Well “ Waterways” has concluded and comments made , but what of the star ? Rambler has cruised the North Shannon and participated in the 51st Shannon Rally. A plan of sorts was made regarding the coming Winter and first steps have been taken. John has asked me to launch this thread which has nothing to do with the drama of “Waterways” but the close of a season which began last February with a trip to Howth for a haul-out and some pre Royal Canal preparations.
For my part this is a third voyage along the system this year and it is becoming very familiar territory. No doubt it will be a different trip without the movie making in the background and after my 4E run to Dublin I would imagine another memorable voyage in the making.
So Rambler which was felt to be too long, too deep, too high etc. for the system is returning. She is after all the only purpose built Royal boat currently travelling the canal so it is her home ground. On this trip apart from documenting progress, perhaps there could be more discussion on the mechanics of completing it and contributions from those “in waiting” to sample what is a memorable experience.
With the recent rainfall and subsequent high water levels starting to recede, a window of opportunity appeared, crew gathered and it was off to Carrick for the “move”.
Although water levels were dropping fast , this scene at Carrick was typical of what the North Shannon looks like at the moment.



Engine started and checks made it was a case of get going for Albert Lock.



Weather was absolutely ideal and this is a sample of the beautiful day we enjoyed.



Crew on day one.

Progress was described as sprightly and we were quickly at the Jamestown junction and turning into the canal and heading for Albert Lock.



The lock was opened in readiness, the jetty above was under water so no opportunity to hang around, and we enjoyed the lovely surroundings as we travelled.



With water levels, up the drop through was fairly fast.



Lough Tap Bridge .





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2011 00:37 by joe treacy.

And quickly out the other side.



The Derrycarne Narrows.



Settling in to the stone harbour in Dromod.



Good day's work and now back to Carrick for episode six.

Monday morning and re-invigorated after watching the last episode and the usual jovial post-mortem with the crowd in "Cryans" we headed down to Dromod to warm up her ladyship. Senior was driving to Rooskey and plan was to have the lock filled and open and Tom at the bridge as we left the wall. I did mean to contact Les beforehand for local bicycle clip stockists but we decided to "wing it" . There was the advice about the" patch of dead water " above Tarmon bridge but feelings were, that it mightn't exist in the flow .
Arriving at Dromod at 8.30 we were met with a beautiful misty scene to enjoy before the " off ".




A phone call or two each way and things were at the ready ahead . Today would be much more exciting than yesterday !

Roosky bridge and lock awaited us and we were there in jig time. No room in reality for a plan "B" so a perfect line-up was the ideal and if it needed power to hold that line - so be it !




That went great and the stretch to the lock gave time to recover composure. The slight left-hand twist into the chamber was the challenge here and the fact that Rambler's length would occupy most of the chamber, so going in too fast might be dodgy.



Safely in and ready for the short drop.

Roosky to Tarmon went well and phone calls assured us that the plan for lock full and open with the bridge lifting on sight of us, would be in place. With low sun in our faces the markers were difficult to make out ahead , suffice to say a recent red "tightener" was tested !



So through the bridge and a straight line to the open lock chamber. No fleet of boats tied to the bank at this time of year, the WI lads waved as we passed.

Joe, as one of the judges on BBC Strictly Come Dancing might say - One Word Fabulous



OceanFroggie

Thanks Noel, it's a great time of year to be out on the River and the photos always seem better.
To carry on with the trip, this one as we enter Tarmon Lock with the boom in place accross the weir just in case. Must admit it's the last place you want to be but re-assuring all the same.



The gent on the right of the pic was clicking away and actually turned up later, must have some good shots, might end up here maybe ?



Approaching the lock to the Camlin River you get a taste of the flooding up here.



Jetty under water so it's straight for the gate.

Definitely no chance of getting a rope on here !



A few horsepower needed to get into the chamber. The temporary job on the gates earlier in the year is not stopping the leaks.



So onwards towards that pretty bridge and the Camlin.



Our "Rambler fan" on the bridge snapping away as we pass under.

The last leg and what was expected to be the "hairy bit". Rambler's length meant she nearly spanned across both banks before the flow towards the weir took over and turned her towards Lock 46. The guage at the N5 roadbridge said clearence was less than 3m. so the Camlin was not an option.



The hairy bit came and went as we slid into the chamber without a problem.



Lock filled and up she came to enter Richmond and face the canal again.



Tied up after a very pleasant trip from Carrick.



So a window of opportunity was taken as rain was forecast for mid week. Plans were made and the WI people certainly facilitated the passage. Lovely time of year to be out and it will get better shortly - the Royal lies ahead !

Joe.

