Big Bob W

We called CRT to report. Somehow doubt it will get followed up.

Stoke Bruerne top lock today. We were heading up. The wife walks up to the lock to find it virtually empty and opens the bottom paddles to let the last inch or so out. Volocky then rolls up and proceeds to open both top paddles without even looking back. After Sue eventually managed to get his attention, he flatly refused lower the paddles - "Theres two boats here waiting to come down". So we lowered the bottom paddles and watched as a full lock of water went to waste. Quite unbelievable.

So at both ends of this long pound we have the the gates padlocked, no boats moving, but the paddles open letting water down. Am I missing something here?

Unbelievable. Why??

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/refresh/media/thumbnail/40442-july-2019-reservoir-watch.pdf It would be good to see a relaxation in the restrictions on the Buckby/Braunston/Stoke Bruerne flights. Reservoirs here sitting at around 73% according to this report. (2% up on the same period last year). I am still sceptical about how much the restrictions help - other than encouraging lock sharing. It is still the same number of boat movements, just concentrated into a 6 hour period.

In an attempt to avoid the behemoth coming directly at them? ?

After the last couple of weeks rainfall, and even more to come, it will be interesting to see how the reservoirs have recovered. I wonder if CRT will relax the restrictions? I suspect they will remain in place through the summer - just in case...!

We are moored at the end of the Leicester Line by Norton Junction. Had a couple of beers in the New Inn this evening before taking a walk down the pound after the top lock. I reckon there are over a dozen south bound boats,moored in the pound tonight. As soon as the flight re-opens, that pound is going to run dry in no time. And currently, looking out of the window, there is definitely no flow of water being pumped back up the Leicester line.

I'm sat in Heyford Fields Marina at the moment. Nice and quiet here! If you really try, you can just hear the trains, but certainly not a problem. Loads of space for manoeuvring on/off your moorings. Bit tricky if theres a strong northerly breeze as it sweeps over the Nene Valley, but then I've not been in a marina yet that doesn't have a similar problem. I remember Overwater being notably tricky in windy conditions!

We used to have a share in ex-Challenger boat Victorious. That was definitely a Blue Haven boat.

Then there's the "Slow-Down Brigade". We came by Gayton visitor moorings a week or so ago. On tick-over, moored boats either side of us. I saw the git ahead sitting in the front of his boat giving us the stare and knew exactly what was coming. He clearly sits there waiting for boats to come through so he can shout at them to slow down. Sue's response is to greet him with a cheery "Good afternoon, what a lovely day" which throws him as he is expecting to get in to a heated exchange no doubt. He must have had a field day when the hire-fleet turned out from Gayton Marina!

My better half worked at Stoke Bruerne as a “Towpath Fundraiser” for a few weeks recently. They fired her in February as she wasn’t getting any sign ups. There’s hardly any visitors there midwinter, so not surprising really!

We hired Hawkweed from Concoform some 30 odd years ago. Interestingly, the boatyard in Weedon is now operating a hire fleet again with a number of the old "Weed" boats in the original Concoform paint scheme. Hawkweed being one of them.

That's exactly what we use. Got the idea of a chap moored by us a year or two ago. One of the handiest things I have on the boat! You hook out the vegetation first with the magic tool. Drop the chain down into the nicely cleared gap, then use the tool again to grab the dangling end. Another use for it is to hook the mooring line off the bow of the boat. I am clearly getting old ……..

The chip shop in Braunston village (Braunston Fryer?) cook their fish and chips in beef dripping. I've not been for a year or so, but last time we called in they were excellent.

I have never realised this before, but it's true!

Thanks Tony - and John. Yes, access is not too bad. I may just have to remove the oil pressure sensor to allow room to pull out the spindle., that's all. Need to find a tool to remove that torx screw too! But not as bad a job as I first thought. Hopefully.

Not the best of photos but here we are:

Thanks for the advice. Looks like its a fairly common problem. Whilst I am happy with day to day maintenance, delving into the injection pump worries me! Think this is probably going to go to someone who knows what they are doing.

I have a BMC 1.5. For a while, I have noticed a small amount of diesel in the engine bilge needing soaking up. I have now noticed steady drips of fuel which seem to be coming from where the throttle shaft enters the pump. Drip every 30 sec or so. I am guessing it is a seal/gasket needing replacement? If so, how difficult a job is it? Or is there anything else it could be? Thanks Bob

The one that really gets me though is the dog walkers and the poo bags hanging from the branches

You’re right. I’m going back!

Stove dumped on the offside of the northern portal of Blisworth tunnel. Obviously a boater.

There was plenty of water from the Braunston summit spilling over the bottom gates of all the locks on the Buckby flight last week. Seems such a waste if the reservoir levels are so low still.

We tried Taybrite for the first time recently. Bought a couple of bags when refuelling. Its c**p! Difficult to get going. Low heat output and loads of ash. No way will it stay in overnight. I thought its maybe its just my stove not providing enough draw or something, so brought the 2nd bag home to try. Just the same. Excel or Supertherm for me.