Feeling industrious

(Boat Chalice - posted by Cath)

Alan at Tixall Wide

After yesterday's washing I was feeling quite industrious, so tried to continue today. I walked the dog, then while we were queueing for locks swept through the boat, and beat the rugs, then tidied up and cleared up a lot of the clutter that tends to accumulate. I did a stack of handwashing, rinsing it, and then spinning it in our 'Fisher Price' twin tub washing machine. I even managed another batch of baking. All this alongside doing a stint of steering (Alan had to do the bulk of it today), and working locks.

As you can see from the pictures a day that started with glorious sunshine, although it ended in drizzle.

waiting, Trent and Mersey lock

On the Staffs and Worcs at Tixall lock we came across the first of the queues for locks - "You are number six". But the queues eased as the day wore on.

It was a day of meeting up with people - spotting some friends from Cowroast heading the same way as us at Tixall (they eventually turned back - it seemed to be a bit of a minor diversion from a major trip out), and then suddenly meeting one of Alan's old school friends at a lock later on. They were heading the other way to us, so we only had the briefest of exchanges.

Park Gate Lock

I always think of Park Gate as where we picked up Sickle two and a half years ago.

Alcor passes

At Gailey - from the foot tunnel

We moored among other boats, just short of Calf Heath.













  



River Trent Aqueduct, Rugeley to Calf Heath
Miles: 20.0 (Chalice), Locks:14

Total Miles: 222.5, Locks: 85

Washing Takes Over

(Boat Chalice - posted by Cath)

Attractive wooden boat moored at Fradley

From Hopwas, through attractive scenery to Fradley Junction, where it proved as hard to find somewhere to tie up as usual. We did manage to moor beyond very end of the visitor moorings, on a poor section of bank and I bundled up the washing into a shopping bag for the long walk to the washing machines.

Unfortunately the washing facility was locked up.  In the pub we were told it was closed now, but that there was a good laundrette in Rugeley. I hadn't really intended to go into Rugeley, but we decided that we would be able to do some shopping at the big Morrisons there.

Small granary loaves - all too quickly eaten!

Through intermittent rain we set off again. I got the opportunity to do some baking, and in a brief sunny period walked Odin - although I ended up sheltering under a bridge in the rain.

Badger

Odin in the sunshine between the showers.

The laundrette turned out to be some distance from the canal, but did a reasonable job with the clothes - at least we don't have to think about using the twin tub for a few days.

Crossing the River Trent aqueduct.

We managed to get a mooring just past the aqueduct with someone moving up by a foot. I even got some melodeon practice done.














Below Hopwas to River Trent Aqueduct, Rugeley
Miles: 18.0 (Chalice), Locks: 3

Total Miles: 202.6, Locks: 71

Five battered mushrooms

(Boats Chalice & Sickle initially, but then just Chalice - posted by Cath)

A very late start, late even by our standards. However, we spent ages looking at maps and deciding which way to go once we'd left Sickle at Alvecote. We didn't really manage to, however, I put in a vote for going to Fradley Junction so that I can do the washing at the pub. I often do the washing in our little twin tub washer, which washes very well but we do then need good weather to dry the clothes festooned around the boat. The weather is OK-ish, with some wet interludes - which makes the idea of a washer and dryer very attractive.

Sickle and Bream at Alvecote

We finally got Sickle to Alvecote, but the office was locked - and so was the pub! The Internet told us that the pub is shut on Monday, and Alan put out a request for help on Facebook, which was very quickly picked up and a message was relayed from Laurence Williams to leave Sickle near to Bream - which we did.

Despite the contradictory towpath rumours about whether or not Glascote locks were shut we carried on to find no sign at all of the threatened stoppage. At Fazely Junction, I went to the titchy Tesco's around the corner while Alan filled the water tank. I was a bit wary of when I might next find a supermarket, but the Tesco there really doesn't have very much we need except the very basics.

Wey looking very good at Glascote bottom lock

It was now getting quite late and I've recently put my foot down about boating all hours of the day and night. Now that I am retired I don't see why we can't treat boating as a holiday and go and see things, or tie up before the evening and do some things on the boat - reading, or music practice or similar. We did need to 'deliver' Sickle, but now that's done I want a more relaxed time boating. So I pointed out that Hopwas was not too far away and that we would be able to eat at a pub.

We ate at the Tame Otter, which was OK, but not outstanding, and they charged far too much for 5 battered mushrooms.

Below Atherstone Lock 9 to Hopwas
Miles: 11.9 (Chalice), 5.6 (Sickle) , Locks: 6 (2 with both boats, 2 with only Chalice)

Total Miles: 184.5, Locks: 68

Today We Make Good Progress, But Manage To Be Very Relaxed.

