Locking Program

A PDF version of the Locking Schedule is available by clicking on the title - 'Locking Program'

We have done our best to match the locking program to your preferences but if we have got it very wrong please E-Mail Basingstoke.easter at gmail.com and we'll do our best to accomodate your preference.

Please be at the appointed place by 09:00 and ready to go.  Please do listen to the Basingstoke Canal Authority Ranger and follow instructions, additionally we will have volunteers assisting the BCA with locking procedures, they will be wearing dayglo jackets - please treat them as you would a Basingstoke Canal Authority Ranger.

If you particularly want to lock with a friend it is your responsibility to get yourself into the right place at the right time without inconveniencing others. You may wish to consider locking with someone you don't know and get to know them!

The Locking Program (Updated 27-March-2013 @ 21:52)

Thursday 28-March-2013 Woodham (09:00 start)

Aqua Vitae, Barley Twist, Hazell Nut, Lavinia Mary, Leo No2, Nancy Bell, Nexus No2, Orion's Wey, Rowan, Stronghold, Summerfly, ThatWey, Winging It, Yum Sing, Zavala (15)


Friday 29-March-2013 Woodham (09:00 start)

Captiva, Cherie, Dragon Tail, Elf *, Ernest, Fevre Dream *, Galatea, George, Herbie X, Indigo Dream, Lily Rose, Merlin's Wey, Paddington, Paper Moon, Penkenna, Somnalis, Sud Caravelle, Tranq'uille *, Tristan III *, Vega II, Wattoo Wattoo, Zodiak (22)
* - Could lock as 'one' boat - LOA is 55 and 60 feet
* - 2.4m wide

St Johns (09:00 start)

Aqua Vitae, Barley Twist, Finch, Lavinia Mary, Leo No2,  Nancy Bell, Nexus No2, Orion's Wey, Rowan, Stronghold, ThatWey, Winging It, Winter Lilly, Yum Sing, Zavala (16)

Saturday  30-March-2013 St Johns (09:00 start)

Captiva, Cherie, Dragon Tail, Elf, Ernest, Fevre Dream, Galatea, George, Hazell Nut, Indigo Dream, Lily Rose, Merlin's Wey, Paddington, Paper Moon, Penkenna, Somnalis, Sud Caravelle, Tristan III, Vega II, Wattoo Wattoo, Zodiak (20)

Brookwood and Deepcut (09:00 start)

Aqua Vitae, Barley Twist, Finch, Lavinia Mary, Leo No2,  Nancy Bell, Nexus No2, Orion's Wey, Rowan, Stronghold, ThatWey, Winging It, Winter Lilly, Yum Sing, Zavala (16)


Sunday 31-March-2013 Brookwood and Deepcut (09:00 start)

Cherie, Dragon Tail, Ernest, Galatea, George, Hazell Nut, Indigo Dream, Lily Rose, Merlin's Wey, Paddington, Penkenna, Somnalis, Vega II, Wattoo Wattoo, Zavala, Zodiak (16)

St Johns (down) (10:30 start at Lock 6)

Captiva, Elf, Fevre Dream, Paper Moon, Sud Caravelle, Summerfly, Tristan III (7)

Monday 01-April-2013 Woodham (Down) (10:30 start)

Captiva, Elf, Fevre Dream, Herbie X, Paper Moon, Spring Willow, Sud Caravelle, Summerfly,  Tranq'uille, Tristan III (10)

Friday 05-April-2013 Deepcut and Brookwood (09:00 start)

Aqua Vitae, Barley Twist, Finch, Lavinia Mary, Leo No2,  Nancy Bell, Nexus No2, Orion's Wey, Rowan, Stronghold, ThatWey, Winging It, Winter Lilly, Yum Sing, Zavala (16)


Saturday 06-April-2013 Deepcut and Brookwood (09:00 start)

C'est La Vie II, Cherie, Dragon Tail, Ernest, Galatea, George, Hazell Nut, Indigo Dream, Lily Rose, Merlin's Wey,  Paddington, Penkenna, Somnalis, Vega II, Wattoo Wattoo, Zavala, Zodiak (18)

