Last entry
Posted by saltysplash, Jul 10 2008, 07:25 AM
Im not sure if this will work but Im gonna try and do a Blog on another site, Not that I have anything at all against this site, far from it, I just feel it might make it a little more personal to Laura and myself.
The Canal World Blog is very simple and easy to use and has been a great start for me but now, Im gonna spend hours struggling with links and fings and then give up and come back to this blog!!!!!! see given up already.
If you enjoy what you have read here maybe you would care to read further at http://saltysplash.blogspot.com/
If that link dont work then im done for 
Any comments and suggestions are always very welcome, even critical ones.......we all have to be ready to learn...apparently
So any usefull advice on how to post links and pics on the new blog will be more than welcome
Cheers folks, an if you see more posts here you can be sure the new blog is just too much for my small IT brain to cope with 
Endurance
Posted by saltysplash, Jun 30 2008, 04:13 PM
Ernest Shackleton wouldve been proud of us.
We decided to try again and get up to the winding hole to turn Lady Elgar round. With Laura on the bow with the pole swishing as much weed away from us a poss, we managed to get half way along the moorings before we came to a dead stop with the prop choked with weed. This time we both plonked ourselves on the bow and pulled over alongside the moored boats. While I poled us punt style Laura kept us from touching the boats. We made slow but steady progress and eventually reached bridge 7 at the end of the moorings where Neil said the weed was much less. I cleared the prop and we set off with no problems this time. We passed a boat coming towards us from Slough and we both comented on our slow progress back at the moorings. They had resorted to bow haulng their boat.
We turned with no problem and chugged back towards the moorings, This time our plan of action was me on the front with the pole and Laura steering but with increased revs in an effort to push our way through as far as poss before we have to resort to the pole again. As we approached the bridge I could see the boat we had passed already alongside the tow path as they pulled their boat with ropes. I was managing to clear great swarths of weed from our path and we soon caught up with our fellow sufferers. As herbie had done I offered them a tow but they declined and asit happened, shortly afterwards we came to a stop but we had made great progress and didnt have too far to go before I knew we would reach the clearer bits. Once past the 2nd wide beam we again cleared the prop and pushed ourselves back into the channel and managed to cruise back to our mooring with no further visits to the weed hatch....deep joy.
That 1 mile to the winding hole and the mile back took us just under 3 hours but it is nice having the boat the right way round...or at least the way round we like..if that makes sense.
Things then began to look up even more. Laura had lost her boat keys at Apsley water point last week and she just phoned BW who confirm they have got the keys....yipeee
Flob a lob, little weed
Posted by saltysplash, Jun 30 2008, 12:09 AM
Sunday morning saw me up at half 8 to get ready to poodle up the arm to the winding hole and let Herbie go off for her 2 week cruise to the River Wey.
I met Neil at the stern as he was just prepering Herbies weed hatch, we both fired up the engines and I set off for the Windly windly hole. Within 30 seconds it was obvious i had some serious weed on the prop as there was a fair amount either side of the apparantly clear channel. Within 100 yards from the mooring I had come to a standstill with the prop wash being pushed eitherside of the stern instead of past the prop. I indicated to Neil that I was pulling over and he gave me the impression he was having similar trouble.
Neil however, managed to keep Herbie chugging forward while i dived into the weedhatch and spent 10 mins clearing horrible tangly blankety type weed which had the consistancy of netting.
Once clear I returned topside to see Herbie still crawling forward and Cath on the bow with the boat pole clearing weed from their path. I pushe Lady Elgar out back into the channel and pressed forward. within 100 yards we had again come to a dead stop. Again I dived into the weed hatch to find even more of the stuff.
At the 6th attempt of this exercise I thought enough was enough and decided to bow haul her to the next bridge where I had seen Herbie disappear and the weed looked clearer. After another few yards I now saw herbie coming back towards us, they had been upto the winding hole and turned round which takes about half an hour so we decided to wait for them to pass before carrying on.
As neil approached he offered a tow back to the mooring.....I was too shagged to resist and despite obviously his prop having some weed on it Herbie did a marvelous job of pulling Lady Elgar the few hundred yards back to the mooring...He even managed to take a photo of us while doing so......"thats going on the blog" syas he...lol
They pressed on and we waved them goodbye in the hope thay have a fantastic trip.
We are going to try again tomorrow to brave the swamp that is the Slough Arm.....if I can just get her out into the clear bit before engaging the prop.
Roy Orbison
Posted by saltysplash, Jun 28 2008, 10:35 AM
Day 21
ITS OVER.
Our original plan for this day was to cruise down to Denham Country Park and find a little spot for 1 last barbie before doing the last 3 and a bit hours back to base camp.
