Dav and Pen

As commercial operators in the 70s we had an annual license instead of tolls and I think pleasure boats also had to be licensed. Not sure of the exact date but a safety certificate came into being around 1978 and it applied to hire craft and houseboats. As we were camping boating we had to get one of the first ones and I got the surveyor to give the Raymond the once over as Arthur was very worried that it would not pass and they would have nowhere to live, in fact he got the certificate. This eventually morphed into the current BSS as there was a lot of lobbying by the boating trade to extend it to private boats.

Afraid not as it was really shot and needed some timber work.

They are going to apply to change to tiles but think they will be lucky.

Lucky it’s not thatch my neighour just been quoted 80000 for a rethatch and it’s not a very big house.

In 2015 we were touring New England to see the leaves. On this day we were at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire and saw this steamer Mount Washington. Couldn’t find the boat that still takes mail around the lake unfortunately.

On our barge the BT was electric but a 3phase 10kw motor which ran off the generator so if going to use had to start genny which fired up straight away and leave it running until the need was over. No problem but actually it was very rare that it was needed only reversing out of tight or bendy moorings.

My information is now out of date but we took our 50 ft NB to Ireland in 1998. It depends where you are going to keep in once it’s over there but Shannon harbour had the dry dock and welders. We used an Irish haulier from Bannager and the boat went unaccompanied ie the tractor unit and driver this side did not go with it just the trailer on the ferry and picked up by in Dublin by another driver. The company had trailers and a tractor unit based in Liverpool. With a 38 ft boat any 40 ft trailer will be ok although as the springer has a slight V bottom some extra Timbers may be needed. I would doubt if there would be much tax to pay due to age and value.

Today in 2014 at our mooring on the Burgundy canal. Bruno giving his dogs a ride.

Today 2017 climbing towards the summit with the lock keepers on scooters.

There used to be one on the R. Nene above Beckets park lock. It was only used to get people across to the Greyhound tack on race days.

Today in 2017 we are climbing up the Ouche valley on the Burgundy canal. Here at Velars Sur Ouche there is one of the few places I know of where you can stop outside a supermarket. This chain is also the cheapest for diesel.

Not on a canal but thought might be of interest. This is the floating bridge at the entrance to Curaçao harbour . The whole thing has to be opened for ships to pass through, this one is a modern replacement for the one I first saw in 1958 from a Shell Tanker.

Today in 2006 on our way back to Antwerp. Unloading iron ore on the Albert Canal near Liege.

Today in 2017 afloat again and getting ready to leave the dry dock. They have to lift the bridge and stop the road traffic so we can reverse out.

New Prop being fitted in 2017. They needed to bring out the big spanner

In Belgium there’s a crossing of the tidal river Yser on the route from Bruges to Dunkirk. Can be a bit tricky.

Alton to me is the Grand Union motorboat which started the Narrow Boat Trust.

Today in 2007 we moored next to Tam and Di’s Friesland at La Truchere on the R.Seille where they had just brought an old house which was starting to be renovated and where they now live for much of the year.

In 2017 in the dry dock at St Jean de Losne. The surveyor decided that we needed a new stern bearing, although I thought there was very little movement, but as it’s was a survey for insurance and for the European certificate I had to give in. Funny that although you employ the surveyor they always seem to find extra work for the yard. Not suggesting anything underhand of course.The prop was damaged and we had brought a new one from UK as it was zero vat.

This morning in 2007 the quay at Tornus. It’s clear from the height of the wall that this place often has big floods.

This is even more interesting when it happens in Braunston tunnel and the cruiser didn’t understand what I tried to tell him as the Butty was just in the Bend . He bounced off the rope, the wall and the butty.

Today in 2007 we had stayed overnight in the old lock at Gigny sur Saone a nice quiet place with a cafe in the old lock house. When the river was deepened and upgraded this lock was bypassed and a new big lock is a couple of Kms south.

I think there is a reluctance to use the horn generally on the canals. If there’s a blind bend or bridge it’s best to assume you will meet something and you can often see by the water movement that there is someone around. This is the time to give a long blast and work out who is going downstream as they have the right of way unless I was on a loaded boat! We left the English canals some years ago as I’m afraid the number of badly moored boats and the shear numbers of them and the selfishness was spoiling the pleasure we had always had.