Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Trees are falling down

We have seen many fallen trees along this canal. Most are small ones which have fallen into the canal reducing the width a bit. Can get by those with care. "Don't want to scratch the paint".

An Ivy tree?

Now that all the leaves have been blown off them it can be seen that many trees are still green with ivy! All the branches are so thickly covered that they bend with the weight. If only someone could stop the ivy growing up the trees.

A fallen tree

The tree pictured here near Pewsey has totally blocked the muddy tow path. Luckily it did not come down across the canal!

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Muddy tow path at Pewsey

The state of the tow path by the official Visitor Moorings is wet soft and muddy. Some boats with winter mooring permits have moved their boats nearer the wharf where the path is in a much better condition. So unoccupied boats have a better path than those that are. This means that there is more foot traffic at the wet end. At least the mud will put off unwanted guests!

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Life on the canal

We have spent the last week near Devizes and occasionally travel to Honey St. or Pewsey. It was on one of those trips that we followed an old 'cruiser'. The night before had been noisy with the owner running his engine most of the evening. British Waterways like us to switch off engines at 8. The boat kept a reasonable distance ahead till reaching All Cannings bridge where he stopped. We passed on by and continued through the next bridge. Looking back we saw that the boat was following us. Then we realised why. We were approaching a swing bridge where we have to stop to open it. When we did, the boater just accelerated and pushed on through without looking at us or thanking us. By the time we had shut the bridge the cruiser was well ahead of us. Two miles on there is another swing bridge and we wondered if he would open it for us. As it happened another narrow boat in front had opened the bridge and he did the same to them!

As we travel about we have noticed an abundance of old boats being used as 'accommodation' on this canal. I have referred to them as floating sheds in the past and this winter they are covered in plastic sheeting. So far it has been very mild, but later on they may be quite cold under their sheeting.

It is so depressing we are thinking about leaving this otherwise lovely canal. But we cannot do that yet because of the winter stoppages where B W are replacing lock gates. It has also been so wet that one large tree and many small ones have fallen across the towpath. Thankfully the navigation has not as yet been blocked by them! We have just filled our tank with diesel at 60p / litre. As yet our local diesel supplier has not been told of any change in procedure regarding the pink stuf.

Friday, December 08, 2006

Diesel IS going up in price

The European Union, which includes the United Kingdom, has insisted that the full fuel tax be applied to all diesel. Up to the end of this year 'private recreational boaters' were able to use 'pink' diesel with no tax applied. It would seem that the EU do not care much for our marine industry. The tax is expected to treble the price from about 60p to £1.80 a litre. Unfortunately the suppliers on the 'cut' will not be able to get discounted prices like road side suppliers can. Some boaters will be filling containers at the road side and transporting it to their boats. This could prove to be a potential environmental hazard.