The Canals and my experience 2014
My project for 2012 is to buy, own and live on board a narrow boat for at least a year and cruise the canals and waterways of England.
My experience has been two school trips in the 80s when I took ten children each trip for a cruising week aboard a hire boat.
Later bringing my son`s 45` narrow boat from Macclesfield to Uxbridge over a ten day period..
I really caught the bug for canal life, but could not do anything about it as I was still working.
I really caught the bug for canal life, but could not do anything about it as I was still working.
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| The boat called Chirk that I brought from Macclesfield to London |
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| 72` narrow boat called ``Duck Dodger` that sank in a lock on the way to London. |
Buying the boat
There are many narrow boats on the market in various sizes and prices. Some are sold privately and others through brokerage. If you buy privately you might have to travel a distance to see one boat and have nothing to compare it with. If you can find a marina where there are many boats for sale, you can spend a day looking, comparing and finding a boat that`s right for you. To live on board a narrow boat you need a boat over 50` long with all home comforts
Buying Annabel
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| Viewing many narrow boats for sale in one place |
On 28th November 2011. I travelled with some friends to a marina near Daventry where a range of boats were up for sale. We spent the day looking at what was available and tried to compare the prices, view the layouts and grasp the technical details about the heating, hot water and engine types. Also generally find out as much as possible about the running costs and expenses of living on the canals.
After Christmas in January I made a second journey to the marina with the same friends lasting two days and after asking more questions made a shortlist of four boats. Then after discussion with friends and sales personnel made an offer on one boat.. The boat, known as Adagio was 56` long and the owner was asking £38000. I offered £35000 which was accepted subject to survey.
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| Inside Adagio |
After the purchase there are other expenses to consider depending what the surveyor suggests
Left home with David and Jackie drove to Whilton Marine to begin cruise and live on Annabel. The car was loaded with items to take aboard. The boat was explained to us and there was so much to remember. The cranking battery was replaced because it didn`t hold it`s charge. Eventually my friends left and I had to spent my first evening and night on Annabel. Discovered the central heating won`t work, I failed to light the fire, although I tried several times and the water wouldn`t pump to the taps and was flowing into the engine compartment, so I had to turn if off. The gas worked however so was able to make a cup of tea using some bottled water I had. It was cold and everyone had gone home at the marina and I very much wished I wasn`t there. I went to bed with a hot water bottle and slept as there was nothing else to do. So much for the health check, I thought.
Spent most of the day trying to get the boat fixed. The water problem was caused by a broken pipe connection.. Once fixed by the marina engineer the taps worked and toilet flushed and the engine produced hot water. Great! I managed to have a great shower. The central heating still wasn`t working so stayed in the marina as wanted everything working before I left.
Had to tell the marina office that the central heating still wasn`t working. The engineer had a look got it going but it kept switching off so he called in an expert who found dirt on a sensor. It was cleaned and the system began working well.. At I.30pm with everything working left the marina in a strong wind. All went well and was soon on the Grand Union travelling south. Went through Weedon and after 5 hours reached Gayton. I got very cold steering the boat and was pleased to moor up and light the fire and cook a meal.
Thursday 8th March 2012
Motored from Cosgrove to Milton Keynes and tried to get as close to the centre as I could. Walked into Milton Keynes to see this large strange town with its shopping blocks and roundabouts. Started looking for a cycle shop but couldn`t find one anywhere, Asked a few people but nobody knew of one.
Stayed on a bank mooring and went out for a walk to look around. Was moored in Cambell Park. When I came back switched on the radio and it wouldn`t work. Fiddled around with the aerial but couldn`t get clear reception. I then realised the leisure batteries were low. Ran the engine for a while to charged the batteries (cranking battery was OK) then the radio worked perfectly. Walked back into Milton Keynes and got some shopping in Waitrose. Found a cycle shop `Evan`s Cycles`. I wanted a small plastic covered nut to go on the quick release on my rear wheel. It had fallen off in the car so I hadn`t been able to use the bike. I got the impression the shop was only interested in selling bikes, but when I asked for the small part the assistance disappeared upstairs and found the part and gave it to me free of charge. I was impressed.
Decided to stay in the mooring place all day and meet David and Jackie tomorrow. I put some overalls on and spent an hour getting water and rust from the engine compartment. It turned out to be a filthy job but one that was worth doing. Once finished I had a shower and rang the police about my lost camera. Details were taken a reference number given. Later I cycled along the towpath to Leighton Buzzard in the sunshine. There were many people out walking on the towpath so I had to use my bell frequently. At Leighton Buzzard I found a 14 day mooring by the bridge where I could leave Annabel and go home on Wednesday.
Last evening I had the engine running and the inverter turned on, but when I turned the engine off I forgot to turn off the cranking battery and inverter. Later when I tried the engine again there was just a click and all the lights on the boat went off. I checked things and couldn`t find anything wrong. Sat in the dark with just a torch but later the cabin light came back on.. In the morning the engine still wouldn`t work so I called River Rescue at 7.30am for which I had Gold Membership. Had a text afterwards saying they had no engineer available but would send a contractor and the ETA would be 10am. Sent a text to them at 10.30am informing them no one had arrived. I then got a call to say the contractor would arrive in an hour.
Tuesday 13th March 2012
Left bank mooring near Willow Bank Marina at 9.20am. It was only about 6 miles to Leighton Buzzard. Went through five locks and arrived At Leighton Buzzard at 1.30pm. On the way David`s hat was hooked off his head by a branch and we had to put the boat into reverse and use the boat hook to swoop the hat out of the canal. ( good man overboard practise) We stopped at the 14 day mooring the other side of the main bridge where we could leave the boat while we all returned to the Isle of Wight.
Bought a gas bottle at Jewson for £23.61 to replace the empty one. Motored south through about eight locks rising towards the summit of the Chiltern Hills. I knew I could only reach close to the summit at Tring as the lock was shut due to the water shortage and would not be opened until the 26th March. Topped up with water and moored up for the night outside Grebe Canal Cruisers and slept well until morning.
Sunday 25th March 2012
A beautiful sunny warm day after a cold start. Motored to Tring where the lock gate was chained and had been shut since January to conserve water. Many boats were waiting to go through as it would be open tomorrow between 10am and 3pm. The weather was so warm and sunny and like you would expect in August rater than March.
Moored Annabel outside Tesco where I bought some supplies. At this point the canal branches two ways. Straight on for Brentford (6mls) and the River Thames or you go left for Paddington (13mls) and central London. I went straight on. Just before Brentford Annabel had to descend 8 locks. I stopped for the night just before the last one because the Rive Brent was in spate and flowing into the canal and the water was moving fast and I would have little control of Annabel with the water pushing her forward. I wondered how long this strong flow would last and asked a few locals and was told it`s usually still water.
Engine Hours 70 ... Fuel 330mm
1. The licence.................................£723
2. The Anodes................................£200
3. The survey..................................£600
4. The haul out................................£195 x 2..... Has to be done twice for the survey and later the blackening.
5. The engine service.......................£200
6. The blackening of the hull............£500
7. Insurance....................................£200
I had to leave a deposit 0f £1000 subject to survey and the haul out fee of £195. The survey takes place on the 1st February 2012 As I`m going to cruise I tried to work out the basic costs of living aboard:
I decided if I set aside £170 per month, that would cover it.
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| Adagio in Whilton Marina |
The Survey
I eventually received the survey for Adagio and a phone call from surveyor. The conversation with the surveyor didn`t sound very good. He mentioned blue smoke from the engine which didn`t clear after the engine had been running for an hour. This suggested major engine work.
He also mentioned the a gas heater in the bathroom that would have to be moved if the boat was going to get a safety certificate.
When I received the full survey the situation seemed even grimmer with so many items connected with insurance and safety to fix and many recommendations. The boatyard gave me a price to rectify many of the faults. I felt that if I was going to buy Adagio I would need another £3000 off the price.
The yard rang the vendor and he could not accept that so many things were wrong with his boat and said he couldn`t reduce the price.
I decided to buy my second choice of boat. She was called Annabel, 55 feet long and all ready to go. A hull survey had been done and the hull already blackened. She just needed a health check and engine service, then she would be ready to cruise. The vendor accepted £32000 and would throw in a safety check. She needed insurance £143 and a licence for a year £723 and I decided to take out river rescue for £200
I`m taking over Annabel on Monday 5th March when I hope to leave the marina and start my journey towards London, along the Grand Union Canal.
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| Annabel on the Grand Union( photo by Jackie Carr ) |
Monday 5th March 2012
Left home with David and Jackie drove to Whilton Marine to begin cruise and live on Annabel. The car was loaded with items to take aboard. The boat was explained to us and there was so much to remember. The cranking battery was replaced because it didn`t hold it`s charge. Eventually my friends left and I had to spent my first evening and night on Annabel. Discovered the central heating won`t work, I failed to light the fire, although I tried several times and the water wouldn`t pump to the taps and was flowing into the engine compartment, so I had to turn if off. The gas worked however so was able to make a cup of tea using some bottled water I had. It was cold and everyone had gone home at the marina and I very much wished I wasn`t there. I went to bed with a hot water bottle and slept as there was nothing else to do. So much for the health check, I thought.
Tuesday 6th March 2012
Spent most of the day trying to get the boat fixed. The water problem was caused by a broken pipe connection.. Once fixed by the marina engineer the taps worked and toilet flushed and the engine produced hot water. Great! I managed to have a great shower. The central heating still wasn`t working so stayed in the marina as wanted everything working before I left.
Wednesday 7th March 2012
Engine hours 0
Engine hours 0
Had to tell the marina office that the central heating still wasn`t working. The engineer had a look got it going but it kept switching off so he called in an expert who found dirt on a sensor. It was cleaned and the system began working well.. At I.30pm with everything working left the marina in a strong wind. All went well and was soon on the Grand Union travelling south. Went through Weedon and after 5 hours reached Gayton. I got very cold steering the boat and was pleased to moor up and light the fire and cook a meal.
Thursday 8th March 2012
Left the mooring and motored towards the Blisworth Tunnel. The dark entrance came into view and Annabel entered the darkness. It was very creepy and the headlight on the boat gave a little cheer. Every so often water poured from the roof and there was a light in the distance which turned out to be another boat so had to slow down and pass. The tunnel must have taken nearly an hour to go through and my eyes hurt when we eventually emerged into daylight. Reached Stoke Bruene where I stopped for a while, then went through 7 locks and reached Cosgrove. Discovered I had lost my camera somewhere so went to the police station and reported the loss. The officer took details but told me to report it to the Northamptonshire force by dialling 101. I did this but it hadn`t been handed in by the 8th March.
Friday 9th March 2012
Motored from Cosgrove to Milton Keynes and tried to get as close to the centre as I could. Walked into Milton Keynes to see this large strange town with its shopping blocks and roundabouts. Started looking for a cycle shop but couldn`t find one anywhere, Asked a few people but nobody knew of one.
Saturday 10th March 2012
Stayed on a bank mooring and went out for a walk to look around. Was moored in Cambell Park. When I came back switched on the radio and it wouldn`t work. Fiddled around with the aerial but couldn`t get clear reception. I then realised the leisure batteries were low. Ran the engine for a while to charged the batteries (cranking battery was OK) then the radio worked perfectly. Walked back into Milton Keynes and got some shopping in Waitrose. Found a cycle shop `Evan`s Cycles`. I wanted a small plastic covered nut to go on the quick release on my rear wheel. It had fallen off in the car so I hadn`t been able to use the bike. I got the impression the shop was only interested in selling bikes, but when I asked for the small part the assistance disappeared upstairs and found the part and gave it to me free of charge. I was impressed.
Sunday 11th March 2012
Decided to stay in the mooring place all day and meet David and Jackie tomorrow. I put some overalls on and spent an hour getting water and rust from the engine compartment. It turned out to be a filthy job but one that was worth doing. Once finished I had a shower and rang the police about my lost camera. Details were taken a reference number given. Later I cycled along the towpath to Leighton Buzzard in the sunshine. There were many people out walking on the towpath so I had to use my bell frequently. At Leighton Buzzard I found a 14 day mooring by the bridge where I could leave Annabel and go home on Wednesday.
Monday 12th March 2012
Last evening I had the engine running and the inverter turned on, but when I turned the engine off I forgot to turn off the cranking battery and inverter. Later when I tried the engine again there was just a click and all the lights on the boat went off. I checked things and couldn`t find anything wrong. Sat in the dark with just a torch but later the cabin light came back on.. In the morning the engine still wouldn`t work so I called River Rescue at 7.30am for which I had Gold Membership. Had a text afterwards saying they had no engineer available but would send a contractor and the ETA would be 10am. Sent a text to them at 10.30am informing them no one had arrived. I then got a call to say the contractor would arrive in an hour.
A man from another boat offered me some logs and I spent a hour chopping them. He also told me as they were ash they could be burned straight away. At 12 got call from the contractor to say he would be there in an hour. After he had arrived I worked out it had taken five and a half hours. I thought if it had been the AA I would want compensation. At 1pm he arrived and quickly diagnosed a bad earth. The connection was cleaned and the engine started immediately. At the same time David and Jackie arrived. As soon as everything was loaded and we had had tea and a chat we left and motored for three and a half hours and went through one lock with a moving footbridge. We stopped for rubbish disposal and took on water. Found a place to spend the night, lit the fire and had a cosy meal in the cabin.
Tuesday 13th March 2012
Left bank mooring near Willow Bank Marina at 9.20am. It was only about 6 miles to Leighton Buzzard. Went through five locks and arrived At Leighton Buzzard at 1.30pm. On the way David`s hat was hooked off his head by a branch and we had to put the boat into reverse and use the boat hook to swoop the hat out of the canal. ( good man overboard practise) We stopped at the 14 day mooring the other side of the main bridge where we could leave the boat while we all returned to the Isle of Wight.
Engine hours 23hrs
23 hours engine time since Whilton Marina
Approximate mileage 50 miles
11 cm drop in fuel tank
Friday 23rd March 2012
Friday 23rd March 2012
Travelled back to the boat after a week and half at home. Relieved to find Annabel in order. The man in the next boat informed me one of the pegs came out, but he had fixed it, His name was Tudor and he had been moored there since November with BW`s permission as he had been in hospital. British Waterways are very helpful if you ring them up and let them know.
Saturday 24th March 2012
Bought a gas bottle at Jewson for £23.61 to replace the empty one. Motored south through about eight locks rising towards the summit of the Chiltern Hills. I knew I could only reach close to the summit at Tring as the lock was shut due to the water shortage and would not be opened until the 26th March. Topped up with water and moored up for the night outside Grebe Canal Cruisers and slept well until morning.
Sunday 25th March 2012
A beautiful sunny warm day after a cold start. Motored to Tring where the lock gate was chained and had been shut since January to conserve water. Many boats were waiting to go through as it would be open tomorrow between 10am and 3pm. The weather was so warm and sunny and like you would expect in August rater than March.