(Boats Chalice and Sickle together - posted by Alan)

"Chalice" draws into the stop lock at Hawkesbury.

Our overnight moorings before Brinklow were very pleasant, but we did have the complication of not being able to get even Chalice against the bank.  OK for the humans on board, but Odin really was not happy to try and negotiate a very uphill gangplank!  We eventually substituted one of Sickle's very much wider deck boards, and at this point he could be reluctantly coaxed over it - or at least he could in daylight - once it was dark, he wasn't happy!  So we were treated to the sight of David trying to carry 30 kilos of reluctant "Lab" down a wobbly board - something I wasn't going to try.  Of course in the morning David is not an early riser, so I was faced with trying to entice Odin down the plank again.

"Sickle" waits below for "Chalice" as steam tunnel tug replica "Hasty" arrives.

Soon after we set off, we found ourselves in a long "convoy".  The person leading us proved to be a canal World Forum member, and soon waved us past saying he didn't want to be going as fast as some in the "convoy" wanted to.  We in turn let a faster moving fibreglass boat past us.

We then made good progress up to Hawkesbury, although I was far enough ahead in "Sickle" by now to lock through on my own before "Chalice" arrived.  We were treated to the steam tug replica "Hasty" coming the other way, before a lack of clear understanding about another boater's intentions at the turn under the famous bridge left us both momentarily powering towards the same spot, (wisely he decided quickly that "Sickle" was far the faster!).

Heading away from the turn at Hawkesbury.

We stuck to our guns on actually pulling over for a proper lunch, whilst deliberating on how far we might get without a late finish.  We thought stopping much before Atherstone would probably be too early, but that equally if we pushed down most of the flight, it would be a lot later than we wanted.  This seemed even more so when we stopped for over a quarter of an hour whilst David attempted to re-secure a boat we found had broken from its moorings, but only had an unsuitable mat of knotted rope to try and correct the situation, (David takes these challenges quite seriously, and always tries hard to make sure a drifting boat will stay put after he has retied it!)

Single handing "Sickle" down the Atherstone flight.

In fact we got to Atherstone top lock far sooner than we thought we might, so I set off down with Sickle.  I am not a natural single-handed boater, but these are gentle downhill narrow locks, making it about as easy as it gets, so I stuck with it.  For the first 4 or 5 people eased my task by coming the other way at regular intervals, but after that the flow of uphill boats died out, so I had to pull over to set each lock before I could enter it.  I have to say I surprised myself how well I did, and for some time was far enough ahead of Cath and David with Chalice, that I had little idea how far ahead.

In my view the evening is a superb time to do this otherwise normally busy flight - total tranquillity!

"Sickle" waits in the mouth of lock 9, with "Chalice" having just entered it.

We had decided the best overnight stop was in the long pound before the two bottom locks, so I paused below lock 9 until we were all together again, and then we moored in a very tranquil location.  Sat outside my old tug, but with a laptop wi-fi connected to Chalice, and a glass of wine, we observed a brilliant sunset.  Boating at its best!








Easenhall Lane Bridge, Near Brinklow to below Atherstone Lock 9
Miles: 21.1 (Each Boat), Locks: 20 (10 twice!)

Total Miles: 167.1, Locks: 62

A Much More Gentle Day

(Boats Chalice and Sickle together - posted by Alan)

Leaving a strangely deserted Hillmorton Locks

Whilst we are by no means averse to putting in long days boating if the situation demands it, we had broadly planned that on this trip we would be more relaxed, and not going hell for leather.  So, frankly, yesterday we messed up!  There is no particular attraction in arriving somewhere late, when you are tired and hungry, and then finding you can't even easily moor up!

So today was definitely going to be more relaxed, and we were in no great rush to get going.  Being moored close to the facilities in Braunston made it very easy to draw the boats forward several yards, and to take on water and deal with toilets.

I head away from Hillmorton having just taken the above picture.

However last nights chaos had left "Sickle" facing South when we wanted to be travelling North, so the first boating of the day, (if you don't count moving a few yards without engine!), was for me to take her and spin her round at the Marina entrance.

Next I knew there were things I could usefully pick up at Midland Chandlers, so I motored on up to there with "Sickle", leaving Cath and David to come along a bit later with "Chalice".  Fortunately, unlike my last visit, Midland were now actually aware that a small discount had actually been negotiated for Historic Narrow Boat Club members.  I left, amongst other things now certain I had enough oil to do a much needed change on "Sickle".

This hardly looks comfortable - he has a proper bed, but preferred this!

Most of the fancy lights in Newbold tunnel have long since expired.

