Wednesday 8th April 2009

Grove Lock to Cosgrove

What a beautiful morning to wake up to, being bright and sunny with a following wind. And, to make life even easier, along comes another boat to go through the lock with. Our days do not start better than this.

The plan for today is to get as far as Stoke Hammond, which is only five miles away and only five locks. On the way we’re stopping off at Leighton Buzzard for water and shopping.

It will come as no surprise to all who read this that, on such a fine day, we achieved all we set out to do. Aren’t we the clever ones?

Looking back on the trip to these moorings we managed to pass through all five locks with other boaters. The second one, at Leighton Buzzard we were only lucky in this respect because another couple left the shopping area at the same time we did.

The next three locks were 2 ½ miles further on and were all close together; virtually a staircase lock, with just a small pound between them. When we arrived we found another boater; a chap called John on a boat called The Jolly Swagman, although I’m pretty sure he, like us, had nothing to do with Australia; waiting to go through. So, as with the previous two locks, we had company.

Sheila was telling him of our plans to visit the Llangollen Canal and he suggested we make sure we avoid the school holiday period, when it gets very busy up there. He also suggested a visit to Chester, which is on the north west, wide section that leads on to Ellesmere Port. For some reason this stretch of canal is not very popular. But, as far as john is concerned, it’s very quiet there and the city is well worth a visit. So, with a bit of luck where the weather is concerned, we appear to have an addition to our schedule.

Now, as you all know, last Saturday was my 67th birthday and, on that day, I opened a card from a very nice lady who works with my brother at the Campus in Old Harlow. The card is so representative of me and my laptop, I decided to frame it and attach it to a wall inside the boat. For your delectation and delight I include it in this blog. The other two pictures are prints of works by a Devonshire artist by the name of Michael Cooper, whose studio we visited some years ago whilst on holiday.

Unfortunately, due to the veeerry! slow speed of this wretched USB Modem, I'm unable to upload the picture.

However, perhaps you can get the drift when I tell you that the card has two pictures of cartoon dogs discussing a computer.

The first caption reads as follows: From Daves buddy

“Dave, if you want your computer to work properly, you’ve got to punch in the right information – try again!”

The next one reads: Daves reply

“Work, you heap of scrap, Work!”

If you could see me when our laptop plays up, you would appreciate the humour of the card. Glo, sorry I can't show you where iy's situated, but I'll send a copy to Alan for you.

Tomorrow we’re off to Fenny Stratford, which is just three miles and two locks away. Easy Peasy, but only if we don’t have such a strong wind.

Thursday 9th April

After quite a lot of rain overnight I had my doubts as to whether we would be going on to Fenny Stratford. However, although the day started with loads of heavy and threatening cloud cover and a little fine drizzle, we decided to go for it. With only two locks to operate, one a short way ahead and the other at Fenny Stratford itself, we didn’t feel it necessary, even if it had rained heavily, to stay at Stoke Hammond another night.

We set out at about half past eight because, just as we were getting ready to go, another boat passed us heading for the lock, and we wouldn’t have had time to catch it up and go through the lock together. The trip only took us an hour and a half, plus a stop for water just before the shallow lock at Fenny, and went without so much as a spot of rain to dampen our enjoyment.

After the, by now, obligatory cuppa, we set off for the town to get the daily paper and some coaxial cable for the aerial. Unfortunately, now that we’ve mounted the aerial at the front of the boat, when we cruise it lies on top of the cratch cover. This means it is a little higher than before and is now subjected to low flying tree branches. We very nearly had it swept off the cratch, along with Wifey’s watering can, which toppled over but stayed resting on the roof. So, a new, six metre length of cable was needed so that we could lay the aerial on the roof, rather than the cratch.

We also needed some epoxy resin with which to level off the metal where paint has been lost, sometimes due to my own carelessness, at other times due to the carelessness of other boaters, as mentioned on Monday. The stern deck has certainly suffered in this respect, but that’s because we had a rubber mat supporting our plank whilst moored at Bulbourne for five months. The rain water that collects under the mat over a period of time causes the paint to bubble up and peel. We’re hoping that, whilst we’re at Giffard Park this weekend, the weather will be kind to us and I can remedy the problem.

Anyway, although the walk was most uncomfortable for me because of my dodgy knees, it was certainly worth it. Mind you, I was never so happy to see the boat again and enjoyed a welcome cuppa when we got back. We must get through gallons of the stuff, but where would we be without it?

Since arriving here and getting back from the shops, we’ve had a fair amount of rain, and it’s still a pretty miserable day. Several holiday boats have passed us on their way back to their hire company at Leighton Buzzard, which is why we like to get moored up pretty early in the day. It’s also one of the reasons we’d rather not cruise at weekends. Holiday boats usually have to return to their home yard by 10 am on Saturdays, and the new hirers can’t leave the yard until about two pm in the afternoon.

Over the past couple of years we’ve learnt to ignore the idiots who race past like the hounds of hell are after them. It was pointed out to us once, when we complained to someone doing just that, if you moor the boat correctly you won’t be disturbed by the wash from fast boats. So, we no longer bother moaning at them.

Good Friday 10th April

Hi and welcome to the usual wet and soggy Easter weekend. Once again my hopes of carrying out essential work on the boat have been dashed, at least for today they have. However, looking on the bright side, as Wifey reminded me, I’ve got almost seven months in which to get it done. Unfortunately all the work that needs to be done is outside and it’s all paintwork.