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| The lock was shut and had been since January |
Monday 26th March 2012
Cycled back to Leighton Buzzard along the Towpath. Found out you are supposed to have a cycle permit to use the towpath. ( they are free and you just print them from the Internet and sign) Another fine sunny day but a frosty start. Managed to get a puncture because there were hawthorn trimmings everywhere. Bought some food at Tesco and eventually cycled back to Tring. Had a text from Brad to say he would arrive on Tuesday. Tried to enter the lock but the lock keeper put the chain on by 1.30pm as he said water levels at the summit were so low. Cycled off to find a suitable place to meet Brad. At the summit saw how low the stored water was in the reservoirs. Decided the village called Cowroast was suitable place, so would have to get through the lock as soon as it was open on the next day
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| The reserves of water in the summit reservoir near Tring |
Tuesday 27th March 2012
Started the engine at 9.30am ready to go through the lock as soon as the padlock was removed. I entered the lock with another boat owned by a French girl who was taking her boat to the River Lee to live aboard. We went through 7 locks to reach the summit where the water in the canal was very low. Behind Annabel there was a Dutch Barge which had a draft of one metre. Motored to Cowroast where I met Brad. After he had unloaded we took the boat into the local Marina and bought diesel. I had to sign a declaration to say I want the fuel mainly for heating and hot water. I bought 72 litres for £69.84. The metre stick I use to dip the tank with showed a 26cm rise on the stick. The fuel level is now at 475cms. Did some calculations and worked out that a cruising day = 2cms drop in the fuel tank.
In the evening went for a pub meal at the
Cowroast Inn. Summit height is 391feet.
Wednesday 28th March 2012
Left Cowroast as soon as the lock gate was unchained. Progress was slow because we had started to descend from the summit and there were no long stretches between each lock and each lock had to be filled with water before we entered. We had no other boat to go through the double locks with so wasted some water each time. At the end of the day we had descended 90 feet and moored near Birkenhead.
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| The water levels were low between locks because of the drought |
Thursday 29th March 2012
The day stayed sunny, similar to Wednesday`s weather. Continued through the many locks. In one pound ( stretch of water between locks) the water was so low Annabel ran aground on the mud and became stuck. Moored up at a place called Apsley, past Hemel Hempstead. I cycled back to Cowroast and collected Brad`s car and parked it near the boat. Spoke to other moored boat owners and discovered the place was safe so decided to leave Annabel and go home with Brad.
Friday 30th March 2012
Left for home with Brad, not to return until later April after a trip to Romania. I had arranged David and Jackie to move boat halfway through April. On the way home realised I had left the key in the ignition, so hoped no one would see it and take it. Later I emailed a girl I had met on the towpath to take the key out. She did and placed in under a glass ashtray in the cockpit.
Friday 27th April 2012
I returned after 27 days to find Annabel still moored to the bank on her own, looking well with just the rear mooring peg in the water. I expected to find an enforcement notice from BW because she is on a continuous cruising licence and is only supposed to stay in one place for a maximum of two weeks. The weather was wet and miserable but there was no letter on the boat.
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| Annabel at Apsley. Near Hemel Hempstead |
I went aboard, started the engine, unpacked, made a cup of tea, then walked to Sainsbury to buy some supplies. This included some bottles of drinking water because the water system wasn`t working. Later I investigated the water system and with a bit of persuasion managed to get the water pump working, Think the problem was caused by an airlock.
Saturday 28th April 2012
Fuel level: 400mm
Engine hours: 44 hours
Weather: dull overcast and raining
Height above sea level: 304 feet
Only passed two boats on the canal but went through 10 locks and only covered about 7 miles. Operating the locks on my own, I was glad when I met a some scouts who were doing a walk for their Duke of Edinburgh Award by hiking for 6 hours. I set them the task of operating one of the locks for me, which they did well. They were sensible well spoken boys. Later I met a chap from a passing boat who told me the best way to keep the engine compartment bilge free from rainwater was the place nappies in the bilge to soak up the water. After mooring up for the night, it was cold and damp I lit the log burning stove and the cabin became warm and cosy.
Sunday 29th April 2012
Engine hours: 51
Fuel level 385mm
Left the canal bank at 10.30am in rain. Another boat was catching me up and I thought it would be good if we could work the locks together. However the skipper told me he would be waiting for another boat. It was a scout party so I asked if his scouts would work the first lock for me. They did it with enthusiasm and I appreciated the help.
It continued raining and went through several locks until another boat caught me up and joined me in the lock. It was a 72` narrow boat called Andrometer. It was owned by Christine and crewed by Peggy. She knew Annabel because she had moored behind her at Apsley and secured her rear mooring peg that had come out of the ground. Christine told me she had been in the Apsley area since November and had received a warning letter from BW. She was on a continuous cruising licence and was finding it difficult to move far as she had a job in the area.We cruised together as far as Rickmansworth where Peggy bought us all a tea and bacon butty. I said goodbye and carried on alone then at 4.30pm tied up for a cuppa. My GPS told me I had reached Harefield and done 9 miles. Carried on an hour later and eventually reached Uxbridge that took the day`s distance to 13 miles.
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| Packet Marina, Uxbrige |
Monday 30th April 2012
Fuel level 365mm
Today I cycled into Uxbridge to buy some supplies then pedalled toward Brentford to see if there were any 14 day mooring available near the Thames lock. The round trip was 23 miles. It took me one and a half hours by bike but it will take much longer by canal boat as there are several locks to pass through. At Brentford, I found a 14 day mooring with shore facilities, but if you stay too long you are fined £25 per day. Once back I motored a couple of miles to Cowley and moored up for the night.
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| Every Captains nightmare |
Tuesday 1st May 2012
Before I left Cowley I filled up with water and emptied the toilet cassettes, then proceeded through the lock by 9.30am. I then had a long section passing flats, factories and parks, but no other vessels. It`s May Day but very few people are moving in their boats. I left the GPS switched on and it recorded all the villages and places I passed through or near.
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| Canal side Pub |
Moored Annabel outside Tesco where I bought some supplies. At this point the canal branches two ways. Straight on for Brentford (6mls) and the River Thames or you go left for Paddington (13mls) and central London. I went straight on. Just before Brentford Annabel had to descend 8 locks. I stopped for the night just before the last one because the Rive Brent was in spate and flowing into the canal and the water was moving fast and I would have little control of Annabel with the water pushing her forward. I wondered how long this strong flow would last and asked a few locals and was told it`s usually still water.
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| A swan with her eggs |
Wednesday 2nd May 2012
Engine hours 67.... Fuel 342mm
By the morning the river had calmed down and conditions were perfect so left at 7.30am. Passed through three locks and arrived at Brentford by 9.30am. There was only one space on the 14 day mooring and Annabel just fitted between two boats. I was only two locks away from the River Thames and the second one has to be opened by a lock keeper and only at certain times. There had been much rain and was told the Thames lock keepers were displaying red boards above Teddington that indicated dangerous conditions, I cycled over to Fulham to see Aunt Joyce who I had not seen for 6 years and is 93 years old.
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| The Paddington arm of the Grand Union. Leads towards central London and the River Lee |
Wednesday 3rd May 2012
Engine Hours 70 ... Fuel 330mm
Whilton Marina to Brentford 89miles... Approx 70hours of engine time.
Decided to go home for two weeks, but must be back by the 15th May as if the boat is still there after 14 days the penalty is £25 per day. Before I left I decided to take a shower as British Waterways had some shore facilities. After I had stripped off to shower I accidentally pulled the emergency cord and set the alarm off. I couldn`t turn it off so I quickly got dressed to await rescue. After waiting ten minutes no one came so I had my shower with the alarm still sounding and then left. I thought it was a good job it was only a false alarm.
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| First leg: Whilton Marine to Brentford along the Grand Union Canal. A distance of about 90miles |
Photo Gallery
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| Not far to London |
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| Uxbridge |
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| Annabel at Brentford |
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| Flight of locks near Brentford |
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| Uxbridge |
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| A Heron at Brentford |
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| Apsley |
Sunday 20th May
I arrived at Brentford on Saturday with Brad and Ana after leaving Annabel for two weeks and a bit more. Planned to vacate the mooring today and start 2nd leg of journey.
In the morning we filled up with water and left the mooring at 12.30pm. Passed through Brentford Gauging lock with another narrow boat. This lock was where years ago a boat`s cargo was measured before making the 4 day journey along the Grand Union Canal to Birmingham being pulled by horses. After passing through the lock and journeying for half an hour we reached |The Thames Lock that didn`t open on that day till 1.30pm, a couple of hours before high tide. It was the first manned lock we had passed through.
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| Annabel going through Brentford Gauging Lock with another boat |
We were soon out onto the tidal Thames and carried an anchor in case the engine failed. We passed Richmond but our first stop was Teddington Lock which is the barrier between the tidal and non tidal Thames. Annabel was called into the lock by the lock keeper with a big pleasure craft and the levels were adjusted. I was asked if I had a licence and as I didn`t I was told to tie up outside the lock and come back to the office and buy one. The licence cost £116 for a 55 foot narrow boat and lasted 15 days and should allow me to reach Oxford with time to spare. The boat that left the canal with me was able to buy a £10 transit licence to reach the River Wey. We eventually got under way and reached Kingston Upon Thames where we moored up for the night. I checked the fuel that was 295mm
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| We passed one of the Royal barges on its way to the Jubilee celebrations |
Monday 21st May 2012
I took Ana to Victoria coach station to catch the coach to Southampton, then on my return Brad and I left Kingston upon Thames about 1.45pm with the weather improving and temperature rising. The water of the Thames appeared much cleaner than the canal water. There was not much river traffic, except for a few pleasure craft between Kingston and Hampton Court. We passed King Henry`s palace and reached East Molesley lock. Whilst in the lock the lock keeper passed on some information about going through locks in general. He told us to secure the boat bow and stern and not just the centre line and put the rope only once round the bollard. We continued along the river enjoying the sunshine and the views of the expensive riverside properties and houseboats. Went through Sunbury Lock and reached Weybridge where the River Wey branches off towards Guildford and the 32mile Basinstoke Canal that goes to Odiham. We were confused and headed into the weir pool ( luckily below ). I tried to turn the boat but the running water took her sideways. There were many expensive boats so did some extra revving and the bow came round, but suddenly the engine stopped. I told Brad to drop the anchor which he did and she held her position. A helpful man in a moored boat saw our plight and brought his boat out and towed us to the shore where we moored up on a 24 hour mooring. I phone River Rescue who rang back asking if we needed any food and asked if we were safely tied up. They suggested to check and see if the propeller was fouled with something. They then asked if they could come the next morning. I opened the weed box and had to cut a piece of rope from the propeller, but alas the engine still wouldn`t work. Brad bought me a meal in the Minnow pub after which we retired to bed.
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| The 24 hour mooring that we had been nudged into |
Tuesday 22nd May 2012
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Teddington Lock where I used to go fishing as a boy of fourteen
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In the morning I cleaned out the engine bilge of rain water and found traces of red diesel in the water.At about 11am Seb from River/Canal Rescue arrived. He noticed the fuel pipe was loose so not only was diesel dripping out, air was being sucked in. This had caused an air lock in the fuel reservoir so no diesel was reaching the engine.. The reservoir was quickly bled and soon the engine was running sweetly again. Afterwards the engineer told us not to use bio-diesel, all about the diesel bug and how to cure it and the company`s engine service.
We were soon on our way along the Thames through Chertsey, Staines, Old Windsor and Datchet. We could not find a place to moor because one bank was private royal property so just before dusk moored up to the waiting structure at Romney Lock for the night. We had covered about 13 milesIn the morning the engine would not start so I had to call River Rescue again. I felt a little awkward having to call them again. When the lock keeper arrived he was a little annoyed about where we had tied up on the lock`s metal waiting structure, but we told him we had broken down and he was reasonable about the situation. The engineer phoned me and asked me to check a connection but the engine still would not crank. The engineer came and discovered a corroded fuse which he replaced and we were on our way. We headed towards Maidenhead our next stop. On the way we stopped for water and diesel at Windsor Marina. They were offering the red diesel at 60/40. That is 60% for domestic purposes and 40% for cruising. The tax is different depending what you use the fuel for. I asked for 80/20 and paid £66.44 for 67.8 litres.( you please yourself what you pay) The level on the fuel stick went from 250mm to 485mm. The weather was beautifully sunny and many more boats were out and people all had friendly waves. There were many spectacular riverside properties near Maidenhead and we moored the boat near a red bridge nicknamed the whispering bridge because when you stand under its arch and speak there is an echo from your voice, a bit like the whispering gallery in St Paul`s cathedral. We had stopped on a bank belonging to the council and the charge was £8 per night, but no one collected the money. The distance we had covered was about 8 miles. I did some calculations with the fuel and worked out that:
3.5mm rise on the fuel stick equals 1 litre
The boat uses about 1.2 litre per hour
So very roughly 6 hours cruising uses 7 litres and costs about £6
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| The corroded fuse that had caused all the trouble and the second breakdown |
Stayed in Maidenhead until 4pm. Brad caught the train to Brentford and retrieved his car and drove back to Annabel, loaded up with his stuff and headed home to the Isle of Wight. I left the mooring and helmed the boat along a meandering river in a valley with picturesque properties and trees both sides. By 7pm I had covered about 7 miles and reached Marlow Lock. There was a public mooring near the lock but it was full so I tied up on the steel structure near the lock. I decided to stay there until the morning rather than operate the lock myself.
Friday 25th May 2012
Marlow lock was first opened at 9.30am by the lock keeper and I took Annabel through. This was going to be my first whole day on my own on the Thames. I passed through 6 locks and the lock keepers were usually friendly and helpful. Because I was on my own I had to bring the boat carefully into the lock, very slowly, stop it by the lock wall, then jump onto the roof and put the centre rope round the bollard. Some lock keepers wanted the stern rope on as well and others both the bow and stern rope. Some asked for the engine to be turned off, especially if there were other boats in the lock. When I passed through Hurley Lock my specsaver glasses fell off my nose and disappeared into the water and in the next lock two pairs of glasses fell out my shirt pocket and into the Thames when I bent forward. I still had one pair left which I took good care of. I came to Henley on Thames where preparations were taking place for a jubilee rowing regatta. Moorings were in short supply and expensive, but I managed to find to find a place for free as long as I left by 3pm. This gave me time for lunch and to buy some bread and milk. I left at 3pm and passed beautiful properties with landscaped properties leading down to the water that could only be owned by millionaires. I kept asking myself where I had gone wrong and thought if I could start again I would become a banker, footballer, actor or start my own successful business. I carried on and eventually started looking for a suitable mooring, but all the banks said private or no mooring. At Shiplake Lock I asked the lock keeper if he knew anywhere I could stop. He told me just before Sonning Bridge on the right bank I would see narrowboats moored up on the right and I might find a space there. I did find a spot in shallow water near the bridge where I could spend the night.
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| Henley on Thames |
Saturday 26th May 2012
Fuel 420mm
Engine Hours 100
Left the mooring at Sonning Bridge but ran aground in the shallow water. A helpful expert came along the bank and started shouting instructions about how to get off. I followed what he said and the boat became free, but I thought I could have done this myself without instructions from the bank. Annabel passed under Sonning Bridge and continued up river. I stopped the boat at Tesco and bought some food and took a break. After passing through Mapledurham Lock saw a mooring place close by with some narrowboats tied up. It was very windy and the bank where the water was deep enough was uneven and there were overhanging trees. During the attempts at securing the rope a tree branch caught my cycle and it fell into deep water and disappeared. When everything was secure and I was safely tied up I started thinking about my bike. I knew roughly where it was but could not work out how to recover it or whether it would be possible to do so. I suddenly had the idea of tying a mooring hook onto a long rope. I threw the rope past where I thought the bike had sunk and on the third attempt hooked the bike and dragged it back to the boat. It felt like catching a shark. It was completely undamaged and the distance/speed computer still worked. Fresh water is pretty gentle compared to the corrosive properties of salt water.
