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Midnight Lady

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About Midnight Lady

  • Birthday 13/10/1964

Profile Information

  • Gender
    Female
  • Boat Name
    Midnight Lady
  • Boat Location
    Strensham Lock

Midnight Lady's Achievements

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  1. I was talking to a chap that moors near me today - he is in his eighties and has lived on his boat for 40 years he tells me. He also mentioned that he goes swimming in the river (Avon) wearing a tractor tyre inner tube and told me that he goes towards the weir because he is "not a strong swimmer and the current will just pull you towards the weir and its shallower there so I can clamber out and walk back " (presumably in his pants wearing a rubber ring). He also added "and if you miss and go over the weir its quite fun in a rubber ring". Now I know that these days people are far too health and safety conscious and taking the odd risk is ok really but this is completely barking isn't it? However I am a little bit in awe..................
  2. Been to first Avon Navigation trust meeting - am going to be Strensham Reach Master! Woohooo!

  3. I have read all the way through this in the hope that Martin Hughes-Games has a boat. Massive MASSIVE crush there. 'spose it saves me setting off round the system to look for him. ml
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  6. Ladders - yes they can be treacherous. Particularly if it is icy or if you are going downhill (as they are then wet and slimey). I have seen organised boaters with nice little clippy things on their belts for their windlass so they are not clmbing down one handed... On the other hand jumping can be quite dangerous too. I have always used a centre line in the canals but now I am on the rivers I get told off if I am seen doing that and made to tie up fore and aft. The things I have found damn near impossible single handing are (in reverse order of impossible-ness) 1. Really loose lock gates where one opens when you shut the other. If you are going uphill open the top paddle a little and that pushes them shut. 2. Really stiff lock gates that you can't shift. Wait for a jogger. I guess if you were really desperate you could use the boat but I have never had to. 3. Bloody swing bridges. Yes it is just about possible to do them but its like some sort of challenge from the krypton factor, particularly the big electric ones. I asked BW as was why they put the mechanism on the offside (so you can open it but then cannot get back to your boat) and they said it was to stop people leaving it open. There are loads of these on the L&L. If I am doing anything wrong here please let me know - this is just how I work and its all a bit self taught.
  7. Did it last year - no trouble (other than dealing with a boat full of dozy teenaged boys working their way down with me who kept leaving paddles up, and a horrible dead fox that was in the top lock). At Blackburn lock someone has nicked the metal mooring bollards before, in and after the lock(a right pain if you like me are single handing). Maybe they have been replaced by now...... The pub at the top of Johnsons locks is ok for a sandwich (even better was the lemon and garlic steak being cooked by some drunk people just sat by the lock - they gave me a bit and it was lovely). Moorings - I moored overnight in Chorley on the way down. Can't remember exact place (bridge 76?) but there was a fabulous pub if you crossed the canal and went up a hill a little way. Really really good food and let me charge my mobile while I was there. At Wigan one or two of the locks in the middle of the flight are leaking badly from the side - had a mad panic as water shot into the side of my boat hard enough to tip it. Recommend going into the lower side (ie the downhill bit) if it has been raining heavily. All the lock gates leaked too so stay well back. About three locks up from the bottom the sluice was blocked with rubbish and the pound had flooded. I had to clear it (took ages) and wait until it went down enough to get the gates open. Looks as if it may happen regularly. I vaguely remember having to avoid something horrible sticking out of the side of the canal when I got to the bottom of the flight and headed left towards the Leigh Branch - either a bit bit of dumped metal or a bit of the canal side that had broken. It looked solid and substantial and sharp so I went round it. I moored at Dover Bridge on the Leigh - nice boaters there and a decent pub. Hope this helps! ML I did the flight with another boat - no trouble fitting us both in the locks although I am 52 foot and the other boat was about 40 foot
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  9. Hi

    I may remember you if I saw you but probably not - far too many students over the years and now the memory is failing.

    I am pleased that you service your boat, that is what makes the courses worthwhile. I am well but with old mans knees and memory so have now given up the courses. Cheers

  10. Hi Tony! I doubt you remember me but I came to two of your training courses near London a few years back and then had a grand time servicing my engine (which I still do!). I have been to Bradford and Burnley and the Bridgewater and all over since then but I am moored on the Avon now just up from Tewkesbury so getting used to rivers.....slowly.

    Hope you are well

    Jo ...

  11. Oh that is so sweet.....young and in love
  12. The Avon is dropping at Strensham - got back on board. Over the last week I have heard two theories for why its so volatile lately. 1) the flood defences at Pershore are pushing water down to Strensham, Bredon and Tewkesbury and 2) the sluices have been automated so that there is noone holding a bit back and allowing moderate floods along the stretch rather than one bloody big one at the end. Not sure if these are correct - I have only been here since July. And of course it has been raining pretty much non stop all year.
  13. I noticed that they didn't show the bathroom - bet it was a porta potti and a teeny damp shower. Loved the study bed though (available online at about £1700 for a small double.....but unfortunately Santa can't get down my teeny chimney)
  14. I'm not much of one for proper photos (plus its a bit hard to take them on your own - I have loads looking down the length of the boat though) but I am in the far background of the 18th November 2012 14:00.... ...but I can't get it to paste in here. That was rubbish wasn't it.
  15. Ooh does that work? Better get some false eyelashes on next time I go to fill up then. Seriously though all the credit goes to Roger - I was plenty girlie enough once I was moored to have a good sniffle. ML
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