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STOP PRESS! BREAKING NEWS! Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch 2017 Calendar on sale now! Our 2017 calendar is now available at the events we attend (see page 16), from our usual outlets at Aqueduct and Overwater marinas, Audlem Mill and Kings Lock Chandlery, and by mail order at a cost of ÂŁ6.50 including p&p from 7 Barnton Edge, Stone ST15 8ZR (please make cheques payable to The Inland Waterways Association). It will also be on sale at the Shrewsbury Christmas Card Shop in St Mary's Church during November. Many thanks to our sponsors Aqueduct Marina 01270 525041 - Cheshire Cat Narrowboat Holidays 07867 790195 Kings Lock Chandlery 01606 737564 - M & L Canal Services and Mobile Engineer 07970 384047 - Mercia Marine Insurance 01684 564457 - Midway Boats 01270 528482 - Moors Farm Bed & Breakfast 01938 553395 - Morris Lubricants 01782 410391 - Overwater Marina 01270 812677 - Swanley Bridge Marina 01270 524571 Talbot Wharf 01630 652641 - Venetian Marina 01270 528251
Welshpool coracles are the top draw Coracle racing proved the main attraction for visitors to Welshpool's Canal & Food Festival, held on a showery day at the beginning of July. Sponsored by our IWA Branch, the coracle activities featured individual races and challenges as well as a team relay event, fiercely contested by seven groups including two containing our branch members! The relay required contestants to embark and disembark their craft, Coracles clash in mid-canal [Val Haig] which under stress and at speed proved too much for some, leading to several capsizes and a team disqualification. Prizes were presented by the Mayor of Welshpool, resplendent in his chain of office. Safely on dry land, the branch ran WOW activities for children, making paper 'lace' plates and foghorns, much to the amusement of other festival-goers. In fact, several elderly folk who should have known better wanted to try their hands and we ran out of materials by mid-afternoon. Cover image: Audlem in blossom, by Denis Farmer
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The Editor's cut... Since the last issue of this newsletter we have had time for two cruises taking in two canal festivals – Norbury and Middlewich – and the waterproofs have seen plenty of action so far this year! Of the five festival days, only one was rain-free so let us hope, now that July has arrived, that we can finally stow the umbrellas and concentrate on finding the sun cream. We’re covering the usual eclectic mix of topics in this edition of Shroppie Fly Paper – among other items you’ll find reports from the muddy trenches of Norbury, Alan Platt’s excursion (by boat) to Liverpool Docks and the North Liverpool “oasis” of Eldonian Village (now there's a mental image to conjure with), and Michael Limbrey’s more sedate musings on a restoration conference and the latest forum to discuss the advancement of the Montgomery Canal. We also have notices of future events from our Diary page, which go to show what a varied range of things to do there are on or around the local canals in our area. Coming up fast are such treats as the Gathering of Historic Boats in Audlem, our own Branch Lock Wind – why not come along and help some hundred or so boats through the narrowest lock on the system? – a beer festival at Wheaton Aston featuring Staffordshire’s premier egg throwing and catching tournament, the Whitchurch Waterways Trust’s boat rally and our inter-branch skittles challenge. There’s one other event in particular that should attract your interest. We’re delighted that author and journalist Sarah Henshaw, who has recently navigated her narrowboat Joseph across the English Channel (and lived to tell the tale), will visit us and tell that tale at our annual Social Evening & Talk, which this year will be on October 20th at the splendid 16th Century, Grade II listed Crown Hotel in Nantwich. Given the rarity of cross-Channel narrowboat navigation – I suspect there have been more cross-Channel swimmers – we expect this occasion to be very popular so would urge you to book early. Details are on page 17. To close, I would like to draw attention to our appeal for volunteers on page 8. This certainly isn't the first issue of the newsletter to ask for assistance and it doubtless won't be the last, but our need for help is becoming more urgent. As a branch we are fortunate in having about 500 members in over 300 households. The active committee is now down to eight members from five households. We're not necessarily asking people to join the committee – we know not everyone has the inclination or the time – but some help with specific activities and events would be very welcome. Next copy date: Friday, November 4, 2016 Summer 2016
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The Branch Committee President & Chairman
Michael Limbrey 01691 654081
michael.limbrey@waterways.org.uk
Secretary & Membership Sec.
Dawn Aylwin 01691 830403
shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk
Vice Chairman & Newsletter Editor
Michael Haig 07801 415573
michael.haig@waterways.org.uk
Social Secretary
Val Haig 07976 280174
val.haig@waterways.org.uk
Treasurer & Welsh Liaison Officer
Alan Platt
alan.platt@waterways.org.uk
Webmaster
Alan Wilding
alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk
Committee Members
David Aylwin
shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk
Gerallt Hughes
gerallt.hughes@waterways.org.uk
Susan Wilding
alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk
NW Region Chairman
Mike Carter
mike.carter@waterways.org.uk
Branch Web pages
www.waterways.org.uk/shrewsbury www.facebook.com/pages/IWA-Shrewsbury-Branch/388651831206061
Shroppie Fly Paper Shroppie Fly Paper is the newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of The Inland Waterways Association (IWA). IWA campaigns for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the inland waterways. For further information contact any committee member. Copy for Shroppie Fly Paper is very welcome, preferably by email. Photographs may be in any common computer format or as prints. Please supply a stamped addressed envelope if you require photographs to be returned. ‘Letters to the Editor’ intended for publication are invited, as are comments for the Editor’s private guidance. Copy and letters submitted for publication may be edited. The Inland Waterways Association may not agree with the opinions expressed in this branch newsletter but encourages publicity as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as official policy unless stated otherwise. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. Any reproduction must be acknowledged. The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342 Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783 453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk
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From The Steerer The longest days of the year are when there is nothing better than messing about in boats. This too is when we get out and about, often supporting events organised by others. I was not able to get to the Norbury Canal Festival, but you will read a report of the event elsewhere in Shroppie Fly Paper. I did, though, make a short visit to the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust at Shrewsbury River Festival. It was a good day, in a lovely site by the river, with a lot of interest while I was there. For the first time in some years the branch was not able to join the River Festival: I hope we can go back next year. A week after the Norbury festival the Montgomery Canal Triathlon, organised by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, had over two hundred entrants, many from far afield, many returning because they had enjoyed the event before, and others joining for the first time on the recommendation of friends. This is a great advertisement for the Montgomery Canal, and has now been taken up by others, such as the Mon & Brec Canalathon and IWA's Waterways Triathlon on the Chelmer & Blackwater in Essex. The Monty Triathlon was made possible by 60 volunteer marshals, including branch members. Next year's event is being planned now, so if you aren't up to taking part in the 35-mile challenge, perhaps you could join those of us who help, watching those who do. Writing to meet the editor's deadline, there is more to come, including the Welshpool Canal & Food Festival which the branch is supporting. Although not on the scale of last year's Welsh Waterway Festival, this event will offer another chance to get into a coracle. If you haven't yet tried one, I am sure they will be back! To come too is the branch lock-wind at Hurleston: it's a good opportunity to introduce holiday boaters and others to the IWA, brings valuable donations to the branch treasure chest, and is lots of fun! We had a good team out with us last year, so working the lock was shared. If you have not been before, why not look in and say hello? In September, with thanks to CRT, the branch will be opening Montgomery's Warehouse at Rednal (Saturday 10 September). This is part of the Heritage Open Days (8-11 September), a programme of events across England (part of a
