Braunston to Stoke Bruerne

March 21/22

We left Braunston on Monday and headed East for 250 yd. 

We stopped outside the Stop House for breakfast at the Gongoozlers Cafe. 

Well one has to doesn't one? And who should be about to shut the door to keep the frosty morning air out, but Maffi. A quick rebuke suggesting he didn't want our company was rebutted and we settled down at tables adjacent to order the requisite perfect breakfast. The Gongoozler's breakfast includes black pudding which is not exactly to my liking but Maffi soon laid claim to it to put in his double bacon and egg baguette.

We had a lovely meal together and afterwards Maffi accompanied us up the locks, with Molly jumping on and off our boat as the mood took her. We were also accompanied by nb Darth Wader with Matt and wife, two punny residents of London Tattooie. 

Sadly we parted company at the top lock 

and Alex took over to navigate his first tunnel on the tiller. Only one boat came the other way but he did a very good job of steering the bat around the many twists and turns that this snakey tunnel offers. It was quite dry for a change.

We boated on and had different partners for the Buckby flight down to Whilton Marina. Here Sonflower enters the bottom lock with Alex on the tiller.

 

 Here I left the crew to boat on toward Gayton while I retrieved the car from Braunston. This was achieved and I was at Gayton by 5.15pm. A quick call to the Best Mate ascertained that the boat would not get to Gayton before dark and possibly would not make The Wharf Inn at Bugbrooke. Sonflower arrived in the dark.

We agreed to both aim for there and walking and boating we met at 7pm. This left only a few miles to do in the morning.

No ice to break at 6.15 am but frost in the ropes and the roof. After stoking up the fire we set off, the crew dozing and moored on Gayton 14 day visitor moorings. We went back home to fulfill a commitment and returned at lunch time to progress to the water point where we filled and washed the towpath side of the boat before cruising on. Our target was made before sunset this time and we moored on the visitor moorings below Stoke Bruerne locks, which we did on our own, at 5.30pm.

We settled in to eat a home cooked paella.

The fire roars away and we are all ready for bed!

18 miles, 19 locks, 20 hours

Ice Breaking

We awoke to a red sunrise after a chilly night. The fire was still alight but had not been fully effective at keeping our noses warm throughout the whole of what was probably our coldest night for some time.

We needed to get to Braunston to retrieve the car as we needed to be in Banbury this morning at ten. So we had to break ice! I don't like doing it but needs must.

We arrived in Braunston and found a spare length of 14 day mooring. Of course the rings in Brauston appear to have been put in haphazardly. Some are 10 ft apart and some are 40 ft apart. We happened to be next to two of the latter and the next ring is twenty feet from our bow and useless to us. So we are moored on the stern rope and centre rope. I do not like to use this but, once again, needs must! There is nowhere to drive a pin into on the concrete pileing cap of the GUC and no piling rail to clip to either.

We got back to Banbury in time for our appointment and then went to London to visit the Best Mate's mother. Another sucessful day.

But my nose is still cold!

The car is in for MoT tomorrow!

Braunston or Bust

We tried to do a bit of Car hopping today. We drove to Brauston with the plan to get back to the boat at The Wharf, Fenny Compton by public transport. Well we both have bus passes so why not? Traveline told us it could be done in 1.1/4hrs with two changes. We were delayed getting to Brauston by roadworks with temporary traffic lights jamming a roundabout up. The Best Mate needed a loo before the bus journeys so we pulled into the Marina and used the facilities at The Stop House. Then we parked in a layby near the church, as my choice of parking spot was full and we rejected the pub car park which was signed patrons only, and went to the bus stop to get the 0824 No 12 bus toward Rugby to change at Dunchurch. The bus was late. We watched a large group of nordic walkers park their cars in the pub car park so we could have put our car with theirs, no one would have noticed!

We got to Dunchurch in time to get the 63 bus to Southam only because it was also running late. But the 66 bus in Southam was on time and we could not get off the 63 because a lorry was parked on its bus stop. The bus could not get round it until the 66 bus had moved! "It happens", the driver said. We went to The Corner Cafe for a coffee, a bacon and egg bap and to use their facilities. They gave us the number of a taxi firm. We left a message on their answerphone and phoned another. This one rang me back and said it would cost £25-35 to get to Fennny Compton from Southam as they had to come from Leamington Spa. We rejected this offer and decided to wait the two hours for the next 66 bus. Then the first firm phoned back and said they could be there in 5 minutes. They were almost true to their word and a quarter of an hour later we were in Fenny Compton for a tenner and the good offices of a very courteous driver from Premier Cars.

The day's cruising was lovely and we had a reasonably good road. We didn't get to Braunston and moored just before Nimrod Bridge, No 108 at  sunset.

So bust!

The best mate produced a evening meal from the remains of a meal from The Raj Tandoori in Banbury on Saturday evening. It was delicious. We watched "The Firm" on DVD and snuggled down for the night.

Pottering

It is good to have the time and freedom just to potter.

Fenny Compton Marina were good to their word. They opened the Gas Enclosure exactly at 10am and we exchanged an empty 13g Propane for a full one. The chandlery is quite reasonable and we needed a chimney so I took advantage of it and bought a cheap one to get us by untul I can do a proper job on an insualted double skin with Twin copper bands and a red band too. I also invested in a cooley hat but  I couldn't get any brass chain to link it all together and stop it blowing off into the cut. Another thing for the list.

I stoked the fire, (alight all night I proudly say so I haven't lost the knack) and then the sealing rope fell off the door. The Best Mate reminded me that we had some of teh glue for that under the sonk with the sove blacking. So I got it out, opened the top and the brush stayed in the bottle with the hardened cement.

So I went back to the chandlery and purchased another 25 ml bottle of glue for £6.50! But there is no price on safety and poor seals mean the SILENT KILLER CO could escape during the sleeping hours. Too risky even with a new CO alarm (which I must get round to fitting sometime!)

Next job on the lost was to fix a tidy screen to hide the clothes hanging rail. Then a curtain rail for the shower room window. Htere was a sunny oeriod so I went round the windows with  Capt Tolley's Creeping Crack sealer becasue there is ecidence of water ingress from quite a few of them. (Jobs were flying by) A quick break for lunch and then next I turned my knees to the floor boards and laid carpet tiles on the shower room floor. Quite a lot of trimming and fitting was required and a few part ties were wasted before I got it all right to boith my and the Best Mate's satisfaction. It was not a particularly easy job.

Lots of gash wood from the moat now needs processing as firewood. All things to keeo us busy.

Now to relax.after a very satisfying day. A glass of Corbiere is in order. Or may be even two!

On our way: Banbury to Fenny Compton

I lit the fire as the first thing this morning. To do it I had to clear out an accumuation of soot and rust on the baffle plate that was bocking the chimney above.

We left Spiceball Long Term Mooring site beside Bridge 163 at 11 am today. As we were preparing to leave, sawing some gash pine for the fire, we met the crew of the passing nb Wren's Nest and told them our plans. They wished us well and said "keep up the blog".  So I am trying. As we left the mooring the crew of nb Athco were on the towpath waving us "goodbye". I told them we will be back but we don't know when and probably we will not be returning to the moorings.

Our aim today was to get to Fenny Compton and we arrived on the Wharf at Fenny Compton Marina at 4.15 pm. There was a sign in the office window inviting us to call for attention. I did but was told that they close at 4pm on Fridays and would be open again at 10am. Bill told us we were welcome to wait  on the wharf. We accepted his invitation and walked the quarter mike to The Wharf Inn where we had our evening meal.

