Cruising Log 2010
January 24th 2010
After the big freeze, I took to opportunity of a predicted sunny day to do a mid-winter check-over. The engine started easily but the alternator booster wouldn't play; the single red led was on but no other signs of life and the battery voltages remained stubbornly at 13.8v. According to the instructions this is indicative of a bad connection somewhere in the system but I figured it was probably just dampness so shut off the engine, left it for a few minutes and tried again. All the correct leds lit up this time so all well and battery voltages rose to the correct levels. But something to keep an eye on because it's not something I would normally watch. Emptied the dehumidifiers - a lot of water had accumulated - and refilled them with crystals. Cleaned the loo and the inside of the fridge. Checked over the stove chimney which Blisworth Tunnel Boats fixed just before Christmas and it looks OK. After a tin of chicken soup, shut shop and left for home at 2pm with the air temperature outside at 10C! Took another sack of coal with me for home and also all the rechargeable units for a top-up.
3 hours battery charge.
Damp crystals £6.40, chimney repairs £85.00
February 20th 2010
A lovely sunny morning. I arrived at Blisworth at 10.30am and was amazed to find 4 inches of snow! For once I had remembered the camera. Plugged in the battery charger after clearing away enough snow to get aboard, then wandered around and took a few photos. Then back on board to do all the usual chores; dehumidifiers (one needed emptying), checked bilges and suchlike. Then cleared some more snow off the cratch cover and also the back hatch because pushing the hatch cover to and fro had the unwanted effect of shovelling snow into the boat.
Sunshine and snow at Blisworth Marina
After lunch I built a battery charger board using two Maplin solar panels to connect across the bow-thruster batteries. For once I'd got all the bits and the job went well - in fact it looks quite professional (I think so anyhow). Then I made an inventory of the food and first aid cupboard contents and chucked a few 'out-of-date' items away. Left at 3pm; the battery charger was in 'float' mode which I think means the batteries are pretty well full so I disconnected it from the mains.
Solar panel charger board to keep the bowthruster batteries topped up
March 17th 2010
A brief visit to collect my fishing gear for a fishing day at Brackley lake with Gary tomorrow. Took the opportunity to make to usual checks; emptied the water out of the dehumidifiers and left at 6pm just as it was getting dark.
April 3rd 2010
We arrived at quarter to ten to prepare the boat for the up-coming re-paint at Blisworth Tunnel Boats. Loaded the boat up with stuff for the stay and drove to the yard to confirm arrangements. Then walked to the Walnut Tree for a drink and on return a 'soup and salad roll' lunch. Walked Tasha down the towpath to Rothersthorpe Top lock and back. Other than a little drizzle this morning the weather has been pleasant. On our return we fired up the central heating but after a couple of minutes it stopped working. Traced the problem to the fuse-holder again. Another job on the list is to re-site this fuse-holder, and mount it horizontally instead of vertically so with luck it won't keep coming apart. Then re-filled the water-tank and opened all the taps to get rid of the air in the system. One of the 'o' rings on the Paloma drain-valve looks a bit iffy but I screwed the valve back into its seating and it didn't leak so hopefully all is well. After a few attempts the heater fired up OK so Meg was able to do the washing up! We had a big roast beef dinner and watched a bit of TV before bed at 10pm.
April 4th 2010
Woke at 8am. The inside of the boat is quite cold so perhaps we should have lit the Morso after all. I walked Tasha around the 3 bridges while Meg prepared breakfast. After breakfast we watched the Malaysian F1 race on tv. We caught a glimpse of Gary in the pits with the Mercedes team. Not such a good day for them but at least the got their first podium position with a 3rd.
Then cleared all the ornaments and oddments off the shelves and put them in bags and boxes to take home while the re-painting is done. Took Tasha to the pub and had a couple of drinks. Asparagus soup and rolls for lunch, then Meg took Tasha for a towpath walk while I ran the engine up and checked that all was well. No water or oil leaks found. Topped up the batteries with water and then inspected the bow-thruster well. First shock of the day - the well was bone dry. In eleven years of owning this boat, every spring - and sometimes more frequently - I have had to remove at least 2 inches of condensation water from the bow-thruster enclosure but today it is absolutely dry. How can this be?! Answers on a postcard please! Had a chat with our neighbours Jerry and Olivia from the boat next door (it has a Welsh name that I can't spell, even less pronounce) - and then settled down for a glass of wine in the afternoon sun. The wind has fallen light and it is pleasantly warm. Just as we were about to prepare supper we met up with our next-door-but-one neighbours Malcolm and Susie off NB Lucy Charlotte and had a drink and a chat with them. Then supper (the rest of the beef!) a dog walk round the marina and so to bed.
2 hours
April 5th 2010
Up at 8am. After the dog-walk, breakfast and so on, we loaded (or - more accurately - I loaded) the car with stuff to take home; cushions. curtains, bedding, ornaments and so on. Set off for Blisworth Tunnel Boats at 10.30. A cloudy dull day with a strong chilly south-westerly breeze. Arrived at 11am. After tying up and a brief chat with Michael Clarke (who is going to give us a quote for some extra work; tidying up some of the discoloured wood-work and fitting a new, bigger alternator) we walked back to Blisworth Marina along the tow-patch. The path is very muddy in places so we took a short cut by leaving the canal at the road bridge, walking up the hill to the Walnut Tree, and then back to the marina over the railway line. So - no more boating for a month until the work is finished.
