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saltysplash

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  1. 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.
  2. saltysplash

    Last entry

    By 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
  3. saltysplash
    So it looks like its finally safe to commence my inane ramblings concerning the move from old tub to ditch crawler.
     
    Got the nod from Barclays that the finace we required is ready for release tomorrow they are just waiting for the final docs we had to send em. We sent em last thursday tut!!!!! so it all gets held up again coz of fings lost in the post. Nevermind, at least we kept copies.
    Also had a message from Virginia Currer Marine requesting personal details for the bill of sale so things really are just waiting to happen.
     
    It all started when, one night, Swmbo and self were enjoying the last of the Bacardi lying on Emblems double berth in the aft cabin and having a final oily rag out of the port hole. I had always maintained that one day, when emblem became too much for me to handle then i would return to the canals. The conversation, (drunk gibberish more like) somehow was manouvered by a certain party into moving in with each other. Knowing she hates the way boats react on the sea and feeling kinda romantic for a change i suggested a narrowboat. The fool agreed!!!!! Shes never even seen a narrowboat let alone live on one.
    So the search was on. viewing boat sale sites while at work and me giving it large about what my ideal boat required.
     
    We eventually had a few days off which we planned to go looking at our short list. A couple advertised with VC marine and a few at whilton. My main concern was a residential mooring close enough to London for us both to commute.
     
    We arrived at Iver and viewed the first one. A 68' trad stern with gardner engine in proper engne room. I liked it and it was at a price which we could buy outright with the sale of Emblem. .....Nooooooo. it appears Swmbo also had her ideas of what she wanted lol.
     
    So we toddled off down the moorings to our 2nd viewing much much more expensive however it came with a residential mooring.
     
    It turns out id seen the boat many times before while visiting a friend who was also moored at the same place.
     
    I always remembered walking past and thinking, 'thats the kind if boat i would like to own if ever i had the brass'
     
    Well, here we were with the keys in our mitts.
     
    Outside paintwork by the renowned phill speight, was looking a little grubby from what i remembered as she is moored under a tree which has plonked leaves and sap all over, but under the grime the finish was still looking excellent
     



     
    I fell in love, Swmbo, had a good rumage around and after declaring it needed a good cleaning also agreed that she would love to live on board this boat.....it was only the 2nd one she'd ever seen for chuffs sake!
     
    It certainly gave the appearence of not having been visited for some time, but all appeard intact as far as i could see and the engine room was just a complete heaven.
     
    So, offer was made, accepted and deposit placed
     


     



     
    So, Thats the story so far, Survey showed no problems with the hull at all and just a few minor things to sort out internally like replacing the fire extinguishers which are still the old blue type and sweeping the chimneys.
    Stand by for more as Geoff and Nora join forces to do battle in a narrow 60' steel box.....shes actually called Laura but i am so bad remembering names when i first met her i ended up calling her lauren,moira,linda and eventually i settled for Nora.
    Will she be able to cope with my early morning blues and victor meldrew tendancies and love of old films? will I be able to cope with living with someone again after so long and having to suffer Judge Judy and Holioaks and X-factor on my telly which should only normally be used for veiwing documentarys and comedy and decent non female based/love related films?
     
    Time will tell but its going to be fun finding out and im bloody looking forward to it
  4. saltysplash

    still waiting

    By saltysplash,

    So its been over a week since everything was in place and were still waiting. Last minute forgotten bits of paper to sign and this that an the other.
    We had been hoping to get in with the early discount for the licence which is up in october but that aint gonna happen now. Never mind, were expecting completion by monday at the latest famous last words.
     
    In the meantime, Things have finally been going forward with Emblem. I am currently sitting in drydock at Otterham Quay waiting for the tide so we can head back to Chatham. She was surveyed yesterday for the prospective purchaser. The down side is im nights tonight so not going to have much chance to get any sleep beforehand. Its gonna be an interesting exit. Winds are gusting 25kts and its a narrow channel to reverse along before it opens out, also the old girl likes to pull to port when in reverse due to the prop swing so you have to keep kicking forward to try and kep er right. and in this wind anything could happen. Im gonna ask Rod to see if he can tow me out i think.
     
    So heres a few pics of the old girl sitting high an dry. I had a mooch underneath her earlier and all is well below the waterline, Not overly impressed with my 2 coats of antifoul applied in april, More barnacles than last year. maybe because we havent done much cruising this year due to the sale.
    Oh yes, another downside to drydock is you cant use the sea toilet
     

     

     

     

     

     

  5. saltysplash

    Roy Orbison

    By saltysplash,

    Day 21
     
    ITS OVER.
     
    Our original plan for this day was to cruise down to Denham Country Park and find a little spot for 1 last barbie before doing the last 3 and a bit hours back to base camp.
    The day dawned overcast and very breezey and a few showers accompanied our meanderings through the locks. At Batchworth we were aided by orange lifejacketed children who were visiting the canal centre and getting instruction on locks and boats....Geoff, one of the staff was telling Nora that when these groups were being shown around the motor Roger, the question was asked of them what they thought the boat wouldve carried in its hold. Not one of them thought of Coal, Televisions being the favourite guess. I guess not many kids these days have any concept of coal. Funny the way the world changes.
     
     
    It was about 3pm as we descended Widewater lock and onto the Denham stretch, Looking at the sky we decided to plod on towards the Slough Arm.
    At Cowley Peachey juction, my turn was restricted by a boat moored a few feet too close to the opening so a bit of jiggery pokery was needed to complete the swing onto the arm while the boat owners enjoyed the spectacle from the comfort of their chairs on the towpath.
     
    Just over half an hour later saw us at Highline. We decided not to continue up to the winding hole as is our usual thing, but to tie up for a change on the outside of Herbie as Neil and Cath are heading out for the River Wey on sunday and being alongside the bank will be better for them loading up etc. Our neighbour Lydia waved us in and kindly took the stern rope and we were promptly visited by 3 of her cats who had apparantly been missing their treats due to a lack of Lady Elgar being alongside.
     
    All finally secure and engine shut down and shore line connected saw us relaxing with a chinese takeaway.
     
    All in all it was an excellent trip with fantastic weather. We met some lovely people, maffi and bones by name others just as faces. Visted some excellent pubs and eating places. Enjoyed the drama's of boaters antics and behaviours which although sometimes are frustrating, they are nothing compared to the behaviour of people on our roads, and what may seem like moans by me about folk, are not really moans...just observations on different behaviours, as im sure other folk would observe on our behaviour.
     
    Valuable hands on knowlegde was learned re the boat such as the starter problem and the prop shaft, but even those incidents all added to the enjoyment of the trip and the experience of owning and running your own boat without the need to call on expert help. These problems were really very minor, the starter problem only being compounded by the fact we were on the Thames and had to shut down the engine at every lock.
     
    Laura's highlights of the trip were the hundreds of baby fowl and animals that all benefitted from her tesco value bread bag, The Blisworth tunnel. Having her hat rescued by the lockie at Brentford and the memory of the Garlic Mushrooms at the Wharf Inn at Fenny Compton.
     
    For me, just being together in our home cruising through varied and changing landscapes is enough. No bad memories and thats for sure.
     
    The log shows the following data
     
    Engine Hours 132
    Distance 250miles
    Locks 175
    2 Tunnels
     
    back to work Wednesday
  6. saltysplash
    Day 20
     
    The morning broke dry and lovely. Following a couple of brews we fired up and cast off, Nora working the swing bridge and 1st lock while we kept looking behind us in the hope of seeing a boat coming down behind us who we might share with.
     
    Its wasnt to be so we slowly dropped down the heavily locked Hemel Hempstead section and arrived at the santary station at Apsley to take on and drop off fluids. A bot had decided to chain themselves up to a large protion of the services mooring so we pulled in behind them and in turn took up a portion of the lock mooring. Knowing it would probably be a long fill, I toddled off over the bridge to nip into Sainsburys for a quick top up on supplies. Rather wish I hadnt as it mustve been pension day and the checkout women were more concerned with chatting to each other about Sandra's 30th wedding anniversary than getting me through with my meagre items.
     
    I eventually exited the store and as I crossed the bridge saw 2 motorboats going up in the lock and a couple of boats just exiting the lock above and Nora looking stressed. Typical, we'd not seen any other traffic all day then it becomes busy just as ive been a bit cheeky and gone shopping while taking on water. As it happens, it appears no one wished to use the services while Nora had been using them, the two motorboats decamped from the lock and headed on towards the next lock and the two boats coming down started hammering pins into the ground to tie up, so we fired up, packed away the hose and dropped down the lock.
     
    The next lock at apsley mills was obviously in our favour and the two motors had left both gates open, probably re-living old times. I deposited Nora on the starboard side and brought Lady Elgar to a stop on the portside so we could both close a gate each. I then saw a chap emerge at the steps by the bottom gates and could see the roof of his boat just infront of the bottom gates. Thats gonna get lively when the paddles are raised thought I and as soon as both top gates were shut, this chap began winding. he then darted across to the other paddle and began winding again, wthin seconds two loud crashes occured and I could see both gates bouncing as this chaps boat began to ram into them. GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME. He very quickly ran back across the gates and down to his boat, then all I could hear was the sound of an engine being rev'd very hard, obviously in an effort to excape from the draw of the gate paddles. Nora then dropped both gate paddles and some normality returned and the chap managed to reverse away from the gates. Paddles up again and gate eventually open. This chap now placed himself in front of the open gate as I was exiting. The boat was only about a 40 footer at the most and painted in camoflague.
    He didnt wait for me to clear but came steadly forward. I managed to just get out of the way avaoiding some very nast looking spikes that he had on the front of his Bow, Obviously used for when attacking the Carthaginian fleet.
    Once Id got Nora back on board we agreed that he was obviously in a hurry to get somewhere. Apparantly, it was the spikes on the front of his boat that had got trapped in the gates preventing him from being able to reverse away from them.....what a strange fellow.
     
    Unfortunately, no further excitment occured and we made the steady descent sharing the lock work a couple at a time. It was about half four by the time we reached Lady capels lock and our intention to moor opposite the golf course was thwarted by boats there before us so we dropped down into Cassiobury park and eventually tied up just below Iron bridge lock.
     
    Another BBQ was set up rather quickly as the sky was darkening and the wind freshening, and sure enough, just as Nora had watered the plants and I was finishing off caramalising the Lamb chops, the rain began to fall and we shut up shop and settled down to eat while watching series one of Phoenix Nights.
     
    A very pleasent days cruising of 6 hours and 19 locks. We are now within the M25 boundary and already the thought of having to return to work looms.
     

     

  7. saltysplash

    Endurance

    By 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
  8. saltysplash

    Bucks Fizz

    By 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

    Hangover

    By 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
     

     

  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

    Adam Ant

    By 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.
     
     

     

     

     

  12. saltysplash

    ABBA

    By 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
  13. saltysplash

    Supertramp

    By saltysplash,

    Day 15
     
    Opening the blinds this morning revealed drizzle and then some more drizzle.
    It was morning as well, about 6am. We knew we might get a bit of noise from the mainline railway nearby but hadn't bargained for the sheep with megaphones. Actually we did manage to drop off again and evenually arose about 10am....still drizzling...so a couple of cups of coffee and watched Takeshi's Castle.....Love the High Rollers.
     
    We cast off around about 11am with yours truly fully decked out in wet weather gear. It was still drizzling and it was that fine rain.....you know...the stuff that gets you wet through.
     
    At Gayton Junction we took on and dropped off the usual fluids and got chatting to another couple also taking on and dropping off, about sofa's, of all things, We where suddenly whistled at by a boat opposite and asked if we had finished.....ooppps, far too easy to get carried away...sorry folks.
     
    Laura had been looking forward to the Tunnel of Doom at Blisworth and BREAKFAST IN AMERICA/lunch was delayed for it
     

     
    There had been quite a fair bit of traffic this morning inspite of the rain and the tunnel mouth had the usual exhaust fumes shrouding its dark depths. We chugged through and only met one boat coming the otherway. I always think to myself what if this is a widebeam that aint arranged a passage, But no. twas a tug style Nb and we hailed each others darks shapes on the tillers as we passed.
     
    No space at the top of Stoke Bruerne so we dropped 2 locks and tied up to cook the breakfast we had missed for the tunnel. The full works except for my black pudding which had been taken over by mico organisms turning it an interesting bluey black colour....Its my fault for it being hidden at the far end of the fridge.
     
    Seeing the state of the sky and the prospect of further wet clothes we decided to set up the Sky Dish and close up for the day.
    Nora settled down to watch Hollyoaks and I for some strange reason fell asleep for the next 2 hours....
     
    For the evening meal we patroned the Boat Restaurant....An excellent meal of Wild mushrooms and fillet steak for Nora and Crayfish and Red Mullet for me.
     
    We skipped pudding and had a pint outside while watching an Alvechurch boat and a Bromley Youth Trust boat negotiate the top lock.
     
    Marstons Pedigree was very good.
    Weather report shows rather promising for tomorrow
     
    our mooring for tonight
     

     
     
    The centre duck was the only one to take bread from Nora's fingers
     

  14. saltysplash

    exiting Otterham creek

    By 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  15. saltysplash

    Paddington Cruise

    By saltysplash,

    Set off Monday afternoon from Iver intending to stop overnight at bulls bridge Tesco. We had been up and about all day after getting home from work at 8 that morning but somehow we seem to have got past the tired stage and were in our second or third wind.
    Rather a tad more ice on the Slough Arm than i had expected but it eventualy cleared as we approached packet boat marina and the junction. We turned right onto the main line and chugged the three or so miles to bulls bridge where we stopped alongside tesco and did our 'big' shop. By 9pm we were knocking out the zeds after being awake for just over 29 hours.
     
    Slept for 12 hours inspite of the delivery lorries at tesco trying to wake us and after a hearty big boys breakfast we reversed back upto the junction and headed off up the Paddington Branch. The weather was excellant but only saw a couple of other boats on the move so we had the canal to ourselves apart form the joggers and dog walkers. Highlight of the run for Nora was going over the North Circular Road Aquaduct. Despite all the floating carrier bags and coal bags that we saw we were lucky not to pick anything up on the prop so no visits to the weed hatch which is nice.
     
    Arrived at Little Venice just around four and Nora was very dissopointed at the lack of gondolars and so by half four we had tied up at the far end of paddington basin.There was only one boat on the visitor pontoon and then a third arrived after us.
    Steak supper on board then a couple of DVD's later saw us again snooring our heads off beofre 11pm.
     
    Wednesday and i was up and about before 9 but Nora didnt appear till after 11 so I nipped down to paddington Station and got the newspapers then we untied and headed off to have a look at london zoo. Maida vale tunnel, Nora's first ever tunnel was negotiated and we crept round the dark walls of St Johns Wood hearing traffic and sirens but seeing non till we emerged out alongside the pillar'd houses of various ambassadors and along Regents Park.
     
    Its a shame that London Zoo still havent arranged visitor moorings on their side like other canalside attractions have done or we wuldve tied up and paid some of our hard earned into their survival fund in the form of entry tickets so we turned round at cumberland basin and headed off back to paddington basin arriving in time for me to have 40 winks and Nora to catch up on her 'ER' DVD.
     
    That night we treated ourselves to dinner at some pasta place which was very nice and a couple of sherberts in the bar by the BWB boat.
    Back on board and a few more sherberts and Nora, for some strange reason kept going on about marriage and that because its a leap year i have to marry her...so that was agreed upon....No date set yet.
     
    Thurday morning and i suddenly wake at 9.30am thinking OMG we have to get back today. Then i tried to stand up and realised i was still squiffy from last night.
     
    Coffee was obtained, also supplies i would need for my lone vigil at the stern inc bottled water and plenty of fag papers and i set off. Nora still snuggled up in bed.
    The wind had got up quite strong and was howling along the basin but i managed to turn her and head back towards bulls bridge. By the time we arrived at Alperton the effects of the night before had just about eased off but i was hungry so i tied up outside Sainsburys and attacked their hot food counter coming away with a couple of chicken legs and thighs and an all day breakfast slice...smashing......Nora still in bed.
     
    She finally appeared just before the junction so i was provided with hot coffee and a packet of ready made ciggies as by now my fingers were too cold to be able to roll properly and the wind kept blowing the tobacco out of the paper even before id had a chance to attempt rolling.
     
    3 short miles back to the slough arm and then the rain came so I decked myself out in my Drisabone coat and hat and was described by Nora as looking like the murderer out of a film called 'i know what you did last summer' Never seen it, and i guess i never will.
     
    Finally managed to get Lady Elgar back alongside but had a few probs with moving Herbie, Our Neighbour boat, as the wind kept pushing her back while Nora was trying to push her out so we could slip inside of her.
     
    All in all another excellant trip. well worth the visit and a couple of nights at paddington.
     
    a couple of pics
     
     
    North Circular Aquaduct
     

     
    Somewhere near Alperton i think
     

     
    Maida Hill Tunnel
     

     
    Cumberland Basin
     

     
    Entrance to London Zoo by Waterbus
     

     
    Snowdens Aviary
     

     
    Yours truly
     

     
    Leaving Regents Park into St Johns Wood
     

     
    Paddington Basin by night
     

     

  16. saltysplash

    Slug speed

    By saltysplash,

    What is the differece between slug speed and snail speed? Are slugs faster because they dont carry a shell on their backs?
     
     
    Today saw us awake at just before midday thanks to our evening with Kath and Neil in Goring......mmmmmmm sleeeeep. So when Nora got up amnd asked the time and she said quarter to 12. I said...."no its not" she said " yes it is" I said "no its not" and so we continued for a couple of mins but yes it was indeed nearly midday and we had 8 hours cruising ahead of us if we were to meet Bones and Maffi at Abingdon for our BBQ.
     
    within 20 mins we were ready to cast off but i needee my morning movement before all could take place, just as I entered the Big Boys Room, Nora informed me that she had flushed a Wasp down into the cassette.......Great thinks I, Im gonna sit on the throne and suddenly feel a stinging sensation in regions best left to the imagination. As it happens all was well and not trace of a pooh wasp.
     
     
     
    Again the flow of the river was decidedly strong causing us, at times to struggle to maintain 2mph on the narrow bits. We were also delayed at one lock thanks to two narroboats tying up opposite each other instead of idian file thereby filling the lock with their presence, Admitadly I thought the lockie would sheperded them better but he didnt, so, so be it.....that lock took 50 mins by the time we exited.......Time on boats is only ever important if your running to meet a deadline.....the knock on effect of that lock however, was that we arrived at the next lock 2 mins after the lockie had knocked off for the day. So, anyone who has ever worked a Thames lock on their own without any Power assistance will know that by you have have turned the Wheel 3 million times to raise the paddles, then another 3 million to open the gate and another 3 milion the close the paddles ect ect ect, its no longer fun...so that lock took us half an hour.
     
    We finally arrived alongside the infamous 'Milli M' at 8pm. Maffi had already let us know that the barbi was lit. I find it quite bizarre that folk who have never met before and only seen each others writen words can sit down together and enjoy an evening as if they had been chums for years.
     
     
    We have both enjoyed our evening with Bones and Maffi very much and I thank them for providing us with an excellent meal in the excellent surroundings of abingdon.
     
    To Bones and Maffi I say you have converted us to Waitrose Burgers, and I just wish our time to get to know each other had been longer.
     
     
    I know Im still on slow speed with the connection but im going to post some pics anyway while I finish my bacardi and coke and a lst ciggie before bed
     

     

     
    Lady Elgar and Milli M
     

     

     

  17. saltysplash

    safely home

    By saltysplash,

    And so we arrived back at Iver yesterday afternoon after 9 days cruising up to the Wendover Arm and back.
     
    Came across a couple of Forum members on the trip, Magnetman at Lady Capels lock and Chris JW up on the tring summit. Pity we didnt have time to stop proper to say hello but was very nice putting faces and boats to members names.
     
    Nora soon got into working the locks with gusto and with very few errors, except one or two that i should really mention. I always have a little smile as i see her approach the lock and mentally run through the procedure in her head, even to looking ahead if the lock is against us to see if any boats are approaching. One of my favourite moments was when we heading back down towards Hemel, she jumped off and went to the lock which was set against us, with one of the bottom gates open. She duly closed the gate and then to my surprise began to open the bottom paddle!! After a couple of seconds the light bulb above her head suddenly came on and she dropped the bottom paddle and returned to the top gates to do commence filling. As i chugged into the lock her cheeky grin showed she knew what i was going to say and she said " i was just testing to make sure the paddle worked"
     
    She did sometimes take saftey to the extreme such as when filling an empty lock she still waited before the lock was half full before opening the gate paddles
     
    I was no better on occaisions, Normally when working the locks i tend to put the nose in and Nora decamps off the bow. i then float around mid channel till the lock is ready. Saves holding her into the bank and faffing with ropes. Made a complete pigs ear of it at winkwell lock though going up towards the swing bridge. Nora off the bow as usual and me concentrating more on rolling an oily rag and not noticing drifting forward towards the bywash and emptying lock. Bywash catches the bow and Lady Elgar is off on a dance of her own swinging happily towards the moored boats with me making embarrassing reverse and forward manouvers with the engine in an attempt to control the swing, avaid boats and get myself lined up again...and light the fag.
     
    All part of growing up and being British.
     
    The weather those last 9 days has been absolutly lovely and it was quite a surprise that there was so little traffic around. Not 1 lock did we have the pleasure of sharing till we approached cowroast then shared with a very nice couple who had been down to the smoke and enjoyed a bit of police action around camden lock area when they swooped en masse on a gathering of youths.
     
    At the last lock we shared with them they let us go first as they were going to stop and do some more cleaning. There was a boat waiting to come down. Nora had already established that they wanted both gates left open as they didnt wish to scratch their paintwork so it was quite a surprise that as exited the steerer decided she was going to go into the lock before our 2nd boat had exited.. how strange.
     
    Once at Cowroast we topped up with water and deposited our elsen and then paid quick visit to the marina chandlery. Needed some stove paint to cover the fire cementing i had done earlier, some more elsen blue and Nora wanted a longer shafted windlass with rotating handle as by now her fairy liquid hands were beguining to suffer.
     
    We then plodded on towards bulbourne intending either (depending on the time) to tie up at bulbourne and visit the Junction arms or turn left on to the Wendover Arm. I favoured the latter as the last time i had done this arm was in a small Microplus 2 berth GRP boat with a 6hp 2 stroke evinrude way back in the early 80's.
     
    It was just as narrow as i recall but what a lovely little waterway it is. Nora was very concerned that we would get to the end and have to pull LE all the way back but i kept maintaining..."the book says it can be done" not really knowing if i trusted the book or not. Finally chugged past Tringford pumping station and onto the newly restored section round to little tring farm where we turned in the full length windly windly hole and moored up for the night and BBQ.
     
    BTW after all the debate as to winding holes being pronounced one way or another i have decided to call them 'Windly (as in weather) Windly (as in clocks) Holes.
     

     

     

     
    The Lovely Wendover Arm
     
    Anyone remember the days of having to push the heavy Winkwell swing bridge open by hand and then having to turn that wheel a thousand times to close it? Well since mechanisation the Bridge was again suffering electrical problems and the Waterways had restricted its use to certain times so monday saw us arrive at the Bridge at 11am and wait till Midday for the Waterways chaps to come along and do the buisiness.
     

     
    No problems getting through as the BWB chaps arrived well on time and worked the bridge for us. A lady and a young girl in life jackets then came running up the towpath towards the bridge. Apparantly they were the advance party of a boat that had got delayed and werehopingto pursuade the BWB chaps to keep the bridge working pending their boats arrival otherwise the next working woulnt be till 4 oclock.
     
    All in all an excellent first trip for us both. Nora had acouple of attempts at steering but she isnt too happy and maybe a few more go's will give her a little more confidence
    We ate well in the Coy Carp at Coppermill lock and also at The Swan and Bottle just below Uxbridge Lock. The boat performed very well as did the engine although i will be changing the oil and filters now we are back. Filled up with fuel at Harefield and found we had only used 43 litres in 8 days. Not bad at all.
    The Paloma is still dripping so thats my first job today when Nora finally gets up...Bit of a late session last night.
     
    Other jobs now we are safely back are to clean and reseal the Classic stove in the BMC and then attenpt to light it...Am told they are not as easy as the Morso.
    Sort out the Sky dish on a suitable pole and properly secure the telly on the shelf.
    Make further attempts to clean the roof and cleanout the coal locker and vactan the rust as recommended in the survey....think also the gas locker is in need of that as well.
     
    some pics of the journey
     

     

     

     

     

  18. saltysplash

    Emblem

    By 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
  19. saltysplash
    Ive been sitting here contemplating as one does and my eyes were drawn to the shelf infront of me.
     
    At Easter Swmbo's mum bought us both a chocolate thingy each from M&S
     
    Swmbo's was a choci Sheep and mine was a Choci Tractor.
     
    Not being a great sweet eater its been on the shelf waiting for me to attack it one night whie suffering the munchies.
     
    However, I see someone has got there before me.......please note the wrapping and the total lack of the chocolate chimney that once stood so proud.
     
    me thinks its time to round up the usual suspect
     

     
     
    <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZNxpt024YYGB%2526i%253D10%252F10%255F8%255F11%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_8_11.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D10%252F10_8_11/image.gif"></a>
  20. saltysplash

    Snail Speed

    By saltysplash,

    No photo's tonight as we only have snail speed connection which kinda matches our snail speed while under way.
     
    We had probably the quietest ever night at Henley, you know, its so quiet that you cant hear anything at all except the noise from your ears.
     
    We woke to spanking sunshine and clear blue sky, By 8am the Henley rowers where out and about practising for next week's ladies Regatta and the Cox's were being rather vociferous....Typical small person syndrome lol.
     
    We Cast off and got under way by 9.30 am hoping to make Goring for the evening stop. River flow's were still causing us problems, sometimes managing 3mph other times dropping right down to 1.8 on the narrows. The river was quiet again untill we approached Shiplake lock and two boats hove into view behind us who were obviously stemming the flow better than ourselves...One was a Thames widebeam cruiser and the other a narrowboat, I presume the Narrowboats are either giving it full wellie on the engines (which im not prepared to do) or they have larger props suitable for river cruising.
     
    We enterd Shiplake lock first and were joined alongside by a Nb (Mention no names). No drama in the lock, and we intended to pull over on the left to take on water and empty the toilet cassette. Due to our starter problem I said to the chap on the Nb that he may like to go first, He said that there were stopping for the pump out in any case....I went below on the opening of the gates and Lady Elgar kicked into life with the magic wire on the first go. I returned topside to see the Nb already out of the lock. We followed them to the Pump out and Water point mooring. The Nb promptly pulled in alongside the Pump out and I expected them to pull back to allow us to use the water point.....no such luck. He secured his tail rope and she secured her rope at the front.....she then walked upto the water hose and fed it back the 30' to their boat....so they obviously intended to pump out and fill up at the smae time, knowing full well that we also required water and couldve done this while they pumped out. Never mind, we plodded on as there was insufficient room in front of them for us....I wasnt overly bothered but it did seem to annoy Nora......Its just uncivil thats all......By comparison......we approached the Tesco mooring at reading and every space was full apart from a very tight gap I thought i might be able to slide into on the very end....Full marks to the Chap and lady inboard NB Cygent who came outside and pulled their boat back to give us full length on the mooring. Civil an decent...dont take much does it.
     
     
    We eventually spent a couple of hours at Reading, While shopping at Tesco I put the Genny on and we did some washing while wandering round the store. Upon our return the wash cycle was just finishing and we turned round and took on 54.5 litres of Diesel at Reading marina also water and empty the elsen.
     
    We then made all haste for Goring which should only have been 3 hours away.
     
    We texted Neil and Kath our neighbours at Iver on Herbie that our ETA at Goring was appx 7pm, well, 7pm came and went and we eventually ariived and were met on the tow path at 8pm.....Neil and Kath had already done a recce on the moorings and found all the ones below the lock taken but he guided us into a nice little spot alittle way back with two trees placed perfectly for our bow and strn lines. The four of us then wandered into Goring and plonked ourselves in the first pub where 3 ales on pump attracted our attention.
     
    We had a really smashing evening and were really please that they met us but as always the evening went too quick.
     
    Tomorrow will hopefully see us in Abingdon and a rendevous with Bones and Maffi, Ill pm then after this to make sure all is as planned.
     
     
    As an aside, we shared a lock with some young folk on a Thames hireboat...The two chaps were dressed up in naval getout. The chap in the admiral hat told me that he lived in a little village alongside the kennet and Avon Canal, he said that LE was the best looking canal boat he had ever seen......Makes ya kinda proud of your home.
  21. saltysplash

    Weather

    By saltysplash,

    Its currently 4.30am and its been lashing it down since i retired to my berth at 1am
     
    Not looking good for the Thames circle if this rain continues. We have the option of turning left at The junction and heading north on the Grand Onion and then making a descision to do the circle when we get to braunston, The down side to that is, if we do head down to oxford and the rain returns we will be hard pushed to get back to base using the long route.
     
    There are other circles such as the leicester ring but again the river Soar could be in flood.
     
     
    Am I just paniking for no reason.....still 6 days before we cast off!!
     
     
    managed to get a new TV from Comet yesterday so that was one job off the list, however, I also went armed with my battery for my video camera and upon showing it to each shop assistant it was met with a sucking of teeth and a definate NO, not one that old.......The camera was bought in 2003!!!!!!
     
    They did at least suggest I try maplins or Jessups so they are on the list tomorrow......when i eventually get up that is if I manage to get any sleep!
     
     
    Please stop raining.......Nora wants to visit Hampton Court
  22. saltysplash

    Ignoramuses

    By 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:-
     

     

     

  23. saltysplash

    Make and Model

    By 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
     

     

     

     

     

  24. saltysplash

    Finally onboard

    By 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.
  25. saltysplash

    The Beatles

    By saltysplash,

    Day 13+14
     
    YESTERDAY saw us moored at Braunston and no phone signal and no Web an Walk signal for the first time this trip so no post was possible.
     
    We cast off from Fenny Compton and negotiated the lovely summit level of the Oxford winding around the hills and farms. Saw loads of young lambs and hundreds of tiny Moorhen chicks all along the level.
    Finally Napton windmill came into view in the distance and we started the descent at Marston Doles. Ive always enjoyed doing the Napton flight, the locks fill and empty pretty quick and its got lovely open views. We passed one or two boats coming up and there were about 2 boats following behind us.
     
    Still playing catch up on our sched, we didnt stop at the Folly but plodded on towards Braunston passing the new marina at Wigrams. I also noticed a boat builder had vanished since my last vist....or so i think, Im sure there was a boat builder not far after the bottom lock and before Napton Narrowboats, as we came under the bridge where I remembered it being, there was just a collection of demolished buildings. Perhaps I dreamed it all.
     
    Approaching Braunston We passed the sad sight of Forum member Carlt's boats Usk and Lucy. We really hope he manages to find someone who can rescue them even if its a hard standing place, before BW run off with their remains.
     
    Braunston certainly hadn't seen much change since my last visit unless I go back of course to the days of Ladyline in the Marina. Long lines of moored boats and no space. We eventually found a gap just before the Union Canal Carrier moorings but as I tied up I noticed that the bollards had Wheelchair symbols on the top of them, so I guess they were for disabled moorers, however no signd confirmed this but we wernt happy. We took a walk up the locks to the Admiral Nelson and saw a couple of spaces suitable in the pounds between other boats. Ive never been keen on mooring in pounds for obvious reasons but thats preferable to being pointed at for taking up disabled moorings.
     
    We eventually tied up between Locks 3+4 and after a shower and a rum an coke livener we mooched over to the Admiral Nelson to try and improve on the night before's meal. We needn't've tried. Just by looking at the menu it was obvious that everything was cooked fresh and all home prepared. Also, Adnams Bombadier and a couple of Ales which I cant remember the brewer....one ale was called Doombar and was very smooth and hoppy.
     
    laura chose the local butchers Sirloin on the bone and I had their allegedly famous Cod and Chips. All was fantastic. The batter on the Cod just flaked off and not a smudge of grease to be seen on the plate. Laura's steak was just sooooo tender......Well recomend the place if you wish to eat out in Braunston.
     
     
    This morning saw us both up and about by 9am and by the time I had prepared the engine for start up and took down the Satelite pole one boat had already gone up the locks, I saw movement at the lock below us and thought oh goody, maybe we could share with these. As I held Lady Elgar in the side, One of their crew walked past and asked if we were going up and would we care to share the locks.....smashing...is the pope etc etc.
     
    Our companions for these 3 locks were on a Black Prince Boat but the boat name escapes me. It turns out that as they approached the bottom lock, the boat that had just gone up ahead of us was in the lock and our Black Prince chums asked if they could share the locks, The private boat owners declined stating they were in a hurry!!!!!! there was only 2 of them and 4 of our BP friends. They were in such a hurry that they didnt even bother to close the top gates
     
    Their loss was our gain and what lovely people these 4 were. They were a day early on their reconning and had decided to go up the flight and go through the tunnel and then wind and go back again as they were not due back at Napton till tomorrow....lol..my kinda adventurers
     
    Lauras first ever Tunnel then appeared and to say she was excited was an understatement. The landslide from last year still blocks the apprach a bit but once lined up we could see the approch of atleast 2 boats coming towards us.
     

     

     
    The first boat we passed was actually towing another boat which explained all the clanging noises I could hear as we approached as it bounced from side to side in the tow boats wake. We eventually passed 5 boats in all without incident.
     

     

     
    At Norton Junction we teamed up with Narrowboat DJANGO for the descent of the Buckby flight. A lovely couple who where heading down to London after having wintered on the LLangollan.
     
    They stopped at Whilton for the chandlery and we waved goodbye.....if they ever read this then I hope you manage to get onto the Thames eventually.
     
    We finally came to a stop just past bugbrooke following a provsion stop at Weedon. We have the smell of a chicken Tikka simmering in the pan at the moment mmmmmmmm
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