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saltysplash

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Blog Entries posted by saltysplash

  1. saltysplash
    Back in January 1987 i was suddenly woken by my wife at the time telling me the baby was on its way....
     
    We drove to the GDH...Greenwich District Hospital and spent the next 16 hours in the labour ward while my wife went through all the motions of labour and i played the doting expectant father who couldnt believe what i was putting this woman through. and after 16hours of is it or isnt it, would you like some water darling, can i sit down for a minute, i was suddly surrounded by doctors, a midwife and nurses.....we'd already gone through 2 shift changes........and ushered out of the room while my wife was whisked off to theatre due to 'complications' and i was left alone in the middle of the night in a lonely hospital corridor. My fears were running wild through my mind. I was only 22....i needed someone to tell me all was going to be ok!!!!!!
     
    Half an hour later i was dragged into a darkend room and a bundle of bald thing was thrust into my arms while they then proceeded to use asuction to get the mucus out ofits nose and ears......i think my tears helped with the cleaning....she was so small, less than 6 pounds yet she had held onto her secure position as long as was possible.
     
    21 years later and the 6lb thing was now lying in a similar room sucking on gas and sipping water and going through hell while squeezing my hand and making me feel even more awful just for being a man.
     
    And as if to make matters worse......."im sorry but you'll have to leave the room" de ja vue?
     
    Thankfully no theatre this time....just another couple of hours of noise and then.....nothing.....Dan...My daughters partner comes out and becons us forward.
    There, in my daughters arms is a small pink squished thing with dark hair.
     
    Why is it that in my 43 years ive experienced death close hand more times than i ever wish to think of, yet ive only ever had the joy of life twice?
     
    She is beautifull, as far as a pink squishy thing can be.
  2. saltysplash
    Its 2am and im sitting here waiting for high tide. Why? i hear you ask....do i hear?....nope...oh bugger im on me own
     
    Because, Tomorrow/today we will be picking up keys for Lady Elgar yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
     
    so i have spent most of the day disconecting and packing stuff and things from Emblem and trundling the trolly up and down the pontoon to the car. However, the reason im waiting for the tide is, at the end of the pontoon there is a ramp which obviously rises and falls with the tide and after pushing and struggling all day with the bloody trolly up the ramp, im waiting for it to be almost levelso i can do the last 2 trips with almost no effort as the ramp should be level.
     
    Items left to go to the car....
     
    all the contents of my wardrobe and drawers, 4 ropes to replace the old greenified ropes currently on board and tv/satelite dish and cables plus 2 folding camp chairs for our evening BBQ's planned during our inaugral trip...so yep i recon 2 trips with the trolly will do it.
     
    Its not easy planning your daylight life around your finishing nights life but i think we'll get by
     
     
    So...Its all sorted... John currer will be doing the handover on friday morning and then its all hands to the pumps to bring Lady Elgar back upto scratch to be a home and boat both Nora and self are proud of...Actually im already proud of her.....is that Nora or Lady Elgar?......not saying cause i know swmbo is watching
  3. saltysplash
    Day Five
     
     
    We were up by half eight for an early start to give us a full day in Windsor stocking up the larder and visiting the Castle.
    We were at an alarming angle despite leaving slack ropes and it appears we had settled on some mud. No real problem coz when I pushed at the bank, both the stern and bow began to slip away from the edge.
     
    Following the first coffee and cough and a drag of the day I did the usual engine checks and prep ready for the off.
     
    With some trepidation I turned the key and .....'click'....I attached the wire and ....'click'......I bumped the power by connecting the Domestic Batts and .....'click'.....I started the gennie and at 14v's ......'click'.....Nothing.....I spent half an hour faffing and messing and changing the starter battery for one i had with more cranking power and still nothing.
     
    I returned to the galley for another brew and to get ready to call RCR.
     
    Not being happy with giving in, I returned to the engine room again and remembered that Trevor had mentioned that he had replaced the .....its either a relay or a solenoid. I found the old item and took off the current one and replaced it with the old one.......'click'.......I attached the wire and this time the starter turned and we were off.......I must try and get hold of a new thingy asap.
     
    The plod to Windsor was still slow due to the flow of the river but the sun kept popping out and making it a very pleasent morning cruise....We arrived and moored at the Island just past the railway bridge by about 1pm. We locked up and walked over to Waitrose to stock up on essential fluids.....its also Fajitas for tonight.
     
    One the stocks were back on board we then headed off to the castle.
     
    Now back on board and a quick twiddle of the Sky Dish sees us ready to settle down later and watch the final of the Apprentice....Hoping the river flow decreases tomorrow to aid our passage but there are rain clouds gathering......wonder if I should water the plants?
     
     
    Some pics of the day
     

     

     

     

     

     

  4. saltysplash
    Day 18
     
    We departed the Globe in lovely sunshine and in anticipation of the 18 locks ahead of us.
    A planned short stop at Tesco in Leighton Buzzard refilled some cupboards and fluid cabinet however the waterpoint proved to be defective. It doesn't take long to leave the town behind and after Grove lock the rolling hills and fields open up again giving excellent veiws over towards Woburn. We filled the water tank at the top of slapton lock and noticed a boat just entering the lock behind us. Goodie, if the dont stop for water we can share the climb uptowards Marsworth.
     
    Sure enough Megan and crew caught us up as we were preparing the next lock and we spent a very pleasent afternoon working the locks together. Im gonna have to start carrying a pen on the back with me so I can write peoples names down, My memory is shocking. Both the chap and lady were lovely people.
     
    We waved goodbye to mabel at Marsworth and we carried on up the seven locks to Bulbourne. Nora steered the flight.
    Nothing much worthy of note except when I arrived at the third lock it was half empty or half full depending on your point of view. I saw a couple of people at the top gates of the next lock but saw no activity to suggest anyone was coming down so I raised the paddles and emptied the half lock of water in our favour. I then saw the next lock being emptied so there was something coming down.
    They had exited their lock and were holding just in front of ours by the time our lock was nearly full. I think the lady on the narrowboat thought we had deliberatly emptied the lock which was in their favour as my hello was returned by the couple on the cabin cruiser but not by the Nb. Sorry folks, but it really was half an half. I still felt guilty though.
     
    No other traffic saw us at Bulbourne and we turned onto the narrow winding Wendover Arm. At the terminus 4 boats were in the prime positions but one of which was also moored in the winding hole which the wind managed to lay us alongside nicely. Nora managed to push the bows off and we eventually swung round and plonked ourselves in the same spot we had used last October.
     
    Nora made a lovely potato salad with scally onions and chives and I offered up the burt offerings to the BBQ Gods.
     
    The Wendover really is a lovely little canal and the moorings at little tring farm are fantastic and quiet.
     
    Slow speed on the internet here so no pics
    Today we start the long descent towards home
     
    Oh yes, MONEY MONEY MONEY. must vist the bank in Berkhampstead later
  5. saltysplash
    Day 19
     
    According to the Log we started up the Perkins at 11.30am after I had cleaned away the BBQ from the night before and taken down the Sky dish. The weather didnt look at all promising and there were spots of rain in the air.
     
