Great canal journeys...

[tim_noone]

On 4 .....not a patch on the old format with Prunella scales and was it Timothy West? Gyles Brandreth and Sheila Hancock are about themselves and not the Canal Journey itself

[FactualFrank]

Yes Timothy West. They are married.

[dpinsussex]

Loved the trip through Vietnam and Cambodia

[tim_noone]

Yes Timothy West. They are married.

Yes ...they were very good on their journeys...

[Jakubclaret]

Let’s hope this pair are abit more sober, how TW managed to steer a barge in a straight line is 1 of the wonders of the waterways when I tuned in they seemed to be constantly drinking wine.

[boatshed bill]

On 4 .....not a patch on the old format with Prunella scales and was it Timothy West? Gyles Brandreth and Sheila Hancock are about themselves and not the Canal Journey itself

Loved the original series.
My favourite canals will always be :
Leeds- Liverpool,
Kennet and Avon,
and in France.
Canal Du Midi.

[bobinho]

Isn't Prunella Scales suffering with some sort of debilitating illness?

They were very good them two.

[Bosscat]

Isn't Prunella Scales suffering with some sort of debilitating illness?

They were very good them two.

Alzheimers doesnt take prisoners

[Herts Clarets]

We did a week on the Warwickshire ring (fnarr) 3 years ago. As we exited a lock, Timothy West and Prunalla Scales were the next boat in, going in the opposite direction. I believe she is suffering from dementia.

[tim_noone]

Loved the original series.
My favourite canals will always be :
Leeds- Liverpool,
Kennet and Avon,
and in France.
Canal Du Midi.

Yes I'm lucky it's close by... The Leeds an Liverpool. Canal du midi is where in France BB?

[tim_noone]

Let’s hope this pair are abit more sober, how TW managed to steer a barge in a straight line is 1 of the wonders of the waterways when I tuned in they seemed to be constantly drinking wine.

Yes very Keith Floyd... They liked a glass or two.

[boatshed bill]

Yes I'm lucky it's close by... The Leeds an Liverpool. Canal du midi is where in France BB?

Many years ago I followed the C du M, albeit not in a boat, Tim.
Starts in the south: Sete and goes a least to Bordeaux, maybe to the West Coast near Royan.
Some fantastic stopping off points.

[Claret Toni]

A good few years ago I was stopped at the swing bridge over the canal at Bradley and saw the person operating the swing was a woman so I got out of the car to give her a hand - it turned out to be Prunella Scales. After I'd finished I turned and looked at the barge and saw Timothy West piloting it. I was not impressed that he'd let a woman do the physical work and gave him a filthy look.

That was then, of course, before I'd acknowledged Women's Lib and I realise I was just being stereotypical male - quite different now so I do recognise it was wrong of me.

Of course it could have been that he just didn't want the woman to drive

[Bosscat]

Yes I'm lucky it's close by... The Leeds an Liverpool. Canal du midi is where in France BB?

400px-Canal_du_Midi_location.jpg (28.17 KiB) Viewed 3209 times

[boatshed bill]

400px-Canal_du_Midi_location.jpg

Nice one, Bosscat. I stopped at Bordeaux.

[Bosscat]

Nice one, Bosscat. I stopped at Bordeaux.

We did the Rhone from Lyon to Arles a couple of years ago

[boatshed bill]

We did the Rhone from Lyon to Arles a couple of years ago

The French do great canals.
Paul Riquet, I think, did a lot of the aquaducts.
I was absolutely fascinated by the French canal system.

[COBBLE]

Why be so negative. I've spent a long time exploring and loving London and missed all this. Why slag off 2 impeccable people with a wonderful story.

[bobinho]

Why be so negative. I've spent a long time exploring and loving London and missed all this. Why slag off 2 impeccable people with a wonderful story.

Have I missed something?

[COBBLE]

Yep, in my opinion see Jacubclaret above.

[bobinho]

Yep, in my opinion see Jacubclaret above.

Wow.

[boatshed bill]

Tim and Prunella were shown having a drink, certainly, but I think the point is being missed.

