nbCaracol on the canals

A peacock in the woods

2012-01-21T15:12:00.000Z

Still no boating to report, but here's a picture of a Peacock that was struggling to stay right side up on the track through the woods. Although the adults can come out of hibernation all year round if the weather is warm enough, I don't think this one was enjoying it much.

Canals link: the last time I came across a peacock in the woods was just south of Leighton Buzzard on the Grand Union about three years ago. A strange shrieking noise after dark had us venture out to find what was causing it, to find a peacock in a tree above the towpath. Carried on for much of the night as far as I remember. That seems to be quite an area for assertive livestock.

Bottles at Braunston

2011-12-30T23:15:00.001Z

We had planned a few days out over the Christmas break, but with the weather cold wet and miserable, just did a short trip to Braunston and back. On an afternoon walk we went to look for the line of the old canal in the fields. It was fairly easy to find, and it looks as though it was filled with rubbish, as there are old glass bottles coming out of the ground.

Later on in the evening the wind dropped and the rain stopped to give us a quiet night before returning to the marina.

Drover

2011-11-30T12:13:00.013Z

Another addition to the local sculpture trail. This one is more in keeping with the history of the woods than some of the others - that bank in the background is one side of the "Radfall", a wide track that was maintained for access to the woods. Contemporary records show that at the time the area of a specific wood was measured by the number of pigs it could support.

Misty mornings and sunny afternoons

2011-11-20T18:40:00.001Z

Another short trip to Braunston in unusual weather. Cold misty starts eventually developed into bright sunshine on both Saturday and Sunday. It was quite eerie overnight near Butchers Bridge, with water condensing and falling almost like a very fine rain showing up in torchlight. Lots of people were moving their boats well after dark too, presumably with schedules to meet to avoid being stranded by stoppages. Breakfast is easier at Braunston too, now that the Gongoozler's Rest offers take away bacon sandwiches that can be picked up on the way back from walking the dog.

Chatham Dockyard

2011-11-06T18:19:00.016Z

We've visited the museum at Chatham before, and looked around the submarine and warships that they have there. (Canals link: the battery bank in the submarine is particularly impressive.) This time we wanted to look at the Victorian rope works, which is equally impressive, all the more so for the demonstration of rope making. The works are over 1000 feet long, so that ropes of that length can be made, as specified by the Admiralty based on the depth of water in the locations that they wanted to moor. It was also surprising how many vernacular expressions come from things to do with rope. A couple come from the use of a cat of nine tails for punishment in the Navy. "Letting the cat out of the bag" related to getting ready to beat someone, while "not enough room to swing a cat" referred to the lower decks being too cramped to carry out a punishment. Lots of other stuff there too, like a large collection of historic lifeboats showing how they have developed over the years.

Stork

2011-11-01T18:16:00.000Z

Turning seasons

2011-10-27T21:18:00.000+01:00

It isn't even four weeks since I saw this tangle of cobwebs in the woods in that last hot spell of the summer. The dry spring made it a good year for spiders, and I remember trying to catch the sunlight in one. There was an intermittent pattering noise as the wind gusted that at first sounded like the first heavy drops of a summer storm. It turned out to be the first of the acorns being dislodged and falling through the tree canopy.

Most of the acorns are on the ground now, and the ones still falling sound different as you hear them bouncing off the nearly bare branches and twigs, rather than pattering through the leaves. There aren't many cobwebs left either, and the walkers you meet are in fleeces and hats.

Bonus day

2011-10-15T17:27:00.000+01:00

Just for once, the weather forecasters got it right today. There wasn't a cloud in the sky all the way from an early morning dog walk to a mooring outside Braunston Marina, via lunch at the Admiral Nelson.

Replating Dover

2011-10-02T20:51:00.020+01:00

NB Dover, featured in a TV series about fitting out a few years ago, has been up on the hard standing at Braunston Marina for a while. In a quiet moment I wandered over for a look. She's having new plate welded on between the baseplate and just above the waterline for most of the length of the boat. I wonder if the insulation and internal fitting out survive that sort of treatment, or will she need another refit?

On the way back to the marina you often see ducks, sometimes in a row. These are the first seagulls in a row that I have seen on this stretch though...

Margate and the Turner Contemporary

2011-10-01T16:35:00.000+01:00

There wasn't a cloud in the sky this morning as we set off to visit the gallery that opened earlier this year in Margate. It is a big, airy building, and the exhibition was about youth culture. One interesting piece had "then and now" photographs and comments from people pictured locally. "Then" had them in their hippy, skinhead, rocker or goth garb as teenagers, with current pictures showing how they look as adults.

The modern steel building sandwiched between the Margate harbour buildings and the Victorian buildings behind, some of them looking on the verge of dereliction.

One intent of putting the gallery here was to help regenerate the town through making it more of a destination for visitors, rather than simply a day out on the beach. I think the jury is still out on that. In the past few years there has been lots of retail development on the edge of the Thanet conurbation around Westwood Cross, meaning that town centre shops are rapidly reducing in number. The increased shopping traffic around what was already a bottleneck may also be a disincentive to visitors, judging by the miles of crawling traffic that we passed on our way home.

Velux product warning

2011-09-30T17:52:00.001+01:00

It wasn't until the inner pane of one of our windows at home spontaneously broke that I found out that the manufacturers had issued a warning earlier this year that this might happen. The problem affects one size of the windows manufactured from 1997 to 2003, and they will replace at their cost any windows from the affected batches. Checking the numbers on the panels at the Velux website, all four of ours were affected. It didn't take long to get the replacement arranged, but we'll need to wait a month for a fitter to become available. It is worth a check if you have any of these windows, as although the broken glass stayed in place, there were plenty of shards all over the floor after the break.

On chimneys

2011-09-26T18:13:00.000+01:00

While on holiday I got used to the having a rather scruffy roof. In the foreground the flue for the gas boiler is showing some black deposits caused by the burner needing a service. I hadn't worried when I found the chimney next along was rusted so much that it would barely sit on the chimney collar. No problem, I thought, as I still have an old one. However, as rust never sleeps, that one was little better and the liner had almost fallen out. You can just see bits of it in the gully to the right. So we bought a nice shiny one as a replacement.

This is made out of encouragingly thick stainless steel, and looks made to last. Here it is with some insulation wrapped in foil that I used to pack the gap you can see between the inner and outer skins to reduce condensation. Early signs are favourable, as with the tight fit on the collar and the screwed on coolie hat it has also survived some unavoidable excursions through low trees on the offside of the canal.

What lies beneath

2011-09-24T17:36:00.012+01:00

Just a short day out with friends, lunch at the Blue Lias and home again.

We saw very low water levels in the top pounds of Stockton Locks, revealing large banks of mud and the occasional fallen tree. It also meant that you could see a lot more of the paddle mechanisms in the locks than normal. Also there is quite a crop of freshwater mussels on the lower lock walls - it is surprising that so many can grow in this rather unpromising looking water.

Back to the marina in time for the clouds that were with us all day to dissolve into a beautiful sunny evening.

In the woods

2011-09-21T20:40:00.000+01:00

I've written in the past about how the local woods have been bought by a wildlife charity and are being managed for diversity. The latest phase in attracting the locals to come take a look is a sculpture trail that includes some spectacular totem poles depicting local wildlife (I think). Further along are some giant ants made from willow with a curiously out of proportion ant hill of wood shavings.

It is nice that they've been there for a while without anyone feeling the need to paint them, or destroy them! Of course they are a fantasy, as insects with no circulatory system are limited in size by the rate that oxygen can diffuse into their tissues from their spiracles, so there are firm limits on the size they can achieve. Not a lot of peole know that, or at least not a lot of 1950's horror film producers. This one however leaves me cold, even if a bench is provided so that you can sit and admire it.

I may not know much about art, but I know what I don't like.

Home again

2011-09-09T20:12:00.019+01:00

On the way back from Braunston we saw this temporary patch to control the leakage into a culvert that I see from the winter stoppage programme is to be fixed this winter. It didn't look convincing even for a temporary fix, so I hope it lasts. We talked about how having been on a longer trip to different places made the familiar ones close to home more interesting again. Also, that extra week makes it all so much more relaxing to the point that we didn't feel the need to use all of the available holiday time cruising.