    Sure enough within 10 mins of setting off a couple of very heavy squalls washed everything down and blew everything about. Then out came the sun for a bit and all was calm again. Just after passing the flour mill a heavy squall hit us again at the same point as I saw the nose of a narrowboat come into view. The Wendover arm is very narrow and shallow so trying to see through the rain we slowly passed each other and it turned out to be Ralentando who I think we shared leighton lock with a couple of days earlier. A second boat then passed and out came the sun again this time for good although the wind gusted most of the day.
     
    Turned back onto the main line at bulbourne junction and set off towards Cowroast armed with sausage butties for sustanance.
    We needed to dump rubbish and the Elsan at Cowroast and as we approached the lock I could see a boat in, about to go down. the gate then opened and it appeared that they would wait for us, which is nice, but I signalled my intention to pull over to use the services and saw they understood by the gate slowly closing.
    We pulled over and tied up and were approached by the chap going down the lock.....It was our chums from yesterday on Megan, He said he'd wait at the next lock for us so it was with good company that we descended down to Berkhampstead where we waved goodbye as they stopped to visit waitrose. We didnt need the bank any more as we had solved our problem 'online' earlier.
     
    The wind was still giving it large in gusts but the sun shone throughout. A number of large boughs had obviously been brought down in the strong winds but nothing that blocked the canal.
     
    We eventually arrived at our destination, Winkwell swing bridge and the Three Horseshoes pub and moored in the pound just a few meters away from where Lady Elgar once had an old willow tree collapse on her back in 1995.
     
    The guide book states that the Three Horseshoes is haunted by two ghosts. A highwayman and an old lady, So after our very excellent meal we repaired to the tack room and sampled some black sheep ale and a pint of broadside. Although Nora was convinced she had her arm tweeked and saw a shadow in a corner (in a shadowey room) no shouts of STAND AND DELIVER disturbed our evening.
     
     

     

     

     

  6. saltysplash
    had originally planned to go cruising over the BHW but my plans of heading towards Camden Market were scuppered by the news of the Canal cavalcade and thinking moorings may be a bit tight I thought better of it.
     
    So a few days of maintainence were the the order of the weekend. The Gearbox Oil was ready for changing so i bought a small brass handpump and inserting this down the dipstick hole was far preferable than trying blindly to locate the sump drain plug and trying to catch the litre and half of draining oil.
     
    Another two jobs awaiting attention were the gas locker and coal locker. Both had been highlighted in the survey that they were in need of de-rusting and recoating in the not too distant future.
     
    The Coal locker was in the worse state of the two with huge chunks of rust flaking off the sides and the base. I found a bottle of Fertan in the engine room and spent a morning scraping rust, which came off in wafer thin sheets, some as large as A4 size. I then Vac'd out the locker of all dust and rust and went to work with the fertan.
     
    Hiding in the shed i had a small electric paint sprayer which i had bought last year while in dry dock with Emblem and never used. It made a hell of a racket but had a handy multidirectional spray nozzle and i zipped through spraying the stuff in the locker......for some reason the stuff smells like licourice and the fumes were quite powerful.
     
    My next plan was to build a wooden box to sit in the coal locker instead of having the coal directly on the steel. so off to B&Q where i purchased the wood and also ended up coming away with a new lawn mower and Black and Decker workbench.
     
    Sunday saw me constructing the box and treating the wood. It sits nicely in the 3' opening and can be moved left or right so that further stores can be hidden in the locker. The fertan had done its job and dried and the locker was looking pretty good. The fumes however were still mighty strong.
     
     

     

     
    The New lawn mower made short work of the weeds and brambles covering our section of garden and for the first time since we moved in i wasnt put to full shame by Lydias lovely garden next door
     

     
     
    I think just about everything is now ready for our Grand cruise on 7th June
     

     
     
     
     
     

  7. saltysplash
    So 1 day and 2 nights at at work have skipped by and now have 5 days off to look forward to.....i say five days, finished work at 6 this morning and its now turned midday and still not been to bed yet so that really leaves 4 days providing i get up early enough tomorrow but knowiing my night time body clock its going to be around 1 ish so thats another half day missed. Never mind, you knew the risks when you bought the ticket.
     
    Managed to get the 6.45 from Paddington this morning however it didnt set off till 6.55 so arrived at Boat at 7.40am. I had my instructins from Swmbo to go direct to bed and be up by 1pm as BT were coming to sort out the phone line. So, The frost was as thick as a frosty thing and i gets on board and decides no matter what,that fire is going on. Id just built the fire and got it going when me mobile rings and its BT..hello. ill be there in 10 mins...great...thinks i....he's 5 hours early so i can get him sorted and have a decent kip and be up early enough to not miss too much of the day.
     
     
    Wrong....The phone line aint been used for 2 years so BT charged us the full connection fee. He spent 5 mins on board for which i had to open the back doors so he could get good access then he declares he has to trace the line to the junction which could be upto 400 mtrs away. No probs says i. good hunting......an hour and a half later....still with the rear doors open he finally returns fully decked out in gloves scarfe and hat and the thickest coat in christendom. Im struggling to survive with me fleece and the fire on full pelt.
     
    Finally he is all sorted and does the test and BINGO. we have a phone line. A quick txt to Nora and she rings the phone to be the first to try it out. all up and running smashing.
     
    Im now in 60' of freezing cold steel so more coals are added and connecting doors through to the BMC are closed so that i might just be able to warm up before bed.
     
    Its now 12.30pm. I am now finally defrosted and very very ready for bed.
     
     
    1st job when i get up is get that stove going in the BMC. Uses twice the amount of coal but if its going to stay this cold then its more than worth it.
     
     
     
    PS hope to be meeting up with the buyers of Emblem on sunday.....hope they make an offer
  8. saltysplash
    Day 17
     
    Late start today as we only planned to go as far as the Globe. Hadn't topped up the fuel tank since Reading and knowing hard we had been forced to punch the flow of the Thames I was keen to top up again and see what we had used.
     
    Milton Keynes marina was the first services so we turned in and approached the fuel landing. It all seemed very quiet. I had managed to get far enough into the marina to make getting out awkward when a chap called out from a boat that they were shut on mondays. Pooh!
     
    Never mind, managed to turn without hitting anything and we set off towards Willowbridge. At Fenny Stratford lock, Nora kept asking....."whats the point of it?" well, its a lock, and it has a swing bridge across it, and, well, what is the point of it?
     
    We took on 69 litres of the red stuff at Willowbridge at I think 86ppl.
     
    We shared the first two of the Soulbury three with a boat who were going to wind above the 2nd lock and as we were coming up the third, a chap waiting to come down mentioned he had almost bought Lady Elgar a couple of years ago. It turns out he is a forum member and we chatted for a short while about his Harbourgh boat...one of my favourite hulls they are, So Globetrotter a pleasure to meet you sir. Hope you manage to find out more info on the old girl.
     
    Our destination finally approached and I was hoping that we wern't too late to get a mooring as ive never been here before when it hasnt been packed with boats. Imagine my surprise when, We came under the bridge and not another boat in sight, we had a choice of the whole length. yes folks, MY CAMERA NEVER LIES.
     

     
     
    A short afternoon siesta and showered and dressed saw us plonked at our table in the Globe. Food as always was absolutly fantastic. There are no words to add. The Ale was good too.
     
    We think so far The Admiral Nelson and The Globe have been the best eating spots, The Boat at Stoke B was also excellent but was very arty and a totally different type of eating house. The Wharf?.....well, just go along for amusment value really, not for culinary delight.
     