1/2 hour
April 18th 2010
A quick visit to Blisworth Tunnel Boats to take pictures. The boat is looking very good in a nice shade of green. Called in to see Gary and Becky on the way home; went to see their new house and had a very good lunch at the Red Lion in Tingewick.
May 8th 2010
Being now based at Blisworth we could not make our regular trip to the IWA Cambridge Branch boat gathering at Reach Lode on Tambourine - however we were able to go to the event as guests of Jonathan and Gail on NB Safina. I will shortly add some photos of the event - which was a great success.
But - back to the Cruise Log.
We arrived to collect the boat from its re-paint and settle the bill. Blisworth Tunnel Boats have done a fair job and the boat looks very smart. There are one or two paint runs and a couple of missed bits and two of our stick fenders and the spot-lamp are missing. Photos to follow, they are all on Meg's camera and I haven't got around to uploading them yet.
We left the boatyard in the rain - there's a surprise - and trickled back to the marina. Pulled in beside the diesel pump and loaded all the stuff from the car onto the boat - then slid back to berth 68. Both our neighbours have moved to other berths in the marina; one to the other side to be nearer the car-park and the other to the canal-side beside the bridge. Was it something we said?!
We spent the rest of the day and the evening re-fitting curtains, making the bed and generally cleaning and tidying up. Chicken tikka and rice for supper in front of the stove chuckling away, washed down with a bottle of wine and bed at 11pm.
1/2 hour + 2 1/2 hours battery charge. External re-paint £4000
May 9th 2010
Away to Gary's house via Blisworth Tunnel to see if they could find the missing bits. No luck so we will call back on our next visit to see if they have turned up. It has not been possible to fit a new alternator to the boat at a cost-effective price so we will have to give that some more thought. Blisworth Tunnel will have a look at the woodwork after the Crick Boat show.
May 21st 2010
A scorching weekend is forecast. We arrived at 6.30pm after a quick visit to the Walnut Tree. It was still very warm indeed. A chicken-drumstick-and noodles supper washed down with a bottle of plonk and bed at 11pm.
May 22nd 2010
We were woken quite early by the noise of the various ducks, geese, swans and other water-fowl that swim around the marina. Walked Tasha and breakfasted and all was done by 8am! We made a list of things to collect from Blisworth Tunnel and I drove there via the paper shop at 9.30. All items recovered except for the front door-mat. But never mind it was knackered anyhow. Back at the boat, various tidying-up jobs; put the tunnel light back, refitted the centre rope, and similar odds and ends. A chilli lunch and a quick visit to the pub then off to the marina hog-roast at around 3.30pm. A good time was had by all; we met lots of new people and drank rather too much white wine. Home and bed around half-past ten.
May 23rd 2010
Up at 7.30 and did all the usual morning-type things. By 10am it was already very hot so we set up camp by the mooring and basically stayed there with Malcolm and Susie for the rest of the day. Steak and salad lunch at 2pm by which time it was very, very hot! After lunch we re-positioned the bump-tyre - something that has been bugging me for ages. Had a chat with Claire and Steve and passed them the keys of the boat so they can let in the fire advisors who are coming to the marina next week to do fire safety checks on the boats. They will keep hold of the keys for the 'Narrowboat Nanny' scheme that we have signed up to. At 5.30 we started to pack up; said our goodbyes and left Blisworth at 6.30. Drove to Gary and Becky's house for a splendid bar-b-q in the evening sun and eventually got home at 10.30pm. We have a long list of things that must be done before we go back to the boat next weekend!
Lazy days at Blisworth Marina - only interrupted by the "re-positioning the bump-tyre" ritual.
May 28th 2010
Took the afternoon off and arrived, via a quick pub visit, at 3.30pm. After dog-walking and loading up I emptied the gas locker of its assorted contents and scraped the rusty bits off the floor. Hoovered up the dust and shale with the marina's 'Henry' hoover. Then applied a coat of Rylards phosphate paint to the floor. We found that the gas bottle hose is actually long enough to reach the cylinder parked temporarily in the cratch so we were able to have a cooked supper after all. Chicken drumsticks and noodles again - hooray for my old favourite. It has been a pleasant sunny day but rain is forecast for tomorrow. Bed at 10.30pm.
May 29th 2010
We got up at 7.30 and the rain started shortly afterwards. I got extremely wet walking Tasha around the bridges. After breakfast we left for Crick Boat Show and arrived at 11am. It was raining steadily but despite the wet and the cold we enjoyed ourselves and bought lots of stuff; makeup for Meg, and a new smart Helly Hansen waterproof; some rubber mats for the gas locker floor to stop the gas bottles scraping the paint off and gathered up heaps of leaflets for future reference. Had a most interesting chat with the guy on the Rylards paint stand - apparently the protective power of paints is logarithmic - so a second coat of paint affords ten times the protection of one coat! Amazing and will remember that for gas locker painting.
We left the show at 4.30pm as the rain was easing up but it belted down again when we got back to Blisworth and Meg got very wet walking round the bridges! Sat in and read for the evening after a supper of ham in mushroom sauce with asparagus and new potatoes (Jersey Royals - nothing but the best for us!). Bed at 10.30 as usual after a final dog-walk.
Deck mats £21
May 30th 2010
It was a really windy night; the first time since we came to Blisworth Marina that we have been kept awake by the wind chucking the boat about. Anyway, up at 8am and after all the usual chores (showers, breakfast, dog-walk and so on) I set to work putting the second coat of anti-rust primer on the gas-locker floor. Then washed up, dumped rubbish etc while Meg took Tasha for a towpath walk. Also cleaned and re-positioned the central heating burner fuse-holder and put some sticky tape around it. Hopefully this will arrest the corrosion which has been so troublesome and the system won't keep stopping for no apparent reason. Walked up to the pub for a drink followed by a ham sandwich lunch and a quick siesta. Then emptied the loo and it's flush tank, took both to the BW yard and chucked them in the skip.