The Northern Oxford is clearly a popular canal, (far mor so than most of our native Grand Union), and attractive enough, but it will never be a favourite of mine.  Certainly at a summer weekend it is now very busy, often with people who don't seem to be that clear what they are doing, and trying to keep out of their way with "Sickle" can be a bit of a challenge, as some seem unaware it will run aground if pushed towards the shallow edges, and also that bringing it to a sudden stop and holding a line can be "interesting".

Curiously though at Hillmorton Locks, allegedly the most busy in the country, there were very few boats at all, and unlike previous years where we have had long waits to get into the locks at all, today we were straight away on our way down.  Today a volunteer lock-keeper apperaed, and seemed happy to help lock David through single handed with "Chalice", whilst Cath and Odin stayed with me and "Sickle".  Odin will happily cross the top end of these locks, despite a quite narrow walkway, and a significant gap to it, but hates using a boarding plank to get on the boats!

We managed to find suitable moorings for both boats at Rugby, allowing both a shopping stop, and a proper sit down lunch, (still a novelty for us when boating!).

Clocking up the lockless miles.

Later on the map showed that there is a long stretch between Brinklow and Ansty that is largely accompanied by a busy railway line, and also at one point a motorway, and we know isn't the best overnight stop.  At Ansty it is often not possible to find moorings, so stopping short of Brinklow seemed the best option, and would give us our promised short day.

I was loathing doing an oil change on "Sickle", and was right to do so!  The job is just as unpleasant as I remembered it from last time.  The pump on the engine will not prime, and when it does is very slow to pump out all the oil involved.  The oil filter is inaccessible, both to remove, and to replace.  After a long fight, I emerged with both me and engine room coated in oil, but, at least with "Chalice" travelling with us, I had the luxury of a shower!

Braunston to Essenhall Lane Bridge, Near Brinklow
Miles: 15.1 (Each Boat), Locks: 6 (3 twice!)

Total Miles: 124.9, Locks: 42

A Day Where We Took On Too Much. (Not Very relaxing!).

(Boats Chalice and Sickle together - posted by Alan)

Odin will generally wait at locks quite patiently.

Let me start by admitting this was probably not our most auspicious days of boating ever!  We normally would treat Stoke Bruerne to Braunston as a typical days boating, but because it includes both the Buckby and Braunston flights of locks it can often be very hard to predict a likely timing.  Both these flights can get busy, and if you encounter slow crews, the time to pass through a flight can easily be double what you might achieve if you had a clear run at them.

I would have turned the engine off if I knew how long a wait I would have here!

Today we underestimated how long things might take, compounded by us not really appreciating how much slower we ourselves would be with two boats.  Additionally the fact that we were moored overnight still two locks down the Stoke Bruerne flight added to the time needed, and after we failed to make an early start we quickly found ourselves slowed by other boats

David brings "Chalice" out of Blisworth tunnel

One further thing that is making a big difference to our days is that if Cath and I boat alone with one boat we don't tend to actually stop for lunch, and simply carry on with one steering whilst the other prepares food, and then eat on the move.  That doesn't work with two boats and three crew, as whoever is alone on a boat has nobody there to get on with things as they are steering.  So we have made a point of having proper stops for lunch, (something we are likely to do more now Cath is retired, and we can be more relaxed).

Exchanging locks with two other boats at Buckby

You have probably guessed by now that as the day progressed we slipped further and further behind any timings necessary to arrive in Braunston at a reasonable hour!  The one thing that did go swimmingly well was both tunnels, and we didn't encounter a single other boat in either Blisworth or Braunston.  This is almost unheard of in August, but was most welcome, and we fair blasted through both!

More waiting! - Below Buckby Top lock

That was probably the only bit that went well, and at Whilton/Buckby locks we had a series of slight mishaps, losing some of the paint from Chalice's newly repainted stern, but also a piling hook, and even the keeper off the Sea Searcher magnet that we actually failed to find the piling hook with!  This is somewhat of a first, usually if you drop a large steel object in, and know where it went in, a Sea Searcher will find it.  We did even wonder if it got moved by the flow of water in a short pound, as the locks were being worked, although such an explanation seems a bit unlikely!
It is fair to say these locks were not well worked by us, as we struggled to operate with less than our usual unwritten clear understanding of who was doing what!

"Sickle" viewd from "Chalice" just leaving Braunston Tunnel

A late arrival in Braunston was now inevitable, and a dash through the tunnel didn't change things that much.  We were then greeted by a boater from further down the flight who told us there were "several pounds with very little water in them", and who wanted to run water down, and seemed a bit put out that anybody wanted to boat down!  By the time we arrived in the allegedly problematic pounds, we could see nothing seriously wrong with any of them, so quite why this chap thought a lot more water was needed was lost on us.  I really must learn to ignore these horror stories from other boaters - so often they turn out to be heavily exaggerated!

