June 2017

June 2017.

Well it’s Monday the 5^th of June,….. Weather forecast ….Wet and windy, so, we are having a day off. It’s not good travelling in a wind. The boat is 62ft long and is affected quite badly if the wind catches you, you loose control and clip someone, its not good.

The Erewash canal must be, for me, the best canal we’ve been on so far.

Built in1777 ‘ish at a cost of £21000 to carry coal, it linked 3 canals the Nottingham, Comberford and the Erewash at Eastwood. The local pub The Great Northern is named after the managing company who built and ran the canal. The other 2 canals have sadly been built over or collapsed hence the dead end.

start of the Erewash Canal

We popped in the pub with Ashley and co. for lunch, only to be informed…..we were too late for lunchtime food. Doh!!

Sods law, just our luck. Food stops 3 till 5pm ...but...the lovely barmaid came over a few minutes later and told us her Dad would make us some baguettes if we wanted...too right. 10 min’s later some toasted chicken, bacon and cheese arrived on our table.

They were lovely.

For people who don’t know, Ashley Chapman is my ‘adopted’ daughter 2.. We met when she was 7 years old at the holiday park in Norwich.

We are not sure if she adopted me, or I adopted her, but she is much loved and was a big part of my life in the time living in Norwich. Ash is 24 now and a mum in her own right..I’m now granddad 2 as well. We still keep in touch a couple of times a week on facebook . Also meet up when we can.

Going up or down the locks it’s always best to link up with other canal users. The locks being wide can take 2 narrow boats and we steady each other as the water comes in or out to raise or lower the levels. You can meet some great people, some out going, some very quiet, some quite strange..well, … enough about us …hee hee...

While waiting for a lock we noticed some local lads in a very, very old cabin cruiser.

To describe them ...They were a cross between Sam Dingle of Emmerdale fame and the family at the gas stallion in Deliverance….. We had the misfortune to share a lock with them. We also had a lovely couple in a Narrow boat called ‘Rosemary’. She was a 45 footer which left enough room for their short boat in front. Talk about all fun and games, they hadn’t a clue what they were doing, how they got out without damage to their craft was a wonder. How I stopped myself from whistling ‘Duelling Banjos’…. I don’t know. Looking back it was funny.

Most of the canal is adjoined by housing. It links or runs between Sandiacre, Ilkeston, and Long Eaton, some modern houses and some council. In between a small bit of rural land farms bits, also golf clubs and recreation areas. Have seen a lovely old folks home which backs right on to a lock...so knows in the future ??…Also an old lace factory which had been redeveloped into flats. So good to see a beautiful piece of architecture preserved.

The water here it fairly clean and you can see the bottom, but going past one housing estate I looked down and there on the side, below the water level...a complete motor bike. Looked like an old Honda Super-dream 250.

Well enough for now, we turned right after the Trent lock onto the Trent and Mersey canal heading towards Burton upon Trent so a lazy day .. a rest . . then move on tomorrow.

Spring is a great time on the water, ducks and other water birds have their seasons, for a while there are both male and female duck swimming about, then the females disappear for a few weeks then suddenly re-appear with lots of little followers. The babies are lovely but its a dangerous time, the have predators and only a few make it to adulthood. Big fish and rats being their main predators. A pike will see off many ducks and signets in the swan breeding season.

The trip down to here has been fairly uneventful. Had a few days at Atherstone where we did a monster shop at the local Aldi’s (twice) topped up just after pension day, plenty of wine and food enough for a couple of weeks. While we were there Fred Hands came to see us and was a bearer of something we are partial to ...a bottle or rather two bottles of red wine. A lovely man who we became friends with on facebook. We met his son and daughter in law Sinead and Matthew last year and its now good to put a face and personality to a name on our friends list. It was good just sitting in the sun, drinking tea and putting the world to rights, had a few laughs and learned a bit about each other.

We had to move on the next day as we have to get back nearer Northampton as we have been summoned for granddaughter sitting duties. So the next stop was Sutton Stop or to use its other name Hawksbury Junction.

It’s the joining place of two Canals, the Coventry canal and the Oxford Canal. There is a good pub there, The Greyhound and as it was fathers day on the Sunday, Kylie came over and we went for lunch after turning the boat around ready for the last rush into boatyard on the Monday. It was a lovely afternoon, hot sun, the food although basic was excellent, also a good duo singing most of the songs they did . . . I do in my act.