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| View from Sonning Bridge. Annabel is the first narrowboat on the left |
Sunday 27th May 2012
Fuel 400mm Engine hours 104
In the morning there was a knock on the door and it was the bailiff who asked me for the overnight charge. Had to pay by cheque as had no cash. I spent some time doing cleaning and maintenance to the boat as this is often neglected. Before I left I securely tied the cycle to the boat and cleared the cabin top of logs as this would make it easier to handle the ropes in future. The ropes would always get caught on something in a vital second
The weather was extremely hot and I left the mooring at 11.30am and slowly motored through Whitchurch Lock and passed through Pangbourne, Goring, Cleeve Lock and arrived at Wallingford Bridge where I found some public moorings and tied up. The charge for an overnight stay was £5 but I didn`t think it would be collected by the council. I received a call from River/Canal Rescue to see if everything was now alright and I had to give them a mark out of five for their service and attitude. I felt generous so I gave them full marks. I felt tired and hot so I just lie down on the bed and slept for an hour, then had a shower and cycled along the towpath to Benson Lock to see what lay ahead.
Monday 28th May
Left the overnight mooring early to get a full day cruising and by the end of the day was about three miles from Oxford. I asked one of the lock keepers about where to enter the Oxford Canal. He suggested Dukes Cut rather than Isis Lock as I would encounter several swing bridges and moored craft if I chose the later. It was another hot day and the river was becoming narrower in places and at times it felt like I was on the Amazon with the rain forest on both sides. Took on some water and emptied the cassette at Abington Lock and found an isolated mooring near a road bridge. I had done about 20 miles. Luckily I was near a Sainburys so cycled off and topped up my supplies.
Tuesday 29th May
Today did the last leg of my Thames journey, passing through 3 locks, the last one being Kings Lock, that was manually operated. After the lock I made an acute right hand turn towards the Oxford Canal and entered Dukes Cut. I said goodbye to the Thames, the waterway became very narrow and I entered the first single lock I had encountered. After several of these single locks I reached the village of Thrupp which is about 6 miles north of Oxford. I found a 14 day mooring and decided to go home. I wrote down the exact time of arrival on the calender as there was a threatened £25 fine per day if you exceeded the 14 days.
Fuel 300mm
Wednesday 30th/Thursday 31st May
On Wednesday I visited Oxford and walked around the historic university town and was impressed by the number of young people. It reminded me of my days at college in Bournemouth in the sixties. On Thursday I did some badly needed maintenance and cleaning on Annabel. I discovered the water pump was leaking and wetting the floorboards so mopped up the water in the bilge. The next day caught the Nation Express coach from Oxford to Southampton where I caught the ferry home to the Isle of Wight. Before I left Oxford I tagged on to a free walking tour of the town and learnt a little about it`s history and culture.
Gallery
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| Annabel at Kingston on Thames |
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| A Dutch barge |
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| Maidenhead |
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| Henley on Thames |
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| Whispering Bridge at Maidenhead |
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| A weir pool |
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| A very low bridge near Oxford |
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| Near the junction of the Thames and Oxford Canal |
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| On the narrow Oxford Canal |
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| A lift bridge on the Oxford Canal |
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| A misty morning at Thrupp |
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| Second leg: Brentford to Thrupp. Distance about 104 miles |
Thursday 14th June
I was supposed to arrive back a Thrupp on Tuesday but I needed a couple of extra days at home so I rang British Waterways and asked if I could have an extension and come back on Thursday. The warden who covers the Thrupp area was contacted by the girl in the office agreed to this.
I arrived at Thrupp at about 3pm and carried out the normal procedure. Started the engine and checked the boat over to see if everything was working. I then cycled along the towpath to see what lay ahead. Again there had been so much rain and I had to go for a short period onto the River Cherwell which can have a strong current if red or amber boards are showing you should be careful. I left the mooring by 4.15pm, motored along the canal, opened a lift bridge and on a sharp bend stopped at a sanitary service point. I topped up with water, emptied both cassettes and got rid of some rubbish and was on my way again by 5.30pm and continued in the rain. There were only amber boards showing for the River Cherwell. This means proceed with caution but was told by someone that on the Thames the red boards are up again because of days of heavy rain.. I moored up for the night at Baker`s Lock as the rain was becoming heavy and I was getting soaked. It was a cold and miserable evening and it rained for most of the night.
Friday 15th June
Fuel level 280mm..... Engine hours 125
First thing in the morning the sun was shining but by 8.15am it was raining again. I had slept well and after some breakfast left the mooring by 9am. It started to rain heavily and there was very little boat traffic until Northcote Lock when a group of girls in a hire boat went through and I had to give them instructions on using the lock because they didn`t have a clue and I must admit I enjoyed doing this. I was untying the boat to carry on when my leg went down a deep hole in the bank and not only did my foot get wet but I twisted my right knee that remained painful for a couple of days. All the way along the canal the River Cherwell was on my left and at each lock I came to I was rising over the Chiltern Hills again. I stopped for tea at 11am, then carried on until Lower Heyford, found a mooring and decided to go and do some shopping. The buses were close by and I caught one to Bicester and found a Tesco. Came back stayed the night and did a bit of maintenance on the boat by staining the front cabin door.
Saturday 16th June
The weather started cloudy and windy and I left about 9.30am but after 10 minutes came to a lift bridge that had to be opened manually from the other side of the canal. I decided I could not do it myself so had to wait for a passer by. A lady with a dog came along, but she wasn`t strong enough. Then a man and woman from another boat walked past and they held it open while I went through. I continued through a few locks then suddenly my hat was lifted off my head by a branch and fell in the water. It was an old hat but I tried to recover it as a challenge. Put Annabel into reverse and just as I reached the hat it sank and never resurfaced. I carried on and came to a lock with a bridge in front. The bridge was so low I had to take the bike off the cabin roof and but it onto the bank to get through. Eventually arrived at Somerton Deep Lock which I think was the deepest I had been through. The wind by this time was blowing a gale and I came to a swing bridge that was being raised and lowered by the force of the wind. I stopped the boat with difficulty as the wind was behind me. It was too risky to go through. Then a man from another boat ran along the bank and sat on the lever arms of the bridge to keep it up while I went through. I had reached Clifton and moored up for lunch at about 1pm. Later when I tried to start the engine it wouldn`t fire so I had no choice but call River/Canal Rescue for the fourth time. I must be going on their black list, I thought. It was raining when the mechanic, Aaron walked the half mile along the bank and reached me. It was the alternator not charging the cranking battery. He also said my leisure batteries were not much good, which I suspected anyway. I had a spare battery and he got me going but said he would come and disconnect the alternator on Monday and take it for reconditioning. I dropped Aaron off and carried on till Niel`s bridge and moored up for the night. The distance left to reach Banbury was 7miles.
Did some fuel calculations on fuel:
68 litres last for 50 hours
50 hours = 96 miles
Annabel uses 1.3 litres per hour
Costing about £1.17 per hour
Travel about 2miles on 1.3 litres
Sunday 17th June
Spent the morning doing some painting and cleaning the interior and engine bilge. There was a slight leak of diesel from somewhere. Arron said it was coming from a pipe connection and I could put the diesel from the bilge back in the tank. I didn`t do this as I was afraid of contamination. When I was finished I pressed the starter with trepidation, but there was enough battery to start her up, so off I went towards Banbury. The weather was much improved and more like summer. I was a little annoyed as before I started, my bike padlock fell into the canal and try as I might I could not retrieve if. Much care is needed on the water with possessions as the canal seems out to get what it can. It stores 200 years of peoples money and treasures and seems greedy to get more if it can. I would like to drain it and see what`s there.
Reached Banbury by 3.30pm and moored up on a 14day mooring by the bridge. A convenience place for Aaron to come out on Monday and take the alternator.
Monday 18th June
Stayed on the mooring all day. Rang Aaron to tell him where I was, but he was busy so Tom came instead and removed the alternator and took it to Daventry for reconditioning. He gave me lots of information and told me the alternator would cost me £50 instead of £140 as I have gold membership. I also requested the new leisure batteries as the ones I had were only recording 8volts and every evening the lights dim quickly and can`t have TV, make toast, use microwave or vacuum carpet. I cycled along the canal towpath to have a look at the next village called Cropredy and see the mooring facilities there. I found some 14day moorings so decided when the engine was fixed would motor there, leave boat and go home. Also noticed a sanitary service area and diesel pump with fuel at 85p per litre on the way. On the way back had a long talk with a couple on a boat who were living on board and passed on some useful tips. I took some photographs of their canal art work to hopefully decorate my boat with, then continued back to Annabel. Suddenly on a bumpy part of the towpath my saddle broke and I lost a vital part as the bolt had sheared. I had to use my stretching cords to fix the saddle and was surprised to find it worked well.
Tuesday 19th June
I`m stuck so I think I will do some painting as there are not many days when painting can be done outside. Not only did I paint but I also bought a honda generator from Brian in the next boat called Intibane. I`ve only just met him but he`s a nice guy from South Africa who lives with his wife in England on his canal boat and goes home to his house in South Africa every so often which is usually trashed when he gets there. Aaron from Canal Rescue suddenly arrived and brought me three leisure batteries and a replacement alternator. I had a bill for a total of £340 and the generator cost me £150. Turned out to be an expensive day.
Wednesday 20th June
Went into Banbury and took a few photographs of The Cross and statue of the Fair Lady in the nursery rhyme. I had to ask some cleaners to stand back as every time I try to photograph anything important there`s always either scaffolding or work going on, or so it seems. Then I bought a few more paintbrushes and rollers from Poundland ( mistake because they are poor quality) Spent the rest of the day painting Annabel using red paint that I had found on the boat. Kept asking myself whether it matches green, but decided I would use cream as well. Will keep my fingers crossed as don`t want Annabel mocked by the canal boat fraternity.
Thursday 21st June
Today is the summer solstice but the weather is wet and very cloudy and almost depressing. I bought some supplies at Morrisons then moved the boat to the sanitary station and filled the water tank, dumped rubbish and emptied the cassettes. Went through the Town Lock and lift bridge, then moored up past the diesel station because it was shut, so thought I could reverse back in the morning.
Friday 22nd June
In the morning I got up early and reversed the boat back as planned to the diesel pump all ready to fill up and get going. It was a difficult manoeuvre and it didn`t to have people watching all the time. After I had tied up and was all ready for the pump to open, I noticed on the door the opening times. It was closed all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I made some enquiries to be told the next pump was five hours away. I wondered if I would have enough fuel to get there. It`s a big mistake to run out of diesel as air is sucked into the fuel system making it a big job to get the engine going again. I moored up further along the bank while I decided what to do. In the evening I cycled to Cropredy to get some exercise and look at the 14 day moorings, but found they were all in use. On the way back I managed to get a puncture and had to push the bike for the last mile. That evening I had to decide what to do, whether to press on or stay around Banbury.
Saturday 23rd June
In the end I decided to turn round and go back under the footbridge and through the town lock to the 14 day mooring I had left on Thursday. This was because I needed diesel, I wanted to go home and I found out there was only two buses each day to Cropredy from Banbury and the last one went at 2pm in the afternoon, so on my return would have needed to carry my luggage five miles along the towpath to reach Annabel.. It made sense just to stay in Banbury. I spent the rest of the day vanishing and painting until it started raining again.
Sunday 24th June
Got up early and walked to B&Q on the outskirts of town. They didn`t open until 10am and had a paint offer on, three for the price of two in tins of paint. I spent £63on some Dulux Weathershield in green and cream to finish the boat sometime. Cream for the cabin top and green to paint the below the gunwales where some of the paint had been scrapped away by careless mooring and chaffing by the previous owner. On my return I had a long chat to Brian about how naive some businesses are in their organisation and dealing with their customers. I then packed, closed everything down on the boat and left for the Isle of Wight hoping it would still be there after all the rain and pop festival. I intended to return to Annabel in about a fortnight.
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| Too cold and wet for summer |
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| Holiday boats at Lower Heyford |
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| The grass always looks greener where it`s dangerous to stand |
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| I hope the bike will go through with the boat |
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| Somerton deep lock |
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| Banbury Cross |
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| With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes |
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| Painting Annabel |
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| Does red and green go together? |
Sunday 1st July
I came back to Annabel a week earlier than planned. I had left Newport at 8.30am and arrived at Banbury at 3pm just in time to get some shopping in Morrisons before it closed at 4pm. I proceeded to check everything on the boat was working, then started the engine and ran it for an hour to get hot water and charge batteries. I turned the inverter on and charged up the computer, rechargeable batteries and mobile phone. Although there had been a great deal of rain the engine bilge was surprisingly dry, possibly because I had put plastic sheets over cockpit floor. Spent the evening mounting some canal artwork I had photographed, then went for a cycle ride to get some exercise, before retiring to bed,
Monday 2nd July
Untied my ropes and the mooring at 8am,then stopped briefly to fill up with water and dump rubbish. Was ready to enter the lock by 9am and reached the diesel pump at Sovereign Wharf by 9.30am and tied up to wait for it to open. I was keeping my fingers crossed that the owner would turn up. I`ve found that life on the canal is very lay back. I`m lay back myself but this is extreme. A landrover turned up at 10.10am and I was soon buying £80 worth of red diesel for 85p per litre. This gave me 94.3 litres of fuel. The weather forecast was grim and I left the wharf in heavy rain, but I was surprised at the number of narrow boats on the move but going the opposite way to me. I passed through several locks operated by myself. Met another boat coming the opposite way. Two girls with windlasses in their hands standing at the lock told me they would open the paddles to fill the lock for me. Normally I open the paddles one at a time only half way until the lock is well filled, then open them fully. These two ladies opened both paddles fully at the same time. Annabel was sucked forward with such force that full throttle in reverse would not hold her and she smacked into the lock gates and I heard all my glasses smash in the cabin. Later when I ventured below a scene that looked like Beirut met my eyes. I wanted to tell the ladies what they did wrong but good manners got the better of me and I said nothing. Later in another lock a man showed me a more effective way of tying the centre rope around a bollard so the boat will be held in position useful information to a singlehander like me. I was grateful for this tip and I`ve used the technique ever since. Later met a man in a big hire boat who told me he had caught the boat on a lock cill and the water had flooded into the cabin. This had happened while they were under instruction by the boatyard. Luckily they had freed it before too much water entered. He told me to hire a six/eight berth canal boats costs in the region of £1800 for a week. I couldn`t believe the price. Later on another man with a dog operated the last three locks leading up to the summit ( highest point) I gave him my windlass and just stayed in the boat. He was a boat owner himself and was soon going in his narrow boat to London near where the Olympic stadium was. It was going to cost him over £400 a week to rent a bank mooring he had booked some time ago. He wanted to experience the Olympic Games but only had tickets for the table tennis event. I eventually moored up for the night a Fenny Compton and had covered about 12 miles
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| Soveign Wharf |
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| Clayton Lock which is the summit |
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| Useful knot round a bollard |
Engine Hours 154 Fuel level 505mm
Left the mooring at 8am and continued along the summit ( 390 feet above sea level ) until my stomach told me to stop for breakfast at about 10.30am. The canal was very quiet and peaceful, but people I met only had one topic of conversation which was the weather. It had been the wettest June since records began and July was was starting in the same way. I was now in Warwichshire and had left Oxfordshire behind. There was a flight of locks going down hill to Napton village, but got help from a young man on another boat who was eager to do all the hard work for me. After the village there was a sharp left turn under a bridge at Napton Junction that left the Oxford Canal behind and put me onto the Grand Union. I moored up for the night at Calcutt Top Lock. In the evening cycled along the towpath to the Bridge Inn and used their Wi-Fi facilities. The towpath was thick with mud, unknown in July.