It was a "good road" today: the only locks against us were Cropredy Lock (left with the top gate open) and Claydon Bottom Lock but here we left the top gate open (for an oncoming work boat, hired to CRT and crewed by volunteers). We had left Banbury under blue skies and with the sound of birdsong everywhere. We arrived in a snow shower. On the way we chatted to Malc and Dink at the White Cottage, the master of nb Sawdust, the master of nb Samara and many others that we have become familiar with.We love this part of the canal.

I watched buzzards wheeling over Little Bourton Lock and met a spinning angler who said he had thrown back a zander he had caught earlier. I was thoroughly at home on the tiller or lock beams and paddles again.

The Best Mate spent most of the time, outside of locks, tidying and cleaning to make the boat habitable once more after the winter of our neglect. I did do my bit, messing up the clean lounge carpet by chopping some pine sticks! And I did fit coconut matting to the back steps to try to keep the mud off the new floor. The bilge pump did not work so there is another thing on our chandlery list.

Exciting.

This afternoon I have to move the car to Fenny Compton in preparation for the great escape. The list of things to do gets bigger not smaller. I have added:

• "Take mooring permits off boat to return to CaRT" and 
• Remove "SONFLOWER" sign from the mooring.

Oh dear! That is scary and exciting at the same time! A sense of leaving and permanancy. Sonflower has been moored there since August 2005.

We have been happy there, in residence for some quite lengthy periods, and at other times we have cruised away for some time. But the furthest we have ever been is Middlewich. There is a lot of the country still to see.

Exciting.

But here is the sign ignomeniously dumped on the roof of the boat.

It served us well.

Varnish for all

A quick trip to B & Q today to find a few items of import. Firstly two brackets to secure the rail for the shower curtain to the roof lining. We looked at curtain rails, expanding rails, net curtain rails, hooks, eyes, shower curtain sets, shower hose and shower head support rails and then at the very back of the shop against the rear wall we found wardrobe hanging rail supports. To make sure I got the right size I walked all the way back to the car in the car park to retrieve the shower head support rail that I had retrieved from the recycling bin this morning. Do they know how far it is from the back of the shop to the car park? Miles! But on my return with the rail, the Best Mate checked the size, gave me the nod and asked me to make up my mind between brass, chromed steel, enamel painted brass, enamelled steel, nickel plated, stainless steel, end fitting or eye fitting. We have bought brass end fittings; they were two for cheaper than anything else and they will do the job and look nice.

Then to buy some varnish. Yacht varnish is always a good bet so we bought a pot of that and then I checked out the sample of pine that I had taken from the boat to the shop. The colour chart on display indicated that "natural" would be a good match. So this afternoon I applied varnish to the new pine and it looks OK.

Our shower room door

Now to come out with the fantastic innovation that makes our shower room really spacious and cosy at the same time. Our carpenter made us a new door. There it is! Yes, it is round.                  

 What a great idea! How clever is that?

We bought a brass hook and eye for the Best Mate's security too.

BACK AGAIN

Hi! Are there any bloggers out there?  It is so long since I have posted anything that you have probably all gone away!

This is a picture of our new shower room.

No it isn't quite finished yet! Don't be silly! We have only been working on it for 15 months! But it is really looking as though it is ready for use even if there are a few things that will need sorting out: like a loo roll holder and towel hooks and a latch on the door.

But the better news is that we might be ready to move away on our travels again soon. With that in mind we have given the CaRT their required one month's notice that we will not be needing the mooring any longer. How will people know that they have arrived in Banbury without seeing SONFLOWER moored adjacent to the footbridge? It will take some getting used to won't it?

Merry Christmas

The Best Mate gave me this small but powerful book for Christmas.

 I may treat you to an exerpt on occasion as it is a very fitting.
                                                         

Under Refit

We visited the boat for a couple of days in the Autumn: cleared a lot out and contemplated the refit at the back. I returned for a wonderful hour with a carpenter who came up with exciting ideas that I had never thought about. I then spent many more hours on the web trying to make them become real.

It was easier to get the project started on paper than to get it started practically!

A few minutes with a tape rule did reveal some interesting features of the present set up. The starboard bunk space is 5' 10" long. So the modulised drawer based 6ft  beds that we have been offered by friends will not fit! The port bunk is 7'4" but has an overhanging cupboard. The bed will fit but would not allow enough headroom to get into it! So, therefore we are back to the drawing board on that one.

The winter saw little done but new floors are now in place throughout the rear of the boat and we have made progress on re-furbishing the shower room. We have installed a new sycamore bathroom counter with a basin sink and pillar mixer tap. The water system is back on and leak free!

We have put some some ideas about improving the ventilation to the bilges into practice with holes in the new floor under a redesigned staircase which eases the acess to the boat from the rear.

Today we spent a happy couple of hours removing the pvc/lino that was glued to the shower room walls. In doing so, we found that the control panel electrics are accessible from within the bathroom by a hinged cover! Also, the main wiring loom is secured to the ceiling int eh corner of the boat by three inch nails at foot intervals rather than a proper trunking.

We will be recladding the walls with rigid pvc marble look sheeting. A few more problems to tackle: the dreaded "no more nails" holds the "coving" strip at the ceiling as well as beng screwed up/ The screw head countersinks have been filled with the stuff! It looks as though I will need to hack it all off with a bolster. What shall we do around the windows etc. where the curves at the corners will not be easy to follow with the new sheets? Something will turn up.

We have had new batteries this year as the old ones did not last the winter. I tried to start the engine but found that neglect has hit the engine bay as well. The decompressor was stuck out and needed freeing off. Little things like that take care of themselves with the use and constant tending when you are in the boat. Leaving things in one place for so long really does not it any good. 

Re-fit begins

With my good friend John the carpenter chiseling away and sawing in the most confined spaces walls have come down and the floor has come up.

Revealed was water again. Having once had it dry we found that it is now very wet.

The back stairs were removed. The tread supports were rotting.

The bathroom wall was cut from top to bottom approximately where we thought we would reposition the bathroom door for outward opening. Then the extent of the rot in the bottom meant that the remaining stub was demolished as well.

The calorifier at the back under the vanity surface  was positioned on rotting boards so I went to our handy bathrom showroom and bought two self seal blanking ends for the engine flow and return and drained it down. Moving it out revealed that the large plug was leaking, probably blanking the hole where an imersion heater would go, - source of water number one found!

Than we pumped out some of the water from the bilge into the wash basin to discover that the drain trap discharge was leaking- source of water number 2 found!

John removed the basin and we removed the calorifier. Next we discovered that the toilet tank was positioned over a board floor that hosted plenty of fungus underneath it. So the toilet tank needs moving and the board needs removing!

By now the debris on the back deck was increasing so I went to Wickes to buy some rubble bags. I was filling one as nb Epiphany came past to turn at Grimsbury Wharf. They were saying "Goodbye" for a time and heading off. " We must be in Thrupp by Tuesday", Fiona said, "for a BSS Examination." I wish them all the best.

I went for some lunch and John cut and positioned some new marine ply boarding. He had to remove the bottom of the shower side wall. The rest came with it! Water staining was evident on the revealed side of the shower tray. Source of water number 3 found.