Tomorrow it is home to a relaxing weekend before finding out what joys the world of work has waiting for us.

To Braunston

2011-09-08T19:52:00.017+01:00

In mixed weather we travelled from All Oaks Wood to Braunston. Lots of boats on the move, as ever in September, but a trouble free run through the Hilmorton locks of which one of each pair were locked to save water. There are plenty of bridges with poor visibility on this stretch, so some inevitable meetings...

Despite the traffic we found a mooring outside the Mill House for the night in time for a wander around the village and locks, happily reuniting a walker with a lost set of keys that we found on the towpath. Later on I looked out for a supernova that was near the Plough in the sky, but not much was visible to the naked eye. Crossing the A45 to get to the footpath along the other side of the canal the number and speed of lorries flying past in close proximity felt quite alarming after three weeks aboard.

Nuneaton for ever

2011-09-07T18:40:00.002+01:00

After a quiet night in the countryside we set off through Nuneaton. You don't see anything of the town centre as the canal skirts the town. What you do see is miles and miles of down at heel housing and allotments, with in some cases razor wire separating the two.

After what seemed like more miles than it probably was, we arrived at Hawkesbury Junction in a shower, usefully in time for a Greyhound pie for lunch. On through the afternoon to a favourite mooring for the night at All Oaks Wood.

Atherstone to Nuneaton

2011-09-06T17:50:00.000+01:00

The wind and rain through the night battered the boat and periodically woke us. There were only showers in the morning though, as we set off up the remainder of the flight meeting lots of boats, including some old boats still on their way home from Shackerstone. After lunch at the top we set off in gusting winds, but thankfully no rain. At the Hartshill yard, the towpath has fallen in.

We found a quiet spot out of the wind to moor between Springwood Haven and Nuneaton.

To Atherstone

2011-09-05T18:40:00.000+01:00

The day started sunny, but soon developed some showers and strong winds. The mixture of strong sunlight and dark skies made for some spectacular views.

After lunch near Polesworth we headed for Atherstone hoping to get onto the flight before the 4 pm closure. We made it with time to spare but found a large queue of frustrated folk coming the other way. Several historic boats returning from a rally together with the ordinary traffic, and a broken ground paddle on the bottom lock, had together caused people to take seven hours or so to traverse the flight rather than the usual four.

Armitage to Hopwas

2011-09-04T20:13:00.002+01:00

Dinner last night was at the Plum Pudding in Armitage. Excellent as always. The overnight rain had mostly cleared by the time we set off towards Fradley. The canal here is fairly windy, with lots of poor sight lines through bridge holes. Sometimes the first sign of an oncoming boat that you see is the edge of the wash, so I look out for that. Sometimes though, I end up finding I've given way to a fast paddling duck.

Woodend Lock is a peaceful spot for the present, but is on the route of HS2, which based on current plans will pass about level with the top of the lock.

The first of the Fradley locks had bottom gates that were rather eroded, and waiting to catch the front fender of descending boats with inattentive crews. Still cloudy at lunchtime, but the sun came out in time to show Streethay Wharf at its best.

The good weather stayed with us through to a mooring on edge of Hopwas - near some beautiful woodland which is open to the public when the military aren't using it.

Happy Meal and Trent Aqueduct, Rugeley

2011-09-03T20:54:00.000+01:00

Signs of Change

2011-09-02T22:56:00.000+01:00

Heading North on the Staffs and Worcester Canal, there is lots of evidence of how the area has been developed, redeveloped or allowed to return to agriculture. We moored last night near what used to be an isolated canal side pub, but is now swallowed up in housing estates. It is a similar picture elsewhere, with housing on what used to be industrial sites which grew up by the canal and are gone now. In other places the canal forms a boundary for housing spreading out for nearby villages. Depending upon the desirability of the sites, some of it is park homes, some high density terraces from the seventies, and some larger more recent prestige buildings that make the most of the canal rather than turning their back on it. Near one of these, looking like a hotel, some House Martins were gathering. They were landing on the eaves of the building in between swoops over the canal to feed – stocking up for the long journey to Africa.

On the other hand there are isolated stretches of countryside, with the occasional church standing alone in the landscape as the last remnant of what used to be a village.

Eventually we escaped the noise of the M6, and joined the railway to reach our destination at Tixall Wide. I've always fancied mooring here, but have never found a space before. It is unique on the canal system, more of a lake than a canal, and was built to appease a nearby landowner who didn't want the view of the valley from his house spoilt when the canal was built. The house is gone now, but judging by the remaining gatehouse it must have been impressive.

It is a lovely place to moor, but not as quiet as you might think, as the flatness of the landscape means that you can hear the nearby roads, and on this occasion the crops in an adjoining field were being harvested.

Later on in the evening there was too much cloud for a sunset, but as a substitute we had the street lights of Stafford bouncing off the clouds.

We're definitely homeward bound now, heading for Fradley and then Fazeley.

Compton to Penkridge

2011-09-01T19:22:00.000+01:00

After a chilly night, the sun was soon burning off the mist promising a warm day. The reflections above Compton Lock were particularly appealing. The water became progressively cleaner as we headed north to buy diesel at Oxley Marine. After that a heron seemed to be endorsing our choice of route to Great Haywood.

Northwards again, we ran over something large in the narrows at Pendeford Rockin. After a few attempts we got off it and past it, and could see it looked like a large tree root and a load of geotextile, and far too heavy to lift out. Little of the industry that used to feed the canal its work remains, although there is one large chemical plant.

After lunch at Hatherton Junction we made steady progress through the afternoon, pausing only to help out another boater in salvaging a rowboat that got swamped by leaks from the gates as he descended the lock, towing it behind his narrowboat.

Moorhen tracks

2011-08-31T17:47:00.001+01:00

I don't know what the moorhen was walking in before it got on our roof, but it certainly left some very clear tracks behind showing where it had been. Travelled to Compton today in brighter weather, passing this bridge over a locktail, where use of tow ropes over the years had almost cut through one post of the bridge.

Wolverley Court to Rocky Lock

2011-08-30T19:13:00.000+01:00

Todays route was a narrow, shallow channel that wound its way between sandstone outcrops and through attractive woodland. We witnessed an impromtu stoppage while having lunch on the terrace of The Vine in Kinver - three BW vehicles arrived and in short order had assembled a working platform, put in stop planks, and descended into the canal bed above the lock to rectify a problem with the paddles.

Within an hour or two, all was complete and the queues that had started to build up had dissipated.

Droitwich to Wolverley Court

2011-08-29T18:10:00.001+01:00

A long day's travelling, what with the Bank Holiday queues, from the canal up the Severn to Stourport and then on through Kidderminster. The Barge Canal has thickly reeded banks that make mooring impossible anywhere other than at lock landings and in the town. Dropping through the locks we met several groups who said they hadn't known this, and had no option but to moor at the locks. Other boats were still moored on lock landings, which would make things difficult for single handed boaters making an early start. Also worth noting that the moorings in the Basin are limited to 48 hours, although I doubt many would want to stay longer as there are no services on the canal.

The Severn is always impressive, but it is difficult to capture that in a photograph.

Quite a queue built up at Stourport as the boat ahead of us had waited for a small cruiser to descend both pairs of staircase locks. We were soon on the move though, and eventually stopped just above Wolverley Court lock.

Droitwich Barge Canal

2011-08-28T17:40:00.000+01:00

After deciding that an early start would be a good idea in case the moorings in Droitwich Basin were in demand, we slept in a bit late as it was so quiet in Worcester. We were last to leave the visitor moorings, and after taking a while to fill with water and wait for other boats at the locks, it was mid-morning before we were down on the Severn. After one lock on the Severn, we got to the start of the newly reopened Barge Canal.

It is a very pretty and mostly rural trip, although the locks are quite heavy and slow to empty and fill. There is still plenty of room on the moorings, and lots of boaters around discussing what clearance they had coming under the M5, or what damage they did to their boats. One worrying tale was from someone who had cleared the gauge, yet still had damage and got temporarily stuck, perhaps because of someone turning the lock above the bridge. You can't see if there is anyone in the tunnel from the lock, so it seems quite possible. The moorings in the basin seem very tranquil, apart from the odd train clanking past.

