Bear Essentials Issue 52

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BEAR ESSENTIALS The Newsletter of : -

IWA Warwickshire Branch Issue No. 52 – August 2018.

Improvements are a’coming:

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As we approach the season of ‘mists and mellow fruitfulness’, the first signs that CRT’s reorganisation in our part of the world is ‘bearing fruit’ have started to appear on the Stockton flight. Since this part of the northern GU - between Napton and Radford Semele - was ‘stolen’ from BW-West Midlands by BW-South East some nine years ago, the paint-brush has become an endangered species around here – the result of which can be seen in the foreground of the above photo. But look beyond - and into the future. In July, a CRT Towpath Taskforce work-party, led by Team Leader Tom Pierce, generously travelled from Stratford to ‘pump-prime’ the refurbishment of the whole flight by repainting lock 11, the bottom lock – as seen below. In addition to the painting, the opportunity was also taken to lay a non-slip surface on the top of the balance beams – a significant, and much appreciated, safety improvement. These work-parties will now continue on the last Friday of each month.

As we approach the end of a long, hot, dry summer, I’m sure that many of us will compare it with 1976; and in boating terms – at least here in Warwickshire we can look back and say how fortunate we’ve been this year, compared with then. OK this summer was preceded by a wetter winter and spring than 75/76 – so, in general, the reservoirs went into the summer ‘better equipped’ this time. On the other hand there are more boats on the system now, and being generally longer, most are unable to share in narrow locks - as they were then. This summer my cruising took me to the North-West, where, mainly due to water shortage, I was unable to cruise down the Glasson Branch of the Lancaster Canal - disappointingly one of the few parts of the system that I’ve not been able to visit by boat. However, my Leeds & Liverpool experience was fortunately not affected by the closure of some 50 miles over the summit of that canal. Talking of summits, the one that could affect us most is the Oxford summit. At time of writing (late July) we’re heading for some (not unreasonable) overnight closures. How different from ’76 - when this canal was closed for several weeks! Most of our other waterways – generally fed from the BCN - are ‘ok’ (?), but care must still be taken, and THRIFT is not just a word – but a series of actions. Our thanks must go to CRT’s Adam Comerford, and his Hydrology team, for in general - maintaining feed-supply in temperatures that can evaporate up to an inch of water from the surface of a canal pound each day ! Editor: Ian Fletcher.

Most work-parties to-date, be they ours or CRT’s, have taken place in the middle or west of ‘our patch’. Hopefully this action will start to rectify the ‘balance’ and encourage members who live on our eastern fringe, and some as yet uncommitted local residents, to help continue this long-overdue task - the first small step in what is already being appreciated by passing boaters, as seen here on the right.


Bear Bones:

Bear in Mind:

An outline of upcoming activities.

Ian’s Chaireport.

Our Autumn / Winter Programme of Activities Unless otherwise stated, evening events take place at 7:30 at:-:

The Sports ConneXion, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry CV8 3FL Wednesday September 12th 2018: A Pictorial Introduction to the Shrewsbury & Newport Canal, and its restoration plans: By Brian Nelson, Trustee and Vice Chairman of the S&N Trust.

Sat / Sun

Oct 6th-7th 2018: Mooring Ring Project: Installing mooring rings either side of the Avon Aqueduct at Emscote. Holes to be dug and 22 mooring rings concreted in. Meet from 9.30 for a 10am start, both days. Bring lunch. Drinks & biscuits provided.

Wednesday October 10th 2018: A Musical Evening: Canal based songs from Dusty Miller / Dave Illingworth followed by Rachel & John Brookes with classic popular & blues songs.

Sunday

October 14th 2018: Canal Clean-up in Leamington: Meet from 9:30am for a 10:00am to 1:00pm session. Park in Rushmore St., Leamington CV31 1JA. Be prepared to get dirty. Gloves will be provided.

Sunday

October 28th 2018:

Yet Another Hatton ‘Haircut’:

10:00am to 1:00pm - Hatton Offside Clearance. As previously, park and meet at Oaklands Farm Kennels, CV35 7DZ. Please wear appropriate clothing.

Wednesday November 14th 2018: ‘Double Difference’ Boating: By Branch Committee Member, Peter Claisse A cedar-planked wooden boat is different from most boats we see on our canals, but one that is self-built is doubly different. Let’s see and hear how Peter did it – and not just once !

Sunday

November 18th 2018: A Guided tour of The Royal Ordnance Depot at Weedon Beck: - followed by a walk along the GU canal. Park at the depot Harmans Way, Weedon Bec, NN7 4PS for 10.30 start. Lunch details to follow.

