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Post by mickthecactus on Mar 31, 2024 10:49:12 GMT
Actually I live near the River Lea and the lock after the weir. I often see it in operation when I walk the dog.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 31, 2024 19:49:13 GMT
This is so enjoyable and interesting, Mark. I hope you're having a wonderful time.
You have answered some questions I had. For instance, I wanted to know about turning basins and now know that yes, the canals have them & that they're called winding pools. That does lead to another question: shortly after your first mention of winding pools & the first photo in #14, the width of the canal appears enough to have two boats side by side. I see that in a few other pictures, too & in the video of the ducks. Would that be because one boat might be approaching a winding pool as another one is leaving?
Your pictures are beautiful. I looking on the laptop & stretching them to get the wide open spaces effect. In some, I expand the sky from bezel to bezel.
The last set of pictures makes it look as though you've gone back in time.
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 1, 2024 7:53:57 GMT
I finished on Saturday and I had a wonderful time thank you. About the winding hole, not sure what you mean but I can say that very few people turn their boats around and it's very rare you end up doing it. For example is two weeks it was only necessary for me to turn mine round once - at the end of a week to return (there are circular routes, Rings, you can do but they take a long time and I didn't have enough of it) so any boats so far in the photos are just moored up and not going anywhere. Some may moor up for a few days or more but then are running out of water or fuel or whatever and the closest place is behind them so they turn back to there then turn again to continue.
Time does go slow on the canals and it is easy to imagine missing out on major events and nothing much seeming to change for decades.
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 1, 2024 9:26:32 GMT
I’d turned from one canal onto another, onto the Trent and Mersey, but there was an obstacle in my way, a large hill that had required a tunnel building underneath it. In fact there were two tunnels built but only one is in use nowadays. The Harecastle tunnel is 1.6 miles long/2.6km and the first tunnel was built in 1777. Due to the volume of traffic, a second had to be built and opened in 1827. A major thing was initially there was no tow path inside (eventually a wooden one was built) so there was the obvious difficulty of moving the boats through. They had to resort to “legging”. This is where you lie on a plank, or on the roof, and ‘walk’ the boat to propel it - Luckily this was before my time so I used the engine. It takes about 45 minutes to get through, it can be faster if you are confident, can be slower if you don’t have much of a clue. There is a one way system with officials either end controlling who goes through and when. If you turn up between 8am and 12 noon it’s as and when but you can make a booking in the afternoons for a secure place. It’s not that busy so I just turned up, had to wait for twenty minutes or so for others to come out and then was allowed in. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harecastle_TunnelA bit of a video for you to give an idea. Watch for about a minute or more from 4 minutes(ish) - Not long after I began to start going through a certain amount of old industrialisation - Then found a quiet spot to moor up - A bit of a technical thing for anyone interested in the nuts and bolts - I have a basic control panel by the tiller which has the ignition switch for the engine, a voltmeter to show if the alternator is charging properly, and gauge for the engine revs and within that an hour meter for how long the engine has been running. Not much point having a meter to measure distance like in a road vehicle. Then some labelled switches - This is the view from the steering position with the obligatory life ring thing, a warning sign showing where passengers may get in the way of the tiller and the door into the accommodation. Also a handy shelf for my mug of coffee or on frequent occasions, my flask of coffee -
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 1, 2024 9:39:21 GMT
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Post by lugg on Apr 1, 2024 19:52:21 GMT
ugg, a houseboat wouldn't travel particularly, they tend to be static somewhere but if you mean the type I've had then yes, the locks are initially difficult but it only takes a few for you to get the idea. Yes , meant narrow boat. Perfect set of photos and loving your descriptions.
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 1, 2024 20:13:49 GMT
Thanks Lugg.
A bit more to add to finish the day off.
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 1, 2024 20:15:25 GMT
Came later to a series of four proper locks. I moored up just before and went and had a look at the other side. That’s the way down there - Got the boat in, shut the lock gates behind me and started letting the water out - That’s all the way down - Opened the bottom gates, climbed down the ladder and slowly pulled out - One possible definition of a house boat - I was now in an area called The Potteries. It’s an area of six towns based on Stoke on Trent which became the centre of ceramic production in the early 17th Century due to local deposits of clay, salt, lead and coal. There are still what are called bottle ovens/bottle kilns around but not now in use. The name is derived from the shape rather than what is fired inside - Half of an old coal mine winding wheel as a nod to that heritage as well - Eventually, out of town, moored up for the night -
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 1, 2024 20:23:05 GMT
Well, you certainly don't seem to have encountered any traffic jams. Are there more leisure boats during the summer season?
