Draco's & Success's Travels

Wednesday 15th February to Monday 20th February, 2012

2012-02-20T14:19:00.001-08:00

Wednesday 15th February, 2012

The ice having been broken around us by a couple of boats Braunston bound today, I decided to do the water run to Braunston and back. I left single-handing Draco at around 11.15 and motored to Braunston, did the necessary with the water, etc. and then motored back to Barby Wood Bridge via Kilsby winding hole. All back and moored up behind Success by just before 4pm.

10 miles, 0 locks

Thursday 16th February, 2012

Krystyna waiting to be cast adrift...

Today is the day we will try and get the boats onto our new mooring just around the corner at Barby Wood Farm. Around 10am I loosed off Success and then took Draco past to pick up the short-straps.

Krystyna adrift and moving Draco up
to collect the short-straps

My original plan had been to run the short distance around the corner breasted up, but then I remembered we have to go through bridge 79 and as in poor a state of repair as it is, I guessed that the powers-that-be would like it to be still there.....

Breasting up just after bridge 79

So, we motored round the corner and through the bridge and then breasted the pair up, allowing a Braunston-bound boat past first. There were two distinct mooring spots where there was a natural gap in the hedge for landing, so we initially moored Success up at the first and then attempted to get Draco into the second spot.

Approaching the mooring

No luck, the closest I could get the bows in was still about 6 foot out from the bank, a tad too far even for our long plank. Consequently, I backed up and breasted Draco up on the outside of

Moored up for now

Success, which still left about 10 foot of canal at the bows end, enough for a few days, but once the trees had been removed I would be able to pull the bows into the bank leaving a much wider space between the towpath and Draco.

Friday 17th February, 2012

The result at the end of the first day

The first full day of site clearing. Unfortunately our chainsaw had decided to give up the ghost, so after strimming all the dead rushes and reeds from the top section of the mooring I set about removing the brambles and briars from the treed section. Fortunately the lack of chainsaw was not a problem, it very much had to been done by hand using a brush-clearing handsaw and a fair amount of brute force pulling, or attempting to, the briars out of the tree. These plants had obviously not been disturbed since this section was piled back in the late 40's (?) and consequently they were very well established - I was cutting though briars up to 1.5 inches thick in places!

The debris pile waiting for removal

By the end of the day I had worked about half way up the trees and Owen (the farmer) came down with his mighty machine and in one fell swoop cleared the lot onto the fire pile. What had taken me all day to clear out of the trees took him just 3 minutes to collect up and dump!

Sunday 19th February, 2012

Result! - brambles and briars all cleared
ready for tree felling!

Saturday had been a horrible wet and cold day and after fuelling up from Ian and Ali on Gosty Hill, I didn't achieve a great deal else until mid-afternoon when the sun came out.

Almost there....

Today, however, was another glorious sunny day, so I set about clearing the rest of the trees of brambles and briars. By the end of the afternoon I had achieved my aim and several mounds of debris behind me. We were now ready to fell all the trees, which was planned for tomorrow, with Richard, a friend of ours from the village, coming to help me. This was an excellent plan, as he is very experienced in this type of work and also had a wood-burning stove...

We now also have a new chainsaw, so that will be put to good use tomorrow.

Monday 20th February, 2012

Start of the day

I started the day by felling some of the small bushes at the top end of the mooring with our shiny new chainsaw - not so shiny now :-> Around 11am Richard arrived and we set to felling the rest of the trees. We made good progress and by 1pm they were all down and piled up behind us - the debris pile now stretching almost the full length of the mooring...

Richard tidying up a stump

Richard popped home for lunch whilst I gave the dogs a run - Krystyna was away all day at a trade show at the NEC. An hour or so later Richard returned with his trailer in tow and proceeded to sort out the suitable trunks and developed logs for burning on his stove.

All trees down

Meanwhile, I continued tidying up the top end of the mooring where I had started this morning.

The final debris pile

Owen and his mighty machine!

Towards the end of the afternoon Owen came down from the farm with his mighty machine again and cleared what was left of the debris onto the fire pile, which is now quite a size, it will be interesting when we fire this.....

Trees - what trees?
Site cleared.

A bit more tidying up after Owen and Richard left and I was finished by 5pm. What trees?

Sunday 12th February, 2012

2012-02-12T09:48:00.000-08:00

Frozen in at Barby Wood

Not being able to move at the moment due to being frozen in - thawing today but freezing again tonight - we are still here at Barby Wood. We were approaching the bottom of the water tank so I started the daily run fetching 75 litres of water down from our house in Barby. I guess I may need to do the same with some diesel next week as I doubt we will be seeing Ian and Ali on Gosty Hill for a while yet.

Still, I have not been idly wasting my time here, having now almost completed the partial refit I am doing on Draco. I ripped up all the laminate flooring throughout and replaced four of the sub floorboards, as they were showing signs of being the worse for wear. They have been down for 13 years and did get rather wet for a week or three back in 2007 when the pre-water pump filter leaked when we were not on board for a while (I was on Janna at Windsor and Krystyna was here and there....) and also, looking at the boards themselves, I don't think they were either Marine Ply or WBP, so not surprising they had started to suffer!

I removed the previous wardrobes and cupboard units from the bow end of the saloon, utilising the large hammer method and have now laid a new laminate floor throughout. I removed the old double-divan set from our bedroom and built in a new bed frame, so that we can more easily utilise the space underneath for storage. I built up new cupboard units - flat pack from Ikea, they look more professional that I can make (I'm no wood butcher) and we now have only to decide on the final layout of them. The large double-unit
is in place with the DVD player and stereo in pride-of-place on it, the flat-screen TV mounted on the cabin sides. We just have the single drawer-unit and the four smaller cabinets to site and I'm done! Good job because I have a new project on the horizon - that's aside from the one to build a tilt and rotate unit to mount the solar panels on! and the hands-free hoist up system for the wind generator, although my Brother-in-Law is manufacturing the main part of that..

Part of our new mooring spot

The new project? ... we have been cc'ers for 5 years now, having been moored at the Engine Arm, Napton for many years before that, but I have just concluded a successful negotiation with a local farmer here at Barby. As soon as we can move again we shall potter round the corner and through bridge 79 to the offside, where we have 200 ft mooring and use of about 1/2 an acre of land adjacent. I am not sure yet if initially we will be able to get Draco alongside the bank due to the depth, or possible lack of it, but we are certain to be able to get Success in and may have to breast up for a while until I sort things out.

Another view - lots of work to be done!

Lots of work to be done clearing some vegetation from the bank-side and also around the plot of land - looks like I need to do a service of our chainsaw and power-strimmer.

Ensure you close the gate!

Talking of bridge 79, this is an accomodation bridge which carries a bridle path across it. The land either side of the bridge now belongs to two separate farms, so there are gates either side of the bridge. The one on the towpath side never fails to amuse me as you may see in the picture - don't forget to close the gate behind you :->

A busy spot
the birds seem to be queueing up....

A Chaffich on floor cleaning duty

Finally, our bird feeder stand is doing great service at the moment, we regularly have lots of visitors, including in the main: Great Tits, Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Robins (3 of them usually contesting the others' territorial rights), Blackbirds, Mistle Thrushes, Sparrows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Goldfinches - we spend long whiles just watching them, beautiful.

Friday 27th January, 2012

2012-01-27T10:42:00.000-08:00

Leaving Succes behind at Barby Wood

Looking at the weather forecast for the next few days it looks as though we may well be iced in by this time next week, if not before. Consequently, I decided to go to Braunston and top up the water tank, thus giving us the better part of 3 weeks supply. Krystyna is away at son Ashley's in Burnley for a few days, so it was Draco, me and the dogs having an away day! Around 11.30 I disconnected Success from the power, untied Draco and we were off Braunston bound. I hoped that the mooring slot would still be free when I returned, but if not I would just have to breast up on the outside of Success.

Draco on the services point

It was a glorious sunny winter's day, cool, but very pleasant and after an hour or so I arrived at Braunston and stopped on the services point and filled the water tank, dumped the rubbish, etc. I popped into Midland Chandlers for some oil, as the Lister is due an oil change in around 100 hours and 30 minutes or so later was off into the turn to wind.

Reversing back out of the turn

Once round I headed back off towards Barby Wood. Not much traffic about today, a couple of boats passed me Hillmorton bound on the way up and there was another just arriving at the services.

Another very pleasant run saw me arriving back at Success at around 2.30pm. The mooring slot was fortunately still clear, but I needed to run on to Kilsby winding hole so that Draco would be facing the same way as Success again - a decided advantage when we move off again!

As I was running up the Barby straight a rather large dark cloud arrived and threw some hail stones at me followed by a persistent light shower, which stayed with me until I was almost back at Barby Wood, when it cleared away and the sun came out again, fortuitously as I was about to moor up.

Barby Moorings marina now has some
staging, well, a bit - actually that's the
lot so far and work has stopped again

I arrived at Kilsby winding hole and after a bit of jiggling back and forth I was round and heading back again to Success, arriving back at just after 3.30pm. All moored up and sorted out by 4pm.

10 miles, 0 locks.

Thursday 19th January, 2012

2012-01-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

Now that the ice has all gone we decided to move today, a few days later than we should have of course, but then we were to some extent iced in. The day dawned somewhat damp as had been forecast, but by the time I left Success on the mooring and moved Draco round to the water point to top up the tank the sun was shining. I walked the rubbish, etc., up to the disposal point, but by the time I was walking back a somewhat persistent rain shower had arrived. It continued raining whilst I readied Success for the off and Draco's water tank was filling, but by the time I was backing up to collect Success it was all but over and the sunny periods returned, an it remained like that for the rest of the day.

A couple of boats had come down the locks whilst we were watering up, so I expected bottom lock at least to be with us, but in the 20 minutes or so between the last boat coming down and our arriving the lock had virtually leaked full! We set off at 12.15pm and I dropped Krystyna and Success off onto the offside lock mooring and poked Draco's bows into the tail of the offside lock whilst I emptied it. The flight is still working one lock of each pair at the moment whilst work is carried out on the other locks, currently the middle pair are the only ones being worked on, but one each of the other two pairs is locked off. We worked the pair up the lock and motored up to the middle pair. The offside lock was the one in use and it was still empty, so I gently pushed open the gates with Draco's bows whilst I dropped Krystyna and Success off. The pound above between this set and the top set of locks was at least 2 foot down! I remarked to one of the BW guys working there that I probably wouldn't get through as Draco is virtually 3ft deep at the skeg. He said it was a deep pound so I should be ok - obviously neither a local man nor a boater I surmised.

We worked Success through the lock and I set off up the pound, Krystyna walking up to open the gates and to run some water down if I got stuck, as expected. Sure enough some 20 yards or so out of the lock I came to a full stop, with Draco firmly on the bottom and about 3 inches of air under the counter..... Krystyna had already seen me stop and started to run some water down, fortunately being a relatively short pound it wasn't long before Draco was floating again and I headed up to the towpath side lock and went straight in. I loosed Success off and we worked up the lock. The wind had meanwhile caught Success before Krystyna had had chance to make her fast on the bollard and consequently was across the pound. It might not have been much of a breeze but it was enough to make pulling her back over difficult, so I attached the long line to one of Draco's stern dollies and whilst Krystyna poled Success's stern over I long-lined out of the lock.

Krystna made Success fast to the bollards and I started turning the lock, just in time to see Ian and Ali on Gosty Hill come into view heading down. I was about to stop turning the lock when Ian decided that it would be easier to fuel us up at the top, so I continued working Success through. We hitched up and pulled out of the lock and alongside Gosty Hill to take on diesel and solid fuel. Krystyna meanwhile was across the canal again on Success, still, no one would be going anywhere in either direction until we had finished with Ian and Ali :-> Another boat arrived to work up the lock, but also wanted fuel, so they decided to stay below the lock until Gosty Hill had worked down.

We had exited the locks at 1.45pm and after 30 minutes or so with Ian and Ali we were off again, heading for Barby Wood. A very pleasant hour or so's cruising in the lovely winter sunshine and we arrived at Barby Wood. There were only two mooring spots available and neither long enough for the pair singled out. I pulled past the first gap and decided it was just long enough, so I stopped the pair, slipped off the short-straps and reversed Draco into the space and then breasted Success up on the off side. Having been moored here breasted up in the past we knew that it still leaves plenty of room for passing boats. All tied up and having a bowl of soup by 3.45pm.

4 miles, 3 locks (twice).

Sunday 1st January, 2012

2012-01-01T12:37:00.000-08:00

Approching the Rugby Wharf winding hole

We chatted about where to go over our morning tea and decided that due to possible parking problems for Krystyna's van, we would have a look through Rugby, but with the intention of winding at Rugby Wharf and then heading back to Hillmorton to find a mooring there, even if it meant being ankle-deep in mud....

Breasting up for the turn

We headed off from our overnight spot at Clifton at 11.45am and headed round to Rugby. There was not enough space at the 'Tesco' moorings at Brownsover, although Krystyna did spot a possible location on the off-side alongside the green space between the Brownsover estate road and the canal. We need to look into this as a suitable future spot, again checking the parking possibilities for the van.

Half-way round - unbeknown to me
at this stage we were down to one
strand on the front strap!

We continued on over the Rugby embankment, there was space there, but we know we would not be allowed to have long-term parking in the Elliot’s Fields shopping complex below. Consequently, we carried on to the end of the embankment and winded the pair in the winding hole opposite the Rugby Wharf arm (the home of Willow Wren).

Singled back out and heading off again

We stopped the pair just before the winding hole and breasted up, completed the turn and the singled out again and set off again on the return journey at around 12.45. I had used the front strap as well as the stern one as the turn into the winding hole is quite sharp and I wanted full control of both boats, by the time we were singling out again the front strap was down to half a strand - must make a new one.....

Moored up at Hillmorton

A gentle run back to Hillmorton saw us mooring up in a perfect slot just below the water point with a well made-up towpath. There is also parking available in the area around the BW yard between middle and bottom lock and not too far to walk on a good towpath, so OK there. We were all settled by 2.15 and having a nice cup of tea.

4 miles, 0 locks.

Saturday 31st December, 2011

2012-01-01T12:20:00.000-08:00

Setting off from Barby Wood

A very pleasant mild day - especially for the last day of the year! - the sun coming out to play for a while to. Our plan was to move to below Hillmorton locks today and find a suitable mooring at the bottom or round the corner at Clifton. We cast off at just after 11am and gently cruised round to the top of the locks. Barby Moorings marina has not changed at all since last we passed, boats moored all around the edges, but no sign of any pontoons or staging yet.

