Disgusted! Tonbridge Wells.
Roger Murray
months issue of Waterways World and wonder with a grunt of despair if
it is only me who is somewhat out of sync with the aspirations and
expectations of what seems to be a new breed of boater coming on to
these waterways, often with a new boat loaded to the gunnels with
every labour saving gismo, replicating what they have just left at
home in Arcacia Avenue.
New to boating and after avidly reading all the cruising guides in
Waterways World, including back issues, the writer of the letter and
his lady wife with their new boat launched out on their very first
cruise to be met with abject shock! Oh dear, what a most unruly and
wild place they had ventured into, blaming poor Waterways World for
not warning them in the cruising guides of the disgraceful condition
of these awful canals with all the overhanging trees and undergrowth,
poor dears.
To quote ‘On most of the Oxford Canal overhanging trees reduce the
effective navigable channel to half the canal width. The towpath side
is buried under a mass of vegetation so thick that mooring is
impossible. Passing oncoming boats is extremely difficult, and results
in the boat and steerer getting covered and scratched by the
overhanging branches.’
They then go on about submerged rocks, lumps of concrete, jagged ends
of steel piling etc, blaming British Waterways for a complete lack of
maintenance and suspect that the other canals will be just the same.
Conceding that there are some pleasant stretches of canal, but in
their short time on the cut they appear to be few and far between.
What a terrible experience for a new boater! Mind you most of us can
identify with these most awful little mishaps. We have all had to duck
at the last minute for an overhanging tree branch scraping along the
roof and if not quick enough it taking the back cabin chimney with it,
or getting stuck on a submerged rock, but surely this is part of the
fun of boating, and I quite like seeing a few overhanging trees and
natural undergrowth instead of a straight manicured line of the canal,
like a short back and sides.
I suspect a new kind of boater is emerging with the upward positioning
of the canals and the more expensive new boats. The hundred K boat is
now becoming commonplace and the expectations of their owners will
follow this upward trend. The problem is that many are not real
boaters in the true sense. They would be better off staying in the
comfort of their home and watching the thing on TV.
One rather posh lady on a very posh boat complained that the canals
were much too old fashioned and labour intensive, the locks were
definitely medieval, they should all be opened by something like a
television a remote control.
Yes, I might be out on a limb, but I feel that one of the special
attractions of these unique waterways is that they are set well apart
from the manicured hedgerows of the Arcacia Avenues of this world.
Roger.
John Gwalter
news:e0476d76-1d9f-4d80...@z34g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
Have just read a �Disgusted!! Tonbridge Wells� readers letter in this
months issue of Waterways World and wonder with a grunt of despair if
... ... ... ..from the manicured hedgerows of the Arcacia Avenues of this
world.
Roger.
===========================
They don't believe in canal boating as a contact sport either.
My wife has christened them "Touch me nots."
--
JOhn
NB Ernest (that one, not the other one)
My indecision is final.
Arthur Marshall
from "John Gwalter" <ne...@stoppage.gwalter.co.uk> contains these words:
> "Roger Murray" <roger....@virgin.net> wrote in message
> news:e0476d76-1d9f-4d80...@z34g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
> Have just read a �Disgusted!! Tonbridge Wells� readers letter in this
> months issue of Waterways World and wonder with a grunt of despair if
> <snipped to save paging down>
> ... ... ... ..from the manicured hedgerows of the Arcacia Avenues of this
> world.
> Roger.
> ===========================
> They don't believe in canal boating as a contact sport either.
> My wife has christened them "Touch me nots."
Like the ones refusing to share wide locks? More and more of those
about these days.
You've heard enough of my rant about electric boats that can't function
without their engines or generators running so i shall now shut up.
Going up the Caldon saturday, and that's not what it used to be, either...*
--
Arthur Marshall
nb Lord Byron's Maggot
art...@barndancer.co.uk
www.ktblarney.co.uk
www.barndancer.co.uk
www.myspace.com/arthurhimself
*Mind you, neither is nostalgia.
Nicholas D. Richards
<ne...@stoppage.gwalter.co.uk> on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 at 17:28:18 awoke
Nicholas from his slumbers and wrote
>"Roger Murray" <roger....@virgin.net> wrote in message
>news:e0476d76-1d9f-4d80...@z34g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
>Have just read a ‘Disgusted!! Tonbridge Wells’ readers letter in this
>months issue of Waterways World and wonder with a grunt of despair if
><snipped to save paging down>
> ... ... ... ..from the manicured hedgerows of the Arcacia Avenues of this
>world.
>
>Roger.
>
>===========================
>They don't believe in canal boating as a contact sport either.
>
>My wife has christened them "Touch me nots."
>
Maybe they call the rest of us "Myosotis" (to you and me "Forget-me-
nots").
--
Nicholas David Richards -
"Où sont les neiges d'antan?"
krystyna@googlemail.com Mike & Krystyna Wooding
>
> What a terrible experience for a new boater! Mind you most of us can
> identify with these most awful little mishaps. We have all had to duck
> at the last minute for an overhanging tree branch scraping along the
> roof and if not quick enough it taking the back cabin chimney with it,
> or getting stuck on a submerged rock, but surely this is part of the
> fun of boating, and I quite like seeing a few overhanging trees and
> natural undergrowth instead of a straight manicured line of the canal,
> like a short back and sides.