Back on board I commissioned the new loo I got from Limekiln Chandlers last November. Next job was to tighten the alternator drive belt and take pictures of the alternator at the same time. I will send the pictures to Adverc to see if they can come up with a larger capacity replacement. While the wardrobe was empty, Meg did a clear-out and binned some unwanted clothes. Lastly, checked over the bow-thruster operation and ran the engine for an hour to top up the bowthruster batteries (the others are supplied by the shore-line charger). Chatted to Malcolm and Susie from NB Lucy Charlotte, pan-fried some steaks for supper and bed at 11pm.
G
Central heating burner fuse-holder Alternator Another alternator picture - exciting, eh?!
1 hour charge
May 31st 2010
Up at 8. A chilly overcast and windy morning. After the usual chores Meg took Tasha for a long tow-path walk (all the way to Blisworth Tunnel and back). I fitted the plastic decking mats on the gas locker floor and put all the contents back in again. I will re-inspect the locker floor next time we come down; a couple of coats of Hammerite might be a good idea. Then rubbed down the stove flue with wire-wool and re-painted it with stove paint.
When Meg returned we went round the boat sales area and looked over a boat for sale - fabulous; almost new but eye-wateringly expensive!! During the morning the central heating burner started cutting out again; cleaning the fuseholder hasn't worked; I guess it needs a service. Ham and hard-boiled egg salad for lunch and as the weather wasn't up to much we packed up our bits and pieces and left Blisworth at 3.30pm.
June 4th 2010
A very hot evening and we left home rather later than usual; got to Blisworth at 7pm. On arrival we were invited to a bar-b-q with some of our neighbours! Meg cooked a dozen chicken drumsticks in the oven which were finished off on the barbie and soon disappeared! Too much vino of course but a good fun evening and bed around 11pm. Steve the marina manager has checked the boat over; cabin and starter batteries are good; bowthruster batteries are 'fair' (mind you, they're 11 years old!). However, the engine antifreeze is weak, protection only down to -7C. In the autumn it will have to be drained down and re-filled with 50-50 mix.
June 5th 2010
Another hot day! After all the usuals I set to work to put a coat of Hammerite on the gas locker floor. It was so hot that the sweat was running down my forehead and onto the locker floor! When I'd finished we strolled to the pub for a pre-lunch pint. A salad lunch back at the boat; then sat under the sunshade and read for a while. This was followed by a second coat of paint on the locker floor, a dog-walk around the bridges and a short siesta. After a cottage pie supper we wandered over to the Blisworth Bar-b-q gang and had a drink with them. After dark we could see flashes of lightning all around and some distant rumbles of thunder - at which point we said our 'goodnights' and turned in.
1 litre green Hammerite £9
June 6th 2010
We messed about today cleaning, tidying and packing up. After a coffee with Malcolm and Susie we drove to Braunston to book a mooring in the marina for our 'boat handling' course in August. Met Gary and Becky at the Admiral Nelson pub by Braunston Top Lock and after a good Sunday lunch we set off for home. Just as we left a huge storm set in which seemed to follow us all the way home from west to east. Interesting driving conditions! Arrived home at 5pm.
June 25th 2010
Another very warm afternoon. Arrived just before 6, carted our stuff across to the boat, had a few words with neighbours and enjoyed a bottle of wine sat at the mooring. Chicken for supper and after a final walk around the marina we turned in at 11.
June 26th 2010
Up at 8.30; Meg walked the dog and got some eggs from Arm Farm. I went to Tesco for some last-minute items for the food store. After breakfast we did a bit of planning about the changes we have in mind for the interior of Tambourine; new cupboards, shelves and suchlike. Finally set off from Blisworth and 11.30am. A pleasant run in hot sunshine but rather slow going, finally hauled into the moorings at Stowe Hill at 2.15pm. A bar snack in the Narrowboat Inn and then back for a leisurely afternoon. Malcolm and Susie arrived at around 5pm, we had a mug of tea then showered, changed and wandered up to the pub for a very pleasant supper. Home for a nightcap and bed at 11.30. A delightful day
2 3/4 hours
June 27th 2010
Another very hot day in store. We were up at 8 but by the time we had breakfasted, dog-walked, tow-path chatted and so on it was 10 before we left Stowe Hill. A pleasant journey to Whilton (about 11/4 hours). I. was surprised how quiet the canal was considering the glorious weather. We winded in the marina entrance and reversed back to tie up on the bollards of the 48-hour moorings below the lock. Visited Whilton chandlery and purchased two big bottles of loo fluid, sat by the lock and had an ice-cream and wandered back to the boat again. Left Whilton at 1.15 and stopped at Weedon at 2.15 for a salad lunch. Meg walked Tasha and we left Weedon at 4pm. It was still very hot.
This part of the trip was marred by two extremely slow boats in front of us; we were catching them up on tickover. This is just damned selfish; it keeps happening and is starting to irritate me. The sanctimonious 'you mustn't be in a hurry on the canal' grows tiresome; some of us have to get home on Sunday evenings for work on Monday. If people want to travel so slowly that they're barely moving that's fine - but at least have the good grace to pull over now and then so those who don't want to can at least get by and get on.
