Back in touch

Wow,it is good to be back in touch.


We were only away a few nights but he broadband WiFI at our hotel was so slow that we were not able to upoad the photps for the last post until we got back!

Apart from that, there was no signal for the mobile phones and it snowed which made it very unlikely that I was going to go out looking for some!

So away for a while should have read "electronically disconnected for a period!"

Away for a While

We are away for a weekend. But we are not with the boat.

However we cannot be far from water so we broke our journey to the weekend hotel and had a very leisurely lunch at The Navigation in Maesbury on the Montgomery Canal.

A very nice meal in a very nice spot with views of the snow topped mountains of Snowdonia in the distance.

Boating Tunes

Just spent an enjoyable evening at Banbury Folk Club in the company of Haddo a duo who live on their 60 ft narrowboat Midama in Wygrams Turn Marina.

They are Will Pound, a virtuoso harmonica player and melodianist, alongside his wife Nicki, who plays violin and viola. They have a debut album available now. We appear fortunate to have them in the area at the moment. Tomorrow they are in Newcastle! (It must be half term in Warwickshire!)They were supported this evening by the singer/songwriter Pete Joshua with his sublime guitar accompaniments.

I look forward to meeting them on the cut. They appear to be very busy people. Nicki teaches! I hope that they make time to do more than move their boat to Cropredy Marina when it is completed in the Sunmmer. Their tunes need to get about too.

Serviced!

Hours run since overhaul: 1050

Anything to report?
* Antifreeze needs topping up- it is only protected to -5degC 1 litre added, will need to drain a little if more is required
* Diesel leak at No 2 injector- not a surprise.

"The sweetest easiest BMC I have worked on. A dream to bleed and a good starter" "A bit of smoke at the start" said young Tom the marine engineer.

Hardly surprising either after a frosty night and no exercise for a month!


I am pretty pleased with that.

Well done SONFLOWER.

Service!

I got a bit mixed up. I wanted an engine service before the cruising season starts. I thought about mid March would be good. Unfortunately, the marine engineer is booked in for tomorrow. I easily get Feb and March mixed when the dates in both months match the days of the other one. You know what I mean! SO the engine will be serviced a month early.

I'll let you know how we get on.

Tooley's History

I have just listened to this audio file. It dates from about 2004 but gives a very interesting account of the position of Tooley's Yard, Banbury, Tom Rolt and the IWA in the scheme of things that make the canals what they are today.

Someone might be interested.

I think everybody should be!

Love is

.......not being so idiotic as to buy her a £50 bouquet of roses for Valentines Day so that a florist can buy champagne for his!

MOOR ABOUT MOORINGS

I was at an AWCC Regional Meeting last evening and was surprised by the contrast in opinion that the South East Mooring Consultation has distilled. Many are very much in favour of shorter times at popular mooring places but there are also very strong opinions that think the present system and arrangements are adequate if CRT use their powers of enforcement adequately. There is a contrast between the occasional visitors from the river clubs and those who are based in the canals in marinas too. The marina dwellers fear not being able to pop their bows out to go to a popular pub for lunch and back more than eight times a month!

Get YOUR opinion in! You have until the 1st of March.

I look forward to reading the responses in March.