Absolutely Roger, agree 100%
Mike
--
Mike & Krystyna Wooding
nb Draco: http://www.draco.me.uk
Blog: http://dracostravels.blogspot.com
Draco Crafts: http://www.dracocrafts.co,uk
krystyna@googlemail.com Mike & Krystyna Wooding
> "Roger Murray" <roger....@virgin.net> wrote in message
> news:e0476d76-1d9f-4d80...@z34g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
> Have just read a 'Disgusted!! Tonbridge Wells' readers letter in this
> months issue of Waterways World and wonder with a grunt of despair if
> <snipped to save paging down>
> ... ... ... ..from the manicured hedgerows of the Arcacia Avenues of
> this world.
>
> Roger.
>
> ===========================
> They don't believe in canal boating as a contact sport either.
>
> My wife has christened them "Touch me nots."
They'd better keep away from me and Draco then ....
Zeke
They are spot on with their comments about the Oxford!! We travel to
Cropredy every year for the Fairport Festival, and the state of the
Oxford towpath is, and continues to be, an absolute disgrace! There
are places to moor between Napton and Cropredy, but only our
familiarity has made them somewhere to aim for.
Do we really want to see zero maintenance so as to keep our experience
as primitive as possible? Cummon guys - there is a happy medium! For
the record, I never polish my brass vents, rarely wash my 62 ft well
travelled boat, and wear clothes as scruffy as the next boater.
I do agree however, that a boater with a brand new boat had better
understand, before lashing out his life savings, that things can be
less than perfect!
Allan (nb Albert)
"Roger Murray" <roger....@virgin.net> wrote in message news:e0476d76-1d9f-4d80...@z34g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
The network as a whole has been underfunded for many,many years and there is a significant investment required to get it to the standard we all..........
Contrast this with what Robin Evans said earlier in the year -
Recent investment by British Waterways means that the network is now in better shape that at any time in decades.
Connie Evans
It's T_U_bridge Wells.
We Tonbridgians are rather sensitive about our ancient town (Tonbridge)
being confused with the newcomer 5 miles away.
:)
Connie
"Roger Murray" <roger....@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:e0476d76-1d9f-4d80...@z34g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
Brian on Harnser
> *ahem*
>
> It's T_U_bridge Wells.
>
> We Tonbridgians are rather sensitive about our ancient town (Tonbridge) being
> confused with the newcomer 5 miles away.
>
> :)
>
> Connie
>
>
Little parcel arrived this morning, thanks
--
Brian traveling on Harnser
http://nbharnser.blogspot.com/
Connie Evans
"Brian on Harnser" <br...@notharnser.info> wrote in message
news:005c8511$0$13111$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...
> Connie Evans explained :
>> *ahem*
>>
>> It's T_U_bridge Wells.
>>
>> We Tonbridgians are rather sensitive about our ancient town (Tonbridge)
>> being confused with the newcomer 5 miles away.
>>
>> :)
>>
>> Connie
>>
>>
> I've been sitting waiting for you to turn up.
I tried to resist, honest I did. :)
> Little parcel arrived this morning, thanks
Glad it beat the strike.
Connie
John Gwalter
news:hbqa9m$2jja$1...@adenine.netfront.net...
I like Vince Morans reply -
The network as a whole has been underfunded for many,many years and there is
a significant investment required to get it to the standard we all..........
Contrast this with what Robin Evans said earlier in the year -
Recent investment by British Waterways means that the network is now in
better shape that at any time in decades.
Which one is telling the porkies?
Regards
Allan
=============================================================================
Neither.
The network IS in better shape as far as my experience goes but it certainly
needs a shedfull more investment to get it up to the RIGHT standard and I'm
not talking about a totally cosmetic standard - I would rather see a few
more scruffy towpaths and a few more working lock sluices.
Martin Phillips
> They are spot on with their comments about the Oxford!! We travel to
> Cropredy every year for the Fairport Festival, and the state of the
> Oxford towpath is, and continues to be, an absolute disgrace! There
> are places to moor between Napton and Cropredy, but only our
> familiarity has made them somewhere to aim for.
Is that the same Cropredy Festival on the same Oxford canal that we went
to this year? It was our first visit to the S Oxford, no problems with
mooring other than it being very busy around Cropredy (as expected), and
the towpath seemed in fairly good condition.
Wassail!
--
Martin Phillips
nb Boden, Gloucester & Sharpness Canal
martinatg4ciodotdemondotcodotuk
Harriet Bazley
Roger Murray wrote:
[snip]
> To quote 'On most of the Oxford Canal overhanging trees reduce the
> effective navigable channel to half the canal width. The towpath side
> is buried under a mass of vegetation so thick that mooring is
> impossible. Passing oncoming boats is extremely difficult, and results
> in the boat and steerer getting covered and scratched by the
> overhanging branches.'
>
Well, I wish someone had cut back some of the overhanging garden willows
on the Trent & Mersey (or was it the Erewash?)
Either you can't see what's coming beyond the tree (as there is only one
boat's-width) of clear water, or else you *do* see another boat coming
and have to go through the tree. We went through quite a few and some
of them pretty woody - I had to duck down in the hatch to save my face,
and hope we didn't lose the centre line off the roof....