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European Heritage initiative; Open Doors in Wales operates every weekend in September). Last year there were 19,000 visitors to 25 different sites in the Oswestry area, and there should be more this year. We shall be joined by Saturn as an added attraction, and the horse-boat Countess from Maesbury will be offering trips. Rednal Warehouse has so many stories to tell. Do come along and hear them. Why do we do all this? It's all part of keeping our waterways alive, working with other organisations including CRT to promote all that the canals mean in our area – leisure, amenity, tourism, business. But, really, it's just because we enjoy canals. We also know what our waterways mean to our members, to the many who use them but are not members (yet), and to the wider community. When 60 volunteers turn out to make the Triathlon work, they help to demonstrate the many attractions and great popularity of our waterways. And finally, for the history buffs amongst us, some notable anniversaries in 2016: 1986: WRG finished Frankton Locks, opening of Carreghofa Locks 1996: a very busy year, opening of Whitehouse Bridge and canal to Refail, IWA National Trailboat Rally at Welshpool, and opening of Phase II of the Montgomery to Queens Head, including the new Perry Aqueduct. Michael Limbrey – Branch Chairman
Region Chairman's report The first half of 2016 has been a very busy time for me with much success and a few disappointments. In summary: exhausted but highly satisfied after the successful National Campaign Festival at Eldonian Village, Liverpool, and gravely disappointed over the attitude of Bridgewater Canal Company. Bridgewater Canal Co. has been a big challenge as it seems to be ignoring the outcome of our consultation carried out in December 2015 and continues to harass boaters as it seeks to unilaterally amend its Reciprocal Agreement with CRT. We believe that the recent imposition of a 7-day stay/28-day no-return policy for CRT licensed boats, which was not agreed with CRT nor publicised in advance, will have a significant impact on the local economy Shroppie Fly Paper
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surrounding the Bridgewater Canal. BCC believes it needs these extra powers to manage its problems with overstaying moorers . However, please rest assured that we are well prepared to continue opposing this and I hope that an amicable solution can be found. On a happier note, the successful, if rather wet, Norbury festival gave us an early start for this year’s waterways festival calendar and the recent IWA National Campaign Festival at Eldonian Village, Liverpool, was also a resounding success with an estimated 20,000 visitors over the weekend. Alan Platt describes his experiences attending the event elsewhere in this issue. I imagine that all the festival organising teams across the region experience a similar mixture of intense satisfaction and physical exhaustion after their events, and I‘m sure you will join me in thanking all who are involved in making these festivals such a great platform for the campaign to promote the waterways. The success of the Eldonian festival was particularly pleasing for me as this 'community led' event has enthused the people of North Liverpool, who are now taking much more interest in and ownership of their waterway's heritage and environment. It's good to see that the Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch will have a presence at a number of other events this year including the Welshpool festival and the Whitchurch boat gathering. Again, in advance, I would like to thank all involved for their commitment and hard work in bringing the IWA message into the local community. In his report on a recent joint IWA/CRT restoration workshop (page 26), Michael Limbrey refers to the new IWA Inland Waterways of Great Britain Directory now available for free subscription from the IWA web site at www.waterways.org.uk/waterways/iwa_inland_waterways_directory The Directory includes information on all navigable and formerly navigable canals and all rivers that were made navigable or used for inland navigation in their natural state, from the derelict Dingwall Canal in the north east of Scotland to the navigable Truro River in Cornwall. I highly recommend this as a valuable resource, presented to all interested parties after a long and arduous project of analysis carried out by John Pomfret of IWA’s Navigation Committee. Have a great summer, whether you are boating or otherwise enjoying our canals, and please keep in mind that in all weathers our waterways are a force for good. Mike Carter - Region Chairman
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Membership Matters We are delighted to welcome the following new members who have joined the branch since the Spring edition of this magazine, and look forward to meeting you all at one of the events this year. Full details can be found on the Diary page. Mr & Mrs Atkins from Chorley, Mr Benes from High Ercall, Mr Cowern & Miss Chebsey from Donnington, Mr Pickin from Acton Scott, Mr & Mrs Smith from Llandudno, Mr & Mrs Hamilton-King from Market Drayton and The Railway & Canal Historical Society. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Peter Brown personally for all the work he has done on behalf of the branch and wish him all the best in finishing his book on the Shropshire Union Canal and success in his new position as secretary of The Railway & Canal Historical Society. Their gain is our loss. Dawn Aylwin
Everybody needs a helping hand In the Spring issue of Shroppie Fly Paper we asked members to consider coming forward to help our reduced committee run all the various activities that make up this branch. Since then our numbers have dropped further, with the retirement of Peter Brown after many years of service to the branch. So we need to repeat that appeal now, but with one big clarification. We are NOT asking members necessarily to join the branch committee – though if you would be prepared to do so naturally we would be delighted to hear from you – rather we need help from volunteers with the interest and skills to assist our members and the general public to get as much as possible from our local waterways and from an active and enthusiastic IWA Branch. These volunteer opportunities cover a wide range of interesting activities, but helping with one does not mean having to get involved with everything else, as can sometimes happen with committees! For instance, among the things where we really need some help is keeping an eye on planning applications that could potentially affect the canalscape in your local area. This is something that can be done from the comfort of your armchair at home, so if you are interested in a specific section of the canal why not volunteer to watch out for and monitor local planning applications? A bit of time online from
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week to week should be all that’s needed, then, if that’s as much as you would like to do, others can work out whether and how to respond. Similarly, are you a keen walker of the towpaths and lanes in your local area? If so, would you be willing to organise a local walk, say once or twice a year? If you’re a member of a walking group, perhaps you could combine the two and give IWA members the opportunity to join your regular walks and learn about your favourite places in the company of experts. If you’re an active boater, you almost certainly take a keen interest in the condition of the navigation and have views on how it could be improved. Here’s a chance to do something positive – would you be willing to receive and collate similar observations from other boater members? The branch can then submit meaningful boater feedback to CRT in a much more pro-active way than at present.
