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Hello and welcome to the first edition of the Cruising the Cut newsletter for 2026.
We start on a sombre note since, as I am sure you have heard, there was a massive breach in the Llangollen canal just before Christmas. Coming just under a year since the similarly huge breach on the Bridgewater canal, and other smaller breaches elsewhere, this is most concerning both for boaters and anyone who loves our canal system.
Thankfully, no-one was hurt in the latest collapse and the boating community has rallied around to help but it must make everyone wonder about the perilous state of the system as a whole. Not the best way to start the new year.
Cheers
David |
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*** News from the canal world. Send press releases (about canal topics!) to newsletter@cruisingthecut.co.uk *** |
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A Breach Too Far
Early in the morning of December 22nd, an embankment collapsed near New Mills lift bridge on the Llangollen canal. Two boats were washed into the breach hole with the force of the water; a third was left teetering on the edge.
As water rushed ("like Niagara falls" according to boaters on the scene), six other boats moored nearby were straining at their lines, ultimately left high and dry on the mud, tilting at an alarming angle.
Emergency services were quickly on the scene along with fast response staff from the Canal & River Trust, with temporary dams installed to prevent further water loss.
Two well-known canal vloggers happened to be amongst the group and filmed the disaster as it happened, providing a valuable yet alarming document of the collapse.
You can see the coverage at https://www.youtube.com/@NarrowboatLifeUnlocked and https://www.youtube.com/@lockingthroughlife2587
Since the collapse, the area has been cordoned off, with a police presence to prevent rubberneckers trying to have a peek at the hole and causing a danger to themselves.
The CRT has since installed further temporary dams closer to the breach so that the length that will remain dry is minimised, and have re-watered the section with the six boats on it so that they are afloat again and can be lived aboard once more.
Incredibly, the boat that was tetering on the edge of the chasm has been pulled away using winches, although it remains within the empty canal section and unable to be used. It's hoped a further dam can be built in the new year which will enable this boat to refloat as well.
Investigations into the cause of the breach are underway but repairs are said to be likely to take several months, meaning all boats further west along the canal are now 'trapped' there since there's no other access to the main network off the Llangollen (other than by crane or road).
Luckily, the western stretch is very long and many boaters will have gone there for winter anyway.
See the CRT's update page at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/news/llangollen-canal-breach for more information.
A "GoFundMe" appeal for the most affected boaters can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-help-boaters
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My recent videos
You'd think my YouTube channel would go a bit quiet over Christmas but in fact I've been able to pop out quite a bit of content.
(Incidentally, see below for why this does not include a video about the Llangollen canal breach)
Videos have included two real-time "ASMR" / "Slow TV" bonus videos, of footage from the bow camera during recent cruises; not everyone likes these as there's no commentary but a handful of viewers really enjoy them so here they are.
There was also a Christmas Day video featuring two special guests - and my cooking.
And before that were the two final parts of the journey of narrowboat Gentian down to the Midlands.
Click the links below to watch the vlogs (and for the 'slow TV' videos, go direct to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@CruisingTheCut/videos |
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Book your perfect canal boat holiday! |
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What am I up to?
Before I get onto what I have been doing, perhaps a quick note about what I am not.
Specifically, with regards to the canal breach at Llangollen I am not only unable to get up there to film at present, it would also be fairly pointless and unwise to try.
The actual moments of the breach have been very well documented by boaters who were moored there at the time (ref the links in the news item, above); and since then it has been cordoned off for safety so I would be unable to access it for filming.
The best sources for information on the breach are the video channels already mentioned, and the CRT's own web page about the issue.
It is possible that when repairs have begun to the site, there may be a press day for filming and if I am able to get to that, I will.
And so, onto more down to earth matters. I am pleased to report that - so far at least - the frost protection solution aboard Gentian that I described in last month's newsletter seems to be working inasmuch as whenever I have visited, neither have the pipes frozen nor the heater burst into flames, touch wood.
And I can also reveal that the boat had its 4-yearly Boat Safety Scheme inspection and passed!
(Actually it failed, technically, but I was able to fix the issue - a fraying fuel pipe end - there and then, so the examiner gave a pass)
This means it's now deemed safe until February 2030!
My plans for 2026 are essentially to keep an eye on the weather forecast and pop over to the boat if any weekends look decent, and try to have a short cruise which I will film.
I am releasing a short, chatty New Year's Day video which discusses some of the above, so look out for that on my YouTube channel. |
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Into the dusty archive...
For my archive choice this month, it has to be one of my rare cooking videos, in reflection of my catering efforts again this year (see my latest video, linked above).
Four years ago, I used Christmas as an excuse to make my mum's chocolate mousse recipe which is always delicious.
Watch and enjoy at https://cruisingthecut.co.uk/2021/12/31/merry-christmas-and-chocolate-mousse/
And if you have a go at making it yourself, let me know how you get on! |
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My YouTube top pick of the month
There have been thin pickings in YouTube's suggestions to me of late but I have started watching a couple of new channels.
One of those is called Micro Four Nerds and is ostensibly a photography channel. I don't usually watch these, being much more of a video person. However, this one seems to have plenty of video-related camera talk as well and the host, Emily, is engaging and knows her stuff.
Despite the play-on-words channel name, it's not all about Micro 4/3 cameras either.
Have a watch at https://www.youtube.com/@microfournerds |
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Final Thoughts
In last month's newsletter, I mentioned a reader called John Higgins who's in the deserts of northwestern Australia. I asked where in the world any other readers of this newsletter might be, and if any were further away or more remote.
Thank you to everyone who wrote to tell me their whereabouts (there were several) but the awards for furthest must go to Phil Wray in Langkawi, Malaysia along with a whole group of folk in New Zealand, namely David Home in Hamilton; Grant Bird in Wanaka; Stephen Day; and Martin Whenmouth in Whangarei.
Thanks all! There were several contributions from the USA - thank you - but you're firmly beaten in the distance stakes by New Zealand.
Do keep any correspondence coming, just press reply to this email.
Happy New Year!
David |
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