Sunday, September 14, 2008
Home to High Wycombe
On Friday evening we had an enjoyable meal aboard the boat with Lin and Roy. We were moored at Great Linford on the excellent 48 hour moorings. On Saturday, it was a bright and sunny start to the day, the first we have had for many days. I washed and waxed the side of the boat and cleaned the brasses. Tom and Lisa arrived by car to take over the boat for a few days. We left in their car to return home. We made it in time to get to Adam's Park in time for the second half of the game against Brentford. Unfortunately we could only manage a draw. We then went home to tackle the mountain of accumulated post.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Two Tunnels and The Home Straight
On Saturday it was pouring with rain again in the morning so we stayed put until about 12.45.Cruised through Kingswood Junction where we saw nb Gilbert, last seen at Thrupp on 8th August and also nb Bright Angel, last seen at Hawkesbury junction on 28th August. Moored up on moorings just before the Hatton flight, ready to descend on Sunday.
It was a dull dank start to the day on Sunday, but we decided to move on and tackle the 21 locks. We teamed up with a small nb from the River Wey navigation, occupied by Elaine and Bruce. We descended the flight in 3hours 45mins and then continued on through two more locks, arriving at Tesco in Warwick in time to shop before closing time. On BBC news we heard about the murder on a nb at Stoke Hammond. On Monday we continued on our way alone to begin with. Gilbert caught up with us just as we were finishing lunch near the Cutttle Locks. Unfortunately they were just mooring up for the day as they had come down the Hatton flight that morning. They have also been beset by problems, having had their gear box break down and other problems. That combined with the bad weather has led them to return to home base.
Teamed up with a couple on Anglo Welsh nb Bunbury. They had not been pleased with their boat, finding it dirty, damp and with leaking windows-not good in the weather we had been having. Most hire boaters we have spoken to this year have been really pleased with their boats so it is unfortunate this couple had been unlucky. We travelled on with them, their son and their two dogs to the Stockton Flight and went up in double quick time due to teamwork with the two women steering in and out of the locks together and the men working the paddles and gates. We moored up just beyond Norton Junction.
On Tuesday we cruised to Braunston and teamed up with nb Harry, a Kate boat, to go through the locks. Followed them through the tunnel, completed in 27minutes and continued with them through the first lock on the Buckby Flight. They continued on, but we moored up for the night. They were crewed by a taxi driver and his partner, her daughter and daughter’s boyfriend, both jockeys.
On Wednesday we joined up with nb Patience, Liberty and Soak of Peterborough for the descent of the rest of the Buckby Flight. A couple from Peterborough own the boat. She hails from Alma Road and he from south of the river near the football ground. They live aboard and had been out cruising since April. They too have had their troubles. Their engine had been giving them trouble and had cut out when they were in a tricky position in high winds. The boat had spun round and been bashed into a high wall causing considerable damage to their paintwork. I bought a new chimney and witches hat at Whilton Chandlery. We stopped at \Heyford wharf to buy diesel, grease and toilet blue. At Weedon we pass nb Lilly Mae, Jasper, John and Bridget, our neighbours from Vicarage Farm. They were just starting their three week cruise. Later we saw nb Harry, returning north. We moored up in Blisworth about 7pm superbly positioned to go through the tunnel the next day.
It was raining again in the morning, so we didn’t set off too early. We were flagged down when we approached the tunnel and had to wait about an hour whilst two wide BW boats came through the tunnel. Moored alongside Willow Dreamer, crewed by a couple, Stuart and Trish, and dog, Will, from Cornwall. We were later joined by Nirvana, from Yardley Gobian. When the boats came out they were followed by a stream of nb which had progressed very slowly behind them through the tunnel. They had taken an hour and a half to get through. We followed Nirvana though the tunnel, followed by willow dreamer and had an excellent journey through, taking only 35 minutes and passing only one boat. We descended first two Stoke Bruerne Locks with Nirvana and the following 5 with Willow Dreamer. Trish and Stuart have also had their trouble, having been caught on a damaged sill in a lock and damaging their rudder and tiller. There also seems to be water now getting into the engine compartment through their weed hatch. We both filled up with water at the bottom lock and then cruised on to Cosgrove where we moored opposite the Barley Mow. I cleaned the side of the boat whilst David did the deck. As we were nearly at MK we contacted Roy and Lin to arrange a meet for our last night aboard.
We cruised on to MK mooring at the excellent 48 hour moorings at Great Linford after a short stop at Wolverton to stock up at Tesco.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
A Catalogue of Problems
Since my last posting such a lot has happened, not all of it good, but we are in good cheer despite some heart stopping moments.just before Atherstone David discovered two leaking water hoses from the engine and calorifier. because he keeps the engine compartment dry and clean the water collected made it obvious something was amiss. The hoses had been rubbing against a metal lip and eventually this had worn holes. We descended the first 6 locks at Atherstone and moored at the fuel point of the premises of Barry Hawkins at Baddesley Basin. From there we were well placed to visit the town with its many bookshops and historic buildings. On Sunday morning Barry’s son, Tony, fixed our two split water hoses. They are such pleasant people, very helpful and who said we could stay as long as we needed to. In the afternoon we had a pleasant walk up the canal and followed the town trail until the rain began again. That evening we shared a bottle of Prosecco to celebrate the official date of my retirement.
On Monday, Richard, from Cox Automotive, arrived to re install our travel pack and generator. In doing so he identified and rectified a couple of wiring faults and also found that our leisure batteries needed renewing. Richard agreed to organise this and to meet us later to do the change over. The weather was pleasant so we decided to move on and descend the remaining 5 locks of the flight. As might be expected we had no sooner begun than the heavens opened and we were soaked. We carried on until the bottom lock as there was nothing to lose: we couldn’t get any wetter. We moored opposite the services and car park with wharf near bridge 48. There we stayed until late on Tuesday as it was ideal for Richard to access the boat when he brings the new batteries. He came in late afternoon and, after the batteries were installed, we cruised on to Polesworth. From Friday to Tuesday night we had covered about 4 miles!
