First Even Smaller Trip Out For The Year - Sickle

Retrospective post for Fri 7th February
 
(Boat Sickle - posted by Alan)

Tied up, and ready for lunch.

Not a lot to say really, other than that we needed to go and check "Sickle" out, and pump from her the large volumes of water that were inevitable after what I believe has been the wettest recorded January.

Unlike "Chalice" the previous week, "Sickle" usually just starts on the button, with almost no turning over required before she fires up - just as well, because she only has one old battery, so there would be nothing in reserve if she didn't start very quickly.

It was an unusually pleasant day, based on recent weather patterns, so Cath, David, Odin and I set off for a nearby pub for lunch.

On the way back with Odin as look out.

No issues to report, if we overlook the small matter of "somebody" managing to let the range chimney roll into the cut once removed after we got back.  It isn't magnetic, apparently - had we known that at the outset, it would have greatly speeded up efforts to rerieve it!

Miles: 3.0, Locks: 0

First Small Trip Out For The Year - Chalice

Retrospective post for Sat 1st and Sun 2nd February

(Boat Chalice- posted by Alan)

Canada Geese

I'm afraid that the blog rather suffered towards the latter part of 2013, and remains incomplete for final trips made.  This is an attempt to start doing a bit better in 2014.

The whole Marsworth reservoir group is full to capacity for once.

In past years it would have been quite unusual for us not to make out first trip out until February, but things have conspired against us recently.  The appallingly bad weather, (the wettest recorded January in the South East?), has obviously had an impact, but so have a host of other things, starting the sudden death of Cath's father Jim late last year, but also incorporating people driving into our car, and, at home, leaks through a new and expensive roof, leaks from our domestic hot water tank, necessitating expensive replacement, as well as a number of dentistry disasters, (also very expensive!).

Odin performs enthusiastically to the command "Touch!"

Still, by the first day of February we decided we had had enough of not boating, and we really did need to go and light a fire in Chalice to air her out, as well as proving the engine would still start, and put some charge into the batteries.

Fortunately the recent storms seem to have done nothing bad - the cover over the front deck was in tact, there was even still a cap on the chimney, and none of the fallen trees had managed to hit us.  The engine was a bit reluctant to start, and ran a bit rough for a minute or two, but fortunately quickly settled down.

Marsworth top lock

We had no particular plan, beyond spending a night on board, and thought we might moor up beside Marsworth reservoirs for the night.  However, after a short while a somewhat windy day turned into an extremely windy day, that would have made any lock work unpleasnt, so, finding vacant moorings below the lock flight, we decided to stop there.



Cath, Odin and I enjoyed a pleasant evening in the Anglers Retreat, although it has to be said that their choice for vegetarians is now very poor.  It is unusual for Cath to leave much of a meal, but she disliked their vegetarian curry enough that she did just that.  This is a great shame, because the White Lion in Marsworth is now long term closed, with little prospect of reopening, and the Red Lion is also a disaster area for vegetarian food, (although like the Anglers still fine as a drinking pub).  We have gone from a situation where we had a choice of meals in three pubs at a location close to our mooring, where now effectively we have none.  I think we will be eating on board for future trips, so that is further custom they have lost.

Odin watches from a favourite spot on the boat.

Initially the next day our plan was just to go up a few locks to find a pound wide enough to turn the boat easily, but after a late start, the day seemed pleasant enough that we decided to go right up to Bulbourne, (only to come sraight back down again!).  In practice the day also started to break somewhat, and although never as windy as the day before, was quite hard work by the time we got back to our mooring.  We moor on "end on" pontoons, and our neighbour has recently had his boat stretched longer than is actually permitted for the moorings, so we now have very limited space to manoeuvre in.  With the wind as strong as it was, I expected problems trying to reverse back onto the pontoons, but in practice it wasn't that hard.

So, our boating start to 2014, and the first year in which Cath, like me, is in retirement,  A slow start, but we plan to do lots more!

Round trip to Bulbourne via Marsworth Locks
Miles: 5.4, Locks: 18
Total Miles: 5.4, Locks: 1

Stoke Bruerne Village At War Weekend - 15th & 16th September

(Boat Sickle - posted by Alan)

(Yet another very retrospective blog post.)