--
Harriet Bazley == Loyaulte me lie ==
He who hesitates is sometimes saved.
Neil Arlidge
> The message <7kbfh6F...@mid.individual.net>
> from "John Gwalter" <ne...@stoppage.gwalter.co.uk> contains these
> words:
>
>> "Roger Murray" <roger....@virgin.net> wrote in message
>> news:e0476d76-1d9f-4d80...@z34g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
>> Have just read a 'Disgusted!! Tonbridge Wells' readers letter in
>> this months issue of Waterways World and wonder with a grunt of
>> despair if <snipped to save paging down>
>> ... ... ... ..from the manicured hedgerows of the Arcacia Avenues
>> of this world.
>
>> Roger.
>
>> ===========================
>> They don't believe in canal boating as a contact sport either.
>
>> My wife has christened them "Touch me nots."
>
> Like the ones refusing to share wide locks? More and more of those
> about these days.
>
> You've heard enough of my rant about electric boats that can't
> function without their engines or generators running so i shall now
> shut up.
>
> Going up the Caldon saturday, and that's not what it used to be,
> either...*
*...welll....the main platform station building is back at Consul Forge
Staion again.
1975
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/H75_Imag/75_61.jpg
1997
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/T97_Imag/ConFSt2.jpg
2003
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/T03_Imag/03.05.08/Dscn0861.jpg
Also Froghall Tunnel is a lot easier to get through, so you probably won't
now scratch your handtails.
--
Neil Arlidge
NB Earnest / Barge Maurice A (in the pipeline)
TNC...Gorn west...
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/tour.html
Neil Arlidge
> Zeke wrote:
>
>> They are spot on with their comments about the Oxford!! We travel to
>> Cropredy every year for the Fairport Festival, and the state of the
>> Oxford towpath is, and continues to be, an absolute disgrace! There
>> are places to moor between Napton and Cropredy, but only our
>> familiarity has made them somewhere to aim for.
>
> Is that the same Cropredy Festival on the same Oxford canal that we
> went to this year? It was our first visit to the S Oxford, no
> problems with mooring other than it being very busy around Cropredy
> (as expected), and the towpath seemed in fairly good condition.
>
> Wassail!
...like a bloody site better than in 1969?
Robin Nicholson
<roger....@virgin.net> wrote:
>One rather posh lady on a very posh boat complained that the canals
>were much too old fashioned and labour intensive, the locks were
>definitely medieval, they should all be opened by something like a
>television a remote control.
You must be kidding!
R
David Long
<bran...@pickles25NOSPAM.freeserve.co.uk> writes
Plenty of those in France....
--
David Long
Sankey Canal Restoration Society http://www.scars.org.uk/
A Road to Wigan Pier Webcam: http://www.scars.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/webcam/
St. Mary's Church: http://www.acny.org.uk/venue.php?V=15337&P=1
Neil Arlidge
> In message <8fp1e51rjloaii9ls...@4ax.com>, Robin
> Nicholson <bran...@pickles25NOSPAM.freeserve.co.uk> writes
>> On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:10:44 -0700 (PDT), Roger Murray
>> <roger....@virgin.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> One rather posh lady on a very posh boat complained that the canals
>>> were much too old fashioned and labour intensive, the locks were
>>> definitely medieval, they should all be opened by something like a
>>> television a remote control.
>>
>> You must be kidding!
>> R
>
> Plenty of those in France....
I once got a SEW lock to work with a Barclaycard :-)
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Ireland_06_Imag/Pict5782.jpg
Could the posh lady cope with that?
--
Neil Arlidge
MV Knocknagow (relief crew) / West Clare Railway (relief passengers)
TNC...Going far west...
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/tour.html
Adrian Stott
<hunny...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>*ahem*
>
>It's T_U_bridge Wells.
>
>We Tonbridgians are rather sensitive about our ancient town (Tonbridge)
>being confused with the newcomer 5 miles away.
But at leastthat was an honourable faux pas for a boater, Tonbridge
being a river port.
<Sudden thought! Maybe it's a deliberate but unrecognised pun. If
so, it;'s a good one.>
Adrian
Adrian Stott
adr...@unspam.ca
Adrian Stott
<ne...@tuesdaynightclub.co.uk> wrote:
>I once got a SEW lock to work with a Barclaycard :-)
>http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Ireland_06_Imag/Pict5782.jpg
>Could the posh lady cope with that?
Sounds like she might insist on Amex.
Adrian
Adrian Stott
adr...@unspam.ca
David Long
<ne...@tuesdaynightclub.co.uk> writes
>David Long wrote:
>> In message <8fp1e51rjloaii9ls...@4ax.com>, Robin
>> Nicholson <bran...@pickles25NOSPAM.freeserve.co.uk> writes
>>> On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:10:44 -0700 (PDT), Roger Murray
>>> <roger....@virgin.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> One rather posh lady on a very posh boat complained that the canals
>>>> were much too old fashioned and labour intensive, the locks were
>>>> definitely medieval, they should all be opened by something like a
>>>> television a remote control.
>>>
>>> You must be kidding!
>>> R
>>
>> Plenty of those in France....
>
>I once got a SEW lock to work with a Barclaycard :-)
>http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Ireland_06_Imag/Pict5782.jpg
>Could the posh lady cope with that?
I don't think I could cope with all that hard work - going ashore and
having to push buttons yourself.