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 1, 2024 21:28:25 GMT
Jam packed K2. Moorings in towns and villages are scarce, those who already have a boat go cruise about, there's waiting for locks and anything else. I wouldn't go in any school holidays that's for sure. I went just before this Easter holidays, as close to it as possible to get at least some reasonable weather, but this week or so the prices go up quite a lot and few boats are available.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 1, 2024 21:50:48 GMT
This is where you lie on a plank, or on the roof, and ‘walk’ the boat to propel it Thanks for the picture of "legging", as it really needs to be seen to understand correctly. Watch for about a minute or more from 4 minutes(ish) Oh gawd, that is claustrophobic! Got the boat in, shut the lock gates behind me and started letting the water out - I did not realize you had to open & shut the gates yourself. That makes going through the locks solo even more impressive. The Potteries. It’s an area of six towns based on Stoke on Trent Is there no longer any ceramic production around there?
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 2, 2024 5:59:32 GMT
There is still production. Not on a scale there used to be though as you'd expect. It is the home of, for example, Wedgewood amongst other companies and even though some is still made in the area (Barlaston) most it outsourced to Indonesia.
Operating the locks is done by yourself and it is a lot quicker when there are two or more of you because a lot of the time you are just going back and forth covering the same ground to open and close things. If not solo, one would stay in the boat whilst the other does the operating. Alone you have to first moor the boat to go and have a look at the lock to see what preparation needs to be done and check if there is anyone coming from the opposite direction. It is courtesy that if you are down and the water is up, or vice versa, someone coming the other way would have priority so you'd wait for them.
After mooring and if nobody around you'd adjust the water level if it is against you by opening the gate paddles either up stream to fill the lock or downstream to empty it. Then close them. Then you'd open your gates, unmoor and drive in. If you are 'up' you step off but if 'down' you have to get to the steps inside the lock to climb out. Some times that entails walking along the roof to get to them. You'd have unwound the centre line and left it draped on the side for easy access to control the boat whilst you are out of it. The boat weighs around 15 tons or so, so it can take a bit of effort to move it around or stop it if it is moving.
You'd close the open gate(s) behind you and bear in mind this may mean getting from one side of the lock to the other, as with the paddles, by walking around, walking over the closed gates or walking across your boat. Then opening one or both or three or four paddles, depending on the design of the lock to fill or empty the lock. In doing this the boat will invariably move around so you need the centre line to stop it hitting gates or getting stuck on a ledge, called a cill, which is a feature of the upstream gates due to the way they are constructed. There is always a cill line marked in the side of the lock to tell you where it protrudes to. If you are descending and get hung up on this it may tip the boat up and sink/damage it.
After the right level is reached you walk around closing the paddles and then open your exit gates. Then hop into the boat or climb down to it, walking along the roof as necessary, gently drive out, stop at the lock landing, the specific mooring area for locks, hop off, walk back, close the gate(s), return to the boat, untie and drive off. Solo it takes about as much time to do this as motoring a couple of kilometres so you know and can work out travel times with this as a guideline.
There are a couple of ways you don't have to do all this yourself - firstly there are sometimes volunteers (wo?)manning a lock and they do it for you. Mostly though if there is someone waiting for you to go through because of the way the water is already set and it is in your favour, they as a curtesy will offer for you to just stay in the boat and do it all. The curtesy is returned whenever and to whomever has the priority if it is against you so it all balances out over time.
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 2, 2024 6:40:01 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 2, 2024 6:45:31 GMT
The locks and the canals in Paris are bigger of course, and they operate automatically with a remote control. I have no idea if they have been modernised on the various small tourist routes like the Canal du Midi.
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Post by bjd on Apr 2, 2024 6:52:38 GMT
That definitely looks like a pleasant holiday. The rental houseboats on the Canal du Midi are wider and more modern-looking than your narrow boat and are also popular in the summer. I think some of the major locks have full-time lock-keepers, at least during the busy season. The Canal du Midi page exists in English but the photos are better on the French page.
