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Post by TonyDunkley on Oct 27, 2017 20:58:38 GMT
As for your misconceptions about my knowledge and experience of the BCN's back then, . . . well, you've got that wrong too. In the early 1970's, British Waterways earned a good chunk of cash out of contractors laying North Sea gas mains under canal towpaths, and I was amongst those who also earned a good bit of that cash towing Joey's full of excavated trench spoil, gas main pipes, covering slabs and sand, and other equipment to and from where the contractor's gangs were working, . . . the majority of the work was on the BCN's ! Which bit of the BCN? Probably the new mainline which was OK at the time. If you really think the navigability many parts of the BCN hasn’t improved out of all recognition since the 1970s then you either weren’t there or you are demented. Wrong again, . . . the gas mains were laid mostly under the new main line towpath, but prior to the job starting the large number of boats needed had to be collected and brought from where they were laying, which was all over the cut, including from the likes of Cannock and various places round the Wyrley, Oldbury, Bradley and Walsall. If I were you, I'd stop digging while you can still just about see out of the hole !
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2017 21:02:10 GMT
Well from where I sit both Nick and Tony are more of an expert than you, when did you last do the BCN? about as long ago as you. Exactly my point kris, perhaps my point was a little to subtle for you.
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Post by kris on Oct 27, 2017 21:23:10 GMT
about as long ago as you. Exactly my point kris, perhaps my point was a little to subtle for you. subtle? Your about as subtle as a sledge hammer, but as your knowledge about the current state of the waterways is gongoozerling I'll leave you to it.
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Post by TonyDunkley on Oct 27, 2017 21:28:42 GMT
no no you must be wrong Nick the expert has said its fine. Well from where I sit both Nick and Tony are more of an expert than you, when did you last do the BCN? Kindly refrain from equating me with Nick, will you, . . . he merely thinks he knows what he's talking about !
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2017 21:31:04 GMT
Exactly my point kris, perhaps my point was a little to subtle for you. subtle? Your about as subtle as a sledge hammer, but as your knowledge about the current state of the waterways is gongoozerling I'll leave you to it. I've been quite open about that Kris. So, I take it I was correct you too have no actual knowledge of the BCN? So in fact you don't really know whether Nick was correct or not?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2017 21:34:23 GMT
Well from where I sit both Nick and Tony are more of an expert than you, when did you last do the BCN? Kindly refrain from equating me with Nick, will you, . . . he merely thinks he knows what he talking about ! I don't really know either of you from Adam, I just speak as I find.
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Post by tecka on Oct 27, 2017 21:49:28 GMT
subtle? Your about as subtle as a sledge hammer, but as your knowledge about the current state of the waterways is gongoozerling I'll leave you to it. I've been quite open about that Kris. So, I take it I was correct you too have no actual knowledge of the BCN? So in fact you don't really know whether Nick was correct or not? I have no idea whether Kris has knowledge of the BCN or not. I can categorically state that Nick is wrong about the Soho loop. The trip boats were not using it last year due to depth issues, you can't get into the side and as far as it being a tourist route goes... that claim is just laughable. I did the loop maybe 15 times last summer, more if you include walking it, and I reckon saw other moving boats around three times. Granted I've not been on the BCN since Feb, my dad did the loop in Sept as he used to work at the hospital and does it when he gets a chance to see the changes round All Saint's asylum. I'd also been quizzing him on where the bridge that connected All Saint's to Dudley Road was. Apparently lost when the housing estate got built, I remembered my dad using it as a short cut when I was a kid. His thoughts on the loop matched mine.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2017 22:03:52 GMT
I've been quite open about that Kris. So, I take it I was correct you too have no actual knowledge of the BCN? So in fact you don't really know whether Nick was correct or not? I have no idea whether Kris has knowledge of the BCN or not. I can categorically state that Nick is wrong about the Soho loop. The trip boats were not using it last year due to depth issues, you can't get into the side and as far as it being a tourist route goes... that claim is just laughable. I did the loop maybe 15 times last summer, more if you include walking it, and I reckon saw other moving boats around three times. Granted I've not been on the BCN since Feb, my dad did the loop in Sept as he used to work at the hospital and does it when he gets a chance to see the changes round All Saint's asylum. I'd also been quizzing him on where the bridge that connected All Saint's to Dudley Road was. Apparently lost when the housing estate got built, I remembered my dad using it as a short cut when I was a kid. His thoughts on the loop matched mine. Yes I agree actual knowledge counts for a lot.
