IT WAS ON THE 17th February when Lock 58 on the Tardebigge Flight was closed due to a bulging lock wall.
What with one thing and another this has dragged on for exactly five months, yet is still closing the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, with our now learning that work is progressing very well to rebuild the wall, with about 75% complete, as Keith tells me.
So being open in time for the school holidays looks unlikely, with CaRT mentioning the 29th August—and you know which day of the week that will be, eh?
In this case the trust has gone into getting funds from its crowdfunding campaign Help Rebuild Tardebigge Top Lock.
Well, my friends, let's compare with another lock with a bulging wall, somewhat more, as the picture shows of Lock 12 on the Aylesbury Arm. It earning the name of the Banana Lock!
This occurred way back in April 2013, but there was a delay discovering what/who was responsible, to find out it was a factory excavating near the lock that had caused its collapse.
Once settled, it took a month to rebuild the wall in time for the August holidays.
The 20 boats stranded on the arm were first lifted out and taken to a nearby marina, so the boaters could be on their way. Different now!
What's the reason?
I just cannot understand this new policy of CaRT giving a future date when a navigation is to then be closed. The latest is our being told that the Oxford Canal, from Napton Bottom Lock 8 to Cropredy Lock 25 is to be closed next Monday the 21st.
Then we were told that both Marple Flight on the Peak Forest and the Bosley Flight on the Macclesfield are set to be closed from Monday 11th August 2025.
Then there is the Leicester Section of the Grand Union Canal set to close on the 29th of this month.
This is right from the bottom of Watford Flight Lock 1 to Kings Lock 38 in Leicester where it joins the Soar. A distance of 15 miles including Foxton Flight.
All being closed through lack of sufficient water for navigation.
Clang!
There are congratulations by the bucketful in this month's CaRT Brag Rag telling that the Macclesfield Canal reopens to boats following its stoppages.
It would seem that Damian, its creator, or whatever, was not told that the Macc is about to be closed again on the 11th August.
Not sure if it is Damian anymore, as there is now no name whatsoever to that load of goody, goody!
Number one for news eh?
Regular contributor T. Lang was somewhat miffed that our dear editor would not include his piece concerning the claim by the website of Towpath Talk.
But as there have been others of the same view, I reckon Mr/Mrs or Miss Lang (he/she never let-on what name his/her initial represented!) should have his mention, he writing:
It is about time it was pointed out that the Towpath Talk website is no way 'The UK's Number ONE read for all waterways users' as it takes all it's effort for one news item a day, usually five a week, whilst you get more than that on most days.
Over the past seven days from Saturday to Friday narrowboatworld had 28 articles whilst Towpath Talk had just six! Have a look!
But more important, it telling it is for water users is ridiculous as it never tells of any of the literally hundreds of stoppages over the months that are of most importance to waterway users—us boaters. It seems they too toe the party line, and dare not mention anything to upset the trust. It's pathetic.
You have had your say T. Lang and I hope that Cyril, Jethro, Olive and Paul are also now happy! Their having told very similar...
Take care
I don't very often give advice but here's a warning about people taking to the rivers.
With so many people drowning, particularly in the rivers as with the hot spells that we are having it is tempting to jump in to cool off, but as the statistics show, it is dangerous as the water is cold so the shock is great, plus the current can soon take a person away.
So take care and keep away from the edge, for it is not always sound.
Victor Swift—telling tales for 25 years