Wednesday December 12th 2018: A Skittles Evening & Meal: 7:30pm. At The Navigation, Wootton Wawen. Booking essential. Menus will be available from October.

Sunday

January 6th 2019: A walk in the Offchurch Area: Park at Offchurch Greenway car-park at junction of Welsh Rd & Long Itchington Rd CV33 9AU - for 10am start. 5 mile walk with a 3¾ mile option. Lunch at White Lion, Radford Semele CV31 1TE.

Friday

January 11th 2019: Annual Dinner - note change of day. 7:00 for 7:30pm. The Queen’s Head, Bretford. CV23 0JY Pre-booking essential.

Other Work Party Information*

. CRT-WM: Towpath task-force: a) Hatton

st

- 1 Wed & Fri of the month nd b) Stratford - 2 Thursday of the month rd c) Lapworth - 3 Thur & Sat of the month d) Stockton - Last Friday of the month. *Note: For our most up-to-date information please see the Warwickshire page on the IWA web-site. www.waterways.org.uk/warwickshire

When we close canalchef each year in November for the winter, Lesley and I go for a cruise. But my first grand scheme to impress you all by cruising all of the waterways covered by Warwickshire Branch was torpedoed by the Winter stoppages. Mind you with the gorgeous sunshine there will be a few more stoppages before winter. So I set about dreaming up another. I was very impressed with the new IWA event tent when I was among those who helped erect it at Braunston. One wall is printed as a huge waterways map with of course, new IWA logo. So – How to Impress part two: Hang it on the end wall of our café advertising IWA, attracting every passing boater and sign them up as members. I asked Greta to order one for me to buy. IWA Marketing replied: “we don't have an arrangement that allows us to share the map with third parties”! So just to keep my self-importance in check, I am firmly reminded that a Branch Chairman is merely a “third party”. However, I am blessed with inheriting a strong and active Committee who keep everything well-oiled and working so our calendar of events stretches far into the future. Whilst I can’t escape in the summer for daytime events, I did manage to support the Yarningale Common walkers, even if only by meeting them for the Crabmill pub meal in Preston Bagot. Lesley and I plus grandson greatly enjoyed the Picnic BarBQ at Steve Vaughan’s Nelson's Wharf site followed by his informative talk on their canal reclamation (huge thanks to Carole for the succession of baked potatoes which announced they were cooked by setting off their boat smoke detector). It was good to share ideas with fellow Branch Chairmen when I attended my first Regional Meeting chaired by Helen Whitehouse who was congratulated on being reelected to that post and also on her appointment as an IWA Trustee. I do hope to see as many of you as possible over the shortening days ahead.

Ian Lauder.


Bear-faced Lines:

Some random snippets from around our patch.

Balsam Bash 2018:

Double Difference Boating:

In early July a mixed group of both members and local residents held their 6th ‘attack’ on the Himalayan Balsam in Myton Fields Warwick. To some extent it might have been the hot, dry early summer, but then again it maybe that after four years we’ve finally got the problem under control at this location - because this year’s ‘yield’ continued the steadily downward trend noted since our first attack in 2015. For this the whole team deserve the thanks and appreciation, not just of ourselves, but of all the many river-users and riparians further down the Avon.

It is not very often that we give an extra ‘trail’ for upcoming events on this page, but in November I think that we are all in for a real treat. The original working title for Peter’s talk was “Building and using woodcomposite boats” – but no way does it go anyway near expressing what one of our branch members has achieved – nothing less than the design, self-build and use of a remarkable series of wooden boats, from canoe to cruisers.

With half of the team now comprising local residents, it may now be the time to consider whether that faction could become self-supporting (?) – and continue this work themselves. That would then enable our ‘team’ to move-on next year to another, perhaps now ‘more-critical’ location – where they could again become the catalyst for more local action. This could be further down the Avon, or indeed a more needy section elsewhere on our patch.

July Picnic:

As Peter says: “ Not all canal boats have to be steel or glass-fibre. This talk will describe how boats can be built using wood laminate with glass fibre bonded to it to make them strong and durable. These boats can also go to sea, enabling me to go around some “big loops” such as out of the Thames, calling in at the Broads, and then on into the Fossdyke at Boston and back down through the system ”. This is surely one not to miss. Ed.

Saltisford Event: Still on the forthcoming events; please don’t forget that the Branch will be attending the annual Heritage Open th th Days at Saltisford Canal Centre on 8 / 9 September.

Person of the Period: Usually this award is presented to someone who has made a significant contribution to Branch activities in the period since the last edition of BE. However, this time we’ve somewhat bent the rules - in anticipation.

