Back in Banbury with diesel bug!

About a week ago the engine was difficult to start, ran lumpy and smoked. We moved up the lock after getting water and found a space near Toolies. They were not open till Noon when we asked for an engineer. He came late afternoon and checked the heater plugs which were OK. We will have to wait till Monday before he could check out the diesel supply.

So we find ourselves in a situation we do not like, a loss of freedom. Need to chill out in Banbury. We went for a walk round the park where there are signs of activity. A fair was arriving, as it is to be the Banbury Show on Sunday. Crowds of people turned up walked round and back out. At least it was a warm sunny day for the summer event. We had a look and saw that the arena was setup for a dog show to happen soon. After walking round the stalls we were told that the next event was not the dogs. Then it got cloudy and cold so we decided to leave. On the way out we saw Del n All on Derwent 6 and had a quick chat before returning to the boat.

John the engineer arrived late in the morning. The water trap was full of water and brown gunge. The diesel filter was also contaminated. It is the dreaded diesel bug. The system was last checked back in October and was OK then. Our last top up was at Sovereign in Banbury a week ago. Anti bug treatment has been put in the tank and now we wait 72 hours for that to kill the bugs. The ‘fuel set’ that we use regularly does not kill the bugs. Now that we cannot use the engine we have been offered a landline for power. Later we will get the tank cleaned out and the diesel ‘polished’.

What a Wonderful Weekend

The Queen’s Golden Jubilee event. The whole nation is cheered up with jubilation and celebration. We remember the ‘Silver’ when our road was decorated. Tables and chairs came out and we got to know our neighbours.

What a marvelous sight it was to see all the boats on the Thames.

Apparently it rained on the Coronation day but that was soon forgotten.

So many people turned out to celebrate despite the weather and they put their heart and souls into their performances. That alone will be remembered.

Are we, as a nation, so in love with our Queen because she is? We have such distrust of changing politics that we look to the Queen for stability. 

                                          Our thanks to Carol for the pictures.

While at Banbury

Got water at Cropredy, moved on to Banbury and got diesel then stopped in the middle of town. After a snack lunch we set off to the shops. Our ‘to do list’ included eye & ear tests, getting finance advice and a visit to the chiropractor. Spec Savers did the eyes and ears for nothing, a good service there then. “Just need reading glasses now.” The bank offered a current account with interest and other cash back offer ‘carrots’. Keep an eye on your investments because after about a year they may not be paying as much interest as you started with! ISA’s are all very well so long as they remain better than other accounts. Then on to the Chiro who checked us both, causing our joints to click as they were realigned. Ann had got a bit out of shape when falling in the water.

The day got hot again and we almost wilted when we got back to the boat. The public seems to lack respect here and one boater had his generator going all-day and evening! By 8.30 pm we had had enough and moved on down the lock to get away. Our intended mooring was full so we stopped short just before bridge 168 near Morrisons. Industry both sides and trees for shade are preferable to that public. But the birds in the tree above us are leaving their marks on the boat!

Now that we are this far south we tried to get a signal from the south. BBC Oxford was found but several channels were missing! The trees prevent our use of the sky that at least has all the channels when you get a signal. We have moved away from Banbury and now get all the channels from Oxford!

Other things missing are several pictures on our website. “I know why and am very busy trying to find them.” There are hundreds of them and I have found many typing errors in the code! The problem only shows up when going on line, which is how you do it after all. When I test the html pages locally on the computer all is fine! Seems that upper / lower case file names are the problem. Thanks to Sue on No Problem who warned me about that problem some time ago. Just need the time to sort it!

OK tis a feeble attempt but we do celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. 

Oh boy, hot, hot, hot

We moved slowly to Fenny Compton before it got hot. The Wharf Inn has a tap outside so we took on water. Then we noticed a Launderette. The Inn also has a small shop inside which sells milk, bread and other items useful for boaters and the campsite. Much of our winter kit, clothes and bedding, have now been washed, dried and packed away. “We do of course have our own washing machine but the big commercial unit took it all in one go for £6.”