Approaching Hillmorton Top Lock

We arrived uneventfully at the top of the locks at 12.15 to find the parallel set closed and quite a bit of traffic in the flight. A boat was working down ahead of us and I could see another working up the middle lock. We hovered around on the off side, it would have been in the middle, but the outfall from the back-pumping system put paid to that.

Nick with Aldgate exiting top lock

Our friend Nick Wolfe worked his working boat Aldgate up top lock and we manoeuvred out of his way so that he could exit the lock. We worked Draco down the lock with Success tied to the top gate. Although we could see another boat working up middle lock, we decided to turn the lock and work Success down, essentially because owing to the back-pumping outfall there was nowhere to put Success without it being swept across the canal to the off side. Had we been working through the off-side lock that would not have been a problem, but the open lock was the towpath side! Fortunately, the boaters coming up were also friends of ours and they understood our problem.

Waterung up in the sunshine

Whilst we were turning the lock I left Draco, as is usual, gently reversing into the bottom gates. Unfortunately, I had omitted to close the back doors and the leak from the bottom gates was spouting through the opening and slowly (well, actually, quite fast!) filling the engine well and the back-cabin bilges! Sebastian was totally unimpressed by this, as far as he is concerned water should only be found in his drinking bowl :-> He was as far away as he could be from the back doors, pressed up against the engine
room/main cabin door, but unfortunately there became so much water in the engine wall that it was being picked up by the engine flywheel and showering the engine room - he became even less impressed. Some people say that dogs do not have expressions, we know differently of course, the look on Sebastian's face when I appeared and started to pump out the engine well with a bilge pump and stop the impromptu shower was priceless.

I left the pump running and went back to continuing down the flight, hooking Success up and working down to middle lock. The remainder of the flight proved hazard free and we emerged from bottom lock and moved down to the water point at 1.30pm. From past experience I know that both Hillmorton water points are very slow, such that it took over an hour and a half to fill the tank. Still, that gave me more time to pump most of the water out of the back bilges - a good job the main cabin bilge is sealed from the engine room and back cabin.

Moored up at Clifton

Just after 3.15pm we moved off and heading down the moorings looking for a suitable slot. Nothing doing until after the weir, but the new section of piling was completely boat free, unfortunately the towpath was in such a muddy state that we declined to stop there. We went round the corner to have a look at the mooring situation just beyond Kent Road Bridge, I could just about get Draco into the side and the towpath was not too bad, so things looked promising, but he locals (and boaters no doubt) obviously use this section as the local dog toilet and the bank was so covered with doggy offerings that we decided it was too much for us to clean up so we continued on. We pootled round the corner a way until we reached the section at Clifton adjacent the golf course. The towpath was pretty good, there was space for the pair singled out and we could get into the side on the piling, so we pulled in and moored there.

It turned out that the towpath between there and Clifton Road bridge was another muddy quagmire and as it probably would be difficult to find a close parking space for Krystyna's van, we decided to move on tomorrow and look for somewhere else.

5 miles, 3 locks (twice).

Sunday 18th December, 2011

2011-12-19T13:03:00.000-08:00

Almost ready to move off from Flecknoe Fields

Time to go and fill the water tank and change mooring location. We arose earlyish to see the ice, albeit a thin layer, back across the canal. Whilst I was readying the boats, lighting the stoves, etc., a couple of boats came through heading towards Braunston so the patches of ice were broken for us.

Unbroken ice on the off-side

We set off at 11am heading for the wide bend at Bridge 107 where we would wind pair. It was a beautiful sunny morning and there was still quite a lot of solid ice around along the off-side bank in places. Fortunately the wide bend where we wind was more-or-less clear of ice, so no obstruction - it's damned difficult turning a boat broadside against ice....

The pretty Lower Shuckburgh church
with its unusual hexagonal tower

We turned successfully and singled out again and just over an hour after leaving Flecknoe Fields we were back, passing in the opposite direction. An hour or so later we were arriving at Braunston Turn and pulling into the services point. After filling the water tank, etc. and having had a nice hot bowl of home-made soup we were off again at just after 3pm towards Barby Wood. Although there had been some traffic on this stretch there was still a lot of unbroken ice out of the fairway.

Unbroken ice on the off side between
Braunston and Barby

I had the engine racked up somewhat higher than usual as I realised that we were likely to be mooring up in the dark, still only managing just over 3mph though ... the pound is about 5 inches off weir at the moment, so we were dragging the bottom in one or two places. We arrived at Barby Wood just as the sun was setting so managing to get more-or-less settled before it became really dark. All sorted by 4.30pm.

8 miles, 0 locks.

Tuesday 13th December, 2011

2011-12-13T09:57:00.001-08:00

A day of good news! I had arranged to pop into Tony Redshaw's today to see how the bits were progressing and after a lazy start to the day we went shopping at various Rugby stores and had lunch in Tesco's - hey, no cheapskate me!

On the way back we went to Tony's to see what the news was. The starter motor had been serviced there and did not need replacing after all, just a good clean out, polish-up of the commutator and solenoid contacts and general internal lubrication - a lot cheaper than a service-exchange unit.

The pump also turned out to be excellent news. It had not suffered any internal corrosion, as I had anticipated (nay prayed) it might not, due to it having only been used on a closed system and not pumping raw water. The seals have been replaced and the pump reassembled ready for me to refit to the engine.

The whole episode cost less than £150 and as neither task I could have completed myself due to the necessity of specialist tools we are more than pleased with the outcome.

Tomorrow should see the engine back in service again.....

Monday 12th December, 2011

2011-12-12T07:19:00.000-08:00

I arose fairly early for me and after a further check of the generator, I realised that the fault was indeed with its inverter and currently beyond my scope to repair. So, not only have I got the engine off-line I now have to get a temporary replacement generator.

I took the pump and starter motor to Tony and after a quick check they were on the phone calling up a service-exchange starter, that'll be here in a couple of days hopefully. Next the water pump, it was not a Jabsco as Tony had thought (so the seals would have been no good anyway!) but a genuine original Lister type. A scratch of the head and a few tut-tuts off Tony and he explained what the problem more than likely was, by showing me other Lister pumps they have there with this problem. They are apparently prone to corroding away within the impeller chamber, such that the seals no longer fit and hence the leaks start. I won't know for sure until the pump is stripped down later today, there is a small glimmer on the horizon because it has always (since we had the engine originally) been run on a closed-circuit system with a high-concentration of coolant mix - we shall see!

The real problem is that these pumps are just about no longer available and if one was it would be a four-figure sum!!!! What we would/may have to do is put a Jabsco pump on and modify the belting and pipe work to suit - not a quick job.

Having left Tony's a little disconsolately I headed into Rugby to try and find a suitable generator. I had a look around a few places, but the cost of hiring anything suitable was quite high and none of the 'cheap' open-frame generators were either any good or actually cheap! Consequenly, I went to a main dealer in Rugby who is the Honda agent, but also now has Hyundai sets and they are currently on special offer. So, we now have a brand-new Hyundai 2kW suitcase generator, so it won't be lights out tonight after all - mind you, not sure I've got any money left to buy the petrol :-> I'm still considering getting a 'silent' diesel set and mounting it in Draco's large front well-deck, but that will now have to wait a while.....

We wait to see if we can get mobile again this week, otherwise it'll be a phone call to BW to request an overstay here and we will have to start portaging water in as we will probably run out mid next-week. Jolly good fun this boating innit! - and now I'll be spending all my pocket money as well for the next few months.....

2011-12-12T07:12:00.000-08:00

Sunday 11th December, 2011

Well, it started off as a relatively simple maintenance task, but has now resulted in an impending disaster! The cooling circulation pump on the Lister has been leaking for a while, as slow drip when running, but the leak has now turned into more of a concerted effort to empty the header tank more quickly, which resulted in the overheating situation last week when we moved here to Flecknoe. I perused my workshop manual and the job looked do-able on board. We called into Tony Redshaw's on Saturday to collect some items we are going to try and sell for himand Gill and I discussed the problem with him and came away with a couple of new seals. Simples I thought.

Sunday morning and after a gentle start I donned my overalls and retired to the engine room. Removing the pump from the engine was not too difficult, although the twin-belts driving it and the main alternator were a tad awkward to get off the pulley. If I had not succeeded there it would have meant stripping off the flywheel guard and other bits and pieces to get the belts off.... thus, going well I thought. Dismantling the pump started with removing the pulley with a set of gear pullers and then taking the impeller c

ver housing off the other end. That left me with the impeller on the shat at one end and about one inch the bare shaft at the other. I removed the circlip holding the front seal in place and, following the instructions in the workshop manual, attempted to remove the shaft by using a brass drift and persuading it from the impeller end. After about 30 minutes of such persuasion I realised that it had been in situ too long and would require a bench press at the very least to remove it. Abandon that job and take it to Tony tomorrow for him to complete the rebuild.

The second task was to try and find out why the starter motor is oft times very sluggish, in fact lately most of the time, to actually run and turn the engine over - it usually needs a bit of encouragement to get it to go. I had thought that maybe the brushes, or one or more of the brush springs, was at fault. I disconnected the cables and removed the motor from the engine, took off the brush cover and checked the four brushes and springs - nothing at all wrong there. I am unable to check the starter solenoid because it is the type that is inside the unit itself and requires a complete strip-down to get at it, requiring more tools I do not have. I reconnected the power cables and tested it to see if it would run dismounted, unfortunately not. OK, another bit to take to Tony and probably means a service-exchange unit is required.

Bugger thinks I, what started off as an apparently routine maintenance task has resulted in the engine being completely off-line for a few days at least. Good job we have the Kippor generator to charge the batteries up then via the Victron - or so I thought. After a couple of hours running, fortunately with the batteries not far off fully charged, the generator decided to give no more output. A quick investigation indicated that the generator inverter unit has developed a fault - a further look at it in the morning when I can properly see what I am doing.

Saturday 3rd December, 2011

2011-12-06T09:16:00.000-08:00

Ready for the off

A short run planned today to our next stay at Flecknoe. According to the 14day mooring stay we were not due to move until Monday, but after a recent phone call from George, the local BW Enforcement Officer, we are on the move today. We had not overstayed at Braunston, but according to the Enforcement Officer's interpretation of the new mooring guidelines,we had come back to Braunston too soon, we were here 4 weeks ago. He had allowed us to stay for a few more days after the phone call as I am having a piece of engineering built by my brother-in-law, and had arranged for him to come for a planning and measuring visit.

Temporary stop at 'Foxes Gate'

So, after taking Draco to the services point for water, etc., I reversed back to Success, connected up the cross-straps and at 1pm we were off. We went round the turn and immediately felt the strong breeze that we had been sheltered from by the hedge where we had been moored, but with lots of sunny periods it wasn't a bad day at all. We gently made our way down the straight after the turn when Krystyna said to me over the radio, 'what's that smoke coming from Draco's side?' A quick look down the side and I realised that there was steam coming out of the cooling system header tank overflow pipe. A quick scan of the temperature gauge and I realised that something was amiss. I stopped the pair mid-stream and scuttled down into the engine room and checked the engine, header tank and cooling system - she was running hot, but not at danger point. I let some more water into the header tank and we pottered on for a while through the moored and sunken boats around the puddle-banks until I decided that as things had not settled down then we had best stop for a proper look.

The view across the Warwickshire plain
from 'Foxes Gate' - next time I will set
the camera on panoramic mode

We pulled over onto the nice shiny new piling just before 'Foxes Gate' and temporarily moored up. Krystyna sorted the dogs out whilst I dived into the engine room again. The engine temperature was still not at danger point, but I could hear bubbles escaping into the header tank, obviously an air/steam lock had developed in the system somewhere and was stopping the correct coolant flow. I decided to let things settle down for 30 minutes or so and see how things are then. I duly started the engine up after the 30 minutes and almost immediately the temperature ran back down to normal, showing that the coolant was flowing correctly round the engine again. I let the engine run for a further 10 minutes or so and as all was normal again, we cast off and set off again for Flecknoe.

Moored up at Flecknoe Fields

It had been my intention to go on past Flecknoe to wind the pair and then come back again, but as Krystyna wants to decorate the boats for Christmas, we stopped as soon as we got there and will wind the pair next week sometime when Krystyna has finished those sides, so that she can then do the other sides. All settled and moored up by 3pm.

3 miles, 0 locks.

Monday 21st November, 2011

2011-11-21T08:44:00.000-08:00

Moving off from Barby Wood

After a very hectic weekend, with Anara-Jayne's second birthday on Saturday and Alfie-George's Christening yesterday, it was great to be doing a day's boating today, moving from Barby Wood to Braunston.

We arose early for us as Krystyna was meeting Michelle at Braunston at 7.30 after moving the van there, so Michelle could bring her back to Barby Wood. Krystyna was back by 8am and we lowered the wind generator and whilst I lit the back-cabin stoves and readied the boats for the off Krystyna was sorting out the flasks of coffee. The stoves were lit for the first time since Spring as it was a cool damp start to the day, in fact it remained much like that apart from a brief interlude of sunny periods mid-afternoon.

Breasting up at Kilsby winding hole

9.30am saw us moving off from Barby Wood and heading for Kilsby winding hole. Not much traffic about, one boat ahead of us and one passing us and Jules and Richard on nb Towcester behind us, but stopping on the Barby straight to deliver fuel, etc.

Half-way round!

At 10.15 we arrived at the winding hole and I slipped Success's front straps and Krystyna steered her down the side of Draco so we could breats-up for the turn. I decided to use the front strap as well this time, although we usually only bother with a stern strap when we are turning into Success, because of the fiasco that happened last time we winded here (not entirely my fault, but exacerbated by some impatient boats carrying on through as we were attempting to wind....).

Turn completed and singling out

It all went extremely well, it seems that BW have removed the overhanging foliage and tree at the extreme end of the winding hole and I also got the impression it has also been dredged, such that 15 minutes later I was singling the boats out again and we were on our way again.

On our way to Braunston

Still little traffic on the move - one of the advantages of winter cruising - although we did meet the modern steam tug Hasty as we went through Barby Wood.

The steam tug Hasty

Shortly after midday and we were entering Braunston, it didn't bode well as we came through the moorings between bridges 89 and 90, but just after bridge 90 there was just enough space to get the pair in. We dropped Success off and moored her up and then went on to the service point.