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Post by Telemachus on Oct 27, 2017 22:12:29 GMT
I've been quite open about that Kris. So, I take it I was correct you too have no actual knowledge of the BCN? So in fact you don't really know whether Nick was correct or not? I have no idea whether Kris has knowledge of the BCN or not. I can categorically state that Nick is wrong about the Soho loop. The trip boats were not using it last year due to depth issues, you can't get into the side and as far as it being a tourist route goes... that claim is just laughable. I did the loop maybe 15 times last summer, more if you include walking it, and I reckon saw other moving boats around three times. Granted I've not been on the BCN since Feb, my dad did the loop in Sept as he used to work at the hospital and does it when he gets a chance to see the changes round All Saint's asylum. I'd also been quizzing him on where the bridge that connected All Saint's to Dudley Road was. Apparently lost when the housing estate got built, I remembered my dad using it as a short cut when I was a kid. His thoughts on the loop matched mine. I cannot be wrong about the soho loop if you can’t get into the side, because I never said you could get into the side. You can’t get into the side. There, is that clear? Why would you want to get into the side? Oh, maybe your idea of canal boating is to be permanently in to the side, tied up? You don’t need to be able to get into the side for a canal to be easily navigable. Have you ever been on the KandA? The soho loop isn’t particularly deep, I’m not surprised the trip boats don’t want to do it, Telemachus is down to 3mph or so. They go as far as the “crossroads” which is really deep. Telemachus can easily get to 5 mph between the centre and the “crossroads”, which is exceptional for any midlands canal. Because, I presume, they (trip boat operators) have “encouraged” BW or CRT to dredge just that stretch. The point is that the soho loop in the 70s was an adventure. Now it is routine. But not as deep as the mainline between the centre and the crossroads.
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Post by Telemachus on Oct 27, 2017 22:16:32 GMT
Which bit of the BCN? Probably the new mainline which was OK at the time. If you really think the navigability many parts of the BCN hasn’t improved out of all recognition since the 1970s then you either weren’t there or you are demented. Wrong again, . . . the gas mains were laid mostly under the new main line towpath, but prior to the job starting the large number of boats needed had to be collected and brought from where they were laying, which was all over the cut, including from the likes of Cannock and various places round the Wyrley, Oldbury, Bradley and Walsall. If I were you, I'd stop digging while you can still just about see out of the hole ! Well as I said earlier, if you think the navigability of the BCN is not significantly better now than it as in the 70s then you either were never there, or you are demented. Or I suppose the third option which is in fact the most likely - you haven’t been on the BCN in the last 10 years or so, to see the improvement.
