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One man and His Boats

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It's good to be on the move again!

Started off today with good intentions. Found hub puller and was going to remove the clutch back plate and start re-building the Jag. But as I started I realised that whilst it was aprt I should make a reverse pulley and then the motion is very tired. So I went to the Kangaroo where the hub puller way last used and decided to fire it up. Well 1st kick !! Change of plan I shall use the change boat instead. So spent another day cleaning and scrubbing and well I got further tonight than I did
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Booby Trapped Pictures

I've got pics back from the chemists. !!       Being towed by Jasons trip along Denham Straight     Getting dummy loading line !     As m589 said Don't try this at home     The reason for the trip     Described as a succulent rib-eye steak cooked to your liking with crispy onion rings, half a grilled tomato, peas and parsley butter with chips.   Well I guess the description fits well enough not to be illlegal and the peas did arrive after 10 minutes. The English Musta
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Stoke Bruerne

Set of chasing the light and when the light came it was bright. Sunglasses needed from 7 am heading into the sun of the Northern Oxford.   Took chimney pipe down to try to carry engine noise across the motorway so the Boatman in the cemetery near might here me pass. Not as noisy as the Bolinder but the motorway was quiet.   Arrived at Braunston , the traditional home of Boatmens' WAG's , and their children. around 1 o'clock but no time to stop and visit so waved from bottom of garden.  
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bargeeboy

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Pitstone to Watford

This one needed an early start as we had to make Watford in time to unload. With a crew of four it was easy riding and we got to Cassio Wharf where we said goodbye to young Michael.   We were quickly unloaded with the usual super efficiency of Derek and John. It was here when we saw the 'friends' of Roger that we thought is was strange we were contracted when they could have bought Roger up to Alvecote and loaded the ballast there.   We made it back up to Apsley for the night where we w
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bargeeboy

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Apsley to Simpson

Got a good start despite waterways filling up Apsley top pond and having to run water below Berko.   Agter filling two pounds we managed to bounce through and progress was good to we were able to scrub the boat up a bit !   Made Leighton Lock before 5 pm so looking good for Milton Keynes.   After Stoke Hammond it was time for a scrub off ( Me that is as boat already done). I have a tap on the water outlet which is fine for washing hands when in the engine 'ole. Not so fine for a man
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Simpson to Braunston

A very sore captain kicked off in the morning. And of course with rain I suspect waterways had opened a few drain off paddles as it took me 45 minutes in the rain to get off the mooring ! After that though progress was swift and were through Stoke by midday.     Plain sailing now and on way down braunston I sent Luce in the Nelson for some beer. She came back and said She had booked a table as they stop servig at 8.30pm I had to send her back and cancel as how can we tie up in the light !
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bargeeboy

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Braunston to Home

Plain sailing from Braunston. It was very sad to see Clent looking sorry for itself. I have some very fond memories of her and her Captain in 1998 !   We got to the top of Atherstone about 3.30   The Jag looking and sounding a bit better then last time here with the blown top joint. Only a small weep this time although Luce looks a bit the worse for wear.   http://narrowboatsalesltd.co.uk/botather.mp4   Bloody good trip   Thanks Luce ! Love You ! You can come boating with me an
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Alvecote start

I am at home and am intending to set off this afternoon/evening for London with Stafford. I am on my own but expect to be within the M25 on Wednesday. Enough has been said about Stafford but I will update each evening on progress. Catch you later I hope somewhere round top of Atherstone.
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bargeeboy

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Pitstone

The early start meant that by the bottom of Stoke it was shirt sleeve time. What a glorious day. Well what about Wolverton ? Its changed a bit especially by the station. The tree I tied Greyhound to on the offside at the MK Rally in 1985 is now very large. It was only a sapling then and I thought I had damaged it beyond repair. Three Locks is being refurbished again and for a change the pounds were all full. Was at Leighton around 4 so saw Maffers as a target.   It is my intention to meet
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Croxley

Swing Bridge at first light a much better option that doing in the dark. I got to Maffers at 7.30 and at the middle lock the pound was dry. I went up to run water and made sure I had a feed on as there is nothing worse that being stuck in the middle of the cut with no lock-wheeler. Just about to go into the middle pound when along came Norman. Stay there until I fill the pounds he said! I obliged for 5 mins then set off as I had enough water. He was not amused! I was falsely imprisoned in the ne
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Cowley

Morning off visiting John and Derek then walk up the hill for cafe breakfast. Socialise with Jim them set off midday ish . Have I chosen the days well, shirtsleeves yesterday but top off today. Saw Sothern Cross newly painted above Black Jacks and it look good. All was well with the world and I was feeling pleased with my few days boating until I held back at Wide Water and got a tyre on the blade !! Bow Hauled through and after a little prodding there was no way it was going to come off easily
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Waiting for Orders

Well what to do now! Up at 7 with nowhere to go! Invited to the Friday Club at the Crown which was a day easrly this week. I could be at Kings Cross of Brentford by 1 o'clock. Or even turn round and be at Hunton Bridge.   Decided to go to home for the weekend so reversed through the Brisdge and tied up alongside Colonel. Stafford and Colonel might have been tied alongside each other 100 years ago which is an interesting thought. The Port is calling but too soon to go that way so might che
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Jag to the Port

