Continuing with the data collection for the Grand Union Cruising Maps I cycled the towpaths of the Regents Canal across the northern edge of central London. The Regents Canal runs from the junction with the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal at Little Venice to the junction with the tidal River Thames at Limehouse Basin.

That's a total of 14.2km (8.8 miles) long with 13 broad locks, including Limehouse Lock onto the River Thames.

Neither of the two tunnels - Maida Vale Tunnel at 249m (272 yards) and Islington Tunnel at 878m (960 yards) - have towpaths requiring walkers to take the marked route over the top of the hills.

The locks come one at a time as they are well spaced out lowering the canal from around 28.5m (94 feet) to reach sea level at the tidal River Thames.

The canal passes through London Zoo, with some of the animals visible briefly, next to the market at Camden, and close to the main line stations at Kings Cross and St. Pancras.

Hertford Union Junction, towards the eastern end of the canal, provides a link through the Hertford Union Canal to the River Lee Navigation, avoiding the route via Limehouse Basin which once required a short passage along the River Thames.

For more information see

Regents Canal Photo Gallery for a virtual cruise along the canal
Regents Canal Route Information

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
> Warwickshire Ring – Cruising Map

No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way around the Cheshire Ring as 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.

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
> Grand Union Canal (Birmingham Section) – Cruising Map

No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way around the Cheshire Ring as 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.

Next I'll be issuing the remaining parts of the Warwickshire Ring.

Last month I cycled along the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal to collect data for the future releases of our Cruising Maps.

I was surprised at how muddy parts of the western end of the arm were, but it improved to a hard surface for the eastern half of the arm.

I headed east from Bull's Bridge Junction along the arm. Soon I discovered I wasn't cycling along the Paddington Arm, but along the Paddington Branch. So what is the difference?

It soon became apparent that all the older bridge number plates and canal side signs referred to it as the Paddington Arm, while all the newer signs referred to it as the Paddington Branch. I don't remember any formal renaming ceremony so which is right? And which name should I show on the maps?

There was nothing unexpected during the rest of the data collection ride. I now have all the water points, winding points, moorings etc. shown on the master map and ready for publication shortly.

For more information see

Paddington Arm Photo Gallery for a virtual cruise along the canal
Paddington Arm Route Information

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
> Cheshire Ring – Cruising Map

No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way around the Cheshire Ring as 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.

Next I'll be issuing the remaining parts of the Warwickshire Ring.

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
> Ashton Canal – Cruising Map

This icnludes the Rochdale Canal to Castlefield Junction.

No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Ashton Canal as 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.

I now have the data to complete the Cheshire Ring, thanks to some help from our son, Andrew, so that will be coming 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
> Bridgewater Canal – Cruising Map

No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Bridgewater Canal as 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.

I now have the data to complete the Cheshire Ring, thanks to some help from our son, Andrew, so that will be coming 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
> Macclesfield Canal – Cruising Map

No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Macclesfield Canal as 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.

I now have the data to complete the Cheshire Ring, thanks to some help from our son, Andrew, so that will be coming 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
> Peak Forest Canal – Cruising Map

No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Peak Forest Canal as 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.

I now have the data to complete the Cheshire Ring, thanks to some help from our son, Andrew, so that will be coming soon.

Compared to the Aylesbury Arm which I recently tried to cycle along but ended up pushing my bike through the mud, the Slough Arm was a great improvement.

There was lots of mud and a few puddles but most of the arm had a hard surface just under the mud making it possible to cycle without much problem.

The lack of locks made for a level journey all the way.

Collecting the data for our cruising maps was easy - first along the arm was Bridge 0.

I can't recall any other bridges numbered 0, presumably this was added after the rest of the bridges had been numbered from 1 upwards.

The arm is almost straight, with very few features along its length, and can hardly be described as exiting or interesting. Even the end of the arm is an anti-climax - it just peters out in Slough, with a dead end, a pylon and a winding hole.

Not even a place to moor, so most boaters just turn around and cruise straight back along the arm, having ticked it off on their list of waterways visited.

For more information see

Slough Arm Photo Gallery for a virtual cruise along the canal
Slough Arm Route Information

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
> Ashby Canal – Cruising Map

No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Ashby Canal as 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.

I now have the data to complete the Cheshire Ring, thanks to some help from our son, Andrew, so that will be coming 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
> Coventry Canal – Cruising Map

If you are fed up of turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way along the Coventry Canal 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 Ashby Canal Cruising Maps will be available soon.

Congratulations to Tony Blews on three years of running and developing UKWRS, the popular UK Waterways Ranking Site.

It was on 8th January 2009 that Andrew Denny on Granny Buttons revealed the new UK waterways website ranking chart to the world. Since then many sites have joined and left the ranking system, with the latest being number 363.

Most people take the whole system as a little fun and are happy to watch their own progress up and down the rankings. Regrettably a few have been abusive to Tony when their own web site didn't rank as highly as they thought it should. If you don't like your ranking score then you can always improve your website or simply withdraw from the system.

