OFF Again

Here is a picture of the Best Mate making sure that Sonflower does not drift away from the water point as we prepare to give her a bit of a spruce up. There were a lot of boats about yesterday and we only managed to wash the starboard side again. We did top the water tank up so she is in trim for her cruise.





Our friends are taking her to the Droitwich ring and we will be meeting her on the Birmingham and Worcester Canal in a little under two weeks time. However, the first part of the cruise did not go as planned:



Here we see SONFLOWER moored at Bridge 161 and our friend is returning to the boat after walking back along the canal and checking the mooring, the car park and finally his car for that essential of the 21st century boater- his mobile phone. Fortunately it was not lost or overboard but it had been stowed int eh glove compartment of the car instead of his sat-nav.

Now fully equipped with electrickery he can sleep easy and enjoy the rest of the cruise! Hopefully they still have time to make Cropredy tonight.

Wasted Effort

I made the journey.

Just a short Cruise to Sovereign Narrowboats as mentioned in the last post. Past NB No Problem (No-one aboard)

As SONFLOWER approached at a snail's pace, the sign "CLOSED" came into view. I checked the time: 1430. Perhaps the lunch "hour" had been extended? The owner's Jaguuaaar was parked in the car park so I thought there may still be someone around. NB William the Conqueror was not open so they were not aboard.

I started to position myself for a slow turn. (This is NOT really a turning spot but I have turned here many times before). The boatwoman on NB Blue Horizon came to the well deck to see what was going on. She confirmed that "he locked up and has left". Oops, I am now turning for nothing! "We are an aluminium boat you know", she said. "I will take care and put the bow against the opposite bank and pull her round with the bow line", I said. So that is what I did.

I stopped on the wharf. Then I noticed a notice: "SORRY CLOSED WEDNESDAY PM".

I left and returned to home mooring.

I will be back down tomorrow afternoon. In reverse!

Theatre in the Dock

We visited Theatre in the Dock yesterday evening and had a really good evening listening and joining in the choruses to Where the Working Boats Went http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifn evening of song. This was presented by Life and Times, a male duo who presented mostly self penned songs about the canal history from The Duke of Bridgewater to post war nationalisation and transformation into a leisure network. The songs were accompanied by the two musicians on accordion, melodion, squeeze box, mandolin and guitar.

We really enjoyed joining in the choruses.

Such a pity that this acoustically fantastic theatre in Tooleys Dry Dock was only half full (of people, not water silly!)

Well done to producer Kate Saffin

RCR Service: three times over

River Canal rescue came this morning to get SONFLOWER moving again.

The first time, in spite of having a very good description of the problem over the phone, they came to look. Two "young guys" our skipper described them as. They went away to get a new morse controller as the obsolete 25 year old Marine Master was broken as described!

They returned well over an hour later with some tools in a plastic box but had to borrow the right size of screw driver to dismantle the old drive. Offering up the new one showed that a screw hole did not line up. They did not have a drill to make a new one! So off they went off to get one. Another hour or so passed and then the new controller was fitted. But not without dropping a couple of screws (for which they had spares), losing a nut (for which they didn't so fitted a larger size)and losing a grommet that they probably didn't know they had knocked off as they left the hole empty.

However, the new RCR parts insurance scheme is beginning to pay off as all that was charged was the £50.00 excess. Here it is looking the business:


I had assured my relief crew that they would be under way in no time. In fact they didn't get away until well into the afternoon. I caught up with them at Claydon locks and they were them settling into the cruise and were very pleased to be making headway. Here they wave good bye at Claydon Top Lock

Marston Doles to Fenny Compton

I asked the barman at The Wharf, Fenny Compton when they stopped serving lunch. He said 9 o'clock. I assume therefore they are open all day.I set off down the tow-path toward Marston Doles where I had left the Best Mate at the tiller. I anticipated meeting her about half way. In fact here she is approaching Bridge 128 so the plan worked perfectly. I got about an hours walking in.


Having taken over the tiller we then navigated to the 14 day moorings at Fenny Compton in warm conditions. As we approached the end of this little voyage the wind turned a little chilly and we decided to stop for a spot of lunch. 'Two for £8.50' seemed a good deal so we pumped for pie of the day (Chicken and ham) & mash and chicken curry & rice. OK for a lunch was the verdict.

That was enough for today.

Shocked at Tragic News

Just before we left Peterborough this morning we heard of the tragic accident that resulted in the death of a mother on a hire boat holiday. We pray for them and offer our sincere condolences. It happened just four miles from our home mooring.

What also shocked us was that the boat concerned was "Harry". We hired her for three wonderful holidays in 2000, 2001 and 2003 and were on her when we heard about the boat we now own. In fact, we enquired whether Kate Boats were open to offers for her WE LIKED HER SO MUCH!

There will no doubt be calls and recriniminations about the training given to hirers. Our experience is that Kate Boats were meticulous in their on board breifing at handover and ensured that we were able to handle the boat safely and with regard to others. In the end, it has to be understood that accidents can happen very quickly and can result in tragedy as in this case.

This accident is so close to home in many many ways and must remind us all of the necessity to be even more careful than we are.

Today we entered the Middle Level Navigation and are moored at March under the chimes of a loud clock. It reminds us of Cropredy where the church bell tolls out the hours and the curfew bell is rung on Thursdays. Time waits for no man.

16 miles and 2 locks today.

Is this necessary?

The notice has been up about a week and all local moorers have received a letter telling us about the Canal Experience Days this week end.


This photo of the Banbury towpath moorings was taken at 2.30 today (15th May). Was is really necessary to empty the moorings and stop boaters enjoying Banbury last night? The absence of boats would indicate a negative answer. Is it necessary to sterilise 300 feet of mooring for two hire boats and a day boat? I wouldn't have thought so.

Come on British Waterways. Put boaters FIRST.

What all the fuss is about

Here they are.

Aren't they good. Beautiful rear doors in iroko, hand made to fit SONFLOWER complete with new door frame. All is oiled and I just love to touch them.

There is nothing so lovely as natural wood.

Pass the teak oil somebody.

Aint Arf 'Ot Ma

It is May! We have got so used to the cold and damp, the cool and misty, and the warm and windy this year that we have forgotten that May is the month when we "cast a clout"! The weather has been wonderfully hot and dry for teh last few days; in the UK anyway.

On Thursday I went for a bit of a walk. When on the move, we are always looking for short circular walks so that we can exercise the children without tiring ourselves out. A walk to a pub is often not quite far enough to give us the exercise needed but this little walk nearby can be just that is you wanted.

On the South Oxford Canal between Slat Mill Lock No 20 and Little Boughton Lock No 21 are two bridges in the 'middle of nowhere'. Bridge No 157 and Bridge 158. If one moors somewhere between them then a short circular walk is possible along farm tracks, across the railway by unmanned, uncontrolled crossings (PLEASE STOP LOOK AND LISTEN!) up into Little Boughton. Up Chapel Lane will take you to the Plough Inn. After suitable refreshment return down the lane to the bottom and cross by Bridge 158 to return to the boat.


View Larger Map

A distance of about 2 miles. I enjoyed it immensely. At this time of year the rape is high and in bloom and the butterflies are everywhere. There are carpets of buttercups and vetches in flower and the odd orchid amongst the grass in the shade of the hedgerows. Apart from this the songbirds provide a constant musical accompaniment.

On my walk I met one couple walking the tow-path and chatted to the crew of a Napton Hire Boat who were basking in the scorching sun. "It usually rains when we book a boat" he said. "This has been a really nice week"

My replaced half knee survived without any complaint too!