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Hello and cordial greetings from the CtC Newsletter as we move firmly into summer holiday time and canal chaos as everyone takes their boat out and about in the good weather!
August is a month when I traditionally used to pull back into a marina - just as I did in winter - to avoid the crowds but obviously many people do not have that luxury and the summer break is their getaway.
If you are joining the throng in the next few weeks then I hope you have a splendid time, that the weather is fair but not scorching, and that the phrase "it's a contact sport" as someone smashes into you, is never uttered in your presence.
Cheers
David |
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News from the canal world.
*** Press releases or other news snippets can be sent to me at newsletter@cruisingthecut.co.uk ***
Dry as ditchwater?
Following what the Met Office are labelling the driest Spring since 1893, and continued warm weather, the Canal & River Trust has advised that water availability across the canal network is under strain.
Already many restrictions have been imposed, typically on working hours at lock flights such as Hillmorton on the North Oxford, and Atherstone on the Coventry.
It's worse on the Macclesfield canal where the situation, coupled with a blown cill, has resulted in the entire closure of the Bosley flight, leaving boats stranded, as the Marple flight on the Peak Forest canal has also been shut.
A map of the affected areas can be found on the Notices section of the Trust’s website: filter by reason: ‘Low Water Levels’ and select ‘Map View’. See https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices
The issue arises from lack of rainfall, hot weather, ongoing reservoir repairs, and modern legislation limiting the amount of water that can be extracted from rivers.
Welsh No-Water
Things are just as bad over the border in Wales where the Mon & Brec canal has "serious issues that threaten its future", according to a CRT press release.
The water supply to the canal has been severely restricted since legislation was enforced to limit the volume that can be taken from the River Usk.
A temporary agreement between Dŵr Cymru (Welsh Water) and the CRT has enabled ‘support water’ to be provided but this comes at a significant financial cost.
The issue has now reached the Welsh Parliament, with funding being provided to enhance the river pumping station at Manorafon. Unfortunately, this does not address the major canal issues of cost and restrictive licence conditions.
It's hoped that the Parliament's stated intention to “work with others to find a long-term sustainable, workable solution” will bear fruit sooner rather than later.
What the Duck?
A solar-powered, contactless payment, duck food dispenser has been installed next to the canal at Vines Park in Droitwich.
It's one of several that have been installed - free of charge to local councils - by "The Feed Ducks Initiative Ltd".
Their website - https://www.feedducks.com - is peculiarly vague as to who they are or why they do it, other than being supported by European funding and using recycled plastic to make the feeders.
However, it should mean that ducks get fed appropriate nourishment instead of bread and apparently 10% of proceeds are given back "to the community".
Swans wait hopefully by the food dispenser at Vines Park in Droitwich
Picture (c) Deborah Johns |
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My recent videos
Following my recent trip to France, all the videos of which have now been published, the focus has returned to boating here in Blighty, more specifically the journey of narrowboat Gentian from near Lincoln down to the Midlands where it will be moored for the foreseeable future.
There are many episodes of this trip to come but the initial departure from Lincoln and beginnings of the journey up the River Trent are now online.
Plus, as it was a special occasion, I also made a quick video to mark ten years of Cruising the Cut on YouTube!
Click the links below to watch.
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Book your perfect canal boat holiday! |
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What am I up to?
My upcoming focus for boating is mostly two things: 1) bits of DIY on narrowboat Gentian (such as installing a small solar panel, and changing the throttle control cables for new ones), and 2) getting back to work on my fibreglass cabin cruiser, Twiggy!
Yes, really; I have neither disposed of nor forgotten about Twiggy and have marked a couple of weekends in August for returning to the boat yard.
I am aware I need to make use of the decent weather in order to get the transom finally addressed and am currently toying with whether to have a go at making my own version of "Coosa board" since I am unable to source any in the UK (despite getting in contact with the local distributor!).
