We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series.
As with all the others, it is available in two formats - both for download.
The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA.
The new release is
> Birmingham Mini Ring Canal Map |  | If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way around the Birmingham Mini Ring then the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for.
The first map on the right shows the area covered by the Cruising Maps (click to enlarge) |  | The second map on the right shows an extract from the Cruising Map (click to enlarge)
If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are. |  | These go well with the Birmingham Mini Ring DVDs
The Coventry Canal and Macclesfield Canal Cruising Maps will be available soon. |  |
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series.
As with all the others, it is available in two formats - both for download.
The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA.
The new release is
> Black Country Ring Canal Map |  | If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way around the Black Country Ring then the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for.
The first map on the right shows the area covered by the Cruising Maps (click to enlarge) |  | The second map on the right shows an extract from the Cruising Map (click to enlarge)
If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are.
The Birmingham Mini Ring and Coventry Canals Cruising Maps will be available soon. |  |
 I'm out for two or three days a week, weather permitting, cycling along the canal towpaths checking the data for our Cruising Maps.
It keeps me fit and I can usually manage 25-30km (15-20 miles) or so each day - a little less if the are lots of locks which take time to measure the depth.
Sometimes I have the pleasure of meeting other bloggers. |  | Last month, and I've been rather slow blogging about it, I met Wand’ring Bark in the cutting on the Staffs and Worcester Canal just north of Autherley Junction. It's hard to get away from me in that narrow cutting and I had a short breather while we stopped to chat. Then it was onwards to Penkridge to complete that day's research.
On Friday I cycled from Long Buckby to Rugby and passed Adam on Briar Rose. |  | I almost didn't recognise him as I think it's the first time I've seen him on his new boat rather than Debdale.
Yesterday I cycled from Rugby to Nuneaton to complete the Northern Oxford Canal, and a little more - although cycling was probably the wrong word as I had to push the bike through the mud as much as I could ride it.
A welcome break and a short chat ensued when I met Hadar, moored quietly for the weekend.
I wonder who I'll meet next week. |  |
Posted on Sunday, 11 December 2011 at 22:55 Comments (1)
Category(s): Bloggers
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series.
As with all the others, it is available in two formats - both for download. The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA.
The new release is
>Birmingham & Fazeley Canal Map
If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal then the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. |  | These go well with our Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) DVDs which show part of the canal.
If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are.
The Birmingham Mini Ring and Black Country Rings will be available soon. |  |
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series.
As with all the others, it is available in two formats - both for download. The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA.
The new release is
>Trent & Mersey Canal Map
If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Trent & Mersey Canal then the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. |  | These go well with our Four Counties Ring DVDs which show part of the canal.
If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are.
The Birminmgham & Fazeley Canal, Birmingham Mini Ring and Black Country Rings will be available soon. |  |
Posted on Wednesday, 7 December 2011 at 17:30 Comments (0)
Category(s): Maps , Trent & Mersey
There have been six new entries to the UK Waterways Ranking Site run by Tony Blews which have been there for at least one complete month.
On 2 October Nb.Yarwood joined UKWRS, rising quickly towards the scores for nb Caxton - the original blog by the same owners.
Will nb Yarwood overtake nb Caxton one day? |  | On 6 October nb QISMA joined UKWRS and, after the intiial peak often seen by necommers to the UKWRS site is still holding on nicely.
Visit their site to see the origin of the name Qisma. |  | On 8th October Onward to Inlanding joined UKWRS, having a good start with an unexpected drop right at the end of the month.
I wonder if that's a temporary glitch, or withdrawing from the system. |  | On 11th October Canal Holidays for the Community LNBP at Braunston joined UKWRS, maintaining a good position since then.
Visit their site to read about the "group of enthusiasts who got together to introduce young people to the magic of canals by providing low cost narrowboat holidays to registered groups" |  | On 29 October The Thames Motor Boaters Association joined UKWRS.
A slow start suggest the UKWRS code was being installed and tested for a few days before the initial peak showed in was working. |  | On 30 October Narrowboat build joined UKWRS. They are still scoring nicely after teh initial peak often associated with newcommers to the site.
