Tunnelman51

I cruised the summit of the South Oxford from Fenny to Marston Doles and back yesterday, sixteen miles total, and I didn't see another moving boat all day. I've never known this, not even in January! The plus side is the absence of the armada of hire boats coming up the Napton flight, the absence of anyone converging on one from the rear pushing out bow waves and leaving a breaking wash-the bankside wildlife must be loving it. An ooh! the need not to have your finger hovering over the air horn on those blind bend/ bridge holes Did manage to get back into the marina before nightfall, but - and don't tell CRT- my piling hooks did touch the Armco,(dipped in disinfectant of course) ! I'd be willing to bet that not even Joe and Rose skinner with their mule and nb Friendship ever accomplished this in their heyday.

We have just got to bite the bullet and wait.... we all want to get out there again, but no amount of wishing is going to hasten the orders from above. At least come tomorrow I'll be able to go and sit on the bloomin' thing !

What annoys me is the fact that I can visit my allotment, which is surrounded by a perimeter fence with gate and padlock, and sit down there all day if I wished. But I am not allowed access to my boat stuck in a marina - also surrounded by a perimeter fence with gate and padlock- for maintenance checks etc. Both marina and allotment are within easy cycling distance from my home, so no excessive travel involved, the cycling being classed as exercise. I would come across more people (albeit at a distance) on the allotment site than I ever would at the marina. The only infrastructure that I would need to touch is the padlock on the gate, as not going anywhere with the boat, no need for interaction with anyone else, services etc. There just doesn't seem to be any rational thinking...….

I ran one of these for twelve years. Picked it up for 180 quid in 1976. Empire green it was, 2639cc, six cylinders. Big bench leather seats. 1956 series1. Crossply tyres, it cornered like the Queen Mary, vague steering, you really had to concentrate! I pulled a caravan with it for a while, but got fed up with stumping up for 4 star petrol when it was only doing 17 mpg. Eventually I sold it to a guy in Reading whom had great hopes of restoring her -it had stood in my garden for 15 years- but the last I saw of it was when someone posted a picture of it looking sad and dejected on a street in Birmingham. UUO 433 was its number.

Back on topic. There seems to be a conspicuous absence from Decembers Canal Boat magazine. Naughty step, or P45 ?

Julian Kingston - Yes , of course it was, its all coming back to me now, this old age thing befuddles the brain...….

The precise co-ordinates.....52 degrees 04' 20.31 N 1 degree 20' 08.41 W.

The arm I speak of only became an arm in 1990. This was when the canal was diverted to the east - away from the A423- to allow the building of the present road bridge. There were pylons along there at that time - I've lived within threequarters of a mile for the last 47 years !

Thaxted ! Blimey, that brings back memories ! It was a trip on this boat back in 1984 that introduced me to the wonderful world of canals. The guy that owned it used to bring his nipper around to our house to be child minded by my ex Mrs. He needed crew members to help bring it from Jerico in Oxford back to Banbury. We camped out under the canvas in the hold at Lower Heyford, and had two brilliant summer days gifted upon us. I can hear it now - Ker Doink - Ker Doink - Ker Doink ! I can't recall his name, but he used to run around in an old London black cab, It wasn't you was it ?

I have a feeling that this could be at what is now the arm behind the Evans Halshaw dealership, prior to the building of Hennef way in 1990. This was then known as waterworks lane. The canal was crossed by an aluminium lift bridge built by the apprentices of Alcan Aluminium Works in the 1950's. I think the bridge was re-allocated to the K & A canal, somewhere by the Somerset coal canal arm. This exact spot is now buried underneath the western embankment to the modern bridge, as you exit the roundabout from the A423. There was a wharf here, and not much else save for a few old redbrick buildings occupied by some car repairers. Going back further than the 70's, the only building of substance along this stretch that I can recall was the Switchgear and Equipment co, which stood where Halfords is now.

Sorry about that- I did do a search and found no mention of it.

In their haste to get to the Cropredy festival, has anybody else noticed the innocuous piece of paper pinned to the fence adjacent to bridge 143 on the South Oxford canal ? A new marina, access road , ancillary buildings, conservation lake etc, all taking up pretty much most of the land eastwards of the canal between bridges 143 and 144. I don't know how to post a link, but it can be found at www.publicaccess.cherwell.gov.uk/online-applications/. Ref 18/0041/SO There will probably be loads of objections, but if it does come to fruition I can only see one upside-the creation of an extra holding tank of summit water on an already very busy canal. Is it really necessary? Cropredy marina is looking to expand, and I don't think Fenny is completely full. Perhaps CRT are going to send a man along with a STOP/ GO board and position him at the pinch point/ southern end of the Fenny tunnel cutting, Oh, and they could also cut back the spreading vegetation and dredge the approaches to same, 'cos these waiting boats are going to need somewhere to park..... Me? I think I'll just mosey along there with my deckchair and popcorn on a summer sunday , find a shady spot and watch the ensuing melee......

Six years ago, when everything went digital, my old telly sat in the corner unable to receive anything. I never bothered getting a digibox or any of that palaver. Several weeks went by, during which time I was having a life- you know, doing stuff, listening to the radio, reading etc. I came to realise that I hadn't really missed it. Then the annual reminder for the licence turned up in the post. It was at this point that I questioned the economics of forking out for something that I didn't use, so I duly went online to the licensing website and told them I don't watch telly, and haven't got one anymore Thank you for informing us they said, you can expect a visit from us to check this out. As I said, this was six years ago, and I have never seen a soul with a clipboard, or detector van outside, no harassment, nothing. Other than renewing my 'sorn' declaration every two years online, that's the only contact that I've had with them. Lets hope it continues......