    Nora did hear one bloke at the Globe tonight ordering a bar meal moaning....He was telling the barman that it was a right rip off selling the same weight Sirloin Steak as the same weight Rump Steak for £2 dearer......well you dont have to order it!...nobber
     
    Long day tomorrow...hope to get to the Wendover arm for a Barbie.....nighty night
     

  9. saltysplash
    Finally got round to doing the fuel filters this weekend and one or two other bits.
     
    Saturdays forecast was acurate so it was up early and my first visit of the day was to the garden centre. Id found three long plant pots in the shed so i picked up some compost and bedding plants so Nora could amuse herself doing them while i made a mess in the engine room.
     
    Armed with words of encouragement from Cath and Neil off Herbie next door, I made a start by about 10.30am and armed with the Engine's book of words I placed numerous Nappies in the bilge and directly under the filter housing as there was no room at all to get a suitable container under the filter to catch the diesel which will spill forth as soon as i crack the seal.
     
    Fuel taps off
     
    The good book states that first one must loosen the banjo nut on top of the housing and then drain the fuel from the bowl by undoing the drain plug on its bottom. This proved impossible to undo either by hand or by gentle pursuasion with a pr of pliers which i didnt really want to use with too much vigour for fear of snapping the plug. So I undid the holding bolt for the base and off it dropped along with its contents of fuel.
     
    Filter came off next without too much grief and then i mopped up those bits that spilt and cleaned the filter bowl. New filter was presented to the housing and the bowl underneath it and then tighten up the fixing bolt. So far so good.
     
    Now the part i dreaded...bleeding.
     
    On my previous boat i used to turn of the fuel tap. Change the filter and then turn back on the tap and then prime the filter using the 2 fuel lift pumps and away she went.
     
    So now i thought we might get away with it again, so I turned the fuel tap back on, and started pumping the lift pump watching for fuel from the banjo nut. Nothing, and the pump to me didnt feel to have very much resistance.
    so i pumped and pumped and pumped and still nothing. Pants thought I, however a small voice in my head said, " why not start her up anyway and see if it has worked" fool that i am I started up the engine which ran for appx 3 seconds then died...bugger :\
     
    So, I undid the Banjo nut again plus this time the 2 bleed screws on the injector thingy and began to pump away on the lift pump hoping to see the bubbles then lovely flowing fuel.....nope....nothing.....
     
    I then feared that the lift pump wasnt working or that there was a blockage in the fuel pipe to or from the pump so i then started removing pipes and more pumping in an attempt to solve this matter. Still no fuel and no blockage found.
     
    I had now been at this for 2 hours so it was time for a ciggie
     
    I took the bible with me again just in case i had missed something and after about the third drag.......PING!.....the good book states......'if the Cam is in the top position the lift pump will not work and the engine will need to be turned a couple of times'
     
    I gave her a 3 quick blasts of starter and then tried the pump again.....this time there was real pressure against the handle and straight away bubbles came from the bleed nipples and banjo nut...yipeee.......nuts retightend in the correct order then a quick bleed of the injector nuts and she fired up first time.
     
    Came on deck for a cellebratory cough and a drag and there was Cath. She said Neil gave a cheer as the old girl started lol and he wouldve helped but he'd been bailing water out of their bilge for the last hour or so. He'd soaked up several buckets so far and Cath was on the stern to drain as much as possible to the access hole. They had come over to spring clean and do some bits and bobs so was good to make this find and get the water out.
     
    Meanwhile Nora had risen form the grave and made a start on the plant boxes while i progressed onto hatch repair....the side hatch cover was looking tired with flaked paint and split wood, so it was wood treatment and filler time and a splash of paint
     

     

     
    The boxes were eventually finished and given a dosing of miracle grow......grow flowers grow
     

     
    We then deposited them on the roof but i think the look a bit sparce at the mo...maybe better once they fill out
     

     
     
    As Evening approached we decided on a BBQ and Neil and Cath kindy joined us following their hard graft on Herbie
     

     
    We had a really smashing evening chatting away on the bank and much ale was despatched. We all failed to notice the passing of midnight and to be honest, I dont really remember going to bed
    Neil sorry we didnt get to say tara Sunday
     
    Next on the list of do jobs is change the gearbox oil...bet that can go wrong
  10. saltysplash
    SUMMER AND LIGHTNING, all around us.
     
    I think it mustve been about midnight that the electric show began in the sky followed by loud rumblings of thunder across the valley. The rain was so heavy that the plants on the roof took quite a battering so when we woke this morning to blue skies and sunshine evrything seemed so much better, except that is for the howling gale blowing from the sou'west.
     
    The plant pots didnt stand a chance and after the 2nd time of putting them back in place, the third time they blew over...over they remained.
     
    We did the remainder of the Stoke Bruerne flight alone, the wind making us contact the side rather more than we wouldve liked but got through unscathed, I suppose if time was no object and we didnt have to be back for work it wouldve been a perfect day for not moving at all....sigh....maybe one day
     
    Crabbing sideways was the order of the day and trying to avoid moored boats while slowing down enough not to cause them too much problems.
    As we neared Cosgrove, a couple on a Wyvern Boat pssing us called out " How far is it to the aquaduct?"
    I smiled at them and said " Youve already done it.....just before the lock"
    They looked forloanly behind them.....never mind folks, look out for it again on your way back
     
    The approach to Cosgrove lock was interesting, One passed the line of buildings and approaching the sanitary station the wind found its way through gaps in the trees and blew us towards the moored boats, I could feel the hull tilt to port as the gusts hit us, so it was a bit of wellie on the revs and regain some control. The mouth of the lock however has no tree cover and as we slowed to stop we were slammed into the side and held there.....who needs ropes when youve got wind power to hold you in position. All we need now is to fit up some form of Gaff Rig and some Lee Boards down the sides and we'd save a fortune on diesel.
     
    Our planned stop was for Great Linford so we carried on past Cosgrove moorings and approached the aquaduct over the Great Ouse. Being in Wyvern country I could see one approaching ahead of us. As they entered the aquaduct and lost the shelter of the trees the wind caught them and slammed them into the side of the trough. Always nice to see what your gonna have to cope with before you have to do it, so, as we entered, I kept well over to the right and as soon as the tree line finished, i steered to starboard and just managed to avoid clanging the sides....with a bit of power of course....Nora was going to take some pics of the crossing but she just confessed that she was actually more concerned with clinging on for dear life.
     
    Finally arrived at Great Linford and was a bit surprised to see a large gathering of boats on both side of the water. Some tents and marquee's then came into view along with throngs of people all enjoying what turned out to be the Great Linford Waterside festival.
    We tied up just before the bridge and did a very quick shop to stock up on milk and booze and bread and then headed off to see what was going on.
     
    A few stalls, a few childrens rides, a large stage with rock bands making a sort of noise and the usual eating establishments.
    We milled and thronged with the rest of the population of Milton keynes and then...oh joy of joys......a stall selling stuff and things and there, hanging at the back was a Peg Bag. Not just any old Peg bag but a Peg Bag that obviously had our name on it......Ive been looking for one for ages, No longer will our pegs have to hang on the rotary line awaiting the next load of washing, They can now rest easily between loads in their own splendid Peg bag.
     

     
    We even found some Pegs on board to start our collection.
     

