I FEEL I should tell you that as far as vandals are concerned, our two months cruising the waterways this year have been less stressful as far as vandals are concerned—there have not been any, writes T. Lang.
It is only about every six years that my partner and I manage to get such a long time together to be able to cruise for such a period, but from the last time when I told you of the problems we had with vandals on the Staffs & Worcs and again on the Trent & Mersey, the cruise we finished just over a week ago was absolutely free of vandals, so as to it being what your writer says about they all being glued to their mobiles and tablets, I don't know, but it was certainly better.
Just an excuse
I cannot understand that the Trust [Canal & River Trust] blame vandals for lock stoppages though, and agree with your writer that this is just an excuse, as during our cruise I have noticed locks in such a condition that they are well due to failure, and enclose a couple of pictures. The one of the leaking lock [below] is at Watford that I understand is now closed though 'vandalism'. Our cruising pattern varied throughout, and we often spent a day exploring and taking our dog for a walk, and then cruised in the 'quieter' evenings, but still no vandals to bother us.
We moored both in 'civilisation' and in the country, but the only problem we had was from uncaring boaters running their engines late in the evenings when we chose the more popular moorings.
Problems mooring
We did find problems finding space at the those moorings near pubs or shops, that were often taken up by somewhat scruffy boats (though ours is not longer immaculate!) with junk on their roofs that I assumed were continuous cruisers. But of course that is another story.
All in all, a vandal-less cruise was a blessing, but the Trust should do something about its locks, many that really are in worse condition than on our last major cruise six years ago.