Journey's end at 6.30pm. Did a lot of tidying and shifting things about inside, then a chicken tikka supper and away for home at 9.15pm.
5 hours 2 x 2 litres Aquakem Blue £18
July 9th 2010
We arrived at 3.30pm to meet up with a couple of lads who are going to give us a price for some internal woodwork. We made a quick visit to the boat on Monday last for a similar visit from another cabinet maker. Dipped the diesel tank - just over 1/2 full.
The lads arrived at 5pm; Tony and Sylvia arrived at 5.20. When we had sorted ourselves out and settled in we enjoyed a lamb casserole supper and then strolled up to the cheese and wine party by the marina office. This was a lovely event but most of the cheeses the Cheese Boat had on offer were just too strong for me. We returned to the boat at 11pm when the party was more or less finished although we learned later that the stragglers didn't turn in until after 3am!
July 10th 2010
We had intended to go through the tunnel today and down to Cosgrove but made a last-minute change of plan; instead of Cosgrove we decided to head north again to Weedon so the girls could visit the antique shops. I had hoped to moor at the church moorings but they were full up so we stopped at the Heart of England pub mooring at around 1.15. After lunch the girls went antique-hunting; Tony and I cleared up and strolled to the pub. In the evening we collected a big chinese take-away from the carry-out in Weedon for supper. A pleasant day indeed.
3 1/2 hours
July 11th 2010
A late start; we left Weedon at 10.30. Dropped the girls off at the 'Heart of England' shopping outlet and travelled on to Whilton. Winded in the marina entrance and headed back to the shopping outlet, tied up and strolled up to the shops to meet the girls. After a look around the shops and a coffee we made our way back to the boat and set off again. A random stop near Bugbrooke for lunch was followed by a gentle wander back to Blisworth, reaching the mooring at 6.30 pm. After our visitors had gone we tidied up, emptied the loo and left for home at 9.30pm. Delayed supper until we were home. Another hot weekend but lovely on the canal.
July 18th 2010
After the Saab demo day we arrived last night and after the usual odds and ends we turned in early. This morning we were up at 8; a breezy and rather chilly morning. After all the usuals; breakfast, dog-walk and so on Meg stripped the bed and took all the sheets, duvet covers, pillow-cases etc up to the marina laundry to wash them. I connected up the hose which we had brought from the house and washed the boat down; leathered it off and gave it an Autoglym polish. This was made easier by not having an immediate 'next door neighbour' so after doing one side we simply roped the boat across to the jetty next to us and did the second side. It looks very nice; the polish has really given some depth to the finish which was rather lacking after the re-paint. In the evening we re-filled with water, emptied the loo and so on and after a cold chicken and veg supper we left for home at 8.15pm.
August 6th 2010
We arrived at around 6.30pm; Meg walked the dog and I loaded up, filled the fridge, set everything up. We should have got on with chores but we couldn't be bothered; Tambourine Torpor took over and we spent the evening reading books and papers. A late dog-walk and bed at 11.
August 7th 2010
Up at 7.45 and after all the usuals we drove to Whilton chandlery to buy a new radio for 'Tambourine' - a 12-volt Philips DAB radio we had seen on the Internet. We were impressed by the demo model in the shop so bought one and took it back to Blisworth. On trying to set it up at the boat we couldn't get the remote controller to work - so phoned Whilton who advised us to return it and they would give us an exchange unit. We then walked to the Blisworth Canal Festival via a quick stop at the Walnut Tree. The weather was patchy but we didn't get too wet. We met some of the folks from Northampton IWA; Tasha won a rosette in the dog agility class and we had pancakes and cheeseburgers for lunch - washed down with a scoop or two! On returning to the marina we joined the rest of the Blisworth reprobates for an evening bar-b-q-. Meg got a lift home because she had been helping on the Blisworth Marina book-stall! We eventually turned in about 11pm - a good day all ways round.
Radio - £150
August 8th 2010
We woke late today and had to clear up all the debris from last night's barbie before we could do anything! Once we were sorted out, Meg set off for Blisworth with the dog to help on the book-stall and I drove to Whilton to exchange the hi-fi remote unit. Despite our splendid meal at the pub neither of us slept very well for some reason. All the roads in the area were very congested because of an event at Silverstone so I took to the back lanes and managed to avoid all the hold-ups. Back at the boat I tested our the hi-fi and all was well so I set off for Blisworth. As I approached the Walnut Tree Gary drove by on his way to the boat - so we called in for one, left his car in the pub car-park (with landlord's permission!) and walked down the tow-path to Blisworth. An enjoyable afternoon at the festival; it was sunny and very hot when we got back to the boat. We sat in the sun; Gary did a bit of fishing and we packed up slowly at around 6.30pm, leaving Blisworth at 7.
August 13th 2010
A wet day. We had a bar snack at the Walnut Tree and got to the boat around 2pm. Re-filled with diesel ready for the holiday and got on with various housekeeping jobs. Final dog-walk around the marina at 10.15pm.
1/4 hour
60 litres diesel £66.00
August 14th 2010
A late start. We cleared the stove grate but a bit of the casting broke off so now the bottom grid doesn't sit in place like it should. We will have to see it it still works but I suspect the broken castings will have to be replaced - if that's possible - otherwise we could be looking at a new stove. We'll see how we get on with it. By 11.30 the chores were more or less done so we packed up and left for home, arriving back at 1.15pm.