     
    We purchased some rather fine fudge. Rum an Raison for me and Chocolate for Nora and Choc and orange for both of us, and you cant pass the customery burger bar with out sampling the wares, which in actual fact, were probably the best burger i have ever had from a van before.....far better than the cardboard I forced on myself at the Crick Boat show.
     
    We got back on board and both sat down listening to the noise of the band on the stage, We were then passed by 7 teenagers with their Lager cans and Jugs of cider and decided maybe we will move up a bit for the night, so we cast off and cruised for an hour and found ourselves a little spot which will suit for the night.
     
    All in all a good days cruise made even more interesting by the wind.
     
    Tomorrow will hopefully see us alongside the Globe Inn. We have booked a table for 8.......pm that is....not for 8 people....unless anyone cares to join us
  11. saltysplash
    Did indeed meet up with Ludwig and Tamara for sunday lunch and a discussion over the old tub.
     
    As mentioned previously the survey was carried out some weeks ago so has been quite a while before they finally go back to me.
     
    Anyway, Lunch was at the Black Horse Iver Heath and went down rather well and didnt have to pay a thing as Ludwig insisted on it being his treat. Mind you, i have to admit that all through the meal i was wishing we could get down to the nitty gritty. Not very gracious of me
     
    So, pudding arrives and Ludwig announces he will go for a walk while we talk about Emblem, 'ello' finks i, 'sounds like he dont wanna hear whats coming'
     
    Sure enough, the survey, while explaining what a classic heavily framed and wonderful example of the scottish fishing boat she is, mentioned how sound she was below the water line and above, as far as the frame heads on the starboard side behind the water tank....they aint rotten, they aint damp, but they could do with some new fixings to prevent deck leaks. her deck has leaked at various points for the 10 years ive known her.
     
    So the long and short of it was, we negotiated a price to take into account any work they would have to do the starboard frame heads. shook hands and went outside to find Ludwig.
     
    We then spent the next hour looking at his photo albums of his trip to Australia and back in 1950 in a 1930's London Taxi. He really does have a fantastic story to tell. Really hope someday he manages to put it into writing.
     
    So I then had a mad dash to Sutton to meet Nora as we were due at the Spread Eagle in Croydon to meet up with some ex-work chums for the evening...What a great feeling, Copious amounts of Fullers London pride and the warm knowledge that the old girl had finally sold.
     
    Going down to Chatham on Tuesday to remove the last of me bits then its hand over day on Wednesday not sure if im glad or not really She has been such a major part ofmy life for 10 years along with all the fantastic folk who ive crew'd with and then have been my crew.
     
    Think ill sort out a few Sherberts in the King George V tuesday night to send the old girl off.
     
    Oh well. time for bed. 1 more night to go before days off
  12. saltysplash
    Ernest Shackleton wouldve been proud of us.
     
    We decided to try again and get up to the winding hole to turn Lady Elgar round. With Laura on the bow with the pole swishing as much weed away from us a poss, we managed to get half way along the moorings before we came to a dead stop with the prop choked with weed. This time we both plonked ourselves on the bow and pulled over alongside the moored boats. While I poled us punt style Laura kept us from touching the boats. We made slow but steady progress and eventually reached bridge 7 at the end of the moorings where Neil said the weed was much less. I cleared the prop and we set off with no problems this time. We passed a boat coming towards us from Slough and we both comented on our slow progress back at the moorings. They had resorted to bow haulng their boat.
     
    We turned with no problem and chugged back towards the moorings, This time our plan of action was me on the front with the pole and Laura steering but with increased revs in an effort to push our way through as far as poss before we have to resort to the pole again. As we approached the bridge I could see the boat we had passed already alongside the tow path as they pulled their boat with ropes. I was managing to clear great swarths of weed from our path and we soon caught up with our fellow sufferers. As herbie had done I offered them a tow but they declined and asit happened, shortly afterwards we came to a stop but we had made great progress and didnt have too far to go before I knew we would reach the clearer bits. Once past the 2nd wide beam we again cleared the prop and pushed ourselves back into the channel and managed to cruise back to our mooring with no further visits to the weed hatch....deep joy.
     
    That 1 mile to the winding hole and the mile back took us just under 3 hours but it is nice having the boat the right way round...or at least the way round we like..if that makes sense.
     
    Things then began to look up even more. Laura had lost her boat keys at Apsley water point last week and she just phoned BW who confirm they have got the keys....yipeee
  13. saltysplash
    Well to say the exit was interesting is probably the understatement of the month.
     
    Me old mukka steve took her into the dry dock on wednesday. That trip alone was enough to get the pulse racing. I had to work early turn and couldnt do it so enlisted steve to skipper the old tub to otterham and in turn he enlisted alex and neil to crew(hold the fenders) Apparantly all went rather well for the first half hour despite the force 5 gusting 6 northerlies. Just as they approached Hoo island, The old gardner seemed to slow down and then suddenly just stop. Now on an incoming spring tide running at just under 2 knots this aint good in a narrow channel with mooring trots either side. As quick as a quick thing with a really quick job to do steve bounds to the bow and manhandles the anchor over the side along with 15 mts of chain. No easy feat considering we normally have to use the winch and derrick to drop anchor. Just at that moment a work boat is chugging up river and the skipper says to his deckhand 'theres a nice looking old MFV ...bugger me!!! theyre dropping the hook in mid channel!!'
     
    They cam alongside and the chap comes aboard and asks if he can be of any help, do they require a tow? It also happens that he is a Gardner expert:)
    He and steve descend into the engine room, check all the usual fings, oil/ water/ fuel. nothing obvious...so they turn her over and she starts up as lovely as ever chugging away to herself. They both look at each other and say at the same time 'summat round the prop'
     
    Steve engages forward gear and all runs fine. engages reverse and all runs fine....how queer. So they raise the hook and continue on. Arrive at otterham and the wind is directly on the stern with white hrses even on this narrow stretch. has a devil of a job slowing down due to both wind and tide and cant get below 4 knts, They just manage to throw a rope and catch hold of a dutch barge moored befoe the dock in order to stem the approach prior to the dock being ready. But upon being waved in by Rod the yard owner they are off again at speed toward the dry dock. Steve manages to get her through the gate and somehow alex and neil manage to catch the guilding lines but in trying to stem the speed by going into reverse the stern kicked round to port and the starboard lower rubbing band scratches down to the wood on the dock support but they are in and secure.
     
    As the tide ebbed thin marks could be seen around the swim where whatever it was that stopped the prop had been. No other trace of anything.
     
    Oh well i thought, one scratch on the paintwork wont affect the survey too much, its purely cosmetic. Then steve pointed out to me the rubbing band on the port side which is an iron strip which had pulled out its fixing obviously due to impacting with the dock support on the port side
     
    Oh well, again, nothing too serious, thats what the rubbing band is for after all.
     
    So, She gets surveyed the following day and i stay on board that night to do the trip home friday afternoon with alex and neil as crew as i changed over from earlys to nights that day. I then get a call from the prospective purchaser Ludwig asking if he can come for the return trip as well...sure no probs, just dont look at the damage What a fantastic character he is.
     
