Monday 30 August 2021
We left the IWA Festival of Water at 1630 to meet our allocated spot at Bilford Top Lock at 1700. Locking down these and Gregory’s Mill locks proved no problem and we moored for the night at Lowesmoor visitor moorings. We then went for a meal at the Blackpole Inn. We only went there because our hostillary of choice, The White Hart was closed on Mondays, Bank Holiday and all. Rough and ready place but vey good rump steaks and chips. Suepercrew left us after dinner to return to Grand-parenting duties in the morning.
On return to the boat I discovered the starboard navigation light was hanging loose. Investigation showed that there had been a short circuit where the cables went through boat cabin plating and heat had melted the plastic to release the fixings. I opened out the hole, fitted new tails with crimped connectors, selected washer to allow the existing screws to be reused but failing light prevented me finishing the job.
1 mile 4 locks 1 hour
Tuesday 31 August 2021 crew Eeyore and the Best Mate
We had things to do and people to see. First we let go to move on to Lowesmoor Basin (Worcester Marina) for a very necessary PUMP OUT. We backed in and moored close enough for their very long pump pipe to reach the fitment at the rear port side of Sonflower. We took on water while the very friendly operator did the business. Nb Morning Mist was taking on diesel and I watched her attempt the starboard turn out of the basin. It was unsucessful and Kate Saffin, a very experienced boat woman, had to retreat and use the winding hole opposite to effect the turn. I learned from her mistake! We paid up and left, empty at the stern and full at the front. We attempted to moor on bollards just past George Street Bridge No5 but it was too shallow. I really think moorings should be deep enough to moor at! We moved on a little further to moor again this time on two rings and a pin. Leaving Sonflower again to get back to the car at Lowesmoor visitor moorings for return to home for the Best Mate’s hospital appointment.
1 mile 2locks 2 hours
Wednesday 1 September 2021 crew Eeyore and Piglet
We returned to take Sonflower ontothe Severn. the forst thing was rhe discovery that a suspected dodgy float switch for the bilge pump was in fact a failed float switch. The bilge pump had been failed in the on position and switch controlled form the distribution board but now it was to tally non operational. I rigged up another small pump that I keep for emergencies with a longer discharge hose and leant on tothe engine bay to position it. My brand new Samsung S21 phone slid out of my pocket into the bilge! Responding to my cries Piglet bravely got down in his best jeans and retrieved it. After wiping it off it still worked! But it has a notification that moisture was detected in the usb port and charging was to be discouraged. The phone spent the night in a bowl of rice and it is now ok! Samsung claim that it can be immersed for 30 minutes. I have only tested it to about 3 and did not intend to test it at all.
We then proceeded to Diglis locks 2 ans 1. Between them nb Get Knotted opened the bottom paddles while We had the top ones opened to fill the lock in our favour thus almost emptying the inter connecting pound. All was retirived quickly and w locked onto teh Severn with a Star Cruises hire boat that had very boisterous children. I advised the crew to put life preservers on them. “Yes we have got some on board” one of teh maternal crew members said. They took no action to actually get the children to wear them!
So onto the Severn and an overnight mooring on the Ci ty Council moorings at the Racecourse, Sabrina Bridge. £4.00 Pay and Display. We went to PaulPry pub which was recommended by Get Knotted. The kitchen was closed. We went to Turkey, The Best Kebab house and were very satisfied coming home with a box of surplus doner meat!
1 mile, 4 locks 2 hours
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