Neil Arlidge
For a while one of the SEW locks worked if you put any card in, even my L B
Hillingdon library card*
* now replaced with a L B Hillingdon Smart Residents Card (some aren't)
The main use being to get us in the dump for free (re-cycling centre)
--
Neil Arlidge
Tug Barge Knocknagow (relief crew to Williamstown Harbour) / West Clare
Railway (relief passengers)
TNCI...Going far west...
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/tour.html
Neil Arlidge
> In message <7bKdnZhXBbuq9XzX...@giganews.com>, Neil
> Arlidge <ne...@tuesdaynightclub.co.uk> writes
>> David Long wrote:
>>> In message <8fp1e51rjloaii9ls...@4ax.com>, Robin
>>> Nicholson <bran...@pickles25NOSPAM.freeserve.co.uk> writes
>>>> On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:10:44 -0700 (PDT), Roger Murray
>>>> <roger....@virgin.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> One rather posh lady on a very posh boat complained that the
>>>>> canals were much too old fashioned and labour intensive, the
>>>>> locks were definitely medieval, they should all be opened by
>>>>> something like a television a remote control.
>>>>
>>>> You must be kidding!
>>>> R
>>>
>>> Plenty of those in France....
>>
>> I once got a SEW lock to work with a Barclaycard :-)
>> http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Ireland_06_Imag/Pict5782.jpg
>> Could the posh lady cope with that?
>
> I don't think I could cope with all that hard work - going ashore and
> having to push buttons yourself.
We have thought of that, we just get the hireboaters to give us their cards,
then we do all the hard work, making sure we re-set the lock for our passage
using their card ;-)
During the summer, with careful planning (ie trailing a hire boat) we get
over half the SEW locks free.
--
Neil Arlidge
Tug Barge Knocknagow (relief crew to Williamstown Harbour) / West Clare
Railway (relief passengers)
Nicholas D. Richards
on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 at 10:06:55 awoke Nicholas from his slumbers and
wrote
>In message <7bKdnZhXBbuq9XzX...@giganews.com>, Neil Arlidge
><ne...@tuesdaynightclub.co.uk> writes
>>David Long wrote:
>>> In message <8fp1e51rjloaii9ls...@4ax.com>, Robin
>>> Nicholson <bran...@pickles25NOSPAM.freeserve.co.uk> writes
>>>> On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:10:44 -0700 (PDT), Roger Murray
>>>> <roger....@virgin.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> One rather posh lady on a very posh boat complained that the canals
>>>>> were much too old fashioned and labour intensive, the locks were
>>>>> definitely medieval, they should all be opened by something like a
>>>>> television a remote control.
>>>>
>>>> You must be kidding!
>>>> R
>>>
>>> Plenty of those in France....
>>
>>I once got a SEW lock to work with a Barclaycard :-)
>>http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Ireland_06_Imag/Pict5782.jpg
>>Could the posh lady cope with that?
>
>I don't think I could cope with all that hard work - going ashore and
>having to push buttons yourself.
A dangerous activity. You might rupture the ligaments of your right
index finger!
--
Nicholas David Richards -
"O� sont les neiges d'antan?"
David Long
David Long
<nich...@salmiron.demon.co.uk> writes
Are the locks only right-handed, then?
Nicholas D. Richards
on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 at 12:16:54 awoke Nicholas from his slumbers and
No, but I am, since I ruptured the tendons on a finger of my left hand!
:)
True. I was drying myself, heard and felt a loud crack, but no pain.
My finger just looked odd; I could straighten it, using the other hand,
but let go and it would just flop to an acute angle.
Tony Haynes
<nicho...@salmiron.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <MLjGq8JvIX4KJ...@scars.org.uk>, David Long <Da...@n0ne.c0m>
> on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 at 10:06:55 awoke Nicholas from his slumbers and
> wrote
>
>
>
>
>
> >>> Nicholson <brans...@pickles25NOSPAM.freeserve.co.uk> writes
> >>>> On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:10:44 -0700 (PDT), Roger Murray
> >>>> <roger.mur...@virgin.net> wrote:
>
> >>>>> One rather posh lady on a very posh boat complained that the canals
> >>>>> were much too old fashioned and labour intensive, the locks were
> >>>>> definitely medieval, they should all be opened by something like a
> >>>>> television a remote control.
>
> >>>> You must be kidding!
> >>>> R
>
> >>> Plenty of those in France....
>
> >>I once got a SEW lock to work with a Barclaycard :-)
> >>http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/Ireland_06_Imag/Pict5782.jpg
> >>Could the posh lady cope with that?
>
> >I don't think I could cope with all that hard work - going ashore and
> >having to push buttons yourself.
>
> A dangerous activity. You might rupture the ligaments of your right
> index finger!
> --
> Nicholas David Richards -
>
That was Mrs Drifters' comment in Ireland last year. "I don't want to
work the locks. The buttons are too stiff to hold in."
Tone
krystyna@googlemail.com Mike & Krystyna Wooding
> *ahem*
>
> It's T_U_bridge Wells.
>
> We Tonbridgians are rather sensitive about our ancient town
> (Tonbridge) being confused with the newcomer 5 miles away.
>
> :)
>
> Connie
You tell em Connie! :->
Damn townies.....