[dougcollins]

A good few years ago I was stopped at the swing bridge over the canal at Bradley and saw the person operating the swing was a woman so I got out of the car to give her a hand - it turned out to be Prunella Scales. After I'd finished I turned and looked at the barge and saw Timothy West piloting it. I was not impressed that he'd let a woman do the physical work and gave him a filthy look.

That was then, of course, before I'd acknowledged Women's Lib and I realise I was just being stereotypical male - quite different now so I do recognise it was wrong of me.

Of course it could have been that he just didn't want the woman to drive

It's electronic now, just button pressing. Even a woman can do it.

[tim_noone]

Nice one, Bosscat. I stopped at Bordeaux.

I might stop at salterforth....that's sone distance..

[KateR]

living in Bethnal Green for 5 years, I regularly walked Regents canal from Broadway Market down to Victoria Park and the opposite direction, to, goodness knows where depending upon how far you want to walk lol But I loved the walk and the boats, so many lived in, solar panels, greenery, and the locks, loved watching the boats and how people worked together to pass through. Leeds and Liverpool in Burnley one of my memories from the area and so wish I would have done more, maybe one day I can.

The wine boat on the canal in Hackney a definite treat, also did the Jazz cruise on the Thames and in Prague for different wedding anniversaries, which were memorable, I know London quite well but seeing it from the river gave a totally different perspective, which was so good.

So many great places in the UK we miss during normal life, let alone during lockdown

https://www.canalandrivercruises.com/li ... et-hackney

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-regen ... 80795.html

https://canalrivertrustwaterfront.org.u ... nts-canal/

[Steve1956]

Loved this programme,the last series it was obvious that Mrs Fawlty was unwell,although their love for each other shone through like a beacon...wonderful television

[Murger]

9D55BACC-5666-4A08-8C54-90A3E2413BD0.jpeg (31.97 KiB) Viewed 2775 times

[chorleyhere]

Did my college thesis on "The planning and development of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal". It was fascinating to travel to the British Library to study the minutes of the original meetings of prospective developers and read the actual letters of my canal hero James Brindley.
I have family photos of the Johnson Hillock branch where the goods were transhipped onto the wagons that ran down into Preston on a tramway. Sadly that spot is now under the M61.

[FactualFrank]

Did my college thesis on "The planning and development of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal". It was fascinating to travel to the British Library to study the minutes of the original meetings of prospective developers and read the actual letters of my canal hero James Brindley.
I have family photos of the Johnson Hillock branch where the goods were transhipped onto the wagons that ran down into Preston on a tramway. Sadly that spot is now under the M61.

Do you have any photos you could upload? It's always nice to see photos of the Leeds & Liverpool canal at different sections en route, as most of it I've not yet seen.

[COBBLE]

FF can you or anyone advise how many lock gates there are on the canal? What is a good reference guide to the canal and their locations?

Thanks

[FactualFrank]

FF can you or anyone advise how many lock gates there are on the canal? What is a good reference guide to the canal and their locations?

Thanks

Apparently there are 91 locks.

[Jakubclaret]

Canals & rivers trust usually have all the information & references, I'd just Google if you want information on any specific waterway, all waterways will vary with lock gates & sluices.

[Herts Clarets]

Hatton.jpg (165.49 KiB) Viewed 2584 times

When we did the Warwickshire ring, we had to ascend this beauty. 21 locks on the Hatton flight. It was a welcome relief to reach the top and then find an ice cream shop.

[Stayingup]

Many years ago I followed the C du M, albeit not in a boat, Tim.
Starts in the south: Sete and goes a least to Bordeaux, maybe to the West Coast near Royan.
Some fantastic stopping off points.

Canal du Midi goes almost to Maraeilles as said Sete and if you need a French explanation ask one Mr Barton!!! Ah oui⁷

[Jakubclaret]

Did my college thesis on "The planning and development of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal". It was fascinating to travel to the British Library to study the minutes of the original meetings of prospective developers and read the actual letters of my canal hero James Brindley.
I have family photos of the Johnson Hillock branch where the goods were transhipped onto the wagons that ran down into Preston on a tramway. Sadly that spot is now under the M61.

John Rennie & William Jessop were also notable engineers in that particular field, if you research about them & the work carried out.

