Saturday 31 October 2015

Ventnor again

For the third time this year, a trip to Ventnor marina near Calcutt for a boat test. It was pretty murky in the morning, but by midday the sun had come out and it was pleasantly warm. The only photo I took shows the lengths Andy, the photographer, goes to to get the right shot. Here he is lying across the back counter looking along the gunwale as we go along.

He'll be really disappointed if the shot doesn't make it into the magazine!

 

Wednesday 14 October 2015

The alpacas of Barby

To Barby Moorings today for a boat test. And the most unusual thing about this marina is the alpacas grazing on the island in the middle.

The weather was even better than forecast, really quite warm if you could get in the sun and out of the breeze. The only annoyance during the day was that the journeys there and back were both pretty slow.

 

Wednesday 7 October 2015

Sheffield Keel on test

The November issue of Canal Boat is out, and includes my boat test of the Tyler Wilson widebeam Sheffield Keel.

 

Sunday 4 October 2015

Going West: The Stats

For the purposes of this, I've included the weekend in August, when we took Briar Rose from our marina to Calcutt.  That means that in total the trip was 30 days, 372 miles, and 292 locks.


Waterways covered were:

  • Grand Union Canal
  • Stratford Canal
  • Birmingham and Worcester Canal
  • Droitwich Junction Canal
  • Droitwich Barge Canal
  • River Severn
  • Gloucester and Sharpness Canal
  • Staffs and Worcs Canal
  • Stourbridge Canal
  • Dudley No2 Canal
  • BCN New Main Line
  • Wyrley and Essington Canal (including Anglesey and Daw End Branches)
  • Rushall Canal
  • Tame Valley Canal
  • Walsall Canal
  • Wednesbury Old Canal
  • Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
  • Coventry Canal
  • Oxford Canal
We turned round in five places:
  • Sharpness
  • Hawne Basin
  • Black Country Museum
  • Anglesey Basin
  • Coventry Basin
Tunnels:
  • Blisworth (3056 yards) (twice)
  • Braunston (2042 yards) (twice)
  • Shrewley (433 yards)
  • Brandwood (352 yards)
  • Wast Hill (2726 yards)
  • Shortwood (614 yards)
  • Tardebigge (580 yards)
  • Cookley (65 yards)
  • Dunsley (25 yards)
  • Gosty Hill (563 yards)
  • Netherton (3027 yards)
  • Coseley (360 yards)
  • Summit/Galton (122 yards)
  • Curdworth (57 yards)
  • Newbold (250 yards)
That means we spent 11 miles underground!

Saturday 3 October 2015

Newbury

To Newbury this morning for a boat test. While it wasn't as sunny as the rest of the week, it was still fine enough -- and the tearoom at Newbury Wharf was doing a roaring trade.