The boarding on the cabin to engine bay bulkhead was rotten so John removed it revealing that the door threshold was bedded on foam filler which is not waterproof. Rainwater could run under the door cill!  Source of water number 4 found!

So I pumped and mopped as much out as I could and now we have to replace the floor, cure the leaks and redo the whole of the bathroom.

Oh, we demolished a wardrobe as well so we have also started on the bunk room!




,

BACK HOME VIA CROPREDY

Well we got a bus to Fenny Compton and took the boat back to her mooring.

We did not think about Cropredy. This little sleepy Oxfordshire village is a good place to stop for lunch or evening meal at one of its two pubs or on the towpath with provisions from its wonderfully stocked Bridge Stores. If you are early enough you can indulge yourself in a breakfast at the little Cafe on the Green.

However, for the second weekend of August it is a different matter. Cropredy's Fairport Convention is held and the faithfull of the Folk/Rock world gather for the "friendly festival". Canal and River Trust get into the spirit of friendship by allowing boats to stay on the 24hr moorings from Tuesday to Tuesday. In fact you can moor anywhere and no one minds. Except boaters who anticipate a stop for lunch or an evening meal!

We were unable to moor even to eat our bacon and eggs, cooked on board. Fortunately we knew the crew of nb Epiphany who allowed us to moor alongside them "as long as you don't let the smell out". (John has recently been on a very successful diet). We kept the side hatch closed and ate as quickly and smellessly as we could.

There is a serious point here. There was literally nowhere to moor. It took us over an hour at 1000revs to pass the moored boats. On our way toward Banbury below Cropredy we met seven hire crews, on holiday heading toward Cropredy and nowhere to moor- two days before the festival starts.

The cruise was really quite uneventfull apart from going down on the cill in Crooredy Lock! We refloated easily enough once we noticed! We had a bad road to Cropredy and a good road after that. Basically most were heading to the little village and not a lot were coming out!

Spoiled my Sunday afternoon!

There we were, cruising along Top Level at a merry 1700rpm, just keeping the wash from breaking, when a horn sounded behind me. "At a convenient point, could you pull over so that I can pass" the helmsman of the boat behind shouted. I acknowledged his request, rounded the next two bends (there are many on the Oxford Canal Top Level) and on a straight, slowed down and pulled to the starboard (tow-path) side behind a moored boat.

I did this here because the off side is shallow and I did not want to be grounded as he passed.

I expected him to pass at about 2 mph as there was a moored boat ahead. He held back! Maybe this place, convenient to me, was not convenient to him! I turned back and said "Do you expect me to moor?" Eventually nb Greenham Mist did come by but at a lot more than 2mph. The wash created by the speed of this boat pulled mine out from behind the moored boat and into his! I wear hearing aids but, with the engine noise from my quarter deck, I could not hear the tirade of abuse that was now filling the peacefull Oxford Canal Warwickshire air. Any problem was ALL of his making, I didn't steer my boat toward him at all! Speed, water displacement and lack of patience did the work.

We arrived at Fenny Compton Wharf Bridge 136A exactly 2.1/2 hours after we had left Marston Doles lock No 16, an average speed of 3 mph over 7.1/2 miles. On the shallow Oxford Canal that is not really dawdling is it?

When we moored, 2 boat lengths past the nb Greenham Mist, he was sitting on the tow-path reading a paperback. He was still there an hour later, when we returned from dinner at The Wharf, and at 4.00 pm when we left to catch a lift home.

So what was the hurry? Why spoil MY afternoon.

Canal Junction has advice for canal holidays. The "Rules" for overtaking are:

              Overtake Only If You Are Waved On By A Slower Boat.

There isn't always much space for overtaking, but if you do want to pass another boat, make sure you let the skipper of that boat know your intention well in advance so that he can slow down and wait until he or she is ready. You usually overtake on the left, but agree this with the other skipper beforehand. And remember - its your responsibility to steer clear of the other boat. If you both end up on the mud there isn't much point! 

Like I said:  IT WAS ALL HIS FAULT

Out and about for a few days

For family reasons our cruising has been less than we would have hoped.

However we have just returned from four lovely days cruising to take Sonflower to meet up with friends at Warwick. Our friends have borrowed her before and this year are cruising with other family members who have hired nb Rebbeca from Kate Boats.

We had originally intended to be in the area at this time but circumstances changed so it was necessary to make a Special Cruise out of the delivery.

We were a crew of three, the Best Mate being up for the journey and Alex joining in to provide youthful enegy, muscle, and as it turned out music to keep our spirits up. The iPad was linked by blutooth to an outside speaker to keep the steerer entertained. HiTech on Sonflower, what is this!!

So the cruise went like this:

Wednesday: Home Mooring to Fenny Compton Wharf
Thursday:  Fenny Compton Wharf to Long Itchington
Friday: Long Itchington to Kate Boats Base
Saturday Morning: to and from Cape Bottom Lock water point - to wash the boat.

A Full English Breakfast was cooked by the Skipper each mornng: at Marston Doles (Thursday), Fosse locks (Friday) and Nelson Wharf, Warwick (Saturday) Other  Meals were  taken at The Wharf Inn Fenny Compton : (Wednesday evening), a sharing fish platter and Nachos Grande with an extra of potato wedges. Fed the three of us very comfortably.   The Boat Inn, Stockton (Thursday late lunch): Steak sandwiches followed by Ice cream. Very generous portions and tasty. On Board (Friday) Best Mate made meat balls in tomato sauce with pasta. All meals were washed down with approriate beverages as the weather was steaming hot!  We took late evening drinks in the Two Boats, Long Itchington on Thursday evening.

No silly boaters were on the water. In fact, after the Cropredy to Fenny Compton part, very few baoters were out. We had good company with plastic boat Maggie and her Aussie skipper who was waltzing Matilda between Bascote Bottom lock and Warwick. We had company of nb Rachel for a few locks but her (female) crew, who was shod in dancing shoes, flagged before lunch on Friday.

                                                                                         36 miles, 44 locks 

Doesn't she look smart?

Our tatty worn out black cratch cover has been replaced!

And I must say I am very pleased with the result. There are slight differences: it is green; more fasteners to stop it flapping in a wind; an angle on the tie backs to keep it taught, better detailing at the gunwhale so the water does not lay but runs straight off.

And all done with no fuss and a smile from Karl and Chrissie at K.C. Covers.


They promised to do it by the end of the month so are early! A first for a canal business in my experience!

It comes with a year's guarantee as well.

The price was very good too!

All round a pleasing experience.

First of Many in 2014

We didn't go far but we had a very enjoyable cruise to Nell Bridge and back.  The way there was against the setting afternoon sun and the "shades" were very necessary. It was so definitely SPRING. Chiff chaffs sang inthe tops of the trees. Blue tits darted inteh hawthiorn. The blackthorn was blossoming and leaf was sprouting everywhere.

Alex worked the locks, I piloted the boat and the Best Mate set about spring cleaning the cabin. Alex enjoyed walking the towpath for a time and I saw a pair of kingfishers on the bank just under the M40 obviously oblivious to the noise of the traffic above but startled by our presence as we approached.

As they cleared Grants lock and we prepared to enter we were snapped by Our Serendipity who are blogging every boat they pass! They had come off the Tjames and I have read a bit in a blog about Ric & Eileen who moor at Boulters lock. If this is them the only N/BOurserendipity blog that I have googled is a little sparse of photis at the moment. I hope they find time to post them all!

