Category: Continuous Cruising

Living on a continuous cruiser on the UK canal system under CRT rules.

Mooring in Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire

Tried to stop in ‘Clench’. The water bankside was just too shallow. Lots of overhanging trees, and a thin towpath.

Didn’t bother, after a couple of minutes pushing myself out of the mud, took the 2 mile or so journey to Wootton Rivers.

Wootton Rivers

Wootton rivers - Royal oakThere’s some winter moorings here, water points and disposal.

There is also a pub.

Civilised compared to Milkhouse Water.

For some reason, it seems much brighter, less dank and oppressive, which Milkhouse Water sometimes felt.

Visitor moorings

I’m moored in the visitors moorings, which are usually 1 day, but under winter mooring rules convert to 14 days.

I’ve got rings to moor to and the towpath isn’t too muddy.

It’s 50m or so from the road and 5m from the waterpoint.

Now going to cycle back to the car, which according to googlemaps is 2.2 miles down ‘un-named roads’.

Facilities

  • Parking
  • Water point
  • Waste disposal
  • 1 Day visitor moorings

Visitor mooring basically means you’re on rings, ie. you don’t have the complications of mooring to the bank, which on the Kennet and Avon means a ‘boarding plank’ and mooring pins.

Measuring the draft

A new and sophisticated method of measuring the draft.

I once measured the draft; most marinas ask for it along with insurance details, length, safety certificated and other details.

However, this isn’t much good on the cut. Mooring up in somewhere more permanent, you want to get a decent depth so your not run aground which will cause your boat to sit awkwardly, and may cause damage to the hull.

Clench

Seeing as my walk was not far, I measured some of the depths with this new device I have developed.

Looking for moorings around Wootton River/Clench

Spent the rest of today, totally windy, looking for moorings around the vicinity.

This would represent my shift of ‘neighbourhoods’, which has to take place every 14 days according to the rules of the river.

Clench

Clench is the closest. At a bridge up, or around 1/2 mile.

I’ve been out today and checked the place out.

TBH, it doesn’t look any good. If I am staying here, it will only be for a very short period, and the reasons why are contained in the video. Continue reading “Looking for moorings around Wootton River/Clench”

Milkhouse Water, Wiltshire

Continuous cruising rules

  1. Each 14 days as a continuous cruiser; you have to move location.
  2. Not only that, each 14 days that move has to represent a move to a new neighbourhood.
  3. Not only that, each move must be linear, you can move from X to Y and then to Z, but not from X to Y and back to X again.
  4. To clarify that the CRT puts it on it’s site ‘consistent with the lifestyle of one who means to ‘navigate canals and waterways’.

It’s no longer possible to live on the canals and waterways of the UK under Canal and River Trust rules, you simply have the right to navigate.

There may be ways AROUND this. But strict enforcement essentially means; if you’ve got no ‘homebase’, you’ve got to be going from A to C, (with all the little b’s inbetween).

Milkhouse Water
Milkhouse Water

Milkhouse Water

This week, my little ‘b’ is Milkhouse Water. This is essentially the next parish along from Pewsey, maybe 2 miles down the road. Continue reading “Milkhouse Water, Wiltshire”