We had fought like mad to actually be at "Village at War", one of our favourite events of the boating calendar, but as the weekend approached it looked increasingly from the forecasts like it could be a washout.  We had done a "Village at War" two years previously where the Sunday had largely got rained off, so we relaise how important it is to the organisers that bad weather doesn't restrict visitor numbers to the point that no funds are raised by the event.

However as we moved into the weekend the forecasts got a bit more optimistic - Saturday it seemed might not be too bad, although Sunday still looked fairly hopeless.

The reality was nothing like as bad as even the revised predictions.  Saturday was actually a pretty good day.  Even Sunday held fairly good until about lunch time, after which the bad weather did start to appear.  However by then most exhibitors and traders seemed fairly satisfied - a good measure of success seems to be when the burger stall runs out of burgers, and Peter Oates assured us that this had happened reassuringly quickly!

It does seem though that although we carry cameras around a lot, we are getting progressively less good at taking photographs of these events.  I have to admit a lot of time was spent eating or drinking at The Boat, and this may have contributed to a lack of pictures.  However, as is customary at Stoke Bruerne events, "Sickle" did a bit of parading, and there are at least some photos of that!

Stoke Bruerne Village at War
Miles: 2.0, Locks: 4

Total Miles: 539.0, Locks: 272

Braunston to Stoke Bruerne - Thursday 12th September

(Boat Sickle - posted by Alan)

Another very retrospective blog post.

For various reasons relating to planning around other events, it turned out that the best day to move "Sickle" on the final leg of the trip from Shackerstone to Stoke Bruerne, ready for "Village at War" was the Thursday, even though we did not need to be at Stoke until a day later.

To do these point to point moves often involves two cars, and a lot of shuffling around, but that is pretty expensive in fuel, so if we can avoid it we prefer to.  We have had some success recently combining use of a bike with just one car, and we decided to try that again for this move, although we had learned the lesson that a full sized "mountain" style bike makes it much easier than one of the Brompton folders.  It does also need fairly good towpaths.  So the plan was that we go to Braunston with a bike in the car, which we would use to lock-wheel the flight, before Cath returned to the car, with bike, and then drove forward ready to assist at the Buckby locks, again using the bike.  Once clear of Buckby she would drive to Blisworth with the bike, then cycle back to meet me as I progressed South with "Sickle".  By choosing Blisworth we both avoid the parking limitations at Stoke, and the need for Cath to cycle over Blisworth tunnel.  I could drop her back there later, and she could then drive to Stoke whilst I went through the tunnel alone.

I like a good plan, but it all started to fall apart as we tackled Braunston locks, where progress ended up being incredibly slow.  Virtually all traffc seemed to be the direction we were going, up the locks, with few balancing movements down.  There were some very slow crews who were working locks slowly and ineffeciently, and a volunteer lock-keeper positioned at just one lock in the centre of the flight seemed to actually be insisting on things that made it take even longer, but probably overall wasted more water than it saved.

Again many of the pounds in Braunston were low, and this wasn't helping.  This is quite a basic thing, but in many of the Grand Union lock flights it now seems commonplace, with nobody assigned to attempt to keep the levels up.

By the time we were through Braunston it looked highly unlikely we would be tying up in Stoke Bruerne before nightfall, as we had planned.

Howeer, at Buckby things went rather more smoothly, and a couple of boats we shared with were very helpful, and, hearing we needed to make Stoke, suggested we went ahead of them.  By the bottom of Buckby it seemed just about possible we might succeed, if no more hold ups.  Cath set off with bike to do the next leg by car, and I set off with "Sickle".

I can't recall exactly where I finally saw Cath again, but of course Buckby to Blisworth is a fair old way, so she had done a fair amount of cycling by the time we did meet.  However it had worked well, as she had largely avoided the rougher towpaths, and after that we continued to make good speed, although wondered if we would have to call it a day by the time we reached Blisworth.

However some local knowledge confirmed plenty of availability of moorins at Stoke, so even if I emerged from the tunnel in darkness, mooring up should be no issue, (it of course makes little differenvce if night has fallen whilst you are in a tunnel!)

