Narrow Boat

Did a bit of research and found that the Narrow Boats came about because when they were building the canals to transport goods, they weren't built to standard sizes but to keep costs down lots of canals were built with 7 foot wide locks with boats just 6 inches narrower. Thus the birth of the 6'6" narrowboats so they could fit through most locks.

The longest canal in the UK is the Grand Union Canal at 137 miles from London to Birmingham. The longest built as a single waterway is the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at 127 miles. This is the one I have lived next to for a long time and seen lengths of it by foot, car or train but never once been on the canal itself. I'll have to do it one day.

In 1911 (some accounts say 1912) a cow called Buttercup feel into the Leeds & Liverpool canal, swam 1,640 yards where she was revived with brandy by drinkers in the nearby Hole in the Wall pub. Apparently there are pictures to commemorate it.

There are more canals in Birmingham than in Venice, with just over 100 miles. I've been to both cities.

If there are any inaccuracies or you lose a pub quiz because of the info above, I can't be held responsible :)

Weather Report: Wet to start but with sun from about late morning onwards. Mild.