A canal-side walk - could you help to organise one in your local area? [Vic Smith]
Maybe you like going to canal festivals in your area. Would you be able to spend a day or a part of it helping out on the branch stand? We meet some lovely people who are really keen to improve their knowledge and understanding of the canals. We also get to enjoy the festival ourselves! Photographers or those with design skills might have some fun helping the small team who bring our annual pictorial calendar to life each year. This is a project that takes place mainly in May and June. Or perhaps you wouldn't mind taking on the despatch of our mail order calendars later in the year. You could even have a go at contributing to Shroppie Fly Paper - we need news and views from around the branch area. These are just a few ideas – you may well have other, even better ones. Please talk to us about them by getting in touch with our chairman, Michael Limbrey, or any member of the committee. Thank you. Michael Haig Summer 2016
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The leaving of (and arrival at) Liverpool To go to Liverpool from North Wales for a holiday and take a couple of weeks over it makes sense to a boater, but none to a normal person. I had got involved in helping to plan the National Campaign Festival organised by our friends in Chester & Merseyside Branch to celebrate the bicentenary of the Leeds & Liverpool, and as the timing coincided with the Mersey River Festival, we decided it was time to do the Liverpool Link as well. For those who normally venture south I can thoroughly recommend the route down the Trent & Mersey and the Bridgewater onto the Leeds & Liverpool. It’s true there are heavy double locks in the Wigan area, but a detour to Castlefield Basin in Manchester is interesting and the canal is deep and wide. At Rufford the arm to Tarleton and the Ribble Link branches off and there is a day’s cruising down to the bridges manned by CRT personnel. The area is replete with swing bridges and no two seem to have quite the same way of being operated so there is plenty of activity. Bridges 9 and 6 are swing bridges on restricted hours and manned by CRT as the roads are busy. After that there is a couple of hours cruising down to the Eldonian Village which is something of an oasis in the middle of North Liverpool, although to be fair the canal approach into Liverpool is less insalubrious than that into most cities. At Eldonian the four Stanley Locks, manned by CRT staff, lead into the North Dock system which takes you to the new link across Pier Head into the South Dock complex. Decorated boats in Liverpool's Albert Dock [Alan Platt]
For the River Festival, because the regular Salthouse Dock moorings were needed for the Boat Show, we were allocated moorings in the Albert Dock itself, which is at the centre of the revitalised dock area. While some would have preferred the Salthouse moorings, we were very happy to moor in the bustle and atmosphere of the Albert Dock, which was nearer the bars and facilities. The River Festival itself included (mercifully distant) pop concerts, aerobatic and wave boarding displays and there are resident tall ships. The weather was blistering and there was plenty to occupy the days with museums a-plenty, a trip Shroppie Fly Paper
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on a ‘Dazzle’ ferry repainted by Peter Blake, and even a visit to Tate Modern to try and understand the art of Francis Bacon. A visit from Steve Connolly of Manchester Branch gave me an excuse to take the boat for a trip round the Southern Dock complex, and I found a large Waterstones in the Liverpool One shopping centre. For the return trip up the link I was accompanied by Chester & Merseyside’s Dave Smallshaw, who has a detailed knowledge of the history of the docks. Back at Eldonian I spent a happy day or two helping, including getting the visiting boats stacked up stern on to the bank. At one stage I noticed that five boats were connected to mine, which was the only one actually tied to the bank, but it all seemed to work well. The event itself was a joint effort between the IWA branch, Liverpool Council and the Eldonian Village community. There were about 80 boats present and about 20,000 attended the event. The locals were very friendly and interested, and I recall while waiting for the shop to open, overhearing a lovely, but unrepeatable, conversation between two local ladies which could have come straight out of ‘Bread’.
Some of the boats gathered at Eldonian [Alan Platt]
Our task for the Saturday was to marshal the queue for the trip boat, which extended to about an hour at one stage, so the job was part crowd control, and part boat handling. Sunday was a bit more relaxed and we bumped into a number of friends and had a look around the show. We had to be off mid afternoon to get through the manned bridges, as I needed to be back at Swanley Bridge for Friday. This was quite comfortably achieved with some route marching, and included passing through Middlewich while boats were gathering for their festival. Typically, the rain started as I set Big Lock and stopped as I came up Wardle Lock. We helped the locals at Eldonian to perhaps take a more positive view of their canal, and it is a rare treat to moor in a World Heritage Site. For those who have yet to boat the Liverpool Link, and for non-boaters, I highly recommend the Albert Dock area of Liverpool; a vast improvement from when I worked in nearby James St. nearly fifty years ago. Alan Platt Summer 2016
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Shroppie meets Broadway After the success of last year’s story of the Women's Institute, the hilarious Raising Agents, IWA branch members, the Witts family, are again hosting Mikron Theatre at Coton Mill, Newport Road, Gnosall ST20 0BN (conveniently opposite The Navigation Inn). The performance is at 7.00pm on Tuesday 6th September, and features Mikron’s new production, Pure (The Business of Chocolate).