We now are moored in Lime Farm Marina for a few days while John does a couple of things on the boat. A small water leak on the heating system.

The fan belt is still being a bit of a pig !! For some reason unknown to us it keeps loosening off. So I need to re adjust it. A two minute job. . If I can get to it !!!

The alternator is on the front of the engine which is under the rear decking

Getting into the engine room is easy...if I was a still the slim figure I used to be when 21.. and 10 stone...However now I’m 67 and 15 and a half stone, its a bit different.

The easiest way to do it is, remove the steps on the back decking and there is plenty of room. The problem is they weigh about one and a half hundredweight, they are a tight fit. Puts a bit of a strain on my somewhat weakened heart so...we are having a new set made out of aluminium, so it’s lighter and easier. The old ones are very rusty and past just a repaint.

Jenny has been very busy repainting the new cratch area and re-varnishing the wood work, I’m saving my energy for when I’m back in home port next week. I have a bit of wood work to finish and the much awaited rear fencing on the cruiser stern. It was fenced off with plastic netting to keep the dogs from falling/getting off the back as a temporary measure 3 years ago. Finally found the metal panels I need at Homebase in the local store, so no excuses ..they will be done before we leave for North Wales in July.

Enough of my waffle ...Now I’ll hand over to Jenny to add photos..this is out of my understanding being a complete luddite regarding the computer ..

Love to all our readers...XXX 

Swan on her nest

River Severn

Weir on River Severn

Approaching a Lock

Waiting at side for lock

Wild geese visiting when in a lock, no food though.

Some of the bridges are very narrow

Fradley Junction

Wild geese with some of their offspring

 

Winter is over, now on our travels.

Hello everybody...Its blog time again….Winter is over, where is the time going?

Since being back at Yelvertoft a lot has happened. Jenny has been fine, but me ..not so good. I had so much planned on the boat, but a slight body malfunction resulted in, a night in hospital, one month in bed, and a ‘procedure’ which thankfully put me back to normal !! Jenny was brilliant as usual. Nursing me through a nasty time.

We had planned for Infinity to go into the boat yard for the central heating to be fitted

then spend Christmas at Foxton, nice and warm, however it was all cancelled due to me.

John at Limefarm Marina started a major refurbishment on his yard which required part of the mooring to be pumped out, the yard was blanked off and nothing moved for a few weeks. Once back on my feet we killed time, doing bits and pieces, Jenny made a pom pom rug, and I just pottered ..playing a bit of music and trying to get back to guitar.

We were holding back in Yelvertoft and as soon as John was ready we set off to get the heating sorted. A nice steady cruise to Rugby and a stop of at The Barley Mow pub to see Simon and Kelly...I did a night there as the Busking Bargee...literally singing for my supper.. well free beer and a full Sunday lunch. I’ve been asked to play at their wedding in October..well pleased.

John is a brilliant mechanic but not the fastest worker and a few days work turned into a few weeks work, but the job he has done is excellent. We have had a major problem

with the electrics on the boat and we were worried the batteries, new last year, were

faulty as they didn’t seem to hold charge. Just said to John ...sort it.

Turns out the previous owners or mechanics had wired it up wrong, I couple of new components and relays and switches all is fine. But one problem was still there. The engine keeps eating fan belts. Literally…. it will slip like crazy and snap a new one in

24hrs.

On the way home another fan belt broke and we had to stay at the side of the canal at Braunston, John came over and repaired it on the side of the cut. The problem

appeared to be miss matched pulley’s, very disappointed as the so called BMC experts had looked and allegedly sorted the problem before. Will not be using Callcutt Boats

again, also advised a few people to avoid.

Once back at home marina my wood work kit came out, replacing the wood and bits removed during the heating installation. As I say about my wood work...a blind

carpenter would be pleased to see it !!!….. however its home to us. Darren came over

and laid carpets and relaid the bedroom one again after I had to work on the walls.

sorry bulkhead ..

So finally we are ready for off …..yeeees…..err ...No ...Jenny had a cold and I went down with a bad bout of tonsillitis...also it was wet and windy making it not cruising weather.