Success moored at Braunston

Filled up and emptied the various things, wandered into Swindlers for some stock and just over an hour later I was reversing Draco back to a convenient space which had appeared in front of Success whilst we were at the services, a boat having moved off shortly before - perfect timing! 3pm saw us all moored up.

6 miles, 0 locks.

Saturday 5th November, 2011

2011-11-06T04:07:00.000-08:00

On our way from Flecknoe

Moving day today and we were heading to Barby Wood. It was one of those Autumnal grey days, we awoke to a misty start, which never really fully cleared with very little wind and 10/10ths cloud-base not letting the sun through.

The sharo bend just after bridge 102
the off-side completely denuded of vegeation
OK, this does makes it less of a challenge here

We lowered the wind generator (message to self: must make this an easier single-handed job) I readied the boats for the off and at 11.15 we headed towards Braunston. Not much traffic about now, a few boats had passed us going south during the morning but we passed only one more on our way to Braunston, now that the half-term holidays are over and with the closure's only a couple of weeks away it is very quiet. Makes life sometimes a little easier :->

Fortunately there is some vegetation left!
The beautiful colours of Autumn

The farmer(s) around here, or maybe it is BW, seem intent on removing all of the off-side canal-side vegetation, it has been completely removed between bridges 102 and 99 and it looks like more will be going. Some of it may have been a nusciance maybe (we don't necessarily support that argument) but where on earth will all of the wildlife go now?!

Heading round the Turn

We rounded Braunston Turn at around 12.30 and stopped at the services point. No-one else there and with so little traffic we put the pair on the services. Filled up the water tank, did the necessary with the rubbish, etc. and, of course, popped into Swindlers for some chandlery and a chat.

Leaving the services point

Just over an hour later and we were on our way again up the North Oxford. I had decided to put a fleece jacket on now as it was a little cooler with the breeze picking up a touch, just about only the second time I have needed it since last April.

Arriving at Barby Wood

A good run, passing three oncoming boats just after the Navigation and we arrived at Barby Wood just after 3pm, all moored up and settled by 3.30.

4 miles, 0 locks.

Friday 21st October, 2011

2011-10-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

Moored up at Tony's

A busy day today, time for us to move on to our next location, but first take Draco round to Tony Redshaw's to have a pair of Anser Pins welded onto the rear gunwales. I readied the boats and at just after 10.15 I motored round the corner to Tony's wharf and tied up ready for the first Anser Pin to be welded on. Tony's son Paul was doing the work and around 20 minutes later that side was completed.

One of the new Anser Pins

We untied and I reversed back to the turn where we winded and then reversed back again to the wharf, everything going extremely well, even though it is a little shallow around the junction and there also being quite a few boats on the move. Paul completed welding the pin on the other gunwale and after settling up, having a quick chat with Tony, we were off back to the services point to water up, etc.

Success hitched up and
we're on our way

There I was pootling past the turn when Krystyna pointedly reminded me that I was supposed to be winding again, so that we would be facing the right way to pick Success up. A hasty engage of reverse and after fiddling around for a few minutes, the strengthening breeze blowing straight out of the turn not helping, I got Draco into the turn and we slid backwards down the other arm and round to the services point. It was just about midday and although the wind was freshening up a little, it was a glorious October day with lots of sunny periods, we love the autumn.

The ups and downs of life
on the puddle-banks!

Shortly after 1pm and we were finished at the services point and I reversed Draco back the few yards to Success, hitched up, refilled our coffee cups and then we were on our way down the South Oxford to Flecknoe. It is only about an hour (for us that is) to Flecknoe Fields and as there was plenty of space we decided to go on to Bridge 107 so that we could wind the pair, as I had some work to do on Success's port-side cloths and also paintwork touching up on that side of both boats.

Hitched up and on our way round
the wind helping Success....

Half an hour later and we arrived at the sharp bend just before Bridge 107, successfully recovering after an emergency stop due to an oncoming boat in the bridge we slowly went into the wide bend just after the bridge.

Cast Adrift!

No other traffic about so I slipped Success's straps and Krystyna guided her down Draco's starboard side while I reversed back to pick up one of the stern straps.

Draco round now to catch up with
Krystyna and Success - after casting
her adrift halfway round

As I would be turning into Success as we winded I didn't bother with a bow strap. Hitched up I started to wind, the breeze was blowing straight down the canal at us and Success started to turn faster than Draco, as I had anticipated, so half way round I loosed Krystyna off and she steered Success back towards the bridge whilst I completed winding Draco.

Hitched up again and on our way

By this time Success was almost on the off-side coping and a few yards back from the bridge, perfect in fact, I eased Draco forward to pick up the bow straps and then powered us out of the bridge and round the bend, fortunately not meeting anyone else this way.

Moored up at Flecknoe Fields

Just after 3pm and we arrived back at Flecknoe Fields and moored the pair singled-out just before the bridge, all settled by 3.30pm.

5 miles, 0 locks.

Friday 7th October, 2011

2011-10-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

About to move off

Time to move on from our mooring here at Barby Wood. We awoke to a pleasant October day, exactly what it says on the tin for Autumn and not the very nice mini heatwave we had last weekend. It was somewhat less breezy than of late, which meant that demounting the wind generator was not going to be the semi-hazardous task I had thought it might be. We readied the boats, loaded our mugs with coffee and at 11am I loosed off Success in readiness to moving Draco round to the bows to pick up the straps. It may not have been as breezy as of late, but there was enough wind to immediately take Krystyna and Success straight across the canal broadside. Oh well, I'll pick her up from that side instead then! I loosed Draco off, picked Success up and we were on our way towards Braunston.

Success moored up with Draco
at the services point.

A pleasant run in patchy sunshine, a few boats heading the other way, but not until we reached the Navigation Bridge did we get company heading our way. Unfortunately he turned out to be an impatient tail-gater, maintaining a distance of only a few yards behind Success. Tough!, there was no way I was going to pull over today to let someone race past. The canal hereabouts, as we found out to our costs a few weeks ago letting someone past, is pretty shallow even on the towpath side and with the level generally about six inches down it is even worse at the moment - I had no intention of getting stranded on the mud today. He tail-gated Krystyna all the way to Braunston and then as we were getting the boats into a mooring slot just after bridge 90, with Success into the side and me pulling Draco over on the centre rope, he did not have the courtesy (or brains?) to wait until Draco was alongside the bank, even though Krystyna asked him to, but rushed past us anyway. If I meet The Bowman on a blind bend or in a bridge 'ole coming in the opposite direction anytime they had better have learnt some good manners or at least some common sense - 45 tonnes of boats can make a nice dent!

However, we got Success safely moored up and we then took Draco over to the services point for water, etc. Spent a few bob in Midland Chandlers and an hour or so later we reversed back to just in front of Success. All tied up and settled by 3pm.

4 miles, 0 locks.

Thursday 22nd September, 2011

2011-09-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

Watering up at Newbold

It was our intention to moor up at our usual spot at Barby Wood Bridge for a few days and knowing how slow the Hillmorton water taps are I decided to fill up at Newbold before we left. The hose wouldn't quite reach where we were moored, so I took Draco round the intervening boat onto the water point proper, and hour later saw me reversing back to pick Success up and at 11am we were off heading towards Hillmorton.

In the queue at Hillmorton

It was a lovely warm day with lots of sunny periods, the wind having mostly died away to virtually nothing. We cruised through Rugby and onto Hillmorton, having been advised by lots of boats heading the other way of a queue at the locks. Nothing unusual there, but I anticipated it being a lot worse than normal due to the parallel locks being locked up. We arrived at 12.45pm to be sixth in the queue, not too bad after all and at 2pm I was putting Draco into bottom lock. There was an even amount of two-way traffic, so not much waiting for Draco's lock each time and at 3.30pm we were heading off from top lock. Somewhat longer to do the flight than we have previously with the pair, but hey, what's the hurry anyway?

Waiting to enter middle lock

We carried on the short distance to Barby Wood and found the last space available long enough for the pair singled out, it is on the bend so we cannot breast up just here anyway. All moored up by 4.45pm.

7 miles, 3 locks (twice).

Wednesday 21st September, 2011

2011-09-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

Our overnight mooring just
beyond bridge 17

The rain had died out overnight and the day dawned with lots of sunny periods and a stiff breeze - pleasant all the same. A gentle start to the day saw us leaving our overnight mooring at 11.15am. We ambled the short distance to Sutton Stop arriving at the lock after a perfect negotiation of the turn at 12.30, half an hour later and we were on our way again.

The Ashby Canal heading off
from Marston Junction

One of the amusing manikins
staged at Charity Dock

We cruised through Wyken and onto Ansty, where I had thought we might stop for lunch, but there was a hire boat fiddling around in the only large enough mooring spot, I think he had untied and was just leaving, but it would have been too difficult to get past and then reverse back again at that spot, so we carried on. My intention then was to moor on the Nettle Hill embankment, as we have done in the past, and at 2.45pm we arrived and moored up.

About to work though Sutton Stop

An hour later and we were on our way again, no particular destination, but the first available mooring spot around Falls Bridge would do nicely. As it turned out there was nothing suitable available so we continued on through Newbold Tunnel and found a space long enough for the pair singled out immediately after the tunnel. All moored up and settled by 6.15pm.

The beautiful All Oaks Wood
at Easenhall

15 miles, 1 lock (twice).

Tuesday 20th September, 2011

2011-09-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

Stranded

We awoke to find ourselves with a severe list owing to the pound having fallen app 15 inches over night - it was a difficult uphill climb into the bathroom :->

A bit of a list!

We walked the dogs and then Krystyna set off up to the next pair of locks and to meet her brother Frank, who was joining us for the run up the flight and had sent a text to say he was at lock 5. I readied the boats for the off, but with Draco's counter 3 inches above the water level I wasn't going anywhere yet!

Slowly coming up

After about 30 minutes, and a few boats up and down, there was a lull in the traffic and Krystyna and Frank started to let some water down. After about 15 minutes the level came up sufficiently enough for Draco to almost float again and with a bit of help from the engine off we came and I set off towards lock 7, it was 9.30am.

There was a boat coming down 6 and 7 and by the time I got to the lock it was just exiting and I took Draco in and left Success below with Krystyna. We worked the pair up 7 and then 6 and I then headed off towards the bottom of the main flight. A boat was just coming out as we arrived and up we went. Frank seemed, for some strange reason, eager to bow-haul Success up the flight, so I singled Draco all the way to the top, stopped at the services just above top lock and did the necessary, then walked back down to meet Krystyna and Frank as they were going into second from top. We worked Success through to the top and exited the flight at 12.15.

Between Hartshill and Nuneaton

We stopped breasted up at the only space at the end of the visitor moorings for lunch. Frank said goodbye and went off to find his car and at 1.45pm we started off again. The rain showers, which had just started as we came out of top lock was now settling down to the more persistent type, still, it was warm.

Running through Nuneaton

We had a steady run through Hartshill and then Nuneaton and stopped at the first available spot after Griff bends, which turned out to be just after bridge 17. All settled for the night by 5.15pm

8 miles, 7 locks (twice).

Monday 19th September, 2011

2011-09-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

Leaving our overnight mooring at Glascote

Another pleasant day with sunny periods, a bit breezier than the last few days, but very pleasant all the same. Just one very short shower as we moored up for the night.

Passing Alvecote Marina

We set off from our overnight mooring just above Glascote Locks at 10.15 and gently made our way through Amington and out of Tamworth.

A few boats about heading north and apart from one hire boat who lost control just ahead of us as we were going through Pooley Fields Nature Reserve, we had a quiet run to the Atherstone flight, arriving at 1.15pm.

The narrows at the site of the old swing
bridge just after Polesworth

I was going to call in at Bradley Green services, but there was a boat already on the wharf and nowhere else to put the pair, so we continued on round the corner to the locks. We stopped for an hour or so to walk the dogs and have some lunch and just as we were about to move onto the lock tail two boats came past also heading up the flight, so we have a 20 minute or so wait until we could start. We had already decided to only do the first two pairs of locks anyway as we probably would not have got through lock 6 before lock-up, now we certainly would not :-> We finally got Draco into bottom lock at around 2.30pm and worked the pair up the first lock, with an intervening boat coming down, the same happening at the next lock too.

Working Draco up bottom lock

We set off up the long pound between 9 and 10 and I feared the worst! The pound was app 15 inches down and on one occasion coming down the flight last year Draco got stuck just out of lock 9 and was fast for three hours whilst BW flushed some water down the flight from the top.

Draco stuck fast at the entrance to lock 8

Deja Vu! I loosed Success off just before the lock and started to take Draco in and again she came to a halt just at the entrance of the lock tail. I emptied the lock but Draco was still sticking, so whilst Krystyna let some water down I manged to get Draco in, safely in the lock after 10 minutes of jiggling around!

Moored up above lock 8

We worked the pair up the lock and I dredged my way up the short pound and into lock 8 - our letting some water through had not helped of course..... We got the pair through without further ado and moored up just below bridge 45 in the long pound between 7 and 8. All settled by 4.30pm.

8 miles, 4 locks (twice).

Sunday 18th September, 2011

2011-09-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

Leaving Huddlesford Junction

A lazy start to our day, chatting with fellow boaters and readying Success for moving. We pulled Success out of the arm and moored her temporarily on the main line in front of the club house. I reversed Draco over, hitched up the cross straps and at just after 1pm were headed off back up Coventry Canal towards Fazeley.

Krystyna forgot her flask of coffee,
so a transfer on the fly was needed

Another nice day with lots of very warm sunny periods and only one short light rain shower. Quite a few boats about but we had a good run through Whittington and Hopwas without any problems.

The Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
continuing on at Fazeley Junction

We had thought to stop at Fazeley Junction for the night, but the mooring was a bit too busy with Tamworth's residents so we decided to move on a bit.

Approaching Glascost Bottom Lock

We tried just before Glascote Locks, but again a bit close to all the houses for our liking with the dogs, so we decided to go up the locks and moor just above if there was space where it is a little quieter.

Krystyna leading me past the entrance
to Glascote Basin :->

We worked through the two locks in just under 45 minutes and there was about 100 foot of space right at the lock end of the visitor moorings just after Glascote Basin entrance (Steve Hudson's yard) so I breasted the pair up as we pulled Success out of the lock and we moored up just on the end of the moorings. All settled by 6pm.

Moored up just beyond the basin.

8 miles, 2 locks (twice).