This is an outdoor show with shelter and indoor back up. Bring picnic, chairs and blankets. No tickets are required and a cash collection will be taken after the show. Shroppie Fly Paper
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Other Mikron tour dates on the Shroppie are Wednesday 7th September at Norbury Village Hall (sold out), and Thursday 8th at The Anchor Inn, High Offley. At these venues Mikron will be performing its other touring production for 2016, Canary Girls.
Also touring our canals in early July is Alarum Theatre, with Idle Women of the Waterways, “a double bill of theatre, poetry and music to whisk you back to the days of World War II”. Unfortunately most of the dates are while Shroppie Fly Paper is in production, but you may be able to catch Alarum Theatre at The Shroppie Fly pub in Audlem on 19th July at 7.30pm (again unticketed) .www.alarumtheatre.co.uk
Caption Competition (from our Spring 2016 issue) In the opinion of the editor (which is final!), the two most interesting captions submitted were: "Who needs a pump out?" (Mr & Mrs Farmer) "Votre pissoir, eet eez tres scenic, yes?" (Mr Valentine) Thanks to all.
Inter-Branch Social Evening & Skittles Challenge Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 7.30pm Stafford Boat Club, Maplewood, Wildwood, Stafford ST17 4SG Come and join us for this year's Social & Skittles Evening with our neighbouring IWA branches, North Staffs & South Cheshire and Lichfield. We play in teams of five; last year NS&SC fielded three teams, Lichfield two, and we managed one. But we did win - just! Can you help us keep the trophy? A fish & chips supper with home-made desserts will be provided at a cost of £7.50 per head including food and skittles. Stafford Boat Club operates a licensed bar. You can pay on the night, however we need to know by Saturday, October 8 (for catering) how many will be attending. Please contact val.haig@waterways.org.uk to book your place. Summer 2016
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Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch Adopters Since the Spring edition of Shroppie Fly Paper, SUMBA's volunteers have continued to be extremely busy visually improving and maintaining our 5 1/2 mile adopted length of the Middlewich Branch Canal. Seventeen more work parties have been completed, which involved 212 volunteer days and a massive 1,082 volunteer hours, writes Graham Russell. Hedge Laying The 250 plus metre hedge opposite Venetian Marina at Cholmondeston, which we commenced in February 2014, was finally finished at the end of March - and it is all currently in 'green and growing', therefore we didn't kill it!! We were pleased to be notified that we had been shortlisted for a Living Waterways Award, which was judged on June 9. We will know the outcome in July or August - fingers crossed.
[All photos by Graham Russell]
Offside Cut Back While at Cholmondeston in March we completed the autumn/winter project to cut back offside navigation hazards - all major overhanging trees were cut back along the whole adopted length. Locks In March and May Cholmondeston and Minshull locks and their infrastructure were given their their annual repaint and maintenance, including upgrading paths and lock side surfaces. In August we will be extending the gritted path at Stanthorne's bottom lock moorings. In June we worked outside our adopted area and repainted Wardle & Stanthorne locks, to try and ensure ensure that visitors to the Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival saw them at their best. At the end of June we spent four days at the FAB helping boaters through Wardle and Kings locks. Shroppie Fly Paper
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Over the four days 39 volunteers assisted boaters who were either visiting the Festival or passing through Middlewich. in addition to manning Wardle and Kings locks, on each of the days the team also helped at the three town centre locks 72 to 74 on the T&M. Brickyard Bridge No 6 In April and May we replaced all the horizontal timbers on the footbridge as most of the lap joints were rotten. The handrail to the steps was repaired and the steps infilled with concrete and grit. All the timbers will be painted in our July work party. Sykes Hollow In July we will be assisting CRT to lay field drainage at this popular mooring and picnic site in order to try and improve the boggy ground that is such a problem after rain and during the winter. Totem Posts, Picnic Tables & Signage By the end of July all totem posts, picnic tables and BBQs will have received their annual repaint. This year we have also replaced all damaged totem post signs and renewed almost every screw cup with shiny new ones!! SUMBA ON SOCIAL MEDIA Website - www.sumbavolunteers.org/home.html. Keep up to date with our work parties & news Facebook - http://tinyurl.com/h2caavb. "Follow" our page for daily happenings & updates Twitter - www.twitter.com/sumbacanal - @sumbacanal Email - sumbacanal@gmail.com
IWA gives £3k boost to S&N restoration IWA's Restoration Committee has awarded a grant of £3,000 to the Norbury to Newport Canal Restoration Community Interest Company (NTNCR), to facilitate the work being carried out on the Newport Branch of the canal. The grant money has been allocated to materials and equipment used by volunteers at the canal camps run by IWA’s subsidiary, Waterway Recovery Group, at Forton, between Norbury and Newport in Shropshire. The two 2016 canal camps run by WRG will take place from 13-20 August and 20-27 August.
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IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch - Diary 2016 All branch members are welcome to join us at our regular branch business meetings, which are preceded by an opportunity for supper and socialising. Meetings begin at 7.00pm, with supper from 6.00pm. To give our venues an idea of numbers please let the branch know if you would like to attend. shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk
Jul 23-Aug 20
Eric Gaskell art exhibition at Audlem Mill. See page 20.
July 24
Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina Open Day. Please come and support the branch stall.
July 30-31
Audlem Gathering of Historic Boats and Festival of Transport. See page 20.
August 6-7
Branch annual lock wind at Hurleston Locks. One of the main fundraising events in our calendar. See page 25.
August 13-14
Beer, boat & burger festival at The Hartley Arms, Wheaton Aston. Market stalls, 20 real ales, lagers & ciders, tug-of-war and egg catching competitions, live evening entertainment from 6pm. See back cover.
August 13-14
Ellesmere Summer Festival. Boat trips based at the CRT Yard.
August 15
Branch business meeting at Narrowboat Inn, Whittington SY11 4NU.
August 20-21
Whitchurch Gathering of Boats. Please come and support the branch stall. Boat trips.
September 2-4
Maesbury Canal Fayre at Canal Central, Maesbury Marsh SY10 8JE. "Share a talent, hobby or trade at a weekend of co-created fun." Camping pitches available. www.bywatercruises.com
September 3-4
Autumn Boat Share Show at Overwater Marina. Boats with available shares for sale from the major boat share operators will be available to view.