August 18th 2010
Stopped at the Walnut Tree for a bar snack at 2pm, got to the boat at 3. The bad news is that the pub is going to ban dogs from the bar due to 'an incident'. This may cause us to find another pub. We moved the boat across to the diesel point and loaded up with all our stuff for the holiday. This done, and all the empty boxes band bags back in the car we set off at 4pm. True to form, as we left the marina it began to rain, and rained for over an hour. None the less we made good time; passed Bugbrooke at 5pm, Furnace Wharf at 5.30 and reached Stowe Hill at 6. Surprisingly there was plenty of mooring space at Stowe Hill and indeed at all the popular spots along the route. We went up to the Narrowboat Inn for supper - very much up to their usual excellent standards.
August 19th 2010
Neither of us slept very well last night again despite our delightful evening meal. We finally surfaced at 7 and after all the usuals left Stowe Hill at 8.30. Arrived at Buckby Locks at 10am. We were delayed here; we foolishly tried to do the good thing and wait for another boat to come to go up the locks with but the first boat that came was 'travelling with friends' - so we let them go up ahead of us which they did with not so much as a 'thank-you'; the next boat had a butty in tow and needed both sides of the lock so we let them go - and eventually went up with a hired boat captained by one bloke with a bunch of teenage lads. That was great because they worked all the locks for us and we travelled in convoy, more or less, for the rest of the journey. We had a good passage through Braunston tunnel - only one bump - and we tied up at 3.30pm in exactly the same spot as we had tied up in last time we came this way in 2003! The rain started shortly after we arrived. I checked out the local pubs to help us decide where to go with Gary and Becky when the arrived for supper. James called by and we'll meet up with him again at 9 tomorrow for Meg's training course.
7 hours, 13 locks
August 20th 2010
We had a fine supper with Gary and Becky at the Boat Inn - 'two meals for the price of one' night. It was very good. James arrived at 9 and after an hours briefing on boat operating matters I wandered off with Tasha and left Meg to get on with her lessons .Booked a marina berth for the evening and had a coffee at the floating cafe by the marina entrance and the Stop House. Then Meg and James came along in the boat and explained that a quick stop at the workshop in the marina was required as the gear selector mechanism had flown to bits! It was soon fixed and off they went. I walked around the village, visited the chandlery, went to the Admiral Nelson for lunch and wended my way back to the marina. When the intrepid pair returned we walked up to the pub for a couple of pints, settled up with James and returned to the boat. We re-filled with water, emptied the loo, connected the battery charger to the shore-line and settled down to a chicken and noodles supper, followed by bed at 11. A good day but very windy at times.
5 hours, no locks
500 ml grease £3, Electrical plug set £7.50, Instructor's fees £110.
August 21st 2010
We overslept and didn't get up until 8! Left Braunston at 9.30. Waved to Mark and Carol Stamp on NB Sunrise at Braunston Turn. They are on their way back to the Nene and home. It was a very slow journey today; miles of moored boats and the canal is very shallow in places. Overall I rather misjudged how long this leg of the trip would take. We crawled up Napton locks; very few of the other people going up and down actually took the trouble to give us a hand. Then in the last hour the heavens opened and a torrential rain-storm hit us. We arrived at Fenny Compton soaked to the skin but all the moorings there were taken. So many spaces were marked 'long-term permit holders only'; the people on the 14-day moorings looked as if they had been there for 14 months; ditto the 48-hour moorings. I fear that in the future we may start to ignore the BW signs as well. We do our best to play the game by the rules and just end up losing out a lot of the time. We tried tying up beyond the marina but it was just too shallow so we reversed back and tied up on the marina frontage, very wet and tired at quarter to seven. Fried steak and red wine for supper, and an early night to the sound of the rain.
9 hours, 9 locks
August 22nd 2010
Meg misread her watch and instead of getting up at half past six it was half past five! We left Fenny Compton at 7.15; it was a beautiful sunny morning which made up a bit for yesterday's rain. Once we started down the Claydon lock flight the depth of water improved and we were able to make a little more speed than we were able to manage on the summit level. We reached Cropredy at 11.30 am and decided to stop here for the day as I had always wanted to explore this place and the lovely sunny morning made it perfect. We tied up above the lock opposite the houses and a notice asking you not to run your engine between 8pm and 8am. Might be a bit hard for us because we'll be leaving at 7! We had a lunch-time pub crawl and chatted to lots of other boaters; a bit of shopping in the village store. After a sandwich lunch we did boaty jobs including a toilet-empty. Gary and Becky are joining us for a roast lamb supper later on. We met 2 bearded collies today and I will put their picture on the site shortly.
5 hours, 8 locks
August 23rd 2010
We were up and away at 7; it threw it down with rain all night but when we left it had reduced to a light drizzle. We still wore all our waterproofs! A steady run; we stopped for diesel at Sovereign Narrowboats on the outskirts of Banbury but it was closed so we carried on into the town and dumped our rubbish. Whilst waiting for Banbury lock we met a guy with a remote-controlled narrowboat. Quite amazing. He bought it through the lock and under the lift-bridge without being on board himself at all! After Banbury we pulled in to Aynho Wharf for water and diesel at lunch-time.
The hand-crank lifting bridge in Banbury centre. Meg had trouble lifting this - because she was turning the crank-handle the wrong way...
Just as we had finished filling it absolutely threw it down with rain. The nice folks at Aynho Wharf said we could stay on the diesel point until the rain stopped - which it did after about 45 minutes. Once the rain had stopped we moved on; it was a placid journey and we finally hauled in to moorings at Lower Heyford at 6pm. After a tidy around, we walked up to the pub (The Bell) for a couple of drinks; back aboard a pork casserole supper and bed at 10 pm. The gas cylinder had to be changed over tonight so we must get a replacement asap. We don't like travelling without a spare bottle of gas.
