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Hello and welcome to the first Cruising the Cut Newsletter of 2024 - plus a special welcome to all the new readers who signed up after I mentioned it in the New Year’s Day video; there was a veritable flood of new joiners.
It’s been a month of properly random winter weather. First we had a lot of flooded rivers as assorted storms raged across the country, causing property damage and overflows onto the canals. Then came a week of severe (for the UK) frost with overnight temperatures down to -8C (18F) in my neck of the woods which meant quite thick ice on the canals, easily 3-4cm (about 1.5 inches, ish). That’s now melted and we’re back to having storms again. My little boat seems to be OK but my garden fence has ripped itself to shreds at one end in the strong winds.
In this edition: major subsidence in Oldham; a great YouTube find for anyone working with fibreglass; and a giveaway of tickets to the BoatLife show in February.
Read on!
David |
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News from the canal world.
Hole In One
A portion of the Rochdale canal running through Oldham has been closed after 'substantial subsidence'. It happened at lock 67 but the Canal & River Trust had to shut the navigation between locks 65 to 80. Repair work is due to begin on February 6th after their engineers studied the problem. They expect the work to 'take some time'. The closure notice can be found at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/27157-navigation-closure-lock-65-alfred-street-to-lock-80-coal-pit-lower-rochdale-canal
Do Us A Favour
Staying with the CRT, they're appealing for volunteers to operate the 18 swing bridges along the Gloucester & Sharpness canal. Once the broadest and deepest canal in the world (!), it's now unusual on the British network not only for being relatively deep and wide but because boaters don't have to operate the bridges themselves, you just chug up to the bridge and wait and a keeper will open it and close it behind you. A volunteering information session was held last week but I'm sure they'd accept further applications if you're interested.
Speed 2: on the water
And finally ... apparently Venice is going to install speed cameras along its famous canals due to the 5 / 7kmh limit (for smaller and bigger boats respectively) being ignored, with accidents and even deaths occuring as a result. It's hoped the cameras will also help protect the buildings and embankments of the canals from excessive wash. |
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In case you missed any notifications from YouTube, here are links to the latest three videos on the channel.
These include a second "Slow TV" episode maybe to put on while you're having a nice relaxing bath; an update on a boat that I filmed being built 18 months ago; and my first experience of holidaying on a cruise ship!
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My upcoming plans
The most obvious thing I’ll be filming soon is the beginnings of refurbishment work on Twiggy although for this to really get underway I want the boat out of water and for that I need a trailer which I have yet to organise (but am hoping to discuss with vendors at the BoatLife show in February). One excellent update is that I’ve been offered the free use of a secure yard in which to store the boat while I work on it, and it’s not far from where the boat is currently moored.
The BoatLife show is running 15-18 Feb at the NEC. I’m going to be chatting on stage on Friday 16th at 1:45 so will be there much of the day. If anyone’s around and wants to say hi, that would be great. It’s possible I might go on the Saturday as well to get some filming done for a vlog but I might also try a live broadcast too. If you don't win my tickets (see below), use code 'cruisingthecut' on their website for a discount.
The video I was hoping to film about the lift bridges on the south Oxford has not happened, unfortunately, due to some practicality issues which I won’t bore you with.
Other than that, everything’s a bit tenuous for March onwards but I imagine stuff will occur in the fullness of time. Suggestions and offers are welcome!
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Into the dusty archive...
Each month, I pick out a video from my own archive, and suggest why it might be worth a (re)watch.
This month it’s vlog 131 from five years ago, which shows how lock gates are built at the Canal & River Trust's Bradley workshop. I think it’s fascinating work and great to see the pride the staff take in their work.
Click here to watch: https://youtu.be/UGucbWhD5s8 |
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My YouTube top pick of the month
I don’t just push my own videos, you know, but also like to flag up other YouTubers whose work I enjoy. This month, a channel that’s starting to grow quite considerably as they’ve found a topic that’s resonating with an audience including me; it’s Fish Bump TV.
Part fishing channel, it’s their other videos about working with fibreglass that are getting the views. And no wonder, as the host clearly has expertise in the subject and although they’re long, the videos are therefore detailed.
Topics have included types of fibreglass, how to apply it with resin or epoxy, how to prepare surfaces for fibreglassing, and how to mix and apply gel coat. There are, of course, hoards of these kinds of videos but this channel, I find, has the right mix of topics and solid information.
Take a look at it here: https://www.youtube.com/@fishbumptv and tell them I sent you! |
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Correspondence
A reminder that any news for, or correspondence about, this newsletter can be sent just by clicking ‘reply’ to the email (I may use such correspondence in future newsletters if it raises an interesting issue) |
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A social recommendation
I am sometimes asked about the Scottish Canals (usually 'are they linked to the English ones?' to which the answer is no, it's a very long way between them and they were built for different purposes) so if you have an interest in the waterways north of the border, and are on Twitter, have a look at @ScottishCanals as they post regularly about events going on along the network there, facts and figures, some nice images, even job opportunities.
See https://www.twitter.com/ScottishCanals |
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You can follow me on social media, for example to chat directly ("Twitter / X") or see pictures from the canals (Instagram) etc. Click on the buttons below:- |
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Final Thoughts
Just before I finish for this month, a chance for you to win tickets to the BoatLife show. I’ve got 4 adult tickets and 2 child tickets (0-15 years) to give away, which I’ll do as one pair of adults, and another set of 2 adults with 2 kids. To enter, just reply to this email with the subject line "YES, I'D LIKE TO WIN BOATLIFE TICKETS" (you must enter with that subject line to be in the draw) and state in the email body whether you need the kids tickets or not.
Entries must be received by midnight UK time at the end of February 7th. No correspondence will be entered into, the judge's decision is final etc etc. The tickets are electronic so winners will be emailed via the address they sent their entry in from.
That's all for this month, thanks for subscribing and watching.
Cheerio!
David |
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