Wednesday 4th July
I began the day early and motored towards Stockton where there was a flight of about six locks that I had to operate on my own so knew it would take a long time and would be hard work. Half way down the flight I met two boats coming up so I got some help with two of the locks. It took well over an hour to get down. I then caught up with another boat helmed by a lady and crewed by her son and friend, Pauline I stuck with them all the way to Leamington Spa and they operated the remaining locks so I could stay helming the boat. The lady was originally from South Africa but had lived in England for many years. The boat was a hire boat and the lady belonged to an organisation whereby she could take a different holidays each year and this was her first time on a narrow boat. Her friend Pauline liked to walk the canal towpaths and had done some interesting routes. I moored near the town at Leamington Spa and cycled into the town looking for the bus station where I could catch a coach to Southampton on Friday. I met a lady called Celia who gave me a lot of information about the town. She was a classroom assistance so we had plenty in common and she was very helpful and offered to check Annabel for me while I was away. On the way back to the canal I got talking to a cyclist called Christian from Germany who was towing a trailer behind his bike who told me he was on his way to Coventry, then across country to Ireland and Dublin. It was getting dark and he had no accommodation so I invited him to sleep on Annabel, which he accepted. We talked about all sorts of things. He wanted to visit the new cathedral in Coventry and see the stained glass windows paid for with German money as a gesture towards reconciliation after the old cathedral had been destroyed in the air raids of World War 2.
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| Christian leaving Annabel |
I made Christian a big plate of porridge and he left about 11am. I hoped one day someone would do the same for me when I`m cycling long distance. We always have a selfish angle on anything we do, I think! I went into Leamington and booked my ticket to Southampton for Friday £15.90. Then I went to find the place where the coach stops so I could go straight there on Friday morning at 7.10am. I visited the Pump House and museum in town which was very interesting with the history of Leamington as a spa town and how they had treated many health problems with spa water in the past. Later I started the generator and vacuumed the boat and generally tidied up before watching a dvd.
Friday 6th July
Caught the coach to Southampton, then 3pm ferry to East Cowes and was home before 5pm.
Gallery
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| Canal Sculpture |
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| How to dry washing |
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| This is very narrow |
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| Heating on in July |
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| Annabel in a lock |
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| Napton locks and my young helper |
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| An attractive canal side pub |
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| Flight of locks at Stockton |
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| The Pump House in Leamington Spa |
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| Third leg: Thrupp to Leamington Spa 60miles |
Monday 23rd July
While I was away..... British Waterways changed to a charity called The Canal and River Trust
Caught the 3.30pm coach from Southampton to Leamington. I nearly missed it as the Red Funnel ferry was 45 minutes late arriving. I had already discussed compensation with the Purser. I had to change coaches at Victoria Coach Station and arrived at Leamington at about 9.30pm and walked to the canal towpath where I had left Annabel just over two weeks before. It was dark and I discovered my generator had been stolen from the cockpit where it had been hidden with a box housing and chained up. Somebody had cut the padlock on the outer doors. I entered the boat and found the water pump would not work ( It had been leaking for sometime, now had completely given up ) I called the police on 101 and reported the stolen generator. PC Dave and WPC Amy arrived and came aboard and took details. It was classed as a theft as they hadn`t entered my living quarters. If it had been a burglary forensic would have dusted for fingerprints and the culprits may have been caught. I would have enjoyed seeing them in court. I finally got into bed a 1am.
Moral: don`t leave your boat too near a town, a road or bridge
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| The padlock that was cut |
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| Where I left the generator under the box |
Unpacked and tidied the boat, then transferred some money for my daughter, Alison who is buying a house with her boyfriend. I the rang my insurance company and discovered it wasn`t worth claiming as my excess was £100 and next years premium would go up £50. The exact cost of the generator. The insurance companies have all the mathematics worked. I started the engine and motored along the canal, stopped at Lidl to get supplies and some bottled water. I then continued toward Warwick and found Delta Marine where the boss said he could fix the pump the next day and I could moor at his yard. I also asked him to quote for a small diesel pipe tap that had been leaking. The price they charge never fails to give me a shock, I always prepare myself and never show any emotion, but inwardly I`m thinking they charge a days wage for an hours work. The quote was £200. There were people at the yard living on their boats, it was quite a pleasant atmosphere there and Adrian offered me a similar generator to the one I lost for £75. Almost new and just as powerful, but I never bought it. I had a long chat and beer with George the yard hand and later painted the cabin roof of Anabel red and cream. The proprietor couldn`t repair the leaking tap so was charged £180 for the replacement of the water pump.
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| Delta Marine where I got the water pump fixed |
Wednesday 25th July
A beautiful sunny start to the day. Cycled to Tesco to get some cash to pay bill. Later Gary the yard owner came and replaced the pump, but could not replace small tap for the diesel boiler as the size was different from what he thought and he didn`t have the right part. So many jobs don`t run smoothly as there`s no continuity with engineering parts. The bill was reduced to £180 which I paid, then I was free to leave, which I did at about 11.30am. It was good to be on the move again. After a couple of locks I reached the dreaded Hatton Flight consisting of 21 closely spaced locks. I had no other boat to ascend with so mentally prepared myself for a very hard time in the humid atmosphere. I entered the bottom lock at 1pm and completed the ladder by 6.45pm. I did get a little help and talked to some friendly people and the top lock was operated by some enthusiastic foreigner who had never experienced a canal or lock before. I just stayed on the boat and had an easy time. I then motored for an hour and went through Shrewley Tunnel where I got soaked with water seeping through the ceiling. I finally tied up near Kingswood Junction at 8.15pm between two narrow boats.
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| The top lock of 22 at Hatton. I got some help here but it had taken me nearly 6 hours to climb the flight on my own |
Fuel 433mm Engine 179 hours
Checked engine oil and water, tied up and left mooring at about 10.30am. Motored for several hours then came to a flight of 5 locks at Knowl which took me over an hour to pass through. I was on my own but got some help on the top lock by a father and young son. Father`s are always so keen to give their children new experiences, so I`m happy to help out and have a break myself. The canal was very quiet and sleepy in the heat. I decided to stop at a little welcoming village called Catherine de Barnes where I could get bread and milk in the local Spar shop, although I was shocked at the prices. I question the assistant about my change as I couldn`t believe what the change was from a £10 note, but he was right of course. My GPS told me I had done nine miles and the elevation was 396 feet. I calculated I was about 8miles from Birmingham.
Friday 27th July
I started cleaning the boat early and washed the outside. It took me sometime to finish then I met a lady called Glayne from Wales. I invited her on board for coffee and biscuits and we talked about canals and many other things. I then took her for a chug along the canal for a couple of miles. Afterwards we walked back to Catherine de Barnes me pushing my bike where I left her. I then cycled back to the boat and motored for two hours and didn`t see any other craft on the canal. Continued through Solihull and eventually stopped at Camp Hill Lock in a rather depressing part of the canal, but there were shore facilities provided by the Trust.
Saturday 28th July
A lovely warm sunny morning after earlier rain. After a shower at the shore facilities I studied the map of the canal system through Birmingham. I had a twelve mile journey to Wolverhampton through what used to be called The Black Country because there was so much industrial activity in this area. Today it is full of industrial archaeology with most of the old factories in decay. Before I left the mooring I met two men with a canoe who were going from Birmingham to London (Brentford) to raise money for cancer relief. They could put wheels on the canoe to take it past the locks. The two had given themselves seven days to do the journey ( the horse drawn barges years ago could make the journey in 4/5 days) I made a donation and watched them paddle away.
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| Canoeing from Birmingham to London to raise money for cancer relief |
Today I navigated 24 locks. Six at Camp Hill, Five at Ashted and thirteen at Farmers Bridge all in about three miles.The canal went through many dark tunnels, bridges and even under buildings, it all seemed very strange. Once at the top of Farmers Bridge Locks everything became colourful with many boats, pubs and a canal centre and everyone was very friendly. Birmingham has more canals than Venice and canal mania started in the area about 250 years ago to transport the raw materials and finished products to and from the factories.
There were public moorings but nearly all the gaps were taken. I tried to manoeuvre into one space but gave up as nearly hit a moored boat, so gave up motored through the bridge and round the corner and spent the night on my own attached to a grassy bank with overlooking houses.
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| Passing through one of the tunnels |
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| A deserted creepy dark area of Birmingham |
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| A tall building has been built over the canal |
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| Navigating up through Birmingham |
Untied warps and left mooring at 10am and headed N.W towards Wolverhampton following the Birmingham Canal mainline. A few boats were moving but not many and there were cyclists, joggers and walkers on the towpath. At about 11.30am the skies opened and the rain came down heavily. I tried to shelter the boat under a bridge but I finished up getting soaking wet. I stopped at Bromford Junction for a while, changed my clothes and made tea.
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| I sheltered under a large road bridge from the heavy rain |
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| Bromford Junction |
When the skies had cleared I carried on through this area of abandoned factory units and went through the three locks between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. On one of the walls I saw a plaque with Kingfisher boats on it and realised it was the place where Annabel was built 12 years ago.
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| Unexpectedly came across the yard where Annabel was built 12 years ago |
After Wolverhampton there were 22 locks going down to the junction with the Stafford and Worcester Canal. There was a notice saying a water conservation key was required. I was stuck because I thought I didn`t have one. I got through the first lock because I managed to knock the pin out that was preventing the paddles being opened, with the windlass. I then met Sam from another boat belonging to his mother. He told me they had a key and referred to it as an anti-vandal key. It`s purpose was to stop children, people, vandals from opening the paddles and wasting the summit water. We decided they should go first and leave the anti-vandal pins set for me and I would reset them after I had passed through. Their boat called Martha was trying to get into the lock so I tried to help by taking the bow rope to help pull her round. It was the wrong thing to do without asking and I was told to throw it back by Sam`s mother and I could sense she was a little cross. I followed Martha through the locks but they got ahead because Martha had a crew member. I moored up for the night just before dark near lock 16 out of 22 behind Martha. The distance for the day was 16miles and 19 locks. I calculated it took me 12minutes on my own per lock (single locks). I spoke to Nicola from Martha and she told me she lived permanently on her boat and enjoys every minute, but last year she was attacked on the towpath by a women with a hammer who had psychological problems and is still suffering from the attack. She also had a generator stolen and has continuous cruising license, like me.
Fuel 340mm Engine hours 205
Left the mooring at 10.30am and navigated the last 6 locks left of the flight. I had discovered an anti-vandal key on my boat which I didn`t know I had. I was approaching Aldersley Junction and had the last lock opened for me by the crew of a boat coming up. The skipper told me there was diesel for for sale about a days run up the Shroppie at 72p a litre. After the lock I made a right turn onto the Stafford and Worcester Canal, then after a mile turned left at Autherley Junction onto the Shropshire Union Canal where I nearly jumped the queue for the stop lock under the bridge as I didn`t know it was there. I eventually went through and started my long journey to Nantwich/Crew, about 50miles away.
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| Water conservation key ( anti-vandal) |
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| Aldersley Junction |
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| Autherley Junction onto the Shropshire Union (Martha going through) |
The canal was very busy, more activity since the Thames, I thought. After a couple of miles I noticed a boat behind me and this boat decided to overtake me. I hadn`t experienced this before. He had to rev up to full throttle to get past me. I gave the skipper and crew a glance sideways and they had an embarrassed smug look with no smile. As they came level a boat appeared coming towards them and they had to cut in front of me. There was so much wash created the Canal and River Trust would have been really annoyed. After a mile or so this boat pulled in to moor up, so I`m not sure what all the rush was about. Later I came across my first experience of boat rage. I went through a narrow cutting and under a bridge on a blind bend and there was a boat waiting for me. I warned the skipper there was a boat behind me. He retorted "He can bloody well wait for me". I replied " He can`t it`s too narrow". He just revved his engine and went for the bridge. I looked back and saw he had to back out, I hate to think of what words were exchanged.. After a run of about 7 miles I pulled up behind Martha at a village called Brewood. I cycled the 5 miles into Codsall where my GPS told me there was a Tesco and bought some provisions. Later I was invited onto Martha for supper and to watch some of the Olympic Games.
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| Brewood |
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| Brewood |
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| A cargo boat and butty (trailer boat)coming through the lock where we had to queue |
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| The Boat Inn |
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| Norbury Junction |
Left Brewood behind Martha and followed them to Wheaton Aston where we had to queue for a single lock. Once through the lock Martha stopped to fill with water and I continued under the bridge and stopped at a diesel station where I had been told the fuel was cheap. (72p per litre) I bought £60 worth ( 75litres) and this filled the diesel tank.. The proprietor told me team GB had won a gold, think it was the first one. Eventually left and passed several boats. One of them lost control and came across the canal towards me and I saw the skipper trying to straighten out. I had to do an emergency stop and they just missed my bow. I always see the funny side if it was a genuine mistake as it could be me next time. I gave them a smile and they asked me if I could lend them some L-plates. Sometime later I went under a bridge past the Boat Inn and two friendly locals were waving and giving me the thumbs up. Suddenly it dawned on me it was Sam and Nicola in the window. I thought they were behind me, they must have gone past while I was paying for the diesel. I moored the boat and joined them in the pub for half a pint and watched some Olympics. After a while we both continued to Norbury Junction where we both moored up and had covered about 11 miles. Yet again I was invited for a meal. This is becoming a habit.
Thursday 2nd August
Before leaving Norbury Junction I filled up with water then headed towards Market Drayton about 12 miles away where I could get some provisions as I was running low. I passed many craft and in some places the waterway was a very narrow and I had to stop several times to wait for boats to pass.. Passed through a sandstone gorge where there had been a landslide and half the canal was buoyed off. Eventually reached the five locks before Market Drayton. While leaving the fourth lock there was so much pouring into the pound ( space between locks) from a side channel that on leaving the lock Annabel was pushed sideways into the trees. I had to pole off with gongoozlers (name given to people who watch but don`t participate on canals) watching every move. Reached Market Drayton at 2.15pm and tied up behind Martha.
