towpaths - a cautionary tale

[eddieo]

pack electronics in dry rice it aids the drying process and they might work.

tried it on my wifes and daughters mobiles and did not work....incidentally what is it with women that they cant even go to bathroom without their mobile phones

 

[fatts]

I prefer a book

 

[DJH]

I thought canals were generally about 4 ft deep except at locks, is that correct?

 

[DJH]

Like I said earlier get checked out as Weils disease a real danger in water infested with rats......Trust me I know what I'm talking about (have letter after my name)

I agree with eddieo on this. Had a neighbour who contracted it ................he survived...........just!!
Well worth checking.

 

[flecc]

I thought canals were generally about 4 ft deep except at locks, is that correct?

Web references say generally 2 to 4 feet, but deeper sections can be up to 20 feet.

I agree with Eddie and yourself on Weill's disease risk, it is a very nasty and dangerous disease to be checked for when at risk.

 

[steve.c]

That is really frightening and could have been a real tragedy, hopefully your bike etc will
be alright after drying out....are you insured ?

Thanks for the warning anyway, I often cycle along towpaths and as a non swimmer....well, almost....and the sheer shock of going in would negate any little bit of swimming talent I might have had,
I will certainly heed your warning and be a lot more careful in the future......let us know if all dries out alright.....glad you are OK .

Lynda

I should learn to swim Lynda cause If you fall off the Camino-Del-Rey into the water in the gorge you could swim out????.Steve.

 

[mike killay]

I do a lot of sailing and bouyancy is essential. I am a good swimmer, even got a bronze medallion life saving award, but when you fall in, the water is cold and the hotter you are the greater the shock. Your muscles stiffen up within minutes and you find that you can hardly swim at all. A life jacket keeps your head above water so you don't have to waste energy just keeping afloat.
Not that I am suggesting anything for tow path cyclists!!!!

 

[flecc]

A life jacket keeps your head above water so you don't have to waste energy just keeping afloat.
Not that I am suggesting anything for tow path cyclists!!!!

Oh I don't know, for those who wear helmets for the road, a lifejacket for towpath cycling seems to be consistent.

 

[funkylyn]

I should learn to swim Lynda cause If you fall off the Camino-Del-Rey into the water in the gorge you could swim out????.Steve.

You must be madder than me Steve if you think I would EVER set foot on that walkway to hell

Lynda

 

[funkylyn]

tried it on my wifes and daughters mobiles and did not work....incidentally what is it with women that they cant even go to bathroom without their mobile phones:confused

Ah well, Eddie......illicit texts and calls maybe ?

Or maybe to call for help if they fall in and cant swim.......

Lynda

 

[johnc461165]

Lynda If the canal etc was full of wine you could drink your way out

Do you have a reputation in Geordie land

 

[spiritburner]

tried it on my wifes and daughters mobiles and did not work....incidentally what is it with women that they cant even go to bathroom without their mobile phones

Sorry to hear that, It will dry out the electrics but if they fried as they went in it wont solve that problem

 

[funkylyn]

Lynda If the canal etc was full of wine you could drink your way out

Do you have a reputation in Geordie land

LOL .......and thankfully, it has been 42 years since I last lived here so..... no reputation up here.....yet

Mind you, thats all about to change,as I AM up here househunting......

Although that has proved to be a bit difficult......" the fog on the TYNE is all mine all mine " etc....or has it been wine.............

Seriously.......I think my gentle,quiet, sober, unassuming,extremely shy, somerset repressed disposition might change a little bit when I move back up here, there is certainly no sign whatsoever of a recession in the pubs and restaurants I have been in around this area......amazing the amount of people drinking and eating out every night........but thankfully no canals....just the Tyne, and that is easily avoided .....

Lynda

 

[12xu22]

well everything has dried out but the bike's not looking too healthy: the battery will not turn off and according to the speedo it has done 128 cycles as opposed to the 21 it actually has done, and when you turn the throttle the back wheel jerks a little then does nothing at all. As for the camera, it's perfect apart from not being able to see out of the lens. So, the total cost of my impromptu dip in the canal (assuming no miracle cure reveals itself? About £1300.

 

[Jimod]

Have you asked your insurance if they cover it?

 

[Old Timer]

I was about to say that the camera will probably go T***s up.

It`s hard to take but you are alive and hopefully well and will live to ride another day.

Nasty thing to happen, a young child would have probably perished if it happened to them

Take Care

Dave

 

[indalo]

Take Care

Dave

Something tells me he might just do that in future.....I would!

Indalo

 

[12xu22]

Very true, very true .... no dice on the insurance I am afraid, but as you say, its only material stuff at the end of the day, could give me the perfect excuse to buy a new camera and bike, without getting too much earache off the missus...

 

[eddieo]

Its your health you want to be careful about...In my profession in H&S Rail construction, we had deaths from liver failure from men just rubbing their eyes after touching dry surfaces on rat runs, and Weils disease getting into their blood stream this way.....and you have been immersed in a mix of water and rat ****

 

[FJJ]

Very true, very true .... no dice on the insurance I am afraid, but as you say, its only material stuff at the end of the day, could give me the perfect excuse to buy a new camera and bike, without getting too much earache off the missus...

Out of interest why are your insurance company not willing to accept a claim? I use Cycleguard and can't see anything in the policy wording relating to "canal", "water", "submerged", etc.