No boating for 3 days and missing it already Done office work Done VAT Return Stafford trapped at Cowley as Thames not open until next weekend as I was planning on Thames, Oxford to get to the Port. BUT looking out at the long grass (must do that) I see The Jag looking unloved. Inspection reveals need range and to varnish the cabin and get some decoration and furnishings. Anyone got a new Classic? Sunday morning and got a plan. Stafford to go to Enfield and then back to Cavalcade Jaguar
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bargeeboy

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London

Took Stafford from Cowley on Sunday afternoon to Paddington. 3 hrs 35 bottom Cowley to the Bridge. It was goosd to cruise early on Monday past all the commuters bustlng and cycling along the Regents. Blow Up Bridge was a lot quieter than that Saturday in 1983 when the Harrods bomb was heard by us clearly along this stretch. I also thought about the elephant that came down the steps of the Zoo for a 'photo shoot' on the 'Pick Me Up And Tidy Up' or something similar when I collected aluminium c
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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This is Work

Picked up range for Jaguar today. Still plenty of time for the Port but have Kew on dock at the moment to finish before starting on the Jag. Done round trip of Manchester today. Dropped off Boat Movers at Barbridge. Had coffee with Roger Murray at Nantwich who is very pleased with boat I sold him 2 weeks ago. Went to Preston Brook to collect the Range from Midland Chandlers then to Furness Vale to collect Aquadrives. I like my 'job' .
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Australia

The Grand Prix not Kangaroo's Butty! Praise where praise is due BBC have got it right. Its going to be a GP weekend so guess no boating. See channel 301 or 302 for a loop of the practice sessions which started this morning. I have the range for the Jag but I can't get it near enough to the bank so will have to wait until I get Kew out of dock.
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Jaguar fired up

After such a good race back to the boats. Managed to fire up Otter on friday and had a silly plan to take it to the Port and demolish the cabin on the way! Thought a bit over the top so after the race today I attacked the Jag.   It has not run for nearly 2 years. But as we know if its hot and you give it some oil its got to go bang. I had it fired up 25 minutes after lighting the lamp. So I have now scrubbed then engine 'ole out and shall put the range in on Tuesday and I think it will be hea
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Bop Bop

It was good to take Stafford to London BUT I took the Jag to the yard yesterday. Good to be back with a bop boppetty bop! I really have missed it.
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Got to Fazeley

Well spent all day changing the clutch on the Jag as the shaft was loose in the cone. A temp repair has already been done. Probably 30 years ago. So put in another clutch and thought lets go boating. Habving spent al week making it comfortable with lights and heating I thought time to go. Never set off with an unknown boat in the dark. Yes the rear bearing tightened up and I ended up bow hauling to Fazeley. Will take a rain check and watch the race instead tomorrow morning! Watch this space l
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I should have learnt by now !

Well I woke the sparrows and bow hauled into bottom lock at 4,30. I was considerate not like the person who parks their car overlapping the lock tail. Sorry about the rope marks but at least I did not fire up until out off lock. Many thanks toTrevor who appearsed as I fired up and wound me up chasing the light to the top. Well Minworth does not change. more things in the cut than before it was dredged. So bacon sarnie at the Drome who ripped 3 of my £20 notes as she thought they were forgeries
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Booby trapped by Ike Argent ???

At 7 I pulled Roo into lock 19 whilst the lamp was on ( I regard this as a free lock ) and along came Waterways man to check level and again what a bonus he set the bottom 2. Was through Cut End just after 8 and thought I'd cracked it now. batted up the Shroppie or should I say the Shropshire Mooring Canal. Its changed since last time I did the full trip. I was concerned with the water as I had to ease off when it started to steam. So took it steady as not many place to bat on now. I gazed
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Pit Stop for Helm

Fired up at 7 again and set off from bottom of Audlem with the rudder dragging the cut and a fibregalss tiller bar that was fragile. Not many bends here though. Went past Hankelowe Mill and thought would you let your 5 or 6 year old daughter go picnicing and swimming there with the Audlem local teens ? I did in the early eighties, gosh how the World has changed. Water still a problem so I tied up in the wide railway bridge to re-build the water pump. Not the pump but the mud box was full ! Tam
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bargeeboy

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Chester

Dropped down into Chester Basin for a scrub off. Found a cafe with full breakfast for £3.50 and a spotless toilet that I was alowwed to use. Paid £3.09 for a box of Persil in Spar shop. There where about 10 boats in the basin when I arrived. I had work to do and scrubbed the boat off. Went shopping in Chester and found T J Hughes with jeans for £4 which makes them almost disposable. Fresh milk, bread and hot cross buns on the list. I set off at 4 and I saw a Toshiba sign at the Ellesmere Designe
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bargeeboy

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Ellesmere Port Boat Museum

Good to see the changes since my last visit. Over 70 visiting boats (I was no. 69 to arrive) and good to see some 'old' friends with old being appropriate. Found a cracking picture of Kangaroo with Australia on one off their posters. Loaded with Salt on the River Weaver with Lol steering, Clare posing and me making lines. However began to feel been here done it by early afternoon and thinking about getting on the move again. lamprey was leaving at 6.30 Sunday so a decision was made for a 6.30 st
bargeeboy

bargeeboy

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Get 'em ahead

Fired up at 6.45 after floating towards the bridge so as to not wake up the now sleeping party goers. Went ahead of Lamprey who were waiting for young James Booth to come with us to top of Chester. We came out of the top of Chester at 10.30 so under 4 hours from the Port. Looking good until Shady Oak when 2 lockfuls of boat were waiting. One hour 'til we got in the lock. At least they were only going to Beeston for the Monday Market. As I approached Beeston there were a dozen boats lined up wait
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