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| Navigating past a landslide |
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| The bridges are interesting to pass through |
Friday 3rd August
Left Market Drayton at 8.45am and waved goodbye to Nicola and headed for Nantwich. At the first bridge I came to another boat was approaching so I slowed and winked my light to tell them to come through. I then saw the skipper wave to me so I slowly approached the bridge. He then seemed to rev up and quickly come towards me, so I did an emergency stop. He then stopped and backed away and allowed me to come through. I treated the situation as if nothing had happened. They apologised and told me their engine kept cutting out. I came to the five locks at Adderley and while leaving the fourth lock a boat in a rush waiting to come to the lock left his mooring before I had gone past and let his bow drift out. I had running water pushing me sideways so experienced my first gentle collision of the trip so far. After half an hour arrived at a flight of 15 locks at Audlem. If my calculations are correct 12 minutes a lock, I calculated it was going to take me three hours to pass through. In fact it took me three and a half hours and I had the help of Dave a volunteer lock keeper. He helped me with every lock working his way down going back to his car at the bottom. A canal boat owner himself he mans the lock two or three times a week because he enjoys meeting people and the exercise keeps him fit, It is mainly upper body winding the paddles and pushing/pulling the gates. An ex coach driver he told me about a bad experience he had whilst on the Isle of Wight. Another couple of hours and I reached Nantwich where I tried to find a mooring where I could safely leave the boat and go home. There were plenty of 24/48 hour moorings but no 6 day ones. I went further along the canal but every unrestricted place seems to have a protruding underwater concrete slab about 12 inches wide. If you moored up the hull of the boat would rub against the slab every time there was a few ripples of water. I had to go a mile or so out of town to find a place where the projection was less and I had to employ my sea buoy to keep Annabel away from the bank.. I noticed some boats had found the answer by using two car wheels.
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| Buoy employed to keep Annabel away from the bank |
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| Another solution |
Saturday 4th August
Cycled into Nantwich found the tourist information and booked a return coach to Southampton, outward on Sunday (£41.40) Came back to Annabel, tidied up and did some packing.
Sunday 5th August
I secured the boat by turning off the gas at source, isolating the batteries and locked up. I left the boat early and walked into Nantwich with my luggage. The coached arrived at 10.10am and I reached Southampton at 5.30pm and caught the 6pm ferry to East Cowes and was home by 8pm.
Gallery
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| Canal Sculpture |
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| Canal Sculpture |
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| Nicola on her boat Martha |
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| Nantwich |
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| Audlem |
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| Nantwich |
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| Had to wait as section of the canal had been drained by someone |
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| Canal graffiti |
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| Nantwich |
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| Fourth leg... Leamington Spa to Nantwich...... 106 miles |
Friday 10th August and Saturday 11th
Returned to Annabel after leaving Newport at 8.15am and Arriving on the towpath at 7.40pm. Everything seemed in order so started engine, turned on the gas and water switch.. After a good night cycled into Nantwich and bought supplies and eventually moved by 12.30pm. In a short while passed the Llangollan Canal entrance and came to Barbridge Junction. On the way I was passing a boat when their dog fell off the stern of the boat. The son jumped off as well to rescue the dog. I had to stop quickly as the boy dragged the dog to the bank in front of Annabel. The boy climbed onto the bank and lay down exhausted while the dog ran up and down wagging his tail. I asked the young boy if he was alright and all he could utter was "I rescued him". I left him a hero on the bank thinking what a stupid thing to do as the dog could have looked after himself.
At Barbridge Junction I made a sharp turn onto the Middlewitch section of the Shropshire Union Canal. I moored up near a winding hole (place where narrowboats can turn and go back) before the first lock.. I wanted to find a place to moor Annabel for up to five weeks. I made enquiries at Venetian Marina (now owned by Wilton Marina where I bought Annabel ) They wanted a fee of £50 a week. I cycled to Swanley Marina on the Llangollan Canal and they wanted £62 per week. I had to think hard about the situation.
Monday 12th, Tuesday 13th August
Spent the days doing little jobs on the boat and trying to decide what to do. I went for a cycle trip to Macclesfield along the towpath to Middlewitch then by road, a distance of 30 miles. I rang up the River and Canal Trust to see if I could get permission to stay where I was for an extended period or rent one of their bank moorings. They agreed to let me stay so I cycled back to Nantwich and booked a coach ticket for the next day.
Wednesday 29th August
After being away for two weeks came back to Annabel after a 12 hour trip. She was just as I left her 14 days before.
Thursday 30th August
Cycled into Nantwich to buy some food after mending a puncture in my bike tyre. Eventually left the mooring at 12.30pm and came across a boat full of girls who had driven their boat into the bushes and were stuck. There were so many worried faces on board, but I could see help being offered so didn`t stop and offer assistance. Came across two boats full of young people dressed as pirates, so I hid my wallet as fast as I could. After seven miles came to Middlewich junction where I turned left onto the Trent and Mersey Canal. I was looking for a water point and suddenly saw one where a crowd were being given a talk by an official about the new canal facilities being proposed for Middlewich town. To stop I had to rev up the engine in reverse. I looked up and saw a dozen faces looking daggers at me and an official with her hands on her hips giving me dirty looks... I said sorry and pointed to the tap... I filled up with water and tied up for the night and listened to the rest of the talk.
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| Middlewich Canal, near Barbridge where Annabel was left for two weeks |
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| Middlewich where new canal facilities are proposed |
Friday 31st August
Left Middlewich early about 8am and immediately came to a lock. It was a double lock and another boat was waiting so we both went into the lock together as it was a double lock. The owner told me it was 6/7 hours cruising to the next lock. The day had started sunny but chilly so felt good at the helm and was enjoying the morning until I came to a narrow bridge on a blind bend. I had slowed down, but suddenly another boat appeared coming towards me. I tried to stop and back out but the other boat tried to steer through the gap so we both scrapped through the tiny space together. The skipper was a wild looking man and the boat belonged to the Canal Adventure Project. I went through the gap without a problem but he caught his vessel on the concrete bank and there was a loud crash. His crew all looked concerned but he just carried on trying to catch another boat belonging to the same project who I had passed earlier....
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| The canal was sometimes narrow |
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| The canal was sometimes wide |
Saturday 1st September
I woke up and decided to have a day trip onto the River Weaver using the lift although it wasn`t on my route. I arrived at the lift waiting point at 9am and went into the administration office with details about myself and Annabel. I was given literature to read and a free passage at 10am. I booked my return lift up at 4.15pm and paid the lady £5. All went well and the operators were very friendly and explained details about the lift.It took about half an hour to descend to the Weaver, I then proceeded upstream to Northwich and tied up between the two swing bridges. It was lovely and warm sunny day and I just walked around the town and then at 3.30pm turned the boat round and motored back to the lift. There was no traffic on the river except for a pleasure boat taking people down then up the lift and along the river.
The Anderton Lift was built in 1875 and was the world`s first boat lift. It was build to speed up cargoes of salt,coal and clay between the River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey there being a 50 foot height difference between the two waterways. After 30 years usage there was major corrosion to the structure caused by the river water being so saline because of the salt cargoes. The river water was like the Dead Sea (salt water rusts iron and steel quickly) There was a major overall to the structure and improvements made to the machinery and for another 80 years it operated until 1983 when it was stopped for health and safety reasons corrosion being discovered again. It decayed for twenty years then in 2003 the lottery fund awarded £3.3 million towards the £7 million needed to restore the lift. The lift is now fully operational and if you just turn up and wait in your narrow boat it`s free to use, but if you book it you pay £5 each way. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful and provide much information about all aspects of the lift.
There are two tanks capable of taking two narrow boats up to 72 feet long. Each tank is supported by a giant ram. The rams are connected hydraulically with one tank balancing the other. Oil is pumped from one cylinder ram to the other lowering one tank and raising the other.
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| The Anderton Lift |
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| The Anderton lift from the Trent and Mersey Canal |
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| Annabel in the tank on the Anderton Lift |
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| Cruising along the River Weaver at the bottom of the lift |
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| Annabel moored at Northwich on the River Weaver |
By 5pm I was back on the Trent and Mersey Canal heading north. I came to the Barnton Tunnel (572yds) which I found a little scary because it had little headroom, only one way and there were kinks in the tunnel where the builders had to keep making direction changes during construction. I was relieved when I emerged into daylight again. Later I had to go through the Saltersford Tunnel (424 yards). Both tunnels felt like passing through long crumpled tubes, Eventually I moored up in the wilds before Preston Brook Tunnel and spent the night,
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| Going into the Barnton Tunnel |
I left overnight mooring at 10pm and went through a stop lock ( lock with hardly any level difference) then very quickly came to Preston Brook Tunnel (1239yds) Because the tunnel is only built for one narrow boat I could only enter from on the hour until 10 minutes past, so I had to moor up and wait for a while. At twelve I followed another boat into the tunnel and emerged 20 minutes later. While in the darkness of the tunnel my mind went back 25 years, whilst on a hire boat going through the Blistworth Tunnel with 10 children on board, my colleague shouted she could smell gas and one of the children was missing. I remembered the panic I felt inside. Of course it was a false alarm but not what you want to hear in the dark and damp when you can`t leave the tiller to investigate.
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| Emerging from the tunnel |
The Bridgewater Canal was one of the earliest canals to be built by the Duke of Bridgewater to transport the coal from his coalmines to Manchester. When it was finished the price of coal was halved in Manchester. The barges could enter the mines from the canal and the miners up to their waists in water shovelled the coal into the boats. The water of the Bridgewater has a slightly red appearance because of the iron oxide (rust) in the water from the mines.
Kept going until 5pm when I found a pleasant mooring in the village of Lymm.
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| The tunnels I passed through were only one way. Sign to say northbound boats can only start navigating the tunnel from on the hour until ten past the hour |
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| Unexpectedly passed Martha with Sam and Nicola on board |
Monday 3rd September
Fuel 460mm
Engine hours 259 hrs
Left Lymm at about 10am and motored for three and a half hours then stopped at Sale for some lunch. Was checking the bilge when a sudden call from a passing boat caught my ear. It was Martha with Nicola and Sam on board.. They stopped alongside and we talked and had some lunch. They had been through Manchester and were heading for Lymm. I told them about the Anderton Lift, but as they wanted to reach Lymm they soon left because they had three hours cruising ahead.
At 4pm I carried on along the Bridgewater and left Cheshire behind and entered Lancashire and went over the Manchester Ship Canal and eventually tied up outside a bar in Eccles about 4 miles from Manchester. Not the best area but there were two other narrow boats opposite and a light house building overlooking the canal.
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| Passing over the Manchester Ship Canal |
Tuesday 4th September
Decided to catch the bus into Manchester and spend a few hours looking at the city. Visited the Police Museum where I tagged on to a guided tour and listened to details about the history of the police force. Ended up doing some role play and took the part of the judge. Came back to Annabel and had long chat with a local about the canal, then left and continued north through Worsley, then after 7 miles came to Leigh and tied up near the town bridge for the night.
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| The Police Museum in Manchester ( An old Police Station ) |
Wednesday 5th September
Fuel 410mm
Engine hours 268
Left Leigh at about 10am and headed toward the Leeds and Liverpool Canal passing three boats. After about 3 miles reached a lift bridge on a busy road. Had to use the BW key to stop the traffic and raise the bridge. Luckily there was another boat so time was saved and one of their crew could close the bridge. After another three miles came to a double lock, first I`d seen for ages. I opened the paddle slowly but the inflow of water was fast. Annabel was knocked sideways with a crash against the wall. I found my mirror smashed to pieces on the floor of the cabin. I hoped I wasn`t going to have seven years of bad luck. After going through another not so deep lock I reached the junction with the Leeds and Liverpool and turned right towards Blackburn/Bolton/Skipton. I soon reached a lock that I knew was the first of a flight of 21. There were boats waiting and repair work was taking place in the flight. We were all waiting expecting to go through at 4pm, but at 4.30pm we were told we couldn`t go through until tomorrow because the work wasn`t finished. They were fitting new baffles to a lock paddle but could have delayed the work and let us through, so a boat owner told me
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| Tied up in Eccles on the Bridgewater Canal opposite lighthouse folly The colour of the water is reddish on the Bridgewater Canal due to iron rust from the old mines |
Thursday 6th September
Waited all morning to go through the lock flight and more narrow boats arrived and joined the queue. At 2pm all the work was finally finished and I entered the lock with a hire boat belonging the Cheshire Holiday Cruisers crewed by Graham, Donna and Stan. We had twenty locks to negotiate and it was going to take at least four hours. I was lucky I had another boat to ascend with. Graham and I helmed the boats and Donna and her father, Stan operated the locks. They had all the physical work to do. . During conversation with Graham I discovered the boat was costing £1500 per week to hire and they had booked it for three weeks. Graham and Donna were theatre Managers and knew many performers and celebrities and it was interesting to hear what some of these well known people are like when they are not showing off to the public on stage. By 7pm we had climbed up to about 300 feet and left the last lock. They moored up but I carried on for a while until dark and then pulled in to the bank near some moored craft in the wilds.
Friday 7th September
I discovered in the morning my mooring place was private so I left about 8.30pm and continued N.E along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Everything was going well until another boat caught up with me. Annabel was so slow I felt I was going up hill. I knew I was pushing a stick as I could see it from the cockpit. The other boat went past with so much speed I felt embarrassed. I slowed down to a stop and walked to the front to investigate. I found I had been pushing an island of grass, sticks and soil. I cleared it and I was back to normal. I came to Johnson`s Hill where there were 7 locks and no other boat to pair up with. I started the process and tried to enjoy the exercise and it took me three hours to get to the top. I continued and eventually came to the six Blackburn Locks. I went through the first two but I was so tired and it was getting dark so for health and safety reasons I tied up in the pound. There was an Asda near by so I went and did some shopping
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| My mooring in Blackburn |
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| I knew of was pushing a stick, but it turned out to be an island |
I left my overnight mooring earl refreshed and continued up the flight. Before the last lock I was stopped by a man who told me there were three thugs at the top lock who had threatened him and were stealing stonework. I told him I would ring the police. When I reached the lock they were still there. I put on my most confident look and emptied the lock. Just then a PC and WPC walked down the towpath and asked me if I had seen anyone stealing bricks. I pointed to a wheelbarrow and slabs by the lock and reported what I had been told. The police had a word with the three boys and they left, so I got on with negotiating the last lock. I carried on along the canal for several miles and didn`t see a moving boat. Walkers took photographs of the boat, I waved and smiled at people, even to anglers who usually have the most miserable looking faces, while I listened to music on my mp3 player. At about twelve came to a swing bridge across the canal at a place called Church. I stopped made tea then tried to swing the bridge. My anti-vandal key didn`t release the mechanism. I tried everything and the area was teaming with children and teenagers on motorbikes, the noise was deafening. I needed help so I rang River Rescue, who contacted the local supervisor for the Trust and he rang me. He informed me they had come out yesterday for the same problem and it was caused by my key being worn. He asked me to wait for another boat. I waited four hours and no other boat arrived at the bridge. I rang the Trust again and just as I was talking to the supervisor another boat arrived and the bridge was opened. I went through and felt free again with the open canal in front of me. Suddenly there was another swing bridge in front of me. The thought `Oh No, not again,` went through my mind. I gingerly tried the key and it worked first time. I passed through. Then another swing bridge appeared. The same thing happened , my key worked, so I was puzzled why it didn`t work at the first bridge. I motored on until nearly dark ( 8pm) and came to Burnley where a Rotary Club boat fair was being held. I moored up for the night and watched a firework display
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| Going past a swing bridge |
I left Burnley early and started a pleasant journey along the canal overlooking the town. Passed many furnace chimneys that reminded me of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Also old derelict factories and warehouses, a reminder of the past industry of the area. After several miles came to the first of a flight of six locks. Just my luck there was another boat waiting, so we would go up the flight together and I would get help. The other narrowboat belonged to John and Tracey who were also going to Skipton. They had bought their 57 foot narrowboat, that had no name about a year ago, but had to keep it in a marina at £60 a week and use it some weekends and holidays. After the locks where Tracey worked so hard and us men helped when we could, we soon reached Foulridge Tunnel and the lights at the tunnel were red so we had to wait for 45 minutes. A broad beam boat came along belonging to a couple from the Isle of Man, Peter and Maria, who had bought their boat as a base on the mainland, like me. When the lights turned green we all went through together with the broad beam leading the way. After the tunnel we all pulled up for the night at the Anchor Inn at Salterforth where we had a drink and chat in the pub for an hour or so.