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Post by tecka on Oct 27, 2017 22:29:18 GMT
I have no idea whether Kris has knowledge of the BCN or not. I can categorically state that Nick is wrong about the Soho loop. The trip boats were not using it last year due to depth issues, you can't get into the side and as far as it being a tourist route goes... that claim is just laughable. I did the loop maybe 15 times last summer, more if you include walking it, and I reckon saw other moving boats around three times. Granted I've not been on the BCN since Feb, my dad did the loop in Sept as he used to work at the hospital and does it when he gets a chance to see the changes round All Saint's asylum. I'd also been quizzing him on where the bridge that connected All Saint's to Dudley Road was. Apparently lost when the housing estate got built, I remembered my dad using it as a short cut when I was a kid. His thoughts on the loop matched mine. I cannot be wrong about the soho loop if you can’t get into the side, because I never said you could get into the side. You can’t get into the side. There, is that clear? Why would you want to get into the side? Oh, maybe your idea of canal boating is to be permanently in to the side, tied up? You don’t need to be able to get into the side for a canal to be easily navigable. Have you ever been on the KandA? The soho loop isn’t particularly deep, I’m not surprised the trip boats don’t want to do it, Telemachus is down to 3mph or so. They go as far as the “crossroads” which is really deep. Telemachus can easily get to 5 mph between the centre and the “crossroads”, which is exceptional for any midlands canal. Because, I presume, they (trip boat operators) have “encouraged” BW or CRT to dredge just that stretch. The point is that the soho loop in the 70s was an adventure. Now it is routine. But not as deep as the mainline between the centre and the crossroads. So, we go from the Soho loop being a non-event to not being surprised that the trip boats don't want to do it because of the depth? Maybe I want to get into the side to moor and stop wankers like you getting at me for mooring on visitors moorings? The actual reason was to see the sights... In a manner of speaking, I have a lot of memories round the area as a kid with my dad working at Dudley Road. Also I volunteered on Aquarius (the electric rubbish boat) last summer and it would have made towpath picking a little easier. Trust me the trip boat operators were asking for the loop to be dredged last year. Also what kind of "tourist route" is it that the tourists can't use? How on earth do you know you can do 5mph on the mainline, so you can break the rules but no-one else can? I've not posted on here in an awful long time but your talking bollocks really got to me and I had to put the record straight on this particular one.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2017 22:36:37 GMT
I always think it pays to read what somebody has actually posted rather than what you think they have posted....otherwise you can end up looking a tad foolish...
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Post by Telemachus on Oct 27, 2017 22:42:23 GMT
I cannot be wrong about the soho loop if you can’t get into the side, because I never said you could get into the side. You can’t get into the side. There, is that clear? Why would you want to get into the side? Oh, maybe your idea of canal boating is to be permanently in to the side, tied up? You don’t need to be able to get into the side for a canal to be easily navigable. Have you ever been on the KandA? The soho loop isn’t particularly deep, I’m not surprised the trip boats don’t want to do it, Telemachus is down to 3mph or so. They go as far as the “crossroads” which is really deep. Telemachus can easily get to 5 mph between the centre and the “crossroads”, which is exceptional for any midlands canal. Because, I presume, they (trip boat operators) have “encouraged” BW or CRT to dredge just that stretch. The point is that the soho loop in the 70s was an adventure. Now it is routine. But not as deep as the mainline between the centre and the crossroads. So, we go from the Soho loop being a non-event to not being surprised that the trip boats don't want to do it because of the depth? Maybe I want to get into the side to moor and stop wankers like you getting at me for mooring on visitors moorings? The actual reason was to see the sights... In a manner of speaking, I have a lot of memories round the area as a kid with my dad working at Dudley Road. Also I volunteered on Aquarius (the electric rubbish boat) last summer and it would have made towpath picking a little easier. Trust me the trip boat operators were asking for the loop to be dredged last year. How on earth do you know you can do 5mph on the mainline, so you can break the rules but no-one else can? I've not posted on here in an awful long time but your talking bollocks really got to me and I had to put the record straight on this particular one. Thank goodness for small mercies! I’ve done 5mph on the main line (more, actually. But no breaking wash!). So go ahead, report me to the CRT traffic police, I’m so naughty. Have you seen the trip boats? They are pretty deep drafted. Telemachus is 2’ 8” thus quite a bit more than the average leisure boat. But not as much as the likes of Victoria, which is an ex working boat thingy and thus probably a fair bit more. Well I suppose not ex really. Anyway, I’ve no idea what your agenda is for wittering on about the soho loop. My point was that it is far easier to navigate than it was in the 70s and that is it. I know this because I struggled to navigate it in the 70s and now it is easy. I don’t give a shit what someone told someone who told someone’s Granny who told you that some trip boater was complaining that the soho loop needed dredging. Quelle surprise! Trip boat operators are always moaning about something. Have you even got a boat? Seems unlikely.
