narrowboatworld

FINALLY Reaching Bedford, I have to say that the standard of maintenance on the Environment Agency waterways we have encountered is far higher than that which currently marks out British Waterways.

I THINK I have spotted BW's latest health and safety project. The H&S department has to keep thinking up new (and increasingly daft) projects to justify its continued existence—after all, if they solved all the health and safety problems, then most of its staff would become unnecessary.

PADDINGTON Basin seems to be a lot more popular than it was last time we were there—we had trouble finding a vacant mooring.

HAVING come all the way down the Thames from Lechlade to Teddington over the last three weeks I've been able to make some useful judgements about the availability of moorings and their cost.

ON OUR way down the south Oxford to spend some time on the Thames we noted that at long last some work has been done on the canal bank at bridge 168 just below Banbury.

RALPH'S heading to his observations on the condition of various bits of equipment starts a train of thought.

RETURNING from the Caldon the long way round, via Stourton Junction, Stourbridge and the middle of Birmingham, we clocked up 209 locks on the trip, which is about 836 paddles.

I'm afraid I can't agree with Ralph Freeman's column about the shallowness of the Staffs & Worcs below Deptmore Lock. We're tied up there now and I have noticed no problems.

IT SEEMS like ages since the boat actually went anywhere, thanks to the success of the Campaign for a Real Winter. The boat seems to have survived, so it's off to the Caldon.