11 hours, 12 locks, 2 lifting bridges.
68 litres of diesel, £64.00
August 24th 3010
A late start! Didn't leave until 7.30am. We would regret that extra half-hour in bed. It was a bright but chilly morning but we had a good steady run. We passed through Shipston Wier lock but on approaching the railway bridges we were hailed by the crew of a hired boat coming the other way. There was a dead body in the canal. We immediately reversed back from the bridge and and tied up alongside a BW workboat, Meg ran up towpath to see what was happening and what we could do; I walked back towards the lock to tell the boats coming down behind us that they could go no further, and closed the lift-bridge. The police were called and they closed the canal. We phoned BW and the IWA festival organisers to let them know what was happening. As I write this, the canal is closed from Bakers lock to Thrupp and there is a lot of boat traffic building up in both directions. The body has been removed; all we know is that it is a woman and there is no identification on the body itself. The police divers are expected tomorrow and we hope that we will be on our way by tomorrow lunchtime. A day lost from a schedule that was going quite well. All we can do now is wait. As we are officially part of a 'crime scene' we cannot leave the boat, not even to walk the dog! All a bit of a pain; none the less this evening we had a big cottage pie supper, and the WPCs on duty brought us a couple of pints of milk. They are real heroes, these girls; they will spend all night on guard under a railway bridge over a canal in the middle of bloody no-where - a creepy spot if you let your imagination run away. We told them to come over and bang on the roof if there was anything they wanted. They didn't. And so to bed - and tomorrow's forecast - more rain. There's a surprise.
Closed lift-bridge. None shall pass until the police say so. Temporary mooring below Shipston Weir lock Boats held up in Shipston Weir lock
4 1/2 hours, 5 locks, 1 hours battery charge.
August 25th 2010
The police lifted the cordon around our moorings at 1.15pm. It had been a pleasant morning but as we left it began to rain. In order to get the huge back-lock of boat traffic moving, BW staff were working the lifting bridge at Thrupp which was helpful. The rain increased in intensity through the day and by the time we reached the little lock at Dukes Cut we were soaked through and very very cold. We asked the lockie where we could moor up but she was fairly vague. It seems that there aren't any proper EA moorings on the Thames. You just have to take your chances and tie up where you can. Not good enough I think. Anyway Meg spotted a mooring just upstream of Iffley Lock, complete with mooring rings and we hauled in at 6pm, tired and soaking wet! We hung up all our wet stuff and changed; we are tied up almost outside a pub but it doesn't open on Wednesdays.....NB Broadsword is tied up just below us, we met them whilst waiting at Shipston - but the other boats that are heading for the festival have passed through the lock and gone. According to the news the police have said that the body in the canal was that of a walker in her sixties - foul play is not suspected.
6 hours, 9 locks, 2 lifting bridges
August 26th 2010
A quiet night on our mooring at Oxford apart from the sound of the rain. We were up at 7 and after all the usuals we slipped the lines and entered Iffley lock at spot-on 9am. The weather, needless to say, was awful; a thick penetrating drizzle which obscured just about everything. But - this time we were both properly wrapped up to cope with it. We scampered through the locks in quick succession and it was beginning to look as if we might make it to the festival site without another overnight stop! We worked through all the locks with NB Broadsword. We finally hauled in to the festival site moorings at 5.30pm exactly. We were shuffled into our place on the flotilla, mooring S2B, and walked to the harbourmaster's office to register. Met Mike from NB Mercuteo. Then returned for supper onboard and later on wandered over to the beer tent. The festival begins!
8 hours, 9 locks
August 27th - August 30th 2010
Festival weekend. Mixed weather. It was great to see the family on Sunday and Bruce Rankin on Monday. We bought loads of stuff, like we always do but pride of place for me goes to the silver engraved tankard the family got me, complete with belt-holder. Absolutely lovely. All ways round this has been a great weekend and we made lots of new friends.
So to Chris and Lucy (NB Mars), Ray and Chris (NB Kathleen Margaret), Jim and Sheila (NB Eager Beaver), Shady and Aileen (NB The Sharp End) and Ken and Judy (NB Flying Fox) - and others too numerous to mention - thanks for your company, it was a lot of fun and we look forward to meeting up with you again further down. We are booked to leave here at mid-day on Tuesday to lock through Goring at 1.00pm. The jury is out on Burton-on-Trent next year. The present outlook is no - we will probably go to the IWA Campaign Meeting in Northampton instead. Not so far to travel!
8 hours charge
August 31st 2010
A sunny morning. We hung about on the mooring waiting for the 'off' and pulled out at mid-day for locking through Goring at 1pm. A steady run up the river and we didn't see as many boats as we expected. However the moorings at Abingdon were crowded and we ended up mooring on the jetty belonging to Kingcraft Boat Centre next to Abingdon Bridge. A couple of drinks in the Nags Head pub by the bridge and a quiet supper on board to end the day.
6 hours, 6 locks
September 1st 2010
We woke very early. When the boat centre opened we took on diesel, gas and water and set off again.
Dawn at Abingdon Bridge Vapour trails reflected in the water at Abingdon Bridge
Abingdon lock was very busy and it took us over an hour to get through. Upside of the lock we emptied the loo and carried on, through Oxford and up Dukes Cut onto the canal. We reached Thrupp at 5.30 and were lucky enough to get a mooring right outside the Jolly Boatman pub. Tasha disappeared and we were a bit worried but we found her in the pub being fed biscuits by the bar staff! A few drinks and supper on board. We had a nightcap with Ken and Judy of NB Flying Fox moored behind us, and bed at 11pm.