Hanbury to Diglis Basin

2011-08-27T18:48:00.000+01:00

The first boat on the moorings at Hanbury is looking very heavily fendered - probably has to do with the fact that the line of the canal after the bridge takes a turn to the right. Looks like what was probably a nice quiet mooring may have been transformed by the newly restored canal into a less agreeable location. Further down there is a lot of weed growing in the channel. Fortunately traffic was reasonably light, so we didn't meet anyone in the narrows.

We were first onto the visitor moorings in Diglis Basin, but they're full now, and the waterpoints are filling up with the late arrivals.

Hanbury Wharf

2011-08-26T17:13:00.000+01:00

Just after we got in from dinner last night the heavens opened for the first of a series of showers through the night. Soon after we set off we had another shower from about 9:15 to 13:15. It wasn't always heavy though, sometimes lifting enough to give views of Worcester in the distance.

We moored up for lunch then walked into Droitwich and back on the newly opened canal, to take a look at the culvert under the M5 which almost certainly doesn't have enough headroom for Caracol.

Leaves on the line

2011-08-25T20:18:00.000+01:00

After yesterday's adventures, on seeing evidence of a lump of a tree in the water, I took due care. You have to guess which side of the visible lump to pass, and I guessed wrong - I thought it had fallen in from the offside at a distance, but having passed it it looks like it was ripped from a tree on the towpath.

Just around the corner was this spectacular piece of artwork - a kind of camouflage for mooring in the countryside, with all sorts of flaura and fauna making a showing in what seemed to be a hand painted piece.

In every tunnel this trip I've seen something flying, and apparently feeding on insects. The flight looked more like a House Martin rather than a bat, but finally today I saw where they landed after picking up some choice morsels from around the headlight beam.

The rest of the day saw us descending the Tardebigge flight. So much easier in sunny weather unlike the last trip, with lots of traffic the other way, so no need to turn locks. Given the weather forecast, I had it in mind to title this post "Why does it always rain on me?", but that seems superfluous now.

2011-08-24T16:48:00.000+01:00

The route into Birmingham is surprisingly leafy and pleasant with the bright sunshine giving dappled patterns on the water. One unusual sight was a dam put in place to hold back the water so that work could be carried out on one of the spill ways. It seemed surprisingly flimsy to hold back so much weight.

Then it was time for a couple of surprises. The first was a crowd of the local youth near Kingswood Junction, calling abuse from the safety of the tree line, and dropping berries on the boat from a pipe bridge that a couple had crawled onto. They seemed upset that despite trying a variety of insults they could stimulate no more response than a laugh from us.

The second surprise came when passing through the remains of the stop lock at King's Norton, where our boat came to a sudden halt and wouldn't budge. Exploration with a boat pole revealed what felt like a log wedging us firmly in. Pushing and pulling and hitting the log did nothing to dislodge it. Fortunately a following boat had a scaffolding pole, and after various attempts what shifted us was tying the boats together, both engines in reverse, pulling from the bank, and levering up the bow of the boat with the scaffold pole. What had stopped us was a portion of tree about three feet long and having the stumps of several branches.

We moored for the night at Hopwood, which had a little traffic noise that we thought would die down over the evening. Unfortunately there were major road works scheduled, and lots of big machines going up and down the road until very late. It is the reversing alarms that are hardest to ignore...

Hockley Heath

2011-08-23T16:31:00.002+01:00

Setting off from Hatton, the levels were low again needing a little care to stay in the channel to make progress. One unusual sight was a hay bale, plastic wrapped, that had rolled, or had been rolled, down the hill to rest in the shallows of the canal.

Lapworth arrived in time for lunch at the Boot, which was not up to the same standard as usual. We went up the Lapworth flight in bright sun and high temperatures, before deciding to stop for the night at Hockley Heath, simply because we hadn't done so before. It always looks very pretty from the back of a boat, where the noise of your engine hides the traffic noise from vehicles crossing the bridge. It had calmed down a lot a little bit later on.

Warwick and Hatton

2011-08-22T16:24:00.003+01:00

A cool autumnal morning saw us setting off for the retail opportunities of Leamington and Hatton. The bottom pound had filled by about four inches overnight from the pump operating at the lock, presumably raising the level of the whole flight. Once through the lock there was no sign of water shortage. With the larder fully stocked we set off up Hatton, and were lucky enough to pick up a partner after the first lock. It was a slow trip so we stopped for the night just above the locks.

To Radford

2011-08-21T17:45:00.025+01:00

A familiar trip down to Radford on low pounds. The early morning light was beautiful and had that yellowish tinge that often precedes rain. However, the translucent clouds thinned rather than thickening, and soon we were under bright sunshine. It was too warm to sit and eat outside the Two Boats, so we retreated back to the boat. The mooring above Radford Lock was unusually quiet.

One thing that I'd forgotten about, boating at this time of year, is spiders. We tend to be fairly tolerant of them on the boat, after all they spend more time aboard than we do, and do a useful job keeping the insect numbers down. This time of year though, they are just too numerous. When I pushed the hatch forward this morning I thought I'd dislodged some drops of water from the overnight rain. I soon spotted though that what hit my head and shoulders were spiders, startled by the sudden movement and abseiling down to what might be safety. There was a particularly large one that had taken residence in the hole in the tiller, and came out at speed as I dropped the tiller pin in place. In the early evening you can see them emerging from somewhere to spin their hopeful webs across the tops of the windows. There are too many, and there will be evictions.

Holiday time at last

2011-08-20T17:55:00.000+01:00

It has been a long time coming but we're finally ready to set off on our summer trip. This year we decided to have three weeks together instead of two so that we could reach more distant parts of the system. We had the Kennet and Avon Canal in mind, thinking three weeks could get us as far as Devizes. As the time got closer, more and more bad news arrived about water shortages. Firstly the locks up to the Oxford Canal summit were limited to nine am to four pm, then it was down to 10 am to two pm, with BW staff around to encourage you to wait for a boat coming the other way for up to an hour if the lock was in their favour. So that had us thinking about alternatives. Then the riots, and their impact on boaters in cities added a further complication about which way we'd go based on where we'd be happy to moor if that recurred.

Other time restrictions and stoppages have been added, meaning slow passage on the North Oxford through Hilmorton, and the Leicester Arm seems particularly bad. So in the end we seem to have decided not to decide, just head north on the Grand Union and play it by ear. One idea is to go down towards Worcester and see the newly reopened Droitwich Canal then round to the north of Birmingham, depending on what else is in the news by the time we get there. Someone mentioned to me Chris Clegg's Canal Map, which on one side of A4 maps the system in two hour increments, and on the other side shows how far you are likely to get in 6, 8, or 10 hour days of cruising. Having said that I think we must cruise a bit slower than some as we only seemed to do what the map suggests is a six hour trip in some of our 8-10 hour days last year on the Thames Ring. That should make looking at the options a bit easier as we travel.

What with one thing and another we've lost a day as some last minute work things got in the way of travelling yesterday, and we had a particularly slow trip today. Still, here we are, boat filled with fuel and water, weedhatch checked, and ready to go in the morning.

OpenStreetMap and Garmin

2011-08-06T17:19:00.002+01:00

I first saw OpenStreetMap a few years ago, with its mission to create a free editable map of the world, but thought it looked rather hard work. So I carried on buying things like Ordnance Survey topographical mapping when I got a new Garmin Legend a few years ago. The road mapping and routing were fine, but things like footpaths were only patchily covered, and sometimes had missing parts. Also, the mapping cost about as much as the device to use it on, and you could only view it on the handheld and not in the "Mapsource" programme that Garmin supply.
View Larger Map
Either I missed the plot last time I looked, or OpenStreetMap has got dramatically more useful and easier. Taking this view of the area around Gas Street Basin as an example, there is lots more detail there than on the OS 1:25000 maps on footways and access to roads at bridges, as well as identification of shops and restaurants, useful for visitors. Unlike the OS based products, paths can be made routable, so the routing capability on the handheld will take you onto towpaths when that is more direct, rather than using only the roads.