For some years now our July meetings have taken the form of an ‘end-of-term’ walk and barbecue or picnic - this year’s was no exception. Branch members Steve & Izzie Vaughan of Willow Wren Training were excellent ‘hosts’ and showed us some of the remarkable work that they are doing in renovating the old Nelsons Cement-works Arm, and creating a conservation area into what is becoming an asset for both boaters and local residents. Our chairman can be seen here on the left above – no doubt informing colleagues of a similar project that he is leading at Hillmorton - and which you can read all about over on page 4.

Jackie Sanders is well known for her regular support of our cleanups. So keen is she to contribute to th our up-coming October 14 workparty in Leamington that she has spent the entire summer scouring Europe for a larger, more efficient grappling-hook. Finally she tracked down this fine specimen in Finland! Well-done Jackie. I’m sure you’ll agree that she thoroughly deserves to win our PoP award this time. We all look forward to seeing you use it with gusto in October !


Bear with us:

Regional Round-up.

A Win-win at Hillmorton: In our April 2017 edition, we mentioned a project that is evolving right here in our patch - and those of you who have attended our meetings this year will have heard our Chairman talk about it in more detail. It concerns the development of the old Oxford Loop, at the bottom of Hillmorton locks, into more than just a mooring basin for historic narrowboats.

This map shows the present situation around the bottom lock. The water point is below the lock, whereas toilet, rubbish bins and Elsan disposal are at 3 different locations above the lock, across the bridge, in the Yard complex. In addition, mooring to use these facilities also clashes with lock use, and manoeuvring in or out of the Yard.

Friends and Neighbours. A Surfeit of Silly Signs - 3 : (an editorial feature) The silly sign saga continues and concludes, (see previous comments in BE- 49 & 51). There must be something ‘in the air’ around the Leicester Line and the Soar; because here below is perhaps the most stupid sign ever produced by BW. Sometime in the 1980’s, an EU directive was issued stating that speed limits on Europe’s inland waterways had to be standardised and expressed in kph. Some mindless BW jobsworth in the East Midlands worked out that 4 mph equated to 6.43 kph, and ordered and installed a series of signs stating that fact - as here on the left. We must thank Peter Scott of our West Riding Branch They were fixed to locks in for the use of this photo. the Leicester area, and were met with a justifiable derision.

The proposal is that all four services should be located in a single facility on the off-side, below the lock, at the entrance to the old loop. Also, the services could all be mains-connected from the nearby development on the old GPO/BT ‘Radio Site’.

My objection was that I felt that it was unreasonable for boaters to have to assess their speed in kph to more than one decimal place! Perhaps unsurprisingly I didn’t receive an answer to this feedback; but, most of the signs were ‘quietly’ removed.

The benefits of this plan are - apart from providing the moorings with comprehensive facilities - the offside location below the locks will be more compact and efficient to use, it does not involve crossing a public highway – so is safer to use, it avoids congestion for passing boats, and - being on mains services - will be cheaper to run and maintain. That sounds like a win to the power five or six to me.

Since then – apart from seeing an official BW ‘Sanitory’ Station sign on the K&A in the 90’s, and a 2001 notice on the Llangollen canal apologising for the ‘inconvience’ of an Elsan disposal being closed the silly sign situation seemed to have improved. That was until CRT’s recent rebrand was unveiled, when some of them changed from being silly to being seriously sad – but that’s another story.

It is apposite that this proposal is being mooted now Ian Fletcher. – as we are currently asking members to provide feedback on CRTs provision of service facilities. . Here in the west midlands, over the last 20 years, we have lost several sanitary stations, and therefore the cruising times between some of those that remain are unrealistic and unacceptable. Let us hope that Ian Lauder and his Old Mortonians Group are successful with their proposals for Hillmorton; but in the meantime please give us feedback on other service facility shortcomings elsewhere. You can do so on-line – using ‘Gap-Tracker’; or alternatively please let your editor know (contact as below) so that as a Branch we can collate our findings. IWA may not agree with opinions expressed here in this newsletter, but encourages its publication as a matter of interest. Nothing herein may be construed as a matter of policy, or an official announcement, unless otherwise stated. The Association accepts no liability for any of the material contained herein. Editor: Ian Fletcher, 4 Village Hall Cottages, CV47 9QH Phone :01926 – 815 413. E-mail : Newsletter.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk For local contact on all other Branch activities please e-mail: < info.warwickshire@waterways.org.uk > Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 Web-site: www.waterways.org.uk The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342

For up to date info. between BE editions visit our web page: < www.waterways.org.uk/warwickshire > Please inform Head Office of any e-mail address changes.


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