from the editor’s desk

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the Summer Edition of CanalsOnline Magazine. It feels as though summer has been here for a long time, but hopefully there are many long days of sunshine still in store for us all. As usual, this edition offers plenty of editorial pieces from our regular contributors and it is great to welcome back Bob Sanders and David Robertson to the fold. We also have new features from Electrika and Offgrid Water - both articles are well worth reading!

Our Spring Free Prize Draw, with your chance to win an incredible Cobb BBQ has now ended. The lucky winner will be announced on our current free prize draw page. Thanks to all of you who entered, and of course to Matthew Cobb who was kind enough to offer this wonderful prize once again. Our Summer Free Prize Draw is now open,  giving you the chance to win the amazing prize of a ONE YEAR SILVER MEMBERSHIP OF RCR. An exceptional prize that RCR are offering as part of their 25th Anniversary Celebrations. Don't forget to enter so that you can have a chance of winning. No complicated questions to answer. Simply enter your details on the form provided.

Remember we always appreciate your comments on any aspects of the magazine. You could even become an Active Cruiser and help us keep our waterway guides up to date. And if you have not yet joined [faceboat] do have a look - it is a great way to join in with the waterways community - we welcome photos, stories, boating tips, questions, recommendations - anything to do with the waterways. Or you could even become one of our regular contributors and write your own articles for us - just go to our Write for Us page, and get in touch... You might even become famous!

Happy Reading and Good Luck in the Summer Free Prize Draw!

Linda

guest editorials

lead barnerds
by 'Barn' lead barnerdsTiny lead sculptures of barnerds are left all over the world, some to be discovered, others to stay in situ for ever. More frequently, they are given to nice people that Barn meets in pubs.
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an engineering apprenticeship
by Lewis Douglas
Rothen GroupLewis Douglas, apprentice engineer with the Rothen Group, explains how he has progressed during the first year of his career on the waterways.
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living on an electric narrowboat
by Jeanette Feathersolar panels raisedJeanette Feather describes life as a continual cruiser aboard all electric Narrowboat 'Mister Blue Sky'
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albion adventure
by David CornesWherry AlbionDavid Cornes tells us about the MNA Boat Club's outing on the Historic Norfolk Wherry 'Albion' - sailing through all weathers.
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wooden canal boat society
by Chris Leah
the wooden canal boat societyChris Leah talks about the work of the WCBS who restore old wooden canal boats, giving them a new role and purpose in the life of the waterways.
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whimbrel - a tale of love
source - Frank Sanderson
whimbrel re-launchColin Ogden uses lockdown as the opportunity to do something momentous in his late wife Lynda's memory. He completely restores her beloved boat, Whimbrel, and relaunches her.
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yorkshire waterways museum
by Jan McGeachie
yorkshire waterways museumJan McGeachie laments the closure of the Yorkshire Waterways Museum, and looks back at some of the museum's happier days.
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caraboat helter skelter
by Neil McGarrycaraboat at Ferry Nabb, WindermereNeil McGarry tells us how he came to buy a 1973 caravan/boat, restoring it to its former glory and then exploring much of our inland waterways in it.
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boating and france
by Paul McGrane
French locksPaul McGrane discusses the pros and cons of boating in France and tells us what we would need to do before taking our own boat or a hire boat on French waterways.
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epic endurance challenge 2022
by Steve Mandaluffjooles Paillin epic enduranceJooles Paillin, a 39 year old mother who lives just outside Nottingham, will be taking up the Tallisker Whisky Challenge and rowing 3000 miles across the atlantic in 2022.
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