It is also free for anyone to use, and various enthusiasts have made available downloadable versions that can be put on a data card and used in many GPS devices. If there isn't one there to suit your needs, there are also instructions elsewhere on that wiki on how to build your own maps with particular emphasis on the features you want to see. As an aside you can also download Points of Interest on a planned route on Canalplan and load these via Mapsource, so that you have all bridges, locks and moorings marked.

Of course, with anything produced this way there might be inaccuracies, missing bits, or things that are out of date. There were certainly a couple of missing footpaths near my home, and in the woods where I walk the dog the paths had changed quite a bit in the couple of years since someone entered them, due to forestry work. The beauty of it is though that I could correct the online map for these features in a couple of hours, and those changes propagated into the downloadable compiled versions within a couple of weeks. I'll be looking at how complete the mapping is in some other areas during our next trip out in a couple of weeks.

I have no connection with the site other than as a grateful user, and now as an occasional contributor.

Sunbeams and sign language

2011-07-31T19:26:00.001+01:00

Another of our regular trips over to Norton Junction and back. Our usual spot outside the Mill House was inexplicably full, and nowhere else was free to stop, so we went on up the locks. Again traffic was patchy, but somehow four other boats were waiting ahead of us for Braunston Bottom Lock. Still, we were soon on our way in glorious weather. Even the diesel smoke coming out of the tunnel can look good on a day like this.

We moored up back through the tunnel on the 48hour moorings above the locks, for a change in glorious isolation. Well, it was isolation until a boat arrived from the locks to moor apparently playing a CD of bagpipe music, but it wasn't for long.

Sunday was a quiet cruise back to the marina, complicated only by meeting some boaters at Calcutt who seemed to be trying to convey a complex message through sign language as we each left locks. It really isn't that complicated, though, to cross with some other boats in one of the pounds there.

Napton in the holidays

2011-07-24T18:54:00.060+01:00

Another sunny weekend - too good not to go boating. It was fairly quiet as we went through Calcutt Locks and turned right at the junction, but it all changed as we reached Napton. Still, one boater's queue is another's retail opportunity, so although we were about 90 minutes getting through the first lock, we had a new mirror by the time we got there. However, we were still third or fourth in the queue for the next lock, and there was a spare space on the visitor mooring, so we decided on lunch at the Folly. Excellent fresh fish for me, recommended.

Things were quieter as we got back to the boat to head on up the flight, and it was still fairly early when we moored so I thought I'd take a look at the engine hours counter, which was showing a reading less and less frequently.

Here's the tachometer out of the panel. If I'd had the right screwdriver tip it would probably have been easier taking it to pieces, but I managed it anyway. From all of the spray foam insulation that I had to cut off the back it looks as though it was installed before the insulation, which was a bit of a surprise.

After fiddling with all the connector blocks I put it back together again, and the numbers are back. Not long to the next service I see. I was happy, but the sheep watching from the opposite bank didn't seem impressed.

Hot weekend in Braunston

2011-07-10T21:10:00.003+01:00

Just recently, with the weather forecasts being so unreliable, and it being a six hour round trip, we've not had so many weekends away as we used to. However, things looked good on Friday, despite a forecast of heavy showers. The website that I looked at, despite saying heavy showers for the area, offered a forecast of only a hundredth of an inch of rain. So that's 99% chance of missing the showers or 1% chance of a soaking. Good enough.

The frustration of a long, long queue on the M1 was soon despatched on reaching the location of the cause. As we crawled towards the flickering clusters of blue lights, (four fire engines, three ambulances, several police cars and a helicoper), it was all too easy to be glad just to be delayed. It's hard to think how traffic moving at 50mph in a single isolated lane in a contraflow could have achieved this level of carnage.

Saturday saw us Braunston bound, and arriving in time for lunch we decided to go up the locks and through the tunnel and back. Some of us were finding it on the hot side. Usually at this time of year we meet a few boats full of young folk who behave as if they have been the first to think of the idea of dressing as pirates and hiring a boat for the weekend.

This time it was sailors...

On to Norton Junction and back into Braunston, where we settled on a mooring near the Marina entrance by about seven in the evening. Judging by the foot traffic on the towpath that we heard through the evening, the event at the Admiral Nelson, (recently reopened), was a great success.

On Sunday we passed an old wooden motor, just opposite the boat that sank a couple of years ago on the puddle banks, that looked somewhat lower in the water than the day before. Yesterday the wind turbine on this boat was turning, and a bilge pump was running and spitting out an intermittent stream of water. Today the air was still and the boat was tilted further over, and perhaps sitting on the mud. I hope they can recover the situation.

After that, a slow trip back to the marina with lots of traffic but no real delays, bumping into some new neighbours, preceded a rather less eventful journey home.

Braunston Boat Gathering

2011-06-26T19:10:00.000+01:00

We spent a gray Saturday heading for Braunston, and moored up on the puddle banks to walk into town. When we got there in the early afternoon the boat parade was still under way. Well, it was more of a slow queue in places really, and the picture gives a hint why. The man with the megaphone said that it had taken two and a half hours longer than expected.

Sunday was one of those perfect summer days where the few white clouds in the sky seem to be there just so that you can appreciate the blue of the sky better.

Rain

2011-05-30T18:42:00.002+01:00

No pictures today, as we woke to a steady drenching drizzle that stayed with us from the aqueduct at Long Itchington to Ventnor Farm. NB Enigma shared the Stockton flight with us. At least. one benefit of the steady rainfall was that it makes it really easy to see which direction the wind is blowing from while trying to moor.

Butterfly collecting in Leamington

2011-05-29T21:01:00.000+01:00

Well, it looked like collecting insects over the reed beds, although it isn't a common sight on the canals. In any event the jogger seemed to take fright and disappear up onto the road. Another windy day with lots of boats moving early, but a very quiet afternoon. We moored tonight on the aqueduct at Long Itchington, also much quiter than usual with lots of spaces available, but the pound looks about a foot down, for some reason.

To Radford

2011-05-28T18:03:00.001+01:00

It took two tries to get out of the marina in the wind this morning after filling with diesel, because the first time we just ended up square across the entrance having been caught by a gust. Right turn, and we shared Stockton Locks under grey clouds, with occasional spots of rain, before lunch at the Two Boats. Arriving at Bascote Locks, there was a short torrential shower, but by the time we were through the staircase it was sunny, and we could see the cloud that had just passed over us.

After that an uneventful run down to Radford on our own, turning all but one lock, with the two boats behind not quite catching us before we moored.

Flags in the sunset

2011-05-27T20:19:00.000+01:00

Lots of Irises about by the waterside on our evening walk at the moment. We had planned do do some work touching up the paint this weekend, until we saw the weather forecast. Occasional showers to come throughout the weekend, apparently, so painting not really on the agenda. Guess we'll just have to go cruising, probably Leamington this time.

Rapture

2011-05-21T18:24:00.007+01:00

An awful lot of people on that balance beam at Napton Adkins lock! Our quick trip up and back down the flight came to a sudden pause when we came upon a paddle on the bottom gates that wouldn't fully close. That meant the lock wouldn't completely fill, so the top gate wouldn't open. After trying various things the first couple of boat crews to arrive gave up and phoned BW to come fix it. However, as more time passed, more people arrived and there were sufficient to push the gate open without the water being completely level. Most of those helped through moored up and came back to assist the next boats through so that there were enough on the gates to force them open. Just as the last of the queue was dealt with, the BW guys arrived and were able to get the paddle down and mark it with hazard tape so that people didn't try to reopen it. I wish I knew how - I suppose all of the bits of hazard tape around the network have a little drama like this behind them.

Oh, and the Folly Inn is open again, having had a bit of a makeover, and seems to be doing well. Quite a good looking menu, and the fish we had was fresh and well cooked. Also a choice of beers on hand pump, and dogs welcome - what more could you ask?

Nature Notes (2)

2011-05-08T18:33:00.000+01:00

No boating again this weekend, so more from the archive...

Most people are familiar with the way herons wait until you are close then take off and land a hundred yards on, only to repeat it when you get there soon after. This one waited until we were nearly alongside to take off, and seemed to want to race us through the bridge hole.