[Lowbankclaret]

FF can you or anyone advise how many lock gates there are on the canal? What is a good reference guide to the canal and their locations?

Thanks

3 months ago I helped bring a narrowboat back from Ripon. A very interesting journey and a little scary at times. If you google the Tidel Ouse and Selby lock. That’s a bit scary.

The Leeds liverpool canal is in very bad shape at the moment. The Bingley 5 rise locks are particularly dangerous at the moment. The lock gates are leaking so much, a few boats have come close to being sunk.

The quantity of weed prevented us us getting out of two locks using the engine. The weed clogged the prop and there was so much at the front of the boat we could not get out. We had to clear all the weed and pull her out by people power and then unclog the prop.

Parts are so shallow, we were grounding as we drove along in the middle of the canal.

cRT are only interested in spending money on the tow paths, for access for people who pay nothing to its upkeep. Boaters are getting very angry about it when you struggle to get about on your boat but millions spent on the towpaths.

[Jakubclaret]

3 months ago I helped bring a narrowboat back from Ripon. A very interesting journey and a little scary at times. If you google the Tidel Ouse and Selby lock. That’s a bit scary.

The Leeds liverpool canal is in very bad shape at the moment. The Bingley 5 rise locks are particularly dangerous at the moment. The lock gates are leaking so much, a few boats have come close to being sunk.

The quantity of weed prevented us us getting out of two locks using the engine. The weed clogged the prop and there was so much at the front of the boat we could not get out. We had to clear all the weed and pull her out by people power and then unclog the prop.

Parts are so shallow, we were grounding as we drove along in the middle of the canal.

cRT are only interested in spending money on the tow paths, for access for people who pay nothing to its upkeep. Boaters are getting very angry about it when you struggle to get about on your boat but millions spent on the towpaths.

23 million is generated just by rod licences I'm not suggesting all angler's are on the canals but some are, the towpaths need be accessible for that & plenty of other reasons, I don't understand why the boaters are getting angry, some of the moorings are only supposed to be short term I've seen the same narrowboats moored up for the months it's very flexible, it benefits the boaters having well kept towpaths to ease carrying & I've even seen some stretches of towpaths accomodating cars & trailers & making life uneasy for other users with electrical extensions running the width of the towpath.

[Lowbankclaret]

23 million is generated just by rod licences I'm not suggesting all angler's are on the canals but some are, the towpaths need be accessible for that & plenty of other reasons, I don't understand why the boaters are getting angry, some of the moorings are only supposed to be short term I've seen the same narrowboats moored up for the months it's very flexible, it benefits the boaters having well kept towpaths to ease carrying & I've even seen some stretches of towpaths accomodating cars & trailers & making life uneasy for other users with electrical extensions running the width of the towpath.

Fishermen don’t pay directly to CRT, clubs do as far as I know. Our club rents Foulridge, CRT do nothing to help fishermen on Foulridge. Even when the club pays thousands for new fish, the instant we stock them they become the property of CRT.

Fishermen have been fishing the canals for years despite the tow paths. Upgrading the towpaths causes massive friction between walkers, cyclists and anglers. I suggest most anglers would prefer them left as they were.

[Lowbankclaret]

On moorings, as part of your license, around £1,000 a year, you can moor just about anywhere that’s not private moorings. Yes you are supposed to move at least 100 meters every 14 days, but if no one complains, CRT will just leave you alone.

[Jakubclaret]

The money goes to EA, regarding the bankings anglers prefer them trimmed if you’ve ever fished it’s easy to get line tangled with everything overgrown, rod licences & fishing permits are separate entities, fishing without a rod licence you are breaking the law within the UK Scotland exempt.

[Lowbankclaret]

The money goes to EA, regarding the bankings anglers prefer them trimmed if you’ve ever fished it’s easy to get line tangled with everything overgrown, rod licences & fishing permits are separate entities, fishing without a rod licence you are breaking the law within the UK Scotland exempt.

Yes JC , I know. I am a bailiff and have been on several EA training days. I did know the EA give CRT how ever many millions you quoted though.

[Lowbankclaret]

Sorry I did not know the EA gave CRT many millions.

[Jakubclaret]

Yes JC , I know. I am a bailiff and have been on several EA training days. I did know the EA give CRT how ever many millions you quoted though.