There have been more new sites joined since then - they will feature in a lter blog when they have been there for at least one complete month.
I have records for all UKWRS daily scores since Novemnber 2009 so let me knwo if you woudl like to see your scores - or any others. |  |
Posted on Wednesday, 30 November 2011 at 10:34 Comments (0)
Category(s): UKWRS
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series.
As with all the others, it is available in two formats - both for download. The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA.
The new release is
>Caldon Canal Map
If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Caldon Canal then the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. |  | These go well with our Caldon Canal DVDs which show a tour along the canal.
If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are.
The Birmingham Mini Ring and Black Country Rings will be available soon. |  |
Posted on Thursday, 24 November 2011 at 07:34 Comments (0)
Category(s): Caldon , Maps
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series.
As with all the others, it is available in two formats - both for download. The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA.
The new release is
>Four Counties Ring Map
If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way around the Four Counties Ring then the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. |  | These go well with our Four Counties RIng DVDs which show a tour aound the ring.
If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are.
The Caldon Canal Cruising Map will be available soon, with the Birmingham Mini Ring and the Black Country Ring not far behind. |  |
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series.
As with all the others, it is available in two formats - both for download. The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA.
The new release is
>Staffs & Worcester Canal Map
If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Staffs & Worcester Canal then the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. |  | These go well with our Four Counties RIng DVDs and Stourport Ring DVDs which show tours along of the canal.
If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are.
The Four Counties Ring and Birmingham Mini Ring maps will be available soon. |  |
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series.
As with all the others, it is available in two formats - both for download. The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA.
The new release is
>Shropshire Union Canal Map
This includes the northern navigable section of the Montgomery Canal too.
If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Llangollen Canal then the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. |  | These go well with our Four Counties RIng DVDs which show a tour along most of the canal.
If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are.
The Staffs & Worcester Canal Cruising Map will be available soon, followed by the Four Counties Ring. |  |
There have been two new entries to the UK Waterways Ranking Site run by Tony Blews which have been there for at least one complete month.
On 7 September Nb Huffler – Nb Jola – Nb Charlotte joined UKWRS, rising hopefully to two peaks before dropping back. I can;t find the UKWRS logo and code on their web site today so I think it must have been removed.
|  | On 17 September On The Ashby joined UKWRS and is still holding on to a reasonable score for a new site. It's described as being "for visitors and residents in the Ashby Canal area.
There haev been more new sites joined since then - they will feature in a lter blog when they have been there for at least one complete month. |  |
Posted on Monday, 31 October 2011 at 20:22 Comments (1)
Category(s): UKWRS
Our Canal DVDs make great ideas for Christmas Presents, but please remember to order in time.
The Post Office publish latest recommended posting dates for Christmas and you need to order from us by these dates:
UK -- Monday 19th December
Western Europe -- Sunday 11th December
Eastern Europe -- Thursday 8th December
USA/Canada -- Thursday 8th December
Rest of World -- Sunday 4th December
If you order from us after these dates we will still post the order promptly, but is unlikely to arrive in time for Christmas. The earlier you order, the more certain you can be of arrival in time for Christmas. |  |
Posted on Friday, 28 October 2011 at 10:07 Comments (0)
Category(s): News
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series.
As with all the others, it is available in two formats - both for download. The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA.
The new release is
>Llangollen Canal Map
This includes the northern navigable section of the Montgomery Canal too.
If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Llangollen Canal then the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. |  | These go well with our Llangollen Canal DVDs which show a tour along the canal.
If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are.
The Shropshire Union Canal Cruising Map will be available soon, followed by the Staffs & Worcester Canal and the Four Counties Ring. |  |
Posted on Wednesday, 26 October 2011 at 12:24 Comments (0)
Category(s): Llangollen , Maps
The November 2011 issue of Canal Boat Magazine includes a review of our latest two DVDs.
Droitwich Canals - Mid Worcestershire Ring
The makers of the Waterway Routes DVD series have wasted no time in issuing two new titles covering the latest addition to the network - the Droitwich Barge and Junction canals.
