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Hello and welcome again to the newsletter. Here in the UK, the clocks have just gone back by an hour, resetting our time to GMT; it means winter is on its way and the evenings are dark and glum.
Storm Benjamin came and went without much more than a stiff breeze, at least where I live in the Midlands, but for sure more are on the way.
This should mean lots of rain, which the canals still desperately need - there's an update on the situation in the news section, below.
And unfortunately, we start on rather a sad note in the news as well. |
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*** News from the canal world. Send press releases (about canal topics!) to newsletter@cruisingthecut.co.uk *** |
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Great Canal Legend
The actress and well-known canal enthusiast Prunella Scales has died at the age of 93.
Most famous for her role as Sybil Fawlty in TV sitcom Fawlty Towers, Scales and her husband Timothy West were both passionate narrowboaters, who made several series of the TV show "Great Canal Journeys" which was broadcast around the world.
She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 2013 and died at home in London surrounded by family.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/oct/28/fawlty-towers-actor-prunella-scales-dies-at-the-age-of-93
Water, water not everywhere?
The Canal & River Trust says that "the majority" of recent canal closures and restrictions have now been lifted after the summer drought which saw about 20% of the network (approx 400 miles) closed due to low water levels.
The relief comes just in time for lots of areas to be closed again for scheduled winter maintenance (!) and several areas remain affected by a lack of water, with reservoirs at very low levels.
The Trust has issued a press release urging boaters to keep an eye on their Stoppages page as well as a Frequently Asked Questions page specifically for drought-related issues.
Minority report
A report commissioned by the CRT to examine the current use of the network, with an eye to updating the legal framework behind boating licences, is due to be completed in November.
An independent commission was set up to "review the framework around boat licensing and the service delivered to boaters more generally."
The current position on continuous cruising is somewhat ambiguous with the law stating just that boaters must be "bona fide" (genuinely) cruising, rather than pottering around as much in one location as they can.
Whilst a more specific definition would bring much-needed clarity, it could also impact the many liveaboards who currently "hover" around a location by putting in the minimum miles required to keep the CRT happy.
All the updates from the Commission's meetings can be seen at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/boating-news-and-views/boating-news/commission-to-review-future-framework-for-boat-licensing
Dirty Boaters
Meanwhile, after a consultation with boaters, canalside toilets and showers maintained by the CRT are to be no more, with the Trust simply providing waste, water and toilet disposal facilities.
It says facilities that fall outside of essential provision include showers, public toilets, washing machines, and tumble driers.
Intriguingly however, they are offering boaters or other interested users (campervanners maybe?) the opportunity to lease and maintain shower and toilet facilities themselves.
Excluding those, and some toilets at key visitor destinations, all others will be closed from Monday 3 November.
The Trust says it just doesn't have the money to spend on anything other than the bare requirements.
More info at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/boating-news-and-views/the-boaters-update/boaters-update-9-oct-2025#customer-service-facilities-what-you-need-to-know
It's all about the money, money, money...
Sneaking in just too late for publication in last month's newsletter, the CRT has also published its Annual Report.
It highlights that over £60 million was invested in winter maintenance, across more than 200 projects including 135 new lock gates. A further £21 million was spent upgrading 22 of the charity’s 74 raised reservoirs.
Alongside this, the Trust introduced a "Better Boating Plan" pledging £3 million to improve navigation. The charity’s dredging programme removed over 60,000 tonnes of material and improved over 40 miles of waterway, while over 6,800 tonnes of waste were collected.
More than half of the charity’s income now comes from property, investments, utilities, donations and "other funding".
You can read the full report at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/annual-report-and-accounts
Crocodile Rock
And finally ... startled canal-goers in Derbyshire called the police when a crocodile was spotted in the water recently.
But boaters and anglers need not worry as it turns out the croc was a stuffed taxidermy one, filled with hay, and inadvertently caught while fishing.
See https://news.sky.com/story/police-in-derbyshire-solve-mystery-of-crocodile-found-in-canal-13452117 |
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My recent videos
If you've missed any recent vlogs due to YouTube being rubbish and not alerting you, then the latest include two cruising videos aboard Gentian (namely the journey from Kings Orchard marina down to Springwood Haven marina), plus one trip to Twiggy which was cut short due to a family issue (a further update was recorded later and will be transmitted next).
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?
As explained in the last newsletter, my video output until the end of the year is a mix of cruising videos aboard narrowboat Gentian (that I have already recorded while travelling down from Lincoln to the Midlands) as well as a further Twiggy update.
I know it's taking a while to get through the cruising - and the sunny summer weather on the film is a dead giveaway! - but there was so much footage, and I can release them only at such a rate, that Christmas is when the last instalment will go "live"
There's also a final (for this year!) part of Twiggy's transom restoration still to come.
Over Christmas and the New Year, there will be a couple of special episodes, all being well.
And then, I must be honest, I'm not entirely sure what 2026 holds, though there will be an update on Gentian's Boat Safety Scheme examination which is happening in December.
With very limited time available - basically just weekends at present - long cruises are not an option, unfortunately.
I think there will be a handful of short winter trips; then come the Spring I will get some DIY jobs done on Gentian (eg solar and also the water tank's electric element needs replacing) as well as taking the tarp off Twiggy and trying to get that darned transom actually finished.
Fingers crossed! |
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Into the dusty archive...
For my look back into the vault this month, I thought I'd do something a little different and pick an entire topic to look back on.
Specifically, with one of my projects for Spring being installing a small amount of solar power onto Gentian, I think a browse back over the topic might be useful to me, so I'm dragging you along for the ride!
My collection of videos on the topic can be seen via my website 'tag' of solar, under this link https://cruisingthecut.co.uk/category/engineering/solar-power/ |
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My YouTube top pick of the month
As many viewers are already aware, I not only have (2!) boats but also a campervan, so occasionally I watch videos about those.
One such channel which came onto my radar this month is called Yorkshire Pop-top Adventures and features an enthusiastic VW Campervan owner (and sometimes his partner) going on trips in their van, on walks and hikes, and some van modifications.
It's all done with a huge burst of energy and he definitely knows how to film and edit a sharp video, so if you're into campervans, maybe have a browse.
The channel is at https://www.youtube.com/@YorkshirePopTopAdventures |
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Final Thoughts
It may only just be November but Christmas is a mere few weeks away and, if you mark the occasion with presents as many folk do, then now is surely the time to turn your thoughts to suitable gifts.
Being a canal-oriented publication, I am of course going to support canal-oriented suppliers, of which there are many.
An awful lot of people make an awful lot of things aboard their boats, and sell them either to passers-by on the towpath but also online via post of course.
There are too many to list but thankfully someone's done it for me so may I urge you to browse the trader listings on the Roving Canal Trader Association website and maybe you'll find a lovely stocking-filler for your loved ones.
The link is https://www.rcta.org.uk/directory/
Cheers
David |
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