Eventually on the 19^th May ...6 weeks later than planned we left for our summer cruise.

First stop Foxton Locks for a couple of nights, very apprehensive about the boat, but

she was good as gold. John you appear to have cracked it. Every thing is working, charging, and running as sweet as a nut.

We have planned to be out for a couple of months, returning to Northampton mid July

for Jenny’s brothers 50^th wedding anniversary.

Starting at Foxton we have cruised past for the first time, onto ‘virgin’ canals for us.

Filled up with diesel at Debdale Marina, and then on to the River Soar.. first

time on a river. Its is absolutely beautiful, very wide in places and weirs which we

haven’t really come across before. The locks are quite heavy and we were

lucky enough to link up with a couple about the same age to share the work.

We are planning about 4 hours a day on the move, enough to top up the

batteries, but not enough to make it hard work. Had a good night outside of

a ‘Hungry Horse’ establishment, started off as an early doors pint..ended up

as a full blown night out..Sizzling Steak special..bottle of wine for a £5.00 a

very good one at that, well it tasted OK.

We are meeting some lovely people and the houses we are are passing

are absolutely beautiful, there is a lot of money in this area.

On leaving the River Soar we crossed over the Trent and Mersey

canal onto the Erewash canal about 15 locks between there and the end.

So far the weather has been good for us. Until today, bank holiday Monday

hissing down with rain, but we do need water, tops up the canals.

The reason we have come up to Nottingham is to have a meet up with Ashley

Chapman. She is coming over tomorrow sometime with her little boy...Bobby.

Well that’s it for now, hope you find it interesting, We are turning around on

Wednesday, returning back down the Erewash, as it is a dead end now.

Turning right on to the Trent and Mersey and missing Birmingham for the

time being, as when Northampton is out of the way we are heading for

North Wales Via Birmingham.

TTFN

Foxton Locks

Moored for the night on River Soar

Mum, Dad and little cygnets.

Some posh houses by the River Soar

Turning off the Soar towards the Trent

Cross over from Soar towards the Erewash canal avoiding the yachts.

Entrance to Erewash canal and we made it...

Times flying by

Isn’t the time going quickly ?...A month has gone past since I put finger to key pad..I believe we had just entered the final stage of our London adventure at the end of the last blog.

At the end of the Regents canal we passed though the Regents Zoo. Through the aviary and passed walk ways. All the way down the canal, it’s no mooring and a lovely cruise.

After the zoo area we turned left into the final stretch towards our goal . . . limehouse basin.

The water in the canal here is very clear and you can see the bottom and sides quite clearly but, it is filthy. with litter, the main pollutant is plastic bags and other rubbish. We had to stop every so often, remove the weed hatch and take off rubbish wrapped around the propeller, a pair of tights, a coal bag, lots of shopping bags to name but a few. Assorted crap doesn’t 'arf slow you down... 

We have, for some unknown reason, been having trouble keeping the 12v batteries topped up, not sure why, as we have had a new set of 4x110 amp hr fitted before we left Yelvertoft also had a new alternator fitted as well. So in theory they should be OK ..

We decided to book into the Limehouse basin marina for one night and get an electrical link so we could give the battery bank a good blast with the on board charger to top them up.

We checked on their web site to get a price...For one night the cost was ...£36.00...What !!…...Ok..Expensive but we really needed a top up so rang to book a berth...they weren’t sure if they had one ..What ??? ‘Ring back when Barry was in’ …

When we did a bit later they had one berth...but ….the price had shot up to £80.00 for one night with hook up !!!

When Jenny brought it to his attention that the web site price was a lot cheaper he dropped it to £74.00 ..Yep ….We told him what to do with it..!! Politely ..Honest !!

We linked up with another boat crewed by a couple who moored at Foxton locks which is just up the canal from us. ..Danny and Sandie and a couple of friends ...

The flight into Lime house was a bit hairy...there was a very high wind blowing ..At one stage we were nearly wedged across the canal both of us !!

Once a high wind catches a 62 ft long narrow boat...you have to go... if its sideways !! Getting the bow into the wind is quite difficult.