Another "leaving tunnel" shot - Braunston again.

The final straw was not being able to find any moorings in Braunston, with the light already fading, along with any hopes of a pub meal!  We tried to moor right near the marina entrance, but although this is used for moorings in the historic boat events, underwater obstructions prevented us.  I boated right up to Braunston Turn with "Sickle", and might have found her a slot, but certainly nothing for the longer "Chalice", so I turned and came back.  Whilst we deliberated on whether we could squeeze in near the sanitary and water facilities the occupants of a hire boat saw our predicament, and offered to move up to create more space.  This was much appreciated at a time we were all badly over-tired!  In fact in the morning it transpired they were now on somebody's permanent mooring, but that had not been obvious in the fading light.  Anyway no harm done, as we were all going to be away quickly in the morning.

We made a firm decision that tomorrow would be planned to be a much shorter day!

"Long Pound", Stoke Bruerne to Braunston
Miles: 22.3 (Each Boat), Locks: 15

Total Miles: 94.7, Locks: 36

Onwards, but slower than expected

(Boats Chalice and Sickle together - posted by Alan)

Refuelling Mayhem 1

Boating with both boats together is a very different experience from either on their own.  For a start, most of the time we require two steerers, and with a crew of only three, it means I in particular spend most of the day at a tiller, so can't get on with anything else instead whilst actually boating.  Things you take for granted like tidying up, washing up, making a hot drink or snack, checking the Internet, (or even going to the loo!), get put on hold, unless you actually stop.

Refuelling Mayhem 2

It is possible in flights of broad locks to breast the boats together, allowing one to drag the other through the flight, but in practice the different lengths and nature of each boat doesn't make this as effective as with two more matched boats.

We thought today we would easily be all the way up Stoke Bruerne locks, and would probably arrive a bit early, and hence that we would probably press on through the tunnel.  The reality has been rather different, as a number of delays crept in.

"Towcester" sets off again with "Bideford" on a seriously long line.

Yesterday I discovered "Chalice's" stern gland was leaking more than it should, and I hadn't felt like tackling it then, so that was first job of the day.  Having set up "Chalice's" gland, I thought it prudent to check and adjust "Sickle's" as well, also to refill the stern tube greasers in both boats.

Cosgrove Lock

We set off with me leading on "Sickle", and Cath, David and Odin on "Chalice", but knew we needed fuel, and a text to Julia on "Towcester" said she was travelling South towards us.  This left us in some comical situations of trying to ensure we did not finally meet her somewhere all the boats could not pull over, including us stopping and checking ahead at a stretch that I knew was lined with other boats.  As Richard and Julia also had their butty Bideford in tow, the resulting gaggle of 4 boats when we did meet caused a bit of chaos until the transaction was complete.

Odin loves his ball

Having cleared Cosgrove Lock we found it remarkably hard to find somewhere to pull over for lunch.  Places like Thrupp Wharf now have almost no mooring, because most has been taken away unnecessarily to provide an "exclusion zone" near the marina entrance.  Beyond much of the bank is completely overgrown,  When we did try to stop further on we again couldn't get into the bank, and I picked up a bladeful of rubbish that stopped "Sickle's" engine dead, and left me drifting mid channel.  Cath came to the rescue, and towed me for a bit on improvised cross straps!

The uncontrolled offside vegetation between Yardley Gobion and the Stoke Bruerne flight is now getting very bad - of course all is fine when nothing is coming the other way, but boats forced into the worst of it risk not just damaged paint and chimneys, but injury to those on board.

Second lock up Stoke Bruerne flight.

We decided to work the Stoke Bruerne flight with a steerer on each boat, rather than "breasting" the boats - largely to see how we got on.  With care this allows only needing to open single gates, not those each side of a lock, (it being fairly easy to "punt" one boat across to make room for the other).
I'm not convinced we made the right decision, but equally it was not a disaster, and if you don't try, you don't find out!

David in charge of "Chalice"

We found space in the "long pound" two locks down the flight, so decided to stop there, not being sure how much space might be at the top.  I didn't feel a lot like working on a hot engine, but braced myself to give "Chalice" an engine oil change and filter replacement, which I was sure was somewhat overdue.

Cath managed a considerable "over-order" on a take away meal from the excellent "Spice of Bruerne", although David is now working his way through the excess as I type.  We managed two separate visits to the "Boat" wrapped around this, and Odin got a fair run-around as a result.

I am wondering though, how long the blogging can last, if I'm trying to do it late in the night, due to absence of time any earlier on!

Little Woolstone to "Long Pound", Stoke Bruerne
Miles: 14.5 (Each boat), Locks:6

Total Miles: 50.0, Locks: 21