Lizzy

OK so it seems it is not just one place then. Harefield Wide I believe IS the marina now. The other lake is the one where I was but could only access the bottom part as it’s fenced off by the angling society. Looking at the satellite view you’d think the boats would be visible, but nothing. Guess they must be submerged now? It remains a mystery 🤔

Yeah that’s all Harefield Marina. What a pity, it would have been such a find (I love discovering obscure places).

Sorry to resurrect an ancient thread. I am trying to find this place, but it‘s a bit of a mystery. There is a lake behind Harefield Marina on the side away from the canal. It is quite inaccessible. There is only a locked gate with sign of angling club. There is a trail called Denham quarry and access to the lake on the opposite side of the angling club. No sign of any boats. Is this the right lake? Have the boats disappeared? I even asked the marina manager and he said they‘d never seen the rows of boats that are in the old pictures. Any tips? 🧐

That would be lovely ? Looks like I’ll be joining the CC crowd too.

I am sad to announce that due to unforeseen circumstances I will have to drop out of the challenge as I have to return to London. I had barely made it to Birmingham! ? I hope you all have a great time and don’t get stuck somewhere with no water or even worse no drinks.

Hello!! I am a late start as I had to deal with theft of a bike today and finding a swift replacement. Although cycling might not be a priority while pottering round Birmingham really slowly. The weather conditions meant some ice breaking first. Therefore I only made it to Fazeley Junction for the start. It's a loooong way from London to the BCN.

One advantage of a solo challenge is that you don't have to argue over the right route, beverage or anything else. Bliss!

In February yes! Great trip if a tad windy!

Well spotted! Just before Cassiobury Park.

Ely .... ?

Good afternoon! I may be a late entry, but to compensate for that I am also a one-woman team and know very little about the BCN. But I like a challenge and the fact that I can do a lock in 5 minutes single-handed on these virtual canals fills me with joy. So .... bring it on!

Hello! I only heard about this challenge about 15 minutes ago so am already late to the party. I don't have a team, but I single-hand a lot so that's ok. I have found the post how to register, but where can I see the rules of the game? I am not that familiar with the BCN (let alone the forgotten parts), but would give this a go if I can find out if it's actually possible to do this without knowing it all. And ... is it still possible to register??

That is very true. As they have been so good and accommodating while I was there I am hopeful too that this will be resolved. I have written to the boatyard and manufacturer together yesterday asking for somebody to come out and do a personal diagnosis. Boatyard has always been immediatly responsive before. Not this time which makes me think that they are considering.

It was done outside and yes in the first two weeks both the gritblasting and the epoxy spraying were postponed on some days due to bad weather. It was very windy in the week that the two epoxy coats went on. They covered the sides in plastic sheeting but not the roof. I had tiny sprinkles of epoxy all over the roof. The boatyard is the only one in the area doing the gritblasting and it is booked ahead for months. There were boats waiting to be gritblasted when I left. I can only assume that they know what they are doing (generally). Everything done there looked very professional. I was not on site though to see the application on my boat. I have no reason to doubt their competence. Yet here I am with this substandard coating ?

It was Hempadur 45143. While I was at the boatyard they did confer with the Hempel rep. Because of delays due to bad weather it had only been three days of curing by the planned date to be put back in. Hempel advised that that's not long enough at this temperature and advised another day. Because of logistics at the boatyard I staid 3 days longer. Thank you so so much for your help. I am waiting for another response from Hempel as I had replied to them with all the details. Then will write an email to them both. Fingers crossed.