The five locks at Claydon are open between 10 and 5 each day. We got there to join a queue of two going down. Several boats were on the way up, which made for an easy trip. There are a further three to get down to Cropredy but with no other boats it took longer. Four hours travelling is enough for us so we settled for the first set of ‘visitor moorings’. “Not ideal with a soft edge and rocks below!” BW issued a ‘Customer Service Standards’ document a few years back but as yet have not been able to achieve it. Perhaps C & R T will refer to it for guidance. It is unreasonable to assign a visitor mooring where a boat cannot stop without problems.

After relaxing over a late lunch we were able to move on to better mooring when a few boats had moved away.

We walked down to the local Spar shop for provisions. We are sad to report that the Post Office at Cropredy has closed. The next is at Banbury.

Napton locks

Next stop for us is near the bottom lock at Napton. During the afternoon we walked up the hill past a few locks. One top gate had been left open and because the bottom gate was leaking the pound level was very low. When we shut the gate the lock emptied quickly! The shop near the bottom lock is worth a look. They sell canal ware, provisions, books, cards, stamps, sausages from the local butcher and even Calor Gas! Apparently the Folly Inn does food now and is so good you may need to book a table.

As we approached the bottom lock a volunteer was opening it. So I just carried on in after Ann had jumped off. The volunteer told me that the pumps were already pushing water back up to the top. He also mentioned that he read this blog. There was a boat going up in front and several behind us heading up.

 Just as many boats coming down made for an easy trip with locks being ready for us to enter. The restrictions are less severe now with only the top two locks at Marston Doles being locked at night.

“When you get to the top you see a TV transmitter mast in the distance.” The canal twists and turns so much that you loose sight of the mast that is near the moorings we are heading for. Although the water level is normal it is still quite shallow and slow going. “Keep to the middle or you may get stuck on the bends.” There are some protest signs against the High Speed Rail Link that may pass over the canal near bridge 128. That is near the mast and the moorings.

Back in the water

It was after the weekend that the boat got pushed back down the slope. It is on top of two four wheeled trollies one at each end that run on rails. Once on the move the boat entered the water stern first, going in quite deep till buoyancy lifted it off. Then we got on, started the engine and moved away to a mooring. We stayed a while in Braunston waiting for post and doing some shopping.

The number 10 Stagecoach takes us to Daventry every hour but it does not follow the old Geoffrey Amos route. When returning to Braunston get off at the Marina or Church because it goes on to Barby heading for Rugby. It does not pass by the Boathouse!

While we stayed in Braunston I monitored the output from that solar panel fitted by ‘Solarafloat’. Over a period of four days not moving the average output was just over 4 amps. The maximum in sunshine was 8.7 amps. During those four days we had one sunny day. We did not run the engine on that sunny day. For the other 3 cloudy days the engine was run for just over an hour. It is certainly capable of keeping the fridge and radio going most of the day. The only problem is the lack of hot water when not running the engine! 

Other pieces of roof furniture is this ‘Parosol’ base from Argos, just the thing to hang the aerials on and our flower boxes made by a friend at Market Drayton.

Oh my was that a struggle getting this new 'improved' blog editor to do what I want!!

Getting a blacking

 We finally got to Braunston after a Tesco delivery at Willoughby. Quite a bit of room for more boats and we found a space near Butchers bridge. Several boats are going up and down the locks. Next day we moved on to Braunston Boats at the bottom lock and waited. A boat is still on the slipway but is not yet ready to go back in the water. Recent rain delayed progress with the painting. We have made preparations by putting loose and breakable items safely on the floor.

While we wait Mike Allen came to check our boat over for its third Boat Safety Examination. After many visual checks and a thorough test of the gas system we were given a pass.

The boat got pulled out a day later than planned and was immediately pressure washed in the morning. A very thorough clean which took at least an hour. Justin recommended that we have it painted with International ‘Intertuf’ which is compatible but a bit thicker than the standard bitumen blacking. Thankfully the sun came out to dry the boat off so painting started in the afternoon.