Saturday 17th September, 2011 - The Huddlesford Junction Boat Gathering

2011-09-19T09:53:00.000-07:00

Setting up shop

A brilliant day weather-wise, sunny periods most of the day and only one rain shower right at the end of the afternoon.

Lots of people and lots of displays in the field and lots going on on the green between us, the clubhouse and the marquee.

A great time was had by all and the boaters' social events on Friday and Saturday nights were also very good. Over 20 historic boats in attendance, including President and Kildare.

A bit busy down there!

Great to see lots of money raised for the Lichfield & Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust, who were the joint organisers.

Friday 16th September, 2011

2011-09-18T12:44:00.000-07:00

About to leave our mooring at
Tamhorm Farm Bridge

We had a leisurely dog walk and breakfast and at 10.45 we set off for the short run through Whittington to Huddlesford Junction. A pleasant run in the sunshine saw us arriving at the long line of moored boats attending the gathering an hour later.

Passing the marker for the junction of
the Coventry Canal and the
Birmingham & Fazeley Canal

We took the pair right through to the junction where we dropped Success off and with the help of some of the Lichfield Cruising Club members got her into the arm and moored up in our trading spot - pride-of-place right outside the club house and marquee.

The outer moorers at the
Huddlesford Boat Gathering

Draco had a reserved mooring just back along the main line (owing to the remains of the original swing-bridge we were unable to breast-up in the arm) so I winded her in the entrance to the arm and took her back to the mooring. Both boats all settled down by midday. Time to sort out the shop display.

Success on her mooring

3 miles, 0 locks.

Thursday 15th September, 2011

2011-09-15T12:55:00.000-07:00

About to leave our overnight mooring
above Atherstone lock 6

We arose at 7am - damn early for us! - to a beautiful Autumn morning, a little cool, but dry and sunny. We walked the dogs etc. and readied the boats for the 8am start when the locks were re-opened. 8am prompt and the BW man unlocked the lock and the boat waiting below the empty lock worked up.

Approaching the bottom pair of locks

We worked both boats down and carried on down lock 7 and then onto 8 & 9 and then 10 & 11. Some northbound boats coming up so we had a pretty good run down and 10.45 am saw us leaving bottom lock.

One of the low bridges in Polesworth

We went the short distance to Bradley Green services and stopped there to dump the rubbish and empty the loo cassettes. Krystyna walked the dogs whilst I did the chores, we made up some sandwiches for lunch and around 11.30 am we headed off again.

Some of the loaded boats at
Alvecote Marina

A steady run, actually getting up to 3mph at times, saw us arrive at the Glascote pair of locks at 2.15pm, three quarters on an hour later we were pulling out of bottom lock and heading off again.

Picking Krystyna up as we leave
Glascote Bottom Lock

A continuing good run saw us going through Hopwas just after 4pm and I rang ahead to the organisers at Lichfield & Hatherton Boat Club to see if our moorings were ready (Draco and Success are to be in different spots for this rally) but as we could not actually contact the harbour master I decided to stop before Whittington and move on round to Huddlesford Junction in the morning when we would have more time to sort the boats out.

Approaching Fazeley Junction

We moored up just after Tamhorn Farm Bridge and were all settled by 5.30pm.

Moored just after Tamhorn Farm Bridge

14 miles, 8 locks (twice).

Wednesday 14th September, 2011

2011-09-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

We arose early this morning as Krystyna's brother was coming over to see what we could do with the damaged ellum. I had been mulling it over last evening and thought that we might be able to plate it either side with timber after all as a temporary repair. When Frank arrived, with his son Franky as well, he agreed and we set about the task. The story is laid out in the pictures below:

The starting point!

Frank & Franky preparing timber

Fitting one of the braces

Drilling for the studding fixings

Adding a steel brace

Fixing the brace

Nearly finished

All done

Back on Success

A successful repair with very grateful thanks to Frank and Franky for their help. We were too late to go down the rest of the flight before lock-up, so it's an early start tomorrow.

Tuesday 13th September, 2011

2011-09-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

The day dawned a little quieter than yesterday, the winds having abated quite a lot. It was a day of sunny periods and a couple of short showers, but somewhat cooler than of late, in fact, the first day's boating I have done for some months with a sweater on.

Finally off the mud and on our way

We left our overnight mooring just above Charity Dock on the Coventry Canal at 10.45. A few boats about going south but nothing north, but after the 10 minutes or so it took to get off the mud and into the channel a boat appeared around the distant bend heading our way. We navigated round the bend at Charity Dock and as the straight ahead was clear we waved the boat on past, it turned out to be Tony and Gill Redshaw on nb Percy, also on their way to the Huddlesford Boat Gathering.

Tony & Gill Redshaw passing us
on nb Percy

We continued on through Marston Junction and into Nuneaton and then headed out towards Hartshill and Atherstone. We arrived at Atherstone Top at just before 3pm and as there was no space on the visitor moorings we decided to go down the 5 locks of the main flight, not that we could have gone any further than that anyway as the flight is locked up at 6pm anyway.

Success 'abandoned' on the lock
tail at top lock

I took Draco through top lock and left her on the bottom gates while I went back up and started to turn the lock for Krystyna. Some people off another boat waiting behind us to go down offered to help and as Draco was stopping the bottom gates from closing properly I went back down and moved her out of the way. Unfortunately I couldn't get back off due to the steps being somewhat dodgy, so I stayed on board and let the other people help Krystyna through. Unfortunately, our system was upset by this and Success's ellum got caught on the cill and received some damage. We cleared the lock and stopped just below to have a proper look and it turned out that the ellum was in fact quite rotten in the mid-section and the impact with the cill, which normally would just have unshipped the ellum had actually sheared it at the rotten section. We now have an ellum in two halves, a top and bottom!

We continued down the flight and moored just below in the long pound between locks 5 and 6 and removed and inspected the broken ellum. It doesn't look as if we can effect a temporary repair so at the moment we are fishing around trying to find a temporary solution whilst we get a new one made. All suggestions gratefully received :->

10 miles, 5 locks (twice).

Monday 12th September, 2011

2011-09-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

Safely away from our overnight
mooring and on our way

We awoke to hear the promised wind whistling through the trees. I took the dogs out for their walk and surveyed the state of the weather, the wind was indeed quite strong, but wasn't affecting the passing boats much, including another pair en route for Rugby, it was quite mild with lots of sunny periods which was the way it stayed for the rest of the day. Casting off was going to prove interesting, we would only have one chance otherwise we would end up on the mud banks on the off side. I readied the boats, Krystyna got aboard Success and I let the rope off, which meant that the stern rapidly crossed the canal to the other side. I had already prepared Draco's ropes for quick release, undid the bow rope and then sprinted (well, my version of sprinted) to the stern, loosed the rope and leaped aboard and threw her into forward and racked up the engine.

Ther stupidly moored boat at
All Oaks Wood

All went to plan and I managed to get off the shallows on our overnight mooring and get both boats going ahead under control without visiting the mud banks on the off side - it was 10.30 and we were off. It was an uneventful run through to Coventry with the wind mostly on our port beam when we broke cover from the trees or cuttings, apart from a boat so stupidly moored right on the sharp bend by the picnic site at the end of All Oaks Wood, Easenhall. Of course, we met an oncoming boat as we were trying to get round past this moored boat and after an emergency stop they kindly reversed back to let us through and, although I could probably have got round without doing so, I gave the moored boat a hefty whack with Draco's stern!

The now defunct Brinklow Arm

Between Stretton Stop and Wyken there are several very exposed sections of the canal and beyond Ansty the canal turns North West for a while, which meant that the wind was mostly head on. It was the first time we had been out with the pair in this type of wind and I was very pleased with how the boats responded, although we were of course generally slowed down to less than 2 miles an hour some of the time. We passed Wyken Arm and in the cutting just beyond we stopped for a late lunch at 3pm and to give the dogs a run. It was so quiet and wind-less there that I did wonder if it had been a dream:-> Three quarters of an hour later we moved off again round to Sutton Stop, as soon as we turned the corner by Tusses Bridge we met the wind again, not so strong now but still playful!

Lunch stop at Wyken

We stopped at the vacant water point just before the lock and after just under an hour, at 5pm we took the boats through the lock and went round the turn. Although the wind was blowing straight down the Coventry Canal it was not quite as helpful with the turn as we might have thought. Draco went round in a 3-point turn quite nicely, but as Success came round and became beam on to the wind she started to try and broadside down the canal, a bit more power however and I snatched her round and we got into the narrows without further ado. The second time we have traversed the 180 degree turn and it went pretty well we thought.

Safely round Sutton Stop

We had already decided to go on to the straight just before Charity Dock, as the bank is piled along the whole section and we can pretty much get both boats into the side. This 2 mile run was however somewhat different to the rest of the day, we now had a following strong wind. At many of the bends Success was determined to try and overtake me and Krystyna had to concentrate on steering more than usual - often the butty is on automatic :-> We arrived at our planned mooring though without problem and were all tied up by 6.30pm. Time for a large G&T!

Moored up above Charity Dock

12 miles, 1 lock (twice).

Sunday 11th September, 2011

2011-09-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

On our way up the Barby Straight

Today we start our run to Huddlesford Junction on the Coventry Canal for the Lichfield & Hatherton Canal Trust's Huddlesford Boat Gathering next weekend. It was a nice warm September day with sunny periods but quite a gusting wind at times, a wind that is promised to be somewhat stronger tomorrow and Tuesday.... we shall see!

Barb y Moorings marina

I readied the boats for the off and at 10.45 I moved Draco round to Success's bows, hitched up the short straps and we were off. Once we were under way and with some power on all was well in the wind. We passed the now open Barby Moorings marina, although it is still lacking in any pontoon staging, there a quite a few boats in there moored on the bank sides. A lot of traffic about including it appeared most of the local hire boats, somewhat surprising especially as the schools went back last week.

Approaching Hillmorton Top lock

We arrived at Hillmorton Top Lock at midday to find that the lock-keeper had opened up both sets of locks allowing full parallel working. When I commented to him that I was surprised to see both sets working as the last BW notice said that one side would be locked up for the foreseeable future, he advised me that as it was so busy he had decided to open all the locks and closely monitor their working - common sense ruling on the ground.

Moving Draco away out of top lock
to allow an approaching boat up before
we bring Success down

A good run down the flight saw us leaving bottom lock at 1.15pm and we headed on towards Rugby. Not so many boats moored around the 'Tesco' moorings at Brownsover, so we managed to get round the double bend OK, but managed to meet three oncoming boats between the road bridge and just after the narrows at the Brownsover Arm. The oncoming boats variously stopped and allowed us through first, which was very nice of all of them and made things a little easier to say the least.

Collecting Krystyna below Bottom lock.

We continued on to Newbold, our intended overnight stop, but all the moorings were taken up apart from a space between the road bridge and the tunnel. However, as we met another batch of three boats just before the road bridge and then immediately after, by the time we had negotiated around them and the moored boats, getting into that space would have been difficult at best. Consequently we carried on and I hoped for a space on the armcoat just beyond Falls Bridge, opposite Terry Yates' yard; the spot was free of boats so we decided to moor up.

Finally moored up at Falls Bridge

It is notoriously shallow between Falls Bridge and the next accommodation bridge, so I knew that mooring up might be a tad difficult. Although there is a nice screen of trees on the towpath side and the direction from which the wind was blowing, there was enough of it getting through the trees to prove less than helpful as we tried to get the boats in. I managed to pick something up on the blade whilst pushing Success into the bank and I had to slip the cross-straps once Krystyna was off and could tie her up. With the help of the wind, the blade-full of rubbish and the mud banks I got stuck on the off-side. I waited for the sudden conglomeration of boats to pass in both directions, one of them also getting stuck in the mud with the help of the wind, and then managed to clear the blade with a bit of forward and reverse jiggling and then backed Draco back almost to Falls Bridge so that I could get enough room to swing the bows back towards the towpath and get moored up. Eventually both boats were safely tied up at 3.45pm, 45 minutes after we had arrived!

7 miles, 3 locks (twice), 1 tunnel.

Tuesday 30th August, 2011

2011-08-31T12:52:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Midland Chandlers' Wharf
for our turn at the services.

Time to move on from Braunston today, so after readying the boats for the off at 11.30 we moved round to the services point. A bit busy, so we stopped off at Midland Chandlers' wharf and when our turn came I took Draco round to the services and filled up with water, etc., leaving Success there. We collected some stock from Midland Chandlers, had a chat with our friend Jim, one of the staff, and then at just after 12.30 we were all filled up, so I backed round to collect Success and then we were off up the North Oxford.

Artwork?

more of it!

Just outside Braunston we came across the so-called artwork in the canal. I will make no comment other than I think it's an absolute criminal waste of money, whoever paid for it, in these cash-strapped times, and as for being art!!! Make up your own minds...

Moored at Barby Wood

A good steady run saw us arriving at Barby Wood just before 2pm, we moored up singled out with Success in front of Draco, and were all settled by 2.30. It was a warm, if overcast day, and it always makes my smile to see so many other boaters wrapped up in their overcoats, some with gloves, just because there wasn't wall-to-wall sun - the British disease - I am glad we don't suffer from it, today was still a t-shirt day as far as we were concerned....

4 miles, 0 locks.

Monday 22nd August, 2011

2011-08-23T06:47:00.000-07:00

Breasted up and heading up to
Buckby Bottom Lock

Another fine day and at just after 10am I started readying the boats and breasting up. At 10.30 I set off towards Bucky Bottom lock whilst Krystyna had gone ahead to help the boats coming down and hold the lock for me. There was already a lot of traffic in the flight and many of the locks were turned against us, even though we could be seen on the straight pounds, after all, we are a little difficult to miss!

Approaching 3rd from top

At the 3rd from bottom the oncoming boats had turned the lock even though they admitted seeing us and even though there were already 4 boats in the pound waiting to go down the 2nd from bottom - incredibly discourteous and very wasteful of water in these times of shortages. Apparently Krystyna lost her cool somewhat and advised them of their shortcomings, to no avail of course, they will do exactly the same again I have no doubt. The steerer of the boat even had the cheek to complain about my being in the middle of the pound forcing him off the centre line - shame!