Nick
> That was Mrs Drifters' comment in Ireland last year. "I don't want to
> work the locks. The buttons are too stiff to hold in."
I rigged up a gizmo out of a couple of strong rubber bands, some wire
hooks and a cork to hold in those buttons on - I think - the Great Ouse
(down that way anyway). There was a perspex plate with a hole in and a
stiffish button behind that you had to hold in for several minutes at a
time. Worse that winding a Nene guillotine IMHO.
--
Online waterways route planner: http://canalplan.org.uk
development version: http://canalplan.eu
circusjim
snip
>> ===========================
>> They don't believe in canal boating as a contact sport either.
>
>> My wife has christened them "Touch me nots."
>
> Like the ones refusing to share wide locks? More and more of those
> about these days.
>
I refuse to share wide locks, it's not that I don't enjoy contact
sports, my scruffy old dawncraft 22 jelly mould just doesn't react well
to 20 tons of badly handled hired steel sewer tube. Been there, done
that, very nearly had to dry out the t shirt, more than once!
I assess the situation and skill of the cap'n and crew before I share
and steel must be first in to the lock. If they are an inexperienced
crew and are willing to let me direct operations, especially going
uphill, then I may reconsider.
John Gwalter
news:81BEm.107767$944....@newsfe09.iad...
"It is polite to let the steel boat into the lock first."
--
JOhn
NB Ernest (that one, not the other one)
My indecision is final.
* P&O = plastic and outboard.
Tony Clayton
I always shared with other boats in my Dawncraft Dandy, and far preferred
being in first, as it saved all sorts of problems if I got out
of locks first (steel boats are so slow to accelerate that we would get
blown all over the place trying to go slowly behind).
We often suffered minor bumps, but none ever caused significant damage;
those Dawncraft hulls were very solid indeed.
Mind you, we only once came across a BADLY handled hire boat, and we did
let them get ahead while they practised their rope handling skills.
After six locks and demonstrations from me they still threw it in the water every time.
Maybe times have changed, but in my experience boat handling used to be
remarkably good on the whole...
>
>
--
Tony Clayton tony.cla...@pem.cam.ac.uk
Coins of the UK : http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk
Sent using RISCOS using VirtualAcorn-SA running on a PC
... Assumption is the mother of all screwups...
circusjim
cos the steels stationary.
John Gwalter
Our usual technique going up the Grand Union was to let the steel boat(s) in
and out first, tidy up the lock and then use our lightweight displacement to
get to the next lock first and set it ready for the same procedure.
Adrian Stott
<to...@tclayton.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>I always shared with other boats in my Dawncraft Dandy, and far preferred
>being in first, as it saved all sorts of problems if I got out
>of locks first
Sounds like the rule for naval personnel and boats, which IIRC is that
the most senior goes in last, goes out first.
For "senior" here read "vulnerable". If a noddy boat hits a steel
narrow boat, not much problem. The other way round, insurance claim
in view.
Adrian
Adrian Stott
adr...@unspam.ca
Neil Arlidge
P&O*
Thanks for reminding me of that oldie, John, for it just about sums up the
WWW and her fleet :-)
...what with her Yamaha powered Wildernii and spending 4 weeks on P&O cruise
ships next year...
Neil Arlidge
This is what Mrs TNC does with her Wildernii, that is once the other boater
has worked out it is plastic.
--
Neil Arlidge
NB Earnest (decomissioned) / Barge Maurice A (in the pipeline)
TNC...Gorn far west...
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/tour.html
Allan
> I refuse to share wide locks, it's not that I don't enjoy contact sports,
> my scruffy old dawncraft 22 jelly mould just doesn't react well to 20 tons
> of badly handled hired steel sewer tube. Been there, done that, very
> nearly had to dry out the t shirt, more than once!
> I assess the situation and skill of the cap'n and crew before I share and
> steel must be first in to the lock. If they are an inexperienced crew and
> are willing to let me direct operations, especially going uphill, then I
> may reconsider.
>
direct the operations. After all I don't know any more about your skills
than you do about mine. Many is the time that my boat has been flung across
a lock by over-enthusiastic paddle-opening from the owner of a small
cruiser, who assumed that just because he could hold his small piece of
plastic steady with one hand on a piece of string when the top paddles were
opened, then it must be the same for a 20-ton steel narrowboat whose bows
are right next to the culvert.
It needs to be a jointly-directed operation.
--
Allan Jones - N/B 'Keeping Up'
www.keeping-up.co.uk
Neil Arlidge
> If a noddy boat hits a steel
> Adrian
Adrian, are you now siding with the narrowboaters? ;-)
--
Neil Arlidge
NB Earnest (decomissioned) / Barge Maurice A (in the pipeline)
TNC...Gorn west...
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/tour.html
John Gwalter
news:MIudnWnRpuwoXXjX...@giganews.com...
when it arrived on time. :-)
Tony Clayton
You do not have time at e.g. Marsworth.
I went the other way about - I got the next lock ready and was held in at one
side near the far end allowing the steel boat to come in alongside; any slight
nudge tended to get the narrowboat aligned better.
I never found anyone failed to at least get the bows alongside!
--
Tony Clayton tony.cla...@pem.cam.ac.uk
Coins of the UK : http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk
Sent using RISCOS using VirtualAcorn-SA running on a PC
... Data, data everywhere, and not a byte to eat!