Radford to Ventnor Farm

2011-05-01T18:34:00.004+01:00

After an evening spent at a selection of unexpected angles, as the water level was varying so much, I eventually loosened the ropes so that we were afloat about two feet away from the bank. Passing boats were not a problem, as we grounded and stuck in position each time something passed. Levels were low all the way, as we moved south with NB Coromandel, apparently due to a failure in the back pumping at Radford Lock. The forecast had been for winds of more than 20 mph, and the gusts were a lot stronger than that as we made our many attempts to get back to our pontoon without demolishing it.

Going downhill slowly

2011-04-30T18:08:00.001+01:00

After a night when the temperature dropped way down, we set off for the top of the Hatton flight around 8 am. The day soon warmed up, and a fairly slow passage meeting only three boats saw us at the Cape in time for lunch. Ended the day in glorious sunshine moored in the pound above Radford bottom lock, having secured a drifting boat in the pound below.

Nice day for a white wedding

2011-04-29T17:46:00.001+01:00

Nature notes:

We travelled today from Catherine de Barnes to Hatton, via lunch at the Boot in Lapworth. Lots of herons around this morning. I tend to think of them as a rural sight, but this one had chosen the M42 viaduct as a suitable place to go fishing. This afternoon we spotted this fox gazing out at us from the security of the cutting just south of Shrewley tunnel. I tried to get a little closer for a better picture, but suddenly there was a flash of fur and he was gone.

Curdworth to Catherine de Barnes

2011-04-28T18:09:00.049+01:00

It's along time since we've been along this route, probably 15 years, and time has taken its toll. Some factories are still working but lots more look derelict, or are now building sites for the sort of new industrial multi-purpose buildings that some investor presumably hopes will get snapped up as the economy improves.
Approaching Salford Junction the motorways assert themselves once more, and as you can see from the bridge pillars it is perhaps not the place to overnight if you don't fancy acquiring some new and unsolicited signwriting for the boat.

Our first issue with water levels was in the pound by the Cincinnatti works, (or ex-Cincinnatti works), where we could get through just fine but a BW man asked us to wait while he refilled the pound. Garrison Locks were also low, and you see us here waiting above the bottom lock for enough water to be let down to be able to make it through the shallows ahead. A personal record here - two trips down the weedhatch in a single pound; once for a pair of trousers and then for a shirt. It was even less fun at Camp Hill Locks when we reached there. Although the bottom paddles seemed to be down, some of the plentiful rubbish must have been holding one open as the lock just wouldn't fill. Eventually we reopened them to flush it out, but by that time the pound above was well down. At the top lock a duck with one duckling left was agitated when she found herself stuck in the lock unable to get her offspring out. Fortunately the duckling was more resourceful and made a raft out of discarded take-away food boxes that happened to be handy, as we slowly filled the lock.

We were much more fortunate than than the boat following, who didn't arrive at Catherine de Barnes until 10.30 having struggled through the locks. All in all though, still an enjoyable if slightly challenging day.

Tamworth to Curdworth

2011-04-27T17:49:00.009+01:00

After a push across the canal to use the services, we set off steadily towards Birmingham. A shorter day today, and in better weather, as we only wanted to get as far as Curdworth, after which the city begins to intrude a bit and it isn't so pleasant to moor. The first of the days low pounds wasn't a problem for Caracol, but became one for Annie after running up and down the flight and getting thirsty. Wanting a drink she took one risk too many and tumbled in - funny how she never minds being hauled out by the collar.
As we climbed the flight with the increasing roar of the M42, the weather improved, and we were back into the bright yellow land of oilseed rape. We reached Curdworth in time for a late lunch and a wander around the village to look at the church and some other attractive buildings. Hardly any boats seemed to be moving, surprisingly enough.

Huddlesford to Tamworth via Fradley

2011-04-27T17:32:00.020+01:00

A gray, cold day had us back in fleeces and gloves as we chugged up to Fradley to use the facilities. Too early for lunch at the Swan, so we retraced our steps to Huddlesford as the Plough had been closed last evening and we fancied trying it. Onward back for a visit to Tamworth town centre and the shops to restock. There is a large memorial in Church Square to Able Seaman Colin Grazier who died retrieving Enigma code books from a sinking submarine. It is very striking but as you can see I couldn't find an angle that would eliminate that pesky street light. Moored near Fazeley Junction for a quiet night, (until the building site opposite starts work early in the morning).

To Huddlesford Junction

2011-04-25T17:52:00.000+01:00

Well ahead of where we needed to be on the Warwickshire Ring, we decided on a side trip out to Fradley. The weather is back with us again, seems more like high summer than April. We thought we'd be at Fradley tonight, but moved slower than expected so stopped a few miles short. We may try the Plough for dinner tonight. We're off through Birmingham in a day or two so need to plan moorings a bit more carefully than usual as it is apparently unwise to stop just anywhere in the city.

To Polesworth

2011-04-24T17:44:00.000+01:00

On today through a post industrial landscape still showing some of the signs of an intensely mined and quarried history. One thing that stood out were the bluebells in the clumps of trees in the parkland above Atherstone - normally you have to be in the woods to see them. We crossed with much of the Lichfield cruising club in the locks, seven boats being out together. While the sun didn't make a showing, still a good day's cruising for the time of year. Finished the day at a favourite mooring just west of Polesworth, where what was an industrial site is now a glorious huge area of woodland.

Newbold to Coldecote

2011-04-23T17:29:00.013+01:00

We looked into all three of the pubs in Newbold, before deciding to take fish and chips back to the boat. After a quiet night we set off fairly early, pausing at Rose Narrowboats chandlery along the way. After lunch in the Greyhound we pottered on through the glorious afternoon. The picture shows the M6 soaring above the canal at some point on the journey.

Two for one?

2011-04-22T19:35:00.000+01:00

Well, no, eleven for three. That's eleven consecutive days off, what with Easter and the next bank holidays being so close, for the expenditure of three days leave from work. Despite the "plague of frogs" tone of the trafic reports last night, we had a pretty easy jouney up. Perhaps the availability of near real time data on delays is making people change their decisions on whether to travel. It was hard to find a parking spot near Caracol at the marina last night, so we thought things would be busy today. An early start had us out on fairly quiet canals, to begin with in a persistent mist. I've always liked the way a thin mist adds depth to the landscape by emphasising the differences between near, far, and further.

What's left to say?

2011-04-10T18:33:00.035+01:00

Just another beautiful weekend out to Braunston and back. We couldn't make our minds up whether to travel or not, probably having got out of the habit, but so glad we did. On the way back on Sunday we shared the locks breasted up to NB Elizabeth, (a historic boat converted for leisure use in the 1930s), and found that actually you can't steer a 30 ton boat with a 15 ton one. What can you say about a trip you've done before, but still enjoy every time...

... perhaps you just have to be there.

Braunston and home

2011-03-21T20:50:00.001Z

Very quiet when we moored last night and only a couple of other boats turned up later. The shared ownership event at Braunston Marina was just winding up, so we saw a steady stream of craft leaving. The morning was bright and sunny again, as we set off for home. Lots of old wooden boats on the tow path after the puddle banks. As well as the one that sank last year, (or was it the year before), another looks as though it is on its way to the bottom. Spectacular skies again as we made this familiar trip back to the mooring, but it seldom fails to please.

2011-03-20T19:53:00.001Z

A long weekend still isn't that long, so Sunday saw us heading back down Watford locks in much cooler weather. Still the sun did its trick again and came out in time for lunch at the New Inn at Buckby. Then back through the tunnel, (accidentally breaking the cratch cover zip on the tunnel wall, not sure how), and a wait at the top lock for one of the following boats. This turned out to be a training trip for one of the LNBP boats that takes parties of kids out through the year. By the time we got to the bottom lock, it was clear that as well as the Spring, the gongoozling season was getting well under way.

2011-03-19T18:49:00.002Z

Watford locks are beautiful in the sun despite the steady roar of traffic from the M1 nearby. We tend to come here when it is not likely to be busy out of season, as it is quite a bottleneck, so that means the weather isn't usually so good. Funny how a utility company always seems to install a wire in the middle of the scene to add character to an image. Moored for lunch below Crack's Hill and walked to the top for a picnic. This is about the only high ground for miles around, apparently a glacial outlier, so the views are spectacular. You can see the relatively new Yelvertoft Marina from the top, as the canal winds around on its way on to Leicester. We turned there later to moor in Crick for the night.