Crusing through Norton Junction

The rest of the run up the flight was slow, whilst we waited for boats working down, etc. and we exited top lock at just after 1pm; 2 hours for the flight, not bad I suppose considering the amount of traffic, of course, we are never in a hurry so it doesn't bother us anyway. We ran across the summit and moored for lunch in our usual spot in the cutting just before the tunnel. Just under an hour later at 2.45pm we set off again - this time the tunnel splitter was in place! We plunged into Braunston Tunnel and immediately say a procession of lights on boats heading south - the fleet appeared to be on the move!

Breasting up above Braunston Top Lock

We met the first boat at the really bendy bit a few yards into the tunnel, unfortunately, however, for some reason they were stationary in the bendy bit! As I approached the inevitable happened, owing to their not being under way and thus not under control, their bows swung out off the wall as I approached. Seeing this I immediately swung Draco's bows out to impact the other boat with the cheek (they must have quite a dent!) and stop Draco being slammed into the wall. We only just managed to get through past the boat, anyone that knows Braunston Tunnel and the bends I am referring to will understand the problem. The tunnel, going north, swings to the left and then after app 40 feet swings back to the right, the swing being about half the tunnel width. It doesn't sound much, but when you are trying to get a full-length boat through with a 40 foot or so boat on the other side it's a bit tight - let alone with a butty in close tow.... As soon as we got past they started off again, so they only stopped because a boat was approaching and it was a private boat, a hire boat I could understand, perhaps!!!!!

Krystyna working us through Nelson Lock

We continued on and passed 5 other boats as we traversed the tunnel with no further real incidents as far as we were concerned, although Krystyna did tell me the one of them did try to get back into the middle of the tunnel after I had passed with Draco, they got a bit of a shock apparently. I can't understand why though, Draco has lights fore and aft, so Success's bows can be seen, remember she is always on cross straps so no gap, and Krystyna has a light at Success's stern.... The last boat we passed seemed to suffer some damage though, as I was about a boat's length away there was an almighty crash from ahead and the sound of breaking glass or some such. I don't know what happened, they must have slammed into the tunnel wall for some reason and there are no things sticking out to my knowledge.

We emerged from the tunnel back into the sunshine and noticed that the hire boat that had come into the tunnel a minute or so behind us seemed to be no longer there. We pottered down to a couple of hundred yards before the locks and breasted the pair up whilst some boats worked through. Still plenty of traffic so I held the pair on the bank for a while whilst waiting - about 15 minutes after we had exited the tunnel the missing hire boat appeared, glad I wasn't behind them in the tunnel!

Moored up below Nelson Lock

We worked down the flight fairly slowly due the amount of traffic up and down and when we cleared Nelson Lock we saw a mooring space just big enough for the pair breasted up. As it was now late afternoon we decided to stop here and not risk there being no space in Braunston itself, we'll move down there later in the week. All settled by 5pm and we decided for a change to treat ourselves and eat out, so The Nelson it was later on.

5 miles, 11 locks, 1 tunnel.

Sunday 21st August, 2011

2011-08-23T06:39:00.000-07:00

Having a chat with a couple of our
Stoke Bruerne friends just before leaving

Having almost been here at Stoke Bruerne for two weeks we decided to head back towards Braunston today, as the weather for the next two days is forecast to be very good, whereas next Tuesday will be a tad wet. We can never be described as fair-weather boaters (we are liveaboard 24/7 after all) but if there is no reason to move when the weather is not good then why do it?

Approaching Mill Bridge, Blisworth

I readied the boats whilst Krystyna took the rubbish to the skip and bought a loaf and some milk from the pub. At around 11.30 we started reversing the breasted pair the 100 yards or so back to the winding hole. All went well and we were winded and singled out just before the tunnel mouth a short while later.

Luch stop at Heyford Fields

A good run through the tunnel, although we did meet the only southbound boat as we went under the 'inverted geyser' air vent at the northern end of the re-lined section. Fortunately, due to the lack of recent rain hereabouts there was little water flowing down it and we both managed to dodge it - just! We emerged from the northern portal of the tunnel at 12.45 and I surveyed the debris on the engine room and back cabin roof - I had forgotten to fit the tunnel splitter to the exhaust and although I had taken it quite steady there was still quite a bit of it there...

A lovely pair of ex-GU boats rusting
away at Swingbridge Wharf!

We continued on the lovely run in the glorious sunshine to just beyond Heyford Fields Marina, where at 3pm we stopped to give the dogs a run and have some lunch. An hour later we were on our way again heading for Whilton for our overnight stop. We arrived to find the the only mooring space seemingly available meant either breasting up or mooring Success on the weir. As there was no water running and not much likelihood of any overnight, we opted to put Success on the weir with Draco ahead. All moored up and settled by 6.45pm.

14 miles, 0 locks, 1 tunnel.

Moored up at Whilton

Sunday 7th August, 2011

2011-08-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

After an enjoyable weekend at the Blisworth Canal Festival we decided, after packing up the display, to move on to Stoke Bruerne tonight. Partly to hopefully get a suitable mooring for the pair breasted up and partly to give the dogs a rest from the crowds on the towpath, which frustrated their walks to some extent.

Moored up and trading at Stoke Bruerne

I readied the boats for the off, fired up the engine and at 6.30pm we headed round the corner to the tunnel. A good run through, meeting only one oncoming boat just before the south portal. We emerged back into the lovely evening sunshine and found a suitable mooring, more-or-less where we usually are adjacent the Woodland Walk. We breasted up on the fly and were all moored up and settled by 7.30pm.

We are here for the Museum Pirate Weekend next weekend, but may well stay the whole 14 days before moving back to Braunston for the Bank Holiday weekend.

2 miles, 0 locks, 1 tunnel.

Thursday 4th August, 2011

2011-08-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

Our mooring at Blisworth
what fabulous trees!

What a difference a day can make :-> - exactly as advertised - wet! As we only had an hour and a half or so's run from our mooring to Blisworth we waited until early afternoon to see if the rain was going to abate as forecast - it didn't! Still it was warm, so at around 1pm we upped stakes and set off in a break in the rain - it didn't last. All the same it was a pleasant run to Gayton and then on to Blisworth. We meandered slowly through the village and all the moored boats, trade and historic, to our mooring just beyond Mill Bridge.

A close-up shot....

The event harbour master was waiting for us as we arrived - the towpath telegraph obviously working well - and after a bit of jiggling about we managed to get Success into the side against the bank and Draco moored outside abreast of her. Not the most ideal bank for trading from, but I reckon with a bit of work with our super-plank I could erect a platform for people to get to the side of boat. (PS I have and it works!)

2 miles, 0 locks.

Wednesday 3rd August, 2011

2011-08-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

Looking towards Welton Wharf
from our overnight mooring

Another beautiful day, the promise of some rain later, but when we got up it was wall-to-wall sunshine. A lazy start to our day saw us moving off from our overnight mooring just before 11am. A gentle run across the summit saw us arriving at Buckby Top Lock an hour later.

Looking over the fields at the
GU Leicester Section

The lock was with us, but only one gate was open, in fact it was on automatic and swung open as we approached. Consequently we breasted the pair up mid-stream and then I dropped Krystyna off on the towpath and she opened the other gate. No-one waiting to come up so Krystyna had to close the bottom gates, without any help from the crew off the boat behind us who were standing by the top gates!

Heading away from
Buckby Bottom Lock

A pretty good run down the flight, with all the locks either with us or with boats coming up. We did manage to meet a couple of boats below lock 3 waiting just ahead of and in the railway bridge hole. I had to call the first one up into the lock as I waited above the bridge, whilst the other boat who was under the bridge helpfully pulled back out of the way letting me through. By the time we got to bottom lock Krystyna was flagging in the extreme heat and we decided to stop below the lock for a break and some lunch at around 1.45pm. The run down the flight had taken an hour and three quarters, 15 minutes a lock, not bad.

Krystyna's sun shade

Krystyna walked the dogs, we had lunch and after a rest we decided to move on at around 3pm. We had no certain destination, just a plan to go as far as we could before needing to stop. Weedon, Stowe Hill, Nether Heyford and Bugbrooke came and went.

The Cormorant in classic pose

One thing we saw did surprise me, just after Swingbridge Wharf there was a Cormorant firstly swimming in the canal and then as we approached it hopped onto the towpath. We have been used to seeing lots of Cormorants on the lower reaches of the Thames, but I don't recall ever seeing one this far inland or on a canal. I also glimpsed my first Kingfisher of the year shortly after.

Just after 6pm the dogs were giving indications that they needed off, so after finding a couple of good known mooring spots already full - well, not with either a 70ft or 140ft mooring space available - we found a completely deserted stretch of Armco between bridges 40 and 41. We got Success in against the bank, but Draco assumed our all too usual mooring position, with the stern several feet out. All sorted and settled by 6.45pm.

Moored up between bridges 40 and 41

BTW, although rain showers were forecast for this area today, we had the grand total of around 6 spots!! More forecast for tomorrow, let's hope so...

13 miles, 7 locks.

Tuesday 2nd August, 2011

2011-08-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

Reversing Draco to the services

Time to start our run to Blisworth today for the Canal Festival next weekend. Owing to the at-times oppressive heat, which Krystyna finds very difficult, we had previously decided to move off late afternoon, when it starts to get a little less hot.

Krystyna popped over to the house to get some things and take some currently unused bits of kit off Success. Meanwhile, I reversed Draco round from our mooring opposite The Boathouse to the service point at the junction. The level is now some 5-6 inches off normal and as such a tad shallow in places. Consequently, reversing Draco round involved a lot more jiggling about in forward and reverse than usual. I eventually got there and set about filling the water tank and doing the rubbish and loo chores. I got back to Success mid-afternoon and secured the boats back together and waited for Krystyna's return.

Approaching the narrows at
Braunston stop-house

Just after 4.30pm and we set off, the job of casting off and taking Draco to Success's bows to hook up the cross-straps and pull her out from between the moored boats went fabulously - even with the audience on the pub balcony and the moored boaters. We pottered round to the bottom of the flight to find a boat coming down, so I hovered around having a chat with Tim at UCC whilst we waited and then went into bottom lock, breasting the pair up as we went in, it was just 5pm.

Pulling Success out of
Braunston Top Lock

The run up the flight was pretty good, all the locks were with us and only a couple did not have boats coming out as we arrived. The off-side bottom gate on no.4 did not want to close, the pound was very low and I guess it was scraping on some rubbish on the bottom. Krystyna flushed some water down from the top paddles and eventually she got it closed - not before I whacked Success's ellum on the bottom gate trying to help though....

Braunston Tunnel

We worked up top lock and headed for the tunnel, it was 6.30pm. We plunged into the tunnel, meeting an oncoming boat just inside, but then a clear run through. We didn't even meet an oncoming boat at the far end bends this time!! We moored up in the beautiful cutting between the south portal and Welton Wharf, a favourite spot of ours, and were all tied up by 7.30pm

Moored up in a favourite spot of ours

2 miles, 6 locks, 1 tunnel

Wednesday 20th July, 2011

2011-07-20T08:51:00.001-07:00

We decided to move up to Braunston today as I have finished the work on Success that I wanted to do and Braunston is a better trading venue of course. It was a cloudy but warm day with the odd light shower. I readied the boats for the off and at around 10.15 we set off, no need to wind at Kilsby today as we were already facing in the right direction.

A good gentle run brought us into Braunston and hour and a half later. There was enough space for the pair singled out (it's too narrow on the 14-day moorings to breast up) on the 14-day moorings between bridges 89 and 90 so we slotted in there. We may move up beyond bridge 90 towards the junction if space appears over the next day or so. All moored up by midday.

I have quite a bit of new equipment arriving over the next week or so, so I shall be quite busy again for a while.....

4 miles, 0 locks.

Thursday 14th July, 2011

2011-07-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

Leaving Stretton Stop

Another warm sunny cloudless day greeted us when we got up, we walked the dogs and had breakfast and at 10.15 we were under way. A good run took us through to Stretton Stop. A boat was waiting to come through the narrows but they waved us on, unfortunately the breeze caught hold of the waiting boat and it became a bit of a squeeze to get through without removing paint from various boats. Something that people do not realise, and understandably so, is that when towing a butty on cross straps there is no way that the motor can deviate off course in narrows or leaving a narrow lock, to go around another boat for example, until the butty is also clear of the narrows. This sometimes causes problems:->

Easenhall Cutting

We continued on in the glorious sunshine through Easenhall cutting and then All Oaks wood, passing the old Boat Inn at Easenhall, until we arrived at Newbold. Krystyna called on the radio that a chip lunch would be nice, but there were no suitable moorings after the tunnel or the bridge, but at the end of the long-term moorings, just before the next bridge, there was.

All Oaks Wood

We stopped at 1pm and whilst Krystyna exercised the dogs I walked down to the best chip shop in Rugby, on Newbold shopping parade. We had a most enjoyable lunch and at 2pm we were off again heading through Rugby. The 'Tesco'moorings were the usual absolute mayhem, with boats moored either side of the canal leaving passage room for essentially only one boat at a time. We stopped before the main road bridge whilst a boat came through and then I started to wind round the bend and the boats. Just around the bend we met an oncoming boat and we both managed to get through relatively unscathed, although Success left some black and collected some paint from one of the moored boats.

The ex Boat Inn at Easenhall

As we approached the end of the double moored boats another oncoming boat came around the bend at what seemed flank speed - no way to go through moored boats irrespective of oncoming traffic! - a private boat as well. Also, he did not seem to have any useful or used reverse, the consequence of which was that he bounced on and off Draco and Success and the moored boats until he managed to rattle his way through. Then the worst nightmare came true - another pair of boats, Oak and Ash! By this time we were at then end of the double moored boats and only had one to contend with moored on the towpath, also the approaching pair had been warned of our coming by a boat ahead of us. We managed to pass each other both utilising loads of power, lots of tiller work and an amount of good luck; we only touched each other once and us the moored boat once. I do not like regulation of moorings, but something really should be done about places such as this (and Ansty) where people's lack of common sense, or is it just a don't-give-a-damn-about-anyone-else-attitude, leads to such problems.

Approaching Hillmorton Middle Locks

We continued on and arrived without further incident at Hillmorton Bottom lock at 3.45. There was quite a lot of traffic coming down the flight and BW were just finishing working on the right-hand bottom lock, repairing a ground paddle, but was we arrived a couple of boats were about to come out of the left-hand lock and I took Draco in. We worked the pair through and the right-hand middle lock was with us and I took Draco straight in. No-one coming down so we worked Success straight up and headed for top lock. BW were now letting water down the flight so the left-hand lock was currently out of us, so we turned the other lock after the boat ahead of us had worked through and then worked the pair straight through. We headed away from the locks at 5pm.

