Victor: Come and spread coronavirus on the towpaths today!

TODAY will be a warm sunny Spring day, and most likely the open towpaths will again be crowded.

This means their restricted widths will see a huge percentage of people using them who will be pushing past each other, and the very real likelihood of coronavirus being transmitted.

People will of course use the towpaths as the sensible organisations in charge of parks, play areas and even beaches have followed the government's advice and closed them to stop the spread of the disease by encouraging people to stay at home.

Ahh, but Canal & River Trust tells us on its notices now on the towpaths that it—wait for it—'Supports the National effort to keep people safe'!

Yet the Trust does the opposite by leaving its narrow towpaths open to all, thus actually encouraging people to leave home to walk, run and cycle its towpaths in direct opposition to the government's warning.  And in case those at the Trust have not seen it, here is the warning:

STAY AT HOME - PROTECT THE NHS - SAVE LIVES

Clear enough—eh?

Not sensible advice

Sean McGinley, of the Trust tells:

“If our canals and rivers are local to you, and you use the towpath for your daily exercise or journey to undertake essential work, please now avoid any stretches with boats moored against the towpath."

So should the walkers, runners or cyclists (engaged in essential work of course) have decided to cover a certain distance to reach their destination and come across moored boats, are they expected then to turn back so not to pass the boats?

Not much chance of that Mr. McGinley.

Keeping the distance?

Brian Jarrett tells us the five people in the picture brushed past him despite asking them to move over to give him space.

Then one told him they only arrived the other day, which means they could be carriers, with Brian telling it needs a clear statement that towpaths are closed to the general public.

More crowded

Our Man at the Summit who wrote about his problems on the towpath at Bulbourne on the Grand Union told of another  attempt to walk yesterday (Saturday):

"We left it until 1700 before we set off walking around the reservoirs thinking it would be quiet.  I'm sorry to report it was more crowded than it has been recently.

"On the Bulbourne picnic area five boaters on picnic chairs in a group, plenty of couples not giving way into single file as we approached.

"Family groups aplenty, the car park at Marsworth had more cars than it should have had given the restrictions.  One group of five young girls, three not even teenagers cavorting as youngsters do, no awareness at all.

"Two young fellas carrying fishing rods, one man with his car keys on a picnic table reading a book. I'll go again tomorrow but early before they get out of bed."

Getting tough

If you think we are having it bad, just have a look at the Royal Gazette published in Bermuda where our Thomas' daughter lives, no wandering about on paths there!

Exercise no further that half a mile from home and for only one hour with no more than two people.  Shopping by surname on certain days with evidence required and limited visits.  Bulk purchases challenged. Permits needed for essential workers (daughter included).  Not allowed to enter home other than your own or allow visitors. Strict 24 hours lockdown with police and Royal Bermuda Regiment enforcing.  Vehicle journeys severely curtained as exercise is only allowed on roads as paths, parks and beaches closed.  Offenders face $10,000 fine, six months in jail or both!

And so it goes on, making a mockery of our own very loose restrictions allowing the disease to spread.

http://www.royalgazette.com/news/article/20200404/strict-new-rules-for-shopping

Dogs on leads

That's enough of coronavirus from me so at the risk of upsetting those at CaRT who lay down the rules, something—as you all must be aware—I would never do, I certainly concur with the dog trainer Cyril Foster who explained why dogs should be trained to obey rather than on leads.

I have only too often seen dogs on leads causing havoc on Sawley Cut, either suddenly diving to jump up someone or being wrapped with those extending leads around someone's legs.

A well trained dog is much more in control, doing exactly as told, but alas, seeing a dog off a lead does not mean it has been trained, as most likely it has not, hence the lesser of the two evils—'dogs must be on leads at all times'.

That I might add rather upsets our esteemed, he paying to have his Ridgeback well trained, resulting in a very well behaved dog only too happy to look after his smaller brethren as the photograph shows!

An advantage of the training is that an animal easily responds to other commands other than those originally trained, and so well worth the expense.

Still going strong

The person in charge of the stoppage notices, is still in good form with the 'cartisms'. this time regarding the Macclesfield Canal.

Telling us that the area between Church Lane Bridge (2) and Bridge Eccles Bridge (3), on the Macclesfield Canal has been  fully 'demobilised', and the navigation is open.

That's a new one, certainly keeping up the trend. But I always understood 'demobilised' was when a person left the armed forces.

Victor Swift