September 4
Audlem RNLI Festival at OverWater Marina.
September 10
Heritage Open Day at Rednall Canal Warehouse, Rednall, Nr. Queens Head SY11 4HX. Organised by IWA Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch with kind permission of Canal & River Trust. Opening hours 10am - 4pm. Could you help the branch at this event? http://oswestrytownmuseum.co.uk/index.php/heritage-open-days-2016/
October 10
Branch business meeting at The Leopard, 33 London Road, Nantwich CW5 6LJ.
October 15
Inter-branch Social - The Skittles Challenge. See page 13.
October 20
Autumn Social Evening & Talk at The Crown Hotel, Nantwich, this year featuring author and journalist Sarah Henshaw, fresh from navigating her narrowboat Joseph across the English Channel and along the canals of France. See full details on opposite page.
December 12
Branch business meeting at Narrowboat Inn, Whittington SY11 4NU.
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Join us for our
Autumn Social Evening & Talk Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 7.00 for 7.30pm The Crown Hotel, High Street, Nantwich CW5 5AS featuring
"The Strait and The Narrow" a talk by author and journalist
Sarah Henshaw
Sarah is editor of IWA Waterways and Thames Guardian magazines, as well as deputy editor of Waterways World. She previously worked as an entertainment journalist for ITV before leaving to set up The Book Barge in 2009 – an independent bookshop based on a 57ft narrowboat. The ups and downs of running the business and touring the network were described in a 2014 book called The Bookshop that Floated Away. Sarah currently lives on the boat in France with her husband, Stuart, and their pet rabbit, Napoleon Bunnyparte.
Cost just £10 per head to include a one-course meal, £14.50 to include a two-course meal. £2 supplement for coffee & mints. Menu Main course: choice of Gourmet Sausages & Mash or Wild Mushroom Risotto (v) Dessert: Apple Pie & Ice Cream There will be a Raffle, and copies of The Bookshop that Floated Away will be available for purchase and signing by the author Advance booking is essential before Saturday, October 1st Please send a cheque payable to The Inland Waterways Association, along with your menu choices, to Val Haig, 7 Barnton Edge, Stone ST15 8ZR If you have any queries please contact val.haig@waterways.org.uk or call 07976 280174
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Bridgewater Canal licensing arrangements Boaters from our area who take Alan Platt’s recommendation (page 10) and head north to transit the Bridgewater Canal en route to other CRT waters such as Liverpool or the Leeds & Liverpool Canal need to be aware that changes have taken place in the way that Bridgewater Canal Company (BCC) treats CRTlicensed boats, and not for the better. Mike Carter mentions his deep disappointment with BCC’s new approach in his column on page 6. Some background first… Since British Waterways (BW) days, BCC had a reciprocal agreement with BW whereby BCC-licensed boats were allowed 7 days’ cruising on BW waterways around the Bridgewater without any charge. In 2009 that was extended by a further 7 days to allow BCC-licensed boats to navigate the then newly-opened Liverpool Link and, of course, in 2012 the agreement was ‘inherited’ by CRT. In return – the ‘reciprocal’ bit – CRT-licensed boats were allowed up to 7 consecutive days’ stay on the Bridgewater without charge. At a User Group meeting last November, BCC presented a document containing a proposed sign to be installed at Preston Brook: "C&RT licensed craft are permitted 7 consecutive days navigation subject to no return within 28 days." IWA challenged this document which represented a significant tightening of the understood reciprocal agreement, and urged BCC to consult with CRT before proposing or implementing any changes to the agreement. Since then, at meetings with both BCC and CRT, IWA has been encouraging both sides to agree a pragmatic solution that would allow CRT-licensed boats to transit the Bridgewater in order to, for instance, visit Liverpool and then return to their home waters within 28 days without further charge. At the time of Shroppie Fly Paper going to press, the situation remains unresolved, with BCC saying it will implement its new policy but offering that it will waive its ‘no return within 28 days’ stipulation if it is notified by IWA or CRT of details of boats registered to attend a “bona fide canal festival” this year. See also CRT’s website at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/8191/bridgewatercanal Michael Haig
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Another successful Montgomery Canal Triathlon The fifth Montgomery Canal Triathlon on 7th May was a great success with over two hundred people taking part, including groups from many local organisations and others from as far as Lancashire, Staffordshire, Bristol, Hampshire and Kent. Cllr Richard Edwards, Mayor of Newtown, started the event and saw entrants off on the first stage, a 17-mile towpath cycle ride to Pool Quay, north of Welshpool – the volunteer who acted as 'sweep' for the first part of this stage then went off to compete in the Market Drayton 10K run. The next 11-mile section, on foot from Pool Quay to Under starter's orders... [FoMC] Morton, south of Oswestry, included some recentlyresurfaced towpath, with rougher conditions through the unrestored dry section at Pant, finally passing the length currently being restored by volunteers of the Shropshire Union Canal Society. The Triathlon ended with seven miles in canoes, finishing at the Weston Arm, below Frankton Locks, where a CRT team helped with the finishers' administration. The first entrants started at 8.30am, and the last arrived at the finish at 7pm. A local couple tackled the whole course on foot, starting before the other participants and taking 11 hours for the 35 miles. All entrants were presented with medallions of local slate: gold for those who had completed the whole course, and silver and bronze for those who completed two sections or one. The youngest entrant was just ten years of age, and the oldest was 73. For the first time, several disabled people took part too. Notable entries from Canal & River Trust were Chief Executive Richard Parry and Andrew Stumpf (CRT Head of Wales), both of whom had completed the triathlon in previous years. The event was organised by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal who received help from other organisations in stewarding road crossings, working locks, and helping entrants at other points on the course. In all, about sixty stewards helped to make the event a success. Summer 2016
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More going on in Audlem For the first time, the steam powered narrow boat President will be at the Gathering of Historic Boats at Audlem on 30/31 July, with butty Kildare – which recently emerged from major repairs at Ian Kemp's yard at Dadford's Shed on the Staffs & Worcester Canal. President and Kildare will joint ex-Shroppie Fly-Boat Saturn in the main positions on the wharf outside Audlem Mill, reports Peter Silvester.