I looked at the colour bands at the back and realized they needed a make over. Encouraged by sunshine I donned my work clothes, gathered tools and set about scraping loose paint and rust off. Then it rained. “Don’t know if I am happy or sad now!” The sun came out the next day so I managed to get the first coat of colour paint on. The next day after a light rubbing down the second coat went on. “Now I am happy.” Justin applied the second coat of blacking.

Over the weekend while the boat stayed out of the water we sampled the local public houses. Much has changed over the years and the Mill House became the Boathouse under new management. While The Old Plough kept its name it had recently changed hands. We had often enjoyed the family atmosphere at the Plough and found the Mill House too crowded.

We went to the Boathouse on Saturday with our friends Terry n Myra and really enjoyed a good variety of food with the offer of two meals for one! In reality we ended up paying a normal amount for each meal! On our way out we had a chat with Bob n Jane who were also eating there. I have to say that when we went to the Plough on Sunday we were disappointed with the food and the place has become quite run down. We sat out side with our friends Dave n Lyn and Molly under the table among the long grass.

Progress

It is almost unbelievable that we have moved over 80 lock miles in 5 days passing many of our usual stops. After Fradley our stops were at Alvercote, Atherstone, Hawkesbury, Hillmorton and Willoughby. As you can imagine we are wacked and resting a while. The weather was variable but we pushed on regardless. Ann took the helm for a while most days.

The flight of locks at Atherstone were climbed in the dry with only the last three locks being ‘taken’ by no less than three boats coming down. “Send the lock takers back to Coventry!” A local lock keeper is no longer in attendance to control the use of those locks.

As we approached the locks at Hillmorton a boat came out and promptly turned round in front of us. The temporary lock keeper just let the boater go back up! There are twin locks here but one is shut to save water. “No comment”. One of the middle pounds was very low because apparently a boater had left a paddle up! There was no keeper at the top lock to control boats going down. Boats were still passing through ‘after hours’.

We consumed our ‘mucky duck’ eggs while on the journey.

On a mission

I got back to Ann, Molly and the boat at the end of April. On my journey back by train I saw that the river Cherwell was in flood all over the fields. Once at Great Haywood we saw that the river Trent was also well up and flowing fast. So nature balances out to provide our average water supply. As a Nation we do not seem to save enough of it when it comes in a rush. Modern houses do not have hot or cold water tanks these days. Running the hot tap takes time before the water gets hot! On the boat we have to carry all our water in a tank usually at the front. Another tank near the back contains water heated by the engine, which provides almost instant hot water at the tap.

We had previously arranged to get to Braunston for boat blacking in plenty of time. But because I was obliged to take a week off it is now just doable with some long trips. George n Carol on Rock n Roll has joined us and also needed to get a move on. The first moving day was wet but we achieved twice our average distance by getting to Fradley. We all dried out and had dinner at the Mucky Duck.

George n Carol had planned to get down on the river Nene but now it is closed to navigation due to flood conditions. With no need to rush about they have decided not to continue their journey south. There are many reports on the boater’s blogs about the difficult conditions on the rivers at this time. The Environment Agency is advising boaters to stay put for at least a week. We left Rock n Roll behind to continue our journey south. After two long days we have got to Atherstone.

Somewhere different

I have moved down south to stay a while in Gosport with my brother.  Ann is looking after herself, Molly and the boat.



















This is a Victorian Post box outside Gosport Station.  Queen Victoria passed this way when travelling to the Isle of Wight.  I first saw it in the 1960's.

 














Went across Portsmouth Harbour on the Gosport Ferry to see the Victory.
















The Spinnaker Tower as seen from Gun Wharf in Portsmouth.

A lot of military land has been opened up to the public since I haunted this part of the world!

It all happened at Great Haywood

We moved on all the way to Tixall Wide in sunshine then it rained!  We found a space amongst the boats and stayed the night while the wind blew.  We had appointments with the Hygienist and Dentist so went in to find a mooring OK.  My Doctor wants me to get a blood test but the surgery won’t do it without seeing him so I make plans to go ‘home’.

