Editor John Sadler writes:
In the field of better boating there are a few things that would be very easy to achieve and a cost effective way of making life better on water. Internet and phone signal are a bit of a lottery on the canals so it would be helpful if information was presented in an immediately intelligible form.
Most boaters don’t have the luxury of unlimited data on 5G. On a personal note, one recently concerning statement ‘Please note that as of 14 April 2025 until further notice, we are not accepting any new applications for End of Garden Moorings. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause’ caused alarm, fortunately while I had access to internet. I asked our chair if she had heard anything about this and she enquired from CRT promptly receiving the following response ‘I have been passed your email below regarding the Trust’s End of Garden Moorings which are administered by our Waterside Moorings Team. Due to a temporary staff shortage we paused applications for new end of garden moorings for a short period and we hope to re-open the application process very shortly. All existing end of garden moorings are unaffected by this, it’s just the application and assessment of new end of garden moorings. We will updated (sic) our website to confirm that this is just a short term issue.’ At the time of writing the website has not been amended, potentially delaying mooring applications. I thought CRT needed more income.
Stoppage notices eg: Between Salwick Bridge, Bridge 26 and Bridge 99. We are pleased to welcome a canoe challenge event, organised by Age UK Lancashire between 07:00 and 20:30 on Saturday 31 May. The event will use a section of canal between Salwick Bridge, Bridge 26 and Bridge 99 on the Lancaster Canal… Not until the last sentence is the canal mentioned. Although I have travelled on the Lancaster canal I wouldn’t remember the details to know whether my journey would be affected. Just one example of many.
I am becoming increasingly concerned about the number of potentially new liveaboard boaters who ask questions about being ‘off grid’. To me there is no chance of truly being off grid when on inland waters. Access to rubbish disposal, fuel supplies, pump-out, food and water are all necessary and, occasionally, emergency services for health and mechanical repairs. So what does being off grid mean? Just the absence of mains electricity? Many government and local government services require a postal address, which, even as a continuous cruiser retains some boater on grid connection to land.
I have been asked frequently where our long cruise will take us this year. Looking at unplanned stoppages it’s very difficult to predict, yes we’ll go somewhere and hopefully get back to our mooring but where, really depends on weather and functionality. After one of the driest springs on record the reservoirs have little chance in maintaining summer water demand. Happy boating!