Approaching Barby Wood

Lots of boats moored either side of the bridge at the Heart of Oak pub and we met an oncoming boat who kindly waited for us and waved us through. We continued on through the Barby straight and managed to slot into a mooring, breasted up, at Barby Wood, where we shall be staying for a few days.

14 miles, 3 locks (twice).

Wednesday 13th July, 2011

2011-07-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

Springwood Haven Marina, the home
of Valley Cruisers, Onboard Energy and
our friends Bill and Anne's nb Minihaha

Another fine day greeted us and whilst we were breakfasting and sorting the dogs out Jools came through on Towcester (she is on her way to Wolverhampton to pick up a load of solid fuel), so we took the opportunity to fill up with diesel. I had intended to try and stop at Boot Wharf this morning for a fill, but as it turned out it would not have been practicable, so thanks Jools!

Boot Wharf, Nuneaton

Marston Junction

We eventually set off from our overnight mooring at bridge 28 at 10.15 and after a good run we reached Sutton Stop at 1.45. I slowed down to a virtual stop in the narrows as there was a hire boat coming out of the Northern Oxford and intending to wind and go back; there was also another hire boat coming up the lock. After the winding hire boat went back round the turn to the lock I started our turn. I had already slipped Success's short straps both onto the dolly on the inside of the turn and with Krystyna paddling Success's ellum we started in.

Approaching Sutton Stop

Once Draco was through the bridge it was a matter of reverse to turn the stern further round and control Success. Once I had backed off to give more turning room I went forward again and pulled Draco all the way round, leaving Success with Krystyna on the back under the bridge. The hire boat that had come up the lock managed to get round into the Coventry canal quite well and without flushing Success too much into the coping - Krystyna was looking worried about the ellum, but all was well. The other hire boat went into the lock and I followed putting Draco against the top gate and Success sort of hanging in the middle. I worked Draco through leaving Krystyna and Success against the top gate and then we worked Success through and we off again. We only went a few yards round the sharp bend past the visitor moorings and stopped to give the dogs a run and have a bite to eat, it was 2.15.

Part way round the turn,
Krystyna waiting under the bridge

At 3pm we were off again, heading for an overnight stop somewhere past Ansty. We met a Valley Cruisers hire boat at the relatively blind and skewed Wyken bridge. I managed to stop the pair and let then through, but just as I was powering up again to go through the bridge another boat appeared, giving me no room so I had to effect an immediate emergency stop, giving the coping a good wallop in the process, and then managed to right the pair and go through the bridge ourselves. Two things came to mind (well, actually, quite a few to be honest); why couldn't the people on the hire boat have warned me? and what on earth was the other boat (private I might add) doing so damn close to it.

On our way from Sutton Stop

We cruised on and got through the moorings at Ansty without actually touching any of the moored boats. As I said in the blog on the way out, they might be official BW 14-day moorings, but surely common sense must prevail sometimes when people moor on bends, in narrows, in shallow water?

Moored up for the night at Nettle Hill

At bridge 16 we met another oncoming boat. Technically the bridge was ours, but he kept coming. This bridge is quite wide with a high arch, so he presumed that we could both get through. What he didn't take into account, and what I know, is what happens to two boats travelling in opposite directions passing in a very confined space - bang! Qualify that with the fact that we have a butty on the back and the total result may be imagined, but it would probably have been worse... Again I slammed on the 'brakes, Success slamming in to a moored boat (which was really not moored in the best possible place) and let the chap through (with a few choice words I have to admit) and then we were off again. We continued on to Nettle Hill and stopped for the night at the end of the embankment, a spot where I know I can just about get Draco in.

12 miles, 1 lock (twice).

Tuesday 12th July, 2011

2011-07-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

Waiting for Atherstone lock 5
bottom of the main flight

We spent a couple of hours strolling up Long Street, Atherstone, had a nice sausage sandwich for breakfast from a local cafe and then did a bit of victualling in Aldi's - our favourite wines are still going strong there and still only £2.99 a bottle.....

By the time we got back and were about ready for the off there was quite a steady stream of boats going up. By the time we were ready to cast off there was a boat working up lock 6 behind us with no-one waiting to come up, well, not immediately anyway. We pulled out behind the other boat and followed them up to the bottom of the main flight.

Approaching Top Lock

There were no boats coming down the next two locks, so we had an easier time pulling Success up to the bottom gates of the lock Draco was going up and then working her up and so on to the next lock. Progress was pretty good although of course the two locks were against us. The pound between locks 3 and 4 was extremely low and Draco went completely aground so Krystyna had to let some water down lock 3 before I could get to the lock.

BW yard Hartshill

We worked up lock met a boat coming down lock 2 so a slight delay there and then another arrived as I was pulling Draco out, so I let him into the lock before I reversed Draco back to the top gate. We worked Success up and headed towards top lock, which was ready for us with the bottom gates open. Went aground again and again Krystyna had to run some water down before I could get to the lock. We worked up top lock without further ado and I we headed off into the sunshine at 3.15pm - just over two and a half hours after starting!

Moored up just below bridge 28

There were no suitable moorings on the Atherstone visitor moorings so we carried on and I decided to get to somewhere around Hartshill before finding an overnight mooring. We passed through the BW yard and then went past The Anchor Inn and found a nice quiet secluded rural mooring just before bridge 28. All moored up by 4.45pm.

4 miles, 5 locks (twice).

Monday 11th July, 2011

2011-07-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

Ready to leave Alvecote Marina

After a great weekend at Alvecote Marina it was time to head back towards Braunston. We topped up the water tank whilst I readied the boats for the off. I had discussed with one or two of the locals and several HNBOC members running pairs as to whether it was possible to wind a breasted pair in the marina entrance, the consensus of opinion was that it had not knowingly been done before so no-one knew if there was enough space.

Abandoning Krystyna after winding!
on my way to the bows to hitch up
the short straps

As we were already breasted up and the marina entrance was ahead of us, then finding out the hard way was somewhat easier than reversing back to the lay by at the other end of the site, between another breasted pair with a towpath moored boat opposite. At 10.45 we cast off and gently ran up to the marina entrance and started the turn, with some careful manoeuvring backwards and forwards we managed to turn the pair with more than enough room to spare. Definitely easier than the reversing option :->

Leaving Alvecote Marina

A good run in the sunshine saw us arriving at Bradley Green services a couple of hours later, where we stopped to empty the loo cassettes and grab a quick sandwich. We set off again for the short run up to Atherstone Bottom Lock, arriving to find a boat locking down, so we pulled into the lock moorings and waited. I left Success on the moorings and locked up and then put Draco on the top gate whilst I helped Krystyna up with Success. More boats coming down so we repeated the procedure at the next lock and then hitched up for the run up the long pound. Lots of boats coming down the next pair of locks, so quite a delay getting up them.

Between Bottom Lock and lock 10

We decided to go up the next pair and then moor up in the lock pound between locks 5 and 6 so that we could go shopping in Atherstone tomorrow. As I was pulling Success out of lock 6 and then mooring the pair up singled out just after the lock moorings, Krystyna was giving the people coming up the lock behind us a quick lesson on how to use the side pound - the only one working on the flight. It amazes me that so many boaters, especially those who appear to have been boating for many years, have no idea what side pounds were/are for and how to use them.

Moored up between locks 5 and 6

We were all moored up and enjoying a long G&T by 16.45.

6 miles, 6 locks (twice).

Alvecote Historic Boat Gathering and Summer Fair - June 10th, 2011

2011-07-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

A series of pictures of the historic boats at the Alvecote Historic Boat Gathering and Summer Fair. We have had an extremely enjoyable three days with some of our fellow members of the HNBOC in glorious sunny periods and none of the forecast rain showers at all.

Thursday 7th July, 2011

2011-07-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

Leaving Atherstone Bottom Lock

We arose to another sunny and showery day, but somewhat breezier today. We set off at 10am for lock number 8 and joined the queue with 2 boats ahead of us. A slow run down the 4 locks with lots of traffic in both directions, saw us leaving bottom lock 2 hours later at midday! We motored round the corner to the service point at Bradley Green, I dropped Krystyna and Success off on the towpath side and moved Draco across to the services point.

Approaching Alvecote Marina

Water tank filled, rubbish dumped, etc., 1.30pm and I picked up Success again and we headed off towards Alvecote Marina. After a very pleasant 2 hour run, negotiating the winding canal and skewed bridges at Polesworth, we arrived at Alvecote. We met Tom with his motor Archimedes in the bridge just before the marina and after we sorted ourselves out we got through the bridge and moored up in our allocated spot on the marina moorings on the main line just after the Samuel Barlow pub.

Historic Boats moored in the marina

6 miles, 4 locks

Wednesday 6th July, 2011

2011-07-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

Approaching Charity Dock

Another pleasant day with just the odd light shower. We set off at 10.45am and headed down towards Charity Dock, it's difficult to imagine looking at the place, but I rather think it has been tidied up somewhat.

Lightening tree in a field
near Nuneaton

We met a boat in the bridge at Marston Junction, although I had announced our presence with the usual long blast on the hooters we still met in the bridge-hole. Even though I gave a long continuous blast on the hooters he still kept coming, until he was alerted to us being there by actually seeing Draco's bows in the bridge. It turned out he was wearing headphones and was unable to hear anything other than his music! He thankfully offered to back away from the bridge and allow us through and on we went.

We had a good run through the twists and turns at Griff and headed into Nuneaton. We met a couple of Napton Narrowboats hire boats just after the Griff bends, the first heading flat out round a bend and not making it, so an emergency stop was required whilst they got themselves out of the bank and off Draco's bows.

Approaching Atherstone Top Lock

No sooner had we got past that one then another came round the next bend, whilst at a slower speed it was completely on the wrong side of the canal and heading across our path. We had more space this time and I managed to stop the pair without any contact whilst they sorted themselves out and got past us. The rest of the trip to Atherstone was without incident and we arrived at top lock at 4pm.

Moored between locks 7 and 8

We decided to at least go down the main flight of 5 locks and maybe moor in the long pound between 5 and 6, or if no space then go down the next pair of locks and moor between 7 and 8, which is what we did, all moored up by 7pm.

10 miles, 7 locks

Tuesday 5th July, 2011

2011-07-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

The illuminated Newbold Tunnel

We set off from our overnight mooring at Newbold at 10.30 and only managed to get as far as Falls Bridge when we got something nasty on the blade. Despite all attempts to get it off using the usual forward/reverse changes I had to stop the pair mid-channel and resort to going down the weed hatch, mind you it was only the second time this year. After a few minutes and a load of rope and rag removed from the blade later, we were on our way again.
After a pleasant run in the sunny periods we arrived at Nettle Hill at 1.30pm and decided to stop to give the dogs a run and have lunch. Just as we were mooring up the rain showers started and they continued on and off for most of the afternoon, albeit light and hardly worth taking notice of.

Approaching Sutton Stop

Just over an hour later we were on our way again and a couple of hours later just before 5pm we arrived at Sutton Stop. There were no moorings available on the Oxford Canal so we decided to lock through and see what was available on the Coventry Canal.

Starting the turn

Half way round

Straightening out for the narrows

We locked up and I started the 180 degree turn. It all went exactly to plan and, although I say it myself, it must have looked pretty good too. I turned Draco into the turn with Success attached by both short straps on the dolly on the inside of the turn. Once Draco was fully into the turn I reversed back to push Success back into a position to allow me to swing her round, engaged forward again and at full chat swung Draco round and pulled Success round too, in one fell swoop. I straightened the pair up, attached the short straps as normal and headed into the narrows and onto the Coventry Canal. It felt good!

Moored up for the night

We came to the end of the visitor moorings without finding a suitable space, so we carried on to the straight beyond and after a couple of abortive attempts to get into the side with Draco we tried Success on the inside with the intention of breasting up. Still no joy as there was not enough towpath to get the stakes in satisfactorily enough for the breasted pair. So we motored on looking for somewhere better and just beyond the now closed Navigation Pub and just before Charity Dock we found a spot on the armcoat piling, OK, Draco's stern was several feet out from the bank, but that's pretty normal for us anyway. All moored up by 7pm.

13 miles, 1 lock.

Monday 4th July, 2011

2011-07-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

Leaving Barby Wood

Starting our run to Alvecote Marina today for the Summer Fair there next weekend. Krystyna had a hospital appointment this morning and Michelle came to pick her up and drop here back off afterwards, meanwhile I readied the boats for the off. Krystyna returned and after a quick cup of coffee we were off at 12.45 heading towards Hillmorton.

Barby Moorings Marina in water

As we passed the new Barby Moorings Marina we realised why the pound seemed to have dropped quite a few inches during the previous few days, the new marina was full of water and had been sealed off again, it used to be a three month leak test for new marinas so it could be a long wait. I was also surprised to see that although the steel uprights for the staging were in place none of the staging had been fitted, I would have thought it easier to do that before filling with water.

Approaching Hillmorton Top Lock

After a very pleasant run in the hot sunshine we arrived at Hillmorton Top Lock at 2pm. Our old friend Bill 'Bubble' Davis on nb Rosy was moored above the lock and he came and helped us down the flight. A good run down, with one of each pair with us and its top gate open saw us leaving the bottom of the three an hour later. We waved our goodbyes and thanks to Bill and headed off towards Rugby.

Leaving Hillmorton Bottom Lock

We managed to meet several boats in all the wrong places and they mostly seemed to be in the usual hurry, one of them coming to grief at the slewed road bridge just before Clifton Cruisers. He came round the corner through the moorings very fast and ignoring my usual long hooter signals suddenly realised that we were there, with Success in the bridge-hole. He managed to wind himself around Success, just, but didn't manage to get through the bridge. Apparently as we disappeared around the corner Krystyna could still see him thrashing around in the bridge-hole :->

Moored at Newbold

We wound ourselves round the boats moored on both sides at the 'Tesco' moorings meeting only one oncoming boat as we did, fortunately he knew what to do and we passed each other safely. There were no really suitable moorings in Rugby, so we cruised on towards Newbold, where I hoped we might find some space on the visitor moorings there. Bingo! 200 foot of space at the end on the moorings just before the bridge, so we slotted the pair in singled out. Moored up and settled down by 4.45pm.