Our overnight mooring at Thrupp
71/2 hours, 9 locks.
Gas, water and diesel £45, mooring £5 (donation to the RNLI).
September 2nd 2010
A late start today, at half past nine. It was a rather slow run with several delays at locks. We reached Lower Heyford at 2.45. Moored up behind our original narrowboat NB Drifter! Bought some provisions from the Oxfordshire Narrowboats shop which doubles as the village store, emptied the loo and at 6pm walked to the Bell pub in the village for a very nice supper. On the way back we met Drifter's owner and promised to e-mail him some pictures of his boat from 15 years ago when we get home.
NB Drifter 15 years on Approaching Lower Heyford wharf
5 1/2 hours, 6 locks. Toilet emptying £2
September 3rd 2010
Before setting off 9-ish we re-filled with water from the BW tap by the bridge. We reached Aynho Wharf at 1.30pm. We had a drink in the pub where Meg arranged a taxi to go to the nearest supermarket - and then lunch on board. After lunch we noticed that a more agreeable mooring spot had become vacant so we moved the boat up to it. Then emptied the loo and got a newspaper from the wharf shop. Meg got her taxi to the supermarket to stock up with provisions for the rest of the trip. On her return we lazed about in the sun; Meg with the papers and I did a bit of fishing - and caught 3 quite reasonably sized roach. We also got talking to a chap whose boat was also built by Mike Haywood and fitted out by Stuart Cole. Small world. We asked him to remember us to Stuart since they are still in contact. We ate at the local pub (The Great Western Inn) in the evening. This fine establishment is awarded the 'best pub meal of the holiday' award for 2010. It was really terrific. Back at the boat we listened to some jazz on the hi-fi for a while and bed around 11.
4 1/2 hours, 3 locks, numerous lifting bridges. Toilet emptying £2.
September 4th 2010
An early start; we were gone by 7.15. It was cold and foggy but it soon warmed up. We dumped the rubbish in Banbury again and cruised on, reaching Cropredy at 1.30pm. We moored between the bridge and the lock. A drink in the Red Lion, followed by an avocado salad lunch. Meg did the shopping at the village store and walked the dog; I did one or two minor repairs, washed up and cleaned and hoovered the boat. The fan belt started squealing again today so I will have to replace it soon. I did a bit of fishing, emptied the loo in the BW facility over the bridge and we then walked to the Red Lion for supper. Unfortunately this supper wasn't very good. We complained about the crude presentation of the meals. We were given a free glass of wine by way of an apology. Back to the boat and bed at 10.30 after listening to a bit of jazz on the hi-fi.
Moorings at Cropredy between the lock and the road bridge
6 1/4 hours, 8 locks, numerous lifting bridges. 1 hour battery charge.
September 5th 2010
We set off from Cropredy at 8.45 after buying papers from the village shop. This bit of the trip worked out well; most of the locks were with us or oncoming boats gave us a hand. The moorings at Fenny Compton were completely full, like last time. There was a boat moored up at the water tap and I noticed that while there was a hose connected to the tap and across to the boat it wasn't actually being used to fill the tank. I think the boat owner had connected up the hose to make it look as if he was filling up and then gone to the pub. The boat straddled across the 'no mooring' bit opposite the winding hole had prominent 'NABO' stickers in the window. I thought a NABO member should have know better. The worst part was that there were loads of hired boats coming up from Napton - with absolutely no-where to stop. If I ran a hire-boat fleet I think I would be taking BW to task and insisting on some proper enforcement of these moorings. And a reduction in the number of 'long-term permit holders only' places. Half of them are empty anyhow.
Out of Fenny Compton we came across a boat that had broken away from its moorings but fortunately some other boaters were doing their best to make it secure so we carried on. We finally moored up above Napton Bottom lock at 5.45pm. Unfortunately the pub is shut (the tenant did a runner) but we bought some bits in the canal shop next door and had supper on board. A good day with fair weather for the most part.
9 hours, 17 locks
September 6th 2010
The wind built up in the night and thee was a very fresh breeze blowing when we got up at 7. We dropped down Napton Bottom lock, re-filled with water, dumped the rubbish and emptied the loo. Left just after 9. It was a very windy trip but at least it didn't rain. We re-filled with diesel at Union Narrowboats at Braunston by the bottom lock and then found partners to go up the flight with. At the Admiral Nelson I dived into the pub and got a pint of cider in my own silver tankard. I have always wanted to do that! I carried it back to the boat. We passed through Braunston tunnel with only a couple of bumps and finally tied up at Norton junction at 3.30. The canal is very quiet and there are only 2 boats here. Walked down to the little canal shop at Buckby Wharf and then back to the boat with a drink in the New Inn on the way. Just as we got back on, the heavens opened so our return was well timed. We witnessed a disgraceful display of 'how to smash lock gates to bits and then clear off without closing the gates' by a pair of working boats loaded with what looked like IBCs of chemicals. One rule for us, another for them it would seem. We are now settled down for the evening to the sound of the wind and the rain. For interest, a rough calculation shows that between Abingdon and here, the engine has returned 1 1/2 litres per hour of running. Meg took the dog out again at bedtime and got completely drenched.
6 1/2 hours, 7 locks, 1 tunnel 2042 yards. 60 litres of diesel, £62.64.
