Keeping Up Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 This year we only covered just over 1000 miles, the second-lowest year's distance since I retired in 2004. Mainly this was because we were introducing our new dog Jessop to the waterways slowly and carefully; as it turned out, he loves boating more than almost anything. We had a wonderful trip (until the very end when our corrosion problems were revealed) which hasn't quite finished yet as we'll be spending Christmas bringing the boat down from Stockton to Northampton, but I have finished writing up my account on our website here. I hope you enjoy reading it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty Cal Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 We are also well down on miles traveled this year. Only 1258 so far, (500 of those being in a 2 week trip!) and I can't see us doing more then maybe 20 or 30 more before NC is lifted out on 3rd January. Well down on our usual yearly average of 1500-1600 miles. Nice write up by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 1250 miles for us but we will get a few more in hopefully before 1 January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac of Cygnet Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Also covered far fewer miles this year (although I've no idea how far the ring involving the Trent is), but this entirely due to being trapped in a 10 mile stretch until early July by the Boxing Day Calderdale flood damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 My third year of boat ownership, but the second year boating. Covered a mere 640 miles!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Señor Chris Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 250 miles and 200 locks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwatch Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 Not the slightest idea how many miles we've covered. I do know that we have probably done more than ever before ,for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 (edited) 387 miles and 501 locks in 30 days all bounded by Stourport - Wolverhampton - Tipton - Pelsall - Catshill - Salford Jn - Kingswood Jn - Stratford - Tewkesbury - Stourport. Have just renewed my home mooring contract but thinking of going on an extended trip next June, July and August to get further afield. Will be starting a new job in Milton Keynes in January (no not with them!) so after the BCN Challenge I might take in Braunston historic festival by boat and then head down the GU. JP Edited December 10, 2016 by Captain Pegg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 9, 2016 Report Share Posted December 9, 2016 (edited) We only managed about 4000 miles this year, half of that in just one trip to Italy and back. Must try harder next year. Good blog Allan. Edited December 9, 2016 by MJG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess-- Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 now I'm feeling inadequate.... 344.5 miles (although we only managed 27 days on the boat this year thanks to other issues) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 (edited) I'm very impressed that so many colleagues have kept such punctilious records of their journeys. I did work out that our "big trip" of the year (Cropredy - Alvecote - Snarestone - Cropredy) was about 170 miles and some 60-odd locks, plus there were numerous short trips. So I would guesstimate about 300 miles in all. Do some boats have milometers? None of ours has had one. Edited December 10, 2016 by Athy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendorr Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 As a keen cyclist, I use a 'Garmin' on the bike. This tracks my route and gives various data readouts, including a map. Last year I updated to a better one, so use the 'Garmin 200' on the boat. It is useful as it tracks my moving time, but also my elapsed time. This helps with working out how long the engine has been running. If anybody would like to look, here's the link. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1204948236 Hope that works. This was the first day of my big trip, if you click on the right > next to the 'like' button, you can follow through the next weeks and months of the trip. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 I'm very impressed that so many colleagues have kept such punctilious records of their journeys. I did work out that our "big trip" of the year (Cropredy - Alvecote - Snarestone - Cropredy) was about 170 miles and some 60-odd locks, plus there were numerous short trips. So I would guesstimate about 300 miles in all. Do some boats have milometers? None of ours has had one. Don't think that's possible. I suspect many folk use some form of GPS tracking. I use a map. Also can check on CanalPlan. JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 Sadly 2016 was also our lowest canal mileage in very many years.I've yet to work it out, but certainly much less than half what we might have done in the past.The death of the final parent, (Cath's mum), various medical problems of our own, and the need to do major work on both boats really limited our options. Hopefully we are not quite finished though, as the engine rebuild and other works on "Flamingo" are now completed by the excellent chaps at Brinklow Boat Services, and we hope to get "Flamingo" back from Stretton under Fosse to its home mooring in Northamptonshire the week after next, after the Buckby stoppage has ended, and if no more disasters strike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 Do some boats have milometers? None of ours has had one. A hand held Garmin GPS on the back slide (when I remember!) Gives a surprisingly accurate measure of distance travelled, when compared to CanalPlanAC, for any given day. It is accurate enough though that if you do a lot of "hovering" waiting for locks, (this may be called Nick Norman syndrome?), then it knows about any backward and forward shuffling, and the recorded mileage increases accordingly. It seems fair to count any mileage where you have repeatedly moved backwards and forwards whilst waiting your turn! Severe lack of concentration and zig-zagging down the cut will also increase the miles, I guess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 if you do a lot of "hovering" waiting for locks, (this may be called Nick Norman syndrome?), Who's a cheeky boy, then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 ... use the 'Garmin 200' on the boat. It is useful as it tracks my moving time, but also my elapsed time. This helps with working out how long the engine has been running. I keep a log - noting engine on and off times does that accurately enough, although the engine hours counter does a pretty decent job too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_P Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 I don't keep records but my mileage is well down this year at around 350 miles, I've been grounded by university commitments but hope to get out and about more next year, although I've recently bought a little camper van so a fair bit of my free time will be taken with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 I keep a log - noting engine on and off times does that accurately enough, although the engine hours counter does a pretty decent job too! I've never had a boat which had one of those, either. Are they common? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 We only managed about 4000 miles this year, half of that in just one trip to Italy and back. Must try harder next year. Good blog Allan. Did you miss the bit in the revised forum rules and guidelines that forbids members from passing off exploits undertaken in caravans under threads about boating activity? Am sure I saw it. JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 We only managed about 4000 miles this year, half of that in just one trip to Italy and back. Must try harder next year. Just as long as you have not upset any other forum members because you were towing(!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerra Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 Just as long as you have not upset any other forum members because you were towing(!) Ah but did he consider he was towing when he had uncoupled the caravan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeping Up Posted December 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 When we hired an Anglo Welsh boat in 1974 they provided a small logbook for daily entries including number of miles and locks. We thought this was such a good idea that we've kept a daily diary, one page of A4 every day when we're travelling, ever since. We use a hardback cashbook which has columns down the right hand margin where we note times, distances, and locks; we're now on our 14th volume. It's both useful and interesting to look back at the old ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 Mrs. Athy has kept a log book for all our boats, but she doesn't note the number of miles or locks, concentrating on places and events of interest along the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac of Cygnet Posted December 10, 2016 Report Share Posted December 10, 2016 I've never had a boat which had one of those, either. Are they common? I think they (engine hours counters) are. It helps to know when it needs its fix of new oil and filters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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