Droitwich Canals covers the restored routes from the Junction with the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Hanbury via Droitwich to the Severn at Hawford. Views of the attractive Worcestershire scenery are combined with descriptions of features such as the working side-ponds. There are also clips from the official opening and from before restoration. |  | The second DVD covers the new ring created, combining the Droitwich Canals with the Worcester & Birmingham from Hanbury to Diglis Basins and the Severn through Worcester and on to Hawford.
Finally, both are also available (separately or in combination as a two DVD set) as a novelty "bow cam" speeded-up cruise of the entire route at breakneck speed - hold tight! |  |
There have been three new entries to the UK Waterways Ranking Site run by Tony Blews which have been there for at least one complete month.
SSNB BOB joined on 9th August and after two ups and downs left during September.
As the UKWRS counts over 7 days it takes 7 days from removing the logo and code from your site for the score to reduce to zero. |  | Occasional later scores come from people visiting pages cached by Google and the other search engines which still have the code and logo. A single hit will stay for 7 days before dropping back to zero again.
Narrowboat Annie joined on 25th August and is still showing a generally upward trend. |  | RGStocker joined on 30th August with an initial burst of enthusiasm before dropping back a little.
I wish these entrants well for teh future.
I have daily scores for all entries since November 2009 so let me know if you woudl like your site featured. |  |
Posted on Friday, 30 September 2011 at 21:10 Comments (1)
Category(s): UKWRS
The Spetember issue of Waterways World includes a review of our Avon Ring DVDs on page 99.
This new set of DVDs follows the now familiar Waterway Routes format. One is the 'popular' video cruising guide to this much frequented ring of waterways, looking also at the history of the individual navigations. It also emphasised the dangers posed by high water, including the necessity to observe the gauges that indicate when it is not safe to cruise. It is a very varied route and there is much to see, but the video sticks to the immediate vicinity of the waterway.
The second DVD is the image from a camera mounted on the boat's bow, which we see speeded up, with relaxed commentary and subtitles, indicating the location.
The DVDs can be purchased together in a single box, which contains a handy mini-guide and a fold-out map, or separately.
You can also see our Avon Ring Cruising Maps in Acrobat (pdf) and Memory Map (qct) format. |  |
Posted on Thursday, 1 September 2011 at 17:18 Comments (0)
Category(s): Avon Ring
A fairly quiet month for August. After the unusual activity reported last month it appears that nb Blue Moon has withdrawn from UKWRS after, apparently, being unable to comply with the UKWRS rules.
There are four active sites registered with UKWRS in the forums category and their scores are shown on the right. The clear leader is the Canal World Discussion Forum which has maintained a consistently high score throughout the year.
JustCanals and ExOwnerships come next. These have both consistnetly declined during the year and are now both running at around half their peak scores earlier in the year. The Dawncraft Owners is in fourth place.
All the forums have shown a late boost in scores approaching and during the bank holiday weekend. I suspect they will all drop back again as everyone returns to work etc. |  |
Posted on Wednesday, 31 August 2011 at 14:28 Comments (0)
Category(s): UKWRS
 Another great pair of canal DVDs are released from Waterway Routes covering the Mid Worcestershire Ring, clockwise from Handbury Junction.
From Hanbury Junction we'll cruise clockwise around the delightful Mid Worcestershire Ring.
As we descend the narrow locks of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal the open countryside gives way to urban surroundings as we enter Worcester.
Heading upstream there's just one lock on the mighty River Severn.
The wide locks of the Droitwich Barge Canal lead us into Droitwich where the River Salwarpe provides a link to the Droitwich Junction Canal whose narrow locks complete our climb back to Hanbury Junction. |  |  These are 1/2 hour DVDs retailing at £9.95 for the Popular version (rather like a television programme) and £5.95 for the Bowcam version (a speeded up forward facing camera for a little fun).
There’s also a Combined version at £14.90, with both Popular and Bowcam in one box saving £1 on the separate prices (and at least 90p postage).