Typical scene at an Audlem Historic Boat Gathering [Bob Jervis]
They will be joined by at least 25 or more other historic narrow boats, dating from about 1906 to 1960, two of which are still full-time at work, delivering coal, gas and diesel - Ariel and Halsall. Several other boats are still in working trim, and are used occasionally for carrying. The boats will be lined up along the towpath in the bottom three pounds of the Audlem flight – accessible from the A525 at Bridge 78. While the boat gathering is open all weekend, there will be a large display of historic and classic cars on the village playing field on the Sunday afternoon only – getting on for 300 vehicles. Entry to both events is free. Parking will be available in the field by Lock 12 – entrance from the A529 Market Drayton road, near the bridge over the canal. Please don’t try to park near Audlem Mill or the Shroppie Fly, as parking there is very limited and is restricted to customers. Meanwhile, acclaimed canal artist Eric Gaskell will be exhibiting a selection of his work at Audlem Mill from 23 July to 20 August. Besides his amazing linocut prints, he is expected to have some paintings on display. Shroppie Fly Paper
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I wondered what Norbury was like in the rain… Thirty-six boats, a full complement for the towpath moorings, attended and around 6,000 people visited the Norbury Canal Festival at the beginning of May, despite atrocious weather. It rained, it was windy and it was cold, but there was plenty to see and do and people still came to enjoy a day out. The weather didn’t even put them off going on the popular boat trips in the care of SNCT’s weather-beaten skippers! IWA Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch was there and, as in previous years, we ran the branch stand from a boat. We were supposed to be running it from the towpath next to the boat, but thanks to the weather we spent much of the time shuttling our merchandise and literature in and out through the side hatch in an effort to keep our stocks dry.
Val & Helen try to stay dry [Michael Haig]
Fortunately, everyone invoked what might be called the ‘Glastonbury spirit’, staying cheerful while squelching through the mud and puddles which quickly overcame the towpath, despite the best efforts of the youngsters from the local Air Training Corps who valiantly distributed bale after bale of hay to soak up the sludge. In fact, under the circumstances, it was a very successful event. We signed up a welcome number of new members for IWA, sold quite a few packs of Christmas cards – even in the pouring rain at the beginning of May! – passed on information about the local waterways to lots of visitors, and chatted about canals to the Mayor of Newport and then again to Stafford’s Windmill Radio. We were very grateful to Alan Platt, Helen Brockman and Richard Meteyard, who turned out to help us with unfailing good humour despite the conditions. Thanks for your company! Thanks and congratulations also go to all the SNCT volunteers who worked so hard to make the event a success, and in particular to SNCT Chairman, Bernie Jones, who organised it all and was omni-present to keep the ship afloat. Michael Haig Summer 2016
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The Montgomery Canal Forum, Newtown, 27 June 2016 It's ten years since the first Montgomery Canal Forum, initiated following the publication of the Conservation Management Strategy. These public meetings have been an opportunity to look at the canal, its restoration and what it can mean to the area. We have looked at the history of the restoration, heritage issues, tourism, other restorations, opportunities for canalside business, the activities of waterways charities and the achievements of volunteers. This year's Forum, in Newtown, was the best attended yet with representatives of local councils, canal groups and members of the public. The meeting was opened by Cllr Richard Edwards, Mayor of Newtown, who spoke enthusiastically of bringing the canal back to the town. The Forum saw the production of a new booklet dealing with all aspects of the canal and its restoration. This is a valuable document; it is not available in print at the moment, but you can see it online – there is a link on CRT's Montgomery Canal page. The document identifies a five-year programme to follow the HLF project with the restoration of the section from Crickheath to Llanymynech, subject to funding. We must expect that will ask much of those of us who have been wanting so long to see the canal open again. Malcolm Douglass, formerly Mayor of Welshpool, told us about the council's initiative to seek funding for restoration from the governments in Westminster and Cardiff. These are, though, 'interesting times', and I wonder what the rate of progress will be for this initiative. Sylvia Edwards, the canal's Community Development Officer, told us that the Lottery bid has now been submitted and the decision is expected in September. There is a £4 million project for channel restoration to Crickheath Wharf, more nature reserve at Aston, work on heritage structures between Llanymynech and Arddleen, towpath improvements, and community engagement activities and events. The plan includes a part-time project manager and a volunteer manager and community development officer (both full-time). HLF is asked for 63%, with some match-funding promised by IWA and other Montgomery groups and more to come from further grant applications, some of which cannot be made yet. Finally, Simon Matthews, a retired industrial designer/hydraulic modeller, offered some ingenious ideas for the Arddleen crossing. These were based on the dropped-pound scheme proposed by consultants a decade ago: a lock at either side of the bridge, with a lower pound under the road. Simon's most interesting idea was for a paddle mechanism with the Coalbrookdale gear working a sleeved valve to control the use of a water-saving side pound or pounds to fill or empty the lock. Shroppie Fly Paper
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This would make it difficult for an unwitting boater to open more than one paddle at once, assuring safe operation of the lock and effective use of the side-pounds. With all this serious detail about the canal, the best moment came when I was able to produce a cheque for £12,000 to support the volunteer effort, the first of five to come annually from an anonymous donor. There is so much happening on the Montgomery Canal and this was a Forum crowded with information. But we must make sure there are more chairs next time. Michael Limbrey
What’s on STTV Work in Progress In April, the Small Tasks Team Volunteers returned to Ravensmoor Wharf at Burland to finish off the work done earlier (reported in the Spring 2016 Shroppie Fly Paper). With the water level in the car park having subsided , it was possible to dress the surface, create firm edges, and treat all the timber with preservative. Five work parties are now Team effort at Burland [STTV] being given to another varied programme of enhancement work, this time at Calveley (which, although just outside Shroppie Fly Paper’s area, is a vital pit-stop for boaters). The work began in May and continues over the summer months. Our leaders, Paul Mills and John Riley, have worked with CRT to create a list of tasks for the season when some volunteers are away making use of the canals by cruising! The work includes improvement of the towpath from the Cheese Café to the CRT depot and construction of a new refuse compound. There are additional tasks such as painting water points and other equipment and furniture. Summer 2016
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Alongside our voluntary work, contractors working for CRT are improving the sanitary block. We have also been able to introduce, for a trial period, a scheme for volunteers to undertake minor tasks such as gardening and painting as they travel our waterways. If you would like to join the team for such work, please contact Paul. South Atlantic Medal We were well provided with detailed news as the dramatic events of the Falklands War unfolded. Once the conflict was over, the focus of the media was inevitably directed elsewhere, but I recall reports of the repatriation of some of our service personnel who had been killed and buried on the islands. Those reports did scant justice to the operation. Could you help do this? Calvely water point spruced up [STTV]
It was a delicate and difficult business. Falklanders had tended graves with loving care. It was not easy for them to see their heroes disinterred when families chose that option. The whole process demanded the utmost tact and technical expertise, and all was conducted in a military zone where, whilst the conflict was apparently over, operations were fraught with constraints. As a recent recruit to the canal world and volunteering, I was amazed to discover that Paul Mills had been the funeral contractor to the MOD in these difficult assignments. I am sure that all Shroppie Fly Paper readers will join me in congratulating Paul, whose notable achievements have recently been recognised by the award of the South Atlantic Medal. John Bannister
NEW RECRUITS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! For STTV please contact: Paul Mills, 0151 336 1049 / 07947 887909, exelbee@sky.com
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ROLL UP! ROLL UP!