...and the first trip out of the year for us

2011-03-18T18:27:00.003Z

The hedgerows and trees aren't in leaf yet, so you can see things that aren't visible later in the year. Near Shuckburgh on the way to Braunston you can often hear rooks as you pass. This time of year you can see their nests in the treetops too. Braunston was very quiet and we stopped for lunch on the terrace of the Mill House, the sun taking this as a cue to emerge from behind the clouds. Afterwards we paired up with another boat through the locks. Although intending to stop before the tunnel, such a nice evening meant we decided to carry on into the evening and moor just after Norton Junction. The repairs to the landslip before the tunnel are finished now, at long last.

First butterfly

2011-03-12T18:19:00.002Z

Another sign of Spring - I think it might be a small tortoiseshell.

Spring on the way...

2011-03-12T10:02:00.000Z

...and our first trip out for ages will be a long weekend, next weekend. Can't wait.

St Mary's, Abingdon, December 1999

2011-02-19T18:09:00.000Z

Royal Military Canal, Kent, 2003

2011-02-18T18:23:00.000Z

Macclesfield Canal 2004

2011-02-13T19:21:00.001Z

No boating to report with the weather and stoppages, so just a memory of a hot June a few years ago. If you look closely you can see the tell tale crossover bridge.

A Flying Visit

2010-12-29T18:02:00.002Z

Caracol is moored about halfway home from where we spent Christmas, so we stopped there for lunch yesterday to see how she was doing. There had apparently been about four inches of snow overnight and a rapid thaw in the morning, so there was about three inches of ice on the marina with some puddles of melt water on the top. It had been down to around minus 8 degrees C inside the boat since we last visited, but no damage was apparent. Glad we hadn't been planning a Christmas cruise this year though!

A change of scene

2010-12-25T16:15:00.000Z

We're visiting family in North Wales for a few days, so some different walks for Annie and some spectacular weather to enjoy. At lunchtime the tide was washing in mushy ice onto the sand, and there were still patches of ice further up the beach. By late afternoon things were a bit warmer, and the (tidal at this point) River Clwyd below Rhuddlan Castle was just beginning to thaw, with much rattling and cracking. I wonder how Caracol is doing in the ice - if there is a thaw we may look in on the way home to see how she is getting on.

Plus ca change

2010-12-15T18:14:00.000Z

Not much chance for boating at the moment with another lot of frosty weather on the way before the ice from the last one has properly thawed. Chatting with a friend about his holiday plans for northern France next summer led me to go back to my old photo albums to refresh my memory about a trip to Brittany 20 years ago. It must be years since I've looked at those photos. Digital makes it so much easier, and these days I use the picasa web album site as an online backup and to give access from anywhere, with 20GB of storage for the princely sum of $5.75, (the annual bill has just arrived). It's very handy, as picasa indexes images on your hard drive, and if you wish automatically copies changes to the web.

Well, one album full of memories leads to another and before I knew it I was looking at pictures from a trip to New Zealand ten years ago, and wondering whether I shouldn't scan a few of the pictures in case I ever lost the prints. The one below caught my eye, and for some reason it reminded me rather strongly of Radford Lock. Who would have thought that boating and canyoning could feel so similar...

Winter's REALLY here

2010-12-02T14:50:00.013Z

You can be sure the season has properly turned when the snow reaches all the way down to the tide line. Down here on the coast the major roads are open, but the minor ones and residential streets are decidedly slippery. So a short walk into town to buy a couple of essentials, and then home through the park in the gathering dusk.

2010-11-28T14:59:00.002Z

Winter is here

2010-11-21T14:27:00.021Z

With the best will in the world, noone can even pretend that it is still Autumn and not winter. There are scarcely any leaves still floating in the water to foul the propeller, and the wind is bitterly cold. Still, not too cold for a quick trip out to Braunston for an overnight visit. Work carries on though in the boat yards, and looks all the more spectacular in the afternoon gloom.

Blue Lias and back

2010-10-30T22:26:00.019+01:00

A day out with friends - looks like painting the handrail on the other side will have to wait until next spring though.

Before and after

2010-10-18T18:30:00.002+01:00

Over the weekend we caught up on fixing some damaged paintwork. Normally we do it as we cruise, but we were doing long days on the Thames Ring and didn't feel like it, and then it rained for lots of trip to Stratford, so we couldn't. The first picture shows the undercoat I put on last Autumn.

Somehow once we got fresh dings in the new undercoat before having a chance to put new gloss on last Autumn I sort of lost interest. It looks a lot better now, and if you look closely you can see the first of the horseflies that thought it was so attractive that they would land for a closer look, and get stuck.

No cruising, but at least there were some fantastic views to be had on the evening before and the morning after the first frost of the winter.

Home again

2010-10-01T18:52:00.009+01:00

We went up the Stockton flight in heavy rain and wind, and decided to go on past the marina for dinner at the Bridge. This turned out to be a questionable decision, as the heavy rain turned torrential, and the visitor moorings were full. Along with half a dozen other boats we fought our way to the bank across the shallows, and tied up against what felt like a bank made of cream cheese after eventually finding some firm enough spots for pins. It was early so I set off to walk the dog down to the Folly to see if it was open, but gave up after the rain running down my legs filled my (waterproof) shoes. A good meal at the Bridge, with the experience marred only by the state of the towpath that you wouldn't normally expect until later in the winter. Back to the marina in the morning.

Long Itchington

2010-09-30T18:33:00.001+01:00

Making the most of the last of the holiday we travelled, mostly alone, up the few locks to Long Itchington. Leaves are starting to turn now, and some were quite spectacular like the Virginia Creeper growing up through other shrubs by the Bascote staircase. A walk into the village to find somewhere to eat was achieved before the monsoon overnight and most of the next day set in.

Leamington

2010-09-29T18:48:00.005+01:00

A slow chug along the sump to the other side of Radford Lock today, visiting the various retail opportunities Leamington has to offer. Having never visited The Moorings we stopped there for lunch to find it closed for refurbishment. Handy for a retail park though for us to visit a DIY store to buy stuff to fix the shower. We looked in at the Tiller Pin to find it packed with not a table free, so ended up lunching on board. Nice sunset though.

Hatton and the Cape

2010-09-28T18:25:00.002+01:00

On a surprisingly quiet day we made a solo passage down Hatton flight, remarkable only because of the assisted passage down the first few locks because BW workers wished to get us through before draining a pound for maintenance. Walking back up to see what was happening and have lunch at the Cafe was pleasant enough, but by then the work was over and all back to normal. Overnight at the visitor moorings at the Cape of Good Hope, which seemed quieter than on previous visits.

Shrewley Tunnel

2010-09-27T18:13:00.029+01:00

Our slow perambulation between watering holes, aiming tonight for the Waterman at Hatton, took us through Shrewley Tunnel. And this picture marks the retirement, (subject to establishing the feasibility of repair), of my camera which shortly after took an unscheduled bath. At least it's an excuse for a new toy! Pictures may be less frequent for a while though.

Arriving back after dinner a little before nine o'clock, the visitor moorings in the cutting before the locks were rather noisy. A furiously revving engine on an Anglo Wesh boat turned out to be the cause, apparently a reaction to some battery charging problems. Still, after a polite request to stop the engine, we all settled down for a very peaceful night, and next day as we passed them in the locks there was an engineer wheeling in new batteries to fix the problem.

Duck's eye view

2010-09-26T22:43:00.009+01:00

Heading back north again, the Edstone aqueduct is one of only a couple with the tow path at a lower level than the trough carrying the water. It is curious because although by no means as high or long as its Welsh cousins, not seeing the ground on either side really adds to the sense of height and exposure.

It also makes what is really quite a small dog look rather more intimidating. On to Lowsonford for the night and dinner at the Fleur de Lys. The moorings were crowded as we arrived with a fleet of Anglo Wesh boats, so we booked a table. However this proved unnecessary as before long several crews of superannuated pirates arrived back from the pub and set off giggling down the locks.

