canal adventure challenge - trefoil guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from a ......

29
CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE Bridgewater Boaters Trefoil Guild are a UK-wide Guild, a group of adult experienced narrowboating leaders from all over the UK. We have developed this pack to guide you through an adventure narrowboating on a canal. Staying on a boat is a fantastic experience, and an opportunity to try new skills whilst enjoying the passing scenery at a snail’s pace! Version 2 August 2019

Upload: others

Post on 31-Jul-2020

4 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE

Bridgewater Boaters Trefoil Guild are a UK-wide Guild,

a group of adult experienced narrowboating leaders from all over the UK.

We have developed this pack to guide you through an

adventure narrowboating on a canal.

Staying on a boat is a fantastic experience, and an opportunity to try

new skills whilst enjoying the passing scenery at a snail’s pace!

Version 2

August 2019

Page 2: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

1

This resource is aimed at Guides, Rangers, Young Leaders and Adults

Work through it individually or as a Patrol

In order to gain this badge you must do the following:

Section One: Compulsory

complete all of the challenges contained in this section

Section Two: Crafts

complete one challenge of your choice

Section Three: For Fun!

complete one challenge of your choice

CONTENTS

Section One: Compulsory

2. Map Reading

4. Water Safety

5. Signals

6. Ropes and Knots

8. Staying Healthy

Section Two: Crafts

10. Barge Painting

12. Japanese Weaving

14. Origami Duck

17. Fender Keyring

19. Mini Knot Board

Section Three: For Fun!

20. Canal I-SPY

22. Towpath Aerobics

22. Logbook

23. Canal Lingo

24. Cheshire Mouse Knot Game

25. Compulsory Challenges & Lingo Answers

27. Leader Notes

Badge Order Form

Page 3: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

2

MAP READING

Take a look at the waterways guide you are using on your trip. Whichever map you are using, you will

see the same symbols used to show locks, bridges, tunnels, winding and mooring points, waterway

services, marinas and other useful information for travelling along a canal.

Lock The direction the arrow points show whether you are going up

or downhill.

Tunnel The map will tell you how long it is, and whether you may

only enter at certain times.

Bridge These all have numbers or names. Knowing which bridge

you’ve reached shows how far you’ve travelled.

Aqueduct These carry the canal over rivers, railways, roads and valleys.

Mile Marker These help you calculate the distance you plan to travel.

SYMBOLS CHALLENGE:

What do the following symbols tell you?

You will spot these symbols on signs alongside the canal too.

This sign tells boaters that this is a winding hole.

The number indicates that boats 72 feet long can turn here.

It instructs there is ‘no mooring’ here. Boats that moor in or too

close to a winding hole can make it difficult for others to turn.

Page 4: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

3

Planning a route

Look for the ‘lollipop’ Mile Marker on your map. Trace along the canal until you reach the next one.

That’s a mile distance covered. Most boats will go at an average speed of 3 miles per hour, so when you

plan a route you estimate that to travel a mile will take 20 minutes.

Boaters allow 20 minutes to go through a lock. For each lock you travel through, add another 20 minutes

to your route time.

We name these 20 minute blocks ‘lock miles’.

So for example:

if you were travelling two miles along the canal and had one lock to go through you would estimate this

to take 60 minutes (3 x 20 minutes), or 3 lock miles.

MAP READING CHALLENGE:

Your boat is at bridge number 11 and you need

to fill it with water.

1. Find where the water point is on the map.

________________________________________

2. How far away is it from Bridge 11?

________________________________________

3. Calculate the time it would take you to get there.

________________________________________

4. How many lock miles is it?

________________________________________

5. After you fill up with water you want to head

along the Anytown Canal. Can you turn around?

________________________________________

Now try planning a route with a map book.

Decide how far you would like to travel, or find

how far you could go in a set number of hours.

Don’t forget you might want to stop for a meal!

12

10

11

13 38 37 36

Anytown Canal

Page 5: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

4

WATER SAFETY

When you arrive on a boat the hire company or helm should tell you how to stay safe on board and what to do in an emergency. It’s important you follow their instructions as a narrowboat and the canal can be full of potential hazards if you don’t take care.