ANNUAL BRANCH LOCK WIND
WHERE?
Hurleston Bottom Lock
WHEN?
Sat 6th & Sun 7th August 2016
WHY?
Have fun, meet people and raise money for our local waterways!
The Small Print Please let us know if you're coming by boat - shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk Moorings by Bridge 97 on the Shroppie - social 'bring-your-own' BBQ on Friday evening (WP). Car parking on the old road just after Snugbury's Ice Cream, A51 Nantwich-Chester road. Turn right along the canal towpath; the locks are a short walk away. Please don't park in the lane which leads down to the top lock. We hope for donations from generous and grateful boaters but we sell a lot of things as well, such as home-made cakes, pies, pickles, jams and surplus fresh garden vegetables. If you can spare the time and the home-made produce we would be very grateful for any contributions.
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Restoring Canals IWA and Canal & River Trust have worked together since the Trust was established and one of the most recent examples was April's joint Restoration Conference in Birmingham. They complement each other in so many ways: IWA has 60 years' experience of waterway restoration and links to schemes far from CRT's network, and CRT of course has all its resources and understanding of engineering, funding, and the built and natural heritage. There are over 90 waterway projects across the country, in varying conditions*. As a prelude to the conference, and a decade after the last survey by the Inland Waterways Advisory Council, IWA's Restoration Committee and CRT's Canal & River Restoration Group had launched a review of restoration projects across England and Wales. The survey was to take stock of the current state of waterway restoration, to help projects present the best possible case to communities, national and local government, funders and sponsors. It is worth quoting the introduction: Today’s restoration projects are truly bold – bridging or burrowing under roads and railways, replacing lost lock flights, creating canal bypasses to overcome built-oncanals with new lengths (and in some cases building entirely new waterways when our Georgian forbears inexplicably failed to do the job in the first canal age). In short they have become – without us really noticing – quite epic projects. The survey required a lengthy analysis of each restoration: it will be very interesting to see what comes out of the crunched numbers. More than 90 delegates attended the conference from over thirty restoration groups – from the Stover Canal Trust to the Manchester Underground Canal Society. The day revolved around many issues of restoration and introduced the 'Plan of Work' that has been jointly developed by IWA and CRT. This would be particularly helpful to those just starting a project and/or on non-CRT waterways, perhaps less so for projects started years ago by work parties who did not know where their enthusiasm would lead them! The Plan is supplemented by an amazing amount of detailed advice, adding to the long-standing IWA Restoration Handbook – I am always impressed by the amount of information and support IWA provides – covering benefits, ecology, funding, planning and many other challenges to a volunteer's enthusiasm! In the old days, volunteers marched forth with spade and barrow hoist, while today we are recommending plans, strategies, policies and assessments. Still, perhaps that’s progress in these risk-averse and complicated times. Shroppie Fly Paper
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One of the new documents offers examples of what some have achieved: • • • • • •
•
Chesterfield Canal Trust's coffee shop makes money and demonstrates regenerated economic activity and employment opportunities Dudley Canal Trust had European funding for a new visitor centre Sankey Canal Restoration Society has a joint venture with local councils Wey & Arun Canal Trust actively appeals for legacies and other donations Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust runs a successful social enterprise making profits to invest in restoration The Cotswold Canals Trust uses its large membership – nearly 8,000, the highest of any UK canal restoration group – to obtain support from funding agencies and corporate sponsors. And, last but not least, Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust's watercolour pictures raised over £1,000.
