Thursday 21st June
This day is supposed to be the longest one of the year, and it’s raining. You would think, wouldn’t you that it would at least be the sunniest day also?
Anyway, we passed through the Chirk Tunnel, from rain to blazing sunshine. We also passed from Wales into England, but, even though it stayed fine all day and we managed some more painting, our joy was short lived, because it has been raining all night and looks set to continue today.
There are a couple of things we can do today though. You may remember some time ago, that I rearranged the fitting of our TV aerial. Well, on a temporary basis only, I also had to bring the radio antenna inside the front of the boat. However, this move had an adverse effect on reception because, every time a boat comes by the volume fades, probably because the antenna is now having the signal blocked by the passing boat.
We also were experiencing similar problems with it in its original position when it rained. Obviously the rain was finding its way between the antenna and the metal bodywork of the boat. But, now that I have a timber support for the TV aerial, I can build around it and affix the radio antenna so that no water can get to it. Unfortunately, whilst it is teeming with rain, there’s no way I’m going out there to do the job. But, I can at least cut up the timber for enclosing the TV aerial support.
The other thing I have thought to do is to make a couple of those pieces of wood that campers use to adjust the length of their guy ropes. At present we simply adjust our fender ropes by re-tying them so that the fender is in the right place to do its job, namely protecting the side of the boat against the canal side. With a couple of those sliders, adjusting the length of our fender ropes will be so much easier.
So, there you go, boredom will not win out today.
Isn’t it strange? Even though our wee pooch has not relieved herself since 10 o/clock last night, she’s showing no signs of being desperate to go. We’re convinced that, when it’s raining she has the innate ability to control her bodily functions. Well, at least until we force her to go out, or she can’t hold it any longer. I wish I could go that long!
Jesus, but it’s really bucketing down. No wonder Rusty is keeping shtum! I can’t say I’m too keen to go out there right now, but it’s got to be done.
Friday 22nd June
…..and still more rain, and we’re supposed to be making for Ellesmere this morning. Anybody taking a boating holiday in this part of the world this year has to be sorely disappointed. We’ve cruised the Llangollen on four separate occasions, once on a holiday boat some 15 years ago, and three times on Shiralee, but we’ve never been subjected to this level of bad weather. Hopefully the next three months will see some improvement.
I blame it on those Global Warming freaks! I won’t go into the ins and outs of that subject here. Suffice it to say that I don’t believe even half of what the so-called ‘experts’ have to say about it.
Holiday boaters.
The hire boat companies will tell you that, if you can drive a car you can handle a boat. Well, I have to wonder how they handle their cars and the carnage some of them must cause.
Now, I know it’s not very pleasant cruising in the rain, which is why we try to avoid it, but what happened yesterday is a case in point. It’s pouring down and we have a boat coming towards us. The boat came alongside us too fast to begin with, and then steered towards the bank, presumably in order to stop and moor up out of the rain. As it pulled in the stern hit our stern and, at that point I opened the hatch and shouted, “You might try slowing down.” But, much to my surprise, instead of mooring up, they continued on their way in the pouring rain, after first crashing into the side of the canal.
I despair, I really do.
Our wee pooch does not like hot tea. At least, I assume she doesn’t because, when the handle of my mug parted company with the rest of it, she ran like a scared rabbit after being showered with some of the contents. Most of it landed in her bed and, for a second or two she hopped about a bit and then she shot off to the other end of the boat. I only repaired that mug a few months ago with Araldite, so I’m a bit disappointed in the efficacy of that stuff. Still, we have a few more mugs in the cupboard, and Rusty’s not too put out by the experience.
For a 14 year old Jack she can certainly run fast when she has to though!
Now, although it is still raining, the wind has dropped, so we might still get to Ellesmere today.
Fuel consumption on “Shiralee”.
According to the information given to us by The New Boat Company, this particular “Sandpiper” model has a fuel tank that holds 169 litres, which equates to about 37 gallons. Now, so as to avoid cheating HMRC of their due tax, we keep a log of our fuel usage, separated into Propulsion, which is taxable, and Battery Charging and Heating, which are not. Thus far on this trip up the Llangollen and back, we have used 127 litres, which allows for 1 litre/hour for Propulsion and Charging, and ½ litre/hour for Heating.
OK so far?
Yesterday we checked the level of fuel with a dipstick and it seems we still have almost half a tank full. Nope, we don’t understand it either. We’ve asked the New Boat people at Mercia Marina, but they seem unable to help and they have assured us that the tank does not taper down, which could make it appear to contain more than it does.