TRUE OR FALSE? CHALLENGE:

1. Canal water is fresh and clean ____________

2. It is OK to swim in a canal in the summer ____________

3. It is fun to push a friend into the water for a laugh ____________

4. Canal water contains lots of germs that could make you ill ____________

5. You should shout for help if someone falls into the water ____________

6. If you drop something in the water, you should reach in ____________

7. A grassy canal or riverbank can make it very difficult to see the edge of the water ____________

8. If you fall in, you should try to swim towards the edge ____________

9. If someone falls in, you should go into the water to pull them out ____________

10. It is never safe to walk on a frozen river or canal ____________

11. If you throw things in the water, it could harm boats and wildlife ____________

12. It is possible to stand up in a canal ____________

SPOT THE HAZARD CHALLENGE: What are these people doing that is unsafe?

Page 6: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

5

SIGNALS

Horn signals are very useful on a canal. Bends, bridges and tunnels make it difficult to see if other boats

are coming towards you. Using the horn allows other boaters to know you are approaching too!

These are universal signals used on the waterways. You can find these in the Boaters Handbook.

• 1 short blast (-) I am going to the RIGHT (starboard)

• 2 short blasts (- -) I am going to the LEFT (port)

• 3 short blasts (- - -) I am trying to stop or go backwards

• 4 short blasts – pause – 1 blast (- - - -) (-) I am turning around to my right

• 4 short blasts – pause – 2 blasts (- - - -) (- -) I am turning around to my left

• 1 long blast ( ) Warning at tunnels, blind bends and junctions

You are unlikely to need the short blast signals often but they are useful to know!

The noise of the boat engine can make it difficult to hear when steering. Crew often use simple hand signs to communicate important information to one another when they are too far away to be heard. Here are some examples:

Stop/ Be Aware

OK

Boat coming up through a lock

Boat coming down through a lock

Distance from lock gate, or bank when winding. Arms go to crossed when the front of the boat touches the gate or bank.

SIGNALS CHALLENGE:

Use a whistle or your own voice rather than your boat’s horn!

In teams, take turns to whistle a signal. The other team has to guess correctly which it is.

Alternatively ask a leader to blow the whistle, and the first team to guess correctly win a point.

OR

Find out what hand signals your boat’s Helm uses.

Come up with some other hand signals you could use to warn your Helm of hazards.

Some ideas: bridge ahead, lock ahead, canoeist.

Illustrations courtesy of J. Battye

Page 7: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

6

ROPES & KNOTS

You may already know a few knots, but there are some that are particularly useful to boaters. If you’ve

never thrown a rope before you will quickly learn how to when you’re on a narrowboat!

Reef Knot

Is a boating knot that sailors use to ‘reef’

or roll up sails. It isn’t used often on

narrowboats but is a useful knot to know.

It lies flat when it’s tied (it is also typically

used in first aid to tie a sling or bandage).

Round Turn and Two Half Hitches

The basic knot used to tie the boat up.

It is suitable for a mooring spike, bollard

or putting through a ring and then

taking back onto the boat.

Clove Hitch

Is used to tie around a mooring spike

or bollard as a temporary measure.

It holds firmly but is not secure, and is

quick to tie and untie.

Canalman’s Hitch

An alternative knot used to tie up a boat.

It is suitable for a mooring spike or bollard.

You can further secure it by adding two half

hitches.

Locking (Cleat) Hitch

A quick and easy method of tying a

rope to a cleat on a dock or boat that is

also easy to untie.

Page 8: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

7

Bow Line

Ideal for putting a loop over a bollard or using as

a rescue aid for Man Overboard (MOB).

You should learn how to do this quickly.

In a rescue situation you will need to act fast.

KNOT CHALLENGE:

Demonstrate tying at least two of the knots and hitches above during your holiday afloat.

Take it further: Have a go at the ‘Cheshire Mouse’ knot game

How to coil a rope

• Start by holding the rope nearest the end it’s tied to the boat. Do this

with the hand you’re going to coil the rope into. (usually the left if you

are right handed, and the right if you are left handed)

• Slide your free hand along the rope towards

the loose end as far as you comfortably can.

• Loop the rope around into your hand,

twisting it as you loop so it lies flat, and

hold it. Repeat until all of the rope is coiled.

• Neatly hang the rope around the boat cleat so it’s ready for use.

How to throw a rope

• Pick the rope up and hold two thirds of it in your throwing hand, and one third loosely in your non-

throwing hand. Drop one of the loops in the middle so you have plenty

of free rope to allow you to swing it.

• Swing your throwing arm in an arc a few times to warm up. Don’t forget

to call out to the person on the bank you’re throwing it to so they

can be ready to catch it!