The winter off sid epruning offensive had made a great difference to the canal aspects and the pollarding of some of the willows was very pretty. There are many piles of cut wood seasoning for future fires on the off side banks.

The lovely thing is that Bones and another Alex were moored at Nell Bridge and we had a lovely evening chatting with them over tortilla chips,salsa, rioja and crianza.

We  had to leave this morning at 7am because we need to be back for noon and lunch at General Foods Club. This is a very regular appointent with our son who was not a member of the crew this time out.

This morning's cruise was excellent. Absolutely perfect weather and beautiful spring activity form the birds along the way. There were herons fishing, crows nest building and escorting a buzzard so closely that it could not venture near the tree that supported their nest. Ther were reed buntongs playing liss chase and chaffinches puffing up their new spring pink chests. The yellow headed yellow hammers were brightly visible aming the budding willows.

So there it was. A brief first outing for the boat and my sunglasses.

Our return was quick and uneventful. We had time when we arrived in Banbury to give SONFLOWER a well needed wash.  With all the Best Mate's hard work inside the cabin she is looking and smelling much healthier now!

Moving foreward toward General Foods Club we came up behind the Braidbar Boat "Fetina Lente". The crew were about to disembark and looked at us unapprovingly. There was not room for us to moor behind them as they had left 120 feet between them and the boat ahead of them. Why dont people share bollards? So we moved further on and were greeted by Maffi.

After lunch SONFLOWER was duly returned to her home mooring.

Finished for now

The survey report arrived in the post this morning. Careful reading indicates that there are no problems with SONFLOWER that would make her uninsurable!  All the recommendations are advisory. All are intended to prolong the life of the boat.

hardly worn anode (magnesium)

Newly coated rudder

The report also indicates that, from the index number, the boat was biult in 1982. I think we knew tyhat but a previous survey had said 1984. Hence this was a 32-year inspection!

The main probem is the damp bilge. We must find a way of keeping it dry and ventilating it. The surveyor suggests removing the fixed steps and fitting removable ones that could be remived to provide access to a 400mm square  hatch in the floor.

Removing the rot from the back of the boat and replacing the floor fills me with dread but will provide the opportunity for a much needed re-fit of the aft end of the boat, sorting out the outdated shower oom. A lot of thought needs to be put into this.

One interesting recommendation is to have the hull shot blasted and coated with an epoxy resin coating at the next "out of the water" opportunity. Sounds expensive.

The "cosmetic" welding to the port bow rubbing strake/eybrow was completed by Tooley's this morning so I  went down, collected my Invoice and keys and took the boat cback to the mooring. The 1/4mile cruise didnt even get the engine to oprarting temperature so I left her idling for a while to charge the batteries whike I chatted to three crews of other boats inteh mmoring. The sun has brough all out. The chatter put another hour on the hours run metre!

Now all I have to do is pay the bill.

SURVEY - PROBLEM 1, 2, 3, 4 . .

Here is SONFLOWER in the dry dock. She has been water washed and is waiting for inspection.








PROBLEM ONE: The boarding plank was rotten. Alternative means of access was imediately saught!

 

PROBLEM TWO. It is not difficult to spot that an anode has been comletely ripped off the stern starboard side of the boat.

A new one is to be fitted a little further forward where there is a little more "rake" on the side of the boat.

 Here is the inspector at his work tapping the plates to see if he can dislodge rust to reveal pitting from galvanic action. There was a little but nothng serious.

PROBLEM THREE  The fungus  had done its worst at the stern end of the cabin of the boat. My inability to keep the bilge dry and the lack of a drying stove during the winter months has meant that there is rot in the woodwork that needs to be dealt with. Maybe it is time to think about the refit on the bathroom and bunk room that is well overdue! No photo: it is too distressing.

PROBLEM FOUR Minor cosmetic welding work required to the rubbing strake on the port bow. The hollow section has rotted from the inside out.

RESULT: Nothing that prevents the boat floating and she is likely to keep afloat for the next five years.

So on with the blacking.

Then the engine service.....

. . .  . then getting the bilge dry   

............then the re-fit?                    

Anxiety

I am getting anxious!

One never knows what a survey will throw up. Five years ago SONFLOWER floated into the dry dock and recieved a report that indicated that it would not float out again! The problem was the weed hatch. There was NO ULLAGE (air space). Although the weedhatch was bolted down and sealed the water under the bolted cover was below the water line! If the cover had been taken off the boat would have sunk! A new weed hatch was fabricated and fitted to give 6 inches of ullage  below the hatch to the waterline. This could well have been the problem that caused CRT's Problem here . We also removed a considerable amount of ballast to ensure that the swim was, correctly, only just submerged. It looks like the tug was too deep inthe water too!

I wonder what the surveyor will find this time!

Getting Ready

I visited the boat today.

I have a visit to Tooley's Dry Dock booked for 6th to 9th March.

SONFLOWER is thirty years old so has to have an "out of the water" hull survey every five years for the Insurance Company. She will also be blacked.

As she has lain idle for so long I wanted to make sure she will start! Batteries are at 12.4v. A little low but acceptable.

The cruising season will so soon be upon us and it was so good to be along the towpath chatting to boaters who are already on the move. Some said they have not stopped this winter because ot has been so warm. Another confessed that he had had four weeks in Greece! He had overstayed on teh 14 day moorings! Good luck to him.

CO monitor, batteries and breeching?

I went ot SONFLOWER on her mooring today. I was greeted with a beep beep sound. The CO detector had flat batteries. the first job of the day was change them. That way they would not get so flat while we were off the boat that teh beep beep beep stopped and we would be in danger of not knwowing especially withthe state of my meory at the moment.

I started the engine and charged the batteries. The engine was a little reluctant and I might invest in a can of "easistart" for when the weather is really cold.

I chatted to a couple of other moorers: there is little news except that it is reproted that below Banbury lock the three mile pound has little water in it! Considering the amount of water that was flowing through the lock paddles over the weekend this is very surprising. We are wondering whether there has been a breech or culvert collapse.

I also spoke to Sue, nb "No Problem",  who is waiting for work at Tooley's Boatyard before heading for Gloucester or some other beauty spot. She was disturbed by the news above as she certainly needs to turn round to head north. She is therefore toying with backing to Tooleys. We know that is very possible.

Smoke Detector; A thank you

The smoke detector operated on Saturday lunch time and I reported to my guests "it is real!" I  had turned the chicken and meat sauces up high instead of turning it down!

The place is filled with smoke again today! French bread toast for croutons in the squash and sweetcorn soup were a little "over cooked"!

The reason for all this is because the BEST MATE is not very well and so the cooking is all down to me. I think that I am a little distracted at times and not quite concentrating on the task in hand. It is at these times that I realise how much I depend on her. When one of us is not functioning properly it is very evident in the results.

Thank goodness I have a smoke detector to tell me when things are cooked.

Bye Bye Spike: RIP

What can one say about a funeral? It represents the last farewell of family and friends. And the funeral today of Ian "Spike" Mason, late of nb Samara, was as respectful to a respectful man as it could be. With well chosen words from the civil facilitator, Spike's brother Shaun, a friend and with the reading of the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling. It was a good time to reflect on the man that we had known for only a short time. He was referred to as a "rapscallion" and "likeable rogue". He may not always have followed the rules but he did no harm to us and always had time to chat.  His staffie, Millie, was loved by all.