It's important to remember that Tony is doing this for free. We reap the benefits but we aren't making any payment directly to Tony for running UKWRS. Tony pays the ISP hosting charges with his own money and puts a lot of his own time into developing and maintaining the site.

The only potential source of revenue is the adverts shown on the UKWRS web pages which, when clicked on, will generate a few pence each time for Tony. The adverts will only be seen by those who visit the UKWRS pages, often being directed there by clicking on the logo on each of our websites. Tony will never make money from running this site but it would be nice if we at least enabled him to cover his costs.

Some of us have placed the logo where it will clearly be seen with a reasonable chance that visitors will click on it and go to the UKWRS pages to see the adverts. Others have, probably inadvertently, reduced the visibility of the UKWRS logo on their own web pages by mixing it in with lots of other logos, putting it at the bottom of their page where few visitors scroll down to see it, or choosing colours which don't make it stand out.

The variability in the click-through rate is enormous. This table takes the top 20 sites on the UKWRS table and shows the click-through rate per thousand pages visited. For example, a score of 2 means that for every thousand pages visited on our own websites there are 2 clicks on the logo to visit the UKWRS site - and only some of those visitors will go on to click on an advert.

Many sites have a reasonable click through rate, but there is an enormous variability. Perhaps those near the bottom of the table can have a look at the visibility of the UKWRS logo on their own website and see if it can be improved. Perhaps we can make the occasional blog post or mention on our website to encourage visitors to the UKWRS site.

And that's not just those in the top 20, everyone using the site can consider improving the visibility of the logo and the click-through rate.

Bottom of the table is Canal World Discussion Forums with by far the lowest click through rate of 0.2 (and that's rounded up from 0.17) despite holding the top position on the UKWRS table. So, Daniel Hutchinson - you proudly take position 1 in the ranking table, how about giving a little back in return by doing something to improve your click through rate.

Finally, a big thank you to Tony for running the site for three years.

In the last blog, about the Wendover Arm, I mentioned the Aylesbury Arm was next.

The trips along these arms were both done in one day, collection the data for the next cruising maps. Out along the Wendover Arm and back along the Aylesbury Arm.

The Wendover Arm was reasonably easy to cycle along but the Aylesbury Arm was different.

I've cycled along hundreds of kilometres during the last few months and found towpaths in various states of repair. The Aylesbury Arm is amongst the worst I have found and it's really quite wrong to say I cycled along the Arm - I pushed the bike most of the way as the mud was too much to cycle through. It wasn't just a few bad patches as on other canals - it was almost the whole arm.

Considering how many books and websites recommend routes along the arm I was surprised by what I found. Perhaps it's too many people walking which churns up the mud. I met several people clutching maps and walking books, and several of these had stopped to study the maps to see where else they could walk as they abandoned their attempts to walk along the Aylesbury Arm.

The arm starts with a two lock staircase and the flow of water along the arm as the locks are used is important, as the water is drawn from the precious resources on the summit level of the main line and goes to waste, as far as the canal is concerned, as it flows into the River Thame at the bottom, and on into the River Thames.

The locks vary in depth with Lock 14, for example, being 2.31m deep with the water to fill it coming from lock 13 which is just 1.76m deep. This requires a continual flow of extra water over the weir at lock 13 to help fill lock 14 below.

I measured the depth of all the locks, as I do along all the routes when I collect the map data, and the depths can be seen in the table of key features on the route information page.

For more information see

Aylesbury Arm Photo Gallery for a virtual cruise along the canal
Aylesbury Arm Route Information

and
Aylesbury Canal Society

Making the most of the reasonably warm weather recently I've been continuing to cycle the towpaths to collect the data for our growing range of Cruising Maps.

I recently tackled the Wendover and Aylesbury Arms of the Grand Union Canal, and I'll say more about the Aylesbury Arm in a later blog.

The Wendover Arm runs from Bulbourne Junction on the summit level of the Grand Union Canal main line into Wendover.

It was constructed as a navigable feeder to bring water from the supplies at Wendover but suffered from so many leaks that water often flowed backwards as it took water from the summit level it was intended to supply. Closing the feeder brought improvements to the water supplies of the summit level!

With considerable support from the Wendover Arm Trust, British Waterways, and many others, including volunteers, the remaining short navigable section of the arm was extended in 2003 to the current limit of navigation.

Beyond there, and under restoration, is a dry section, then the remaining section which is still in water, albeit needing a lot of work to make it navigable, including dredging, clearing some trees growing in the canal and raising the height of at least one bridge.

The dry section has seen more lorries than boats recently as the canal bed is used to transport concrete and other materials and equipment to the worksites.

Two footbridges cross the dry section, each bearing plaques which identify the many individuals and organisations which have provided support for the restoration. No doubt other plaques will be added as more contributions are made - you can have your name there too, for a suitable contribution to the work.

The remaining section is still in water, albeit only 30cm (12 inches) deep in most places, but this doesn't require much effort to imagine boats cruising along the arm into Wendover.

For more information see

Wendover Arm Photo Gallery for a virtual cruise along the canal
Wendover Arm Route Information

and
Wendover Arm Trust

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.