September 7th 2010
We moved down to Buckby Top lock at 8 and waited for another boat to come along and share the locks with us. By 8.45 no-one had come so we worked down the locks by ourselves. It took just over 2 1/2 hours. We carried straight on past Whilton towards home and arrived back at Blisworth at 3pm. We moored at the diesel pump to unload, then moved across to the berth for a final tidy-up. Left Blisworth shortly after 4pm at the end of our marathon cruising holiday. We have learned a lot on this trip which we will no doubt put into practice in the future.
6 hours, 7 locks
Some of the lovely Bearded Collies we met on our holiday cruise. Unfortunately the log does not record their names.
September 11th 2010
We arrived for a late lunch and got on with the 'after the holiday' clean-up. A windy afternoon but quite pleasant. At 6 we walked up to the pub for a couple of drinks; then back to the boat for supper, read the papers and bed at 11pm.
September 12th 2010
Didn't surface until gone 8! A lovely cloudless sunny day but still a keen and chilly breeze. After breakfast we carried on with our various tasks; washed and leathered the boat and hoovered and dusted down the inside. I inspected the bow-thruster - all clean and dry but I had some trouble removing the inspection plate - because the muppets at Blisworth Tunnel Boats had painted right over the top of it instead of taking it off and painting it separately. I had to soak all the fixing screws in cellulose thinners and dig the paint out of the heads with a pin before I could screw them back in again. We made a list of all the things that need doing over the winter months - a rather long list but at the top is to get the central heating boiler repaired and serviced so we can come down to the boat in the cold weather and know we can at least get warm! Finally loaded all the stuff into the car and left for home at 5.30pm.
October 16th 2010
Arrived last night in the rain at about 8pm. No supper as we had eaten a late buffet lunch earlier on. Today was a mixture of sun and rain. Gary from Marine and Leisure Services has fixed the Eberspacher and it seems to work fine so that's a great step forward! I tried to sort out some electrical wiring to get rid of the rat's nest which has developed behind the tv set but decided that you can't really do fiddly electrical jobs on board so I loaded everything into a box to mend in the radio shack at home. Around mid-day Malcolm and Susie popped in for a coffee and a chat. After lunch Meg took the dog up the tow-path to Blisworth; after finishing my various chores I walked up that way myself and met them coming back. A quick cup of tea and off back home about 4pm.
October 24th 2010
A chilly morning; I arrived at 10 to do the winterising jobs. I drained the water system and the Paloma, set up the dehumidifiers, changed the curtains for the winter ones and packed the summer ones up to go home for claning; emptied the loo, charged up all the battereis and similar jobs. We have arranged for the guys at Grand Junction Narrowboats to give Tambourine a complete 'stem-to-stern' mechanical overhaul so I took all the clothes out of the wardrobe so they can access the engine cover. They will collect the boat from Blisworth tomorrow and I've asked John to let them have the keys. All the tasks were finished by 2.30pm so I locked up and headed for home.
November 5th 2010
We had hoped to go to the marina bonfire party tomorrow night and stay on the boat but the engineers have found unexpected problems (the boat exhaust system is broken and we also have a gas leak). As Tambourine won't be ready for us we have had to cancel. In fact it might be just as well as I am starting my 'pre-med' course of injections on the 6th which I must have prior to an operation at Papworth Hospital on Thursday next. I'm not sure how they will make me feel. So I have spent some time instead correcting a load of spelling and typing errors on this site. I have also been wondering whether to include a 'links' page to other sites. There are some really good boaty sites and blogs out there. There are also some seriously weird ones. I will give that matter some more thought over the coming weeks.
November 20th 2010
Steve Sullivan at Grand Junction Boat Co. called to say that he returned 'Tambourine' to her mooring yesterday. We drove to Blisworth today to inspect the works. A cold and very foggy day; we arrived at around 10am. Everything we asked for (and quite a few things we didn't ask for 'cos we didn't know they were broken) have been attended to and the lads from GJBC have left the boat beautifully neat and tidy.
The exhaust note is louder than before with the new silencer but the adjustments made to the throttle control are just marvellous - it's now as smooth as glass and takes up the drive beautifully in forward and astern. Once we had finished our tour of inspection we put all the clothes and other cruising kit back in the wardrobe and set off for home. It was so cold and dreary so there seemed little point in hanging around. We will go home and wait for Steve Sullivan's bill to arrive...!
November 30th 2010
Well - an expensive week. We have paid for the boat repairs and only just recovering from that when through the letterbox - the boat licence renewal invoice from the boys and girls at British Waterways. Aaargh! Where will it all end! We won't get a Gold licence this year, I think the only river trip we will make is down the Arm to Northampton for the IWA Campaign Rally. The folks from IWA Northampton Branch have negotiated a concession from the EA so that visitors from the canal with BW licences can drop down onto the Nene - and pass through Northampton Town lock if they want to use the sanitary facilities at Becketts Park - for the purpose of attending the rally. Excellent news indeed.
We read from the various blogs on the internet that in this cold weather many folks are frozen in, stand-pipes and water-taps are frozen up and all sorts of other problems have cropped up due to the sudden onset of wintry weather. Although living aboard has never appealed to us (and in any case - the good NB Tambourine isn't built for it) - we have many good friends who have chosen that way of life - we do hope that the weather doesn't cause them too much difficulty. The forecast is that come the weekend the wind will swing to the south-east and temperatures will begin to rise.
December 10th - December 17th 2010
Report and pictures coming soon!
