From the BW at each lock working it and all the police on bikes to get our
convoy through I reckon BW think Leeds is the worst place. Or maybe they are
more conscientious than other towns. Certainly 20 years ago we sailed though
all towns and cities without a worry - and rarely saw anyone on their towpaths
who wasn't canal connected.
Now the proof of the Governments using the canals and improving towpaths
and towpath access for social inclusion has allowed a lot of seemingly normal
people to play the yob along our canals as well as in the streets. It used to
be the safest time to pass through towns was in school hours - now this only
means the kids you do see at these times are more lightly to...
Given this the safest time is often on Sunday afternoons when folks are out
walking as, while gangs of yobs will do their thing and blow everyone, the odd
yob hates exposure and, seeing the towpaths full of walkers, will slink away.
We notice that where some canals pass through ethnic areas there are more
glares at our passing as if we are intruding. I could tell you which ethnic
groups yoofs seem to imply we should not be there but I will let you guess.
These cases are slightly different from the drunks, stone throwing kids and
yoofs etc. One wonders if it is to do with courting and forbidden fruit in most
cases.
In some ways such things add interest to a trip but I must admit that we
prefer the quiet life so we pass through towns quick - preferring the weirdos
in the country!
BARRY HOLLAND <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
rigdent <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Thanks for the advice folks we'll give it a go, I guess we will just
get up early and do a 9 hour day from Kilby to Birstall
Our experiences going through Manchester, Wigan and Leigh a few years
ago were so bad that we almost gave up boating there and then We were
attacked as soon as we entered the Bridgewater canal and we got hit at
least once a day till we cleared Wigan. And we got the same treatment
on our return 10 days later. I began to wonder if it was organised.
Since then I have viewed any big city with great suspicion and the
north west is a no go area afloat or on land as far as I'm concerned.
Regards
Terry
I'm afraid it is a lottery anywhere on the system. Prior to my doing the
"Rochdale Nine" in 1991, I was given all sorts of warnings about yobs throwing
bricks & jumping on the roof etc.etc.
All such doom-laden messages came to naught as we proceeded through Canal
Street with dumb ogling from the assembled hordes until my daughter stirred
them into action with a cry of ''Don't just sit there drinking beer, give me a
hand with this balance beam !" This caused several skinheads & other assorted
'' doubtful looking characters'' to leap to her assistance whilst I steered
through the locks, some even helping at several locks before returning to their
glasses.
I've had similar experiences around the three Camden Locks. How does the adage
go? ''You can't judge a book by looking at the cover.''
That's the plus side---for the minus side see extracts from my logs of 2006 &
2007.
Monday 9 October 2006
Shame on you Windsor! at 21:30 last night I had two yobs run down the length of
my roof, when challenged they merely said 'Sorry.' In the small hours [01:40] a
Jade Goody soundalike awoke me with 'There's a boat' followed by two more yobs
running along the roof! It was another hour before the shouting and screaming
from these low-lifes turning out of the clubs ceased to keep everyone awake and
I could finally sleep.
31 October 2007
Hopefully Barry will rejoin me further down the line after his Buck House
adventure. Barely 5 minutes after Barry decamped at Blake's Lock in Reading
around 14:45, I was 'egged' by an a***hole standing on the last bridge before
the Thames. It caught me high on my right hand side--it could have been my eye!
If I'd have caught him 'trick or treat' would have been an understatement!
What was it Charlton Heston said ? '' From my cold, dead hands!!'' On those two
occasions, I was 100% with him!
Barry
Nb benhurbeats''chickentikka''massalaeverytime
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