    He is in his eighties and is an Austrian. He came to England at the start of the war on the last boat out of Holland. His family ended up in camps in poland after being captured fighting for Tito in yugoslavia.
    He served in the navy during the war and afterwards made a living designing hospital machinery and equipment. in 1949 he bought a 1929 London Taxi and he and his wife drove from London to Sydney to see his family who had settled there after the war. They then Drove back again. I asked him if he had published his story and he said "very nearly, but i had a row with the publishers because they didnt like the first chapter and i insisted on keeping it in so it never went to print" I told him if he still had the manuscript then send it off again....stories like that shouldnt be lost.
     
    anyway, i digress. Friday decided that not only would it continue to blow the wind down but it would add that other element RAIN. High tide was about 2.30pm but knowing they were high springs i was hoping to get out maybe an hour earlier. Id already spoken with Rod and we agreed that being towed out past the dutch barge would probably be the best idea. Dont think he was too keen on have 40 ton of Emblem being blown onto the yatchts.
     
    Meanwhile Ludwig had been rummaging around the old girl and he reappeared in the wheel house and announced to me that the deck was dripping into the saloon why now emblem? why now when the buyer is here are you showing all your foibles?
     
    The tide came in. the rain came down. the wind blew and then blew some more. Suddenly at just after 1 we were afloat. The wind was throwing the tide up the creek faster than a rat out of an aquaduct.
     
    We secured the stern to Rods tug and slowly we inched out to avaoid anymore scrapes on the paintwork. Rod manovered us skilfully through the narrow bit next to the dutch barge and and a bit further past into a wide section. which actually looks very wide but is narrow due to shallows on oneside and an old concrete wharf on the other. We couldnt go any further otherwise Rod wouldve been aground himself so we released the tow and i gave it full right hand down and some wellie on the throttle to try and get the nose round to startboard knowing that when i put her in reverse the stern kicks to port.........allegedly.....all that happend was, due to the lack of sea room i just ended up going backwards and forwards because there was no way on gods clean earth was i going to get Emblems high bow past that wind. It just kept us straight and all the time, wind and tide is now sending us sideways back into the narrow creek...my mouth was now very very dry and in a croaking, almost quivering voice, i shouted out to Alex who was dripping wet on the bow to signal to rod to take a bowline and pull us through the wind.
     
    Rod steams towards us to take the line.......What line!!!! bugger bugger BOLLOCKS BUGGER BOLLOCKS!!!!! we had no line ready. Neil eventually manages to bring a warp form the stern while im still going backwards and forwards and rod is trying to hold on station. We are now getting close to the dutch barge. Alex throws the line to Rod. Shes not given herself enough slack an it falls short. she tries again. misses again....AGHHHHHHHHH "As quick as you like" shouts i in my trying to appear calm yet athoritative...Third attempt.
    Its a .......MISS!!!!!!!
     
    Last option open to me before we become jammed in a 30' gap with a 50' MFV beam on. I shout ( I have to shout over the noise of the wind and engine) to neil and Ludwig.....yes, hes still there on deck watching all this going on probably thinking what the hell are these fools doing.....i shout to them to get the large ball fenders and my last and only option while alex is still trying to lassoo Rod is to put the nose into the old concrete wharf hoping that Neil and Ludwig could do the biz with the fenders and the tide and wind would then push the stern while i held the stem onto the wharf. Well it worked and gave alex enough time to make her final throw and connect with rod and the stern swung over to port which was fendered off nicely by neil, But being an old no longer used wharf having seen better days it managed to scrape a 2' scratch on the port bow. not even the rubbing band but the bloody planks.
     
    Once the nose was through the wind it was plain sailing , we waved a very greatfull farewell to Rod and set revs to 600 giving me 5 knts over the ground to navigate the shallows of otterham creek. The Crew and Ludwig came inside the wheelhouse, all rather soggy for some reason and i said " well, that was different" A pen bounced off me nut
     
    On the way back to Chatham, Ludwig came back up from below and cheerfully announced that the deck was no longer leaking......Well, of course it wasnt.......if id thought about it, It always leaks when in dry dock cause shes sitting on her keel and all the planks and seems are out of shape. You cant even close the internal doors due to the way the wood settles. It not till she refloats that everything fits back into place tut!!!!
     
    So, I managed to show my prospective buyer how not to leave drydock in heavy weather. How to forget something as basic as having a bow line ready. and how to scratch the paint work in one easy move. He aint gonna by this:(
     
    As I was re-connecting the electric back at the pontoon, Ludwig sidled up to me and said, "well done on coming in here, we never even felt like we touched. i think she handles lovely" I guess and old sea dog has seen many things and knows when someone is trying to impress him but making a right pigs ear of it, but when not trying to impress just does things as they should be done.
     
    I WANT TO GET BACK ON THE CANALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  14. saltysplash
    Finally picked up the keys thursday afternoon and plonked ourselves on board although didnt unpack anything as the cleaning needs to be attacked first.
    Not knowing the condition the batteries would be in i switched on the Heart interface charger and left em to it for a few hours. As suspected they were shot at. The charger was so busy trying to charge them that they started to boil. so it was switches off and a trip around Berkshire on saturday trying to find 4 110 lesuire batts. Much harder job then you'd think.
     
    500 quid later and we now have decent batts and the interface is doing a proper job of looking after them.
     
    Inbetween battery hunting we have been busy cleaning inside and out. So far the roof is being the problem, Cant seem to shift the grime without mega amounts of scrubbing with hard brush, so first trip out this morning will be to try and find some kind of cleaner which will make life slightly easier. Was considering cillit bang but not sure if i might end up damaging the paintwork? Might be ok if i rinse off straight away but not overly happing with it draining into the canal. maybe i'll read the bottle and see what it says.
     
    Not even tried to sort the stove out yet. Managing to heat the cabin with a couple of oil radiators during the evenings. The stove door is really difficult to closed which in turn i think has cracked the glass in the door. I think ill be digging out all the old fire rope and replacing. Also the stove itsself is full and i mean full of ash and half burnt fuel. I guess the previous owner mustve left in a hurry.
     
    So, still hope to set sail tuesday all being well. Jobs for today. shopping. more roof cleaning. stove. and then play with the engine.
     
    Every one at Iver very freindly.
  15. saltysplash
    Sunday morning saw me up at half 8 to get ready to poodle up the arm to the winding hole and let Herbie go off for her 2 week cruise to the River Wey.
     
    I met Neil at the stern as he was just prepering Herbies weed hatch, we both fired up the engines and I set off for the Windly windly hole. Within 30 seconds it was obvious i had some serious weed on the prop as there was a fair amount either side of the apparantly clear channel. Within 100 yards from the mooring I had come to a standstill with the prop wash being pushed eitherside of the stern instead of past the prop. I indicated to Neil that I was pulling over and he gave me the impression he was having similar trouble.
     
    Neil however, managed to keep Herbie chugging forward while i dived into the weedhatch and spent 10 mins clearing horrible tangly blankety type weed which had the consistancy of netting.
    Once clear I returned topside to see Herbie still crawling forward and Cath on the bow with the boat pole clearing weed from their path. I pushe Lady Elgar out back into the channel and pressed forward. within 100 yards we had again come to a dead stop. Again I dived into the weed hatch to find even more of the stuff.
    At the 6th attempt of this exercise I thought enough was enough and decided to bow haul her to the next bridge where I had seen Herbie disappear and the weed looked clearer. After another few yards I now saw herbie coming back towards us, they had been upto the winding hole and turned round which takes about half an hour so we decided to wait for them to pass before carrying on.
    As neil approached he offered a tow back to the mooring.....I was too shagged to resist and despite obviously his prop having some weed on it Herbie did a marvelous job of pulling Lady Elgar the few hundred yards back to the mooring...He even managed to take a photo of us while doing so......"thats going on the blog" syas he...lol
     
    They pressed on and we waved them goodbye in the hope thay have a fantastic trip.
     
