How far
(Interestingly, this fairly common modus operandi for retired folk, is not covered by existing licences!)
First of all I reckon the distance should be defined in lock-miles, not just miles. Let's face it: doing 20 miles on the Shroppie may mean zero or perhaps one lock, whereas 20 miles on parts of the Staffs & Worcs may mean close on 20 locks; so the effort required to comply, for old farts like myself, is not in the least comparable.
Summer cruising
I would reckon 20 lock miles per 28 days during the period March to October sounds sensible; let's face it, that is only five miles a week. On 'dead end' canals like the Caldon and Ashby setting a 28 day target would allow two weeks 'out' and two weeks back, which sounds sensible to me.
Most genuine cruisers will have to cruise more than that to find a water point anyway. Speaking of logistics, how can anyone stay in one place for longer than 14 days anyway without ferrying in supplies of water, diesel, empty cassettes, etc by car? In my experience folk that do cruise extensively don't have a car available during the summer, as moving it from place to place and finding safe parking is a pain.
Winter cruising
Setting a target during the winter is not practical for many reasons; stoppages and ice spring to mind. What if we have another winter like 2010 when my boat was frozen solid in my marina base for nigh on 12 weeks! Besides, if my information is correct, CaRT staff are not allowed even on the towpath in snowy/icy conditions. (It's too dangerous!) So how come they expect boaters to work lock flights in those same conditions? Is the safety of boaters not an issue too?
I have stated many times, CaRT should stop being lazy/incompetent. It should just bite the bullet and generate a new Waterways Act (2015). One that is ratified by parliament and takes it's proper place in law. Is that not the professional and long term solution? Then boaters would have chance to lobby their MPs and subsequently have to abide by the resultant Act. As it is CaRT, and some boaters for that matter, are feeding the hungry judiciary juicy bundles of money for very little tangible outcome?
No trust in the Trust
Under no circumstances, would I trust CaRT to interpret the law, as it claims to be able to do. What makes it special I ask? You and I, dear reader, would get very short shrift from the judiciary if we tried to interpret laws we didn't find helpful! At the moment CaRT is judge, jury and executioner and we know the organisation, like many MPs, has only a passing acquaintance with truth/ integrity/honesty. (I realise I'm showing my age just mentioning those fundamental qualities).
That cannot be right and has, for me and many other boaters, destroyed the 'feel-good factor' which was apparent as recently as five years ago on the canals.
Why stay?
If the live and let live attitude is to be replaced by bitching, greed and harassment, then why stay on the canals? There are many other ways of spending the summer months touring the countryside in an almost aggro-free environment. Having an aggressive and greedy 'landlord' looking over your shoulder all the time, monitoring your movements, is not my idea of freedom or leading a chilled lifestyle in my retirement. A 'Plan B' is well under way in my case.