The day dawned overcast and very breezey and a few showers accompanied our meanderings through the locks. At Batchworth we were aided by orange lifejacketed children who were visiting the canal centre and getting instruction on locks and boats....Geoff, one of the staff was telling Nora that when these groups were being shown around the motor Roger, the question was asked of them what they thought the boat wouldve carried in its hold. Not one of them thought of Coal, Televisions being the favourite guess. I guess not many kids these days have any concept of coal. Funny the way the world changes.
It was about 3pm as we descended Widewater lock and onto the Denham stretch, Looking at the sky we decided to plod on towards the Slough Arm.
At Cowley Peachey juction, my turn was restricted by a boat moored a few feet too close to the opening so a bit of jiggery pokery was needed to complete the swing onto the arm while the boat owners enjoyed the spectacle from the comfort of their chairs on the towpath.
Just over half an hour later saw us at Highline. We decided not to continue up to the winding hole as is our usual thing, but to tie up for a change on the outside of Herbie as Neil and Cath are heading out for the River Wey on sunday and being alongside the bank will be better for them loading up etc. Our neighbour Lydia waved us in and kindly took the stern rope and we were promptly visited by 3 of her cats who had apparantly been missing their treats due to a lack of Lady Elgar being alongside.
All finally secure and engine shut down and shore line connected saw us relaxing with a chinese takeaway.
All in all it was an excellent trip with fantastic weather. We met some lovely people, maffi and bones by name others just as faces. Visted some excellent pubs and eating places. Enjoyed the drama's of boaters antics and behaviours which although sometimes are frustrating, they are nothing compared to the behaviour of people on our roads, and what may seem like moans by me about folk, are not really moans...just observations on different behaviours, as im sure other folk would observe on our behaviour.
Valuable hands on knowlegde was learned re the boat such as the starter problem and the prop shaft, but even those incidents all added to the enjoyment of the trip and the experience of owning and running your own boat without the need to call on expert help. These problems were really very minor, the starter problem only being compounded by the fact we were on the Thames and had to shut down the engine at every lock.
Laura's highlights of the trip were the hundreds of baby fowl and animals that all benefitted from her tesco value bread bag, The Blisworth tunnel. Having her hat rescued by the lockie at Brentford and the memory of the Garlic Mushrooms at the Wharf Inn at Fenny Compton.
For me, just being together in our home cruising through varied and changing landscapes is enough. No bad memories and thats for sure.
The log shows the following data
Engine Hours 132
Distance 250miles
Locks 175
2 Tunnels
back to work Wednesday
Peter Sellars and Sophia Loren
Posted by saltysplash, Jun 27 2008, 08:31 AM
Day 20
The morning broke dry and lovely. Following a couple of brews we fired up and cast off, Nora working the swing bridge and 1st lock while we kept looking behind us in the hope of seeing a boat coming down behind us who we might share with.
Its wasnt to be so we slowly dropped down the heavily locked Hemel Hempstead section and arrived at the santary station at Apsley to take on and drop off fluids. A bot had decided to chain themselves up to a large protion of the services mooring so we pulled in behind them and in turn took up a portion of the lock mooring. Knowing it would probably be a long fill, I toddled off over the bridge to nip into Sainsburys for a quick top up on supplies. Rather wish I hadnt as it mustve been pension day and the checkout women were more concerned with chatting to each other about Sandra's 30th wedding anniversary than getting me through with my meagre items.
I eventually exited the store and as I crossed the bridge saw 2 motorboats going up in the lock and a couple of boats just exiting the lock above and Nora looking stressed. Typical, we'd not seen any other traffic all day then it becomes busy just as ive been a bit cheeky and gone shopping while taking on water. As it happens, it appears no one wished to use the services while Nora had been using them, the two motorboats decamped from the lock and headed on towards the next lock and the two boats coming down started hammering pins into the ground to tie up, so we fired up, packed away the hose and dropped down the lock.
The next lock at apsley mills was obviously in our favour and the two motors had left both gates open, probably re-living old times. I deposited Nora on the starboard side and brought Lady Elgar to a stop on the portside so we could both close a gate each. I then saw a chap emerge at the steps by the bottom gates and could see the roof of his boat just infront of the bottom gates. Thats gonna get lively when the paddles are raised thought I and as soon as both top gates were shut, this chap began winding. he then darted across to the other paddle and began winding again, wthin seconds two loud crashes occured and I could see both gates bouncing as this chaps boat began to ram into them. GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME. He very quickly ran back across the gates and down to his boat, then all I could hear was the sound of an engine being rev'd very hard, obviously in an effort to excape from the draw of the gate paddles. Nora then dropped both gate paddles and some normality returned and the chap managed to reverse away from the gates. Paddles up again and gate eventually open. This chap now placed himself in front of the open gate as I was exiting. The boat was only about a 40 footer at the most and painted in camoflague.