Monday 10th September
Before leaving in the morning, John who worked with diesel engines had a look a Peter`s engine which had been smoking excessively and diagnosed perhaps a valve problem. We all left together heading towards Skipton, but Peter and Maria`s broadbeam turned round in a winding hole and headed back south. We carried on and negotiated 15 locks together passing through beautiful countryside, sheep, green fields and dry stone walls. It rained on and off, typical Pennine weather and was quite chilly. Eventually reached Skipton and moored up just before dark but had only covered 13miles..
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| On the edge of the Pennines behind John and Tracey`s boat |
Tuesday 11th September 2012
Engine hours.... 314 hours
Fuel level....... 240mm
Walked to find bus station where I could catch a coach on Wednesday, Tried to find a place to book a National Express. The library was closed, so couldn`t use the Internet and printer. Tourist information didn`t do it and Co-op travel agent wanted £20 on top of coach fare, so I had to book by phone. I also visited Pennine Cruisers to ask about a good place to leave Annabel for three weeks and if she would be safe moored at Skipton. I was reassured about both aspects, so left the boat where she was and travelled early the next day.
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| Going through the 21 lock flight on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Wigan with Graham and Donna |
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| In the Police Museum in Manchester experiencing a magistrates court |
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| On the Anderton Lift looking up at the tank supported by the hydraulic ram |
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| Ready to come out of the lift back onto the Trent and Mersey Canal |
T
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| Anderton Lift |
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| An old barge now a flower pot on the River Weaver |
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| Being overtaken by another narrowboat |
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| Taken from the canal in the village of Worsley |
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| In the Gannow Tunnel near Burnley |
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| A very thin cyclist at Blackburn |
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| Narrowboats come in all shapes and sizes |
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| Getting near Skipton, but weather not too good (photo taken by John) |
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| An old furnace near Burley |
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| Entering the Foulridge Tunnel with Peter and Maria`s broad beam going first |
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| Collage of canal photographs |
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| Leg 5 : Barbridge to Skipton.... 125 miles |
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| Collage of boat names |
Tuesday 9th October
Returned to Annabel after nearly four weeks with Brad and Diane. We travelled in Brad`s car so I was able to bring items to the boat including a generator I had managed to buy. It was a relief to find Annabel just as I had left her except she had been splashed with mud by passing cyclists on the muddy towpath. I think I chose the wettest, muddiest part of the towpath to leave her.
We unloaded quickly found a good place to leave the car until Friday. With three on board it didn`t take long to organise the inside of the boat. Afterwards we visited Morrisons to buy some supplies and while Diane cooked a meal. I cycled to the fish shop and bought some chips. We spent a cosy evening talking, eating and retired to bed about 10.45pm.
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| Annabel moored at Skipton |
Wednesday 10th October
First thing I did was in the morning was clean the bilge of rainwater that had dripped in while Annabel had been left. Brad and Diane went for a walk into Skipton to look around. We left the mooring about 1pm and the first thing I did was buy diesel from Pennine Cruisers. I purchased 69 litres and paid £66.48. Brad then emptied the toilet cassettes after which we left Skipton. After about three miles we needed the VW key to open a swing bridge and realised it had been left in the sanitary station door at Skipton. I had to cycle back to see if it was still there. Sure enough it was in the door. I retrieved the bunch of keys and cycled back to the boat and we continued.
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| Taking on Diesel at Pennine Cruisers |
There was a series of swing bridges, some of the them traffic that had to be halted. At one bridge Brad and Diane let me through and closed the bridge just as another boat was coming. They couldn`t see from their control box. The woman shouted "thank you very much" in a sarcastic voice, so Brad said "Open it yourself" and left them to it.
On we went through swing bridge alley until nearly dark. We, tried two places to tie up but they were too shallow, the hull kept scrapping the bottom. We passed a moored boat whose owner had left his fishing line out which we didn`t see. He frantically came out to lift the rod and it looked like he had caught a shark, but it was only Annabel. He had to bite through his line or loose his rod as I couldn`t stop Annabel quickly enough. We reached Booth`s Swing Bridge and moored for the night. We had covered about 8 miles.
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| Diane and Brad opening a swing Bridge |
Thursday 11th October
Left the mooring before breakfast and continued navigating the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Progress should have been good except for the number of swing bridges. If I had been on my own I couldn`t have managed, especially the ones with traffic lights. They were just like a level crossing and sometimes there were problems, everything had to connect and the queues of vehicles were waiting impatiently. At Bingley we came to a flight of five locks, the steepest I had encountered and there were two lockeepers to operate them. One suggested I take the River Trent to the Midlands. I thought it was a good idea at the time. After the five locks there was a flight of three with a young lockeeper who didn`t have a coat or radio to listen to and said we were the first boat he had seen all day. Annabel continued past more swing bridges and another two locks and past through Saltaire and Shipley. We moored up for the night at Oddies Swing Bridge and tried to find a place to eat and failed, so bought some food at Tesco Express and ate on the boat.
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| Closing a swing Bridge after passing through |
Friday 12th October
In the morning motored toward Rodley where we intended stopping and going back to fetch Brad`s car. After more swing bridges we came to Field 3 Locks. They were very steep locks but there was a lockeeper to help us through. With the lockeepers help we passed through quickly then had two more to negotiate at Appley Bridge. While I worked the locks Brad and Diane had a shower at the shore facility after which we had a long stretch to Rodley and arrived about 1.30pm and found an excellent mooring in the village. Brad`s back was sore so while he slept Diane and I caught the bus to Skipton and drove the car back to Rodley and parked it next to the boat, already for their home going in the morning. In the evening we had a good meal at The Owl pub in the town.
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| A steep flight of five locks at Bingley |
Saturday 13th October 2012
Diane and Brad left the boat about 9.30am to drive home. I left on my own in the boat just before 10am thinking it would be nice to have someone else on board just to share everything with. There were two more swing bridges to pass through, although not with traffic lights. At both bridges I got a person to swing the bridge for me which they did willingly. I then came to three locks but help was at hand in the form of two Canal/River Trust employees. As soon as they realise I`m on my own they are more than willing to assist. I then had a clear run until I got close to Leeds where I had to pass through five more locks. I had some help from two Muslim cyclists who asked a lot of questions and gave a little help. They were practising for a charity cycle ride from Cambodia to Vietnam. At a lock called the Office Lock in Leeds the whole party of cyclists were there and it was prayer time. They all faced Mecca and prayed on their hands and knees, which they have to do five times a day. I asked one if they ever forget to pray. He said they were not allowed to forget. They were all really nice men, so I promised to sponsor them. I moored up in the waterfront area of Leeds by the river lock.
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| When the lock gates are shut there is always some water leaking |
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| Annabel moored at Leeds |
Sunday 14th October
Engine Hours 342 fuel 395 cm
I now had to leave the canal and proceed on a canalised river. It was called the Aire and Calder Navigation. There are boards by the lock which show the water level. Green is OK, Amber means be cautious and Red means stay put, don`t go. I decided to have a day off as it was Sunday. I went for a cycle ride along the river to see what it was like. I went to Castleford which is the next junction to figure out the locks, weirs and direction boards and to see the flow of the river. I did a round trip of 20miles.
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| Strong stream warning board at Leeds River Lock |
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| The water level indicator at Leeds River Lock. Shows water level in the orange, so you can proceed with caution. |
Monday 15th October 2012
I looked at the hazard board by the lock and it was showing orange so I decided to leave Leeds. Two River Trust men who look after that part of the river/canal opened the lock and off I went along the navigation. It seems big and deserted, no other boats. The locks were enormous and it seemed wasteful to empty all that water for my little boat. They were all operated with buttons so I could leave my windlass on the boat. I had to be careful not to enter the weirs as it`s a place of no return if you get sucked into one from above. You just hope they have a safety boom across if the worst happens. I estimated it would take four hours to reach Castleford but it took five as I stopped to top up with waster at Woodlesford Lock. At Castleford I turned right towards Wakefield feeling very alone on that big river until I reached Woodnook Lock where I passed three other boats.. I eventually stopped at Kings Road Lock as there was a boat in the lock and the paddles had malfunctioned and would not release the water and they were waiting for help from the Trust. It was getting dark so I decided to stay the night. After dark they got the help they were waiting for. The Trust men told me an emergency stop button had been pressed inside a locked cabinet for which they were the only key holders. We concluded it must have been Gremlins. I had covered 13 miles that day.
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| On the Aire and Calder Navigation the locks were huge |
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| The locks were operated by push buttons on the Aire and Calder |
Tuesday 16th October
In the morning it was blowing a gale and I opened the lock gates to leave, but when I felt the wind the other side of the lock I changed my mind. Suddenly a chap came over and almost twisted my arm to leave, telling me it would be OK. He offered to open the gates and drive to the next lock and do the same. He said it was boater helping boater, but I think he wanted me off his patch. I was tied up where I shouldn`t have been. When the first lock was opened I revved the engine, stuck to the middle of the waterway and pointed into the wind. Everything was fine. The man drove past me in his car on the towpath and by the time I reached the next lock I just entered. I thanked him and made for a village called Stanley where there were plenty of moorings. I stopped there and emptied a cassette then proceeded to the next lock which looked ominous and was a flood lock ( one that separates the canal from the river ). When I arrived the red light was flashing and the water was on the red section of the board. I could go no further until conditions improved. I thought back to a conversation I had with a man the night before who told me it was going to rain for a month. I thought I could be stuck here for a very long time. Suddenly I knew what the meaning of being in the doldrums is all about. I left Annabel by the lock and cycled into Wakefield and bought some food at Salisbury's. Later when the wind had abated I turned Annabel round and motored back to Stanley and tied up to the bank and thought about my options.
Wednesday 17th October 2012
The next day the red boards were still showing at the lock. I spoke to the water bailiff who said two weeks ago the water was much higher but went up and down fairly quickly. I also found out that I could leave Annabel at Stanley and she would be safe. I even met Phil who had lived on his boat there for over five years and said he would keep and eye on her. I gave him my mobile number to text me if there was a problem. So I decided to travel home the next day and come back in November . I caught the bus into Wakefield and booked the National Express coach to Southampton with an open return ( £41.30) for the next day. Later I cleaned Annabel and packed ready to be off early the next morning.
Gallery
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| The bollard has been pulled out by a boat trying to stop with too much speed |
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| Broadreach flood lock near Wakefield with the river beyond |
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| The board at Broadreach Lock telling me to stay put. There was also a flashing red light |
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| Coming towards Stanley in a gale of wind |
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| Wakefield |
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| Wakefield |
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| An unusual sculture in Leeds |
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| Annabel at Leeds Waterfront |
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| Diane and Brad at Rodley |
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| Leg 6 Skipton to Stanley Ferry 44 miles |
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| Annabel at Rodley |
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| Coming into Leeds |
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| Getting close to Leeds |
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| An industrial Museum near Leeds |
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| Huge lock gate holding back millions of gallons of water |
Sunday 11th November 2012
I returned to Annabel after three weeks and three days at home. Took me exactly twelve hours from house door to cabin door by coach. It was dark when I reached Annabel. I was pleased to find she was tied up and untouched. I saw there was a notice pinned to the cabin door. I thought it must be an enforcement notice, telling me I had been there too long and had broken the terms of my licence... I ignored it and unpacked and started the engine to charge the batteries... When I took the notice into the cabin to read it I was amazed to see it was an unofficial note telling me off for mooring too close to a water point. When I had stopped there I had seen the water point and thought I had tied up a comfortable distance away. Of course I realised it was from a boat owner but there was no name or boat name on it. I decided it was from someone who has little to worry about and watches and when it`s safe to do so comes out and leaves a note. The boat was very cold inside 7C but I didn`t feel too cold. I made some tea, had something to eat, made a hot water bottle and went to bed.
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| A narrow boat with a continuous cruising licence with enforcement notice |
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| A notice left on my cabin door when I returned to Annabel |
Monday 12th November 2012
When I tried to make my early morning cup of tea the gas ran out. It was the original cylinder I had started to use when I bought the boat in March, 8 months ago. It had lasted a long time. I switched over to the second cylinder. Later I met J who lives on a narrow boat. I knew straight away she had put the notice on my boat as she talked about boats who were breaking the rules. She called them squatters and told me Stanley was strictly enforced and one boat had been there 8 weeks and had an enforcement notice on it... Another boat just keeps moving between two places and won`t comply.. I had to point out to her that if an official moves someone, the official has to find them another place to stay and is all to do with human rights. I also explained that I had a continuous cruising licence but couldn`t cruise because of major works in front and behind and the route wouldn`t really be clear until early March..This lady had made herself a self appointed warden of the area and later I discovered that everyone knew what she did and I was told to take no notice.
I sent a message to Phil who had been keeping an eye on Annabel for me. I had ordered a fold up bike and tarpaulin and he had allowed me to have them delivered to his boat. He invited me for coffee on board his boat and we had an hours chat. He knew the Isle of Wight well and had written for the local paper. He was an interesting man who seemed really suited to canal life and had a permanent mooring and a job in the local pub.
I took the local bus into Wakefield , found a shop and bought some food and in the evening sat in the warmth of the local pub, Stanley Ferry
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| My bike after a ride along a very muddy towpath |
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| Annabel on the 48 hour moorings at Stanley Ferry |
Tuesday 13th November 2012
I moved Annabel from the 14 day mooring area to the 48 hour mooring near the pub. J came and told me I had to be off by Wednesday morning. There were no other boats and plenty of space but rules were rules and had to be obeyed, according to J. I phoned River Rescue and booked a day and time for an engine service next time I`m back. The oil should be changed every 250 hours and I had done 360 and never had to top up. A sign the engine is in good condition. I tried out the folding bike by cycling along the towpath. I realised I would break no speed records on it but just plodded along and was reasonably comfortable. When I got back, I quickly folded it up and stowed it in a cupboard out the way. I then decided to go for a proper ride on my other bike and follow the route I eventually want to take along the River Calder. The towpath was difficult to find in Wakefield and when I discovered it, it was very muddy in places and twice I nearly finished up in the river. I finished the ride near Horbury, then turned round and returned to Stanley Ferry. Later I caught the bus into Wakefield where I looked around the shops and bought a steamer for the boat so I could easily cook fresh vegetables which my diet lacks, everyone tells me. In the evening I watched TV and had the central heating on for an hour and fell asleep in the heated cabin.