So I set off through the tunnel - always a pleasure when nobody else is in it, and you can go at the speed that "Sickle" actually seems to prefer! 4mph was easily achieved!

So we not only got to Stoke, but were also in time for a meal at The Boat - it seems to be "our local" tese days even though we live many miles from it - we almost certainly visit this pub more than any other.

I suppose the fact we took not one single picture says a lot about the nature of the day - all standard stuff, but such slow going for the first few hours.  Braunston to Stoke Bruerne at this time of year used to be an easy days boating - now it seems you can't rely on it not taking an awful lot longer than it really ought to need to.

Braunston to Stoke Bruerne
Miles: 20.6, Locks:13

Total Miles: 537.0, Locks: 268

The Blog Stalls Again - Retrospective post - Newbold to Braunston - Tuesday 10th September

(Boat Sickle - posted by Alan)

Blog fail!  One month after some of the boating nothing has been written up.

As far as this day goes, there could have been a reason though!

I was on my own again, and although it may not sound much to experienced single handers, I knew I had to work through the locks at Hillmorton on my own.  I reasoned that with twinned locks I could take my time, as there is always the pair to each lock that someone can use i they get impatient with me!

First lock at Hillmorton

In practice a lock-keeper helped me at the first one, but then said "you are on your own for the rest".  Not a problem, but with multiple boats going up ahead of me, using both locks of a pair, I had to stop and reverse one of each in order to use it.  The locks here were suffering the same "low pounds" syndrome that seems to be commonplace on South East waterways flights this year.  There may be volunteer lock keepers, but they don't seem to be empowered to top up pounds that are low.  One did take a photo of me though - about the only way you get pictures for the blog if single handing!

After this I had two consecutive experiences I would have preferred to avoid, as I got into a queue of slow moving boats, with all the rest travelling ahead of me.  After following one at a reasonable distance for some miles, he then waved me past at a less than suitable spot.  As I was roughly alongside him, with not much clear waterway ahead, he put the power back on.  I suggested if he wanted me to pass he should remain well slowed down  and he said "yes, I understand", but shortly after slackening off, then speeded up again!  I did get by but it was hairy.

Shortly after this another boat waved me past at somewhere even less suitable.  I should have followed my instincts and not gone, but often if you don't go past when the boat in front offers, you are then not given a chance somewhere more appropriate.  As I was going alongside  I actually said something like "Thanks, but I'm a bit nervous of doing this, as the last boat didn't actually let me past".  "No problem" says he, (or something similar), but then winds on the speed!  At this point a boat comes round the corner towards us, and I have no option but to try and stop dead.  Total mayhem ensued, and although there was no boat to boat contact, I was very grateful of "Sickle's power, but less grateful for the fact it is very hard to prevent the front end swinging to the left bank, if it is all applied at once!  I made a mental note not to pass anyone else unless I was comfortable I could still outrun them if they did all the wrong things!  I have to say this busy stretch of the Northern Oxford seems to attract more people with little idea of what they are doing than most other canals we visit.

After that it was fortunately incident free to Braunston, and I had been trying to liaise with Cath such that she would arrive there by car to pick me up at an appropriate time, as we planned to leave "Sickle" there briefly.  I was quietly hoping that those who had waved me past, but not actually let me past, would not arrive anywhere nearby.  My patience was a little exhausted by this stage, and I might have had further "words".  However after a good feed at the Gongoozlers' Rest, I was prepared to put it down as one of those unfortunate boating days that hopefully only happens once in a blue moon!

Newbold to Braunston
Miles: 11.2, Locks: 3

Total Miles: 516.5, Locks: 255

Longest I Have Ever Boated Alone with Sickle

(Boat Sickle - posted by Alan)

I'm struggling to believe CRT erected these signs!

I didn't sleep great on my own, despite more space in the bed!  It was actually getting colder, but on my own I didn't want the effort of lighting or managing the Epping range, so I went for extra blankets.

The kettle is taking an inordinately long time to boil on our normally excellent meths fuelled stove - I don't know why, but was determined not to leave without a full thermos of coffee that I could pour from when under way.  I also made sure I had a proper breakfast, because lunch on the move would not be an option.