Welcome back to the canal lads...!! I take it there will be a bit more to this story before it finishes, Joe..? It occurs to me that with all the boats who crossed the Royal this season, we must have pics of nearly every square inch by now. A wonderful opportunity for anyone planning a spin across next year to put any questions about perceived problems and, if we can't come up with a pic, perhaps Joe could take one to order in passing....!!!

M(W&W)F

Ooops....nearly forgot...brilliant pics so far Joe. Monday was a really wonderful day to be out on the water...!!

M(W&W)F

Thanks Mick and BTW a big thank you for the poetry last saturday [very] AM ! AJ and myself had a long discussion on your talents last Saturday - suffice to say you came out looking good.
Your point on the Royal trips is well made the photo blogs were immensely interesting all round and there is a wealth of information available. Now is the time for the questions to be asked while another trip is beginning and so many others are still so fresh. The people along the way are also eager to help out and get involved with increasing boat traffic.
" Sky pies" such as hire boats on the Royal might happen yet ! The walking / cycling / canoeing groups are expanding all the time. I am hearing whispers of intending Green and Silver folk lining up for 2012. This was a master stroke by Dublin Branch and certainly caught the imagination of boaters.
So feel free to throw your Royal questions at this thread, someone will have an answer . [Anyone for a guided tour?] We might even measure an aul "M" boat for FITABILITY !

Joe [ having a Royal time ]

Well Joe,I fully intend to do "The Trip" so measure away. However 2012 is Cormac's soiree and 2013 is planned for The HBA to do the trip,AFAIK.Though I guess one or two vessels would be better ,unless the water problem is solved.

Love the photos,though I feel a certain amount of terror after my own maiden voyage through Tarmon and Roosky,when I bought the barge.
Next time,it'll be The Camlin.

PJ

No worries Joe. Dublin Branch have about a dozen boats who started G&S this year but were'nt planning on finishing this year. I've also heard a few whispers of intending "doers" for next year. Something which came out of a conversation between meself and Vossie during the summer, was a G&S walking route and we also have someone looking into a route from Richmond to Shannon Hbrs and apparently Bord Failte are VERY interested in the idea. Perhaps WI could be prevailed upon to run The Ais Eiri, 54M between the 2 harbours, say from below Tarmon Lock to Lock 36 or even Athlone, to facillitate this...??

M(W&W)F



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2011 23:18 by Mick Farrell.

Hi Joe
Any chance you would check out the canal for Mollie.She is 13ft 4ins wide including fenders not removable hull is 12tf 8ins
Draught at 18inches should not be a problem, but airdraught at 8tf 6ins across 11ft 8ins might catch me I intend to test it myself as far as Abbyshrule on my way north next year, and depending how that goes maybe head into Dublin next October

Noel,

Mollie at her width would have no problems and as you point out her draught is quite small. The Royal bridges seem to stand with higher arches than those on the Grand but your air-draft to me would not be a problem, but will keep you posted,

Joe.

Hi Mick,
Re. a route from Richmond to Shannon Hbrs - a consultant was engaged by a longford coco sponsored leader programme to look at potential walking routes. See the attached file that shows his suggestion of a walking trail from Richmond Hbr to Lanesborough. Its still very much in "idea" stage.

Could provide a great link in a G&S walking trail. Not sure if Bord Failte is aware of this. If you know someone who can push this forward in a coordinated way I can give them the name of the consultant who came up with the plan.

Ivo

Thanks for that Ivo..will pass along to our "man in the field". The hope is to try and link existing recognised walks and/or cycleways. We are also aware of a number of people who have cycled across the Royal this summer.

M(W&W)F

Quote:

noel dunne
Hi Joe
Any chance you would check out the canal for Mollie.She is 13ft 4ins wide including fenders not removable hull is 12tf 8ins
Draught at 18inches should not be a problem, but airdraught at 8tf 6ins across 11ft 8ins might catch me I intend to test it myself as far as Abbyshrule on my way north next year, and depending how that goes maybe head into Dublin next October

You should have no problems Noel.

Fenders....ASB Ebenhaezer is 13' 4" at the leeboards and got round.
Hull...........31B is 12' 9" and got round.
Airdraft......Nothing quiet matching yours to date. Fionnuisce is 8' 2" over 10' 8" (plastic dodgers around cockpit) and got through without difficulty. Your height over width may catch at 2 bridges on the Grand, Railway bridge exiting GCD and Blackhorse Bridge at lock 3, but it is normal practice to lower the levels if required. I had to get the levels dropped by a foot to get 31B (9' 2" over 9' 4") under both these bridges. Bear in mind that with a draft of only 18", you can lower levels quite a lot should it be needed anywhere else, though I can't think of anywhere it's likely to be necessary.

I'm not sure how a jet drive will cope with weed or plastic bags so I would strongly recommend an outboard as a back up. More info available when required.

M(W&W)F