Now, as you all know, for the past two winters we’ve moored up at Bulbourne, and at no little cost. British Waterways have profited from us to the tune of almost £1500 in that time, but no more. We refuse to part with another penny for winter moorings unless, and until they clean up their act.

During the winter of 07/08 we had a Mooring Warden at Bulbourne who goes by the name of Tina, and a very nice lady she is too. Her job was to ensure that all those boats moored along her stretch of the canal had current licences and, in addition, that they didn’t outstay the allotted 14 days mooring period. These two tasks she managed quite well. But, during the winter of 08/09, we had no warden and we lost count of the amount of boats not displaying a valid licence, and we also lost count of the amount of boats overstaying their time, sometimes by as much as a couple of months.

So, when we get back to Bulbourne – oh yes, we’re still planning to moor up there this winter – we ain’t paying a penny! Instead I’m hoping to buy an electrically assisted push-bike. The car will continue to be parked at the pub, whilst we will continuously cruise between Bulbourne and Cowroast for the duration. The, when we need the car, I’ll jump on my pedally and cycle down the towpath to collect the car, stash the bike in the back, drive back to meet Sheila, and do whatever it is we need the car for. In so doing we will save around £600, not just this year, but for all the following years that we can continue to live on the Shiralee.

Now, having woken up to a cloudy looking day, with just a hint of light drizzle, we set off for Giffard Park at eight o/clock. The distance being only six miles, we expected, and achieved a time of a little over two hours cruising. About half a mile before we stopped for the weekend, there’s a private marina. As we cruised by we were asked if any other boats were following us, to which we truthfully replied that there were two. When I asked why they wanted to know, we were told that they were about to leave the marina in a convoy of 11 boats, all heading for Stoke Bruerne.

Some of those boats passed us as we were topping up our water tank prior to mooring just a short way past the water point. Our boat, the Shiralee, is capable of about two mph on tickover, which is the advisory speed when passing other moored boats. It’s only common courtesy to slow down at such times, as there’s nothing worse than being bounced around in your boat by a passing boy racer. You can imagine our surprise then, when, just after leaving the water point, and barely up to tickover speed, some moron leaned out of his side hatch and asked where I was going in such a hurry. I leave you to imaging my reply!!

Anyway, we’ve been her since just after 10 o/clock this morning, and it has barely stopped raining, so it looks like being a pretty damp weekend. So, what’s new then? It’s bank holiday after all.

Well, just to give you something to do today, I’m going to try and post this blog.

Well, even though we were online, and we still are, and even though I can access the blog and Yahoo and my emails, I simply cannot upload the picture about the birthday card. I’ll try again tomorrow

Saturday 11th April2009

Today has been pretty miserable weather wise, so there’s really not much to report. We’re still at Giffard Park, so there’s little point trying to post the blog from here since I was unable to do so yesterday. By default today has been simply a rest and relax day, I haven’t even bothered to do any work on the boat. That, along with posting this blog will, we hope, be axhieven when we get to Cosgrove on Monday.

Sunday 12th April 2009

Yet another dreary start to the day, that’s three of the four day Easter weekend up the Swanee! Happily it was dry enough to venture forth to the pub at lunchtime and the Guinness is only £2.70 a pint, a saving of 50p on Bulbourne and Harlow. It’s most strange isn’t it, the cheaper the pint, the more we enjoy it! And, it gets even cheaper the further north we go. Again though, with the weather so unsettled, no boat painting has been done today.

Easter Monday, 13th April 2009

Now, although the day dawned cloudy; what a surprise; we set off for Cosgrove at about eight o/clock and arrived at 10.30 without mishap. No locks to worry about and no problems finding a mooring spot either.

Thankfully, by about midday, the sun came out and promised to be a suitable end to a long weekend. Needless to say, once the opportunity presented itself, I got down to some serious paintwork. The area needing the most work is where we had the boarding plank resting during our five months at Bulbourne. As a result of rainwater finding its way into the tiniest crack in the paint, I had to strip back an area about nine inches square.

We had thought to level off the area with epoxy resin; much as you would on a cars bodywork, but we felt it would be too long and laborious an operation. Instead we’ve decided to rub off the rust and apply a good, thick coat of anti-rust primer, followed by a couple of thick coats of non-slip paint to the patch. We’ll have to leave it to dry for a day or two between coats, then apply two more coats to the whole of the cream coloured areas of the deck.

As you already know, we won’t be paying for moorings at Bulbourne this winter, which means we won’t need to use the plank as much. So, we intend to fit four rubber feet to the underside of the plank; after I’ve given it a few coats of paint; which should prevent the wear to the paintwork.

Round about half eight, quarter to nine this evening, I’ll apply another coat to the patch, then the rest will have to wait until we get to Blisworth and beyond, where we’ll be mooring up on the opposite side of the canal. Incidentally, this time last year, or perhaps a bit later, we did consider repainting the stern deck, then covering it with clip together deck mats, which have lots of bobbly bits underneath that allow the water to run off. But, at a fiver each per mat, which are only 12 inches square, it would have required 36 mats at a cost of £180! Far too expensive for our tastes I’m afraid.

Now, I wonder if I can post this from here at Cosgrove and add the photo I promised Glo.

Until next time, remember this when wondering why there seem to be so many lazy good for nothings out there living off the state.

“When governments do too much for the people, the people will do too little for themselves!”

Cheers for now

Dave, Sheila and Rusty