A large Union flag was flying above a boat called Plum.  Dave and his wife sell and fit Solar panels from the boat.  “Solar Afloat” can be found at www . solarafloat . co . uk.  They provide a range of regulators and make and fit their own mounting kits.  We were impressed with a demonstration on Plum.  Our two panels are just about working but really need replacing after 6 years of use.  I have convinced myself that they are good for the batteries when the sun shines.  The new panels are more efficient and cheaper these days and can supply more than just a ‘trickle charge’.  Unfortunately it has rained most days so the framework cannot yet be screwed and glued to the roof.

It was while we were getting water and diesel when Ann fell in the canal!  She had the rope in hand and wrapped round a bollard when it slipped off.  The boat was still moving and pulled her in.  I ran to the front to help her out but could not do it.  We both shouted for help.  Two men came from somewhere to pull her out and secured the boat as it was drifting away in the breeze!  Ann got on the boat, handed me the wet phone and went in for a hot shower.  I put the kettle on for a warming cup of tea.  I quickly took the phone apart to dry off.  Back off, battery and sim card out and all available apertures open.  The camera lens was misty so not much hope for survival after drowning.

One of the men was from the boat yard and proceeded to fill our diesel tank at 89p/l allowing a declaration of 0% because we planned to stay a while.  Ann has recovered well after that hot shower and a full set of dry clothes.  She rinsed out her mouth before drinking the tea.  She has a few bruises.  We are now back out at Tixall Wide.

We will be going into Stafford to sort the phone out and for Chas to catch the train on Monday.

We have moved on

Ann came back to me on the boat. I planned to provide the dinner after we both went shopping for supplies. On the way back we spotted our friends on Day Dreamer from Market Drayton. They were getting their diesel tank filled and on their way back home. Continuing back to our boat we passed Jandai. Sorry we did not make contact but time was against us and we were hungry. It is one of those times when things do not work out.

In the morning we cut off all the roots and moved the boat backwards through the lock to get water. Then it was full steam ahead to move down the Shroppie, turn left at the end and finally stop after five hours. It was while we were on our way when we got a message from Vanessa back at Wheaton Aston wondering where we were! “Just bad timing again!”

Our first journey together again was mainly in sunshine but ended at Moat House Bridge on the Staff. n Worc. The clouds had gathered, the air turned cold and it had started to rain. We stayed there a day while it continued to rain all day. Time to catch up with news from home, deal with a mountain of post and place an order with Tesco.

We continued to Gaily next day to receive the delivery. The location triggered memories of our long stay here when we had been stuck in ice with Rock n Roll and Seyella. These were the same two boats with Carol, George, Margaret and Geoff who we had spent this winter with.

Next move was to Penkridge where we celebrated Ann’s birthday.

Breakfast in bed while opening all those cards.

Then it was off to The Boat for lunch.

Easter week

I have been walking round a field with Molly getting her to run after sticks. I think about what my web site should look like. Then I have to learn how to tell the computer how to display what I want. The idea came in a flash but changing the code will take a while. Is it a sort of translation of intelligence? After it had rained on another day I was out again when some bloke told me to get off the field. The field is for livestock and I should have Molly on a lead and keep to the path.

It was wet and windy on Wednesday so we did not go out till late afternoon. Needless to say we walked to the next bridge along the towpath. No cyclists, fishermen or farmers to spoil the walk. The boat is hanging on to the ropes sheltered partly by a tall hedge. I had to wash the side after the storm because it was covered in green stuff off the hedge. The trees were loosing twigs and branches. Some trees elsewhere were being blown across the canal.

The Holy Day approaches and the queues at the lock grow to two or three. All unknown to me and no friendly faces! Such a shame that the weather changed so they all have to wrap up to explore the waterways.