We finally regained control and sailed into the basin...We had reached our goal !!! On looking about the basin, there didn’t appear to be anywhere to moor, the wind was still being a pain and I was worried about being blown on too any of the moored boats ...so .. we turn around and sailed straight back up the locks and started our return journey home.

The basin looks like a rich man’s play ground, Yachts.. Dutch barges, and other high end vessels.

Some lovely properties over looking the marina. Beautiful apartments with verandas, which would give wonderful views of the Thames.

Definitely out of our price range.

Limehouse Basin

Entrance to Limehouse Basin

Having had a rough day we decided to moor up early. There is a distinct lack of moorings in that area so we had a word with a passing CRT man (Canal and River Trust) asked were we could get a place in the area…

Just there’ he said, pointing..’by the jetty’ ...’It has rings’..It also had a sign …..NO MOORING !!! What the hell ..We had permission …Evening pint time came early that day …With a walk to a typical east end pub ..

It was a beautiful clear night and as I sat on the cruiser stern and watched the sky, quite a few stars were on view despite the light pollution. Other lights were there as well, lots of them..Aeroplanes.

I never realised how many planes there were in and out of Heathrow..Also of course the City airport. They are at different altitudes but, wow, they looked very close to me..Too close..Fascinating to watch, I wouldn’t want to be an air traffic controller, they earn their salaries. 

We felt quite safe in the London area, lots of security and CCTV cameras. The only place we had reservations about was Camden locks. We had seen on Tim and Pru’s programme a sleazy and not good side of it. However going through, (going down,) we had a guy jump aboard (after getting permission) to get a photo on a boat. They were doing a team building exercise for his works and had tasks to complete..one of which was get a photo on a boat..

On the way back up, as we approached the bottom lock there was a group of black youngsters at the bottom lock. One was playing a guitar and one had a ?? looked bit like a didgeridoo..??

Trouble we thought. As we approached the lock, the young girl (who was dancing to the music) turned to me, and pointed then shouted ...Hey baby... ...When you come back this way..pick me up and we will runaway together !!..She was an absolute beauty ..Stunning !!…

She made an ‘old man’ very happy !!

However I joined in (yes ...somewhat flattered) A bit of banter went backwards and forwards ending in me saying...I’ll have to get permission from the wife first...Jenny was by this time empting the lock for us to enter.

She stood there looking at the girl ..well, not looking ….Glaring !! Swinging the windlass in a very threatening manner but just in fun.. It was so funny and a lovely atmosphere. We all had a laugh and continued on our way.

Camden Locks.

It was a fairly eventless run back, we had a stop over in Uxbridge again. In the morning Jenny heard a dripping sound from under the sink...Yep, we had sprung a leak, the sink waste pipe was dripping water into the bilge... Not a problem, (I thought) just take it off and clean it up, seal it, and replace..Jobs a good un !!!

Wrong...I took the pipe off and cleaned it,…. so far so good,

However, when it came to refit it...It wouldn’t go back..the pipe it went over was too small ?? and it flopped about….What the !!??

For some reason the pipe didn’t go back. A quick phone call to a local narrow boat plumber, he was there within 1 hr. quick check and he sussed out the problem. The whole job was a bodge up by the previous owners (no change there then !!) ..

Half an hour later he was back with the correct coupling, (¾ inch plastic pipe, two jubilee clips, new sludge trap) the job was a good un, a very reasonable price as well.

Next morning as we set off again, the fan belt started slipping, a horrible howling sound.

Its a problem we have had before ..so I had too get my spanners out and tightened it...All Ok ..No slipping ..until .. the next day a dull thud..and the Ignition light came on. . The fan belt had broken. DOH !!!

Not to worry, we have a spare..But..turns out the ‘well known’ BMC marina had supplied us with the wrong one...DOH !! (again). Phone call to RCR (river and canal rescue) to be told..’Mechanic is out on a job but he will be with you next’,

Ok thats lovely, but ...Can you tell him to bring a couple of spare fan belts…

When John the mechanic turned up ...(some 4 hours later) guess what?? ..He didn’t have a belt...He wasn’t told !!!…..Grrr…

Its 5.30 pm now. Not to worry, I’ll get one and will be back by 11 o’clock tomorrow morning, we were told. Glass of wine and an early night, ready to be up early, to for the mechanics arrival.

