A Solution

I believe I’ve identified a solution that will secure the trailer second spare wheel wires.

The idea is to fit a short length of angle steel across the drawbar and secure the wire to it with shackles.

I will continue to use the ratchet strap to tension the wire (ie, raise the wheel) but once raised the shackles will hold the wire in place. 

The jerry can rack has also be bolted to the new frame.

The trailer can now carry five jerry cans or 100 litres of diesel.  This should provide sufficient fuel for approximately 1800km.  However that range will obviously reduce if I’m off road and using 4 wheel drive and low range.

Made in Australia

I like a glass of orange juice in the morning.  When we first arrived in Australia local orange juice was plentiful with vast orange orchards in the riverlands of South Australia.  As a consequence of declining water availability from the River Murray many of these orchards have been ripped out.  These days most of the orange juice is imported.  The majority from South America.  It arrives as a concentrate to which local water is added.  It’s obviously not fresh.  Packaging laws in Australia require food to be labelled stating where it originated.  Therefore when I’m reading the label on orange juice I look for either 100% Australian content or as little Australian content as possible.  My theory is the Australian content is the water.  If it’s not 100% Australian then I’m not prepared to pay the high price for water! 

The Australian authorities recently decided to change the ‘Made in Australia’ logo.  The old Kangaroo is to be replaced

with what looks like COVID-19

Reading one of Nev’s (NB Percy) post reminded me of a time when I was also considering the future finances of the UK canal network.  CRT was only expected to receive funding for a specific period and then be self sufficient.  BREXIT and COVID-19 are having a serious impact on the UK economy and I doubt the government will want to financially support CRT.  Moreover CRT access to sponsorship will also be affected as industry will also be struggling. 

What will CRT do?  One indicator of financial pressure will be the sale of portions of it’s property portfolio.  This may result in a short term financial improvement but will result in a longer term reduction in income.  There will likely be regular increases in annual boat license fees.  However I understand license fees form less than 50% of CRT’s revenue.  Eventually CRT will rationalize maintenance declaring some canals as ‘remainder canals’ which are on minimal maintenance.  The towpaths will be maintained for activities such as walkers, cyclists, canoeists, fishing and wildlife to ensure some funding is received.  however major costs such as lock maintenance and dredging will not be undertake. 

If I were making the cold and clinical decision on which canals were to be categorised as ‘remainder’ my list would be:

Chesterfield Canal

Ripon Canal

Hudderfield Broad & Narrow (only one canal required to cross the Pennines)

Rochdale

Sheffield and South Tinsley

Montgomery

Stourbridge Town Arm

Stourbridge Canal (other canals available to access the BCN)

Coventry Canal from Hawkesbury Junction to Coventry (it’s treated poorly by the locals)

River Soar/GU Leicester from Foxton Locks north (alternative routes available)

Erewash

Welford Arm

Aylesbury Arm

Wendover Arm

Slough Arm

Hertford Union (alternate route via Limehouse Cut)

Dukes Cut

South Stratford Upon Avon (access to Stratford would be via the Avon and Severn)

Grand Union from Kingswood Junction north (alternate route via North Stratford upon Avon)

Droitwich Junction Canal

You will note I’ve scarcely touched the Shropshire Union Canal, the Kennet and Avon and the BCN.  They all have quite active canal societies.  Politics is always a consideration.   I’m not suggesting this would all happen at once and the list above isn’t in priority order.