St Johns and Woodham (09:00 start)

Aqua Vitae, Barley Twist, Finch *, Lavinia Mary, Leo No2,  Nancy Bell, Nexus No2, Orion's Wey,  Rowan, Stronghold, ThatWey, Winging It, Winter Lilly *, Yum Sing, Zavala (16)
* - St Johns only

Sunday 07-April-2013 St Johns and Woodham (09:00 start)

C'est La Vie II, Cherie, Dragon Tail, Ernest, Galatea, George, Hazell Nut, Indigo Dream, Lily Rose, Merlin's Wey, Paddington, Penkenna, Somnalis, Vega II, Wattoo Wattoo, Zodiak (18)

Just a week to go

Just a week to go and the first boats will be making their way up Woodham.  The Thames is on red boards at the moment - see this link. Being the eternal optimist I am hoping that the river will subside by this time next week although I expect it will come up again over the weekend judging by the forecast.  If you are coming up the river from Teddington and you have not had an E-Mail from me please let me know and I'll put you in touch with the others who are coming.  The Wey has been on red boards (it is open at the moment and does subside quickly) but I suspect that only applies to those boats coming off the Thames. However for safety's sake here is a link to the River Wey conditions website.

There are no planned events at Bridge Barn other than I am sure you will frequent the pub when you are moored there.  I have had a number of calls asking about the festival that is being held at Bridge Barn but I am afraid there isn't one.  Please also remember that if you wish to book a table at Bridge Barn it is up to you to book it as it is for any other pub we happen to moor close enough to to enjoy.

Also a reminder that there is an 'open house' for all those participating at Byfleet Boat Club (Parvis Bridge) on Wednesday 27-March.  Do join us if you can.

For anyone who needs petrol (rather than diesel) there is a service station adjacent to Lock 12. It is the first of the Brookwood 3 which you will tackle on either Saturday 30-March or Sunday 31-March depending on which day you left Woodham Junction.

If you are using the Thames and you are delayed I don't believe there will be an opportunity to catch up but you may wish to enquire of the Basingstoke Canal Authority on (01252) 370073.

Hydrocottle AKA Floating Pennywort

Floating Pennywort

We have been asked (maybe even instructed) by the BCA that all boats ascending the St Johns flight of locks must inspect their weedhatches for the presence of Hydrocottle (also known as Floating Pennywort).  On the Basingstoke we know it is present below the St Johns flight of locks; the BCA are doing all they can to rid the canal of this awful weed. There is, to the best of everyone's knowledge, none of it in or above St Johns so on behalf of the BCA we are insisting that you check your weedhatches for any evidence of this weed and take all action necessary to remove it.

Good news on the Lock 13 front - all the machinery to undertake this work is now stored opposite my house so work seems to be going to commence on Monday 18-March.

If you have any questions about the cruise please let me know.

Update 20-March - Lock 13 gates are in - there's a bit of adjustment to carry out and some new balance beams to fit to the lower gates - I think the BCA are pulling out all the stops to get everything done in time for us.  We should raise a glass in their honour over the period of the trip and if you have the opportunity to make them a tea or coffee or supply a bacon butty I am sure they would welcome it.

BCA and their Volunteers

We had a meeting this afternoon with the Basingstoke Canal Authority and I am pleased to confirm that all their engineering work is on schedule for completion well in time for our cruise despite the very wintry weather we have been experiencing.

Whilst the BCA Rangers will have volunteers assisting them they are not there to 'lock wheel' for you but will help if requested.  We do expect you, single or multi handed, to carry out as much of your own lock work as possible.  The locks, based on the experience of our trip to Brookwood Village between Christmas and New Year, are 'easy' to operate (having had all the jackheads replaced recently) so please enjoy using the locks and only call for assistance if you really need it.

Wednesday 27-March Byfleet Boat Club

Queueing at Lock 1
Basingstoke Canal - August 2010

On Wednesday 27-March it is intended to open Byfleet Boat Club for a social evening prior to the first group of boats going up the Woodham flight of locks.  