     
    We are going to try again tomorrow to brave the swamp that is the Slough Arm.....if I can just get her out into the clear bit before engaging the prop.
  16. saltysplash
    I think we eventually got to bed about 2am. So this morning when the church bells of Abingdon rang out it was a bit of a shock. They wont continue for long thought I, just calling the faithful to worship, but no, It was obviously a campanology convention calling the faithful who had quaffed a skinfull the night before to clamber out of bed and put the kettle on.
     
    Maffi and Bones where already up and about and after the frist brew we were ready for the last haul to oxford. So we waved farewell and passed on our thanks again for such an excellent evening and cast off.
     
    Nothing of real note for the four hours it took to reach Osney Lock except that again the going was slow in places but the sun kept playing on us and making the criuse very enjoyable.
     
    The public moorings above Osney lock had a number of free spaces so we slotted in just past the pub and took a walk into town to get some lunch. We stopped at the castle and took a table outside one of those grill type places, this one was called Tootsies.
     
    They brought the menu's to the table and that was the last we saw of them 20 mins, So enough was enough and we went elsewhere. Gordon Ramsey wouldve been outraged.
     
    Back on LE sleep overtook us both and our afternoon nap ended at about 7pm !!!!! so its now 12.20am and we are still awake.
     
    Tomorrow we'll have a wander round town and also a visit to Halfords to try and get the part for the engine then set off for the canal. if we wake up in time that is
     

     

  17. saltysplash
    Day one of our Grand June Cruise.
     
    Cast off from Iver just before midday having spent the last couple of days revising and reviewing routes due to the Thames being on Red Boards for the last week, But after a drive down to Chertsy last night to view the river conditions I decided we would have a slow run to Brentford and hit the Thames sunday eve rather than today to give the river further opotunity to calm itself.
     
    Glourious sunshine was the order of the day and a Big thanks to Kath and Neil of Herbie fame who came down last night to ease our departure from the moorings. Herbie is Moored outside of us which involves some manouverings to allow us to slip the moorings but they had some measuring and faffing to do so they came down and moved Herbie under her own steam which meant we could slipout in one go rather than moving boats back and forth. They also get a good three weeks now alongside the bank which is usefull for doing odd jobs on the outside without dangling over the water. Thanks again folks, always a pleasure to see you.
     
    So, 15 mins into the trip and Nora suddenly appears at the stern and demands to steer!!!!!!! Righto says I. She took control at tickover and after a few moments of getting used used to correcting the swing she was asking for more revs
     
    She did her best yet, Steered through all three aquaducts and bridgeholes with no problem at all. Passed the con back to yours truly for the junction but then on the main line was pushing me out of the way to take command again, only reliquishing the task in order to dash forward armed with bread for the waterfowl lining our path.
     
    We fully intended to stop at Norwood Top Lock for the day but upon our arrival, It wasnt as I remembered it and the Youths on mopeds with no helmets by the houses alongside made our minds up to plod on to a location by a field I had used before.
     
    While entering the Top Lock Nora was asked by a lady and her 3 sprogs " Do you give trips?" Nora replied "no, sorry, were on holiday" the lady then said to the children " do you want to go and have a look at the kitchen!!!!!" Nora, taken by surprise said, " its the second hatch along if you want to look" The lady said, " Yes, we know, we saw it as you passed"
     
    The next pound we picked up something on the prop which was obviously large and poohy as i lost forward drive. A few kicks in reverse gave me back some forward thrust but I could feel the stern 'bouncing' as we inched forward.
     
    Once through the 2nd lock we came alongside the field I remembered and tied up. Time was 3.45pm and once all was shut down and secured I delved into the Weed Hatch which is quite awkward as you have to reach deep, under the counter from the BMC to access it. Once open, the water was lovely and clear and i could see at least 3 different colours of plastic and masses and masses of weed. In fact, it was weed of Biblical proportions. Must remember in the morning to give the stern a good push out before engaging gear to try and avoid the weed.
     
    All in all a good afternoon cruise and both our faces are now glowing thanks to the sun and breeze.
     
    I was just settling down for my first bacardi and coke when Nora said......."Is that a winding hole?".......yep, sure enough, our back end is well into the arc of the winding hole....tut....so please, Any one reading this who needed to use the Hole I can only only appologise for the Ignorant crew of Lady Elgar who have failed on their canal etiquette on their very first day.
     
     
    Pics of our spot for tonight in Hanwell:-
     

     

     

  18. saltysplash
    Set off Tuesday afternoon rather late due to swmbo making me stay up till the early hours drinking bacardi and watching the Sweeny on DVD.
     
    First problem was starting the engine. Key in ignition. turn and click!!! try again and....click!
     
     
    In all my eagerness to replace the domestic Batts id completely forgot about the engine battery. Fool that i am. So started her up using the emergency switch which kicks in the domestic batts to give that extra vummph. and remembered to turn off the emer switch so the domestic batts dont get screwed by the duff engine batt. Any way, upto the winding hole and back to top up with diesel coal and boots from the car then chugged off towards Cowley Peachey junction. I had forgotten how shallow the Slough arm is and within minutes we had picked something up round the prop. Plodded on at minus 1 mile an hour and finally we stopped at the last Aquaduct before the junction to dive into the weedhatch hole and sure enough removed the perverbial blue polythene liner thingy. It was after 5 as we negotiated the sharp left turn from the arm onto the main line north and plodded along at tickover due to all the moored boats. Finally tied up just below Cowley Lock at half 6.
     
    Walked upto the lock with Nora and gave her a brief intro to lock working then repaired to the Malt shovel for a couple of ales and a steak supper. Good meal but the staff were struggling as a sudden atteck of customers arrived just after we had ordered. It was chucking it down as we returned to Lady Elgar. did a quick walk round inside to make sure all was dry and found a couple of drips under the Paloma water heater. Not sure if this was from the rain or internally. will monitor the situation.
     
    Tuesday morning found me wide awake at 8 am and sitting reading Trevor Pavitt's book 'Living the Dream' Very good book so far but he is turning me into an engine hypochondriac. I have found myself today listening out for those bumps and knocks coming from below that he describes.
     
    Stopped at Uxbridge boat centre aladins cave for a new engine battery and coolie hat which Nora, much to her horror flicked off the chimney with the mooring line when we departed from Iver.
     
    Had a full days trip in excellent weather with Nora working all the locks. I had to rate her out of ten for each one and heres the results so far
     
    1. Cowley Lock 10/10
    2. Uxbridge lock 8/10 because she began to lower the paddles before opening the gates.
    3.Denham Deep 8/10 because she had help form a very nice chap and she forgot to use the gate paddles
    4. Widewater lock 10/10
    5. Black Jacks lock 8/10 for asking repetative questions
    6. Coppermill lock 10/10
    7. Springwell lock 10/10
    8. Stockers lock 8/10 she didnt realise the lock was already set for us and made glaring schoolgirl errors
    9. Batchworth Lock 9/10 because she went to open the gate paddle while i was too close instead of the ground paddle
     
    She did bloody well for her first ever canal trip
     
    As for sterring.....i was perfect
     
    untill it came to making supper.....we tied up just after Batchworth and decided it was BBQ time so with it being almost dark it set up by the galley windows so they would shed some light on the proceedings. While watching the flames form the side hatch i hit upon the brilliant idea of moving the BBQ to the side hatch so that i didnt have to go outside and could put me slippers on while cooking from the comfort of ones own home....First burger that hit the griddle set billowing smoke into the boat through the hatch. Result, smokey boat and burnt food and streaming eyes..
     
    mmmmmm steak
     
    heres a couple of pics to remind us of the day
     

     

     

  19. saltysplash
    Day three.
     