Tony Clayton
Holding down the button at Theale swingbridge was a pain too, although not quite
as bad as having to turn a very stiff wheel 85 turns!
See http://www.tonycanalpics.co.uk/seast/kanda/burghtsb/index.html
--
Tony Clayton tony.cla...@pem.cam.ac.uk
Coins of the UK : http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk
Sent using RISCOS using VirtualAcorn-SA running on a PC
... Modem, said the gardener when he'd finished the lawn..
circusjim
paddle opening etc.
However plastic is vulnerable, I weigh up skill level quickly, I don't
have any other choice really.
The time I was nearly squashed it was an overenthusiastic paddle winding
hirer who threw his bow across the lock into mine. My wife was inside at
the time and saw how our boat flexed under the strain. Boat had been
hired by bbc from middlewich and being crewed by a couple of volunteers
from the film crew, up the rochdale to chadderton for a film there.
I accept it's not possible to train hirers in all the ways of boating in
the limited time available when they first take a boat out. They had
only been down thru 3 locks and a stop lock, we met the boat at the
castlefield end of the rochdale 9, we were nearly squashed in that first
lock - their first going up!
The next day I shared with an experienced hirer and his family, we left
piccadilly basin and got to slattocks (28 locks) by co-operating.
Last year we went round northern ring, the lockies on the L&L above
leeds told us they weren't allowed to let us share, there had been an
accident and H&S decree ensued!
Nick
That works fine for broad locks. But when we had a 40+ foot hire boat
we often shared with other boats in narrow locks.
Fine until one insisted (we suggested otherwise) in going in first,
going up a "Brindley Slammer" on the T&M and then hoisted the top
paddles as fast as possible...
Pete Stockdale
> I agree, when both know what they're doing. I also agree about speed of
> paddle opening etc.
>
> However plastic is vulnerable, I weigh up skill level quickly, I don't
> have any other choice really.
>
> The time I was nearly squashed it was an overenthusiastic paddle winding
> hirer who threw his bow across the lock into mine. My wife was inside at
> the time and saw how our boat flexed under the strain. Boat had been hired
> by bbc from middlewich and being crewed by a couple of volunteers from the
> film crew, up the rochdale to chadderton for a film there.
> I accept it's not possible to train hirers in all the ways of boating in
> the limited time available when they first take a boat out. They had only
> been down thru 3 locks and a stop lock, we met the boat at the castlefield
> end of the rochdale 9, we were nearly squashed in that first lock - their
> first going up!
> The next day I shared with an experienced hirer and his family, we left
> piccadilly basin and got to slattocks (28 locks) by co-operating.
>
> Last year we went round northern ring, the lockies on the L&L above leeds
> told us they weren't allowed to let us share, there had been an accident
> and H&S decree ensued!
Yes - on Dukes 92(castlefield), you would have had the alternative choice
of being sunk squashed
or being sunk intact by the gate paddle flow (:-).
Regards
Pete
www.thecanalshop.com
Adrian Stott
<ne...@tuesdaynightclub.co.uk> wrote:
>Adrian Stott wrote:
>> If a noddy boat hits a steel
>> narrow boat....
>> Adrian
>
>Adrian, are you now siding with the narrowboaters? ;-)
Only in locks over 6 m wide, and then only with *narrow boats* (sp.)
or narrower.
Adrian
Adrian Stott
adr...@unspam.ca
Neil Arlidge
Like it or not Adrian, the English language is not set in stone.
narrowboat and narrowboaters will eventually be in recognised dictionaries.
--
Neil Arlidge
NB Earnest / Barge Maurice A (in the pipeline)
TNC...Gorn west...
http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/tour.html
Michael Clarke
> Adrian Stott wrote:
>> On Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:31:00 -0000, "Neil Arlidge"
>> <ne...@tuesdaynightclub.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> Adrian Stott wrote:
>>>> If a noddy boat hits a steel
>>>> narrow boat....
>>>> Adrian
>>> Adrian, are you now siding with the narrowboaters? ;-)
>> Only in locks over 6 m wide, and then only with *narrow boats* (sp.)
>> or narrower.
>>
>> Adrian
>>
>>
>> Adrian Stott
>> adr...@unspam.ca
>
> Like it or not Adrian, the English language is not set in stone.
> narrowboat and narrowboaters will eventually be in recognised dictionaries.
I agree with Adrian on this, it's narrow boat ;-)
--
Michael Clarke
Neil Arlidge
It's a British icon ;-)
Tony Haynes
wrote:
It's like towpath or towing path. Narrow boat or narrowboat doesn't
matter to anyone who hasn't a degree in geekism.
Tone
Nicholas D. Richards
.com>, Tony Haynes <irishcan...@googlemail.com> on Tue, 27 Oct
2009 at 13:41:18 awoke Nicholas from his slumbers and wrote
The on-line OED has both narrow boat and narrowboat in its quotations.
Neek "The Geek"
--
Nicholas David Richards -
"O� sont les neiges d'antan?"
Elaine Scott
Michael Clarke: "I agree with Adrian on this, it's narrow boat ;-) "
As in trolley bus ?