• When you’re both ready, on the

next swing forward of the rope in your

hand release it. The weight of the rope will pull

the coils from your non-throwing hand as it’s thrown.

• If the rope does not reach the bank and falls in the water, coil the

rope back into your hand and try again.

wit

h p

erm

issi

on

of

D

royl

sden

Lif

esav

ing

Clu

b

Page 9: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

8

ROPE THROWING CHALLENGE:

Practise throwing a rope in the following ways:

• In front of you – from the boat to the canal bank side.

• Above you – upwards as if you are on the boat and the person catching it is standing on a bridge or

lock-side. Boats sometimes need to be held to the side of a lock chamber if it is a double width or

the weather is windy.

• Below you – downwards as if you are on the lock-side looking down at the boat in a lock.

Hold a competition to see who can throw the furthest!

―∞―

STAYING HEALTHY

It can be easy to forget to look after yourself when you’re looking after a boat.

You are outside for large parts of the day and it can be very physically hard work handling the boat and

operating locks, swing bridges and other canal features.

The weather can change quickly; hot or cold,

dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A

to B!

Sunburn

You can easily catch the sun when it’s cloudy

and overcast, not only when there’s bright

sunshine. There may not be shade from the sun

on a boat or canal bank. Slop on sun cream and

slap on a hat when you’re outside.

Wind burn

Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the

wind for long periods can dry out and become

red and sore. You may notice particularly

chapped lips or hands. Keep your skin

moisturised and use lip balm if needed.

Page 10: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

9

Dehydration

You will be doing a lot of exercise while boating and it is very easy to become dehydrated, especially if

it’s hot too. Symptoms include headaches and light-headedness, a dry mouth, eyes and lips, darker urine

and muscle cramps. Make sure you drink plenty of water. If you won’t be on the boat for some time (eg.

working a flight of locks), take a bottle of water with you.

Cold and Wet

Layer up with clothing and make sure you wear your waterproofs to keep warm and dry in poor

weather. If you do get very wet change into dry clothing as soon as you can.

Cuts and Scratches

Makes sure any cuts on your skin are thoroughly cleaned and covered up to prevent infection.

Wash Your Hands!

Unfortunately canal water is not clean. It’s important to ensure you wash your hands thoroughly after

handling ropes, operating locks and bridges and particularly before handling any food.

Wet your hands with running water

Apply enough soap to cover your skin.

Lather well.

Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds.

Make sure you rub between your fingers, your thumbs, the

back of your hands and fingernails, not just your palms.

Rinse well.

Dry your hands with a clean towel.

Washing Challenge:

Demonstrate how to wash your hands thoroughly to the First Aider on your boat.

Use a black (UV) light to check how successful you’ve been and if you’ve missed any spots!

Tick each compulsory challenge off when you have successfully completed it:

Map Reading Challenge

True or False? Challenge

Spot the Hazards Challenge

Signals Challenge

Knot Challenge

Rope Throwing Challenge

Washing Challenge

Page 11: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

10

BARGE PAINTING

You will see all along the canals boats and boat furniture painted with roses and castles.

The exact origins of the tradition are unknown, but it flourished as families started to live together

on the boats. The bright décor covered the tiny cabins and displayed their pride in their trade.

You will need:

Acrylic paints

Paintbrushes

Wooden spoon per person

GENERAL PAINTING TIPS

Use a plastic lid as a paint palette

Use only a small blob of paint – a little goes a long way

Practice the stroke shapes required

Use a practice piece before painting your item

Let colours dry between stages

Use no. 3 paintbrushes and cocktails sticks for finer details

How to paint a barge rose

Paint 3 ‘blobs’ in a line Add 4 ‘tears’ for leaves Add a ‘curl’ as shown Add 2nd ‘curl’

Repeat with two more Continue to add curls ... … and veins to leaves And you’re done!

Painting instructions used with permission of Diane Haig MBE

Page 12: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

11

A few examples of this traditional decoration technique!

Take it further: try painting a wooden coaster, a large pebble or picture frame.

Page 13: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

12

JAPANESE WEAVING

Have a go at making your own length of rope or cord using this weaving technique.

You will need:

A circle of cardboard, approximately 10cm wide

4 pieces of wool in two colours, each 1.5m long

Scissors & pencil

1. Draw and cut out a circle of cardboard. Make a hole in the centre and 16 slots around the edge

2. Fold the four pieces of wool in half and overhand knot them together. Push the knotted end of the wool through the hole in the cardboard disc.