At 1pm we phoned up to check where he was, to be told...he was on another job..re-floating a sunken boat..He finally turned up at 8.30pm, fitted the belt and we were able to get some power again . Not impressed with the RCR service considering we are gold members and lodged a complaint. 

Over 36 hours later we were able to get going again. I believe they get paid for raising a boat by the insurance companies (?) Customers coming second to making money ?

Lord David Trimble and his wife Daphne caught us up again and we played leap frog again for a few days .Us passing them when moored up and vice versa also sharing locks.

We plodded onward towards home and a planned two day stop over at Stoke Bruerne, as it one of our favourite villages (which turned into 4 days).  Piggy Pete and Sue had fancied a weekend away in the their American 5^th wheel caravan so they booked into the camp-site by the canal. People who don’t know Piggy Pete and Sue are pig farmers (retired now.. allegedly... from Wisbech) ....Friends now for 21 years plus...

 

An evening meal in The Navigation Inn..and a catch up for the last 3 months ...It was brilliant for the money. So good we ate there the next night as well.

After Pete and Sue left, we met up with the other Infinity and crew. A pint in ‘The Boat Inn’ with Marin and Sue and also met up with Gill Mehmet. They were passing though on their cabin cruiser Yoghurt..aptly called ...hee hee..

(Narrow boaters call the GRP boats Yoghurt pots..)

Gill and Carl her partner called in for coffee and a chat in the morning befor leaving their boat to return home by car.

The week end was finally wound up with a surprise visit of our granddaughter, Becky and Karen, her mum. It was truly wonderful long weekend.

By the time we got to Crick we bumped into Danny and Sandie again. They had been braver than us and had gone along the Thames and up the Oxford canal in a circular cruise. It turns out there were moorings available in Limehouse basin, we hadn’t gone far enough in to see them. It was not user friendly for me.

No signage for visitors.

Sailed into Yelvertoft 5 days later than we had planned but ….. We had done it !! ….We had done the London trip.

Would we do it again ?…..Errr NO !! but it was our first boating adventure, as old age travellers..

Roll on next years cruising season.

The wind was blowing a hooley when we arrived back at Yelvertoft ..Jenny suggested we moor outside until it dropped but I like a challenge !! ...

I took it straight in through the entrance (mind you it was at full power) and pulled up at the diesel pump. (hand brake turn) Chuffed to bits.

We have a new mooring but sadly it took me 4 or 5 attempts to get into it with the help of our neighbour Jim, nearly pulling him in to the marina when he was holding our bow rope .....Damn the wind!!

Over the winter we plan some other work on the boat, to make her usable in the winter and a bit more ‘cosy’.

We need to sort out the central heating and re-do some of the wood work which was damaged during the hull restoration.

Also replace the flooring in the saloon and galley then re-carpet...so….

There will be no rest for the wicked as they say.

See you all soon.

Canal green 'lawn'...

Watford Locks

London canal and train

Living rough under canal bridge in London

Continuous cruisers living in London

Blog 3

Blog Three.

Well .. When we were cruising on the main grand Union it was hard to think we were virtually in the centre of London. The area was still quite rural.

At Bulls bridge, we turned left on to the Paddington arm, a few boats moored here, obviously live-aboard. The trip in was quite interesting.

All narrow boats are different. All have different designs, as they are custom made by different steel fabricators. The sterns are different, some boats are cruiser stern, like ours. Plenty of room for a few people to stand on the deck.

Some are traditional ..Very small rear decking with nowhere to stand, just room for the skipper.

Or the third style .. semi trad...which is a bit of both. Small standing area for the driver / skipper .. but a seating area, usually enough for 4 people.

But …..the different styles of boat we saw was mind boggling.

Cruisers (or yoghurt pots, as we affectionately call them) can range from small 16ft Microplus cruisers to quite large Normans with double cabins.

But some we saw on the run into London was incredible, floating garden sheds….Some people have built on the base of a cabin cruiser in wood and are living on board.

Some people have converted the old dredger barges used by the old British waterways to collect mud and rubbish into homes. Literally welding shipping containers on to them and building inside.

Traditional house boats...floating, but not able to move under power, basically big wooden sheds, which look lovely. Some have gardens and big decking areas, complete with BBQ etc..Little communities most will wave or say hello or good morning as we pass (slowly) so as not too rock the boat as they say.