Duck whisperer

2010-09-25T20:42:00.000+01:00

OK, so Stratford does have its moments when you wake up in your boat in the middle of town on a gloriously sunny morning. With a food festival and various food markets open today I think the locals were outnumbering the tourists for a change. After some more shopping we set off back up the locks, only just fitting under some of the bridges with the water tank empty, so just as well we're still carrying those old batteries.

As we stopped to take on water a particularly engaging family of ducks arrived to relieve us of some bread bought for this very purpose. Supremely confident, they came closer and closer until the inevitable happened and in the excitement a finger was mistaken for food. Nothing more from us after that, but they soon spotted another opportunity. After a cool and windy, but gloriously sunny day, we moored at Wilmcote for a generously proportioned dinner in the Masons Arms.

Lazy days

2010-09-24T19:41:00.001+01:00

The day arrived, chilly, grey and wet. For the first time on a cruise we decided to stay where we were, and spend some time doing the traditional tourist thing. So a day spent in Stratford, which everyone assures you is dripping in history, but strangely doesn't really feel like that. Perhaps all of the very many visitors seeking that sense have carried it away with them...

Back on the move again tomorrow.

Southbound

2010-09-23T18:51:00.001+01:00

Yesterday we started down the many, many locks between Lapworth and Stratford in the autumn sunshine. The forecasters warned of rain tomorrow, and we weren't the only ones making the most of the sun - this chap was on a sunflower growing by one of the locks. We aimed for lunch at the Crabmill, which never disappoints. Table service included a server bringing a bowl of water and a couple of biscuits for each dog with diners!

On again down the locks in the afternoon we ended up at Wooton Wawen for a look around St Peter's, (reputedly the oldest church in Warwickshire dating to Saxon times), and dinner in the Navigation. Next day we went on down the Wilmcote flight, turning nearly every lock, except the really leaky ones. We only met one boat, just above the bottom lock.

Stratford is an interesting town to approach as you drop through a variety of locks in the industrial area characteristic of a midlands town. This lock was my favourite, with a stone clad bridge parapet resting on a girder, and a lock gate with a ninety degree bend to fit into the space. Moored for the night in the tourist circus that is Bancroft Basin.

An early start

2010-09-21T18:38:00.002+01:00

Hatton flight lies between a busy road and a commuter rail line, but even so it can be very quiet in the middle of the night. So quiet in fact that you can start to hear unfamiliar noises on the boat. Having got out of bed to check all was OK at about 5 am, I felt a bit chilly so turned on the heating. Then there was definitely a funny noise, which was the pump running with no liquid in the reservoir.

To make a long story short I found the leak at the joint in the Hep2O piping I had used to drain the system. A little research revealed that rather than reassembling it like a copper joint, I needed to reassemble the connector, then push the end of the pipe into it. Who would have thought that push to fit piping was assembled by, erm... pushing it together. Around 5.30, an hour before first light, I heard a runner pounding past on the path. I thought it was an odd time to be running, but I was sure it was a strange time for plumbing. I always decide that next time I'll read the instructions before tackling a job, but I doubt I ever will.

Still, we were all sorted and refilled by about 6.15, and on the move on a beautiful foggy morning by 7 am. As soon as the sun was over the trees the mist began to burn off, but before it did the dew was highlighting the many cobwebs on the lock gear.

It's great how visiting a flight of locks done many times before but in different conditions can make the whole thing seem like new. Moored on the South Stratford after a good lunch at the Boot.

Autumn cruise

2010-09-20T17:24:00.002+01:00

We drove up to the boat on Saturday, and the downside was that it was our worst ever journey with long delays or closed roads with every route you tried. On the upside we ended up on minor roads broadly following the line of the southern Grand Union and had lots of glimpses of the canal and the neighbouring villages. We already knew a lot of nice canalside villages, so it was interesting to see that a lot of their neighbours are just as pleasant.

Concluding that our domestic batteries were reaching the end of their useful life, (when the TV and fridge stopped working mid-evening), we decided to stop at Leamington Tesco for the night to get to the shops on Monday. It's hard to miss this shop, and although it looks as though it will be close by, Lidl and the Co-op further to the east are a shorter carry. There used to be room for two or three boats at Tesco but some enterprising soul has cut back a load of vegetation to make more space.

Shame about the rubbish all over the bank though. Monday dawned bright and sunny with lots of joggers and cyclists on the towpath opposite. The lady at Kate Boats pointed us towards Warwiwckshire Batteries on Birmingham Road, very handy for the Saltisford Arm. They had just what we needed, and even loaned a sack truck to get the batteries across the road. So about £200 lighter, (and 90kg heavier until we dispose of the old ones), we set off up Hatton after an hour or so of wrestling heavy objects in confined spaces. We stopped for the night about hafway up the locks in one of the longer pounds where someone had trimmed the overgrown edges in two places about 58 feet apart.

Tomorrow we'll be off towards Stratford and maybe a few days on the Avon if we have time.

2010-08-30T19:08:00.002+01:00

One of those mornings today that lets you know that Autumn isn't too far away. After the rain in the night, the sky had cleared to a beautiful cloudless blue. Ideal to see a familiar area at its best, and fresh enough to really enjoy a brisk dog walk along the towpath. There wasn't time to apologise to one lady we met with her moored boat and menagerie, so I'd better do it now. I'm sorry, I had no idea that some of your chickens were loose on the towpath. (For the avoidance of uncertainty, I would like to confirm that no animals were harmed in the making of this movie. One or two may have been a bit startled.)
Edited to say: Braunston Manor in the picture is for sale, apparently, if seven figure prices aren't too scary.

Back to Braunston

2010-08-29T18:32:00.001+01:00

A short morning cruise brought us back to the delights of Braunston. We had a walk round the village shops and pubs, and heard that the Braunston Festival had been washed out as exhibitors left after some torrential rain around lunchtime. That was a shame as the afternoon was sunny and reasonably warm, so if they had hung on it might have all been OK. We also got a kit to refurbish the old Floking water pump, (note to self: Midland Chandlers only sell Shurflo spares, but these seem to be identical to Floking spares).

Unusually we had found a free mooring just opposite Tony Redshaw's workshops, not far from the Boat House. After a meal there in the evening we got back to the boat before the next band of weather crossed in the night. If it hadn't been for the gusty wind and rain I might have slept through the noise of the extractor fans from the pub kitchen, (they go off around 11.30), and the sound of birds grazing the algae on the hull. I think perhaps the floodlighting from the pub allows the ducks to party on algae all night. Still, a nice mooring in the middle of things to watch the world go by.

An entirely unremarkable day

2010-08-28T18:17:00.004+01:00

Just after lighting the stove last night I closed the door and noticed that the glass was cracked, leading to a hasty removal of fuel that hadn't caught yet to keep the size of the fire to a minimum. What remained burned off fairly quickly, and looking at the cold stove in the morning the cracked glass was now two pieces. The nuts and studs holding the glass in were too corroded to shift, so we'll have to get someone to sort it out.

On the upside, we were able to quickly fix a leaky water pump as we had bought a spare after the old one started to sound as if it was struggling a while ago.

Cruised on into Rugby with an idea of visiting the pub near Tesco, having passed it many times, thinking that as they had a canalside garden, we could take the dog. However, access to the garden was via the pub only, and no dogs allowed in the pub. Turning back we reached Hilmorton at the same time as one of those long heavy showers. Quite spectacular though, and as Billy Connolly once pointed out, there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes.

Grand Union, Bridge 101(ish)

2010-08-27T18:55:00.000+01:00

Great to be out again, (along with half the world I suspect, who we expect to be meeting later), for a few days over the bank holiday. This bridge near the Puddle Banks had been looking fragile for a while, then BW had work boats moored there for a few months and lots of work seemed to be underway. The picture is the finished product - not so much repaired as scalped - perhaps the arch is strong enough now that the parapets have been removed. It doesn't look the same though. We'd thought about mooring in Braunston, but since it was early and the weather was good we decided to turn left and head toward Hilmorton.

Stormy weather

2010-08-15T17:53:00.001+01:00

Saturday morning was spent changing the antifreeze in the central heating - ten or eleven litres or so, more than we thought - and rewiring the battery bank. We had thoughts of a little trip out to Napton for the night, but the progressively more torrential showers put us off a bit so we just stayed in the marina. Saturday night there were huge storms and a lightning strike somewhere in the marina. There were some dead fish in the water, and lots of power supplies tripped on the jetties, but apparently no damage.