Ashby Canal Bridge No 1 - Nearly off this canal now.

Where we had moored last night near Stoke Golding was shallow, and I was on the bottom, some way from the bank.  I didn't realise how much I was on the bottom, until I attempted to "unstick" myself from it.  Whilst I was getting nowhere with engine power, use of a shaft, or indeed both, Trevor Maggs boated by on his working boat "Corona".  Trevor makes things look effortless, (he has more practice than most!), and I don't think was convinced by me pausing my attempts to get going, and trying to look like I could if I actually wanted too!

"Corona" and "Sickle" both await passage at the stop lock.

The next thing I learnt was that if following Trevor on "Corona" don't expect to catch up!  I kept getting tantalising glimpses of "Corona" in the distance, but only occasionally, and many miles ater, the gap seemed as large.  I finally only caught him when he had to wait for the stop lock at Hawkesbury.  He got through, but some CRT employees attempting to reattach the top balance beam rather better than it was made me wait some time while they "spannered" away.  By then Trevor was probably tied up back at base in Rugby, (OK, well not quite).  It seemed sensible to stop for sandwiches.

"Corona" glides into the stop lock at Hawkesbury.

I decided I would carry on until early evening, and Newbold looked favourite - I thought I might get a pub meal and some shopping there, and did not fancy pushing on into Rugby itself.  I had however picked the one night of the year that the nearest pub wasn't doing evening food, and the one next to it never does.  I thought I was scuppered, until I found there are three pubs in Newbold.  The Newbold Crown provided adequate food, but in completely empty bar, and I thought my pint of Doombar wasn't quite up to scratch.  Perhaps one is more demanding when you only have yourself for company?  The Co-Op, however, provided all my shopping requirements, and I managed to get back to the boat OK, even though I had failed to take a torch with me.

Leaving Newbold Tunnel - just before tying up for the day.

By putting in a long day today, Braunston should be reached fairly easily tomorrow, although I would have to work Hillmorton locks on my own.

Stoke Golding to Newbold
Miles: 23.9, Locks:1

Total Miles: 505.4, Locks: 252

How To Be At Sickle's Next Event?

(Boat Sickle - posted by Alan)

We know we are temporarily breaking our resolve to do our boating at a bit more sedate pace, but, as already explained, we are also keen to get to all this years events with "Sickle" that we reasoned we might just manage at the start of the year.

But with Cath currently unavailable during the weekdays, (don't ask!), could we get "Sickle" from Shackerstone this weekend to Stoke Bruerne by next weekend, ready for "Village at war" - one of our favourite events.

Well, yes we can, but only by me "single handing" "Sickle" for much of it.  I'm no natural single hander since I broke my pelvis a few years back.  Steering the lock free sections isn't too bad, but I don't really do jumps any more, and am not confident with tacling too many locks alone.  But from Shackerstone to Stoke Bruerne the "real" locks only kick in at Braunston and Buckby on the Grand Union.  The biggest task on the narrow canals would be the paired single locks at Hillmorton - I reckoned I could do that.

Approaching a typical attractive stone bridge on the Ashby

So I would stay with "Sickle" and start the journey, but Cath needed to be at home.  If we left Shackerstone and got a few miles in that would help, so that's what we did.  Rather daftly I suggested Cath could take the car on to another point, then cycle back or walk back to meet me coming towards her.  We could travel on those miles, have a final meal together, and she could then leave.  We rather miscalculated though, and she walked far further than sensible, plus by the time we arrived at Stoke Golding it seemed highly unlikely anybody would be serving a meal.  Fortunately we wee wrong, as a pub there actually has an Indian Restaurant attached to it - a double blessing, as I could have a proper pint of real ale with my "Indian" rather than the "traditional" Kingfisher, which, if I'm honest, I only drink under duress.

Sleeping alone on "Sickle" for the first time was an odd experience, but as a "Grand Union" motor's cross bed is really only a "single" in household terms, I did have a bit more room than sometimes!  I later learnt Cath wasn't home until about midnight - we pushed things a bit far, really, but it makes my task for the next couple of days a lot easier.

Shackerstone to Stoke Golding
Miles: 9.9, Locks: 0

Total Miles: 481.4, Locks: 251