He will be missed by the boating community who turned out in good numbers from far and near to remember him. We also learned  more of his artistic side and were able to view his cartoons at the wake in the Castle House after the service at the Crematorium. Respect.

It is really sad that the cause of their death was probably carbon dioxide poisoning, a truly preventable event with good maintenance, correct ventilation and a carbon monoxide alarm.

Test it or fit one TODAY!  And clear the vents too.

Happy New Year

As the rain continues to fall, I wish you all a happy New Year.

Our new year cruise is now officially cancelled.

Happy Christmas

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO OUR READER

SONFLOWER is safe on her mooring and, thanks to Piglet who lengthened her mooring lines this afternoon, she is riding the rising levels in the pound.

For the second year running we are watching the sky for dark clouds rather than angels in the starry frosty night.

We hope that you all have a very safe New Year and enjoy all the waterways have to offer. Love, Peace and Joy are often more evident afloat!

Beautiful Day: There and back again

It was a beautiful day this morning. The engine just about turned ocvevr and started with all four batteries connected in series aso I took SONFLOWER down to the town water point. I got help with lowering the lift bridgeon teh way there from aboatwaman who is currently moored at Tooley's Boatyard. Thank you, it is troublesome single handed.

So on to the water point where the tank was replenished. C&RT have put a new tap on the outside of the water point but it is controlled from inside the locked enclosure. While watering nb UFO came into the basin. He too was single handed so I helped him through the lock. what else do you do when waiting for the tank to fill?

There was a lady with her three year old grandson watching the boat go down. She asked if I was going down too When I said that I was thinking about backing she looked disappointed. She had come from Socvereign Wharf because she saw me go by and told her little charge that he could watch me go through the lock. He wasn't too worried as he had seen UFO go down.She also told me that she was off nb River Moon, read this blog and we shared news about mutual aquaintences.

SONFLOWER was now almost full with water so we returned down the path together. They were very pleased to be able to help me by raising and lowering the lift bridge. I left them watching me as I carefully navigated SONFLOWER, in reverse, back to the mooring.

It was a lovely day. When I returned I met with the skipper of nb ATHCO who told me all the news of the friendly moorers.

1 mile, 0 locks, 2 Lift Bridge, 2 hours

Winter Cometh

SONFLOWER is almost as neglected as this blog.

But we went to visit her today. I have been to see her once since Canal Day but only to discover that the frost had already got in and pushed out a "push fit" Hep2O connector near the gas water heater over the sink. I drained the water system and lagged the heater to prevent further frost damage.

Today the Best Mate wanted to check out the soft furnishings and tidy up a bit. I started the engine to give the batteries a bit of  a boost. Starting was touch and go with ALL batteries connected in circuit! I warmed her quickly by putting a bit of load on the prop.

The Best Mate decided to take down half the curtains to wash and repair them ready for next year. While she was busying and tidying I looked under the back stairs and pumped out the bilge of accumulated water. I sprayed the fungal attacked woodwork below stairs with bleachy cleaner and hope to kill it off.

We have done a bit to her but she still has the look of an unloved boat. We will be coming back miore often to make sure she gets through the winter.

Glamping

In this picture the Best Mate stands at the entrance of our "pod".

This overturned clinker built Avon bark contained all we needed of a hotel room for an overnight stay in Bradord on Avon. SONFLOWER was far away.Had she been moored at Bradfrod on Avon Wharf on the K & A she would, of course, have the first choice but this is fourteen days away by canal and river.

Inside the pod is a double bed, en suite shower room and loo, kitchenette with sink, fridge, microwave and kettle and supplies to keep us happy, a DVD player with large LCD screen and LED mood lighting.

Staying here gave us ideas for storage lockers under beds, tanking the bathroom/shower and mods to the lighting arrangements. A very educational trip.

Boater's Breakfast

Being in Bradford on Avon for a wedding celebration yesterday afternooon and evening we couldn't leave the town without trying the much recommended, world renowned and "as shown on TV" boater's breakfast available all day every day (except Christmas Day) at The Lock Inn.

I admit to leaving food on my plate! Not because there was anything wrong with it buit it was just too much for one meal!

We are now wondering how we can make the fourteen day cruise to get another one!  One can probably survive that length of time.

Back again!

Yes, the sun rose and so did I.

I seized the day and backed SONFLOWER from Tom Rolt Bridge to her home mooring, 20 yards north of Marsh Footbridge No 163.

According to Nick's Canal Planner this is a distance of  515 yards. Forwards it would take 10 minutes. Backwards it took me 40 minutes. Only one boat was navigating toward me. I stopped for him to pass and he offered to let me go ahead. He hadn't realised I was going backwards!

I didn't hit another boat as far as I am aware. I was very close to one though and had to use the long shaft to push away from the bank!

Boating Today

I had a text from a friend about an abandoned narrowboat spotted under Tom Rolt Bridge today. That is of course SONFLOWER. The only way for her to get back on own mooring is if I take nb Auriga back to Cropredy and her home mooring. So that is what I did today.

I thought out the logistics:

• take car to Cropredy
• Get bus back from Cropredy
• take Auriga to Cropredy

This seems simple enough but the current health of the Best Mate means that I had to meet our son for his Wednesday lunchtime at General Foods Club.

The timing was imaculate:

0945 Drive to Cropredy. A text to The Coal Wharf ascertained that there was somebody there and they would let me leave the car.
1005 Bus back to banbury
1030 to 1130, Prepare family meal for the evening: spicy lamb kebabs with nachos grande
1200  Lunch at General Foods
1300  Walk to Home mooring and cast off
1515 Arrive Cropredy Coal Wharf and moor Auriga
1600 Collect older son from drumming lesson in Cropredy and take him and his PA home.
1630 Make the salad for the family meal
1715 Collect other son from violin lesson at school
1800 Serve Dinner


Right:- I did all that.  Here is nb Auriga rising in Hardwick Lock

 

Here is nb Auriga leaving Slat Mill Lock:   oops I had better get on!

Lovely picture of the "mackeral Back" cloud announcing the depression coming from the northwest to bring us wind and rain



No folk club or singing tonight.   An evening to relax.

Now, tomorrow, I can take SONFLOWER back to her home mooring. Just the usual 2 hour cruise to do after boccia in the morning. I might take the short cut and back her up first thing. It would only take an hour to rope haul her back. I'll see how I feel.

Fabulous Performance

Wonderful, fabulous, extraordinary, exhilirating, not to be missed performance from Kate Saffin as Ramlin Rose on the stage of Theatre in the Dock in Tooley's Boatyard, Banbury

Just one more night for you to get there.

Come to think if it, most of my readers were probably there yesterday, but any who weren't this is a good canal story that will break your heart and encourage you to keep the cut alive!

Get along if you can.

Banbury Canal Day

Here are the Cropredy Gospel Edge Singers performing their songs set at the Banbury Canal Day in front of SONFLOWER.

They did a marvelous job and were appreciated by many who stopped to listen or who passed by.

Thank you ladies.