That was until we came to pay for a refill of diesel, when the computer in the office wouldn't work. I was attached to this phone socket which looked as though it had taken a hit - the line comes into the office from a nearby telegraph pole. So unfortunately we couldn't pay for the diesel right away as they can't take credit card payments without a phone line for verification. This was at least a different problem than the one we thought we had when the engine stuttered and died after the short run from our mooring to the diesel pump. It wouldn't restart, which was a disappointment to say the least after last week's work. After a few moments of despair I remembered that I isolated the supply when we left the boat last week in case there were any leaks that I hadn't spotted. Funny how engines work better with a fuel supply.

Damned lies and statistics

2010-08-11T19:08:00.001+01:00

We did have Google Analytics set up to see how many people were viewing the blog and where they came from. Then I saw that Blogger in draft offered a similar service. Since the notes said that the two tools used different methods to monitor, I thought I'd look at a comparison between what they said for the same period.

They weren't kidding that the results differ - for the same period more or less Analytics showed 554 page views while Blogger in Draft showed 237. And the sources of visits (for Analytics - second table) and pageviews (Draft - first table) were also somewhat different:

There are enough discrepancies between the two to assume unreliability for one (or both) - like several pageviews from China but no visits. It is a bit surprising considering the two tools are provided by the same company!

You can also see information on terms typed into search engines that sent people to you. I can't help but think that the person in Moldova who wanted a photo of a Karakul sheep may have been a little disappointed. So on the off chance that they come back...

Zen and the art of canal maintenance

2010-08-10T17:04:00.000+01:00

I wondered what looked different about Stockton Top Lock, and it took a few minutes to realise. While most locks have a vertical line between black and white paint, Stockton's beams were already painted in a gentle curve. However, this year the paint job has a definite yin and yang appearance. (Admittedly that's a Taoist concept and not Zen, but I've never been one to let the facts get in the way of a pun). Here's another picture from late 2008 of the same lock from the other direction to show the difference. Or to put it another way that was Zen this is Tao. Sorry, I'll get my coat.

Engine woes averted (fingers crossed)

2010-08-09T18:22:00.004+01:00

I didn't mention that despite giving us no problems for most of our June trip, we had some issues with the engine on the way home. Less than half way through Blisworth Tunnel the alternator warning light came on and the engine was just managing not to stall whatever position the morse control was in. So we stuttered along hoping for the best and thinking "it's early, someone will be along to give us a tow" but eventually got out to Blisworth with the problem easing. By the time we found somewhere to moor it was running fine and beyond a little water in the trap no problems. So we set off North for the three hours to the Buckby flight and two hours to Norton Junction. I remember thinking it must have been a one off, and that we'd be pretty unlucky to have cruised for that long and then have the problem repeat in Braunston tunnel. Guess what.

By the time we hit the locks it was fine again. Just as well as we needed to negotiate the slim channel left by all the boats moored for the historic boat gathering, and then cruise on into the sunset to find a mooring.

It happened again the next morning for a section of the trip, then fine again. So time for a look at those great sources of advice the Canalworld Forums and Tony Brooks website.

Last weekend, having concluded dirty fuel picked up on the trip was the problem, we returned to the boat with a first aid kit of fuel transfer pump and replacement filters. I guess we pulled out about a litre of dirty water accompanied by some cloudy diesel before getting to dimishing returns with far more diesel than water coming out of the pump. New filters, and, for the moment, she is running fine. Although I have to give the health warning that whoever wrote the instructions "hand tight plus half a turn" had somewhat stronger hands than me. Or perhaps they weren't dangling head first from the deck boards trying to tighten greasy metal filters with one hand at full stretch. Anyway, all components in, no leaks, previous spills cleaned up, we decided to celebrate with an evening at the Boat Inn after a proving cruise. Next job - change the central heating antifreeze and corrosion inhibitor as it is starting to look a bit rusty in the system reservoir. If only I'd paid less attention at school I might have picked up the skills that would be useful to me now a bit sooner!

In the garden

2010-07-26T09:24:00.004+01:00

Does my tongue look big in this?

2010-07-25T15:00:00.000+01:00

Who cares how hot you get running when there is always a muddy puddle to relax in somewhere along the walk!

Bigbury Camp

2010-07-24T16:24:00.003+01:00

Not too far from home is Bigbury Camp, an iron age enclosure on a hilltop in the middle of some woods. This weekend, as part of the Festival of British Archaeology, there was an open day there with the opportunity to hear about how the site is managed and some of the archaeology, then to have a guided walk around. So along with quite a few others I went over to take a look.

The area, to the north of Canterbury, is known as the Blean and is a huge area of countryside much of which is owned by the Kent Wildlife Trust. They are in the process of clearing some of the non-native species like larch and sweet chestnut to provide a more diverse landscape that offers more to wildlife.

This is the slope up to the "Annexe" area of the camp - the sweet chestnut coppice here was cleared only three months ago and regrowth is already about four feet high. The plan is to graze the area with sheep and goats to keep the growth down and provide a different habitat for wildlife. A side effect is that some fantastic views are being opened up, and it is easier to see the ditches and ramparts.

These aren't as impressive as other hillforts like Maiden Castle or Uffington from the same period of history, but it was until recently the only one known in the area. A recent LiDAR survey of the area has potentially revealed another in commercially managed woodland nearby that archaeologists hope to get agreement to examine in the future. It is possible that this is the location mentioned in Julius Caesar's account of his expeditions to Britain as the scene of a battle. At any rate there is some evidence that the fort was burned down around that time and round houses were built in the nearby valley on what was to become the location of Canterbury. Last time we looked around here it was hard to see anything for the trees - now it is an interesting and atmospheric location well worth a visit.

Two cheers for Google

2010-07-16T20:16:00.001+01:00

While we were out cruising in June I left a GPS switched on to log our progress. Having finally got around to looking at it, I saw there are tools around for displaying tracks in Google Maps as an interactive window so that you can zoom in and look at the satellite images with the track in place. I can see how to do it on a website, but I can't work out how to get it into a blogger post. So paraphrasing what my ISP's mail server used to say with bad email addresses: I've tried this several times and I'm giving up now; it didn't work out; sorry. Any advice from more competent readers is most welcome.

On another note, although GPS in itself isn't that consistent and accurate at measuring altitude, the profile from the data at least gives a sense of the climb up Napton flight, fall down the Oxford and Thames, and the climb to get back to the heart of the system. I fancy I can see the long pound after the Hanwell flight as the first shoulder after the dip in the middle, but maybe I am imagining it. As you can see from the scale, the variation in height is pretty trivial compared to distance, only about 200 locks!

You'll have realised, I'm sure, that since this is posted at the time when most weekends would find us on the M1 heading north for the weekend that other priorities have us preoccupied for the moment.

A quiet weekend...

2010-07-11T16:28:00.013+01:00

...in the marina catching up on bits of maintenance and repair that come up after a longish journey of long days. Sorry no pictures as mostly hands were too covered with Plumbaflue or blacking or paint or oil or diesel or dirt to handle a camera!

Also took the opportunity to meet a few fellow moorers at a barbecue to celebrate the opening of a new facilities block. Still more to do, but it was still uncomfortably hot on Sunday so we set off home a bit early - only to find ourselves in a ten mile queue at Dartford because the Blackwall Tunnel was closed.

While we're on the theme...

2010-07-03T19:37:00.001+01:00

...of boat names, I snapped this one down on the seafront this afternoon. Some people really don't put in any effort at all.

Last mooring

2010-06-27T18:28:00.003+01:00

Having stopped at the first reasonable mooring after Braunston yesterday in the dusk with clouds of barbecue smoke, we woke to find lots of neighbours had already moved on. Just as well, as Annie has developed the technique of reconnoitring for food on the outward leg of her evening walk so that she knows just when to lunge for a tempting sausage on the way back. Another bright sunny day to see us back to the marina, renowned for its ability to generate fluctuating winds just as you are trying to reverse onto a pontoon.