He didnt wait for me to clear but came steadly forward. I managed to just get out of the way avaoiding some very nast looking spikes that he had on the front of his Bow, Obviously used for when attacking the Carthaginian fleet.
Once Id got Nora back on board we agreed that he was obviously in a hurry to get somewhere. Apparantly, it was the spikes on the front of his boat that had got trapped in the gates preventing him from being able to reverse away from them.....what a strange fellow.
Unfortunately, no further excitment occured and we made the steady descent sharing the lock work a couple at a time. It was about half four by the time we reached Lady capels lock and our intention to moor opposite the golf course was thwarted by boats there before us so we dropped down into Cassiobury park and eventually tied up just below Iron bridge lock.
Another BBQ was set up rather quickly as the sky was darkening and the wind freshening, and sure enough, just as Nora had watered the plants and I was finishing off caramalising the Lamb chops, the rain began to fall and we shut up shop and settled down to eat while watching series one of Phoenix Nights.
A very pleasent days cruising of 6 hours and 19 locks. We are now within the M25 boundary and already the thought of having to return to work looms.
Adam Ant
Posted by saltysplash, Jun 26 2008, 08:44 AM
Day 19
According to the Log we started up the Perkins at 11.30am after I had cleaned away the BBQ from the night before and taken down the Sky dish. The weather didnt look at all promising and there were spots of rain in the air.
Sure enough within 10 mins of setting off a couple of very heavy squalls washed everything down and blew everything about. Then out came the sun for a bit and all was calm again. Just after passing the flour mill a heavy squall hit us again at the same point as I saw the nose of a narrowboat come into view. The Wendover arm is very narrow and shallow so trying to see through the rain we slowly passed each other and it turned out to be Ralentando who I think we shared leighton lock with a couple of days earlier. A second boat then passed and out came the sun again this time for good although the wind gusted most of the day.
Turned back onto the main line at bulbourne junction and set off towards Cowroast armed with sausage butties for sustanance.
We needed to dump rubbish and the Elsan at Cowroast and as we approached the lock I could see a boat in, about to go down. the gate then opened and it appeared that they would wait for us, which is nice, but I signalled my intention to pull over to use the services and saw they understood by the gate slowly closing.
We pulled over and tied up and were approached by the chap going down the lock.....It was our chums from yesterday on Megan, He said he'd wait at the next lock for us so it was with good company that we descended down to Berkhampstead where we waved goodbye as they stopped to visit waitrose. We didnt need the bank any more as we had solved our problem 'online' earlier.
The wind was still giving it large in gusts but the sun shone throughout. A number of large boughs had obviously been brought down in the strong winds but nothing that blocked the canal.
We eventually arrived at our destination, Winkwell swing bridge and the Three Horseshoes pub and moored in the pound just a few meters away from where Lady Elgar once had an old willow tree collapse on her back in 1995.
The guide book states that the Three Horseshoes is haunted by two ghosts. A highwayman and an old lady, So after our very excellent meal we repaired to the tack room and sampled some black sheep ale and a pint of broadside. Although Nora was convinced she had her arm tweeked and saw a shadow in a corner (in a shadowey room) no shouts of STAND AND DELIVER disturbed our evening.
ABBA
Posted by saltysplash, Jun 25 2008, 07:56 AM
Day 18
We departed the Globe in lovely sunshine and in anticipation of the 18 locks ahead of us.
A planned short stop at Tesco in Leighton Buzzard refilled some cupboards and fluid cabinet however the waterpoint proved to be defective. It doesn't take long to leave the town behind and after Grove lock the rolling hills and fields open up again giving excellent veiws over towards Woburn. We filled the water tank at the top of slapton lock and noticed a boat just entering the lock behind us. Goodie, if the dont stop for water we can share the climb uptowards Marsworth.
Sure enough Megan and crew caught us up as we were preparing the next lock and we spent a very pleasent afternoon working the locks together. Im gonna have to start carrying a pen on the back with me so I can write peoples names down, My memory is shocking. Both the chap and lady were lovely people.
We waved goodbye to mabel at Marsworth and we carried on up the seven locks to Bulbourne. Nora steered the flight.
Nothing much worthy of note except when I arrived at the third lock it was half empty or half full depending on your point of view. I saw a couple of people at the top gates of the next lock but saw no activity to suggest anyone was coming down so I raised the paddles and emptied the half lock of water in our favour. I then saw the next lock being emptied so there was something coming down.