3. Sort the lengths of wool into four pairs, two of one colour and two of the other.

Hook the lengths of wool into the cardboard slots in the following order: 2 of colour one 2 slots empty 2 of colour two 2 slots empty 2 of colour one 2 slots empty 2 of colour two 2 slots empty

Page 14: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

13

4. Hold the cardboard disc in front of you. You will be moving the four pieces of wool that run from top to bottom of the card.

Move the length of wool marked A from the bottom of the card to the empty slot at the top left of wool C.

Then move the length of wool marked D from the top of the card to the empty slot at the bottom right of wool B.

To make it easier, remember this rhyme as you move the wool: bottom left to top left, top right to bottom right!

5. Turn the cardboard circle anti-clockwise so the pieces of wool of colour two run from the top to the bottom of the disc.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5. Keep weaving until your ‘rope’ is as long as you need it.

7. Unhook the remaining wool from the cardboard disc and tie together with another overhand knot. You could give your ‘rope’ to a new friend as a bracelet, or glue on googly eyes to make a pet rope to practice your knots!

Page 15: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

14

ORIGAMI DUCK

You will need:

A square of paper

TIP: Your origami will look better if you make your folds carefully and make your creases sharp.

You can do this by running your fingernail along the crease.

1. Start with a square of paper.

Place the colour side down. Fold along the

diagonal axis. Crease it well and unfold.

2. Fold both sides in to the centre.

3. Fold all 4 sides towards the centre along the fold lines shown.

Start with A and work through to D, so that all points meet in the centre.

Page 16: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

15

4. Fold the bottom tip down so that the point reaches almost to the bottom edge.

5. Bring the two sides together and fold the entire piece in half along the centre.

6. Hold the duck at point A with your left thumb and index finger.

Using your right thumb and finger carefully pull out point B so that it forms the duck’s head.

Press and crease once you have the head as you would like it.

Page 17: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

16

7. Form the head in the same way. Do the same with the tail at the other end.

This time hold point A with your right thumb and finger and your left thumb and finger on point B.

Pull point B outwards until the tail is pointing upwards. Press and crease.

8. Repeat at the other end of the duck to form the tail.

9. Pull the sides apart gently so

that your duck stands up.

You can draw on or glue on

googly eyes if you wish.

Page 18: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

17

FENDER KEYRING

Have a go at making a boat fender style paracord keyring.

You will need:

2 pieces of paracord in two colours, each 60cm long

Split ring

Lighter & scissors

1. Slide one piece of paracord through the

centre of the split ring until it is halfway

through.

2. Find the centre of the second piece of

paracord and pinch it together with the first

piece and the split ring.

3. To form the knot (called a ‘crown sennit’):

Fold cord A over the top of cord B

4. Fold cord B over the top of cords A and C

A

B D

C

A

B D

C A

B

D

C

Page 19: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

18

5. Fold cord C over the top of cords B and D

6. Fold cord D over C, then underneath cord A

7. Pull the four ends tightly together. This may be a little fiddly to start with!

8. Repeat steps 3 through 7 to form the next crown sennit knot.

9. Keep tying knots until your fender is the length you want it.

10. Trim the excess paracord. Don’t cut it too close to the knot or it might unravel.

A

B

D

C

A

B

D

C

Page 20: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

19

11. Carefully using a lighter melt the end of the paracord so it holds firm in place. It is best to trim and melt one end at a time!

Instead of a split ring you could tie

your ‘fender’ around a clip!

―∞―

MINI KNOT BOARD

You will need:

A small wooden or cork coaster

Cord or thick string

Thin dowel for tying hitches (optional)

Strong glue

Scissors

Paper labels & pens

Choose which knots you’d like to display on

your mini board.

Cut the cord into small pieces and tie the knots.

Carefully glue your knots to the board and

leave to fully dry.

Label your knots and display!

Be creative! Instead of a coaster use thick card or a CD jewel case, or different colour cord for each knot.

Page 21: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

20

CANAL I-SPY

Mark how often you spy the following birds, plants and canal features. Spot at least five on the list.

Many boats are given funny or ‘pun’ names. Write down any you spot that are unusual or make you

laugh or simply like the sound of. Decide what you would call a boat if you owned one.