49 out of 100

I put my last post to the Grammarly check:


Grammarly found 19 critical writing issues and generated 2 word choice corrections for your text.
Score: 49 of 100 (weak, needs revision)
Plagiarism

The text in this document is original

Contextual Spelling Check 4 issues

Spelling (3)Commonly confused words (1)
Ignored words

Grammar 4 issues

Wordiness (2)
Passive voice use (2)
Use of articles

Punctuation 6 issues

Punctuation within a sentence (4)
Closing punctuation (1)
Capitalization (1)

Style and Word Choice 5 issues

Writing style (5)
Vocabulary use


Thank you to Miles Away for telling me about this tool which sponsors his page. I am not taking up the offer of a 7-day free trial.

I took their advice and revised the text. I know score 51 out of 100!

BCD EVE

Yes, tomorrow is Banbury Canal Day.

So this morning we are arresting a period of considerable neglect. No time for pics, I am sorry to write. They certainly would not be pretty, anyway.

The LOG speaks for itself.

We have not been anywhere, or doing anything on SONFLOWER so the gas bottle had run out leaving all sorts of smelly stuff in the fridge, including a leaking bottle of milk. After a gas bottle change a full refridegerator clean was required . The Best Mate set about evicting the spiders and wiping over the saloon from the pine roof lining to the floor. She also derusted the top of the stove and blacked it so it looks the business now.

I went outside, squeegy in hand, and washed the boat from stem to stern. Looking at her from across the canal she doesn't look so bad now except below the gunwhales where we need a passing canoeist to run a wet broom along her side. More spiders were evicted. I don't like doing that as they are very good at catching flies, mosquitos and midges before they get into the boat.

SONFLOWER is under Tom Rolt Bridge. When we regain our strength we will start on the decoration.

There is a "Boaters Bash" this evening. We hope to be there.

Tomorrow I might get enough time to take a picture. Who knows. Hopefully I will see some of you throughout the day. We hope to give you tea and cake.

Because We Can!

We went to Cropredy and back yesterday afternoon.

The day started really cloudy with that lank hair feeling all around. A bit if drizzly rain and misty heaviness. But we had promised a friend a trip on the boat. After our Boccia session in the morning we boarded at about 1150. the Boat was pointed toward town and there was a brief debate between the Best Mate and myself as to which way to go. Through town to Bankside winding hole and back? (2 miles, 2 locks, 2 lift bridges, about 2 hours) or to Cropredy and back which is a four to five hour cruise? The boat was pointing toward town. "You make the decision", The Best Mate said, so I backed SONFLOWER to the winding point at Grimsbury Arm, turned,looked at the sky, which had blue patches in that direction, and the sun came out!

WE HAD A LOVELY CRUISE. Warm sunshine. Temperature rising toward 20 deg C. Shedding cardigans and fleeces we had a wonderful time.

Within 2.1/2 hours we were turning at Cropredy Wharf and setting off on the return leg. The sun now lowering in the sky was straight ahead of us at times as we headed south. There was no help at the locks from craft coming in the opposite direction on the way back but we didn't have to queue anywhere. On passing under Bridge 158 I marvelled at the 200 year old structure. It had withstood the pounding of huge earth movers during the construction of the Flood Alleviation Scheme but stands unscathed and proud. A witness to so many events over the past two centuries and to the strength of the men who designed and built the canal.

So 5 hours cruising without any problem: just because we can! May it long continue. 7 miles, 6 locks, 5 hours

Collision Course

I am wondering whether SONFLOWER is seriously magnetic!

I looked up the canal this morning as I untied the mooring straps to see a Napton Boat heading toward me about 200yards away under Tom Rolt Bridge. Having pushed the bow out it was too late to stop on the mooring so I straightened the boat and stopped it. There was a 100 foot space on the other side off the canal at Castle Quay so "no problem" I thought. How wrong I was. The hire boat headed straight for the boat moored opposite. There should have been plenty of room to pass between us but once he had hit this boat the richochez took him into my bow! The crew of the boat I was now alonngside came up and I assured them I had not touched their boat. "Thank you " they said. The helmsman on the hire boat did not say a word! I was stationary so surely they had the responsibility to pass safely!

What is wrong with these people? Would they drive their Volvo down the motorway bouncing from Merc to Beamer in the same fashion? He had just hit about £60,000 worth of boat and didn't even acknowledge the fact!

The rest of the 1/2 mile journey was almost uneventful. A little nudge by nb Shadow, a fellow moorer, who arrived at Sovereign Wharf at exactly the same time as I did! £140 was the total for Gas, diesel and a water cap key. It was a good feeling to pull away with all the main essentials serviced and full. I turned at Grimsbury Arm and moored ready to do battle with the town centre again.

Now for the winter. Summer is officially over after Labor Day according to Google!
3/4 mile, 2hours

Just Turning Round

We had to turn the boat round yesterday.

Tooley's had finished the work except for giving us a bill and returning my key, so we took our daughter and grandaughter for a little ride. Down the lock, turning at Bankside winding hole and back. As always, a life jacket was provided for the precious cargo!

The trip was not uneventful! On the return, having passed through the lift bridge, I heaved to as a boat approached where the canal narrows. Stood stationary on the far right of the canal, I could only watch as the boat came quickly toward me on collision course with Tooley's trip boat nb Dancing Duck, hit the same, bounced from it onto my bow and wedged itself between her and SONFLOWER! I had to apply full revs in reverse to disengage us. Having unlocked, the boat then backed off a couple of boat lengths. The helmsman told The Best Mate, who was ashore having operated the lift bridge, that I could come through first! I went forard slowly and passed the boat, expecting some form of appology. The helmsman just stared forward so I said, "I hope that my boat is not damaged!" He replied, "I hope mine is ok too". No apology then! The owner obviously doesn't care what or who he hits.

We moored up thankful to be afloat.

BACK CRUISING

SONFLOWER has visited Tooley's Boatyard. After a long wait, the replacement engine foot arrived from Culcutt Marine, by post, on Wednesday.

 John worked on the boat on Thursday and Friday to replace the engine foot (including a difficult withdrawal of the broken stud),

    

  to sleeve the main cable loom where it passes through the bulkhead from engine bay to cabin,

  and to clip insecure gas piping with a clip within 6 inches of every joint.

All that completed, we took our granddaughter for a ride this afternoon to turn the boat round ready for return to hime mooring via Sovereign Wharf on Monday.

                                                                                                        1.1/2 Miles; 2Locks, 2 LB, 2 hrs

FAILURE

The Boat Safety Scheme Examination yesterday resulted in a failure!

1. ENGINE : the front RH mounting foot is cracked, a stud has sheared and the mounting collapsed.

2. GAS SYSTEM: a few clips are missing

3. ELECTRICAL WIRING A wiring loom has no protection (grommet) where it passes through the bulkhead


The expected call to Tooley's Boatyard has been made and cruising is suspended for the near future.

BSE DAY

Tomorrow is the Boat Safety Ezamination Day.

I am resigned to it.

He arrives at 10.00am.

He writes out a list.

I take the boat to Tooley's and they fix it

He comes back and says it is ok

I hand over loads of money!

Throw Away Society

Here is all the fire equipment from the boat all lined up ready for taking to the specialist testers who checked them out the last time I had a Boat Safety Certificate Examination.This is to satisfy Section 17 of the examination that requires the Fire Equipment to be maintained in good condition and kept accessible. I like to check they work as well.