We are doing this for a number of reasons:

• It is very difficult to get alongside between Woodham Junction and Lock 1 and therefore secure your boat overnight.
• It is not an ideal place to spend an evening
• It is Easter school holidays
• For those of you with television the signal is non-existant

So please join us at Byfleet Boat Club (only 15 minutes from Lock 1) on the Wednesday evening for an enjoyable time and a chance to get to know your fellow boaters.

Basingstoke Evening at Byfleet Boat Club

We are holding a 'Basingstoke' evening on the usual Byfleet Boat Club social evening on Friday 15-March at 19:30.

Roger Cansdale from the Basingstoke Canal Society is going to tell us about the 'Basingstoke Canal - Heroes and Villains' which will be a lighthearted look at the history of the canal.  Philip Riley, Canal Society Chairman, Canal Manager Fiona Shipp, James Taylor from Surrey County Council and Phil Allen from Hampshire County Council and the Canal Society Sales Stand will also be present.

Byfleet Boat Club would welcome your attendance at this event as our guests - our address is The Boat House, 4 Old Parvis Road, Byfleet, Surrey, KT14 6LE - see this link for a map - further details on the Byfleet Boat Club website.

Bridge Barn and Hunter's Lodge Pubs

I am not intending to make any block bookings of tables in these two pubs (Bridge Barn is in Woking - end of first day) and Hunter's Lodge is in Brookwood (end of second day). It really does become, based on past experience, a huge task in its own right.

If you wish to make your own arrangements please do so - details as follows:

Bridge Barn Hotel Woking - (01483) 763642 

Hunter's Lodge Brookwood - (01483) 474602

Lock 13

The offside upper gate being removed
at Lock 13 (KD)

In my E-Mail confirming your place on our 'Basingstoke at Easter' cruise I mentioned Lock 13 as follows 'Yes, currently we have no gates in Lock 13 (at all) but they are on order and as it is just around the corner from my house I'll be keeping a close eye on progress!'

I am pleased to report that the BCA will start installation of the upper gates on Monday 4-March with delivery of the lowers in their diary for 15-March.  I think, if all goes according to plan, we will be OK on that front.

Went to Lock 13 today (5-March) in the glorious spring sunshine just to see what the progress was and was delighted (and surprised) to see two sets of lock gates ready for installation.  That's great news and means we are well ahead of the plan here and in fact the BCA have advised we were 'on plan' before the early arrival of the lock gates.

Mooring for boats coming off the Thames

Here are some suggestions for boats coming off the Thames as to the best places to moor. All the suggested moorings are on the canalised section of the navigation. Please note Thames Lock (River Wey) does not open until 09:00 each day. Thank you to Suzanne Wilson (Aqua Vitae) for checking my proposals for mooring.

• Just above Town Lock - close to Weybridge and its shops and pubs but may be noisy as it is very close to the Addlestone to Weybridge Road. About 1.5 hours from Woodham Junction.
• Pelican Pub - between the 'linear' moorings and the 'herringbone' moorings in Addlestone - just above Black Boy Bridge. Not a bad pub and you can moor right outside. About 15 mins walk from a big Tesco. About 1.5 hours from Woodham junction.
• The navigation between Coxes Lock and New Haw Lock is not suitable for overnight mooring as it has quite shallow edges; there's no shopping easily accessible. 
• Above New Haw Lock you can moor on the towpath side - the White Hart on the roundabout is not bad and there's a convenience store close at hand. About 20 mins to Woodham Junction.
• If you go above Woodham Junction it is not possible to turn until you get to Pyrford Marina which is about 50 mins boating away. The stretch of the navigation between the railway bridge (at the junction) and Parvis Bridge has quite shallow edges and is not suitable for mooring but there are nice moorings above Murray's Bridge and before Dodds Bridge. The Anchor at Pyrford Lock is worth a visit and has good moorings outside. Your Basingstoke transit licence will allow you to go this far but not through the lock.  All services available at Pyrford Marina (opposite the Anchor) - they are closed on Tuesdays.

