Sorry about the quality they are just raw scans off prints. I wont ramble on about them, any queries just ask.

Regards from the UK

http://www.railway.demon.co.uk/images/Bonnet%202.JPG

http://www.railway.demon.co.uk/images/Cans.JPG

http://www.railway.demon.co.uk/images/Various%20Narrowboats.JPG

Hi Chris,

Kudos on your photographic efforts! Great job of capturing personalities.

At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, why don't you give us a brief description of the canals, and what's going on there? It's quite possible that I could use some info for (hopefully) a vacation next year.

Ed

The shots were taken at a canal rally over here, the owners dress up in traditional canal garb circa 19 century. The boats have a traditional painted style roses and castles are very popular.

A whole network criss crosses the country and my village lies on the Leeds-Liverpool canal which connects the two cities of that name. As I said before the majority of usage is by pleasure craft either privately owned or hired. On my local canal several people live aboard their boats permenantly most have a seperate diesel generator which provides power or a hook up system to the grid.

Heating is usually solid fuel or some sort of heat exchange system with the engine. Most boats are steered by tiller from the stern. Have a look at the link.........

http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/links/index.htm

Cheers

Thanks Chris. That link has more to offer than I have the time to see now, but it's for sure I'll be back to it.

Ed

i enjoyed seeing those - thanks chris

do people live on their boats?

the ladies with the bonnets - may be 19th cent. representational wear over there, but the old women here in mississippi, although they are becoming rarer, still wear homemade bonnets in that basic style, esp. when working out in the garden. they work great for keeping sun off face and neck. my grandma wore hers to town too. a plain gray one for work, a white one and a pink one for fancy. her gray one is hanging on my bedpost.

K,

If you look at the 'various' file you'll see a group of working boats and whole families used to live in that size of cabin. All the cooking being done on a coal stove. Water was kept in the painted cans on the cabin roof. The people who live on my local canal have boats with a full length cabin up to 50' long.

As regards the clothing the men wore corderoy or moleskin trousers and sometimes wore 'clogs' heavy wooden soled shoes with 'irons' nailed to the sole. In the 1950's we had lots of cotton mills round here and at close of day I could hear the clog irons rattling on the stone pavements (sidewalks) as the workers went home. Like your grandma people had 'work' and 'best' clogs the best being coloured leathers and brass studs etc. We still have teams of 'morris' dancers who perform lots of old folk dances and thay wear clogs which if they are dancing at night on a hard surface can send sparks all over the place

Cheers

Thanks Chris. Looks like it was quite a color spectacle to witness with lots of history behind it. Beautiful photos even for raw scans.
DJ

A friend of mine has just bought an ex hire boat to tour on. I wonder what perfume she likes ? Ladies do you think a gallon of 4-7-11 might do the trick ? Advice welcomed.


Regards

Uh.... I dont know much about perfume, but anything over here with numbers for a name is usually fertilizer or some sort of hideous type weed killer or insecticide. I'm only familiar with 'OLD SPICE" which sorta smells like a combination of the aforementioned things AND keeps biting flies away. Tom

If I'm going to get free trips on this narrowboat I'm going to have to turn on the charm. If I lash out a £1 ($1.40) on chocolates/candy she can't help but be impressed !


Cheers

Oh God that was funny. I have to admit when I saw the numbers I thought of lawn fertilizer too. Shows what I know of perfumes. Mine usually come from the dollar store. I guess we don't carry that brand this side of the Atlantic Chris. Closest perfume with a number here is Channel No. 5. Maybe one of the more refined ladies on the site can help you. I think too much like our distinguished cow. :D
DJ

HEY, How about borrowing a page from your friend Tony's play book and try the "Siberian Approach"? What lady could possibly fail to be deeply and instantly affected by a tub of deer fat and charcoal? I know when I told my wife about that it must have been a spiritual moment for her as while walking away she kept saying 'OH GOD"". Tom

The answer was in front of me all the time, where did I put that venison...............

Got a phone call this afternoon inviting me for a trip on the new narrowboat . Must take a lifebelt, I've found they haven't handled one before.


Regards

Just think of NELSON when the water is up to your boot tops, and bravely sing sustaining songs! Stiff upper lip and all that. Tom

Not being captain I will feel totally justified in stepping into the lifeboat first to assist women and children abandon ship.......


Cheers

Just a suggestion... to insure your reservation to a seat in the lifeboat...TAKE A BONNET!!!! Tom

Ok But I'm damned if I'm shaving the beard off !!

Just tell 'em your from South London--- no-one will think twice about it!!! Just remember the wise old saying: I"M ON BOARD--PULL UP THE LADDER!! Tom

A cruise ship went down off the east coast of Africa a few years ago when the engineers opened a drainage valve that was 'to sea' The Greek captain who departed 'very' early told the enquiry he felt that he could organise the rescue of his passengers more efficiently from the deck of a nearby rescue ship.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes! Bet he stayed dry and warm as well , very importiant in organizing rescues, I hear!! Tom

I'm joining my friends new narrowboat on Tuesday and from their invite they think I know what I'm talking about. We all learn the hard way. Hows Bob Ballard with canal boats.

Chris h. Good luck, take lots of pictures and ,above all, Go down with dignity and all flags flying!! Tom

If we do strike a reef I'll be departing early so as to best co-ordinate rescue from the beer garden of a suitable tavern !

Admirable. Admirable. Such calm reasoned action should serve to prevent panic among the castaways. Tom