Rob-M

We've got swarms of ladybirds today.

The pride of Gloucestershire, https://www.punchline-gloucester.com/articles/aanews/video-the-pride-of-gloucestershire-is-let-loose. The lions will be auctioned to raise money Ney for the Cheltenham cancer care unit.

I presume that is Gloucester docks.

I think we were moored at either Tewkesbury marina or Bredon in 76 so holidays would have probably been up and down the Avon.

Not sure what you are after the CRT notice tells you the flight, locks 1-6, are open 8am - 4pm with last entry at 3pm. Not sure CRT should be expected to make recommendations on good mooring spots above or below the locks.

Putting in Coventry canal I get... Original 24 June 2025, 2:50pm Following the driest spring in a century, water levels in some of our reservoirs have dropped. To help conserve the remaining water, from Tuesday 8 July we will be reducing the opening times for Atherstone Lock 1 - 6 from 8am, to close at 4pm with last boat in at 3pm. This collective action is being introduced on Claydon, Foxton, Marston Doles, Hillmorton, and Watford Lock Flights. The aim of this evening restriction is to reduce water demand and allow water levels to recover, which will mean that there will be more water available for daytime journeys. We hope this coordinated action will allow for your continued enjoyment of our waterways throughout the summer and that providing this advance warning will allow you to make suitable plans. Thank you for your understanding. An update will be provided by Friday 1 August or sooner if the situation changes.

If you select specific waterways on the stoppage page it will show notices.

We've been in Great Haywood for approaching 10 years, we like it as a base as there are plenty of options for weekends, short trips and longer trips.

For now. I'm sure it will be closed again soon without the leakage being fixed.

Always makes me laugh that the law was side stepped by adding what is effectively a small flap and calling it a door.

I found a caponfield close on Google maps near Deepfields junction so thought it may be near there.

No closures currently between you and Aston. I may see you go past as I am in Great Haywood. Saw reports of that and people walking in to Walsall basin again which is also currently carpeted in duck weed.

Ed is very busy so you may have to wait a while.

Last time we got stuck at Claydon the CRT guy locking the gates told me they had to be careful as the local farmer had an extraction license and they had to maintain enough water to stop him complaining and taking action if he couldn't extract.

Was this the link you meant to post, https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/managing-our-water/reservoir-watch

We had to turn back at Barbridge junction year before last, I think, as one of the unpaired locks failed. There was level problems but can't recall which year as we cancelled a Harecastle booking as they closed due to low water.

I like sharing wide locks with hirers as they are usually happy to enter the lock alongside when asked rather than having to go in the lock and get a line off to hold the boat against the wall.

On our last trip up the Llangollen we just planned to get to expected busy points early morning or early evening. On the way up Grindley Brook after 6pm was deserted and New Marton we probably did around 7:30am. Coming back down, we left Llangollen just after lunch and nothing else was going in our direction so again new queue at the New Marton locks and we over nighted above Grindley so straight through first thing before the queues started.

Today Filling Portishead lock

When working from the boat I can easily use 100Gb in a week especially if it includes patch Tuesday and I have to update a few Windows laptops.

I find sleeping in the motor on the cross bed is ok on my own but I have to sleep diagonally across it as unable to lie out straight across the boat.

I've always assumed there is an air cooled engine under the boards so vents are for providing suitable air flow.

I usually find any volunteer assistant causes delays.

We didn't go this year but from what I have seen online it looked like there were times when a boat appeared to be the only one moving. It needed improving from last year where we sat near the turn for at least 30 mins waiting to move but I think spectators want to see a line of boats moving and as a steerer it is fun to have to do a bit of holding and manoeuvring for other boats.

The Saturn fly boat web site states that the fly boats could get up to 10 mph by rising there own bow wave. They were worked continuously without stopping overnight.