Canals and Locks!

sergeant · 13 August 2013, 09:50

For now, we're getting used to being on the water via inland routes, i.e. canals etc - I just sincerely hope that we never stumble across this sight:

Nos4r2 · 13 August 2013, 09:58

Caen Hill in Devizes so not very far from you!
Apparently it takes a day to use. It doesn't look that daunting in reality.
When one of the gates broke and British Waterways had to start craning boats out and taking them to the top via flatbed, all of a sudden there was a lot of people going up that hill

Sixy_the_red · 13 August 2013, 10:02

Yeah, but at least there's plenty of pubs at the top...

sergeant · 13 August 2013, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sixy_the_red

Yeah, but at least there's plenty of pubs at the top...

Haha, a cold beer must taste great after getting through that lot!

thomas · 13 August 2013, 13:35

I sat there for ages once trying to lock in, never got a reply from the lock keeper so went back.

sergeant · 13 August 2013, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas

I sat there for ages once trying to lock in, never got a reply from the lock keeper so went back.

Probably a blessing, saved you a lot of hard work getting up and down

thomas · 13 August 2013, 13:56

... there is no lock keeper is there.

Not sure I'd have the patience for one lock, let alone that lot. Sorry to say but in this instance the french had a more civilised way of doing things...

sergeant · 13 August 2013, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas

... there is no lock keeper is there.

Not sure I'd have the patience for one lock, let alone that lot. Sorry to say but in this instance the french had a more civilised way of doing things...

Holy CR*P!!! That's incredible, imagine the cost to build and run that site!

9D280 · 13 August 2013, 14:11

nah, this is the way to do it.......

The Falkirk Wheel: A great day out in central Scotland

Didn't there used to be one of them somewhere round Manchester / Liverpool way?

There is a similar flight to the OP at Corpach for antone wanting to avoid going round the top!

Sixy_the_red · 13 August 2013, 14:35

Not a wheel, but on similar lines:

Anderton Boat Lift

thomas · 13 August 2013, 14:55

I like some of the images you come across when repling to a thread like this...

... could this be the french bloke trying to get his boat out of that broken lock gate?

sergeant · 13 August 2013, 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas

I like some of the images you come across when repling to a thread like this...

... could this be the french bloke trying to get his boat out of that broken lock gate?

Oh no!!! You'd be distraught if that happened!

Sixy_the_red · 13 August 2013, 16:21

Many years ago there were deaths due to an incident like that - wide beam 72' boat carrying disabled kids got its nose stock on the ledge of the top pound and as the water level dropped the stern submerged and sank the boat

vjmehra · 13 August 2013, 17:45

Hmm, this may top the lot:

Its the Elbląg Canal in Poland:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbl%C4%85g_Canal

gotchiguy · 13 August 2013, 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjmehra

Hmm, this may top the lot:

Its the Elbląg Canal in Poland:

Elbl

There's one of those south of London. Grand Junction canal I think.

Foxtons??

thomas · 13 August 2013, 20:45

Reminds me of....

m chappelow · 14 August 2013, 10:16

But more daunting if you ever go through them is the 5 rise locks at Bingley near Bradford in West yorks on the Leeds Liverpool canal
Although there's only 5 they are the deepest locks in the country ,
Not been through on a boat but walked through them last year when they emptied them for a month or so for maintenance Work .

Fenlander · 14 August 2013, 10:24

I must be impatient but I find any river very much second rate for a SIB or similar after the sea... can't be bothered with locks at all.

Rivers are OK though in a proper river boat with a quiet engine, cooker, beds and a sitting room... or a canoe.

vjmehra · 14 August 2013, 10:34

Generally anywhere with locks has a slow speed limit...so really not ideal for Ribbing!

As for rivers in general, tidal rivers are a great way to get into ribbing as you have much more shelter!

sergeant · 14 August 2013, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

I must be impatient but I find any river very much second rate for a SIB or similar after the sea... can't be bothered with locks at all.

Rivers are OK though in a proper river boat with a quiet engine, cooker, beds and a sitting room... or a canoe.

It depends where you are - the waters around Bristol are beautiful, once you hit the canals it does get a little boring until Netham Lock, after which its very scenic, or so I'm told!

I just wish the speed limit wasn't so low - I can understand when you're passing other boats, moored or otherwise, but 4 knots seems ridiculously slow when in a small boat which doesn't cause as much wake as a larger boat.