we all took turns winding the handles to open and shut the gates and paddles.

We were amused by the sign at Clifton Lock which says “Caution Hole” - but the chalk has almost been washed off by the heavy rain.

There was no sign warning us about the heavy rain but, presumably, then Environment Agency does not consider itself responsible for that.

It was great to be with Vic and Sue for 3 days - and their dog, Lucy, who even allowed me to take her for a walk.

Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 at 11:14
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Northwards through Napton

We’re on the move again, heading north along the Oxford Canal.  Tonight we’re moored just north of Braunston.

We went to collect the boat yesterday morning, knowing there was still a little work to complete before we could leave - and that the fitting of the final bank of batteries would be left to a later date as the batteries were still on order.

During the morning we heard that the batteries had just arrived at Stevenage to a quick dash there and back enabled us to start this final work around 17:00 and by 22:00 we were completely finished - in all ways.

This morning we had a leisurely start and headed northwards past the windmill at Napton - half visible in the photograph - then past Napton and Braunston Junctions to the Northern Oxford Canal where we are moored for the night.

Posted on Saturday, May 5, 2007 at 20:20
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Waterway Walks

We are proud to announce the launch of Waterway Walks.

The project started with an idea from Sue on No Problem some time ago.  With lots of useful feedback and encouragement from Sue we’ve turned that idea into reality.

Now we have the Cotswold Canals Walks to complement to best selling Cotswold Canals DVD from Waterway Routes.

Each set contains 10 circular walks based along the route of the Cotswold Canals.  They cover both the Thames and Severn Canal, and the Stroudwater Navigation.

Each walks is contained in its own 11 page booklet and has step by step instructions supported by pictures with arrows to show exactly which was to go.

Each step shows the distance from the previous step, and the Ordnance Survey Grid reference for those who are interested (although you don’t need to understand these to follow the walks).

The centre fold of each walking booklet shows an extract of the Ordnance Survey Landranger (1:50k) map with each step marked with numbered arrows.

Further details and ordering information are available on the website.

The Cotswold Canals Trust have already seen a sample and they placed an immediate order.

They will be stocking it at their Saul Junction Heritage Centre just as soon as I can get the stocks to them.

We will be publishing further sets of walks along canals and waterways later this year.

Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 at 13:59
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Going Slowly

We’re beginning to relax and move out of what Sue on No Problem calls “Motorway Mode”.

Susan and I are heading northwards after dropping Christine, Andrew and Megan at Oxford to catch trains to Nailsea and Manchester.

We’re moored between Lower Heyford and Upper Heyford and it quiet and peaceful.  Just the other side of the towpath is the River Cherwell which shares its course with the canal from time to time.

Tomorrow were off to Banbury to pick up Christine from the station.

Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 15:27
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