Dredger Hopper movements

Today (Mon) the helpful 2 Tug team members + a Dredger crew volunteer showed yet again the hoppers are easy to move by human horse power, well that was until the hopper hit a silt rift.  A nudge from the Dredger through Annette2 got the fully loaded hopper moving again.

Great team work from adaptable volunteers.

Their only wish is to hopefully get Wookey or another powered vessel for the long hauls.

Thank you Andrew R

Pat's Persistent Pin Pulled!

At 12:27, the fight was over and the final leg pin yielded after two weeks and a mighty struggle.  Note: There was a loud cheer!

It all started off well this morning, with the arrival of a new weapon in the armoury in the form of a hydraulic wedge.

Rated at 0.5T and easy to slip in between the boat side and the pin end, real progress was being made, well, that was until there was a loud bang and the casting on the actuator half broke.

So, it was back to the previous method of using a jacking screw.  Slower, as mentioned before, but did make a small shift after every application of full push load.  Bit by bit you could tell that the load was lightening.  What looks like a splined end in the image is just the impression of much Stillson activity

Both front hydraulic cylinders have now been extracted and lay ready for collection.  The time after lunch was spent dredging yet more detritus from the stern bilges.  

Summit Working Party

Today, 17 volunteers defied the weather predictions and arrived for another tree clearance session at the T&S Canal summit.

The well practiced process of removing tree growth from the slopes of the cutting quickly swung into operation with chain saws converting the larger trunks into fire wood, the smaller brash chopped up and fed to one of the well stacked bonfires.  Several log piles were created along the access road ready for collection.

At lunch, everyone enjoyed the outside meal time with tea & (carrot) cake provided by Karen.  At close of play, it was into the Inn for a well earned drink.  We were also provided with surplus roast potatoes and Yorkshire puds to polish off, which took but a little time to do given the large amount of fresh air and exercise we'd enjoyed.

As always, there are large numbers of public enjoying the towpath, one bunch, clearly a dog walking group, totalled 27 dogs and at least as many again humans!   

The road bridge was not reached on this visit, maybe a couple more working parties will achieve this goal?

Boatmobility + 99 = 

+

100 Sponsored Bricks.  Boatmobility have just ordered their own brick to join all the others' at Capel's Mill.  It will only be a little while in coming.  

So, the first 100 have been sold and there is plenty of room for many more.

Thank you to everyone who have supported us so far.

CCT Bookshop - Sale now on

As usual, there were plenty of customers enjoying the bookshop today, especially since many items are now half price in the sale.

Go along and enjoy browsing, whist sharing a cup of tea and a biscuit or two. 

Heavy traffic reported

With the sun shining, there were numerous folk out enjoying our canal today with some in wheelchairs and motorised buggies.  What a fantastic leisure time resource we have created and of course, continue to build on.

A call to action...

...from CCT Chief Executive — Ken Burgin to attend Thames Water's Public Meeting — Tuesday 27th February 2018 — Cirencester. 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Bingham Hall, Kings Street, Cirencester, GL7 1JT.

The series of consultations, their findings & outcomes will shape all aspects of Thames Water’s future plans. Click the link find out more and register your attendance: 

https://goo.gl/arQzup

Clive Field