Waiting for a couple of bits at Calcutt.. and BW give free cranage!

Moored Calcutt Locks,  Grand Union Canal

I didn’t change the “Where we are now” page to reflect the fact that we are now on the Grand Union Canal. well I had hoped to moored here no more than a day before returning to the Oxford Canal, and onward to Braunston and beyond… I have, however changed the template of this blog to the way it was before I put the external linking in.  The only trouble is that it takes so long to re-publish this blog if I want to change anything or add anything to the left hand side.  The last republish I did took some 40 minutes plus!  I would like to change to another type of blogging software.. maybe one day

It never fails to amaze me how my Licence Fee is spent by British Waterways.  This is absolutely dreadful in my opinion.  It’s a stoppage over on the Mon and Brec in Wales, the canal that is out on a limb and not connected to the main system.  The canal that I absolutely adore having spent 4 years in a row on holiday there on NB Country Girl from Sue and Phil’s beautiful boatyard at Llangynidr, Country Craft Narrowboats.. but how British Waterways can spend my Licence money on craning boats out of the water, transporting them along the canal and then craning them back in again is beyond me.

Many of the stoppages run over their allocated time just about anywhere on the system, but never have I heard of a ‘free craning’ before…

Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
Heol yr Allt Bridge 101 to Gilwern Bridge 103

Due to the previously announced over run of the above engineering
works, British Waterways is putting in place an alternative means for
boaters to continue their passage of the Mon & Brec canal.

These arrangements comprise of the siting of two high capacity mobile
cranes, one at Bridge 76 near Goytre and the second at Gilwern Wharf.  At
no cost to the boaters, their craft can be lifted out of the canal,
transported to the other wharf and put back in the canal allowing them to 
continue their journey

The engineering works are due to be completed by Friday 7 April and the
canal will re-open on Saturday 8 April 2006 at 7am. British Waterways
would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

There are three dates available between now and 7th April to leap frog the stoppage, boaters are advised to book!

They sure are lucky people over in Wales!!

Roger of Calcutt Boats was back from his ski-ing holiday today.. he says he might be able to put the two special locking screws on to the engine tomorrow.  I don’t know much about these screws.. but I do know that we have to wait here till they are in place! I have had a problem putting a title to this blog tonight..  “Waiting for a screw at Calcutt” didn’t sound quite right somehow

I did brave the weather today and had a really lovely walk from the locks here.  The countryside is very flat, so great for walking, but it’s still very cold.. brrrrr..