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Hello and welcome to the June edition of this newsletter. Summer is finally here, it seems, after an iffy start during May but sunnier days mean bliss on the water albeit at the cost of more traffic on the canals and rivers which can lead to occasional waits at the locks. If you're new to canal boating, please do remember it's all about slowing down and enjoying the tranquility so hanging around at the locks shouldn't be considered frustrating but a great time to chat with fellow boaters as well as helping out with windlass-wielding.
I've added a new section to the newsletter this month, which I'll probably keep going over the summer months: "Captain's Log" is a list of upcoming canal and boat-related events which might be fun to attend.
Finally - and I mention this through gritted teeth because I firmly and absolutely keep politics off my channel - there is a general election due in the UK on July 4th. I'm writing about it only insofar as to mention that both the Canal & River Trust and the Rivers Trust have issued 'election statements' about what they would like to see the next Government consider regarding our waterways. Those statements can be read at:
https://theriverstrust.org/about-us/news/vote-for-rivers-general-election
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/support-us/our-campaigns/keep-canals-alive/keep-canals-alive-campaign-update-four
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 ***
Dischord in the ranks
The Canal & River Trust has published the results of its latest annual boaters' survey and it's a terrible set of results.
About a third of licenced boaters are asked at random to complete the survey and about ten percent actually did so (1167 responses)
The proportion of boaters who are satisfied with their experience has seen a substantial decline since last year, down by 8 percent to 46% (and a peak of 76% in 2017). Interestingly, liveaboard boaters, whether continually cruising or moored, were significantly less likely to be satisfied than leisure boaters.
Almost half (45%) rated upkeep of waterways poorly in 2024, up from 38%
Overall attitude towards the Trust has seen a similar decline since 2023, falling by 8% to 38% in 2024. Those positively advocating for the Trust have fallen to just 22% this year.
You can see more details at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/boating-news-and-views/boating-news/annual-boaters-survey-2024
Bridge over calm waters
The main entrance to Braunston marina is to be refurbished thanks to a rather substantial legacy left by waterways supporter Peter Andrews.
The bridge, from the "Horseley Iron Works" whose name is stamped onto various bridges along the north Oxford canal, is a mix of iron and brick with traditional lime mortar, which will be used in the renovations.
As well as repointing, the cast iron will be cleaned and repainted, plus an anti-slip surface added. Once finished, the bridge will be renamed "91A Peter's Bridge".
See https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/news/local-legacy-allows-canal-charity-to-bridge-the-gap-in-braunston
Moor good news
The Inland Waterways Association has taken out a lease on moorings at Stoke Bardolph on the River Trent to keep them available for boaters.
The spaces are outside an Inn that dates back to 1823, outside which commercial barges used to stop as they took cargo along the river. Unfortunately, the moorings fell into disrepair 40 years ago until the local IWA group banded together in 2018 to begin repairs. Not only have those been extensively completed but the IWA has also located the land-owner and negotiated a lease on the property so that it's safe for the future.
Boaters can stay for up to 48 hours for free, though as there are no floating pontoons to rise and fall with the water level, you must ensure your boat is not unattended during inclement weather so as to keep it safe and secure. The Inn still exists and welcomes boaters' custom!
See the full press release at https://waterways.org.uk/about-us/news/stoke-bardolph-moorings
Strong arms needed
The Canal & River Trust is allowing people to canoe through the 3.5-mile long Standedge Tunnel for the first time. The opportunity is restricted to specific days and paddlers will be required to use the CRT's open canoes as well as being accompanied by a CRT guide, just as narrowboaters are when they make the journey.
Each trip, which takes approximately two hours, will be one way only, from either Marsden to Diggle or Diggle to Marsden.
Because of that, participants will have to sort out their own way back (there is a bus back over the hill which I used after filming at the tunnel a year or so ago)
Places cost £100 for two people in a tandem canoe or £55 for solo. See the CRT's website for more info at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/things-to-do/museums-and-attractions/standedge-tunnel/paddle-sports-at-standedge
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Dates for the diary
6-7 July: Leawood Pumphouse Open weekend. See the 1849 Graham & Co. beam engine in action.
10-13 July: Russell Newbery Register Rally, bringing together owners of boats with Russell Newbery engines; part of the Evesham River Festival.
19-21 July Gnosall Community Canal Festival, offering Historic working boats, a canal history exhibition and public boat trips.
20 July Pershore River Festival, at Pershore on the River Avon.
20-21 July Cosgrove Canal Festival & Craft Fair. Run each year to raise money for the restoration of the Buckingham Canal.
Sat 27 July: Linslade Canal Festival. At Tiddenfoot Waterside Park, celebrating canal life, conservation, the countryside, and the charm of traditional rural crafts
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My recent videos
I confess to being a bit melancholy that the most recent video, about the splendid work being undertaken by the Grantham Canal Society, has not been particularly well viewed. It's a great project, the equal of any of the other restorations across the country, and I think (at least I hope) the video did it justice. If you've not had a chance to look yet, please do and maybe a browse of the Society's website pages too as they would definitely appreciate any support.
Prior to that was a video where I cruised my little boat a short distance down the river Severn in the pouring rain, in order to have it craned out onto dry land for maintenance; and a video about the IWA's annual Trail Boat Festival, this year held on the furthest reach of the Ashby canal.
You can watch these videos by clicking on these links:-
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What am I up to?
The horizon is, alas, looking a bit misty and fogged up this month with not a lot in the planning bag. I recall from my days on a TV newsdesk the editor confidently always saying "fate will provide" at the start of each day and remarkably he was right so I'm pinning my hopes on his mantra still working now I'm an independent videomaker. I do have a day booked for filming a rather unusual and very small boat at the end of the month and there are a couple more possibilities during July and August but that's about all that's on the calendar. Pray for me finding some inspiration soon!
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Into the dusty archive...
Due to the CRT's plan to allow canoe trips through the Standedge Tunnel (see the news section above), my choice from the archive this month is of course the video I made going through the 3.5-mile tunnel by narrowboat. Watch it and imagine doing the trip by canoe!
See it at https://cruisingthecut.co.uk/2022/07/17/vlog-272-going-underground/
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My YouTube top pick of the month
A month or two ago, I was approached by an American musician via my Cruising the Cut Facebook page. He was coming to the UK for a whirlwind trip around various canal locations and planning to interview various narrowboaters and other 'canal-related' people for a video. One of those people was me and we met right in the centre of Birmingham, with the interview being conducted at the CRT's visitor centre at the Roundhouse (for which, many thanks to the kind folk there on the day who we put the filming request to with no prior notice!).
Jim's videos - for there were two in the end - are being edited and put on YouTube so my suggestion for your viewing pleasure this month is episode 1 since that's now complete. The videos are quite long, so in the time-honoured tradition of Cruising the Cut, I recommend arming yourself with a nice cup of tea and a packet of biscuits as you settle down to watch.
Watch "A Fortnight is Two Weeks" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=end-RAGD3-o
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A social recommendation
Here's my monthly recommendation for an account to follow on social media. Like last time, this is nothing to do with boats but it's whose posts I find amusing and interesting. If you're into cars or wheeled vehicles of any sort, have a gander at Quirky Rides on Twitter. See https://www.twitter.com/QuirkyRides
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Meanwhile, you can connect with me on social media by clicking on the buttons below:- |
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Final Thoughts
And so we come to the end of the newsletter. As always, thanks for reading. Any correspondence or news items can be emailed to newsletter@cruisingthecut.co.uk and don't forget there's also a podcast version of the newsletter on the usual platforms (Spotify etc)
Cheers for now,
David |
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