I am most pleased that your Victor told of being unable get very far on his cruise, write Joseph Falls.
I am in the same predicament, and have been for most of the season that we have attempted to cruise, being stuck not only by lack of water but by locks that are obviously leaking so much you cannot get a lock full enough to managed to open the top gates to get in.
I was one one of those caught in the Caldon Canal fiasco, with Canal & River Trust letting the water authority, even with no hosepipe ban, have water instead of the canal, that is closed.
Before this we had struggled on the Coventry for seven weeks on our way onto the Trent & Mersey to then hit Fradley Junction, only managing to escape by helping the volunteers fill the locks, including the one that leaked.
During this slow journey we met many whom we swapped tales with, realising that it certainly was not just us, but hundreds who were struggling with closures of one sort or another.
So it is with deep regret our boat is no longer with us, but being sold. For there is no way I can carry on like this.