Insurance and Boat Safety documents

If your Insurance and/or Boat Safety documents expire before the end of April-2013 would you please ensure that you provide details of the new expiry dates.  It is imperative that the Basingstoke Canal Authority have up-to-date details for any documents that expire between now and the end of April-2013.

Names on the downloadable Locking schedule

A PDF version of the Locking Schedule is available by clicking on the title - 'Names on the downloadable Locking schedule'

I have added Christian (First) names to the downloadable locking schedule so there's no excuse for not knowing who you are locking with and to attempt to make it a more friendly trip! Where I know the people concerned I have added wives/partners names but there are some I don't know other than the information that is on the application form.  If I haven't got the full information (and you would like it there) please drop me an E-Mail and I will add it.  It also makes it easier for the BCA ranger to talk to you by name rather than a 'Hey You' or using your boat name!  Likewise if you don't want your name there please let me know and I'll take it off.

Brookwood Water Point

The water point at Brookwood Country Park (on the wharf) is accessed with a BW 'Watermate' key.  However the tap is a 1 inch tap for which adaptors are not usually carried.  Kathryn on Leo No2 (07768 770070) and Rodney on Hazell Nut (07887 552922) both have 1 inch to Hozelock adaptors.  Kathryn will be with the first group up St Johns on the Friday and Rodney with the second group on the Saturday.

Cheques to be presented on Friday 22-February

I have had a call from the Basingstoke Canal Authority requesting that I give them all the monies that have been paid so far - apparently a Hampshire County Council requirement - so I have arranged to go and seem them tomorrow - I understand the cheques will be banked on Friday of this week.

Welcome

A PDF Version is available by clicking on the title - 'Welcome'

Welcome to this the first organised cruise to King John's Castle in over five years. Quite an historic occasion. The cruise is sponsored by the Basingstoke Canal Society in conjunction with Byfleet Boat Club and the local branch of the IWA.

The Basingstoke Canal Authority have worked and are working extremely hard to finish off the work required to make the canal safe and navigable for this trip so we should raise a glass in their honour at the first opportunity.

The Basingstoke Canal Society (previously known to you as Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society) have worked tirelessly in conjunction with the local branch of the IWA to help maintain the canal - these two organisations are committed to the canal and its future as are both Surrey and Hampshire County Councils and the local riparian Boroughs.

Please follow the advice given by the BCA rangers - we need to be careful with the canal. Please also note that we have a number of volunteers who will be helping with lock wheeling - they are not all boat owners so be aware they are working under the direction (and training) of the BCA.

There are not many dos and don'ts on the canal but there are a few things the BCA have requested we point out:

• Between locks 1 and 3 there are houseboats - there have been houseboats here since the early 1960s. Please only pass these houseboats on tickover and if the opportunity arises please do chat with the residents.
• For those only going to Brookwood Country Park please don't wind at Hermitage Flash (just under the A324 bridge) but proceed to the winding hole just below the A322. This will ensure the canal is kept clear at the A322 and will reduce any annoyance to the residents of the houseboat at Hermitage Flash
• The canal from Brookwood Country Park to the top of Deepcut (17 locks) is a 'no stopping' zone. Please do not stop in this area other than to wait for locks to be made available.

We will stop at the Bridge Barn Hotel in the Woking pound, Brookwood Country Park (in the Hermitage Pound) and Potters Hotel (in the Mytchett Pound). On the top two pounds, if you are joining us for that, please feel free to stop as and where you want. All we ask is that you enjoy yourselves and are ready at the top of Deepcut at 09:00 on Friday 5-April (or 6-April as appropriate) to go to Brookwood Country Park and then ready at Lock 11 to go to the River Wey on Saturday 6-April (or 7-April). For water, pumpout and cassette disposal information please see below. You must arrive at Woodham with full water and diesel tanks and an empty pumpout tank for your Basingstoke cruise.