You can see that they are all labelled with the name and address of the testers. So I took them round there to find that the place is now one of the many many beauty parlours that are sprouting up all over Banbury. I rang their number and spoke to Kate. She explained that the company had now moved to Buckingham but there were engineers in the area who would inspect the appliances. She then asked "what the date was in the bottom right hand corner of the label?" "2009" I replied. "Oh", she said! "That means they all need emptying and refilling. That will be £13.50 for the small ones and £18.50 for the larger one." To do all of them and a £3.50 inspection charge for the Fire Blanket would have cost £62.50

I went to Screwfix and bought brand new Dry Powder extinguishers, the only ones I really need, for £55.97

Here is the set of Fire Equipment now on the boat.



Anyone want 2x 1Kg and 1x 2Kg Dry powder Fire Extinguishers, unused, but over twelve years old?

Home on Water

We passed this lovely little boat on the way through from Fenny Compton yesterday.

I couldn't resist taking a photo. Some people may describe it as a floating garden shed. I think the owner has made the best he can of the hull that he had. The clapperboard construction gives character to the superstructure. Don't you love the leaded lights to the windows?

And after all is said, it is home to somebody.

Fenny Compton to Home Mooring

We (Eeyore and son Piglet) caught the 0858 bus to Fenny Compton, adj The Wharf Inn, and were under way by 0930. First stop was the water point for the days's refreshment although, as a treat for myself, I did stow away two bottles of Brakspears Bitter.

Then with Piglet at the tiller we cruised uneventfully through the "tunnel" to Claydon Top moorings. Here we stopped for breakfast. Bacon and Eggs is compulsory on these occasions.

While moored to eat we were passed by two boats so we were filling locks for the rest of the day, apart from one lock where a craft rose before us and we passed in the pound.

Cropredy Marina is now being filled. They are filling it slowly and there is a pipe well inside the marina flowing gently. It looks like a diverted stream is being used rather than dropping the dam boards and filling form the canal.

We stopped for lunch in Cropredy at The Old Coal Wharf, the mooring of nb Auriga. We discovered that we could not breast up to them with the CaRT craft moored opposite! We were thankful to John who allowed us to breast alongside his moored boat. With thanks to our hosts, and the beer drunk, we went on again uneventfully to our home mooring. At Hardwick Lock I became a CaRT volunteer and cleared the bywash of all sorts of vegetable matter with the help of another boater who was moored below the lock near the White Cottage.

Near there we passed a 40 ft craft that had been ahead of us at Little Bourton Lock. They were looking for a 14 day mooring to leave the boat and asked of the location they were trying was safe. I suggested they put it on the permanent mooring site and inform CaRT at Milton Keynes of their need. They have a nanogenarian parent who needs them over the next two weeks. There is space and they are in possession of a CaRT mooring permit. In some ways they have already paid for the mooring! There is a 45 ft space between nb Shadows and nb Bump and Grind on our mooring site so there should not be a problem.

As we pulled up the mooring lines on our home mooring Bones and Kate, nb Morning Mist approached to welcome us back! Nice to be home.

10.1/4 miles, 12 locks, 8 hours

Spoiled my Day!

On Tuesday I had a good day's boating and got the boat from the Top of Stockton Locks to Fenny Compton Wharf.

The sun shone, a working boat came by to share at the wide Grand Union locks and the locks were not too bad but there were two incidents that spoiled the day.

The first was when I was sharing the Calcutt locks with a town-class working boat in very good condition and looking original. When I came up the steps of the first lock with the centre rope in my hand I was welcomed by the boatman on lockside welcomed me as he saw that this single hander was not going to take his help for granted and free load on the boat! I commented that I thought he was single handing too. He told me "I'm not allowed out alone." We worked single gates for the first two locks, with the boatwaman taking the towny in first. The third lock was set for us by another crew who held the gates open. I came alongside the off side stern of the towny to go in beside it. "What do you think you are doing!" The boatwoman shouted (almost screamed). "Get back!" and with that she steered the boat further toward the middle of the lock. I retreated. Coming in beside her when the towny has settled at the nearside I said,"I thought that I was coming into the lock beside you to allow the water to slow us both evenly." I went up on lock side to open the paddle. The boatman said "She's a fiery one. You see why I am not allowed alone".

I have thought about it a lot. This woman needs to review the days of the boat and butty when they approached the lock with he butty on a single short strap. The boatman ascended the steps with the cotton line in his hand, slowed the moty boat with a turn on the the bollard at the entrance and then closed the gate behind it. He then hopped onto the boat cabin roof as the butty slipped the short strap and came in alongside, stepped on the butty roof and jumped up to close the gate behind the butty as his partner opened the top paddle. Smooth as silk and efficient operation.

The second incident came in the late afternoon. After working up the nine narrow locks of the Napton Flight on the South Oxford Canal comes the delightful interlude of a peaceful three to four hours of cruising on the meandering top level across the Warwickshire plain. Sharing the view with lapwings, resting on their summer meanderings and emitting their shrill "pee-wit" call in the fields of sheep; or with buzzards wheeling overhead, flapping to find a thermal and them soaring upward, flap some more, soar even higher until only a small speck in the sky crying to keep in touch with a mate or chick. Such is the peace, soon to be shattered by HS2, but, for the moment something to savour. There are some delightful moorings and some boaters had taken the opportunity to moor under the shade of the hedge and marginal trees to enjoy the warmth without the heat of direct sun. I always slow down for these moored boats. So it came as a surprise when I heard a shout from within one, followed by a holler from the bank where a woman roused from her reading to shout "Why did you speed up when you came to our mooring?" I looked at my tacho. 1050rpm. Equivalent to about 1mph on this canal. However, Granny Buttons noted in a tweet that "It is not all about speed, it is more complicated than that". I have thought about this a lot too.

I was passing several boats. My throttle naturally declines as the friction brake is shot! I had slowed and as I passed the third boat the throttle was down such that I was losing steerage. As I passed the engine room of this shiny boat I glanced in at the thumping engine that glinted with chrome and brass. I blipped the throttle up a bit to recover steerage and steer away from the immaculate paintwork and false rivet heads on the side of the boat. It was this action that the boatman heard over the thump of the engine that he was oiling or caressing. He shouted what was probably, after thoughtful consideration, "slow down not speed up when passing moored boats". Of course from within his engine room he had no actual knowledge of what speed I was doing. The woman in her deck chair on the bank was probably fine tuned to the call of her husband and responded with the shout that ruined my peaceful cruise. If they don't want boats passing them they should stay in the marina where they will not be disturbed by boaters who actually boat.

A little mistake...!

START: 0900. Off to The Boat Inn (Under renovation) to walk down Stockton Flight to Long Itchington where SONFLOWER awaited us. No problem here. We met a Canal and River Trust volunteer lock-keeper who was happily received by a boater in the locks. "Great to see you", she said to him. I assumed he was the helpful sort who would be helping people through the flight. We arrived at the boat and had a very nice conversation with the owner of historic boat nb Mercury, built by Harland and Wolfe in 1935 with a National Engine. She was walking her dog. As we arrived at the boat two dog walkers allowed their dog to poop on the tow-path next to our boat. "Pick that up, please!, I asked. "Haven't got a bag" came the reply. "I have!", I said, diving into the cratch and getting a bunch of dog poo bags. "Have some for later", The Best Mate said as she passed him the bags "we haven't got a dog." To give them their due, they did wait for the bag and not give us some mouthful of abuse. But why do people walk their dogs without taking a bag with them?