They are in stock now, just waiting for you to order them, or any from our great range of canal DVDs. |  |
Many parrticipants on the UK Waterways Ranking Site are having great fun watching their scores go up and down. Others are a litle competetive and trying to get their scores as high as possible.
Here are some of the ways to reacg high scores. | | Good way No 1
Run a site like Jim Shead’s Waterways Information with a wealth of information on waterway related topics.
This site has always been at position 1 or 2 in the table and is run by just one individual.
The large number of visits are a public vote for how good the site is. |  | Good way no 2
Run a waterway festival or an interesting event like the Stratford upon Avon River Festival.
Just look at the peak score which took the site high in the rankings for the festival weekend.
Once again the numbers of visitors vote to position the site high in the rankings. Now the festival is over the site is back to its normal level of scoring. Perhaps it will do the same again next year and have another week of fame. |  |
Other sites have tried alternative ways of scoring highly.
| | Way No 3
In last month’s blog I mentioned the unusual activity for nb Blue Moon. I had seen the sudden jump in scores and wondered what has caused this.
My attention was subsequently drawn to the web page at http://www.sorion-group.com/nb-bluemoon/travels%20forward1.htm. This page carries a single photograph, with no text. It carries the UKWRS logo so visits to it count as a hit.
Within a second or two that page automatically redirects to a second page, also with a single photo, no text, and the UKWRS logo so it automatically counts a second hit, although the visitor has only clicked once.
The automatic redirection is repeated until a total of eight pages are visited with eight counts on UKWRS even though there has been only one user click.
It's the only site I'm aware of which does such automatic redirection between pages carrying the UKWRS logo. We could all do something like this to boost our scores but, if we are having a level playing field, it's probably better if we don't.
If I estimate how many extra hits are appearing recently it's around 1300 to 1400 extra hits which is most of the total score. Since the UKWRS site only counts a maximum of one hit per page per hour per IP address then the maximum score you can get if you repeatedly visit these pages from one IP address for one week = 7 days * 24 hours * 8 pages = 1344 hits which is in the middle of the estimated range of extra hits.
It may be a big coincidence but it's possible these pages are being visited from the same IP address every hour for 24 hours a day. That can't be a real person so perhaps someone has written some automatic code to do this visiting and the hits being counted are just a computer repeatedly visiting the pages.
I would have liked to have asked the Blue Moon site owners about this but there is no contact information on their website. If you are Blue Moon then feel free to contact me, or leave a comment. If you know Blue Moon's owners then please ask them to contact me. Please note this is the nb Blue Moon on the linked website - there may be other Blue Moon's out there which are nothing to do with this. |  | Way No 4
The final way I'll describe to get a high score is not to be recommended.
Have trouble with your boat builder and blog about it as on
nb Waiouru
It's hard to imagine a happy ending to this sorry tale, but I hope it turns out as well as it can. |  |
Posted on Sunday, 31 July 2011 at 23:02 Comments (0)
Category(s): UKWRS
The forthcoming IWA National Festival is at Burton on Trent.
We'll be there in the Premier Marquee. Please say hello if your are visiting.
As a special offer, our new Cruising Maps, normally available as electronic downloads will be avaialble on CD during the show, at the same price.
And there are discounts for buying several maps or DVDs too.
We're hoping to see lots of you over the next three days. |  |
 Another great pair of canal DVDs are released from Waterway Routes covering the Droitwich Canals, clockwise from Handbury Junction to Hawford Junction.
It's downhill all the way, starting with the narrow locks of the Droitwich Junction Canal, including the staircase locks as we head into Droitwich Spa.
We join the River Salwarpe for the passage into the town before joining the Droitwich Barge Canal through the first of several wide locks, and pass the swing bridges as we cruise through the centre.
Watch the leisurely cruise through the mixture of rural and urban settings along the full length of the restored Droitwich Canals. | |  These are 1/2 hour DVDs retailing at £9.95 for the Popular version (rather like a television programme) and £5.95 for the Bowcam version (a speeded up forward facing camera for a little fun).
There’s also a Combined version at £14.90, with both Popular and Bowcam in one box saving £1 on the separate prices (and at least 90p postage).