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Post by TonyDunkley on Oct 27, 2017 23:00:40 GMT
So, we go from the Soho loop being a non-event to not being surprised that the trip boats don't want to do it because of the depth? Maybe I want to get into the side to moor and stop wankers like you getting at me for mooring on visitors moorings? The actual reason was to see the sights... In a manner of speaking, I have a lot of memories round the area as a kid with my dad working at Dudley Road. Also I volunteered on Aquarius (the electric rubbish boat) last summer and it would have made towpath picking a little easier. Trust me the trip boat operators were asking for the loop to be dredged last year. How on earth do you know you can do 5mph on the mainline, so you can break the rules but no-one else can? I've not posted on here in an awful long time but your talking bollocks really got to me and I had to put the record straight on this particular one. . . . . . . . . . . . My point was that it is far easier to navigate than it was in the 70s and that is it. I know this because I struggled to navigate it in the 70s and now it is easy. Has it occurred to you that your boat handling skills just might have improved over the last 40 or so years, and that's what's fooling you into thinking that the cut is in a better state now than it was back then ?
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Post by tecka on Oct 27, 2017 23:10:55 GMT
So, we go from the Soho loop being a non-event to not being surprised that the trip boats don't want to do it because of the depth? Maybe I want to get into the side to moor and stop wankers like you getting at me for mooring on visitors moorings? The actual reason was to see the sights... In a manner of speaking, I have a lot of memories round the area as a kid with my dad working at Dudley Road. Also I volunteered on Aquarius (the electric rubbish boat) last summer and it would have made towpath picking a little easier. Trust me the trip boat operators were asking for the loop to be dredged last year. How on earth do you know you can do 5mph on the mainline, so you can break the rules but no-one else can? I've not posted on here in an awful long time but your talking bollocks really got to me and I had to put the record straight on this particular one. Thank goodness for small mercies! I’ve done 5mph on the main line (more, actually. But no breaking wash!). So go ahead, report me to the CRT traffic police, I’m so naughty. Have you seen the trip boats? They are pretty deep drafted. Telemachus is 2’ 8” thus quite a bit more than the average leisure boat. But not as much as the likes of Victoria, which is an ex working boat thingy and thus probably a fair bit more. Well I suppose not ex really. Anyway, I’ve no idea what your agenda is for wittering on about the soho loop. My point was that it is far easier to navigate than it was in the 70s and that is it. I know this because I struggled to navigate it in the 70s and now it is easy. I don’t give a shit what someone told someone who told someone’s Granny who told you that some trip boater was complaining that the soho loop needed dredging. Quelle surprise! Trip boat operators are always moaning about something. Have you even got a boat? Seems unlikely. I started wittering on because you started talking bollocks about the Soho loop being easy to navigate. To me an easy to navigate cut is easy to navigate for everyone, not just you. You also claimed it was a tourist route when in reality the only people who really use it are the folk at Hockley Port and the odd boat passing through. I can't comment on the state of it in the 70's as, tbh, I wasn't born till 81. My dad reckons it ain't far off as bad now, as Tony pointed out earlier to get stuck on an oil drum means a fair amount of depth. I personally find it astounding that you bitch and moan about people who break the rules and then admit that you do so as well, albeit in a way that suits you... Maybe consider that next you post here, or the other channel, about someone that has moored in a way that doesn't quite suit you. Yes, I do have a boat. I might not move through an area as quickly as you seem to but this year have covered the Shropy, Llangollen, Monty, T&M, Weaver, Bridgewater, Caldon, Cov, GU, Lee and the Stort. I'm just about to start heading back to the Midlands popping up the Aylesbury to see extended family before back on the BCN for Christmas with the family. I take my time as I like to see the areas I moor in, that for me is the point of this lifestyle.
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