Some useful contact details for you

Basingstoke Canal Authority Duty Ranger	(07894) 425588
Basingstoke Canal Authority Office	(01252) 370073

Boaters with experience of the Basingstoke Canal

Kathryn Dodington - Leo No2	(07768) 770070
Rodney Wardlaw - Hazell Nut	(07887) 552922

Useful Numbers

Thames Lock River Wey	(01932) 843106
The Locker Co (Chandlers on the Wey)	(01932) 355311
National Trust Guildford	(01483) 561389
Bridge Barn Hotel Woking	(01483) 763642
Potters Hotel Mytchett	(01252) 838000
Galleon Marine Odiham	(01256) 703691

Water points
Bridge Barn Hotel - Towpath side opposite hotel
Brookwood Country Park - Adjacent to wharf
Canal Centre - Adjacent to pumpout
Ash Lock
Winchfield Wharf
Odiham - Colt Hill Wharf

Cassette disposal
Bridge Barn Hotel - Towpath side opposite hotel
Odiham - Colt Hill Wharf
Canal Centre - Adjacent to pumpout

Pumpout
Canal Centre Mytchett - please see Canal Centre or Kathryn or Rodney for a token

Galleon Marine Odiham

(01256) 703691

Refuse Disposal
Bridge Barn Hotel - Towpath side opposite hotel
Canal Centre - Adjacent to pumpout
Ash Lock
Odiham

Diesel

Galleon Marine Odiham

(01256) 703691

Doctors

Woking

Dr. J P Mellor & Partners, Heathside Road, Woking, GU22 7XL

(01483) 761110

St. Johns	St. Johns Health Centre, Hermitage Road, GU21 8TD	(01483) 227060
Ash Vale	Ash Vale Health Centre, Wharf Road, GU12 5BA	(01252) 317551
Fleet	The Surgery, Branksomewood Road, GU51 4JX	(01252) 613624
Odiham	Odiham Health Centre, Deer Park View, RG29 1JY	(01256) 702371

   

Dental Surgeons

Woking	Lorna Doone Dental Surgery, Chobham Road, GU21 4AA	(01483) 763107
Ash Vale	Ash Vale Dental Surgery, 97 Vale Road, GU12 5HR	(01252) 324847
Fleet	Fleet Dental Centre, 37 Reading Road South, GU52 7QP	(01252) 666976

Veterinary Practices
Woking	Pet Doctors Veterinary Centre, 125 Chertsey Road, GU21 5BP	(01483) 769881
St. Johns	Pet Doctors Veterinary Surgery, 1 Robin Hood Rd, GU21 8SP	(01483) 772644
Frimley Green	Wellesley Veterinary, 103 Frimley Green Road, GU16 6JX	(01252) 836699
Fleet	Ark Veterinary Practice, 41 Connaught Road, GU51 3LR	(01252) 616185
Odiham	Ark Veterinary Practice, 22 High Street, RG29 1LG	(01256) 702337

Pumpout
If you have a pumpout system you must arrive with it as empty as possible. Nearest pumpouts to Woodham Junction are at Shepperton Marina (if coming up the Thames) or Pyrford Marina if coming from the Wey (Pyrford is closed on Tuesdays).

Environment Agency Transit Licence
For those travelling between Teddington and the Wey there is a £10:00 transit licence available at Teddington Lock. A similar licence is required for your return; available at Sunbury Lock.

Basingstoke Transit Licence
For those of you coming off the Thames you will need to purchase a Basingstoke Transit Licence, which is £12:00 return. The Basingstoke Transit Licence entitles you to go as far as Pyrford Marina.

River Wey Discount
The National Trust have kindly offered a discount to those boats not resident on the River Wey of 10% off the standard licence fee for a period of either a week before the Basingstoke trip or after.

Shopping (Please remember that Easter Sunday is a ‘no shopping at large stores’ day)
There is a Morrisons five minutes from Bridge Barn, a Sainsburys and a Homebase 10 mins from Brookwood Country Park, a parade of shops, including a bakery, at Ash Vale (mooring not easy), a Sainsburys in Fleet 10 mins from Reading Road South Wharf and village shopping in Odiham.