They had exited their lock and were holding just in front of ours by the time our lock was nearly full. I think the lady on the narrowboat thought we had deliberatly emptied the lock which was in their favour as my hello was returned by the couple on the cabin cruiser but not by the Nb. Sorry folks, but it really was half an half. I still felt guilty though.
No other traffic saw us at Bulbourne and we turned onto the narrow winding Wendover Arm. At the terminus 4 boats were in the prime positions but one of which was also moored in the winding hole which the wind managed to lay us alongside nicely. Nora managed to push the bows off and we eventually swung round and plonked ourselves in the same spot we had used last October.
Nora made a lovely potato salad with scally onions and chives and I offered up the burt offerings to the BBQ Gods.
The Wendover really is a lovely little canal and the moorings at little tring farm are fantastic and quiet.
Slow speed on the internet here so no pics
Today we start the long descent towards home
Oh yes, MONEY MONEY MONEY. must vist the bank in Berkhampstead later
Bucks Fizz
Posted by saltysplash, Jun 23 2008, 09:44 PM
Day 17
Late start today as we only planned to go as far as the Globe. Hadn't topped up the fuel tank since Reading and knowing hard we had been forced to punch the flow of the Thames I was keen to top up again and see what we had used.
Milton Keynes marina was the first services so we turned in and approached the fuel landing. It all seemed very quiet. I had managed to get far enough into the marina to make getting out awkward when a chap called out from a boat that they were shut on mondays. Pooh!
Never mind, managed to turn without hitting anything and we set off towards Willowbridge. At Fenny Stratford lock, Nora kept asking....."whats the point of it?" well, its a lock, and it has a swing bridge across it, and, well, what is the point of it?
We took on 69 litres of the red stuff at Willowbridge at I think 86ppl.
We shared the first two of the Soulbury three with a boat who were going to wind above the 2nd lock and as we were coming up the third, a chap waiting to come down mentioned he had almost bought Lady Elgar a couple of years ago. It turns out he is a forum member and we chatted for a short while about his Harbourgh boat...one of my favourite hulls they are, So Globetrotter a pleasure to meet you sir. Hope you manage to find out more info on the old girl.
Our destination finally approached and I was hoping that we wern't too late to get a mooring as ive never been here before when it hasnt been packed with boats. Imagine my surprise when, We came under the bridge and not another boat in sight, we had a choice of the whole length. yes folks, MY CAMERA NEVER LIES.
A short afternoon siesta and showered and dressed saw us plonked at our table in the Globe. Food as always was absolutly fantastic. There are no words to add. The Ale was good too.
We think so far The Admiral Nelson and The Globe have been the best eating spots, The Boat at Stoke B was also excellent but was very arty and a totally different type of eating house. The Wharf?.....well, just go along for amusment value really, not for culinary delight.
Nora did hear one bloke at the Globe tonight ordering a bar meal moaning....He was telling the barman that it was a right rip off selling the same weight Sirloin Steak as the same weight Rump Steak for £2 dearer......well you dont have to order it!...nobber
Long day tomorrow...hope to get to the Wendover arm for a Barbie.....nighty night
Electric Light Orchestra
Posted by saltysplash, Jun 22 2008, 07:25 PM
SUMMER AND LIGHTNING, all around us.
I think it mustve been about midnight that the electric show began in the sky followed by loud rumblings of thunder across the valley. The rain was so heavy that the plants on the roof took quite a battering so when we woke this morning to blue skies and sunshine evrything seemed so much better, except that is for the howling gale blowing from the sou'west.
The plant pots didnt stand a chance and after the 2nd time of putting them back in place, the third time they blew over...over they remained.
We did the remainder of the Stoke Bruerne flight alone, the wind making us contact the side rather more than we wouldve liked but got through unscathed, I suppose if time was no object and we didnt have to be back for work it wouldve been a perfect day for not moving at all....sigh....maybe one day
Crabbing sideways was the order of the day and trying to avoid moored boats while slowing down enough not to cause them too much problems.
As we neared Cosgrove, a couple on a Wyvern Boat pssing us called out " How far is it to the aquaduct?"
I smiled at them and said " Youve already done it.....just before the lock"
They looked forloanly behind them.....never mind folks, look out for it again on your way back
The approach to Cosgrove lock was interesting, One passed the line of buildings and approaching the sanitary station the wind found its way through gaps in the trees and blew us towards the moored boats, I could feel the hull tilt to port as the gusts hit us, so it was a bit of wellie on the revs and regain some control. The mouth of the lock however has no tree cover and as we slowed to stop we were slammed into the side and held there.....who needs ropes when youve got wind power to hold you in position. All we need now is to fit up some form of Gaff Rig and some Lee Boards down the sides and we'd save a fortune on diesel.