Elaine Scott
Harriet Bazley: "some of them pretty woody - I had to duck down in the
hatch to save my face,"
I mentioned somewhere else the willows on the Chesterfield: entirely
unavoidable (without mounting the bank). One of them picked up my
boatpole pointy-end first and tried to spear me with it.
(Unfortunately?) it failed.
Nicholas D. Richards
.com>, Elaine Scott <elaine...@googlemail.com> on Wed, 28 Oct 2009
at 02:36:21 awoke Nicholas from his slumbers and wrote
That explains the shape of my face, I think!
Nicholas D. Richards
s.com>, Elaine Scott <elaine...@googlemail.com> on Wed, 28 Oct 2009
at 02:28:41 awoke Nicholas from his slumbers and wrote
>
>Michael Clarke: "I agree with Adrian on this, it's narrow boat ;-) "
>
>As in trolley bus ?
A narrow boat in a trolley bus?
I am not sure I agree :)
Steve
> Adrian Stott <adr...@spam.com> writes:
>
>> On Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:31:59 +0000, Tony Clayton
>> <to...@tclayton.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> I always shared with other boats in my Dawncraft Dandy, and far preferred
>>> being in first, as it saved all sorts of problems if I got out
>>> of locks first
>> Sounds like the rule for naval personnel and boats, which IIRC is that
>> the most senior goes in last, goes out first.
>>
>> For "senior" here read "vulnerable". If a noddy boat hits a steel
>> narrow boat, not much problem. The other way round, insurance claim
>> in view.
>
> That works fine for broad locks. But when we had a 40+ foot hire boat
> we often shared with other boats in narrow locks.
>
> Fine until one insisted (we suggested otherwise) in going in first,
> going up a "Brindley Slammer" on the T&M and then hoisted the top
> paddles as fast as possible...
Ahh, I remember it well, full reverse and we still slammed him into the
top gate and "buggered his bow gear". Frankly he was lucky that was all
that happened.
--
Canalplan Blogs, the blogging system for CanalPlan AC :
http://blogs.canalplan.org.uk
krystyna@googlemail.com Mike & Krystyna Wooding
A slightly disagree with you here Tony (now that'll make a change:->) not
necessarily with this instance, but with the apparent downgrading, not
language evolution, of English in general. I get overly annoyed with the
misuse of 'the' and 'to', 'me' and 'I', especially in the news media, who
once used to be an icon of the correct usage of the English language.
I am also a great fan of archaic English, such as was used in medieval
times.
Guess I am a geek after all?
Mike
--
Mike & Krystyna Wooding
nb Draco: http://www.draco.me.uk
Blog: http://dracostravels.blogspot.com
Draco Crafts: http://www.dracocrafts.co,uk
krystyna@googlemail.com Mike & Krystyna Wooding
> Michael Clarke: "I agree with Adrian on this, it's narrow boat ;-) "
>
> As in trolley bus ?
Quite correct Elaine, a narrow boat is a boat that is narrow, the only
concession I would accept is a hyphen, but grudgingly ....
The word narrow is an adjective in this instance, modifying the noun boat -
it is a separate word in its own right. The word narrowboat, although maybe
accepted by the OED, is not an acceptable, or necessary, noun AFAIAC. The
OED plays to the modern misuse and downgrading of the English language,
primarily caused by a lack of, IMHO, capable teaching and teachers. A
general malaise and laziness of the system in general. We will all be
American next, not that I have anything against our neighbours across the
pond, but as someone famous once said ( I think it was Bertrand Russell))
Britain and the USA are two countries separated by a common language.
Mike - apparently the geek :->
Martin Phillips
A
> general malaise and laziness of the system in general.
I do dislike "sentences" without verbs.
Pedantically,
Martin/
:-)
--
Martin Phillips
nb Boden, Gloucester & Sharpness Canal
martinatg4ciodotdemondotcodotuk
krystyna@googlemail.com Mike & Krystyna Wooding
> Mike & Krystyna Wooding wrote:
> A
>> general malaise and laziness of the system in general.
>
> I do dislike "sentences" without verbs.
>
> Pedantically,
Touche :->, the verb was implied, I fear.....
Mike
Tony Haynes
kryst...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> A slightly disagree with you here Tony
Now that has never happened before!!!!
Planks and swords come to mind, but....
...... I don't think you watch enough Countdown.
Tone
Dave Larrington
Mike & Krystyna Wooding <mikeand krys...@googlemail.com> tweaked the
Babbage-Engine to tell us:
> We will all be American next, not that I
> have anything against our neighbours across the pond, but as someone
> famous once said ( I think it was Bertrand Russell)) Britain and the
> USA are two countries separated by a common language.
http://www.btwebworld.com/quote-unquote/p0000149.htm
"Sometimes the inquirer asks, �Was it Wilde or Shaw?� The answer appears to
be: both. In The Canterville Ghost (1887), Wilde wrote: �We have really
everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language�.
However, the 1951 Treasury of Humorous Quotations (Esar & Bentley) quotes
Shaw as saying: �England and America are two countries separated by the same
language�, but without giving a source. The quote had earlier been
attributed to Shaw in Reader�s Digest (November 1942).
Much the same idea occurred to Bertrand Russell (Saturday Evening Post, 3
June 1944): �It is a misfortune for Anglo-American friendship that the two
countries are supposed to have a common language�, and in a radio talk
prepared by Dylan Thomas shortly before his death (and published after it in
The Listener, April 1954) - European writers and scholars in America were,
he said, �up against the barrier of a common language�.