I'm not sure on distribution after EA I expect some will trickle down if obligations are fulfilled, private clubs are independently funded, eg settle angler's or Bradford AA & there waters, I think CRT have waterways wanderers permits.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-th ... ers-scheme

[Lowbankclaret]

JC, I have done some digging, the EA received 21 million in rod licences last year which is a couple of million below 2010. We have been seeing declining membership as a club so that’s no surprise.
Until Covid hit. Iread rod license sales were up 240% this year and as a club we have got a lot more members this year due to Covid.

The rod license money goes to the Environment Agency, they don’t pay that to CRT. Two separate entities.

Clubs pay rent to CRT to get fishing rights to rivers, lakes and still waters. CRT have a ticket to fish any water not bought by clubs, that will be pointless, the Eastern European’s will have killed and eaten anything in them due to it not being bailiffed.

[Jakubclaret]

JC, I have done some digging, the EA received 21 million in rod licences last year which is a couple of million below 2010. We have been seeing declining membership as a club so that’s no surprise.
Until Covid hit. Iread rod license sales were up 240% this year and as a club we have got a lot more members this year due to Covid.

The rod license money goes to the Environment Agency, they don’t pay that to CRT. Two separate entities.

Clubs pay rent to CRT to get fishing rights to rivers, lakes and still waters. CRT have a ticket to fish any water not bought by clubs, that will be pointless, the Eastern European’s will have killed and eaten anything in them due to it not being bailiffed.

I know I've seen them on the L&L ribble & aire, they'll be nothing left by the time there have finished, you can't be everywhere 24/7.

[Lowbankclaret]

I know I've seen them on the L&L ribble & aire, they'll be nothing left by the time there have finished, you can't be everywhere 24/7.

I have personally caught them with several dead carp on a water. They don’t care as they know the police will not even turn up if they are called. They just leave and come back the week after.
The EA now have two bailiffs for the whole of the north west when ten years ago they had around 10. Have tried working with them but they just don’t have resources.
The one thing they did have was a group of Eastern European gents who would translate your rules into the five different languages so you can put them up. Problem is they just smash up your notice boards and then claim they didn’t know the rules.

[COBBLE]

Notwithstanding some worrying issues this has been one of the most interesting subjects I have read on this board.

[Lowbankclaret]

Notwithstanding some worrying issues this has been one of the most interesting subjects I have read on this board.

90% of the trip on the canal was bliss, 3mph, a slower pace of life you kinda get used to. Then you come to a swing bridge and some knobhead in a transit fan decides to ram the gates cause he is in a hurry. Makes you realise those in the rat race are soo obsessed with every minute.

[keith1879]

A good few years ago I was stopped at the swing bridge over the canal at Bradley and saw the person operating the swing was a woman so I got out of the car to give her a hand - it turned out to be Prunella Scales. After I'd finished I turned and looked at the barge and saw Timothy West piloting it. I was not impressed that he'd let a woman do the physical work and gave him a filthy look.

That was then, of course, before I'd acknowledged Women's Lib and I realise I was just being stereotypical male - quite different now so I do recognise it was wrong of me.

Of course it could have been that he just didn't want the woman to drive

When the late Mrs Keith1879 and I took our first canal holiday she was driving into a lock and had a slight contretemps with the weir above it. There was no danger but she briefly thought she was taking the boat over the dam. After that she insisted on operating most of the locks while I steered the boat. I used to demand to do a few locks just for the variety. It is hard work certainly (especially the flight of 30 locks on the Worcester and Birmingham at Tardebigge....we did 5 each in turn). Wonderful memories though.....you see a whole different world and can be only a few miles from home sometimes. I often think of Anji when I see a canal.

[Siddo]

Do you have any photos you could upload? It's always nice to see photos of the Leeds & Liverpool canal at different sections en route, as most of it I've not yet seen.

Hi Frank, I can recommend 2 cracking books full of history and photos. I can't post the link for some reason and the photos won't upload.

The Leeds and Liverpool canal. A history and guide by Mike Clarke, and Britain's great waterways outdoors by Phillipa Greenwood and Martine O'Callaghan.

Both cheap enough on Amazon.