Boat Names

Canada Goose

Moorhen

Coot

Robin

Heron

Swan

Kingfisher

Bird of Prey (eg. Kestrel, Buzzard)

Page 22: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

21

Blackberries

Foxgloves

Bulrushes

Fungi

Cow Parsley

Hogweed

Dock Leaves

Thistle

Bollard

Canal Damming Planks

Bridge Numbers

Mile Marker

Crane

Mooring Ring

Information Sign

Rope Grooves (on a bridge)

Page 23: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

22

TOWPATH AEROBICS

You can become stiff, achy and possibly suffer from cramp when sitting, standing

and / or sleeping in the small confines of a canal boat.

Devise a three minute exercise routine suitable to use on a narrow boat.

Present your routine to the rest of the crew and encourage them to join in!

If someone had mobility problems, how could you include them?

Have a go at adapting your routine.

―∞―

LOG BOOK

Most boaters will have a logbook, scrapbook, or an online diary or blog. They record how far they’ve

travelled that day, the number of locks and tunnels on the route, navigation notes, and anything else

they may have done during the day. This information can be very useful to them and other people when

they next travel along that stretch of canal.

Create a log book as a record of your adventure afloat.

You could decorate the cover with traditional canal roses and castles.

Photographs are a brilliant reminder of your adventure!

You could also draw pictures in your log of what you’ve seen.

Here are some ideas of what you could include in your log:

• The boat’s journey (how far you travelled!)

• Waterway wildlife (birds, mammals, insects, flowers, trees)

• A waterway structure (locks, bridges, lifts etc.)

• Today’s waterway (something refurbished or modern)

• Waterway scenery (unusual things you spot out on the water)

• Waterway furniture (decorated boats and items on board)

• Waterway costumes (traditional or modern style)

• Waterways at work (‘shop’ boats, or Canal & River Trust boats)

• Crew (a member of the crew or group photo)

• A new friend (someone you did not know previously)

• Funny moments!

Page 24: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

23

CANAL LINGO

Boaters have a vocabulary of their own. It may sound strange to you at first! Find the following canal terms in the word search. Have a go at guessing what each one means.

AGROUND GUNWALES

BARGE POLE HELM

BEAM LOCK CHAMBER

BERTH MARINA

BOAT HOOK MOORING PIN

BOLLARD MOORING ROPE

BOW PADDLE

BUTTY PORT

CANAL PROPELLER

CILL PUMP OUT

CUT RUDDER

FENDER STARBOARD

GALLEY STERN

GANGPLANK TILLER

GONGOOZLER WINDING HOLE

Y N C Z T S C G R E G H K T E K P K V B

T R I M U Y T U I U F N X M L U A S N O

T U W P C H D A N B A N O Z O T D D I A

U E W C G D L W R L E O X L P U D X Z T

B D I M E N A O P B R A A N E O L B V H

C H N R A L I G C I O N M Y G P E X A O

O O D Z E R N R N K A A W Z R M C P A O

W X I S I A I G O C C U R O A U T U E K

C A N C G V R N B O P H V D B P T R O P

I N G L C O U R A G M M A D R A L L O B

L N H Y P R O P E L L E R M N S T E R N

L F O E R E L Z O O G N O G B U R H D I

G A L L E Y R E L L I T H P S E O O K U

E Y E W Q F M Q N H F U E T D F R R I E

G O O H U S O Y X V Y S B N R B I O G O

Q T E C Z U I K D B I F E J U E N Z O A

A L M H E P O S Y L W F Q A C L B L J T

M T E M Z Q X E K F A T B A F M J V Y D

C C H W R E U M Y N P Q T F C S H S K L

F X N I E I K U Z R K Y H P C L F V C S

Page 25: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

24

CHESHIRE MOUSE KNOT GAME

This game is played along the lines of ‘Beetle’, but instead of drawing a beetle you tie reef knots to join

the parts of a mouse’s body together.

You will need:

1 Dice

10 pieces of 10cm long string or cord for each person

1 Mouse template for each person

Punch holes in each piece for knotting together

Each person takes a turn to roll the dice.

You need to roll the following to gain a piece of your mouse:

6 BODY

5 HEAD (roll twice for 2 knots to join it to the body)

4 TAIL (1 knot)

3 EAR (1 knot for each ear)

2 LEG (1 knot for each leg)

You need to roll a 6 to gain the body first before you can attach the other pieces.

You need to roll a 5 twice to gain the head before attaching the ears.

If you roll and already have all the pieces for that number the dice is passed on to the next player.

The winner is the first to complete the Cheshire Mouse!