Inevitably this sort of dubious attribution has also been seen: �Winston
Churchill said our two countries were divided by a common language� (The
Times, 26 January 1987; The European, 22 November 1991.)"
--
Dave Larrington (�bergeek)
krystyna@googlemail.com Mike & Krystyna Wooding
No, I'm more into Swords and Sorcery...
krystyna@googlemail.com Mike & Krystyna Wooding
Thanks for the info Dave, quite interesting
Mike
Neil Arlidge
Lets face it, all boaters are geeky to some degree.
--
Neil Arlidge
NB Earnest
TNC http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/tour.html
Nicholas D. Richards
<mikeand@krystyna.?.com> on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 at 20:20:51 awoke Nicholas
from his slumbers and wrote
>> Michael Clarke: "I agree with Adrian on this, it's narrow boat ;-) "
>>
>> As in trolley bus ?
>
>Quite correct Elaine, a narrow boat is a boat that is narrow, the only
>concession I would accept is a hyphen, but grudgingly ....
>
>The word narrow is an adjective in this instance, modifying the noun boat -
>it is a separate word in its own right. The word narrowboat, although maybe
>accepted by the OED, is not an acceptable, or necessary, noun AFAIAC. The
>OED plays to the modern misuse and downgrading of the English language,
>primarily caused by a lack of, IMHO, capable teaching and teachers. A
>general malaise and laziness of the system in general. We will all be
>American next, not that I have anything against our neighbours across the
>pond, but as someone famous once said ( I think it was Bertrand Russell))
>Britain and the USA are two countries separated by a common language.
>
>Mike - apparently the geek :->
>
I must get the step ladder out. I have a copy of the compact edition of
the OED1 (1933) and see what it says about narrow boat. The first
question is, will my eyes still be good enough. I suspect the answer to
the second question is, narrow boat.
Later
Anyone have some new eyes to spare?
In the original dictionary I could not find a reference to narrow boat,
narrowboat or indeed narrow-boat. Again I ask does anyone have some new
eyes to spare? I did find, however, a that a narrow house is another
name for a grave.
In the 1933 supplement I discovered that a narrow boat can also be
called a monkey-boat :)
Neek the Geek
Tony Haynes
<nicho...@salmiron.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> In the 1933 supplement I discovered that a narrow boat can also be
> called a monkey-boat :)
>
Shouldn't that be monkeyboat?
tone
Nicholas D. Richards
s.com>, Tony Haynes <irishcan...@googlemail.com> on Thu, 29 Oct
2009 at 07:58:57 awoke Nicholas from his slumbers and wrote
Depends upon who is the geek?
krystyna@googlemail.com Mike & Krystyna Wooding
>
> In the 1933 supplement I discovered that a narrow boat can also be
> called a monkey-boat :)
Yes, I have heard that before, many moons ago
Mike - who has no spare eyes:->
Brian Dominic
krys...@googlemail.com> finished tucking into their plate of fish,
chips and mushy peas. Wiping their mouths, they swigged the last of
their cup of tea, paid the bill and wrote::
>A slightly disagree with you here Tony (now that'll make a change:->) not
>necessarily with this instance, but with the apparent downgrading, not
>language evolution, of English in general. I get overly annoyed with the
>misuse of 'the' and 'to', 'me' and 'I', especially in the news media, who
>once used to be an icon of the correct usage of the English language.
>
The one hat REALLY gets up my nose is "train station" - what on earth
is wrong with "railway station"?
Brian L Dominic
Web Site: http://www.brianscanalpages.co.uk
Newsgroup readers should note that the reply-to address is NOT read:
To email me, please send to brian(dot)dominic(at)tiscali(dot)co(dot)uk
Tony Haynes
> On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:08:03 -0000, "Mike & Krystyna Wooding" <mikeand
Well, we have bus stations, not road stations..
Tone
Bob Adams
<nbru...@lineone.net> writes
>>
>The one hat REALLY gets up my nose is "train station" - what on earth
>is wrong with "railway station"?
>
>Brian L Dominic
>
I believe that historically, 'train station' is more accurate. One
should note that what today we call a terminus (such as Kings Cross) was
originally called a 'train shed'.
Bob - nb trainspotter
--
Bob Adams
Nicholas D. Richards
on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 at 22:30:35 awoke Nicholas from his slumbers and
wrote
Even more off topic, in Russia a railway station is called a Vauxhall.
Brian Dominic
finished tucking into their plate of fish, chips and mushy peas.
Wiping their mouths, they swigged the last of their cup of tea, paid
the bill and wrote::
>In message <6ntje55fn084g46kh...@4ax.com>, Brian Dominic
(puts anorak on)
Actually, that only strictly applies to the bit where the trains stand
(and it needn't be a terminus - Newcastle and York are good examples
which come to mind - Birmingham New Street used to have two!) and the
whole complex (with attached buildings for booking offices and the
like) is the station.
(takes anorak off)
Adrian Stott
<nbru...@lineone.net> wrote:
>The one hat REALLY gets up my nose is "train station" - what on earth
>is wrong with "railway station"?
[old joke alert]. If a train station is where trains stop, what's a
work station?
Adrian
Adrian Stott
adr...@unspam.ca