Victor: Definitely less
But not this year. Even last week with the holidays in full swing there were just two visiting boats moored, and every week this year there has been plenty of space.
And should it rain, having had our full share of getting wet, we stay an the Cut as we did a fortnight ago, and are surprised at how few boats pass during the day.
Going?
Last week we moored at the top of Derwent Mouth Lock to do a bit of maintenance, and though in previous years we have invariably had to join a queue to get through, not anymore—last Monday afternoon we had it to ourselves.
Helped no doubt by missing Canaltime boats, as there was ner a one on the Monday or even passing us as we moored above the lock all day Tuesday, in fact only a fraction of the number of boats that we would expect in the past years. So I can but agree with others that there are a lot less boats on the move than in previous years.
As to the Canaltime boats, are they going? Are their powers-that-be fed up of the complaints from its customers about the regularly flooding Trent and the difficult Trent & Mersey locks? Seems like it. Mind you it is many, many years since any new ones were brought into its fleet.
On the rivers too
Sharing a Chinese meal with previously Sawley moored boating friends, Terry and the delectable Jackie at our favourite eating house, the Golden Dragon at Shardlow, they too told of the lack of boats, but this time not on CaRT waterways but on the River Great Ouse and the Thames.
So it is not just CaRT waterways that are suffering, but seemingly a country-wide phenomenon of fewer boats on the waterways.
As it seems just about everybody is aware of this, perhaps someone should tell CaRT Chairman Tony Hales to stop spouting that there are more boats than ever before—it is simply not true.
Fibbing again
Yes, CaRT is telling porkies once again, for another thing that was proved not to be true was it attempting to make out that the boating associations are in favour of it new draconian mooring rules that it is trying to bring into force.
But luckily the National Association of Boat Owners was quick to point out the error of its ways, clearing stating it was not in favour and certainly not supporting its new Towpath Mooring Project.
Of course there is one association that it will be able to count on...should its members want it to or not.
Hurrah, hurrah
At long last the lock gates at Stenson that have caused such a furore in narrowboatworld have been fixed, and they both now open fully, so someone somewhere is taking notice.
Readers may remember that with the gates being unable to be fully opened, having had chocks inserted behind them, two fairly long boats in the lock meant they could not get out as neither gate could be opened fully, with the lock having to be filled again, a boat reversing out to allowing the other to 'escape' the lock. Just like a narrow lock in fact!
But as to how they are balanced is another matter. For remember, the chocks were inserted behind the gates as once they were right back against the side they were a devil to shift.
Dead end?
It is certainly not a dead end, it's the Trent & Mersey Canal below Hoo Lock, with Ralph Freeman's picture showing the danger of overhanging vegetation, as the waterways then makes a quick turn left.
A break-down or personal emergency and what do you do? Never mind crashing into an unseen oncoming boat. Needless to say the towpath vegetation carries on for miles. Not good enough.
The answer?
With all the overgrown vegetation on both sides of the waterways and seemingly little intention of it being cut back, would perhaps the sign shown in the photograph sent in by Roger Fox solve the problem?
Where the vegetation is not being cut so making the waterway not only dangerous in not being able to see oncoming boats but unable to moor in an emergency, this would solve CaRT's problem of responsibility. Or perhaps it is not such a good suggestion, for who knows...
Not everybody
So CaRT is going to use text messages to warn overstayers. I hope those dreaming up this idea realise that there are many who don't do text messaging—me included.
I just don't see the point in using a small mobile telephone keypad to struggle with messages, intuitive text notwithstanding, when it can be done so much faster—and easier—on a computer keyboard.
I learnt to touch type early in life, and with a keyboard at my disposal can rattle out words at a cracking rate, so I'm firmly in the email camp—so text messages would be no good to people like me. And anybody else who is is a no signal area.
Victor Swift