steven wilkinson Posted May 7, 2016 Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 And don't get me started on Teeside! It's Tees - side! Teesside! And - UTB! What will the derby be? Tees/Wear or Tees/Tyne? I could quite fancy a couple of weeks on the Canal Du Midi myself! Might even take the wife! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 7, 2016 Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 (edited) And don't get me started on Teeside! It's Tees - side! Teesside! And - UTB! What will the derby be? Tees/Wear or Tees/Tyne? I think traditionally Sunderland have been seen as the arch enemy so Tees/Wear I would say. Assuming of course Sunderland stay up which is by far from certain. They are currently losing 1-0 at home to Chelsea. Edited May 7, 2016 by MJG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam & Di Posted May 7, 2016 Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 Just as a matter of interest, did the people at Le Boat emphasize to you, the need to slow down when passing moored boats. I've been told that most hire boats cruise past at the same speed, oblivious of the problems that can be caused by not slowing down But as mentioned they charge quite steeply for fuel, based on the number of engine hours recorded. This is a major factor in the speeding problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 7, 2016 Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 Its worth noting that Minervois Cruisers on the Midi do not operate this rip off fuel charging procedure, operating something akin to what happens in the UK. They don't hire out GRP boats but rather 'narrowboats' and 'steel widebeams'. http://www.minervoiscruisers.com/accommodation/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stilllearning Posted May 7, 2016 Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 But as mentioned they charge quite steeply for fuel, based on the number of engine hours recorded. This is a major factor in the speeding problem. The prices were eye-watering, the one time we went on the Canal du Midi, both the hire costs and the fuel on top of it all. About £3000 for a week in October. Then when we couldn't turn the engine off one evening, they didn't bother to come out and fix it. No, we haven't been back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted May 7, 2016 Report Share Posted May 7, 2016 And don't get me started on Teeside! It's Tees - side! Teesside!wife! Oh look, it's teattime already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Sugg Posted May 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 Good tip on the engine hours - thank you. Looked it up and it is over 7 per hour!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stilllearning Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 Good tip on the engine hours - thank you. Looked it up and it is over 7 per hour!! And it is worth noting that road diesel in France can be found for around 1€ a litre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 Some hire firms offer an all-in package surplus to the hiring fee: Locaboat, for example, charged a fixed fee for unlimited engine hours + cleaning on return + bicycle hire. We did not want the bike but, as we averaged 8 or 9 hours travelling per day (the hire base people could not understand this) we came out in front. It was about £200. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Sugg Posted May 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 I may ask then about doing a deal. Also, they upgraded us from our original boat to a more expensive one because the original one had a problem. Original boat 5 euro an hour, this one 7. I think I have a case to insist on the original price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pluto Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 It's a common mistake. Even the close by market town between us and Middlesbrough is spelt Guisborough. There is no definitive reason as to why the name is spelt as it is one theory being it was a simple spelling error very early on in the town's history and the 'incorrect' spelling stuck. Of course, the correct older spelling is Gisborough, and the canal connection is that one Lady Gisborough was the Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter of Thomas Steers, probably the most important British waterway promoter and engineer of the early 18th century. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 I may ask then about doing a deal. Also, they upgraded us from our original boat to a more expensive one because the original one had a problem. Original boat 5 euro an hour, this one 7. I think I have a case to insist on the original price. Yes and no. You're getting a better boat for 2 euros an hour extra. Sounds reasonable to me. Have a look at the price difference between the two craft - you may find that you're in fact getting better value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 Of course, the correct older spelling is Gisborough, and the canal connection is that one Lady Gisborough was the Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter of Thomas Steers, probably the most important British waterway promoter and engineer of the early 18th century. Correct. The Hall just outside the town is still referred to/called 'Gisborough Hall'. It's a 'posh' hotel nowadays. http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/gisborough-hall-hotel/?gclid=CjwKEAjw6sC5BRCogcaY_dKZ2nESJABsZihx-l_7BBCDqMR08ocn5U4AU6wuPyrmbgtndiPXfkBSpxoCYpTw_wcB Some people think its a mistake. I wasn't aware of the canal connection though - cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Sugg Posted May 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 We are aboard. It is raining. We are now moored just below he Laurens Staircase. We will go up tomorrow. Thing is, every lock so far has been completely automated with signs and traffic lights and buttons. This has none of those things! Any ideas??