7 miles, 3 locks

Monday 27th June, 2011

2011-06-29T07:33:00.000-07:00

Success abandoned on
Midland Chandlers' Wharf

Late morning, after doing a little job on Allsorts, still for sale in the marina, I singled the boats out and moved round to the services point. I had thought that as many of the boats had moved off earlier that the services point would be free, but as we rounded the bend at the turn there were two boats on the services point with another waiting on Midland Chandlers' wharf.

Draco on the services

We agreed with the chap waiting that we would swap places with him, so I breasted the pair back up mid-stream - should have come round breasted from the mooring! - and we moored up on the wharf. By this time the waiting boat was already on the services point. When it was our turn I left Success on the wharf and took Draco round, filled up with water, etc., etc., and just over an hour later I reversed back to pick up Success.

Slotted in at Barby Wood

1.45pm and we were off up the North Oxford towards our intended stop at Barby Wood (how unusual :->). We are going to stay there for a week as I had a few jobs to do and then we will be heading off towards Alvecote for the Summer Charity Weekend July 8/9/10. A gentle run saw us arriving at Barby Wood to find only one mooring slot available, fortunately long enough for the boats breasted up. I virtually stopped the boats dropped the short straps and Krystyna eased Success into the mooring whilst I manoeuvred Draco alongside, again it all went perfectly to plan and within a few minutes, at just before 4pm, we were all moored up.

4 miles, 0 locks.

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th June, 2011

2011-06-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

FMC boats in the marina arm

'Tug Alley' outside the marina entrance

Braunston Historic Boat Show, with well over 100 historic boats moored between the Ladder Bridge and Castle Bridge and in the marina arm itself. All the trading boats this year were in the marina, with the exception of us and Ian on Towpath Trader, who were on the moorings between Castle Bridge and the turn. The weather on Saturday started off overcast and threatening more rain, but it soon cleared up to sunny spells; Sunday was a glorious cloud-free and very hot day.

There are usually two boat parades at the show each day at 10am and 2pm. The 10am one started on Saturday and within half an hour or so it had degraded into absolute chaos. Partly due to the larger than usual number of boats and also, it has to be said, largely due to the poor organisation, planning and marshaling of the boats. It took most of the boats in the parade 2 hours to actually get started and then 4 hours to complete the parade and return to their moorings - suffice it to say that the 2pm parade never took place! There were boat crews jumping ship everywhere to try and get something to eat and drink before returning to their boats, which had hardly moved at all whilst they were away! Many boats refused to parade on Sunday and went home, although the two parades were carried out with a vastly reduced number.

Malcolm Braine surveying the mayhem
from the front of his boat Cactus

The fantastic 1/5th scale radio-controlled FMC motor

The number of visitors was also well down on the last two years at least. Usually you can hardly walk along the towpath between the marina ]and the turn for the milling crowds, but no problem this year - a sign of the times? Still, we enjoyed it and trade wasn't too bad either.

Wednesday 22nd June, 2011

2011-06-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

Breasted up and about to head off
to the winding hole

Although we had a prescribed mooring agreed with BW on the straight opposite the Boathouse Pub, we decided to move back relatively early, so as to give us time to sort out the mooring if it was occupied. I breasted the boats up and just after 8.30am we went up to the winding hole.

Winding

It was a tad breezy but we managed to get the pair round easily enough and I went back into the relative calm of the cutting before singling out. Success decided to misbehave as I was singling out, down to a gust of wind in reality, and as I slid down the side to pick up the cross straps she drifted away from me to the bank. Consequently, I had to go past and reverse back to get into position to pick up the straps, no problem of course, although at one stage I was waving goodbye to Krystyna as I sailed away :->

Missed it! - go back and try again :->

We motored down to the turn and because we were currently set up to trade off the port side and also because we were heading north after the show, I turned into the North Oxford Canal and breasted up on the fly just round the turn. That went well, although we did have an impatient chap who just had to come past us whilst we were breasting up - why are so many people in so much of a hurry these days?

Breasting up at the turn

Breasted up I started reversing back round towards the moorings opposite the pub. As it happened our mooring spot was clear so it was just a matter of getting the pair round the various moored boats on the towpath side and breasted boats on Tony Redshaw's wharf. With a large audience on the towpath and moored boats I feared the worst, but it all went perfectly to plan and we slotted the boats into the mooring and were all tied up and sorted by 10am.

1 mile, 0 locks

Monday 20th June, 2011

2011-06-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

Monday 20th June, 2011

Heading out of Braunston

As we had agreed with BW we moved off the mooring opposite The Boathouse pub late afternoon, to return on Wednesday to our prescribed mooring for the Braunston Historic Boat Show next weekend. Lots of other boats on the 48 hour moorings were apparently not keen on moving off and as we understand it they were to be issued with £20 mooring penalty notices if they didn't, the final outcome of this we are not aware of, but some had moved by the time returned later in the week, others not.

Moored up at Bridge 98

We singled out and cruised on down the Grand Union with the intention of stopping at Flecknoe Fields if no other moorings were available. As it turned out there was a suitable spot that we could get into singled out more-or-less under bridge 98, the high accommodation bridge just before the winding hole. This was ideal, as it satisfied BW's request and also meant we could wind easily before returning on Wednesday. The whole journey, including mooring up, was over in less than an hour.

1 mile, 0 locks

The bed of the original line of the

canal in the field adjacent Bridge 98

Tuesday 14th June, 2011

2011-06-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

Approaching Buckby Bottom Lock,
plenty of water weiring over the top gates

We arose to a fabulous morning and after a leisurely breakfast, etc., I breasted the pair up and we went into Bucky Bottom Lock at 11am. There was a boat in front of us, but he waved us in as he decided to wait for an approaching boat some 400 yards or so behind us. A good, but slowish, run up the flight. The next 2 locks had been against us but then some southbound boats started coming through which made life a little easier - although nothing about the Buckby Flight bottom gates can be considered easy, well, not for us oldies anyway....

Leaving Buckby Top Lock

The top three long pounds were, as usual, very low and with having to hover around waiting for southbound boats it proved interesting not getting stuck. I rarely go bankside and hold the boats on ropes unless I really have to; after all, the engine is much stronger than I am! I did go aground just above third-from-top, but that did not surprise me as I was passing waiting boats on the lock moorings and the lock cut is quite narrow there and notoriously shallow anyway. Once the waiting boats had gone into the lock, I reversed the pair out of the mud bank, whatever it was, and continued on. At the road bride between 3 and 2 I came to a virtual complete stop, it took me about 3 minutes to actually get through, a combination of low water and me filling the available space with the pair breasted up, such that the water I needed to draw past me to actually move forward was unable to get past the boats fast enough. Still, I made it in the end and by the time I got to the lock the southbound boat was just coming out so in I went. Top lock was against us, but a boat has just arrived to go down so they helped Krystyna with the lock whilst I readied the pair for singling out and 1.30 pm saw us on our way.

Breasting up above Braunston Top Lock

We motored across the summit and stopped for an hour or so in the cutting just before Braunston Tunnel to give the dogs a run and have some lunch. We moved off again and into the tunnel just after 3pm, this time I had remembered to change the exhaust stack! We managed, once again, to get round the bendy bits at the southern end before we met the southbound boats - it's bad enough wiggling the pair round without having to worry about oncoming boats. We arrived at Braunston Top Lock at 3.45 pm just as two boats were coming up. I breasted the pair up again on the fly whilst waiting and by the time I was ready they were just emerging from the lock. The rest of the flight was against us, with no other traffic coming up, only a boat in front of us also going down. Whilst Krystyna closed the gates of the lock behind me I readied the next lock, opened the gates and took the pair in, wound up the paddles and opened the gate on Draco's side of the lock and then climbed down the ladder and took the boats out - and so on. We emerged from Bottom Lock at 5.15pm

Moored up and relaxing at Braunston

We motored through Braunston hoping to find a mooring spot, a touch dodgy at that time of day, but as we came by The Boathouse pub there was a slot just big enough. I stopped the boats, breasted up on the fly and eased the pair in, Draco on the outside. Everything went superbly, unusual seeing as we had a large audience looking down from the pub balcony and from the other moored boats. We got the pair in with a couple of feet spare at each end without touching either of the other boats moored. I say that because the next morning the boat in front of us moved off, managing to give us a hefty clout as he did so - modern high-speed diesel engine and bow thruster at his disposal, I despair sometimes. We were moored up and drinking a welcome glass of wine in the glorious sunshine by 6pm.

6 miles, 13 locks, 1 tunnel

N.B.: I said in yesterday's blog that our attendance at the Braunston Historic Boat Show is somewhat up-in-the-air. Although the organisers' desperately want Success to be at the show (she is one of the oldest boats currently on the system) they are unable to give us a slot that would allow us to trade. Whilst both we and BW disagree with the reasons given, as BW hand over the moorings from the Ladder Bridge to Castle Bridge to the show organisers, we are unable to resolve the situation. We are currently on the 48 hour moorings beyond Castle Bridge but have to move off by Monday (we have 2 day extension for other reasons). We would be allowed to come back here with an agreed extension after next Wednesday, but of course we cannot guarantee getting a mooring. Similarly, the 14 day moorings beyond the turn, although less good from a trading point-of-view, are also likely to be full most of the time. Consequently, at this time, we just do not know if we shall be here or not.

Monday 13th June, 2011

2011-06-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

Reversing up to the winding hole

After a very enjoyable stay at Stoke Bruerne, encompassing the Gala Weekend, it was time to head back to Braunston for the Historic Boat Show - although our attendance there is still somewhat up in the air. The weather was dry with sunny periods, a big change from Sunday's very wet weather, although the rest of our stay there had been in very good weather. The wet Sunday had resulted in an abrupt end to the Gala Weekend.

Turn completed, about to single-out

We started off at 10.45 by reversing the pair still breasted up back to the winding hole just before the tunnel mouth. We winded without any real difficulty even though there were still moored boats either side of the winding hole and a fallen tree on the offside on the tunnel side. We singled out and plunged into the tunnel, when I realised that I had forgotten to change the exhaust stack for the tunnel splitter! No time to stop and change it over due to the amount of traffic coming through the other way, the result being that the engine room and back cabin roofs resembled a building site when we emerged from the other end..... I just managed to get around the 'inverted geyser' (as we call the torrent of water that invariably falls from one of the air shafts) before passing an approaching boat - I imagine the steerer must had been horrified for a moment or two to see the approaching boats weaving around like that :->

Leaving the water point at Stowe Hill

We continued on past Gayton Junction as I had decided to use the water point at Stowe Hill, as it would be easier than taking the pair round the junction to the services point and then backing out again. The toilet cassettes and rubbish would be OK until we got to Braunston.

An uneventful trip until we got to the bends just before Stowe Hill Wharf; as we came through the bridge and round past the weir an approaching hire boat decided to head across the canal across Draco's bows. A hurried stop, relatively under control I am pleased to say, and some full-power wiggling around between him and the moored boats and we managed to continue on. I did advise the steerer of the hire boat that perhaps he ought to pay more attention to navigating, rather than eating his ice cream and drinking his beer!

It's hard work being a bullock....

We passed through Stowe Hill without further ado and stopped at the water point just beyond in a slot just long enough for the pair singled out. A hour or so later at 4.30pm we were off again continuing on the remaining short distance to Whilton, where we arrived and moored up just beyond bottom lock at 6.15pm.

14.5 miles, 0 locks, 1 tunnel

Friday 3rd June, 2011

2011-06-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

On our way

An even hotter day that the previous few and that was saying something. We arose, did the chores and upped stakes at 10.30 for the short remaining journey to Stoke Bruerne.

The lovely wooded cutting approaching
Blisworth Tunnel North portal

The run through Blisworth Tunnel, although busy with oncoming traffic, went smoothly and by 11.45 we were moored up adjacent the Woodland Walk between the tunnel mouth and top lock.

Moored at Stoke Bruerne

2.5 miles 0 locks 1 tunnel

Thursday 2nd June, 2011

2011-06-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

Towcester & Lactodorum on
Whilton Marina wharf

We arose to the continuing fabulous weather, had a leisurely breakfast, sorted the dogs out and then walked over to the Whilton Garden Centre for a quick look round.We were only cruising to just beyond Gayton, so staying on the same long pound, hence no rush.

We came back from the garden centre to see Jules and Richard with Towcester and Lactodorum breasted up on the marina wharf just below the lock, they were preparing to separate and head off each boat under its own power. I joked with them that perhaps we would pull back a bit so as to close the canal, but we decided it would be best not to :->

On our way

We set off at 11.45, after a slight delay whilst we waited for a sudden rush of boats going uphill to clear so that we had room to up-stakes and single out.

A gentle run without incident saw us through Gayton Junction - no need to stop as we had serviced the necessaries at Braunston late Tuesday night. We were actually going to the Walnut Tree Hotel, Blisworth that night to have a meal for two that we had won in one of the raffles at the Northampton IWA Rally recently, so we went round to bridge 49.

Where have all the trees gone? -
the once tree-lined section between
Whilton & Weedon

Although the better moorings (piling, etc.) are on the Blisworth side of the bridge I decided to stop and moor just before the bridge on the basis that if there were no moorings the other side it would have been too late! As it turned out I was right, there was no space in sight beyond the bridge. We were all staked up and settled by 5.30pm.

Towcester & Lactodorum fuelling a
boat up just before Stowe Hill wharf

Incidentally we were glad we did not have to pay for the meal at the Walnut Tree Hotel, the food was very Nouveau Cuisine, (i.e. small portions on big plates!), the beer was not bad as they seemed to have a fair selection of real ales - unusual for a hotel - but the service was very, very, very slow! - heaven knows what they would have done if they were busy, we were one of only four tables occupied and the other three only also had couples on...

Moored up just below bridge 49

12 miles 0 locks

Wednesday 1st June, 2011

2011-06-05T14:05:00.000-07:00

Breasted up add the sani-station

We arose to another sunny morning and after walking the dogs, doing a bit of shopping in Midland Chandlers, we moved off from their wharf at 10am. We stopped at the sani-station just beyond Castle Bridge, breasting against a couple of boats taking on water whilst I emptied the loo cassettes and then we were off again to Braunston Bottom Lock. We were actually behind a boat waiting for the lock, but he waved us past into the emptying lock and I breasted the pair up as we moved into the lock. There was a fair amount of traffic in the flight so we had short waits for each lock in the flight, but we left top lock singling out and plunged into the tunnel at just after midday. A good run through the tunnel, this time I managed not to meet anyone coming the other way at the bendy bits and around 1pm we were mooring up for lunch in the cutting just after the south portal.