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 2, 2024 18:29:51 GMT
I'll do some research into that when I have a bit more time, but I'll certainly look at it.
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Post by lugg on Apr 2, 2024 19:15:10 GMT
Great info and additions Mark. The mix between bucolic and industrial is great. When I lived in Manchester the canals were part of the everyday routes, connections between footpaths and bridle ways . Here in Herefordshire there are only a few signs of the canal connecting Gloucestershire to this county. Much has been filled in . My neighbour is part of a trust which aims to open up some of the canal and I admire his commitment and enthusiasm . h-g-canal.org.uk/restoration/
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 3, 2024 6:49:46 GMT
I'm all for getting the old canals back into use again and it is something I'd help with if I lived back in the UK. Good for anyone who does this. Many miles have been lost and it's an asset to have one in any area.
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 3, 2024 7:38:59 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 3, 2024 9:11:10 GMT
You're getting into high end real estate now. I noticed the same thing when I was around Camden Locks in London, but of course that's London so those places are worth millions.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 3, 2024 9:14:38 GMT
And along Little Venice where I had a couple of clients.
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 3, 2024 14:40:45 GMT
Beyond my means be it London or here.
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 3, 2024 15:01:45 GMT
A few more random photos as we go along. A memorial to someone, didn’t stop to have a look - Walking route under a road to get to the end of the lock - A bird - Stood and looked at this under a bridge as I walked along the towpath. Took me a minute to work it out after I’d checked the other end as well. It rotates and would be where the tow rope runs to stop it rubbing on the stone of the bridge - Continuing walking along the towpath - Probably a permanent mooring and trying to make it homely - One (of many seen) run down boat - The canal version of a service station - Just before entering a town - The local town and quite attractive. I stopped there for a walk round and get my hair cut -
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 3, 2024 16:22:36 GMT
Clearly the canal clientele is of interest to the locals.
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Post by bjd on Apr 3, 2024 17:56:55 GMT
Your bird is a gallinule or moorhen.
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 3, 2024 18:12:10 GMT
Good, thanks.
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Post by fumobici on Apr 3, 2024 20:46:14 GMT
You're getting into high end real estate now. I noticed the same thing when I was around Camden Locks in London, but of course that's London so those places are worth millions. I walked the path from Camden to the Mosque, a lot of it is in Regent's Park. Nice walk, but zero canal boat traffic. This report just keeps getting better, a lot of great images. I think having e-bikes along might be fun.
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 4, 2024 6:15:40 GMT
Lot's of boats do have bikes, 'e' or otherwise and often for practical purposes rather than leisure. Can be quite a way to the shops.
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 4, 2024 6:50:41 GMT
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Post by onlyMark on Apr 4, 2024 19:32:58 GMT
I’d decide earlier that day I’d call at a canal side pub for my lunch. I was pretty hungry when I got there but was disappointed in the menu options - and the price. Maybe having the name Neil Morrissey added a premium. I saw they did triple cooked chips and never having them decided to give it a try. Being hungry I added a soup to it as well. The menu said for any sandwiches you could add a soup for three pounds and as I was ordering I expected just to pay an extra three quid for the soup. But no. They asked me for the full price of the soup. I said, it said three pounds. They said no, you have to pay the full price as a chip sandwich is not a sandwich - never mind it was in the list of sandwiches. A “discussion” occurred where I pointed to the menu, the location of the food item I wanted, the category it was included in and the fact that the next line actually stated the soup thing. The lad and lass involved had to go away and ask for clarification - wtf?! They came back and said, “We can do that for you” as if it was a one off request. I said it must be difficult for someone to ask for what it says on the menu. They went away - So it came. Mushroom soup - good but too rich, too many mushrooms and the worst being they were tinned mushrooms, or at least seemed like it. The chip sandwich was, all I can say, interesting - Anyway, with full stomach I continued - The chap in the safety vest - he told me his name is Bob the Lock. He volunteers off his own bat to help people through the locks. He was quite happy I was by myself because he could throw himself into the full service. There were a flight of four locks, I met him at the first, he apparently saw me coming and opened the gates for me so I sailed in - At the end of the lock process he’d open the exit gates, close them behind me and then get on his bike, whizz past me and sort out the next one for me. Wonderful bloke. All just for the enjoyment of helping, fresh air and exercise.
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