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| Stanley Ferry Aqueduct. Built in 1839. Supposed to be haunted and its construction is like Sydney Harbour Bridge |
Wednesday 14th November 2012
After breakfast I filled up with water and emptied the toilet cassette then walked over to the Marina and asked their price for an engine service ( £160 ) After a long chat with the receptionist I topped up with red diesel and 50 litres filled the tank. I wanted to keep the tank filled in winter because if you don`t condensation occurs in the tank which causes problems. I then began my trip along the canal to Kings Road Lock, where I turned round and tied up in front of another narrow boat which had been left. There were mooring rings to tie up to which are far better than having to use mooring pegs which often come out. When I had finished I pushed my bike towards the road and realised I was in a private boat owners enclosure. It suddenly dawned on me I should have crossed the lock, but before I could retrace my steps I was caught red handed by one of the owners who told me I was on private land. I apologised and he allowed me to pass through the gate. I have found these little communities don`t like strangers and usher you through as quickly as they can rather than invite you to stay and show their hospitality. Too many bad experiences I suppose. I think they`re terrified you might stay, refuse to go and cause trouble. I cycled back to Stanley Ferry then caught the bus into Wakefield and bought some fresh vegetables and chicken legs and also booked the coach back to Southampton for Friday. After arriving back on Annabel I tried out the steamer, cooking the vegetables and some chicken together in the steamer. I watched TV and fell asleep, but woke up to find the boat full of smoke. I ran to the cooker to find the water had run dry and acrid black smoke was coming from the saucepan. I turned off the flame on the cooker, opened all the doors and ran out side to breath again.. It was some time before the air inside the boat was sweet again. I ate the meal and it tasted fine, but I`m left with a very black saucepan to wash up.
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| Annabel at King`s Road Lock |
Thursday 15th November 2012
Walked into Altofts and found the bus stop where I can catch a 125 into Wakefield tomorrow to connect with my National Express coach to Southampton at 9.25am. I then cycled to Castleford to look at the 14 day moorings there. Spoke to a boat owner and he said the moorings were safe, no pressure to move and plentiful. Also spoke to Jim who was out with his grandson an ex British Waterways employee who told me about an abusive chap on a big boat who had been moored there for over a month.. I then went to view Bulholme Lock where new lock gates are being installed and the route was shut until the end of November. There was so much machinery involved I started to wonder how they managed to do work years ago before modern plant. Next Sunday (18th November) there is an open day planned at the lock where people with wellingtons are going to be allowed to walk in the bottom of the lock.. I returned to Altofts and spoke to Tony who lives on a broadbeam boat nearby called `Freedom` who volunteered to keep and eye on Annabel while I return home. In the evening I was going to cycle to Stanley Ferry Inn to write my blog but discovered I had a puncture in my bike rear tyre, so I gave up, switched the central heating on an did my writing in the cabin.
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| Bulholme Lock at Castleford where new lock gates are being fitted |
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| Old cargo boat converted for living aboard that moves between Stanley Ferry and King`s Road Lock |
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| A swan poking its head into Annabel`s cabin, swearing and wanting food |
Travelled back to Annabel and found her safely moored up alone but in order. Decided to keep coming back and moving the boat from mooring to mooring in the area to comply as much as possible to the continuous cruising regulations. Also it would be a good idea to charge the batteries and live aboard for a week or so in the belief it`s better to use a boat rather than just leave it for months unattended. I had been offered a winter mooring if I applied at £9.51 per metre month. So to leave the boat for three months would cost £456. If I come back every two or three weeks it would cost me in fares about £160 which is far more cost affective. I can then move on when conditions are suitable and the flood gates are open and major works are nearly finished.
I would like to avoid an enforcement notice and complete my cruise without one. The notice is only a warning and nothing is likely to happen unless you abandon your boat for six months, although `The Trust` are supposed to be tightening up on boats with continuous cruising licences who just leave their boats and go off for weeks or months. Of course boat owners with permanent moorings support this as they see boats left at the river bank while they are having to pay for a mooring
I had booked a service from River Rescue so I motored from Kings Road Lock to Stanley Ferry where I was supposed to meet the engineer. At 1.30pm on Wednesday, Steve turned up and carried out the service. Some diesel from the central heating was leaking and this had to be recorded for safety reasons. The oil should have been changed every 150 hours + filter ( 5 Litres). The antifreeze was good to -7C so needed topping up. Steve also told me a well maintained diesel engine should last 100,000 hours ( my engine records 2708 hours...358 hours done by me ) and on a boat is under revved, so every so often it should be run at very high revs for 15 minutes. The cost of the service was £105 because I had had it carried out before Christmas. The local marina quoted £160 and when I bought the boat the marina charged me £230 but included a new fan belt.
During the service J walked past the boat. She asked if I had booked a winter mooring. I told her politely what I was going to do. She didn`t seem very happy about the situation, but I changed the subject and gave her lots of useful information about my boat service and River Rescue. I hope she will not cause me any trouble as I left Annabel on the canal bank on the 14 day moorings and eventually went home hoping to return early January.
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| The log burner was very welcome as -4C some nights |
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| 48 hour moorings at Stanley Ferry |
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| Steve from River/Canal Rescue servicing the engine |
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| Permanent moorings at Kings Road lock |
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| On the 14 day mooring at Stanley Ferry where I hope Annabel will be safe until January |
Friday 5th January to January 13th
I arrived back at Stanley Ferry after a long journey and found her just as I had left her nearly one month ago. I wished her a happy new year and the engine started at the first attempt. It`s so good when everything starts to go well. The temperature of the cabin was 8C so I lit a fire and the cabin became very cosy so I spent the evening watching TV before retiring to bed with a hot water bottle.
The next morning woke up later than usual, had breakfast, cleaned the windows of condensation, removed the ashes from the fire and generally tidied the boat. Took the bus to Wakefield and went into the Carphone Warehouse because my Internet dongle wouldn`t work. The young sales assistant spent 45 minutes fixing it, for which I was very grateful. I walked to Weatherspoons for lunch and to try the computer. Afterwards bought some supplies and returned to Annabel. It was quite cold so I got the fire going and started watching a DVD. Suddenly the TV screen went blank and nothing I could do would rectify it or get the DVD out. The TV was broken.
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| Moored at Stanley Ferry |
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| On the 48 hour moorings at Stanley Ferry |
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| Stanley Ferry Aqueduct |
The next morning I was surrounded by anglers. They must have arrived very early. Spent most of the morning doing little jobs like putting pictures up and removing ashes from the fire. Had a shower and went into Wakefield for another snack at Weatherspoons. Afterwards bought some firelighters ( makes lighting the fire so much easier) and kindling. Returned to the boat and went out for a cycle ride and later spent the evening in the pub watching TV.
The next day left the mooring where Annabel had been moored for four weeks and motored to the 48 hour moorings closer to the Inn. J passed and we exchanged a few words but I think she has given up trying to persuade me to leave. I did some research and found the firm who had sold me the TV. I rang them and sure enough it was still under guarantee, but I had to return it to them. As they are based in Stockport near Manchester I decided it might be easier to take it there myself on the bus.
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| Buying fuel and gas at Stanley Ferry Marina |
I`m not really travelling anywhere in the boat. I`m living on board looking after her. There is not a lot to do in the winter months so I decided to take a bus ride onto the Yorkshire Moors. I had a return journey to Saddleworth Moor, famous for the moors murders. Unfortunately it was misty but the scenery would have been stunning on a clear day.
When I woke up the next morning it was 5C in the cabin and it was difficult to get motivated. After two cups of tea I started the engine and decided to spend some money on diesel and a spare gas cylinder so I motored at the Marina. I`ve been told to keep the diesel tank full up in winter to prevent condensation. I also had a 25 litre container to keep some spare fuel. So altogether I purchased 65 litres for £64.19. The gas cylinder cost me £26.50 a little more than I paid last time. Afterwards I cycled to Sainsburys in Wakefield and bought some extra food. On returning to Annabel and boarding her I slipped and nearly fell in the water and in the process hurt my leg and nearly cried with the pain. Moral: `never be off guard, it`s always slippery in winter`
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| The outside temperature on the way to Castleford |
On Sunday 13th I decided to leave Stanley Ferry and go and stay in Castleford about six miles away. It was a beautiful day but very cold. The thermometer registered 0C but the sunshine made everything feel better. It was a good feeling to be moving from A to B again. Passed two other boats going the opposite way. The skipper of the second boat operated the flood lock for me onto the River Calder. It was a very deep lock and it was good to get some assistance. However when I motored onto the river the boat felt different, less manoeuvrable and seemed to be creeping along. Or was it my imagination ? I continued to Castleford Junction and entered the lock and moored up on the visitors mooring there. I spoke to a young skipper who gave me a lot of information about the area and informed me I could leave my boat there for a month if I wanted to. When I told him I had come from Stanley Ferry he started telling me about that woman J who had made his life a misery while he had stayed there. It was good to know we had something in common. After I had made myself a cup of tea I decided to look at the propeller by removing the weedbox. Sure enough there was something black on the propeller. I didn`t like the look of it and didn`t want to touch it because it looked like a body, but it turned out to be thick plastic bag which I removed. Later I walked into town, found the bus station and bought a small sack of logs for the fire.
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| View of the stern with the weedbox open and showing the big plastic bag that was wrapped around the propeller |
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| A roaring log fire |
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| Getting warm by the fire |
Monday 14th January to 19th January
Woke up to snow on the ground. It looked bleak outside. The first thing I did was light the fire because the boat was cold inside. I pottered around, then ran the engine for an hour to get hot water and charge the batteries. I had a hot shower then walked into Castleford and did some shopping. Later I caught a bus to Wakefield and found a table in Weatherspoons where i could use the Internet and stay warm. Although I was there for two hours I forgot to buy anything, left and caught the bus back to Castleford. Spent the evening on the boat listening to classic FM.
I spent the remaining days just living on the boat. using the bus, lighting fires to keep warm and buying food. Phil and Cathy came to visit me and we spent three hours chatting and swapping stories. I took some bus rides onto the Yorkshire Moors where the snow covered scenery was a beautiful picture. Eventually moved Annabel onto the moorings beyond the coal chute where I had been directed for long stay. The bank was marked as forty eight hours maximum, but I assume nobody really cares how long you stay there. I spoke to a regular dog walker and asked if he could keep an eye on the boat and I gave him my mobile number to which he readily agreed.
I went to local pub called The Griffin, one evening. It was very close to the canal, but I had been warned it was a BNP pub. I went in ordered a half pint of lager and plugged my computer in. The landlord, Mick started chatting and told me he wanted to trace one of his teachers from years ago to make contact and didn`t know how. He knew nothing about computers so after half an hour I had traced the village and road where his long lost teacher lived. He was very grateful but I didn`t get a free drink. I also met a man with a boat called Taniwha who said I could leave Annabel behind his boat and he would make sure it was safe.
Later I moved Annabel behind Taniwha then booked my ticket with an open return to go home, although I was worried about any disruption that might be caused by the snow that was falling. In the end it was the quickest journey I had made from Wakefield because there was less traffic on the road.
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| Phil and Cathy on Annabel |
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| Yorkshire Moors |
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| Yorkshire Moors |
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| Yorkshire Moors |
Wednesday 13th to Friday 16th February 2013
Returned to Annabel after three and a half weeks at home. It was dark when I arrived at Castleford and had been snowing. The roads and pavements were covered in slush and very slippery. I had not heard she was alright but had two people keeping an eye on her. When I arrived I could see her through the trees and she was covered in snow. I had to be very careful boarding her with luggage as everywhere was so slippery. Everything was exactly as I had left it except the centre rope had been untied and she was being held by the bow and stern ropes.
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| At Castleford with coal chute behind where Annabel had been moored for Three and a half weeks |
The next day found Castleford Flood Lock closed with a red flashing light showing. ( this indicated the level of the water in the river was too high and fast flowing, therefore too dangerous to navigate ) It meant I was unable to proceed on my journey. I spent the day cleaning, taking on water and buying supplies. It`s surprising how many little jobs always need doing on a boat. The weather was cold and dry so I opened up all the doors and windows so the breeze could blow through the interior.
The next day ( Friday ) the red light was still flashing although it hadn`t rained since Wednesday. The river level was going down so it was just a question of waiting and hoping there would be no more rain. So I generally amused myself going into town, walking and getting things ship-shape and Bristol fashion.
Saturday 17th February
Got up looked out of the cabin window and the red light on the flood lock had changed to amber. I decided to leave for Stanley Ferry. I motored up to the lock pontoon where several anglers were fishing. Although the staging was for boats I didn`t want to spoil the fishermen`s sport, so I gently tied up on the end. I saw Jim who I had met before and he took my rope and told me most boat owners would just plough through the rods without consideration. He helped me operate the big complicated lock and soon I was on the river heading towards Stanley Ferry. It was a beautiful day and like summer except for the temperature and absence of leaves on the trees and bushes. Eventually arrived at my destination and tied up and spent a quiet night there. Nothing had changed and I even saw J walking her dogs eyeing all the boats, but I knew I would only be there for one night.
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| On the Calder & Hebble |
Left Stanley Ferry at 10.30am in cold sunny mist. A beautiful start to the day and some compensation for all the recent bad weather. Reached Broadreach Lock which would take me onto the river section of the navigation. There were people watching me go through. It`s always difficult as you don`t want to make a mistake when being viewed. Luckily nothing went wrong and one of the party took my rope for me, closed the lock gate and returned my key. A short journey along the river brought me to Fall Ing Lock that was operated with a windless ( something I hadn`t used for a long time ) and took me from the river to the canal. After a short run came to Wakefield Flood Lock. that was closed and would return me to the river. Try as I might I could not open it. The level was slightly different but there was no way to get the levels the same. While I was scratching my head another boat arrived with skipper and wife on board. We all tried and tried but could only open it slightly. The lady rang `The Trust` and they said the gate should be open and asked was there a blue boat moored nearby. She replied there was and they said the people on the blue boat keep closing the gate so they can walk over it. The level of the river was falling slowly so the level difference was reducing. I got a passerby to help and between us all we opened the gate. I stayed with the other boat all the way to Dewsbury where they had a mooring and covered about 9miles. I tied up on the visitors mooring by Thornhill Double Lock. It was a creepy dark place and Annabel was the only boat. There was no pub so I settled down, lit a fire and spent the evening aboard.
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| On the way to Mirfield in the company of another narrowboat |
Set off at 9.30am in cloudy weather and passed through Thornhill Double Lock and made my way to Mirfield which turned out to be a pleasant place. I had to do an emergency stop for another boat coming the opposite way through a bridge whom I didn`t see until the last moment. My manoeuvre wasn`t very elegant and I finished up on the wrong side of the canal and the two old men in the other boat didn`t smile which made matters worse. I also needed something called a handpike to operate the paddles on some of the locks. It`s a metre long piece of 3x2" wood. I had never needed one before but I found I could use an old pole I had collected from the canal some time ago.I found a Lidl on the banks of the canal and stopped to buy a few items. I spent the remainder of the afternoon in the library writing up my blog.