When we fill up, which we will do at Swanley Marina in about one week’s time, what we put in will be very close to our estimates as to how much we have used. We have to assume therefore, that a bigger tank than usual has been fitted to this boat. Nothing else computes. I suppose we could approach Liverpool Boats, the company that built the shell and, in all probability, fitted the fuel tank. It really is a puzzle!
Saturday 23rd June
It’s as black as Newgate’s knocker out there this morning. This is supposed to be summer, for goodness sake. Yesterday was as bad, although we did manage the seven mile run, from St Martin’s Moor to Ellesmere, without getting a soaking. And, joy of joys, we also managed to moor up at the very top of the arm, and that’s no mean feat, I can tell you. In this spot, despite not having a signal on my 02 mobile, we do get a strong Internet connection. For my usual text message I have but a few yards to walk, back to the bridge, where the signal is OK.
At St Martin’s Moor Wifey finished off the area of the stern behind the safety rails. We now need to finish the top and sides of the bow, which means waiting until we get to the Preese Branch, where we can just tie up with the bow and centre ropes, leaving the top of the bow clear of obstruction. If it stays dry we will be able to prepare the top for final painting.
Today therefore I am planning to refit our radio aerial and rope up our small tyres. These are two old go-kart tyres that we found when we were at Pilling’s Lock Marina, and which we have been using as side fenders, but only on odd occasions. We’ve had rope fenders and we’ve had those elongated, hollow plastic fenders, but tyres are much better at absorbing movement caused by the aforementioned holiday boaters as they race past, causing a huge bow wave.
In roping the tyres up, which have already been fitted with eye bolts, I’m going to thread the rope through the eye and make an eye splice which, in my honest opinion, looks far more befitting of a permanent, live aboard boater, than simply knotting the rope through the eye. I’ve also made the guy rope sliders, ready for attachment to the hook that goes over the hand rail. So, I have plenty to busy myself with today.
We also have to pay a visit to the nearby chandlery to collect another pot of green paint; which we will need when we repaint the roof; and to collect a couple of bags of coal. This is now becoming a nuisance because, despite it being summer – Wimbledon starts on Monday – it can still be quite chilly in the early hours when I get up, so we are still having to keep the fire going, just for little old me! Aaaah!
Before we left here last time, we ordered some dog food from the local pet shop; that too we have to collect today. Oh, and our cassette will need emptying. This would have been done yesterday, had we been able to pull in at the BW area, but it’s just as well that we couldn’t because we would not now be moored at the top of the arm and would not have such good Internet connection.
Tomorrow is Sunday and we’re going to make sure it’s a day of rest. So there!
Ooh! Guess what? The sun is coming out. Whoopee!
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| Llangollen from the towpath |
NOTE: I have just downloaded the contents of Sheila's camera. The above and following shots are from that download.
Sunday 24th June
We have finally completed the work on the TV and Radio aerials, albeit temporarily for the Radio aerial, because, with all the fiddling about with the cable, the fixing attachment at the end disintegrated, so the cable is attached by just the inner core and it won’t take that very long to rot through
Ellesmere is a fairly big Shropshire town, but we have yet to find a shop that sells such things. So, we’ll have to wait until we can bus into Whitchurch or Nantwich.
I only have one more job to complete this weekend, and that’s the eye splices and guy rope sliders for the tyres.
We are hoping for better weather from tomorrow, which is when we’ll be heading for the Preese Branch again and, with some dry time, completing the paintwork on the bow. After that comes the biggest part, the roof, and for that we really do need some dry weather.
07.00 and it is now peeing down again. Will it never end? Still, at least we live on a boat and, whilst we’re on the canal, as opposed to a river, we’re unlikely to be affected by flooding. From what I here, there have been up to 140 flood warnings, mostly in the north. I’ll have to get on to Waterscape to see how the River Weaver is faring. I’ve also heard that Liverpool has suffered from flooding, and that’s another one of our destinations.
Six years ago, just after we bought the boat, we bought some wood filler. This came in an aerosol can and, according to the manufactures blurb on the side, it could be used for up to three months. I really must contact them to complain. This stuff still works after six years. When I tried applying it to a spare piece of wood, just to see if it still operated, nothing happened. But, after unscrewing the applicator nozzle and removing the dried lump of filler, the new stuff came out as good as new. Amazing!
Ooops! I was going to post this today but, even though she had to get out of bed at 04.00 this morning to take Rusty out, (Hey! She insisted!) it’s only 20 past 7 and she’s already getting up.
Tomorrow morning then!
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| Some idea of what we'll be painting on our back doors |
Monday 25th June.
It is now tomorrow morning and, as promised, I’m going to post this blog. But first I want to find a couple of photos.
All abreast for now
Dave, Sheila and Rusty.
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