Latest news is that the waterways have nearly been privatized to become the ‘Canal and River Trust’ with charitable status. So lets all look forward to seeing green shoots of prosperity after we have celebrated Easter.

Bits and pieces

We took the bus to Stafford to collect the train tickets.

It was wonderful to walk through the park from the station to the shops. The gardens were so colourful.

The local pond has almost dried up here in the field where I go walkabout with Molly. Seems that the rivers are getting low as well. Thankfully, at the moment, the Shropshire Union canal is full.

Where ever you are make sure that the lock below you is shut with all the paddles closed. I keep notes in my diary when it rains. On average it has rained on 2 or 3 days each month since 2010. So perhaps we are using more water now? During that brief hot spell in March the temperature in the front cratch went from freezing to boiling in one day! A huge range that made the boat groan and creek as it cooled down in the evening.

Much time and effort is being spent updating and reformatting our web site. I have done most of the navigable Rivers and included the Weaver.

Don’t panic for fuel over Easter holy days. Celebrate the new life that spring brings us with an egg for breakfast.

The times they are a changing

We have been in the habit of waking at 6:30 cos it is so light. On that Sunday half an hour later it was 8 o’clock and the news was on the radio! It is sunny again just like yesterday when I sat outside for a while.

It got quite exciting seeing some rain at Malaysia while those cars chased each other round the track. I wonder how excited we would get if it rained here.

BW is asking boaters to save water by sharing locks and shutting gates and paddles. “Some hope.” They won’t stop bad behavior without lock keepers being on hand to control the situation. Sadly it’ll be too late when there is no water left!

We have found that it is no good getting upset trying to ‘educate’ the holidaymakers. Seems that we will just have to think ahead about where we go this summer. Keep stocked up incase we get stuck somewhere.

Meanwhile I am staying put near Wheaton Aston while Ann is away visiting the grand children. By the way the price of diesel was 78.9p/l and my tank soaked up 146 litres.

Towpath Talk, April

Our thanks to those who read it and told us it was a feature. Fame at last? Not an April Fool either. It can be found on page 93. When we passed Norbury Junction the shop did not have the April issue so we have not seen it. Sue read it out over the phone to us and Vanessa mentioned it on Facebook. I have it now as a pdf file so have seen it on the computer.

What am I talking about? The item in question is under the heading 'Towpath Blogspot'.

Repeat repeat

Have I lost it? Help required. Seeemmss II am am repeating. Sorry dear readers, need a long rest. See previous two postings.

Moving south

We got a Gold License this year at great expense so we could go on the River Thames and Wey. The lack of rain over winter is causing restrictions to navigation to save water use. These may affect our plans. Our route south will be on the Oxford canal and some reports indicate problems at the summit past Napton. I think locks will be open for limited times. The canal system has its own reservoirs but they are all nearly empty now.

It may seem strange that a hosepipe ban can save on water use. We can understand it because our tank takes less than half an hour to fill and can last us over a week! There is something to be said for travelling with friends who care and help each other. Now we are on our own other boaters seem distant. A boater left his boat at a water point to go shopping. Not a word to us when he saw that we were waiting!

We are making good progress heading south on the Shroppie with plenty of water north of Market Drayton. It was a bright sunny Saturday that we climbed up the Audlem flight of locks. Unfortunately we had lost contact with no mobile signals. Pointing our tv aerial south got a good signal from Birmingham so we just relaxed watching a program about the restoration of a working boat called ‘Dover’ now kept at Braunston.

After some rain we were obliged to move further up the Adderley flight and on towards Market Drayton on Sunday. When we got to Market Drayton we discovered that Les n Jaq on Valerie were not far away. After shopping we moved on to meet them both.

An evening on board Moore 2 Life followed and we played an enjoyable game of cards.

Next day after visiting the market Valerie continued north while we went south to Knighton. The canal cutting through Woodseaves is strewn with fresh rock falls and shallow. We scraped over some rocks under the surface!

BW is actively trying to cut back trees and vegetation through this cutting. Two sunny days later we had got to Gnosall!