The other option would be to use traditional marine plywood but this would, ultimately, rot just as the existing transom has so for longevity a resin core would be a tougher option. I just need to make a template for it and fill it with fibreglass. How hard can it be....?! |
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Events for your diary
Fenny Stratford Canal Festival
2nd & 3rd August
Bridges 96 to 97, Grand Union Canal, Milton Keynes
Floating market, model boats, craft stalls and free admission.
https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/fenny-stratford-canal-festival-2023
Nantwich Floating Market
2nd & 3rd August
Opposite Nantwich marina, CW5 8LB
On the Shropshire Union canal, this popular event promises plenty of trading boats to browse.
https://www.rcta.org.uk/markets-festivals-and-events/#!event/2025/8/2/rcta-nantwich-floating-market-tbc
Linlithgow Fun Day
10th August
Linlithgow Canal Centre, Manse Rd, Linlithgow EH49 6AJ
Featuring a cardboard boat race amongst many other attractions, which should be hilarious!
https://www.lucs.org.uk/linlithgow-canal-centre/funday19/
Wednesfield Canal Festival
9th & 10th August
Bentley Bridge, Wednesfield, WV11 1BP
On the Wyrley & Essington canal in Wolverhampton, there's free entry to a floating market, live music, food stalls, and family fun.
https://wednesfieldcanalfestival.co.uk/
Brownhills Canal Festival
16th & 17th August
Silver Street moorings, Brownhills, WS8 6DZ
Another free event that's also on the Wyrley and Essington Canal, it promises floating traders, historic narrowboats, land traders and lots more.
https://lhcrt.org.uk/event/brownhills-canal-festival-2025/
Frontcysyllte Floating Market
16th & 17th August
Coedfryn winding hole, LLangollen canal, LL20 7TY
Hand-made crafts and food boats, another event from the Roving Canal Traders Association.
https://www.rcta.org.uk/markets-festivals-and-events/#!event/2025/8/16/rcta-grindley-brook-floating-market
Milton Keynes Floating Market
23rd-25th August
Campbell Wharf Marina, Milton Keynes
A bank holiday extravaganza!
https://www.rcta.org.uk/markets-festivals-and-events/#!event/2025/8/23/rcta-milton-keynes-august-bh-floating-market
Ellesmere Arm Floating Market
23rd-25th August
Ellesmere, Shropshire SY12
Another 3-day event for the bank holiday.
https://www.rcta.org.uk/markets-festivals-and-events/#!event/2025/8/23/rcta-ellesmere-floating-market
Bratch rally of boats
30th & 31st August
Bratch Lane, Wombourne, Wolverhampton WV5 8DH
Historic boats, stalls and suchlike and free admission
https://swcanalsociety.co.uk/ |
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My YouTube top pick of the month
I usually say I won't pick boating channels here because if you're already watching boaty stuff then YouTube is likely to show you suitable recommendations anway.
However ... rules are made to be broken so my choice this month is MVNorthStar.
Created by Ken and Roberta Williams, the couple who founded legendary computer games outfit Sierra On-Line, the channel documents their recent acquisition and refitting of a 2003 Moonen 90 superyacht.
There are only a handful of videos so far and they're largely Ken chatting to camera about why they made the choice of this boat and what their plans are, it's very interesting to see how an older boat can be transformed if you have the will - and the considerable money...
Watch at https://www.youtube.com/@MVNorthStar |
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Final Thoughts
Just before I finish, a quick word about a new Facebook group (yeah, I know - Facebook, bleeeurrghhhh, but that's where it is) that's been created for new boat-owners who are upset about the standard of paintwork on their craft.
You might think, having just spend north of £100,000 (at least!) on a new narrowboat, that the shiny paint job would stick for a while but increasing numbers of people are apparently discovering this is not the case and, unsurprisingly, are not happy about it.
To that end, widebeam owners Hayley and Richard have created "Canal Boaters for Change - UK Build and Paint Awareness" as a focus for discussion and sharing of problems with paint and build quality.
The idea is to raise awareness of the issue and help prospective owners not to fall foul of such problems.
So if you're pondering a new boat or have bought one but have some gripes about its quality, have a look and see what you can glean or contribute.
The group's at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1269863691589823
Cheerio!
David |
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