Dutch barges are very popular to live on .. compared to ours they are very big. .Wide beams are also popular for residential purposes.

But … There are some vessels that are ….well …...ships !!

They could quite frankly cross the channel never mind conquer the river Thames...

Sadly, it not all as idyllic as I might make it sound here. Some of the boats are, well, beyond repair and so run down they really should be scrapped

however people are still living on them, In what looks like absolute poverty. The difference in canal people is quite big between the wealthy and the poor. However, they all are friendly (so far) the dread locked and tattooed peeps, when you chat with them are all OK (again ..so far) the smell of marijuana can often be detected in the air on passing or mooring near. Who are we to judge..

We wanted to moor in Little Venice but on the day we sailed in, it was

quite busy, and the mooring area is quite small.

The ‘visitor moorings’ are sadly (or appear) to be taken by people who are living a board and working in the area. NOT what the visitor moorings are for. Turning it into a residential mooring. The CRT ( Canal and River Trust) seem to be reducing areas where you can moor. Also they (CRT) are in the process of evicting the boat people. I understand that there are 800 cases being looked into at the present time. Not good for tourism in the London, when you try to have a few days in the capitol.

We sailed on into the start of the Paddington Basin...Right out side of the railway station was a mooring free...65ft long !!! Providence or what !!

We moored up and have a 7 day allowance without having to move.

We had a walk into Paddington Basin on Sunday morning and had a good look around,

Its lovely..All new buildings and little café areas with a water feature with little fountains.. We were watching a young toddler and his dad running in and out of the ‘dancing waters’…after that we walked into Little Venice...again a lovely area mainly residential boats double moored, There was a café / Restaurant over the other side, so we crossed the bridge and was going to have a coffee. After smelling the cooking Jenny fancied a bit of food checked on Menu..Beef burger..£12.99 ??...I don’t think so !! Sat waiting for someone to serve us for about 10 minutes..No one came to take our order..we left.

The only problem we have had being moored here is…

Noise ..We are outside of a building site of a new £100 million office block and they are pile driving...You won’t believe this but...the boat is vibrating with the thumping of the jack hammer. Poor old Jake is terrified .. He is off and hiding in the toilet area.

Mind you he is not happy with city life..He’s a country dog.

Carly takes all in her stride, We are waiting to meet up with my son Clive later this afternoon. He’s at a meeting in London and will drop in on the way home.

We had a walk in to the area and a pint outside of a local pub. 2 drinks. Pints of bitter and larger £8.88 (for both).. can’t get over how expensive it to live here.

Fancied a bit of supper on the way home. There is a Cornish pasty stand in Paddington station so we thought we would have one each as a treat...£7.99 !!! each !!! The vendor looked embarrassed and apologised for the price !! I only have to try to sell them he said sheepishly ..

We returned to boat and had a lump of baguette, pate and a lump of cheese. Plus a red wine ..Saved over a tenner..

The locals are quite friendly .. We have been speaking to a lady who is exercising her dog out side our boat each evening, a little puppy called ‘Elvis’ 9 months old Maltese, he’s a character. She and her husband live in a flat over looking the area.

Checked out the prices on ‘Zoopla’..starting at … £1.100.000… a bit out of our price range.

Had a bit of a panic last night .. The lady on the boat behind started screaming .. ‘get some cold water’ ‘GET SOME COLD WATER !!!’

She’d taken the rad cap of her engine…. when it was hot.. The steam blew out ..and scalded her. .. Face and her right arm and hand...Jenny phoned for advise, while I supplied cold water to cool the area down.

We are just at the back of St Mary’s hospital so she and another narrow boat dweller walked round the corner to the professional people for them to sort.

Right over to Jenny to add some photos...A joint effort.

Enough for now...let us know if your reading …???

also…..If you enjoying ??

If no one is reading…. I won’t bother with me ramblings.

Paddington arm, We moored in the gap for a few days.

Little Venice

Restaurant over the canal on way out of Little Venice

Leaving Little Venice

Bit out of our price range, also to many rooms to clean!!

Cows are kept in  London

On the way to Limehouse Basin

At Kentish Locks, commonly known as Camden Locks

London Canal Museum Basin