    Teddington took most of our day. I went over to the lock at 10am and enquired about the state of the river prior to handing over my £115 for the 15 day visitor license. They expected to be on yellow boards by some time in the after noon.
     
    We also where holding position as we were waiting for our friend and guest Phil, bless he had finished nights this morning and was obviously sleeping, so we tootled around the boat, reading, relaxing and Nora nursing her sunburn.....I also managed a couple of cross words. The day was again perfect.
     
     
     

     
     
     
    Sometime in the afternoon most of the narrowboats that had been at tedders moved off en masse and headed upstream. By about 5pm, we wandered down to teddington station and met phil after his journey from Plumstead via waterloo.
     
    We set off and hit the flow which was still very fast, I kept the revs to give us 3mph, as I felt anymore would just be a waste of fuel. As we rounded Ravens Ait we slowed down by .5 mph. Phil came to the rear and took over the tiller. We chatted as you do, the time being now about 6pm. I suddenly heard a slap of water behind us and I turned just intime to see a Long Oar right by the rudder and before i could call out, the oar and skull collieded with our rear counter. The rower suddenly called out to the next rower behind him.....turn turn turn. and he set off again as if nothing had happend. We were already very close to the bank as the flow of the water was at its least there.
     
    Blow me, if we were then approached again very close o the stern by another rower, this time being coached by a rupert in a launch with a megaphone.........he was calling out orders which i couldnt understand......what I DID UNDERSTAND WAS THE WORDS....SKIPPER WATCH YOUR COURSE......feckin cheek........As far as im concerned, even though the skull was under oars, they were the overtaking vessel and as such had a duty to keep clear of us.......bloody cheek and after we'd paid £115 squid for the privelage.
     
    I made sure Phil was reminded that our only collision so far has been while he had the con.
     
     
     
    We arrived at Hampton court and ive never seen those moorings so quiet. So came alongside, BBQ out and lit and enjoyed a very pleasant evening in lovely sunshine chatting and supping.
     
    Windsor tomorrow....after Phill and Nora have wandered around Hampton Court.
     
     

     
     

  20. saltysplash
    9.30am saw us under way from Windsor and within minutes the rain was pelting down. In fact it had been raining most of the night and now I was concerned that river levels were going to rise again and see us stranded waiting for them to fall.
     
    I was seriously considering turning round and heading back to Brentford, However just after Boveney lock the rain dried up and we had a mixture of sun and cloud, and the very occaisional light shower.
     
    The river was still flowing rather fast and again on the narrow sections our speed dropped to less than 2 mph making progress very slow indeed.
     
    Eventually we reached Marlow lock and On speaking with the lockie he stated the levels were still dropping despite the rain and we should find the going much easier now.
     
    We had seen very little other traffic and most of it going down stream so it was nice for the majority of the locks we encountered we were able to keep the engine running (with permission of the lockie) as we still have starting problems.
     
    Just after Marlow bridge we encountered a couple of sailing dinghy's spanking along 'close hauled' tacking one side of the river to the other. The first one passed by with no probs at all but the second, Tacked from our starboard side, shot across the river and then tacked again and crossed our bows from the port side. At the end of that leg he was now parrallel to our starboard bow. I fully expected him to spill his wind and let us clear but instead he tacked again and shot forward hitting our starboard bow just behind the stem.
     
    He shook his head, I said nothing, We disengaged, I saw he was ok and off he went again. We parted company turning our backs to each other without any spoken word....I think we both learned a lesson there.
     
    Nora managed a School girl error when throwing a rope onto a bollard in lock, she caught the bollard perfectly and then proceeded to pull the line tight.....the look on her face was probably priceless as the bowline end also followed the rest of the line through the bollard and then back on board after having jumpped off the T-stud when she intially threw the rope.......I gave her much words of wisdom about making sure all was secure when catching a bollard......three locks later I managed to do exactly the same for my own school boy error
     
    We eventually arrived at Henley and found a mooring (the first we have paid for so far) just before the town bridge. Nora managed to feed a large flotilla of goslings and 1 duck the majority of a loaf of bread while I toddled off for a walk into town to find an Offie and or a bread shop......I found a Circus, a cinema down a small alley and and offie but no bread shop.
     

     

     
    As I approached the boat on my return laden with Rum and coke and 2 packets of Pork scratchings I saw the flotilla of goslings now behaving like sheep and doing their best to keep the grass short surrounded on all sides by adult Geese who honked noisily at my approach.
     

     
    I then noticed lots of little mounds on the grass opposite the boat and thought, strange, I didnt remember those mole hills before.....they turned out to be Rabbits all enjoying the evening sun.
     

     

     
     
    We finished the evening with a couple of episode of Fawlty Towers and a smashing Spaghetti Bolognaise....Also some custard and midget gems.
     
    other pics.
     

     

     

  21. saltysplash
    Working shifts makes us live a kind of strange nocturnal existance, Finish night duty monday morning, have a couple of sherberts then bed and eventually wake up anytime between 6pm and 8pm and thats rest day No1 out of the way, By the time your ready for bed again its 3 or 4am and the cycle continues so this morning one has made a special effort and got up at 7.30am in the hope that i can actually get on with some jobs in the daylight rather than in the middle of the night and annoy the neighbours.
     
    The shed is one big job thats been waiting since November and has gradually been filling up with stuff and things so that now, the door opens and things start to fall out. There are at least 3 sacks of stuff from Emblem that need sorting out into 'whats going to the tip' pile and 'whats....er..also going to the tip' pile
     
    Meanwhile Nora is sleeping soundly in the next cabin.
     
    Also playing the waiting game with the mobile phone as i wait for the Nod from my daughter that the baby has decided its time to make its way out into this harsh world of ours, and then it will be into the car and off to Ramsgate, book into a Travel lodge and then try and find the hospital.
     
    Meanwhile Nora is sleeping soundly in the next cabin.
     
    As i look around me ive just noticed another job which has been put off for some time, Computer wires all over the place. sigh
     
    Seeing as its pay day, I recon first on the list will be the shed, Then a trip up the North Circular to Ikea and the search for a suitable bed settee, Have also been contemplating building one but the upholstering thing is putting me off, Im ok with the frame but knowing my level of diy skills it would look crap and be very uncomfortable, so a ready made one is probably best.
     
    Meanwhile Nora is sleeping soundly in the next cabin.
     
     
    Wonder how long i can put off going to the shed?
  22. saltysplash
    Im not sure if this will work but Im gonna try and do a Blog on another site, Not that I have anything at all against this site, far from it, I just feel it might make it a little more personal to Laura and myself.
     
    The Canal World Blog is very simple and easy to use and has been a great start for me but now, Im gonna spend hours struggling with links and fings and then give up and come back to this blog!!!!!! see given up already.
     
     
    If you enjoy what you have read here maybe you would care to read further at http://saltysplash.blogspot.com/
     
    If that link dont work then im done for
     
    Any comments and suggestions are always very welcome, even critical ones.......we all have to be ready to learn...apparently
     
    So any usefull advice on how to post links and pics on the new blog will be more than welcome
     
     
    Cheers folks, an if you see more posts here you can be sure the new blog is just too much for my small IT brain to cope with
  23. saltysplash
    It looks like its the last week ill be spending on Emblem
     
    We got the nod today that the money transfer has gone ahead on Lady Elgar so she is now ours...i think Anyway we have been down to Iver this week and paid the moorings and applied for the licence renewal and all is hunky dory, Except we are back at work tomorrow morning for five days so cant do anything about moving aboard till next week
     
    So we will pick the keys up Thursday, stay on board that night then hopefully John Currer will be able to the offical handover Friday morning Seems to have gone on for ages.
    I spent most of my day today taking down the sky dish and tv ariel and cables.....got to get me priorities right for moving important stuff aboard first Swmbo is more interested in doing a shopping list of cleaning items for attacking the dust inside and tree sap on the outside. Then the plan is to take her away (lady elgar not swmbo) for a couple of weeks inagural cruise which is going to be a big learning curve for Nora as she has never been on the canals before. Will hopfully, all being well, head north up the grand onion but im in two minds yet as to turn right at Norton and head towards Foxton or turn left and trundle down towards Oxford. I dont want to make it too energetic for her for her first ever trip but i was tempted if we made progress then carry on down to oxford and then complete the thames circle.
     
    Think maybe the take it as it comes approach might be better and see what the weather does and how the crew cope. So we are well looking forward to it.
     
    So last nights at Chatham and the sun gave me a very lovely goodnight
     

     

  24. saltysplash
    Day 2
     
     
    Set off from our mooring at Hanwell by about 11.30am and finished off the flight in Blazing sunshine. Nora steered us into the first lock....a first, and she intended to do the next few as part of her helm training but then a boat hove into view behind us and we held the lock for them. Not wishing to have to try to many odd manouvers she decided to hand back to me...at least she is getting there and proving very good at the attempts she makes.
     
    We enjoyed the flight in comany with our fellow boaters who decided to stop at the fox PH at the bottom of the flight while we carried on to Brentford managing to pick up something on the prop just after osterly lock. Nora, However had retaken the tiller and managed the last two locks to Brentford with apparant ease, although she states she was a bag of nerves.
     
    Arrival at Brentford and topped up with water and gave the roof garden a good dousing as they were looking rather dry.
     

     
    I then noticed Nora run to the stern and have a look inside and then come back all forlorn......"my hat has blown into the water" my laughterr was soon brought to an end by the look on her face and her declaring, "I love that hat" I looked over the Bow and sure enough there was the hat enjoying a marvelous adventure on the water making its way across the dock with the aid of the breeze towards the residential moorings. I handed her the extending boat hook and suggested she toddle off over the other side to await the hats arrival. I meanwhile dived down into the weed hatch to clear another copious amount of clinging weed and a large plastic taybrite coal sack.....only a boater couldve let that get in the water...tut!
     
    I then planned to get the Video camera out and film Nora's seach and rescue attempt, but, a knight in shining armour had already been to the rescue in the form of our friendly BW Lock keeper who recovered the wayward head gear with minimum of fuss and she was all ready heading back towards Lady Elgar Looking very chuffed.
     
    She asked him if he fancid a cold beer and he gracefully declined as he was 'on duty' so, come 1715hrs we promtly arrived at Thames lock and handed him the said beer for when he booked off at 1800hrs.
     
    Turned right, onto the Thames and plodded on towards tedders as we approached Richmond bridge the GPS showed we had lost a full MPH. The tide was at its max and the obvious flow from the river was pushing against us, But, the Perkins did us proud and battled with the flow to see us safely at Teddington.
     
    We are now moored for free in the lock cut and the Lockie fully expects yellow boards to be displayed on the river by tomorrow morning, so I am off outside to loosen our lines in anticipation of some drop in the level.
     
     
    We went for an Indian down Tedders High st......Nora is as red as red can be and my forehead is hot. We now have to cover our bodies up for the rest of the week to let the sunburn go down.
     
     
     
    Our mooring tonight by the weir.......whats the point in a pic like this???????
     

  25. saltysplash
    Day 10
     
    I was up and about by 8am and following the first brew of the day, left Nora sleeping and I set off down the Botley Road to find Halfords armed with my electrical componant complete with box and Lucas part number.
    I passed a cycle shop on the way and looked longingly at a smashing little folding pushbike in the window but payday is still to far away for toys like that plus the car needs MOT'ing when we get home.
     
    Found Halfords and presented me at the parts desk. I showed them my item and enquired if they had any in stock..." what make and model is it from?" they asked, "erm...its not, its from a boat" says I. A long sucking in of breath through teeth and shaking of heads brought the response,"We can only search our records if we have a make and model"
    "what about the part number? are you not able to look through the store room to see if you have one?"
    " Not without a make and model of car Im afraid"
     
    Thankfully they did suggest a local Motor Factors which was another 20 mins walk further along the road....(oh for a folding push bike) so I plodded off and found the place in a little industrial estate. I showed the chap my Item and within 2 mins he was back with a replacement. smashing.
     
    Arriving back at LE, Nora was up and about and not fancying any further exploration of Oxford we cleared the roof of all protrusions above pideon box height in readyness for navigating under Osney Bridge.
     
    Following comments from Trevor, Lady Elgars original owner I decided to hold fire fitting the new part and waiting till we return to Iver to speak with Steve at the yard who has already mentioned his thoughts for the starter problem.
     
    Thanks Trevor, will check out your suggestions.
     
    We Cast off and fought against the current towards Osney Bridge. We passed under with reasonable headroom although I did have to crouch down. Once through the bridge and the narrow sections we increased speed on the wider sections towards Godstow Lock
     

     
    At The lock, The Lockkeeper said he'd remembered our engine from a few days earlier. It appears he likes to have a decko in the engine room doors of passing craft and state he had already seen a 2 cylinder Gardner, an old Lister and now a 3 Cylinder Perkins....It seems he does different locks on a daily basis.
     

     
    Finally through Kings lock and the sharp right turn towards the Dukes Cut, and then back on to the calm waters of the Oxford Canal.
     
    Nora, having been spoilt by Thames Locks had a momentary lapse of lock working memory and walked upto the top gates of a full lock intending to wind the paddles to empty the lock. I promised her I wouldnt mention it.
     
    Bridge 228 managed to do what Osney Bridge couldnt, All looked good on the approach but as we went under I noticed a nast sagging bit in the centre. This managed to topple the coolie hat of the stove chimney which luckily plonked itself down onto the roof without going overboard but then the sag collected the exhaust pipe.....just on the top leading edge and brickdust and soot and a slightly bent pipe where the remains of the contact....Think I will use Trevors 'Titch Pipe' for the next day.
     
    At Thrupp we took on water and emptied the lav.
     
    We finally tied up just before Northbrook Lock by about 7pm and as the evening was so lovely, the BBQ was fired up and burnt items of meat where offered to the Gods.
     
    a few more pics
     

     

     

     

     

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