Our projects – Montgomery, Whitchurch and Shrewsbury & Newport – are of course past many of the initial stages, but all still face challenges the new resources can help with. Michael Limbrey * IWA's Navigation Committee has produced a complete list of Britain's inland waterways, listing 837 waterways that are or were once navigable. The 34 in our branch area include the Duke of Sutherland's Canal (which started life as the Donnington Wood Canal before it was elevated to the peerage), River Dwyryd/Afon Dwyryd on the Welsh coast, and the underground Boat Level at Pennerley Mine in Shropshire – yes it was used by boats! Visit www.waterways.org.uk/waterways/iwa_inland_waterways_directory
Audlem canal initiatives CRT has been trialing a new process of working closely with local communities to make more of key canal destinations. A series of pilot projects around the country have looked to benefit from the connections between the local community, businesses, organisations and the canal’s many visitors. Audlem was one of the locations that the Trust has focused on in this project. In an update for Shroppie Fly Paper, CRT tells us that, following a series of workshops in Audlem and meetings and conversations with many groups and people in Audlem, a ‘Destination Management Plan’ was produced in April 2016 for the canal and its relationship with the village. The ‘Audlem Community Canal Welcome’ has been developed in collaboration with representatives of many community groups in the locality. Summer 2016
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The canal plan is considered from Top Lock 1 down through the flight of locks, passing the village and wharf front, through Lock 15 to Overwater Marina to the north. The focus is largely on the canal and towpath and how local people use them and how visitors are attracted to the village and canal. However inevitably many aspects of Audlem as a whole and the nearby countryside that visitors may walk or cycle through are also encompassed. Over 40 actions have been identified and prioritised from this collaboration with possible funding opportunities to deliver some of the aspirations of the community. The Trust will now take forward this action plan and work with other partners to progress the actions. In the meantime, a start has been made with volunteers tackling one of Audlem’s biggest complaints – the state of the towpath. Those who are visitors to this section of canal in the nonsummer months will be familiar with the large pools of water and mud on this section giving a poor experience of the towpath. Regular boaters mooring up have been complaining heavily and it Towpath repairs at Audlem [Dek Owen] was noted that it was also affecting trade in Audlem, with visitors saying on social media that they would not moor in or visit the village section. During National Volunteer Week at the beginning of June, a big turnout of Network Rail, Siemens Transportation, CRT staff and regular volunteers completed a large amount of work on no less than six projects over two glorious days. A further work party a few days later saw CRT staff and volunteers complete the remaining project tasks and reach a key milestone – the towpath from Lock 15 all the way to above Lock 12 has been repaired, improved or cleaned, greatly helping the visitor and boater experience of the canal and Audlem. So far a total of about 355m of towpath has been cleared, dressed, repaired or resurfaced on the Audlem flight. Michael Haig, from contributions by CRT and Audlem Towpath Taskforce Shroppie Fly Paper
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IWA speaks for waterways to Welsh Assembly candidates As I write politics is dominated by matters European, which may well have ramifications for the waterways in Wales as the EU is one of the potential sources of grant income for restoration or improvement of the system. However, earlier in the summer those of us fortunate enough to live in Wales voted in elections to the Welsh Assembly government. You may recall that for last year’s UK General Election IWA produced a ‘Waterways Manifesto’ which was circulated to candidates for waterways constituencies. For the Welsh Elections we started with a modest plan to write to all Assembly members, but this soon escalated into a general Manifesto, professionally rendered bilingually, with a specific letter attached relating to local issues. For those not aware of the process, Assembly Members may be elected either as constituency members, as for the rest of the country, or as regional members by party. As individuals often stand in both categories, this meant contacting the majority of candidates, and the exercise involved both South Wales Branch and ourselves, coordinated by the national Navigation Committee. The manifesto produced a number of replies from across the political spectrum, which included some new names as well as seasoned supporters of the waterways who were re-elected. We will now follow these up in our area with campaigning on specific issues, as well as contact at the All Party Waterways Group meetings at the Sennedd in Cardiff, which the branch does its best to attend. Alan Platt - Welsh Liaison Officer
Shrewsbury Canal videos on YouTube Readers may be interested in two excellent and informative videos produced by our webmaster Alan Wilding. These tell of the origins of the Shrewsbury Canal and how the carrying boats worked, using material from Shropshire Union Fly-Boats - The Jack Roberts Story, which was reviewed in Shroppie Fly Paper (Autumn/Winter 2015, page 20). These videos are available to view on youtube.com – just enter ‘The Shrewsbury Canal’ and ‘The Shrewsbury and Newport Canals’ in the YouTube search box. The second title covers the fly-boats which reached Shrewsbury after 1835, when the Newport Branch opened to connect the Shrewsbury Canal at Wappenshall with the national network at Norbury Junction. Summer 2016
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Boat Trips Down Under If you read the article "Kiwis on the 'Vine" (Shroppie Fly Paper, Autumn 2015) you will know that we exchanged our narrowboat for a mobile home in New Zealand. Apart from the magnificent scenery, bubbling mud and dramatic geysers we seemed to gravitate towards boat trips. The most exhilarating boat trip was from Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula. We watched the boats in and out of the harbour and chose the sturdiest looking vessel – The Ocean Leopard. The name should have warned us but we were taken by surprise once the boat left the speed restricted harbour. We took off at high speed along the coast and got close to towering pinnacles, giant blowholes, sea caves and Cathedral Cove where The Chronicles of Narnia was filmed. Dolphins appeared and chased us, swimming and jumping around the boat.
Not our usual travelling companions on the Shroppie! [Dawn Aylwin]
The most magical boat trip, and top of the list of the many highlights, was through the glow worm caves at Waitomo. Once seated and the lights were turned off we were in complete darkness. Our guide used a system of ropes to pull the boat along - so black and silent - that is until we entered the cave. The glow worms above sparkled like a starlit sky and our guide sang Maori folk songs which the acoustics in the cave amplified. Absolutely magical. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photographs. Then on to Australia; we started with a boat trip from Port Douglas to the Agincourt Reef to enjoy snorkelling and watching the sea-life from the submarine. The return journey was a bit rough and the staff were stationed throughout the catamaran holding onto people as they staggered around. Shroppie Fly Paper
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From rough waters to the most peaceful – a gentle cruise along the mangrovelined Daintree River, the habitat of the ferocious estuarine saltwater crocodile although the only one we saw was a baby sunning itself on a branch; more cute than ferocious! It was very hot and apparently the adult crocs were wallowing in the mud at the bottom, however we were warned to keep all body parts inside the profile of the boat. A wise precaution as a week later a young woman was dragged away as she took an evening swim in the sea. The penultimate boat trip was on an old converted steam boat on the canalised Thompson Bigger swing bridge than we're used to! [Dawn Aylwin] River at Sale. After watching the local historic swing bridge open (an annual event to make sure all the bits work and which took three men half an hour to operate!) we cruised down the river towards Lakes Entrance photographing the wildlife, and in particular kingfishers and koalas.
Will it fit under the bridges? [Dawn Aylwin]
Last but not least we booked on a morning coffee cruise on the paddle steamer Emmylou at Echuca and David took great pleasure in pointing out to the engineers on board that the boat was powered by a Marshall steam engine, designed and built in Manchester.
We left England at the beginning of March when it was 5o and threatening to snow; we returned two months later and landed in a hail storm and guess what, it was still 5o. So if you fancy a bit of warmth and sun during the dreary English winter why not consider a swop. Michael Green is still looking to visit again in the near future (you can contact him at mikegreen.theauthor@gmail.com). Dawn Aylwin Summer 2016
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