I think I was looking the other way. Just took a walk to the pound below Banbury lock , the earlier poster wasn't kidding about low levels though, it must be about a foot lower than normal. That's a considerable amount of water gone between there and Grants lock.

The BBC weather map is not to be believed. It is now quarter past seven, I am in said place, and it hasn't...…..

That's an embryo Loch Ness monster looking for the connection to the Caledonian.

Chisnell bridge near Somerton is sometimes down for farm access, I think that one is still original.

I have often wondered whether the 'Banbury Stick' idea could be improved, using a motorcycle tyre as a 'cushion' to prevent bridge damage. It would have to be a front tyre (thinner and lighter). It would be necessary to be going slowly enough to place the tyre flat ways on the abutment first, followed by the Banbury stick, ( both connected to a separate line which is essential not to let go of !) Then, as you clear the bridge, yank out the Banbury stick, the bridge will drop and rebound slightly. On this rebound then pull out the tyre. In theory this sounds do-able. I have yet to try it out. So, if anyone sees a bloke on a 30' boat on the South Oxford splashing around in the water with a six foot piece of 2x2, wearing a tyre as a necklace, and nursing a sore head whilst trying to clear his prop you will know the result...….I am tempted to try it though, especially given the fact that I have at least made some token effort to placate the Wellbeing & wonderous trust in my endeavours.

Can't print the photo, but there was a bloke walking north towards Marston Doles around mid day today wearing nothing but a pair of boots and a backpack !

I have always thought that Cropredy Marina was crying out for a footbridge over to the towpath - rather like the temporary one at Crick show - only more 'in keeping' with local structures. Something akin to the 'Wedding Bridge' up by Wormleighton hill.

And that's not Tom Rolt footbridge either...…..

I hope I never meet you on that hairpin bit by Stoneton Moat Farm !!

Aintree Beetles are great little boats, designed as an "entry level" boat for folk that want to get started on the canals with minimal running costs. I have had one now for about a year and a half, acquired second hand, but with very low engine hours and in "as new" condition. OK, it is 30 feet long, but all four boats in the range - 25' 30' 35' and 40' all have the same bow and stern configuration and Beta 16 engine, it is just the cabin length that varies. The steelwork and welding does seem quite impressive, as does the paint finish. The Beta 16 engine is only a 600cc twin pot, making it very economical to run, but it does need a bit of revving to make any sort of progress (which is probably good for a diesel engine anyway). I usually try to aim for a (relatively) relaxed pace of around 1600 rpm, although this could be increased to 1900- 2000 rpm if so desired, but I find this can give rise to cavitation and gurgling noises. I have never taken her on a river as she was designed for canal use primarily, and I think the little engine would not be up to the job of punching against a strong current. (someone will probably be along shortly to say that they have ! ). The interior is nicely fitted in oak with contrasting cream painted wall panels giving her an open airy feel, especially with the light coming in from the roof skylight (which I believe was an "extra") and the ample windows. My only gripe about the interior (and this is purely because I have spent fifty years in the woodworking trade) is the relatively simple construction of the cupboard doors. They were built to a price, which is understandable, using only a groove in the stiles and top and bottom rails (to take the ply panel) as the basis for the corner joints. this gives a minimal glue area. The doors consequently need careful operation and usage. Personally I would have used a stub tenon, or dowels or even a biscuit here, but that's just me being picky, anyway - a minor gripe, as treated with care, they are perfectly OK. Oh - and do keep an eye on the eberspacher blown air heater - they need to be run REGULARLY - all year round, once a month, even in summer for a short amount of time or you get problems. Reversing - now this can be interesting, - what we have here is a combination of all things conspiring to make life challenging, a short boat, with short swims, a square stern and a relatively low torque engine. You will probably find, as I did, that you stick it in reverse, point the tiller where you want to go, and merrily sally forth....Noooooooo...... This is where the boat develops a mind of it's own. The bow wants to go to starboard, driven by the weird phenomenon known as prop walk, transverse thrust, or as I prefer to call it, the bu**eration factor. No amount of faffing about with the tiller this way slightly, that way slightly will do any good whatsoever. What you have to do is this - bring the boat to a stop gradually, with very little turbulence, in mid - channel, away from any shallows. Then, engage reverse on tickover, look along the roof vents and imagine a very acute angle either side of centre (no more than about 10 degrees I would say). As soon as backward momentum commences the bow will tend to swing to starboard. At the very first indication that this is happening, put the tiller HARD over to port, and keep it there. All things being equal you will begin to track rearwards, albeit glacially slowly. The revs at this point can now be increased to around 1400 - but no more otherwise it all starts to go wrong very quickly. When the bow starts to move back towards centre line/ port, and BEFORE it gets anywhere near the 10 degrees point whack the tiller hard over to starboard. This is what works for me, extreme movements of the tiller, creating what is , in effect a "stern thruster". Continue in this way and watch that bow movement like a Hawk. Remember, once rearward momentum is achieved, hang on to it at all costs ! The last thing you want to do is lose it by having to "correct" by engaging forward gear. Oh, and pray that the wind doesn't get up - because that will stuff it completely ! Finally, I hope when you get your Beetle in August that you enjoy it as much as I have mine, I might even see you out on the cut one day ! Good Luck !

Just don't mention it.....

On reflexion, I think Mike is being rather obtuse here......