Mike Sainsbury

I have a small stove in the boatmans cabin and I used to smoke out the whole area despite have a good open flue etc.... Because its quite a small burning area i found firelighters seems to send out fumes that choked the fire and so there was no real heat. Plus I put the coal on too early which did nothing more than choke teh fire more.... So I have learnt to light balls of newspaper (perhaps with a sprinkle of crushed fire lighter (but only a little), then put in plenty of kindling.... let the kindling burn down and only once it has died down and is hot... throw in a thin layer of coal... then gradually keep adding coal .... eventually its away.

Thanks for that And thanks for the hint about the pointy end ! LOL

cheers...I normally single hand it ... so perhaps an attempt next time ... rather than the slog down to Lower Heyford...

I understand that up from Somerton deep lock is a turning point.... its suppose to be for 60ft... but I'm sure I saw a longer boat go down that way and turn around before Upper Heyford.... ... does anyone know... I have obviously even missed the fact the turning point exists as I always go down to Lower Heyford......

I notice the lower Oxford lift bridges tend to be down.... how do you get under them if you are cruising alone? Thanks Mike

Thats the next posting... any moorings on the Oxford Canal ?

Thanks Bones Of course... now all i need is the mooring

thats great ... thanks MIke

I'm hoping to moor somewhere (Banbury-Thrupp) on the Oxford canal, ideally at Enslow. Is there a service boat that delivers fuel and provides pump out? Otherwise, does the Kingsground yard at Enslow still provide these services? Thanks Mike