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 Maybe there is a lock keeper on duty in the morning ? . We came across one when we left the canal du Garrone to the River Garrone . Bunny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Sugg Posted May 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 That is the conclusion that we have come to, although it says 'self service' which is odd! Oh well, time will tell! Thank Bunny. Have a splendid evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 But as mentioned they charge quite steeply for fuel, based on the number of engine hours recorded. This is a major factor in the speeding problem. A real ripoff, If it was for diesel the boat we hired did about a gallon an hour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Sugg Posted May 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 Yes and no. You're getting a better boat for 2 euros an hour extra. Sounds reasonable to me. Have a look at the price difference between the two craft - you may find that you're in fact getting better value. As an aside, they had pre empted my question and lowered the price already to the pre upgrade price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Sugg Posted May 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 Lockie turned up this morning and did it all with a remote control thing. Very impressive, he also completely missed the middle lock of the three and just filled it from the top pound. Quite a sight seeing the water flood over the middle cill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bargemast Posted May 14, 2016 Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 In the past, you only had to pay for the fuel needed to refill the tank when your holidays were finished, so then it was possible to safe some cash by filling up from a cheap roadside pump before topping up at the hire base. Now they just look on the hour counter and multiply that by whatever ridicules amount they've decided on, so now to limit these hours, you should stop your engine while waiting for a lock to be prepared, and while locking through too, that can make quite a difference over a week. Also try to avoid running the engine without moving, only to heat up your water, as that will make for very expensive showers. Have a nice Holiday anyway. Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Lewis Posted May 14, 2016 Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 (edited) Lockie turned up this morning and did it all with a remote control thing. Very impressive, he also completely missed the middle lock of the three and just filled it from the top pound. Quite a sight seeing the water flood over the middle cill. This happened to us at Castelnaudray in 1988 on a staircase of (I think) 7 locks, Quite scary! Tim Edited May 14, 2016 by Tim Lewis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bargemast Posted May 14, 2016 Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 This happened to us at Castelnaudray in 1988 on a staircase of (I think) 7 locks, Quite scary! Tim After such a long time, I can't blame you for not remembering the exact place. The only 7 staircase lock on the Midi is at Fonserannes just outside Béziers, after which (going towards Carcasonne) you have a lock free pound of almost 54 kms. They normally let the water come in from the top, and as soon as the level in your lock chamber is high enough to allow you to pass the cill of the next lock, you go forward and they close the gates of the lock you just left behind you, this is done to waste as little water as possible. Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Lewis Posted May 14, 2016 Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 After such a long time, I can't blame you for not remembering the exact place. The only 7 staircase lock on the Midi is at Fonserannes just outside Béziers, after which (going towards Carcasonne) you have a lock free pound of almost 54 kms. They normally let the water come in from the top, and as soon as the level in your lock chamber is high enough to allow you to pass the cill of the next lock, you go forward and they close the gates of the lock you just left behind you, this is done to waste as little water as possible. Peter. Got me confused now as this is one of my pictures labelled Fonserannes and it doesn'y look like the location of my first picture that was labelled Castelnaudray? Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bargemast Posted May 14, 2016 Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 Hi Tim, your photo didn't look like Fonserannes, but that's the only place on the Midi with a 7 staircase lock. Closer towards Castelnaudary where your photo was taken there are a triple staircase lock followed by a double staircase lock followed by a quadruple staircase lock, after which you'll arrive at Castelnaudary. They are quite impressive too, only slightly less than Fonseranne. Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Sugg Posted May 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 We are now stuck at a lock. Was particularly annoying because a hotel barge called Louisa pushed in front of us and then faffed around just long enough for the lock to close for lunch. We have now failed to get to our chosen place for lunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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