Wednesday arrived bright and sunny, but chilly and we set off at 8.40, cruising through Polesworth in good weather. Later in the day, rain showers began and continued on and off for most of the day. The square end on our boat, plus a strong side wind, made the turn into the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal at the junction very tricky. The impatience of other boaters, desperate to continue straight on to Fradley, unable to await for a moment or so didn’t help. The selfishness of some boaters never ceases to amaze me. We continued through the beautifully kept locks up the Curdworth Flight of 11 locks, beginning in fine weather but before long in heavy rain. The highlight was probably the sight of a peregrine falcon swooping over the boat, coming from the direction of the M42 towards a wood nearby.
On Thursday we started out towards Birmingham during a dry start to the day, but before long the rain came again. The cruise took us down the grand Union Canal, through an urban area of Birmingham and we were doing well, making good time, locks in our favour thanks to a nb travelling north, when we lost propulsion and the steering. In pouring rain David had to access the weed hatch and extract a once white sweater, with zip, a purple rain coat, with zip and various bits of fishing line.. Continuing on we stopped briefly at the top of Camp Hill Locks to inspect the excellent BW facilities. The centre included toilets, showers and laundry as well as the usual rubbish and sanitary disposal points. It is such a pity that it has to be secured behind a huge fence, spikes and padlocks to safeguard it, but such is life in 2008. Cruised on through shady tree lined cutting, reminiscent of the Tring Summit in some respects, and moor up at Catherine de Barnes. On the evidence of what we saw on this stretch, graffiti, litter, damage, the canals are not valued by local people in the area. Given the amount of material in the water, some floating and some just below the surface it is perhaps surprising we only had a fouled propeller once.
Today, Friday, with an horrendous weather forecast we thought we would probably sit tight all day, play scrabble, visit the local shop and maybe pub and hope for better weather tomorrow. David, however, was never good at doing nothing so we end up braving the elements at about 4.30 and moving towards Knowle. There were no other boats moving so after filling up with water at the top lock, we descended the flight and moored beyond Black Boy Bridge just after 7.30, having seen Snail’s Pace on her mooring at the Black Buoy Cruising Club. Being on the lock flight was a bit like being on many piers with water rushing down both sides. the deep pounds between each lock were also very full due to all the rain we have had. Having had a wet day, and it not turning out too badly, I can only sympathise with my colleagues from school who have probably had indoor play and lunch today!
On Monday, Richard, from Cox Automotive, arrived to re install our travel pack and generator. In doing so he identified and rectified a couple of wiring faults and also found that our leisure batteries needed renewing. Richard agreed to organise this and to meet us later to do the change over. The weather was pleasant so we decided to move on and descend the remaining 5 locks of the flight. As might be expected we had no sooner begun than the heavens opened and we were soaked. We carried on until the bottom lock as there was nothing to lose: we couldn’t get any wetter. We moored opposite the services and car park with wharf near bridge 48. There we stayed until late on Tuesday as it was ideal for Richard to access the boat when he brings the new batteries. He came in late afternoon and, after the batteries were installed, we cruised on to Polesworth. From Friday to Tuesday night we had covered about 4 miles!
Wednesday arrived bright and sunny, but chilly and we set off at 8.40, cruising through Polesworth in good weather. Later in the day, rain showers began and continued on and off for most of the day. The square end on our boat, plus a strong side wind, made the turn into the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal at the junction very tricky. The impatience of other boaters, desperate to continue straight on to Fradley, unable to await for a moment or so didn’t help. The selfishness of some boaters never ceases to amaze me. We continued through the beautifully kept locks up the Curdworth Flight of 11 locks, beginning in fine weather but before long in heavy rain. The highlight was probably the sight of a peregrine falcon swooping over the boat, coming from the direction of the M42 towards a wood nearby.
On Thursday we started out towards Birmingham during a dry start to the day, but before long the rain came again. The cruise took us down the grand Union Canal, through an urban area of Birmingham and we were doing well, making good time, locks in our favour thanks to a nb travelling north, when we lost propulsion and the steering. In pouring rain David had to access the weed hatch and extract a once white sweater, with zip, a purple rain coat, with zip and various bits of fishing line.. Continuing on we stopped briefly at the top of Camp Hill Locks to inspect the excellent BW facilities. The centre included toilets, showers and laundry as well as the usual rubbish and sanitary disposal points. It is such a pity that it has to be secured behind a huge fence, spikes and padlocks to safeguard it, but such is life in 2008. Cruised on through shady tree lined cutting, reminiscent of the Tring Summit in some respects, and moor up at Catherine de Barnes. On the evidence of what we saw on this stretch, graffiti, litter, damage, the canals are not valued by local people in the area. Given the amount of material in the water, some floating and some just below the surface it is perhaps surprising we only had a fouled propeller once.
Today, Friday, with an horrendous weather forecast we thought we would probably sit tight all day, play scrabble, visit the local shop and maybe pub and hope for better weather tomorrow. David, however, was never good at doing nothing so we end up braving the elements at about 4.30 and moving towards Knowle. There were no other boats moving so after filling up with water at the top lock, we descended the flight and moored beyond Black Boy Bridge just after 7.30, having seen Snail’s Pace on her mooring at the Black Buoy Cruising Club. Being on the lock flight was a bit like being on many piers with water rushing down both sides. the deep pounds between each lock were also very full due to all the rain we have had. Having had a wet day, and it not turning out too badly, I can only sympathise with my colleagues from school who have probably had indoor play and lunch today!
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