Waiting for Braunston lock no.2

We lunched and gave the dogs a run and then we were off again towards Norton Junction, arriving at around 3pm. There was a pair of boats waiting for the lock so I breasted the pair up mid-stream whilst we waited. There was no-one waiting to come up the lock so I dropped Krystyna off and hovered until she had turned the lock with the help of the folk off a Wyvern Shipping hire boat that had arrived behind us.

Moored opposite Whilton Marina

Similar to as at Braunston there was plenty of traffic in the flight. We arrived at lock 2 to find another Wyvern Shipping boat waiting, so by the time the lock had turned the boat behind us has arrived, so we waved them through so as to fill the lock with the other boat. They worked down the lock and another couple of boats worked up and then we were off again. We had similar short waits down the rest of the flight, but we still managed to get out of bottom lock at just after 5pm. We moored just beyond the lock-tail moorings still breasted up.

6 miles 13 locks 1 tunnel

Tuesday 31st May, 2011

2011-06-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

It was time for us to start our short journey to Stoke Bruerne in readiness for the forthcoming Gala Weekend. I readied the boats for the off whilst Michelle picked Krystyna up from our house in Barby after she had taken the van there and brought her back to the boats. I started the engine and all was OK for about 2 minutes and then it wound down to a stop. Odd methought, that shouldn't happen :-> A quick check around and I realised that the engine was not getting any fuel. I checked the tank, all well there, getting low but still enough for systems to work.

Progression at Barby Moorings

I started to bleed the system through just in case and then I found a leak on the spill rail. In fact, the pipe had just about broken though on the banjo union on the return at the fuel filter. I tried to unsolder the broken piece out of the banjo union, but my blowtorch was not man enough for silver solder, so we phoned Michelle up and got her to pick me up just after lunch and take me back to the house to get the van. I then popped down to Tony Redshaw's in Braunston and got him to remake the connection for me. I also picked up 60 litres of diesel in my jerry cans so as to top the tank up, just in case. I returned to the boats, refitted the pipe and bled the system through, 10 minutes later the engine was running again, and this time without stopping.

Buttercups on the ridges-and-furrows

Krystyna had by now popped back to the house to get some more potting compost for the planting she had been doing, so I sent her a text saying we were ready for the off. A short while later she returned, having arranged with Michelle and Michael to pick the van up later for us and at around 4.30 we moved off towards Kilsby winding hole. It was still a gloriously sunny day with quite a bit of traffic around, but we got the winding hole in 30 minutes or so with enough of a gap between the traffic - or so we thought - to wind the pair.

That's what you call a bull!

We started our usual manoeuvre, but things started to go awry after I had picked up the short strap on Success's anser pin. Draco decided not to play ball and instead of pushing Success round into the winding hole, with the aid of the breeze blowing in the wrong direction (of course!) Draco went one way and Success the other. We finally managed to get the boats organised when a most impatient chap coming from the Hilmorton direction was insistent of trying to get through the ever diminishing gap between the boats' sterns and the bank. Suffice it to say he failed, but during his attempt I had to stall our turn and consequently we were in the wrong position again. With the help of some people on the towpath we managed to get Success round and then I started to wind Draco solo, only to have another boat coming from the Braunston direction do the same thing as the previous boat!. Finally, we got both boats round, hitched up and we were off towards Braunston, some 60 minutes after we started the turn....

Braunston Turn in the moolight

The remainder of the trip to Braunston was uneventful and we arrived at the service point at around 8pm, somewhat later than I had hoped, but never mind. We watered up, couldn't empty the loo cassettes as that sani-station is currently out-of-order (repairs anticipated early June the sign said). Rather than risk no moorings around the corner, there being none opposite where we were, I decided to moor on Midland Chadlers' wharf overnight, I was going in there in the morning anyway, and just after 9pm saw us moored up and sorted. Time for as large G&T!

6 miles 0 locks

Sunday 15th May, 2011

2011-05-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Completely occupying the services point

We had decided to move round to Barby Wood for a week or so in order that I could complete some shelving and other works in Success's sales area and it would be less of a hindrance to passers-by when working on the towpath if we were not at Braunston. We arose earlyish to an overcast but mild morning, Krystyna walked the dogs whilst I readied the boats for the off, 9.30 saw us moving off and round to the services. We took on water, did all the necessaries, spent some money in Midland Chandlers (as you do!) and by 11.30 we were off again heading up the North Oxford Canal.

'Navigation' Bridge at Willoughby Wharf

Despite a long blast on the hooters we still managed to meet a boat in the somewhat blind A45 bridge (90) even though there was a chap watching from the front of his boat moored just below the bridge, with a clear view in both directions, who couldn't be bothered to let either one of us know of the approaching other - I despair of people sometimes! However, a meeting of boats was avoided and the other boat kindly pulled back to let us pass through.

Just after bridge 88 in the relatively wide section I decided, against my normally better judgement, to let a rather impatient Canal Club boat pass. I got the steerer to slow down a fair bit as they passed us, but to no avail, Draco was left high-and-dry on the mud. Thrashing about with a long shaft and various reversing and forwarding of the engine for 10 minutes or so saw us still stuck fast. Fortunately tug Kyle came through and agreed to give us a pull-off, after a failure trying to pull the stern off they took a line from the bows and gradually we were hauled free. Note to self: no-one else is passing us today whilst we're on the move.....

Mooring up at Barby Wood

The rest of the short run to Barby Wood was uneventful and we were finally moored up, Success ahead of Draco, by 1pm. The weather had been a little damp at times with light rain, but no problem and by late afternoon there were some nice sunny periods.

4 miles, 0 locks

Monday 9th May, 2011

2011-05-09T13:24:00.000-07:00

Moving off from our mooring
just below Nelson Lock

Another gloriously sunny morning greeted us. We were moving down to the 14 day moorings at the junction today on the basis that there would probably be space for us after the weekend traffic had moved off. Not many boats on the move this morning, although by the time we moved off from our mooring just below Nelson Lock at 11.15 things started to pick up. We worked down second from bottom after we waited for a couple of boats to work through.

Approaching Butchers' Bridge

There were a couple of boats just entering bottom lock as I was about to exit, so I waited in the lock and got Krystyna to ask them to move up the pound to just below the lock to give me room, as there were a couple of boats moored in the pound. Eventually they moved as I had requested and I took the pair through to bottom lock. We worked down the lock and I singled out the boats and we ventured out in the same as usual busy stretch between bottom lock and Butchers' Bridge. There was quite a queue of boats waiting to go up the flight, I reckon they might be still at it :->

Moored up

We pootled past the marina and round the corner to the junction to find just about all the mooring space vacant, so we selected a suitable spot and moored the boats up. All settled by 12.30.

1 mile, 2 locks

Friday 6th May, 2011

2011-05-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

Breasting up ready for the off

Another fine, sunny and warm day greeted us as we had a leisurely breakfast and walked the dogs. I breasted the boats up and just after 11am we motored up to the locks, waited for a boat to work up and then Krystyna turned the lock and in we went. There was a fair bit of traffic about and by the time we were clearing the second lock there was a steady stream of downward traffic, meaning that the rest of the flight was with us, although some of the gates were closed owing to us not being seen in time.

Crumbling wall just below bridge 13

The three long pounds between the top 4 locks were very low on water, such that under all the bridges I came to an almost complete halt, eventually managing to get through. At the second from the top, where the lock approach is quite narrow for the last 200 yards or so, there was a boat approaching. I asked his lady who was at the lock if she could ask him to hang back as there was a breasted pair coming up. I think she did, but it made no difference and on he came, until he saw me leaving the lock and then he realised! He decided to pull right over to the off-side and wait there, as I knew how shallow the pound was and also how shallow the off-side was, I anticipated he might be there for a while after we passed. He was!

Preparing to leave Buckby Top Lock

Top lock came and up we went. I popped into the New Inn to get our tankards filled with a couple of pints and then I singled us out of the lock and on we went, it was 1.20pm. There was a boat waiting to come down, so we did not have to close the top gates.

Norton Junction

A gentle run over the summit, past the site of the proposed Daventry Arm and we pulled in just before Welton Wharf to give the dogs a run and grab a snack. After 30 minutes or so we were off again and headed into Braunston tunnel. There had been quite a few boats pass us whilst we were stopped, the last being a Canal Club time-share boat. A good run in the tunnel, although, of course, I met two boats coming the other way at the bends! However, as I was about 600 metres from the south portal I realised that I was catching the next boat up quite quickly.

The site of the proposed Daventry Arm,
close by the feeder from Daventry Reservoir

Now, pulling the pair at a higher than normal speed (there is only one way to go through tunnels...) I was still only doing about 3mph, much less than most boats and generally considerably less than Canal Club boats (Eh Brian?). It transpired that they had gone through the entire tunnel on tick-over, a dangerous practice in my book, little or no steerage and a hazard to other boats in either direction. When I was about 100m behind them and still about 400m from the tunnel end I decided to give them a blast on the horns (marine hooter on the engine-room roof plus a klaxon type mounted on the bow cratch-board - rather a loud setup :->). It seemed to do the trick, maybe I gave the steerer a heart flutter, but anyway they picked up speed and all was well, especially as there was a convoy of BW working boats just entering the tunnel!

Moored up below Nelson Lock

We exited the tunnel and heading down towards Braunston top lock, breasting up on the fly whilst we waited for the Canal Club boat to lock through. We entered the lock around 3.30pm and apart from number 2 lock, where we passed Dave & Jan King on nb Jappa working up, the remaining two locks were against us. We had decided to moor just below lock 3 - Nelson lock - if there was space as we were going to a private party there on Saturday night. There was space, so I pulled out of the lock and moored up just beyond the lock tail bollards, all sorted by 4.40pm. We opened shop and settled down to a G&T in the glorious sunshine.

5 miles, 11 locks

Thursday 5th May

2011-05-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

Leaving our overnight mooring
opposite Gayton Marina

Another promising day weather-wise and we set off at 10.30am for the short trip round to the junction and the services point. We breasted the pair up on the fly, the first time we have successfully managed it, quite impressive even if I say so myself (:->) and pulled into the service point with Success on the inside. An hour or so later at 11.40 and after a quick chat with John Cheesebrough I cast Draco off, leaving Krystyna and Success attached to a bollard with stern rope - just in case.... I gently turned Draco in the now restricted space (restricted for a full-length boat that is) and then lined myself up and reversed back to Success, picked up the straps and Krystyna cast off and we were off, heading towards Whilton.

On our way having left the Northampton
Arm and Gayton services

A nice and gentle uneventful run with not much traffic about. The sky clouded over somewhat and occasionally it threatened rain, but none ever came our way, but it remained lovely and warm.

Weedon Wharf

We stopped just after Weedon to give the dogs a run and grab a bite to eat. I made some adjustment to the cross-straps, which had not been acting correctly for a while. Due to Draco being a tug her stern is so much lower than Success's bows and consequently the straps slip round and lose their crossing effect; the addition of some restraining chains was my plan to sort out the problem. (This modification has proved totally successful I am pleased to say.)

Moored at Whilton

Three quarters of an hour later and we headed off again towards Whilton and the bottom of the Buckby flight. We had decided that if there was mooring space available at the bottom, then we would call it a day and do the remaining stretch to Braunston (our destination for now) tomorrow. There was space and by 5pm we were all moored up.

11.5 miles, 0 locks

Wednesday 4th May

2011-05-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

About to leave our Northampton mooring

Time for us to leave the River Nene in Northampton and climb up the Northampton Arm. It was another glorious sunny morning and the wind had dropped to virtually nothing, a promise of another warm day. Krystyna popped into Morrison's to get some milk and a few bits whilst I readied the boats for the off and at 10.15am I cast off the boats, motored Draco to Success's bows, picked up the straps and we were off.

Approaching the low arches of
South Bridge, River Nene, Northampton

During a discussion at the rally it was suggested that we could negotiate South Bridge, with its low arches, breasted up, but I didn't want to take any chances so we were singled out. Anyway, it's only 10 minutes or so from the town moorings to the Northampton Arm bottom lock, so it made as much sense to be singled as it would have been breasted.

Approaching the junction of the River Nene
and the Northampton Arm, on the left

Northampton Arm Bottom Lock

The lock was with us, which was good news, as that meant that probably the whole 17 locks in the arm would be, as there are no real overnight mooring spots between the top and bottom of the arm. I opened the gates with Draco's bows and in we went, dropped Success off at the bottom gates with a line attached to the gate rails and worked Draco up. We then turned the lock, worked Success up, pulled her out, closed the gate and we were off up the arm.

Finally got away from lock 16!

We did the same at the remaining 3 single locks, managing to get Draco stuck in the mud just above 16 whilst pulling Success out. I had to drop the straps and with the usual bit of jiggling around got Draco free and able to re-pick up the straps and head off again. The long pounds between locks 17 to 14 and generally shallow and narrow for the most part, so it was not until 1.45pm that we arrived at lock 13, the bottom of the main flight.

Approaching lock 13, the bottom
of the main flight

We worked Draco up and then Success and Krystyna decided that she would stay off at this one and walk up whilst I towed Success up the 300 yard pound. There was a boat working down lock 11 and lock 12 was full, lock-wheeling hoped, so we waited for them to work down 12 and then we were off again. The locks in the flight are now very close together, so Krystyna decided to single Success whilst I did the same with Draco.

Krystyna working Success up lock 9

In actuality I worked Draco up each lock, turned the lock and opened the gates and then went back a lock to close the top gate for Krystyna, whilst she pulled Success into the next lock. This worked well, if not a little tiring with all the walking backwards and forwards and helping Krystyna pull Success in some of the longer pounds, but the system worked well.

Top lock in sight!

When we got to lock 3 we decided that it would be easier for me to wait for Success to work up and then pull her to the next lock. This sounded as if it would take longer to work the pair up, but as it turned out we reckoned it was actually quicker - certainly less work pulling Success of course.

A beer break working up top lock

The thankful sight of top lock appeared and we worked up, having a well-earned beer whilst doing so and we left the flight at 6.30pm. It had taken us 4 hours 45 minutes to do the 13 locks twice, that works out at just under 11 minutes a lock, pretty impressive in my book, considering that for the majority of them we were manually hauling Success up the flight.

Moored opposite Gayton Marina

We motored round the short distance to the straight section opposite Gayton Marina and moored up for the night. Time for a few more beers and the odd bottle of wine :->

4.7 miles, 17 locks (twice)