Off to the locks. Here SONFLOWER rises in Long Itchington (bottom) Lock:



So the start of the flight. All was well as we filled the first two. We then crossed with a young couple and had a good road for a couple more. We met three men carrying windlasses down the flight. One suggested that we waited for a boat coming up but he was looking at the boat that had just passed going down! Easy mistake. A lock further on we spotted a boat coming down. It was our friends Gail and Andrew Spolton who were returning nb Emmaus to the Shroppie. Not a lot of time to chat in the pound between locks is there?

We then had a good road for the next two locks. Only two to go I said to the Best Mate. Three she corrected. "Oh, I said." I looked up and the next lock was spilling water from its bottom gate. "I'll have to empty that one" I said and walked ahead as the lock SONFLOWER was in was filling. I whisked the paddle open and set off beck down the flight. There was a crash as I turned and I looked at the gates. Nothing seemed amiss. So I walked on down. Sonflower came up and we went on. As I opened the lock above I noticed a boat was leaving the top lock. "Oh, I didn't see you" I said. "That was set for us!" The shore crew said. "The gate was open on our favour, that was our lock! You stole it!". "I am sorry", I said. "I don't think I have done that before". I cannot remember opening a lock with the top gate open. The crash that I heard was the top gate closing when the bottom paddle was opened!. Oops:a big mistake. After some more apologies I think I was forgiven. It is hard to believe that I could not have seen the open gate!

Here SONFLOWER rises in Stockton Top Lock. Another flight successfully navigated. No further sign of the volunteer helpful lock keeper. What the three men were going to do with their windlasses was not revealed either. And I have learned to look at both ends of the lock!

With Boat Inn, Stockton closed, we had lunch at The Wharf Inn, Fenny Compton.

FINISH 1145am. 1 mile, 2½ furlongs and 10 locks 2.1/2 hours

Hatton to Long Itchington

Here we are leaving Hatton Flight behind us. It is Wednesday Morning. We went to Kate Boats in Warwick and enquired what moorings were like around there. We parked the car in a cul de sac opposite and walked to Bridge 51 where SONFLOWER was waiting for us. We then went back throughtthe two Cape Locks and stopped for water at the water point above the locks.



It seemed to take ages to fill but gave us the opportunity to talk to the boaters n=moored mearby. They were from Long Itchington but had broken theior coupling. They s=asked us of we could take a couple of bags of rubbish with us as they had no way of getting it to a refuse station. They were waiting for srares I think. They looked as thoughtthey had been waiting a long time.

When full we left the locks and our next stop was Kate Boats for a pump out.

There are no moorings nearby and Fran took the tiller and navigated the boat toward Tesco at Bridge 46. I drove the car round and waited for her to arrive. We moored on rings at Emscote Bridge No 46 at 1215. Got in the car, with two banners to dispatch to BCF members for the IWA National Festival stand, and got in the car.

2miles, 2 locks 2 hours


THURSDAY

1130, stopped playing Boccia and washed the cups up after a meet of the Oasis Boccia Club.

1159 arrived at The Cuttle Inn, parked and entered the bar. Ordered drinks
1210 Ordered two Prawn Baguettes: plenty of time until the bus to Warwick leaves at 1250. Scheduled arrival at Tesco will be 1332 (according to traveline)

1235 Ordered the baguettes "to go".
1245 left the pub with baguettes foil wrapped and chips in plastic takeway containers.
1250 stood at bus stop and ate chips.
1259 Bus arrives, chips consumed.
1315 Bus arrives in Leamington where we change and wait for a X17 to Warwick.
1347 Bus arrives (approx 35 minutes late), They should run every 15 minutes
1359 Arrive Emscott Bridge No 46.
1405 We slip the mooring. The Best Mate serves the Baguettes, No complaints there. They were lovely. Nick's planner estimates the cruise to be 6 hours. ETA 8pm! This is the starting time of a meeting I have arranged in Banbury! I check the wash: not breaking. I increase the engine revs a little more.
1509 we arrive at Radford Bottom Lock to see a boat closing the top gate and leaving. We hope he waits at the next lock. He does! And we are then in the company of a little Sea Otter named Waterloo Sunrise he can't be Waterloo sunset, although the first line "Thank you for the days," is in musical notation on the side too, because there was already a Waterloo Sunset in the Sea Otter Club.
1815 We are moored at Cuttle Bridge No 25.

In plenty of time to get back to Banbury to continue our busy lives.

It was a lovely time on the boat.



8 miles, 10locks 4 hours

Birmingham to Hatton

I took a friend (Owl) who hasn't been boating before to Birmingham by train. A quick stop in the city centre to collect bacon, eggs, bread, milk and mushrooms and we arrived at Cambrian Wharf. We turned the boat and headed out of the Venice of the North.

I gave Owl the tiller as we left Gas street Basin and he gradually learned the lefty and righty bit about how a boat turns. It is all "flat" to the top of Lapworth Flight on the selected route home so we had a good chance that he would get the hang of it before he had to use it in real boaty situations like passing in a very small pound while turning to enter a lock on a bend. "Left a bit now back to the middle and a little bit further right to stop the turn and then back to the middle etc etc" we weaved all the way to King's Norton Junction.

Emerging from Brandwood Tunnel.

Traffic was light and we made good progress with "breakfast" on the Stratford Canal past Yardley and thence on to Wedges Bakery at Bridge 20.A must stop place. Back on the boat we had scotch eggs and cake (a custard slice for me and bread and butter pudding for Owl)

We stopped at The wharf Inn next. We enjoyed the Slaters Ale but the fish and chips left us disappointed. We noticed a chippy three or four doors further up the road and thought we would have been better off going there.

We stopped overnight above the Lapworth Top Lock. as the sun set.

Today started at 0130. "Can you hear that noise?" Owl said. I can't hear a thing after taking my hearing aids out for the night. "The toilet is oveflowing onto the bathroom floor" Owl continued. The flush had been left on and indeed the tank was full. I pumped out a bit of water but then we went back to bed, using facilities available on the towpath. I didn't get back to sleep quickly with canal maps and pump out facilities between Lapworth and Banbury going around my head. I heard birds sing (loudly) before I got to sleep again. The alarm woke me at 7am. I got the reserve portapotti out of the top box and pumped out the oveflowed water from the bilge. Then we started on the locks.



Half way down the flight we met a man bow hauling his boat through the locks. He was on his way to Staffordshire without an engine. I mentioned that the last long distance engineless voyager I had encountered was a woman who was pole-ing her shell to Staffordshire. "When?" he asked. " about 5 years ago", I said. He confirmed this to be his wife!

We entered the last lock at about 1130 and and were on our way on the level again. We moored at Hatton Top Lock at 2 pm.

and there's more.

I am sorry there isn't a photo.

You see we were too busy to take one.

A friend told us her daughter's class were taking a walk by the canal and would like to see the lock work. Our boat is away but at the appointed hour there were plenty of boats about and Napton Boats, nb Serenade came by at just the right to time to be a visual aid.

The Best Mate and I were too busy to take a photo because our friend didn't tell us that the nursery class at the school would be tagging along as well. We had 60 children lined up along the lock area wall of Banbury Lock No 29! They followed the boat along through the lift bridge and were models of interest and good behaviour. Well done to Dashwood Schoool and its committment to outside education. The children will have learned more about water today than inside a stuffy classroom.

A Head Teacher once said to me (the chair of Governors at the time) "There is nothing that can be taught better inside than outside the classroom"

I agree.