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IT SEEMS our masters are pulling out all the stops to increase the ever failing number of visitors to their waterways.
Together with another organisation, £446,000 is being ploughed into improving access—and of course signage—to get the locals to stop ignoring the Old Main Line in Wolverhampton, and take a stroll along its towpath instead.
And would you believe there's the cost of a visitor counter? Of course you believe it. But I must ask—is this for over 16's only? For you may remember for one of its many varying visitor figures BW told us it did not include 16's and under. Or was that under 16's? Or perhaps it was both.
Didn't like it
I for one would no way take to the towpath on that part of the Old Main Line where the work is being done, it's far too grim and somehow intimidating with the damage and graffiti.
Cruised along there a few times now, and none of us like it, and are glad to get through.
But of course, there's lots and lots of population, which obviously of course was a major factor in the choice. But it's a bad one.
Oh no!
 In addition to the better access for visitors it has also been decided to include those blasted coir rolls. You know the things, that are either planted in the water, then washed away leaving dangerous spikes stuck up—as in the picture—or stuck on the bank side to prevent us mooring.
Mind you, the latter will be no problem, as I for one would not wish to moor there anyway.
A menace
I have to admit that generators are the bane of my cruising life. Many has been the time I've moved on to avoid some selfish boater's noisy generator running late into the night.
I'm of the opinion that if you are using your boat for cruising it will be enough to top up batteries to last for an evening's viewing or whatever. And if you are not cruising, just a couple of hours at most of a more quieter boat's engine should do the trick.
If you never cruise but are stuck in one place, then you should aim for a mains hook-up, and leave the rest of us in peace.
Not surprised
I was not one little bit surprised at the huge increase of petrol causing fires, accidents and carbon monoxide poisoning as told by the BSS.
Walking down many a popular mooring spot I often hear petrol generators churning away, and very often on the boats themselves. Surely asking for a dose of carbon monoxide.
Keep away?
 Though it really didn't concern me, being in climes somewhat warmer, our boat was 'missing' this winter for many weeks, as painter extraordinaire Andy Cain was creating his magic on it, but now she's back, and a very good job he has made too—we all believe better than when it was new.
And yes, so everybody has white on the stern, for absolutely no sensible reason—'sheep' springs to mind—but we plumbed for narrowboatworld orange! And why not, eh?
So it's the 'keep away from our boat' brigade now for us. Until I expect the first scratch...
Victor Swift
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