Mooresey

We have used kateboats 4 times now and will be using them again in November. Well recommended. Turn left after the Calcut double locks and head to Coventry only 7 locks and 1 swing bridge.

I put a layer of coal down, crisscrossed kindling using about 8-9 and 2 small fire lighters in the coal. Wait till the kindling has got really going then put more coal on, and open up the bottom door to draw more air for a few minutes to really get it going then close it up.

Is it best to remove clinker or leave it to eventually burn?

We'll got back from our trip today, weather has not been great but it's Britain, so what would you expect lol. Big thanks to the chap that helped us as he was passing at Calcut locks, much obliged with the helping hand, managed to get to where we were going quicker.

Off for our first trip this year, start out week today. Monday - Friday, hope it doesn't tip it down, the dog doesn't like the rain and he can't sit on the back if it is. Will be taking the usual clothing for all occasions, t-shirts, jumpers, coats, wet weather gear. No such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothing.

I have used the smokeless from homebargins, good stuff

Mid week from March 2nd from Stockton, left at Napton and onwards till we have to turn back.

That would be very handy.

At the moment our life is ground based, sometime in the future we plan to be water based. This Monday gone got a load of newflame briquettes. £8.99 per 25k or 17.50 per 50k open sack. Impressed so far. Bigger than the homebargins stuff, give out a good amount of heat and last well.

At a the moment I am burning Brazier from homebargins, 10kg £3.99. Good stuff easy to light and keeps in well but I want to get something loose and in bigger amounts. Burning in a country kiln 22.

What about excel or newflame. I don't want to spend loads. Is it worth the little bit more?

Has anyone used the homefire hexagonal shaped fuel? It seams to be a bit more expensive than the pillow shaped type that you normally get. Is it worth the extra?

That does look like a really nice reflector.

The trip was great, apart from that one incident. We will be booking again for next year. When we lost the boat one of the pins got lost in the drink. We stopped off at Braunston and visited the chandlers, and replaced the one that was lost, only right, and bought some nappy type clips/pins just to make sure that it didn't happen again, well as best as possible. 47 foot for the first time was a wise choice, bigger than that on the first time would not have been a clever idea on my part. Good little boat, managed to swing her round in two turning points without touching anything, not bad for the first time. Impressed my partner

Got back from the first ever trip in a narrowboat on Monday. Had a great time and will be going again next year. Just to say Kateboats in Stockton are great well worth a look. Now on to the topic. After mooring up for the night Saturday 10th November at Napton junction we woke the next day and were still attached to the bank, had breakfast and wondered over to the marina to get a map. Walking back over the bridge, I glanced over a looked puzzled at a boat sitting on the other side of the canal. Shock it was ours, what the heck are we going to do I thought. My partner had gone on ahead (I had the dog in tow) and the couple in the boat parked in front of where our boat had been, had seen our predicament and offered assistance. He punted over to our boat and his partner grabbed our centreline and I pulled both boats back to the bank. The man said that a boat had come thundering through and ripped the mooring pins out. Later on we met a lady that said that the same had happen to her but luckily she was on the boat at the time. I would like to greatly thank the couple who helped us in our time of need. Without them we would still be stuck there. Apart from a couple of people who didn't want to be associated with us, all of the people we met while cruising from Stockton to Hillmarton on the Dorothy Constance and back were wonderful