Our planned stop was for Great Linford so we carried on past Cosgrove moorings and approached the aquaduct over the Great Ouse. Being in Wyvern country I could see one approaching ahead of us. As they entered the aquaduct and lost the shelter of the trees the wind caught them and slammed them into the side of the trough. Always nice to see what your gonna have to cope with before you have to do it, so, as we entered, I kept well over to the right and as soon as the tree line finished, i steered to starboard and just managed to avoid clanging the sides....with a bit of power of course....Nora was going to take some pics of the crossing but she just confessed that she was actually more concerned with clinging on for dear life.
Finally arrived at Great Linford and was a bit surprised to see a large gathering of boats on both side of the water. Some tents and marquee's then came into view along with throngs of people all enjoying what turned out to be the Great Linford Waterside festival.
We tied up just before the bridge and did a very quick shop to stock up on milk and booze and bread and then headed off to see what was going on.
A few stalls, a few childrens rides, a large stage with rock bands making a sort of noise and the usual eating establishments.
We milled and thronged with the rest of the population of Milton keynes and then...oh joy of joys......a stall selling stuff and things and there, hanging at the back was a Peg Bag. Not just any old Peg bag but a Peg Bag that obviously had our name on it......Ive been looking for one for ages, No longer will our pegs have to hang on the rotary line awaiting the next load of washing, They can now rest easily between loads in their own splendid Peg bag.
We even found some Pegs on board to start our collection.
We purchased some rather fine fudge. Rum an Raison for me and Chocolate for Nora and Choc and orange for both of us, and you cant pass the customery burger bar with out sampling the wares, which in actual fact, were probably the best burger i have ever had from a van before.....far better than the cardboard I forced on myself at the Crick Boat show.
We got back on board and both sat down listening to the noise of the band on the stage, We were then passed by 7 teenagers with their Lager cans and Jugs of cider and decided maybe we will move up a bit for the night, so we cast off and cruised for an hour and found ourselves a little spot which will suit for the night.
All in all a good days cruise made even more interesting by the wind.
Tomorrow will hopefully see us alongside the Globe Inn. We have booked a table for 8.......pm that is....not for 8 people....unless anyone cares to join us
Supertramp
Posted by saltysplash, Jun 21 2008, 11:04 PM
Day 15
Opening the blinds this morning revealed drizzle and then some more drizzle.
It was morning as well, about 6am. We knew we might get a bit of noise from the mainline railway nearby but hadn't bargained for the sheep with megaphones. Actually we did manage to drop off again and evenually arose about 10am....still drizzling...so a couple of cups of coffee and watched Takeshi's Castle.....Love the High Rollers.
We cast off around about 11am with yours truly fully decked out in wet weather gear. It was still drizzling and it was that fine rain.....you know...the stuff that gets you wet through.
At Gayton Junction we took on and dropped off the usual fluids and got chatting to another couple also taking on and dropping off, about sofa's, of all things, We where suddenly whistled at by a boat opposite and asked if we had finished.....ooppps, far too easy to get carried away...sorry folks.
Laura had been looking forward to the Tunnel of Doom at Blisworth and BREAKFAST IN AMERICA/lunch was delayed for it
There had been quite a fair bit of traffic this morning inspite of the rain and the tunnel mouth had the usual exhaust fumes shrouding its dark depths. We chugged through and only met one boat coming the otherway. I always think to myself what if this is a widebeam that aint arranged a passage, But no. twas a tug style Nb and we hailed each others darks shapes on the tillers as we passed.
No space at the top of Stoke Bruerne so we dropped 2 locks and tied up to cook the breakfast we had missed for the tunnel. The full works except for my black pudding which had been taken over by mico organisms turning it an interesting bluey black colour....Its my fault for it being hidden at the far end of the fridge.
Seeing the state of the sky and the prospect of further wet clothes we decided to set up the Sky Dish and close up for the day.
Nora settled down to watch Hollyoaks and I for some strange reason fell asleep for the next 2 hours....
For the evening meal we patroned the Boat Restaurant....An excellent meal of Wild mushrooms and fillet steak for Nora and Crayfish and Red Mullet for me.
We skipped pudding and had a pint outside while watching an Alvechurch boat and a Bromley Youth Trust boat negotiate the top lock.
Marstons Pedigree was very good.
Weather report shows rather promising for tomorrow
our mooring for tonight
The centre duck was the only one to take bread from Nora's fingers
on Roy Orbison