They are in stock now, just waiting for you to order them, or any from our great range of canal DVDs. | |
Posted on Wednesday, 27 July 2011 at 22:48 Comments (0)
Category(s): Droitwich
We're moored at Stourton Junction where the swan tried to see how far into the boat it could reach and surprise Susan. Look at the reflection in the door glass to see how big Susan's smile is.
Looking to the bottom right you will see one explanation for the recent lack of blogs this trip. During Monday evening, while moored at Hanbury Junction, Susan turned quicker than her kneecap could and dislocated it. We had great "fun" while the ambulance crew tried to extricate her from a narrowboat, sending for specialist help when they realised how difficult it would be. A trip to Worcester Hospital saw her return with crutches and a splint and Wednesday saw another hospital follow up visit. She's slowly shuffling around the boat now, and managing to stand for a few minutes to steer a few locks.
We were out filming the recently opened Droitwich Canals for a new DVD which we hope to be ready for the IWA festival at the end of the month, although that's a very optimistic timescale. We've eventually finished the filming and we're heading back to our home mooring at Sherborne Wharf, in Birmingham.
While you're waiting for the new DVD there's still the Droitwich Canals (under restoration) DVD showing the start of the final phase of restoration in 2008, and the very popular free map of the Droitwich Canals too. |  |
Posted on Saturday, 16 July 2011 at 20:07 Comments (0)
Category(s): News
June has been a quiet month after the disruption during May when Tony had problems with his ISP causing the UK Waterways Ranking Site to be off the air for several weeks and causing the gap in the data.
A sudden jump has put Blue Moon into the top twenty. A quick browse around the site doesn't reveal any particular reason. The UKWRS logo and code does appear twice on every page, (against the UKWRS Rules) although I'm pretty sure Tony's clever coding makes sure that doesn't count every hit twice. So what's the explanation?
|  | Captain Ahab’s Watery Tales was one of the first to join the UKWRS site when it started back in 2009 and has had plenty of time to build up to the current scores which place it 28th in the ranking.
I saw Captain Ahab cruising through Sherborne Wharf for the BCN Challenge recently, but we only had time to exchange a few words as they passed by. |  | Now Captain Ahab has a rival. The most recent addition to UKWRS is "I know a bank where the wild thyme grows’..... Foraging along the towpath while living with Captain Ahab" Currently ranked 73rd on the ranking system which is a very creditable performance for a new starter.
How long before Wild Thyme catches, or even overtakes, Captain Ahab? |  | I have the daily scores for everyone on the UKWRS site since late 2009 so just let me know if you woudl like to be featured. | |
Posted on Thursday, 30 June 2011 at 09:33 Comments (4)
Category(s): UKWRS
We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series.
As will all the others, it is available in two formats, both for download. The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA.
The new release is
>Stourport Ring Map
If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way around the Stourport Ring then the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. |  | These go well with our Stourport Ring DVDs which show a tour around the Ring.
If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are. |  |
Just one major event to report this month - which I expect you have all spotted anyway.
On 9th May the database for UKWRS disappeared, possibly as a result of inappropariate actions by Tony's ISP. Despite considerable efforts from Tony it was only resinstated on 23rd May. As the scores are a 7-day cumulative score it was only from the 30th May that the scores were comparable to previous ones. The graphs show a gap between these dates. |  | I've simply shown graphs for some of the leading bloggers and the forums. As always, I have all the daily scores for all sites to just let me know if you woudl like to be featured.
Please remember that, as previously advised, Tony will be switching off the redirect from "coobeastie" to "ukwrs" on, or shortly after, 1st June. If you still use the coobeastie link then you must change the code on your site or it will not work after then.
Just look at the code on your own website and change anywhere it says "coobeastie" to "ukwrs" leaving the rest of the line unchanged. This must be done on your own website where you installed the code and where you have the passwords. Please don't ask Tony to do it as he can't change things on your website.
You can. however, give Tony a big thank you for running the site. |  |
Posted on Tuesday, 31 May 2011 at 20:36 Comments (0)
Category(s): UKWRS
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