BargeeSpud Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) We did the aqueduct in 2014. I was fine boating over it as I stood just inside the doors of my trad stern, but after we'd gone back over it & moored up, it was a different story. We walked back to the aqueduct with our 2 dogs to walk across it & to my horror, I found myself physically shaking & had to hand my dog on to the missus in order to continue across! Then I had to do it all over again, hoping it wouldn't be as bad. Not a snowballs, I felt exactly the same. I mean, there's nearly 5' of railing on one side & the canal on the other! How likely is it to have a serious accident!? I couldn't believe it, I'd always known I was aprehensive with heights, but this was ridiculous, I'm not actually scared of heights surely? Well, I was soon to find out. A year later & I was getting my holiday rental in Blaenau Ffestiniog in a fit state to hire out, when my niece who works at Zip World thought it was a good idea to give me a "flight" for my birthday. Great I thought, I've abseiled before, same difference I guess. We got there, got suited up & I was asked how I felt., "fine" I said, are you excited I was asked, "not really" I said, all seemed good, I was calm. Onto the bus to the top of Titan, still feeling OK. At the top, all off the bus, niece in attendance & would be going down with us. To get onto the lines, you have to ascend onto a platform, we were the last group to go down, but as I watched the others go before us, the nerves kicked in - big style! I couldn't even get myself onto the platform. For the first time in my life, I truly understood what "petrified" means, I could not move a muscle. Then the humiliating trip back to base on the bus, despite the consolation of the staff, I was absolutely devastated, especially as the missus, also scared, went down. So, I am scared of heights, so much so, my legs quiver if a verticle drop is shown on TV! Edited February 7, 2017 by BargeeSpud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chertsey Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 For some reason, the Edstone on the Stratford gives us both the heebie jeebies, far more so than the Ponty. Think it's because the towpath is below the canal and not in sight when crossing. That's interesting, because it really took me by surprise how terrifying I found Edstone, and I thought I'd never be able to face Pontcysyllte. My two scariest boating experiences in sequential threads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris T Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 Another vote for Edstone being more terrifying, particularly in strong wind. And particularly when hubby says "you're doing fine, we're half way across now" ONLY HALF WAY???!!!! Being stuck scraping against the side is the worst thing, visions of crashing through the side with boat and water still makes me shudder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_P Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) And it is longer. No Ponty: 307m Edstone: 145m and then of course, there's this: http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/04/incredible-magdeburg-water-bridge-in.html nearly 1km long. Edited February 7, 2017 by Dave_P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 We did the aqueduct in 2014. I was fine boating over it as I stood just inside the doors of my trad stern, but after we'd gone back over it & moored up, it was a different story. We walked back to the aqueduct with our 2 dogs to walk across it & to my horror, I found myself physically shaking & had to hand my dog on to the missus in order to continue across! Then I had to do it all over again, hoping it wouldn't be as bad. Not a snowballs, I felt exactly the same. I mean, there's nearly 5' of railing on one side & the canal on the other! How likely is it to have a serious accident!? I couldn't believe it, I'd always known I was aprehensive with heights, but this was ridiculous, I'm not actually scared of heights surely? Well, I was soon to find out. A year later & I was getting my holiday rental in Blaenau Ffestiniog in a fit state to hire out, when my niece who works at Zip World thought it was a good idea to give me a "flight" for my birthday. Great I thought, I've abseiled before, same difference I guess. We got there, got suited up & I was asked how I felt., "fine" I said, are you excited I was asked, "not really" I said, all seemed good, I was calm. Onto the bus to the top of Titan, still feeling OK. At the top, all off the bus, niece in attendance & would be going down with us. To get onto the lines, you have to ascend onto a platform, we were the last group to go down, but as I watched the others go before us, the nerves kicked in - big style! I couldn't even get myself onto the platform. For the first time in my life, I truly understood what "petrified" means, I could not move a muscle. Then the humiliating trip back to base on the bus, despite the consolation of the staff, I was absolutely devastated, especially as the missus, also scared, went down. So, I am scared of heights, so much so, my legs quiver if a verticle drop is shown on TV! If it helps, it wasn't exactly uncommon to see various stages of panic from death grip and shuffle along the railings to people practically crawling off the bridge. Heights take me in odd ways, no problem hanging by a rope from the top of a tree but put me at the top of a building and the butterflies start, I think its about the feeling of control Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Booth Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 No Ponty: 307m Edstone: 145m and then of course, there's this: http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/04/incredible-magdeburg-water-bridge-in.html nearly 1km long. You are quite correct. I looked up longest aquaducts and Edstone is the longest in England. I hold my head in shame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 Another vote for Edstone being more terrifying, particularly in strong wind. And particularly when hubby says "you're doing fine, we're half way across now" ONLY HALF WAY???!!!! Being stuck scraping against the side is the worst thing, visions of crashing through the side with boat and water still makes me shudder. Been accross Pony..... 4 times (2 return trips) all in August in nice weather and not really had any problems, even though I would say I am not great with heights. Done Edstone quite a few times as it is local, but one time certainly sticks in my mind with a very strong cross wind that had us pinned to the offside all the way, and that was not nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 We had a strong crosswind blowing us against the non towpath side, made me nervous when we bumped into the side of the trough, took comfort in logic, i.e. we would be the first boat in 200 years to break through and plunge to the ground (with me and the missus screaming all the way down to a violent and bloody death - gulp) Someone has to be the first... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haggis Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 You are quite correct. I looked up longest aquaducts and Edstone is the longest in England. I hold my head in shame. and the Avon aqueduct in Scotland on the Glasgow and Edinburgh Union canal is the second longest in the UK at 810 feet with 11 arches. Haggis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 So, I am scared of heights, so much so, my legs quiver if a verticle drop is shown on TV! Best not to watch this video then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) Best not to watch this video then... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A_h2AjJaMw Seen that before and I am amazed he used no safety strop at all while climbing, even the strop used during the rest stop is dodgy Edited February 7, 2017 by tree monkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 Best not to watch this video then... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A_h2AjJaMw Oops, I've dropped my screwdriver. Bob, pop down and get it will ya? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Todd Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 Someone has to be the first... I suspect there ever would only be one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 Seen that before and I am amazed he used no safety strop at all while climbing, even the strop used during the rest strop is dodgy Wouldn't be allowed in the U.K., I'm sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 We walked back to the aqueduct with our 2 dogs to walk across it & to my horror, I found myself physically shaking & had to hand my dog on to the missus in order to continue across! Then I had to do it all over again, hoping it wouldn't be as bad. Well you could have walked back along the road instead, then you could have got one of those photos looking up at the aqueduct from below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 Best not to watch this video then... What is the life expectancy of a tower climber? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 I find the video faintly dissatisfying at the end when they climb onto the very top, because we never find out what maintenance they've gone up there to do, that needs a 30lb bag of tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tree monkey Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 What is the life expectancy of a tower climber? couldn't tell you but i do know the states have a rather carefree approach towards H&S, much of what i did when i was on the tools was powerline work and they work live on stuff we wouldn't touch without a shutdown and do seem to kill a fair few, apparently there is more litigation for outages over there so the power company's are very very reluctant to switch the power for routine works Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Healey Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 Confess that on Edstone Aquaduct on the Stratford I always try to get water over the edge onto road and rail below with a quick blast with the tiller over, succeeded once but missed the train underneath:-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted February 7, 2017 Report Share Posted February 7, 2017 couldn't tell you but i do know the states have a rather carefree approach towards H&S, much of what i did when i was on the tools was powerline work and they work live on stuff we wouldn't touch without a shutdown and do seem to kill a fair few, apparently there is more litigation for outages over there so the power company's are very very reluctant to switch the power for routine works There oil and gas industry is very similar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stegra Posted February 8, 2017 Report Share Posted February 8, 2017 Best not to watch this video then... Or this. Quite incredible to see the lack of regard for safety considering how relatively recent it was. Particularly him being a fully qualified, erm, TV presenter: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stegra Posted February 8, 2017 Report Share Posted February 8, 2017 (edited) I find the video faintly dissatisfying at the end when they climb onto the very top, because we never find out what maintenance they've gone up there to do, that needs a 30lb bag of tools. Maybe you'll find this one less frustrating: Edited February 8, 2017 by stegra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHutch Posted February 8, 2017 Report Share Posted February 8, 2017 I got off and walked to the front of the boat to take pictures for a bit, it's not like you need to steer, there is no where to go Like this: Taken by me of my cousin, boat is unattended. Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted February 8, 2017 Report Share Posted February 8, 2017 (edited) er........ morbid to ask....... but has anyone actually ever fallen off?? "Do people fall off here often?".................. "No! - Never more than the once!" Edited February 8, 2017 by alan_fincher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted February 8, 2017 Report Share Posted February 8, 2017 (edited) Like this: FB_IMG_1486513170378.jpg Taken by me of my cousin, boat is unattended. Daniel Does your cousin have a look-alike? Edited February 8, 2017 by David Mack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now