BOATS AND CANALS

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Maurice

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Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

We will be on the L&L for a week so we can't assist you up the Hatton flight (Sorry).
have a great time and good luck

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Pete Russell NB SORCERESS

Hi Graham,

Alison and myself are doing the BCN challenge and we will be starting from Birmingham.

Below is what happened on last years challenge.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-9VMHs8s2Y

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Laurie Booth
http://www.pamelasalem.net

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LAURIE AND ALISON

For those that haven't watched Laurie's video it's different to say the least.

It's good to see that BCF will be well represented at this very testing event.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

Quite why that video reminds me of coming home to see Jo after the event I'm not sure.

Laurie, we'll keep at eye out for you on Friday night - well and the next two days.

Pete, I'm sure you could catch a train to Warwick to come and help - I've been looking at the timetables and it is only 4 trains and 3hrs 26minutes from Bingley to Hatton. Get up nice and early - a pleasant train trip work 21 locks and have a rest on the way back.

It looks like my son can't get the extra day off so we are thinking of some ridiculous number of hours per cruising to get round the Northern Oxford route, I'll let my energetic crew decide if they are still awake after the main event.

Laurie, is there some sort of get together at the end and is it worth staying or should I get going home as soon as possible to make the cruise home easier?

I've just been up at the boat again. I changed the gear box oil and fitted a mount for my time lapse camera. I also moved all the diy stuff into the under bed storage and cleaned just about everything. The boat is normally just home for Jo and I but having guests....

Cheers Graham

Hi Graham,

We will be staying at the end for the night as we like talking with all the other boaters. Most people stay as they are tired after the challenge and like to wind down.

There is talk of a beer tent but I don't know if this will happen.

I'm hoping we can get out of the place by foot as from looking on Google it seems as if we are fenced in. Plus I can't find anyone who has stayed there.

We would like to get out as there in an Indian takeaway and pub nearby.

Below are some pictures of last years event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0ZCkc8ewsg

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Laurie Booth
http://www.pamelasalem.net

Thanks Laurie, love the pictures. I had a look at various aerial photos and the virtual cruise on Canal Planner. It does look like the towpath is blocked on the approach to the end so you may not be able to get to the public path nearby from there and the gate has some impressive barbed wire.

I need to get back to Calcutt in time for my son to drive home on Wednesday say around 5pm latest. Canal planner says I can do the Northern Oxford route in around 13 hrs a day so two days at 7am to 9pm and one from 6am to 5pm. I get tired thinking about it but I do have a young crew. The Northern Stratford route is 10.5 hours, 11.5 hours and 9.5 hours so is more realistic. This does assume we can get down Hatton is a reasonable time.

If I left Bradley almost a soon as I arrive I could get to the Gas Street area on the Sunday shaving 5 hrs off the next three days.

This whole challenge is an absolutely insane idea - still lets do it anyway.

Cheers Graham

Now come on Graham, you know it's FOR the insane.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

Hi Graham,

I see your problem and it would be wise to go to Birmingham straight after getting to Bradley. About 5 hours to do as you say, factory locks at Tipton are a nice little flight.
Lets hope we can meet up in Birmingham on the Friday before the start of the challenge.

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Laurie Booth
http://www.pamelasalem.net

Laurie, Yes lets see if we can meet.

Planning is continuing:-

All bedding is laundered and ready to go.

I have set up my time lapse camera - the best I seem to be able to get is an apparent max speed of 75mph - I was hoping for 60. I watched one the other day with a speed of 120 and that seemed a bit excessive. The result will be two videos one of about an hour and the other around 40 mins.

The organizers sent me an A4 poster to display on the boat but is was a bit scruffy so I've made my own and printed two.



I've also been educating my new crew members with things like 'no you can't bring a 2000 watt hairdryer'.

Cheers Graham

Don't forget that we all want to see, whatever setting you use.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

Packing is underway, I have enough food to feed 3 boat loads of crew and the alcohol provision will need to be stored on the centre line to stop the boat listing. The crew will probably finish it all be day 2!!

We are leaving Calcutt around 2pm tomorrow.

I have beaten my IT system into submission and can now connect my camera to my tablet (actually it only needed an OTG cable) and use the mobile hotspot on the phone to upload photos from the tablet. The phone doesn't support OTG so won't talk to the camera direct. I tried with a card reader on the tablet but that didn't work possibly because it needs a power supply from the tablet which isn't there. Some people use a three way wire with the third line connected to power. Then it occurred that the camera was self powered and it worked.

I still can't get any sensible route planning from the navigator so may demote her to ... I don't know.. galley slave!

My son is navigationally challenged like his mother. My other two crew members are an unknown in navigational terms. The first, Rebecca I've known all her life as she is the daughter of a friend I've known since college days. I always have the ultimate way of shutting down a conversation with this mature, attractive, capable young woman - Remember I've changed your nappy! The other crew member, Chris, is a friend of Rebecca's who has just bought a narrow boat. I've met her once and she seems on the ball. She is meeting us in Birmingham and her response to arranging a meeting point 'was text me I'll find you' --- could be a good navigator?

Cheers Graham

Aaaaaggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are taking the gates off Hatton top lock - what is they don't get them back on again???? It is round the Northern Oxford - a mere 34 hrs 20 mins to do in 2.5 days - 13 hrs a day - no problem!

Cheers Graham

You can do it Graham, I have every faith in you. I will cross my fingers and anything else needed for you.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

So now that Odlbury locks are shut for all practical purposes we have a new challenge for our (TBD) navigator. Shame I did want go go up there. Cheers Graham