alafloat

Hi Everyone

Since we returned I have been trying in vain to do a few minor repairs and

Get her ready for the winter six months out on the cut takes its toll on paintwork and moving parts???  BUT like the rest of you I am awaiting to have a dry day

Last week I have managed to do a quick trip to Swanley Marina to pick up Danny's Boat and help with crewing it back here to Rufford. We managed it without incident in a total of three days.  I was really surprised to see the system so busy as we came out of Hurlston lock there was 6 boats waiting to go up, and had just pasted four boats going up, these going up were leaving locks into almost dry pounds. If only people would listen to advice and just slow things down and give the water time to recover the pounds are not empty because of the lack of water its just they are not allowed to recover between emptying’s. As we came back at the end of the season I noticed that almost every bridge hole, winding hole, movable bridge had one or two boats moored up for the winter. Please don’t get me wrong I uphold the right for everyone to use the canal to there advantage and permanent cruisers also have that same right. However that right should not impose on the rights of the rest of us to have an trouble free cruise when mooring please moor with the adage “for the greater good” a little more consideration would not go amiss. That rants over.

So!  We are all waiting for the rain to stop. Here on the marina we have been lucky last night the river Douglas came inches from breaking its bank though this morning with the ebbing tide it has dropped a few feet, Even if it does break through have the railway is between us and the river, even though I have my boat now on a long rope ???? Just watched the news and seen the moorings I use on the Weaver ten foot under water I have been on the Weaver when its in flood its not a very forgiving river I'm glad we came back early it appears nowhere is safe from flooding the worry now is not about too little water but having too much. Let’s hope that the new volunteers o f the Canal River Trust manage to keep the water levels correct, though lets face it BW never managed it. 

Keep a weather eye out

Stay Safe

BigAl

The Trains were suspended between Ormskirk and Preston 

As the river was threatening the Bridge

The danger has passed for now 

lets hope the next high tide leaves us alone??

I usually fish under this bridge.