narrowboatworld

I HAVE been living on the Cut for over seven years now and regard it as my home. When I told friends and relatives I was going to retire early, sell up and live aboard a narrowboat, many regarded me as crazy and were all for sending for 'The Men in White Coats'.

THE Macc with it's stone bridges, embankments and cuttings seemed strangely familiar. Then it occurred to me that in my youth I had often travelled between Derby and Buxton on the railway that often followed close to the A6 and on one stretch, the Cromford Canal too.

WHILST on the northern reaches of the Trent & Mersey I was surprised to find local hire companies hiring boats for short term 'booze cruises'. Further south it seems hire boat bases have learned their lesson and will not hire to same sex crews, particularly for a day or a weekend.

I AGREE with Brian that boaters and canal lovers shouldn't just sit around but get out and help by becoming a 'Volunteer'. However, I suspect BW's idea of how a Volunteer could reduce costs and my ideas are radically different.

I WAS moored at Coole Pilate on the Shroppie when I found narrowboatworld had sprung back into life following Tom's return from a well earned 'rest' boating.

I SPOTTED a BW dredger and mud hopper moored near bridge 108. It subsequently transpired that the entrance to Tixall Wide at the Great Haywood end is being dredged. The reed beds have been encroaching on the navigable channel for several years now, so cutting them back and dredging is very welcome.

I'M NOT sure what point David Hymers was trying to make in his recent column. My statement was to the effect that the stretch of the Staffs & Worcs from Deptmore lock to Tixall needed dredging.

WITH a General Election due and no guarantee as to what the other parties will do with regard to British Waterways' future, it seems a period of uncertainty is inevitable. I just hope the regions concentrate on doing what maintenance they can during this period so as to 'hand over' the waterways in as good a condition as possible.