Take it further: test your knotting skills by using a different knot or hitch for each part of the mouse

5

6

4 3 3

2

2

2

2

Page 26: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

25

COMPULSORY CHALLENGES ANSWERS

Symbols Challenge:

Water tap Refuse Chemical closet Mooring Winding Toilet disposal disposal point point point pump out

Map Reading Challenge:

1. It’s located at the bottom of the map

2. One mile away

3. One hour and forty minutes (1 miles distance and 4 locks)

4. Five lock miles

5. Yes, there is a winding hole just after the water point

True or False Challenge:

1. False

2. False

3. False

4. True

5. True

6. False

7. True

8. True

9. False

10. True

11. True

12. True

Spot the Hazards Challenge:

(left) Standing / walking on top of the boat. It would be very easy to lose balance and fall.

(centre) The front of the boat is too crowded and some people are ‘outside the profile’ of the boat

by sitting on the roof and standing on the gunwales. They’re all sitting on the same side as

well, causing the boat to lean to the left.

(right) The canoeist is paddling towards the front of the narrowboat to ‘show off’. It’s dangerous

as the boat helm cannot see them and cannot easily move out of their way.

Page 27: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

26

CANAL LINGO ANSWERS

AGROUND Stuck on the canal bottom GUNWALES Narrow walkway around the outside of the boat

BARGE POLE A long pole that you use to get you off the canal bank or bottom

HELM Person in charge of the boat Also another name for the tiller

BEAM The width of the boat LOCK CHAMBER The bit where the water is in the lock

BERTH A word referring to how many the boat sleeps

MARINA Where all the boats are kept

BOAT HOOK A long pole with a hook at the end

MOORING PIN

Metal spike used to moor boat on canal bank when there are no fixed mooring points

BOLLARD Short ‘official’ mooring post MOORING ROPE

Ropes at either end of the boat that are used for tying the boat to the canal bank side

BOW The front of the boat PADDLE Sluices that you open/close to let water in/out of a lock

BUTTY A boat with no engine PORT Left hand side of the boat when facing forward

CANAL A completely artificial waterway

PROPELLER Moves the boat through the water

CILL The step at the foot of an upper lock gate

PUMP OUT Toilet clean out

CUT Another word for a canal RUDDER Turns the boat left or right

FENDER Buffer used to protect the hull when in a lock or when mooring

STARBOARD Right hand side of the boat when facing forward

GALLEY The kitchen STERN The back of the boat

GANGPLANK Used to get from boat to bank when there is a gap

TILLER Used to steer the boat

GONGOOZLER Someone who stands watching you boating

WINDING HOLE Wide point of a canal where you can turn the boat around

Page 28: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

27

LEADER NOTES

Bridgewater Boaters Trefoil Guild know that every canal has its own features and ‘quirks’ unique to it.

Your Helm will brief your group how to stay safe on board, and instruct

how to steer the boat and navigate the canal’s infrastructure.

You are welcome to adapt the compulsory clauses to fit the waterway, boat and your group.

Helpful Links:

Canal & River Trust www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Royal Yachting Association www.rya.org.uk

Canal Junction www.canaljunction.com

Animated Knots by Grog www.animatedknots.com

Girlguiding information for narrowboating

www.girlguiding.org.uk/what-we-do/our-badges-and-activities/activity-finder/narrowboating

Need to get in contact with us? Email: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BridgewaterBoaters

Branding Compliance All photographs and illustrations throughout this pack, unless otherwise stated, are copyright

of Bridgewater Boaters Trefoil Guild.

Page 29: CANAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - Trefoil Guild · dry or wet you still have to get the boat from A ... Wind burn Canals can be very breezy. Skin exposed to the wind for long periods can

28

BADGE ORDER FORM please use BLOCK capitals

Unit Name: ________________________________________________________________

County: _________________________________________________________________

Region: _________________________________________________________________

Email: _________________________________________________________________

Contact mobile/phone no: _____________________________________________________

Number of Badges required @ £1.50 each: ________________

Postage 1-20 badges: £1

Postage 20-40 badges: £1.50

Postage 40+ badges: £3

TOTAL: ________________

Please make cheques payable to: ‘Bridgewater Boaters Trefoil Guild’

Please send your order and payment to:

Canal Adventure Challenge

Bridgewater Boaters Trefoil Guild

40 Millingford Avenue

Edge Green Golborne

Warrington

Cheshire WA3 3XF Badges will be posted Second Class

This label will be your address label. Please print carefully.

Name:

Address:

Town:

County:

Postcode: