TeeELL

Dear reader, I know you were looking forward to a report respite but unfortunately it is not to be. I attended my hospital appointment to have my blood tested and received a call later in the afternoon to say that my neutrofils where even lower than last week and therefore I couldn’t have the chemo. So yet more money thrown away on car rental, another day of cruising lost and now I have to ensure we reach a town with moorings and car rental next Monday!! Bu&&er!! So Mo and I returned to Batchworth today at 12.30 I was stepping on to the boat when, looking south down the canal, I saw 2 boats approaching and I just knew the first one was ‘ENGLAND’s DREAMING’ sure enough it was. Anne and Tony moored up and came and joined us for a banter and tea. Regrettably we were obliged to foreshorten the social intercourse as we had perishables in the car which was across the canal in the Tesco car park. In addition I needed to return the rental car in good time to get a lift back. So sincerest apologies to Anne and Tony for an all to brief get together – we had but a few minutes to talk Vulcans but have arranged to get together at Waddington Airshow next year. Having moved and loaded the boat I drove off to Watford to return the car and Mo went shopping. I returned just as she was unloading the shopping – amazing considering we had everything on board already. Now, I have mentioned that, since filling at Cowroast Marina, our engine has been very smoky – well when driving home from the hospital I called in at a Motor Factors and picked up an additive. I should have opened the stick down label as one bottle only treats 50lts of diesel! I’ll put it in tomorrow and see what happens. We escaped the magnetic grip of Tesco shortly after 4PM and pressed for Stocker’s lock, shortly after arriving as we entered the lock another boat arrived. The boat was in very tatty condition and the owner observed that he was so busy doing out other peoples boats that he had no time to do his own. He pointered out the the area to the east was where the ‘Black Beauty’ was filmed. In addition, having tild him we had come down from Walsall he explained that his boat had been built at Tipton. If, dear reader, you have read my ‘TeeELLs canal history’ you will know that NB ‘RICHMOND TOO’ features heavily in my cruises of the late 70’s, I had heard from the owner of Foxton Boat Co that the boat (now in private ownership) was based on the southern GU and we think we passed her today about halfway between Stocker’s lock and Springwell lock. Going to compare the photo with our originals but certainly there were many of the features I remember – it might be a coincidence - we will see. (Foolishly I didn’t take a note of her reg no! We finally moored by ‘The Horse and Barge’ pub just below the Widewater lock – if you want a cosy, friendly and character-full pub DON’T go to this one!! Thus, dear reader we conclude a part day on our cruise. Although the weather forecast for tomorrow is none too clever we plan an early start to get into London. ‘Till tomorrow I bid you good night. I’ve just checked and have ‘no notches’ on my phone – so I’ll be posting this tomorrow (Thurs) as soon as I have a good signal!! Yoda, I must apologise for failing to contact you, I'm afraid that one thing I'm guilty of is forgetfullness, indeed I had to check my PMs as I posted this report - sure enough yours is there AND I've previously read it, so no excuse. Once again sorry, I've failed to achieve a mini 'banter' with you and offer 'ELEMIAH' hospitality - I hope we will have an opportunity to correct my shortcoming.

Hiya reader, you will be pleased to learn that there will be a short break from travel reports. But here is the latest: Mon 8th Sep. We really decided to go for an early start as we planned to press on a fair distance and to your surprise (and ours) we were off the moorings before nine. As we entered Cassio Br lock I noticed a boat approaching so we opened the other gate and waited for them to join us. We progressed down through the lock and cruised slowly to Common Moor lock – which was in our favour because one of the top gates was open BUT the woman at the locks chose to ignore us (and the horn) and proceeded to ‘steal’ the lock!! So a hearty thanks to the NB ‘DESTINY’. We continued in company with the other boat (name of which escapes me) to Batchworth locks. We had to stop for a water top-up and then down for the essential shopping that we forgot at the last Tesco stop! A bit off topic: I took on fuel at Cowroast Marina earlier in the week – might have been yesterday – whatever!! Anyway, I have found the engine to be very smoky since so I’ll treat the fuel/engine to some RedeX to see if things improve. On another issue I’ve had the mains ‘fail’ on me twice during the journey, on both occasions it was in the morning. Resetting the inverter worked the first time but failed impressively on the subsequent occasion. Having never encountered this before I couldn’t work out the cause, but in one of those all too rare ‘flash of inspiration’ moments I realised that the failure tied in with our running the Morso Squirrel during the night. A 240V Squirrel I hear you ask? No dear reader, but it is a back boiler model and I have a 240V central heating pump (should that be 230V in this day and age?). So, the pump is sucking rather a lot of energy out of the domestic batteries – particularly if it has been a short engine running day. I’ll be on the interweb identifying a more electrically economical pump. (From all I’ve heard/read 12V pumps have a working life that is as long as it takes to open the box and fit it!!!!).

I don't beleive Yoda meant anything by it - I certainly accept that it was an aside to my 'off topic' point about blokes in particular not liking to take their ailments to the doctors, look where it got me!!

Good day dear reader and welcome to the next gripping instalment of ‘ELEMIAH’s cruise. You will be pleased to hear that there is only, just less than, 7 weeks of this utter drivel to put up with!! But, I hear you cry, we want more (always been prone to exaggeration!) so: “are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin” …………. You may have noticed that the weather was a bit wet last night and we spent part of the night listening to the rain drumming down on our steel roof. Fortunately it had finished by the time we started our ‘early start’. You’ve probably realised by now that our interpretation of an early start is flexible to say the least and this morning was no exception 09.45 we cast off.. I’m not going to list times at locks etc – even though I know it is your favourite part – but shortly after exiting Aspley lock I saw a boat called ‘BLUE PEARL’ I have recollections of a thread on CWF mentioning such a boat. As we passed by I scanned the windows for a CWDF sticker and, sure enough, there was one. I will now digress for a moment upon this topic – I would firstly not wish denigrate the efforts made to produce the stickers – but boy are they difficult to spot! Perhaps we might consider something more visually striking as an addition for the future. We moored a little way down from ‘BLUE PEARL’ as a lunch stop. Post lunch we moved off moorings at 14.25, nothing untoward happened and Mo and I shared locking/driving duties – there are some really difficult to open gates on this stretch of the GU, not helped by the rain water causing the levels to exceed the capabilities of the locks. As we reached ‘Red Lion’ lock the lock mooring was obscured by one of those 14ft ‘things’. It had its bow rope tied on to the farthest away lock bollard but the width made getting into the moorings all but impossible – so Mo held alongside the ‘thing’. Musing, I wondered how long it will be before the ‘Roses and Castles’ found on some of these boats will be supplemented with panels declaring them to ‘belong’ to FMC, Samuel Barlow’s or Thos’ Claytons fleets? When we set off at lunch time we realised that our water supply was low (well nearly empty actually) so we noted that water was available at the next lock. Unfortunately another boat beat us to it so we continued to Nash Mills lock, having arrived we were descending in the lock before I finally found the water point. For those of you, like us, not in the know, the water point is adjacent to the top lock gates and requires you to stop on the lock moorings to fill up. Well we had missed it so we realised we had a fair old slog to get to the next tap at Cassio Bridge lock. It took us the best part of 45mins to negotiate Iron Bridge lock, it’s reputation as a slow filler was enhanced by the extra high levels of water in the pound above, the waterfall over the bottom gate effectively prevented the lock level reaching the level of the upper pound – it took the efforts of 5 people to finally open the gate against the water level. Whilst still light when we topped up dusk was rapidly approaching, we decided enough was enough and reversed a couple of hundred yards to a spot next to Br 168 (a bit farther away from the railway bridge) to moor for the night. Supper was home made garlic and rosemary potato wedges with pork chop, peas and carrots washed down with a Pinot Grigio German Reisling. Tomorrow will be a shortish day as we nedd, once again, to find a car rental place so I can return to hospital in the hope that my platelets and neutrofils have built up to an acceptable level for the chemo – so it is fingers crossed and Uxbridge here we come!! PS. Photobucket still refuses to upload the photos from the other day. I will get to grips with it in a couple of days!

Sat 6 Sep. We are two weeks into our trip and it is safe to say that we are behind any schedule we planned to make – but the luxury is – it doesn’t matter!! Not too much to report today. We travelled as far as Bridge 144 near ‘Top Side’ lock. Decided on an early start although it was nearly nine thirty before we had got our act together. After Seabrook bottom lock we caught up with another boat and shared locks for a while. The guy on this other boat was on his second ever trip and ‘knew everything’ - not that that phased Mo, fortunately they stopped at a pub and we continued on our way. At mid-day we caught up with a ‘day-boat’ and spent many locks teaching them driving and locking techniques – all very successful and they were very appreciative. They turned down the Wendover arm. About half one we reached Cowroast Marina and took onboard 80 ltrs of fuel with showers threatening we pressed on with no further incidents or boats to share locks with. So dear reader I regret that I can offer you no more an exciting read than that today. Tomorrow sees us through Hemel Hempstead and Abbots Langley and possibly Croxley Green. Just remembered – planned to ‘spot’ ‘WILHAMINA’ but didn’t see her. I've failed dismally to get Photobucket to upload the photos I promised yesterday. However, for the benefit of Anne and Tony on 'ENGLANDS DREAMING' here is a photo of me doing a roller landing in a Vulcan at RAF Brawdy:

G’day peeps, Now I know you are on the edge of your seats waiting for the next instalment of our adventures and, until late this afternoon I was racking by brain cell to think of something to write, so here goes: Fri 5 Sep. Like much of the UK the morning was grey and uninviting with rain threatening and we finally made an effort and shoved off just before 10AM. We did Leighton lock at half ten and surprise, surprise stopped at Tescos Leighton Buzzard to top-up our larder (more of the nuts Alan likes – just in case…..). Having shopped (including getting a chrome shoot bolt for £2.59 instead of £6.30 that the chandlery wanted) we moved to the water point to top up – it doesn’t get any more exciting does it? !!! It was just after 2PM when we got going again (which is more that this tale is doing – I know, I know!). 14.40 saw us at Grove lock, 15.05 at Church lock and 16.10 at Slapton lock all these passed by with no incident (and nobody to share the locks with.) We passed through Horton lock, with Mo driving and me locking and then Ivinghoe bottom lock. I walked on to Ivinhoe top lock No 33 and set the lock. I opened the gate expecting ‘ELEMIAH’ to appear at any moment, at any moment I said at ANY MOMENT!!!! Well, when I walked down under the bridge to see what the hold-up was, the boat was stuck against the opposite bank with a very ominous cloncking noise whenever the boat was put in gear. Mo was desparately trying to get the boat sorted out was with no significant response from forward or reverse gear. Back at the lock another boat was waiting to come down so I explained the situation and suggested they take the lock whilst I helped Mo sort out ‘ELEMIAH’. I found a way through a field of sheep and, when I reached the boat found Mo using the stern thrusters to get off the bank. By and by we managed to get the stern across to the towpath and, using the centre rope, finally managed to get the boat along side. By ‘finally’ I mean it took considerable time and effort: we had the wind against us so that the stern was on the towpath side but the nose was against the offside, we had the flow from the emptying lock against us followed by the flow induced by a boat coming up the lock behind us. We felt very amateurish with the boat stuck across the cut. However, we got sorted and moored up before either boat arrived. (I have to say that the boat coming down had offered to wind and tow us to a suitable mooring point). Once again Mo braved the weed hatch (let me explain why Mo rather than me is doing the weed hatch – firstly, and most importantly, my resistance to infection is very low due to the chemo and secondly post op my stomach is rather distended and makes the contortions required to access our weed hatch challenging to say the least). Afte4r a few minuted Mo found a rope wrapped around the prop, black polypropylene “ the sort we use for the fenders” she said (a quick count revealed all ours present and correct) a moment later out came rope plus fender together with assorted bits of fabric and plastic. All in all, it took us the best part of an hour to rescue the boat and sort out the problem. We decided that enough was enough and, when we got to Ivinghoe Br no 123 we moored up for the night. Supper this evening, beef stew followed by lemon tart. Anne, I would think our paths will cross around about Monday - based upon our present progress. All - I have some phots to post for today but we are out in the sticks and my internet connection is increadibly slow - so I'll try tomorrow near Berkhamstead. 'Nite all

What ho dear reader, not much to report for the last 2 days. The Tues/Wed hospital run was, unfortunately, a waste of time as I was not able to have the chemo so we have to repeat the car rental and ‘home run’ again next week . Anyway, having dropped off the rental car we returned to the boat and decided to move a ways, as much to charge the batteries as anything (they had been powering the mains fridge for some 20 hours.) We cruised for an hour and a half, through Fenny Stratford lock and moored for the night just beyond Br 97. Thur 4 Sep. With the rain pouring down we had no incentive to move and so we stayed put until 10.55 when the rain abated. We cruised on to the Willow Bridge boat yard to look around the chandlers for some chrome curtain rod – no luck (we probably wouldn’t have been able to afford it if they had!!). We reached Stoke Hammond lock at 1215 with rain once again, some quite heavy. Half an hour later we reached Soulbury three locks with the rain really pelting down – we moored at the top and went back to the pub for a Guinness and lunch during which time the heavens really opened and we watched the hire boats braving the locks for their run home. It was 3PM before we moved off, planning to due an essential shop in Leighton Buzzard. WRONG!!! half an hour later we moored just beyond Br 109 as huge black clouds threatened with thunder and lightning, we were safely inside when the downpour hit. We nearly continued on our way at 5PM but, with more dark clouds approaching, decided to call it a day. And that as they say is that, in one and a bit days we have covered about half a days cruising. Good night for now. PS. We are in regular contact with 'ENGLANDS DREAMING' and hope to intercept sometime over the weekend.

After some discussion we are agreed that the tunnel shot is indeed the eastern end of Braunston tunnel. Well the bad news is that I cannot have my chemo as my bloods havn't recovered! So that means another car rental trip next week ho hum. Medical note. I have one recommendation: Blokes especially: If your bowel movement become irregular or different don't delay as I did go see your doctor. If I had, then I would have had one Op and no chemo, instead I delayed and 'IT' spread. Sorry

OK I've found the 'where are we' site it is: www.waterexplorer.co.uk

Firstly the nuts: they are Rosemary and Sea Salt mixed nuts from ............. you guessed it Tesco's. Now as promised a few photos from the journey so far: In my text on spagetti junction I mentioned the variety of transport (in terms of bridges) that exist over the canal. This shot is just a little too late to show the old road bridge but you can see a railway bridge in the distance and, of course, the motorways above. A sporting young lady. You wouldn't want this sofa wrapped around your prop - one of many 'interesting' items along the Coventry arm Just to show that the K&A isn't the only canal with unusual boats, I include this example!! 'ELEMIAH' on a wash day!! A close up so you can check out the washing. Sorry, I did edit the photo to rotate it 90deg but it has been lost in the translation. We had to reflect upon this photo to determine which way was up. Forum member Sue 1946 posing outside the boat. Our 3 forum visitors - Sue, Alan and Cath. We will be back on-board tomorrow (Wed) and continuing our meander south - although we may get stopped in our tracks at Cowley lock (see stoppages for details). I have also joined the 'where we are' thingy that you can find through Maffi's Blog. I've forgotten the URL and I'm not on my home PC to look it up!! I'll find it later and post. 'Till the next time

Anne, look out for 'ELEMIAH' (oxford blue with cream). We will be heading your way come thurs.

Mon 1st Sep 2008. Apart from moving 100 yards to ‘more secure’ moorings we have made no progress on our journey – but then we have achieved our plan. We had a very slow start to the day and went across to the ‘Peartree Pub’ for a very nice carvery lunch. After that we rode our new fold-up bikes to the Car Rental place – just to see how far it was and to determine if it was a viable option for tomorrow morning – so we have booked a taxi!! Had a ‘mini banter’ this afternoon with Sue1946 and about an hour later the Finchers arrived. We held the ‘banter’ on ELEMIAH and I am fingers crossed that we entertained to an appropriate level. We may see the Finchers later in the week as we get closer to their patch. That is it for now, I will post some photos over the next couple of days.

Please accept my apologies if I don't appear to reply to some posts. Sue, Mo wanten 'Revelation' to win. I complete the days log on word before coming on-line and cutting and pasting the text. As follows: Sunday 31 Aug 2008 and a week’s cruising completed, only 7 or 8 to go!! The morning broke bright and clear was misty, in fact so misty it was not possible to see further than about 3 boats ahead – it certainly wasn’t possible to see the locks. Dipped the fuel tank which revealed that we had used a bit less than a third of a tank after 28 engine hours (seems a little excessive). Having topped up the water tank we moved to the lock and, with the assistance of the lock keeper started the descent out of Stoke Bruerne. At the second lock we ‘caught-up’ another boat and completed the remainder of the flight together. We stopped at the sanitation point at the bottom of the flight having taken 1hr 15min to complete the decent. With the weather forecast suggesting thunder and rain developing in the afternoon we pressed on for MK. Shortly after moving off again the rain started – the first rain of any significance we have had since starting our cruise. It eased off by the time we reached Cosgrove lock. Can we commend to you visiting the little boaters stall set-up by the lock – it is run by an enterprising young lad with a selection of sensible bits and pieces. (The solar charged ‘bug zapper’ he sells comes very highly recommended and is available in black or chrome finish). He is there on Saturdays and Sundays. As we pushed on to Wolverton we recognised nothing from our journey of 30 years ago – not surprising really. We stopped at Br71 not because we can’t pass a Tesco’s without stopping but because we needed provisions – really, honest. Having dragged the entire contents of the supermarket back to the boat (thank goodness for wheeled bags) we moved off again at 14.35 for the final leg of the journey – just an hour away. Well actually nearly 3 hrs away as it turned out and boy have they built a lot of additional bridges. We arrived at Peartree bridge at 17.15 mooring just before the bridge – just as well as the carvery seemed a little lively but, more importantly, because the boats on the mooring rings beyond the bridge had spaced out to leave about 40’ between themselves! Ho hum. Planning to leave the boat in the marina whilst I am off for my chemo. Once again I’ve managed to write more than I anticipated after such an inconsequential journey!

Thanks for those tips - I will get on to it forthwith.

Sat Aug 30th. A slow start to the day with a check of the engine and a dose of Huggies to absorb the little bit of water in the bilges. So we moved off moorings at 10.25 for a relatively short cruise to Stoke Bruerne. If, dear reader, you have followed any of my ‘TeeELLs Canal history’ you will know that 30 years ago Mo and I did some of this journey on hire boat ‘RICHMOND TOO’ out of Foxton. Well we spent most of the present journey trying to recognise any part of the canal. It was, finally, Gayton Junction when I recognised the water point where I had quite impressed myself with my boat handling of 30 years ago – ever modest!! There are so many changes with new marinas lining the canal although the state of the towpath is better than it was. On reflection we decided that 30 years of tree growth over the canal may be one marked change. No Kingfishers seen today. We reached Blisworth tunnel at 13.25 and it took 40 mins to get through, the eastern end of the tunnel was particularly smokey and the exit of light remained obscured from view for quite some time. Passed 4 boats with one hire boat having to use a LED torch as their tunnel light had failed shortly after they entered the tunnel. To our surprise and delight moorings were available and we tied up at 14.15. With such wonderful sunny weather it will come as no surprise that the place was full of gongoozlers, the pubs were full so we hit our stocks. Spent the afternoon making the boat look a little smarter by touching up the areas our paintwork where the cream colour had flaked off. For the first time this trip the TV aerial went up so Mo could watch some choirs singing. We also made a break for the pub for our evening meal. Off to Milton Keynes and we are planning to stop at Peartree Bridge, which is near the MK marina (hoping to put the boat in there for a couple of days). We will be meeting Sue1946 and any other forum member who is in the area. There is a pub nearby but the boat is also a suitable venue. That is all for now folks. (I didn’t expect this report to be quite so long given that little really happened today!) Just to confirm - NB 'ELEMIAH' plus crew will be arriving at Peartree Bridge Milton Keynes at some time tomorrow (Sunday) we will be remaing until Thurs morning when we continue our journey to London. Happy to attend/host mini banter Sun, Mon or Wed evenings. Very much hope to see other forum members - other than Cheshire Rose and Postcode we've not encountered anyone else thus far

A quick tech question directed at anyone with knowledge of ‘modern’ diesel engines in general and Barrus Shire (Yanmar) 45’s in particular. We have been out cruising for a week now and the engine has developed the following symptom: Running at about 1400RPM the engine will increase revs by 100RPM for a moment or two before returning and this happens every 2-5 mins particularly once the engine has been running for an hour or so. I have some ideas as to the cause but do not profess to be an engineer so advice would be welcome particularly if I should be looking for a Barrus qualified mechanic do some engineering stuff to the donk.My internet access is limited as I'm out cruising so may not be able to respond to any questions readily. Thanks

Fri 29 Aug 2008 OK,no point pretending we didn’t plan an early start and sticking to that plan we didn’t achieve an early start! It was nearly 10 before we cast off to continue our adventure. There were a fair few boats around through the first part of the morning, many of them ‘ROSE’ boats running for home. We made Braunston Turn at 11.10 stopping for water some 15mins later. Whilst I waited for the tank to fill Mo walked off to the first lock. Tank full I continued towards the locks and reached the first lock at midday. We locked up with NB ‘BRIGHT EYES’ brand new ‘live aboards’ having collected the boat the previous day. It took us a fairly leisurely hour fifteen to work up the flight and we left the other boat as we decided to stop for lunch. At 14.25 we resumed the cruise donning waterproofs in anticipation of a wet journey through Braunston tunnel the transit through the tunnel took 25mins and we encountered 3 boats in the opposite direction but no soaking, in fact the tunnel was remarkably dry until about 50 feet from the exit when a solitary ‘shower’ wet along the centreline of the boat. We had entered the tunnel in sunshine but exited it to an overcast sky. For the next 35 mins to Norton Jn we cruised with not a single boat to be seen or passed. Of course this didn’t bode well for the Buckby flight and, sure enough there were no boats to share the locks and boy are there some heavy lock gates to operate!! Bye and bye we gradually caught up with a boat ahead and, indeed, there was a boat behind us so we worked a couple of locks slowly and set the paddles for the boat behind so with 3 locks to go they were able to join us. Fate dealt a hand and, as a consequence of this boat meeting, Mo and I have an appointment in Islington to help with some fund raising Sunday week!! At the bottom of the locks a glance at the map showed that both motorway and railway sat either side of the canal for some distanced. The noise of the traffic and Mr Branson’s high speed trains proved that we would have to cruise for about an hour and a half to find somewhere peaceful. At 19.35 we moored just beyond ‘The Narrow Boat’ pub in Weedon Bec. Supper was sausages in onion gravy with garlic mashed potatoes, carrots and peas washed down with more of the Merlot. Looking at the map suggests we have 2 days fairly gentle cruising to Milton Keynes so we might try and stop at Stoke Bruerne Sat night and make MK for Sunday. We are having a mini banter with Sue1946 although whether it is Sun, Mon or Wed I’m not sure yet. If anyone is about MK please come and join us.

Before I start today’s report I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to all the forum members who have PM’d me with offers of transport to hospital. In addition we look forward to meeting those forum members who have indicated that they will see us at or near lock flights etc. Thurs 28th Aug and our plan is an early start with a long push to get beyond Braunston tunnel. The early start was a little delayed aqnd it was just shy of nine o’clock before we shoved off on our days journey. The North Oxford canal is rather featureless in terms of ‘participation’ and gently flows through Midland farm land for the most part. What was most disheartening was the rubbish in one particular area around and beyond Br 19 – and, realistically, it can only be boater’s rubbish! Black bin bags strewn over the footpath their contents spilling out, Boxes of Carlesberg and the empty tins etc. Worse still were the black bin bag decorations in the bushes and trees of the off side, humanity…… We passed ROSE NARROWBOATS late morning and passed through Newbold tunnel at 1PM. Whilst I remember – for you orthinologists! we saw our second Knigfisher of the cruise. At half One we declared a stop and moored on the outskirts of Rugby. Mo started cleaning the side of the boat we hadn’t done and I went to Tesco’s for stuff we had forgotten the day before plus Guinness and more bottles of red wine. It was just before 3PM when we moved off having completed the wash down and now we had the added interest of some locks to look forward to. Travelling out of Rugby and past Brownsover and Clifton it seemed that these towns had nothing of an industrial past to ‘interest’ the canal builders. We didn’t seem to pass any sleazy old industrial areas or semi-derelict housing estates, in fact we seemed to pass seamlessly back into the country side. At last we reached Hillmorton locks, and a change – neither of us had encountered the twin locks system before, a group of youngsters on 3 boats were coming down so Mo had some assistance with the gates and paddles and we completed the flight in 30mins. So, how come the top pair of locks are called lock 6 and lock 7? What have I missed? Once again our plan to press on fell apart and we decided to call it a day once we passed beyond the railway bridges on the outskirts of Hillmorton. S’funny but whenever we make a decision to stop either there are wall to wall narrowboats or the bank proves unsuitable – it was the bank so we pressed on until we reached an area of canal with pilings to moor to. The area is next to Barby Hill about 3 miles north of Braunston Turn. However, the footpath was on the right side to enable the recently washed side of the boat to be polished, so out came the Mer. Several boats have also moored nearby. Dinner was Beef Stefado and rice with ‘Yellow Tail’ Merlot to wash it down Mmmmmmm. Tomorrow should see us on the Grand Union but quite where we will stop is an unknown at the moment – as long as we make MK by early afternoon on Monday (but more likely Sun eve) that is all that matters. Once we start off again next Thur morning I will try and give a best guess as to our plan so any available forum members can come and ensure our booze supply doesn’t ‘go off’!!

Wednesday morning – already!! We have no particular plan for today and will make a gentle cruise towards Rugby. Our first priority is to replenish the wine cellar, can’t have forum members complaining that ‘ELEMIAH’ is a dry boat!! So at half nine we moved off with Nuneaton in our sights. Now, those of you who have followed some of ‘ELEMIAH’s build will know that the paint-job was done by Valley Cruisers at Springwood Marina. What you may not know is that the steel\is deteriorating from under the paint in a couple of places, so I thought I’d stop to see if there may be a negotiable ‘fix’. No such luck the Boss was not on site so we purchased 84litres of fuel and some gas (if any of you are travelling the Coventry canal – look out for the ‘work boat’ selling fuel, he is 8p/ltr cheaper. (Also saw red being sold for £1.60 later in the day). So £95 lighter we continued to Nuneaton arriving at 11.45. Nuneaton is a pleasant enough town and today was market day – mind you it was quite a trudge from bridge 20 – unfortunately, the convenience of a supermarket is not to be unless you walk even further through and out of town. So we bought a fair amount from the market and returned to the boat – foldable, wheeled shopping bags are a boon when you have a mile to walk with beer and wine (oh, and meat, veg etc). We left Nuneaton at half two still with no locks to break the day, we passed Marston Jn at 15.15 and arrived at Hawkesbury Jn a little over an hour later. We discovered, from some local boaters, that there was a Tescos on the arm to Coventry so off we went and I dropped Mo off at br 8. Whilst she went off to buy the essential Tesco’s Pale cream sherry – and other ‘stuff’ I continued on towards Coventry and the winding hole at br 6A. By 18.15 we had loaded the latest load of shopping (d’you know, I had no idea that Huggies weighed so much! Still, they should mop up the last of the water from the bilges very nicely. I couldn’t remember which brand Bones had recommended, but the Huggies were on offer apparently). I must admit that I was starting to feel quite tired and my feet were tingling (thanks chemo!!) so I was looking forward to stopping at Hawkesbury Jn. But, surprise, surprise everyone else was of the same opinion and, as Maffi is at pains to point out, boaters seem to like their space so we ended up beyond the Jn adjacent to the electricity sub-station. Today then, our total for locking was one – Sutton stop. Our total so far 50. Anyone fancy a wager on the total number of locks we will have done before our return to Longwood?

Saturday the 23rd Aug 2008 at last! Having planned and pondered the holiday for the last 2 months, it is finally upon us. Not for us the queues in an airport just a gentle drive up to Walsall. Yeh right! Well we did actually start out just about on the planned time of 10.30 but, having packed and loaded the car, found all the essentials for doing jobs on the boat and sorted out last minute issues we were pretty uptight during the journey. Having made it safely to the boat we then had the task of further sorting out the stuff that was ‘required on trip’ and that which could be left in the boat locker. By now, those of you who have been in this situation will be sitting back ready for the ‘inevitable’ errors in decision making. Yes, we have indeed left behind stuff we need and bought stuff we don’t - ho hum! At 15.25 we finally left and worked through the first of the 2 Rushall flight locks. For those of you unsure as to the whereabouts of Longwood Boat Club, it is on the Daw End Branch of the Wryley and Essington – and it is a ‘remainder waterway’. Progress was slow due to the huge amounts of water lillies but, for the most part a gentle switch into reverse cured the problem. We worked our way down the ‘Ganzi 7’ and turned left at Rushall Junction on to the Thame Valley canal. Not the most salubrious of canals, there is much evidence of urban dumping, but we made steady progress. Our plan was to stop at the top of the Perry Barr flight, outside the BW sanitation station (I know, I know – but there really is little or no traffic on this canal, especially at this time of year!). Despite it being all but under a main road, this mooring proved both quiet and ‘safe’ being tucked away from casual eyes. Thus our first days cruising came to an end at 19.00hrs. (With 9 locks completed) Sunday morning was a grey and miserable day initially and we lacked any motivation to ‘get on’. However, by 10.00 the day was bright and sunny and we started our descent of the Perry Barr flight at 10.20 (just to teach us – another boat arrived moments before we caste off and started the flight ahead of us). After a couple of locks it became obvious that the boat had some problems and, although I was unable to make a practical contribution to their repair, I gave then a couple of leads to follow in order to resolve their issue (no reverse). Perry Barr proved uneventful and we exited the flight at 13.10 and headed on to the ‘Salford Jns’ under Spagetti Jn. I find it fascinating passing under the complex of roads and it is all too easy to miss the gradual development of transport systems, the old road bridges, the rail bridges and finally the motorways (not to mention the canal system). At this stage we were travelling at a very leisurely pace running at 1200 RPM which is little more than tickover, all well and good but this would come back and bit us slightly later on! We arrived at Minworth Top lock at 14.45 (I said we were taking it gently). Despite the state of the contents found in the canal on the way out of Birmingham we needed only occasional blips of reverse to clear the prop of plastic bags and other rubbish. At the Minworth bottom lock we encountered a chap and his son who helped us through the lock but he was involved in a money raising event for charity and we were ‘invited’ to stop at ‘The Boat’ Pub to partake in the various events. Sounds great you might think but events shaped up to to take the dge of the afternoon. I mentioned charity raising and Pub well that equals drinking and this chap had being doing sufficient of that to be full of ‘joi de vivre’ – you know the sort of thing ‘pass us your rope I’ll tie you up etc! It was just prior to the Pub where I made a mistake though! Dickens Bridge is a fairly ‘classic’ canal bridge and I had been distracted by our ‘helper’ – no excuse – when I realised I had made a real pigs ear of the approach. Application of power and rudder was ineffective and so was emergency reverse so in a very amateur fashion I whacked the bridge trashing a nav light etc. Having sorted out the disaster I realised that the prop was totally ineffective and so we moored outside the Pub and had lunch. So it was going to be a weedhatch job then! Now, I’m suffering the after effects of surgery and a chemo regime that has done nothing to reduce my appetite so my stomach is in no condition to cope with our particularly awkward weedhatch. Mo rather bravely offered to clear the problem – after about 40 minutes she finally succeeded in removing a stack of material and nylon sacking from around the prop and shaft. We pressed on rather than sampling the delights of ‘The Boat’s charity function!! We reached Curdworth top lock at 17.45 and we had hoped to moor near the ‘Dog and Doublet’ as there was a steak and ale pie with our names on it! No such luck, all the moorings were full and the pub was heaving so we descended the next lock and moored and had food on board. We shutdown at 19.35 with another 25 locks under our belts. Monday already! A shortish day cruising to Alvecote to meet some friends. Nearly an early start, we set off at 08.35 made it through Curdworth bottom lock at 09.10 and Fazeley Jn at 10.30. Glascote locks were quite busy but with boats travelling in both directions they proved easy and quick enough to negotiate. We arrived at Alvecote marina at 12.30; our friends popped over for a while and then we spent several hours washing ‘ELEMIAH’ and doing some much needed polishing (so now the boat is resplendent in one clean and polished side and one filthy side!!) Just before 19.00 my mobile rang – it was Cheshire Rose ‘where are you?’ says she. Well I started describing where the boat was ‘I know that’ she says ‘but where are you?’. Anyway, to cut a long story short, she and ‘Post code’ where sat across at the Samual Barlows Pub waving. Anyway, they came over and we had a very convivial evening sampling ‘ELEMIAH’s` stock of wine. We found out the love of ‘Chesh’s’ life – watch out Dan - steam powered narrowboats are her thing!!!!! Just 4 locks to add to our collection today. With a slightly thick head, Tuesday was another slow start day. We moved off moorings at 09.55. The plan to run the washing machine (already, I hear you cry) was thwarted by a lack of water so we cruised to Bradley Green Bridge and the water point. Arriving at Atherstone flight we joined a queue for the locks – not too many boats fortunately and a few coming down. It took us from 12.50 to 16.40 to negotiate the 11 locks, again a boat ahead of us broke down – it’s BMC engine oil feed had come undone so all the oil ended up in the bilges and the diesel filter was leaking (where is Bones when you need her with Pampers and a worldly experience of such mechanical events?). We pressed on for only a further 40 minutes before mooring and ‘gave up’ near br 34. Not a pub in sight. So I’ve just typed this lot out – remember the first paragraph – well I’ve just discovered that my software etc that I need to connect to the interweb via my Vodafone, is nowhere to be found, so I must search out a BT Openzone site at some stage tomorrow!! G’nite all. Wow, I've managed to get on-line through my Vodafone. I'll type up todays adventure and post it later.

One day to go!! My latest blast of chemo is having less of an effect on my hands and feet so I may be able to tackle the weed hatch if/when required. Tomorrow night will be spent moored at the BW facility at the top of the Perry Bar flight - not idea but relatively quiet and secure. Sunday night we plan to moor at the Dog and Doublet just beyond Minworth 'course it's a Bank Holiday so we may not get within 200 yards and I daresay there will be miles of fishermen to blast past. Monday night we are due to stop to meet with friends at the Samual Barlows marina at Alvecote after that we have 7 days to to get down to Milton Keynes to arrange a hire car to get over to Swindon Hospital for my next dose of chemo so that will be fairly leisurely (less than 5 days cruising according to Canalplan AC). So, if you see 'ELEMIAH' please give us a shout and, if we can, we will stop for a chat and a cuppa, if we are moored then stick your head round the door for a glass of wine.

Some of you may have noticed that I've not been making any contributions to the Forum for some time ("praise be" I hear you cry!!) Well, a diagnosis of cancer rather focussed my mind elsewhere and those who attended Moley's 50th at the beginning of the year will know that I made it to the party just 2 weeks after the second op. Anyway, moving on, I was scheduled for 6 sessions of 'wipeover chemo' - a sort of chemo insurance. Mo and I worked out the end date of the chemo and decided that starting our 10 week (yes 10 weeks ) cruise towards the end of August would allow me time to 'recover' from some of the side effects. Unfortunately, my Oncology Consultant had other ideas and on the day I though I would see the end to this episode she informed me that I'm supposed to be on a 12 (fortnightly) chemo protocol - that, of course meant I was only halfway through. Bang goes the cruise I thought. After some thought and extended perusal of Canalplan AC (on those occasions when it has been available) Mo and I decided that we would still go on with the cruise even though we are going to have to hire a car every 2 weeks in order to high-tail it back to Swindon for my chemo! So, where are we going? Starting at our boat club we will join the Birmingham and Fazely and then the Coventry Canal (aiming to visit some boating friends based near Tamworth). From Braunston Jn we will head east to join the Grand Union to Limehouse basin then back round to Brentford and on to the Thames. We then plan to cruise down to Bristol and return, then back on the Thames to Oxford and up the Oxford canal. (I daresay we will encounter Maffi and/or Bones at some stage). Once back in the Midlands we will see how the time is going and may head up to Llangollen as it will be October at this stage and things should have quietened down. As ever, if you see 'ELEMIAH' please give us a wave, or, if we are moored - stick your head round the door for a cup of tea or a glass of wine. I hope to keep things up to date on-line using BT Openzone.

I wonder how I cope!! My boat has nothing special by way of charging and batteries etc (160 Alternator and 5 domestic batteries), add to that the 3KVa Sterling inverter and the washing machine, the immersion heater, the fridge, TV, freeview box and DVD player etc and I'm clearly on the wrong side of the power available/power required curve!! However, I have adopted a few sensible 'rules': the cold fill washing machine has to accept warm/hot water from the calorifier circuit, the immersion heater has an electronic timer and both are only used when the engine is running. The TV etc are used in the evenings occasionally but the fridge is running all the time and doesn't get turned down at night. Thus far I have encountered no problems - mind you, the washing machine is only used once or twice a week and the immersion heater only to top up the water for a shower etc. I standby to hear that it is impossible

I just want to say, again, a big thank you to my fellow boaters who have offered assistance with the boat move. Whilst I have replied to each individually I though it appropriate to add the following note: As I have said, my plan is to move back to Longwood Jn and my mooring with Longwood Boat Club. However, with the dated of my chemotherapy confirmed I am reviewing my options. I remain determined to make a one or two day move prior to the chemo session on Fri 4th Apr, that will take me to a point near Dukes Cut (one day) or further up the Oxford canal (two days). I have determined that the remaining 5 days travelling would best be undertaken once I know how I will react to the Chemo - after all, if I'm as 'sick as a parrot' I will neither contribute too nor enjoy the experience of the journey. I am therefor now considering waiting until later in April to complete to move. As I said in my first post - please accept my apologies for the wooley dates (I know they are more 'shaggy dog' than wooley now!! ) So standby to standby and, once again, thanks for all the offers of help that have been PM'd to me. Gratefully yours Tony

Thanks for the PM's and thankyou Jill. Just an update; I now know that I have to receive my first dose of Chemo on friday 4th so my plans are already awry!! However, I am hoping to pre-position my boat earlier in the week, either at Eynsham on the Thames or somewhere on the Oxford. I'll give a more accurate update and plan later. PS. Does anyone know of somewher on the southern end of the Oxford where I can leave my boat safely for a couple of days?