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| Sometimes the locks were easy to miss when travelling along the river |
Untied my ropes and left the mooring through the floodlock and onto the river. Passed through several locks all with manual operation, including the handpike. Found myself behind another boat skippered by Terry who was the man who didn`t smile yesterday when I nearly hit him under the bridge. He advised me to take the Rochdale Canal to Manchester rather than the Huddersfield Canal. He lived on board his boat and kept it on the river section on a rising and falling pontoon. He had taken his boat to the River Shannon in Ireland and then brought it back. It was transported on a lorry costing 4K return.
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| Using a substitute handpike, not recommended |
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| A boom across the weir pool |
Engine hours 398 since starting in March 2012
The sunny weather gave way to cloud and cold so I decided to stay put for a couple of days. During that time I topped up with water, kindling, coal, logs and just looked around in the area. I also rang the `Trust` and asked about the closures. They told me the Standedge Tunnel on the Huddersfield Canal wouldn`t be open until 17th March. Decided this was too long to hang around so finally decided to take the Rochdale Canal. Although there were closures I thought they would be open by the time I arrived.
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| Terry who lives on his narrowboat and think it`s the best life there is |
Left Brighouse Basin at about 1.30pm in dull cloudy and cold weather. Passed through several locks, some requiring the handpike to operate the paddles. On some locks I found it difficult with the pole and bits kept breaking off and the pole was gradually getting smaller. In Cromwell Lock it took ages to fill because I could only raise the paddles a few inches at first. Reached Elland near Halifax and found a pub mooring ( The Courier ) where I could stay for up to 48 hours. I cycled into the centre of the town to get some money from a machine and spent the evening in `The Barge and Barrel` as `The Courier` was too crowded.
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| Richard using a proper handpike made of hardwood |
Saturday 23rd February
Left my mooring and made my way towards Sowerby Bridge where the Rochdale Canal can be accessed. There were some locks to negotiate but came to a place called Salterhebble Basin and was faced with a guillotine Lock. I put key into the console and pressed the right button but nothing seemed to happen and I couldn`t see a light anywhere on the console. I decided it wasn`t working and this was compounded by a passerby who said he had never seen a boat go through. ( doom and gloom is often found on the canal and I`ve been influenced by it a couple of times ) Suddenly the guillotine started to rise very slowly. I took Annabel through into the attractive basin where I could see two more locks. I waited for another boat called Myark to come out from the lock in front then went in. Suddenly Richard from the other boat came over to help me get through the two locks. He had a beautiful handpike which he had found in a friend`s garage. He kept his boat in the basin and used it when he came from his home in Glasgow as often as he could. He paid about £1500 a year for his mooring that had facilities like electricity. On leaving the second lock I had to make an acute turn to port ( left ) after manoeuvring backwards and forwards was on my way to Sowerby Bridge where I moored up in front of a green bridge on Richard`s advice. The idea was to have a look around and see what lay ahead and have lunch. Good job I did because I saw notices saying the Rochdale Canal was closed. I discovered the pound between locks 1 and 2 was drained and scaffolding up against a wall. It was Saturday so nobody answered my phone call to find out information. I spoke to a boat owner and was told I had to book up and there would be a 48 hours wait. Apparently water from the canal had been leaking into a nightclub through the wall, so the wall was being repointed to make it waterproof. It was disappointing as I worked out I would be held up until Thursday. When I had previously rung the Trust the girl had told me it would be finished by the 22nd February which was clearly wrong.
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| Work going on at Sowerby Bridge. |
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| Scaffolding across the canal with tarpaulin holding back the water |
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| The pound was drained and scaffolding erected in the canal |
Spent my time at Sowerby Bridge trying to find out if I could book to go through the lock. It looked like it was going to be closed for sometime. I asked people, made phone calls, left messages and was eventually told it was due to open on the 8th March, but they were doubtful it would be. I watched and no work was being done and there didn`t seem to be any urgency to get the job done.
I took a bike ride along the Rochdale Canal and passed Hepden Bridge just to have a look at this Pennine Canal. Found out it had the highest Broad Lock summit and the deepest lock on the canal system at 19 feet.
In the end I just got fed up waiting and decided I would turn round and go back to Cooper`s Bridge and onto the Huddersfield Canal, then to the Standedge Tunnel, moor up somewhere suitable, book a passage through the tunnel for early April, go home. The tunnel was due to open on 17th March and a pilot had to take your boat through as it was three miles long with many kinks in its construction.
Thursday 28th February
I needed some water for the boat as there was no where to fill up at Sowerby Bridge. Also the toilet tanks needed emptying. I turned the boat round and headed for nearest sanitary station at Salterhebble Locks. For a while I was ice breaking as the night had been very cold. After getting rid of rubbish that had been piling up in front cockpit, filling water tank and emptying cassettes, carried on to Elland Basin and tied up outside the Barge and Barrel public house.
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| When I decided to leave Sowerby Bridge ( where you enter the Rochdale Canal)the canal was frozen but Annabel cut through the ice |
I intended to reach Cooper`s Bridge and the Huddersfield Canal and I started off well enough. I had ten locks to pass through but at Brookford Lock my luck changed. I had been listening to music on my phone. As I approached the lock I saw Terry`s boat and he was painting it. His friend opened the paddles for me with his handpike. On returning to my boat my arm caught my earphone lead and my phone was catapulted out of my pocket into the canal. My heart sank as I saw it slowly sink into 3 feet of water and settle on the bottom. I quickly secured the boat and entered the water and recovered the phone. It was freezing and my shoes and clothes were saturated. The phone seemed to still be working, but not for long. When I reached Brighouse, I tied up and took it in for repair, but there was nothing they could do for it. I reluctantly bought another one as I considered a phone was an essential piece of equipment on board.
Saturday 2nd March
Began the day early and left Brighouse Basin with a covering of frost on the cabin roof. The frost soon disappeared once out in the sunshine. After yesterday`s disaster I was careful to leave my new phone in the cockpit at all times. It was a lovely cruise along the river and canal sections. I was the only boat moving which surprised me as it was a Saturday. I reached Cooper`s Bridge and entered the Hudderfield Broad Canal. I counted 9 double locks to pass through to reach Huddersfield. It took a long time and I only saw one moored boat. I saw on the map a place called Aspley where the Broad Canal becomes the Narrow Canal and thought this might be a good place to tie up. Before doing so I had to pass underneath a lifting bridge mechanically operated where I had to stop the road traffic. Luckily for me there was very little traffic about. I found a 72 hour mooring where I moored up. Altogether I passed through 14 locks today.
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| Snowdrops an early sign of Spring to raise the spirits |
No one seemed to be on the move, just smoking chimneys everywhere and I did not see one boat enter Huddersfield Narrow Canal through the tiny tunnel under the busy road. I decided I ought to explore what lay ahead by cycle before proceeding. Of course no one I asked really knew if it was possible to reach the three mile tunnel which was eight miles away.
I set out on my bike a had an enjoyable ride along the towpath but it soon became clear that in places it was too shallow and in one pound there was hardly any water. I came to a lock with major works being carried out and scaffolding up. I asked the engineer how long it was going to take to complete. His reply was at least another week. Further along another lock was in the same state of repair. Eventually I reached the Standedge tunnel and realised in those eight miles there were over forty single locks. I saw the tunnel and asked in the office when it was likely to open. His reply was about the end of March, but it`s only open for passage three days each week and has to be booked in advance and needs a pilot on board. I asked about cost and tipping and was told a letter of commendation to the Red Bull Office and a cup of coffee is all they need. He also told me it would take me three days on my own to reach the tunnel from Aspley. Three days to do eight miles will be the slowest I`ve travelled in my life.
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| Aspley Marina close to the centre of Huddersfield |
I realised that on March 5th 2013 it was exactly a year since Jackie and David took me to Annabel at Wilton Marine to begin my cruise. So I decided to work out estimates of fuel and distance based on what I had written down in my blog for one year
The engine had run for 419 hours (some of this was to heat water and charge batteries)
I had bought 500 litres of diesel
It had cost me £450
That`s £38 a month
I had covered about 600 miles
20 weeks cruising
32 weeks at home
11 return journeys on National Express
I decided to move Annabel to the sanitary station to take on water, empty cassettes and dump rubbish. After I had finished John beckoned me over to a marina berth where I tied up. He began to investigate the problems with the central heating. It seemed I needed a new part and a gasket set. For the leaking diesel tap he was going to try some grinding paste. He also informed me that the system needed a header tank and if it didn`t have one it had been installed incorrectly. The job was becoming much bigger and therefore more expensive than I hoped for.
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| John joint owner of Aspley Marina working on Annabel`s Mecuni central heating system Aspley Marina website: www.aspleywharfmarina.co.uk |
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| The Lift Bridge where you enter into Aspley Marina on the Huddersfield Canal |
The Standege Tunnel is the longest (3 miles) deepest and highest on the canal system
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| Kevin who gave me a graphic description of going through the Standedge Tunnel |
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| Apsley Basin at Huddersfield showing the narrow tunnel entrance to Huddersfield Narrow Canal |
On the 15th March I caught the National Express home from Huddersfield bus station to attend my son Richard`s wedding on the 30th March. My intention is to return on the 3rd April and then hopefully be on my way again, with happy memories of Yorkshire
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| Annabel moored in Apsley Marina having work done on her central heating system |
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Sandra with her three dogs Cosmo,Barney and Daquiri at the beginning of her cruise and life on her boatSandra`s dog`s Blog: www.watergypsy3.wordpress.com |
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| Another Annabel at Aspley Marina |
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| Leg 7 Annabel has been in this area since the middle of October. Trapped in Yorkshire. She has been from Stanley Ferry to Kings Lock.. Kings Lock to Stanley Ferry... Stanley Ferry to Castleford...Castleford to Sowerby Bridge... Sowerby Bridge to Huddersfield. Distance 47 miles |
Wednesday 3rd April
Made the long journey to Huddersfield from the Isle of Wight. Left home at 6am and arrived in Huddersfield at 7pm. Arrived on Annabel in daylight because BST (British summer time) had arrived. She had been moved to the linear moorings on the bank and was in perfect order when I arrived. After unpacking, starting the engine before the 8pm curfew and later I walked over to Salisburys and bought some supplies.
Thursday 4th April.
My plan to go through the Standedge Tunnel had now changed. I had read on the Internet that a lock at Diggle was being repaired `The Canal/River Trust` had been delayed by landowners who refused to allow them to take their equipment over their land. So it all had to be taken by water. With all the work that has to be done the opening date is sometime at the end of April. I`m disappointed not to be passing through the tunnel but am not prepared to be held up for at least three weeks, so I have decided to retrace my steps to Sowerby Bridge and travel along the Rochdale Canal that is now open.
Spent the day moving the boat, filling up with water, buying some more diesel and settling my bill. The bill came to £416 which included 40 litres of diesel (82p per litre, domestic) and mooring fees. I decided to leave Aspley and pass through the lift bridge in the evening when there were fewer cars around as the vehicles have to stop while I operate the bridge and pass through. I moored up beyond the bridge so I could make an early start in the morning.
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| Leaving Cooper`s Bridge |
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| Gareth from Aspley Marina (River/Canal Rescue) attending the breakdown |
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| The problem was caused by a corroded fuse |
Friday 5th April
I started my journey towards Brighouse at 8am. It was very cold and there was a heavy frost on the cabin top. I had to be careful because the boat was slippery. First thing in the morning I had tried out the repaired central heating and it heated up the cabin within half an hour. I travelled along the Huddersfield Broad Canal, then on to the Calder & Hebble, passing through 14 locks until I got to Brighouse at 2pm. I never passed another boat on the move and had the canal to myself.
Saturday 6th April
Was ready to leave Brighouse at 10am. Untied the bow and stern rope, turned the ignition key and nothing happened. I immediately rang River/Canal Rescue explained the situation and they told me an engineer would come to me from Apsley Marina, where I had been moored and had work carried out. Eventually Gareth came out and diagnosed a corroded fuse. ( the same one that had been replaced on the River Thames ) Soon the engine was alive and by 12.30pm I was moving towards Sowerby Bridge. After 11 locks reached my destination for that day at 7pm.
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| Salterhebble Basin |
Sunday 7th April
First thing I went and searched for the resident lock keeper who operated the first three locks. I identified the lock keeper because he was wearing a lifejacket and he instructed me to be ready the go through the first of three locks by 10.30am. Passed through lock one and two, then Tuel Lane Tunnel then entered the third lock which was the deepest in Europe. I was told to put the stern line around a vertical pole so it would slide up. The water was gently allowed to fill the lock until Annabel emerged at the new level. Annabel was now on the Rochdale Canal and my target was the reach Hebden Bridge that day. After 7 locks arrived and tied up and explored the town.
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| Lock number 1 at Sowerby Bridge. Entrance to the Rochdale Canal |
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| Lock number 3 is the deepest lock in Europe |
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| Billy the lock keeper and Stewart the volunteer lock keeper |
Left Hebden Bridge at 8.30am and immediately entered lock 8 ( Mayroyd Mill Lock ) By 1pm I had reached lock 16 ( Lob Mill Lock ) A chap called Mervin operated the lock for me whilst telling me tales of the canal. By 2.15pm had passed through lock 18 (Shop Lock ) and was in the town of Todmorden and took the opportunity to empty the toilet cassettes, fill up with water and dispose of rubbish. The next lock was a guillotine lock and I passed safely through, then into Shade Lock ( number 21 ). Annabel was climbing towards the summit at 600 feet, the highest on the canal network. I was lucky there was plenty of water which is sometimes short in times of drought in fact there was so much it was flowing over the lock gates in places. After 14 locks I felt myself getting irritable which happened when you get tired and is a danger sign. I tied up for the night 10.4 miles from Sowerby Bridge.
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| Annabel at Hebden Bridge |
Tuesday 9th April
Continued the ascent at 9,30am and despite a slow start managed to climb eight locks in one mile distance by 1pm. I had never experience so many locks. For the first time saw two other boats on the move coming the opposite way and this always helps a little as the water level in the locks are set for you. In three and a half miles had passed through 14 locks and reached lock 37 which is the summit. Tied up at 6pm feeling very tired but well exercised and pleased I had exceeded my target of ten locks.
G |
| Gongoozlers are people who just watch and don`t help |
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| The remains of heavy snowfall in the Pennines |
Quickly passed through lock 38 by 9.30am and joined another boat called Cygnet 27` long and skippered by Mac who said he had an Irish name, lived in Scotland but was English. We passed through several locks helped by Ray who worked for the Canal Trust. Just before Littleborough we both stopped at a sanitary station where I took on water. Mac stayed put and I carried on through Rochdale where the canal was full of plastic and other debris. I was lucky not to get anything around the propeller. At lock 50 there was a drunken family who said they spent every day by the lock. I got offered a lot of advice and they wanted to come aboard, to which I replied that only the skipper is allowed on board today. I was pleased to leave lock 50 behind and after another mile moored in Sandbrook Park. I worked out I had cover about 20 miles since Sowerby Bridge. Today 6 miles.
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| There was so much water it was flowing over the gate tops |
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| The canal at Rochdale was just a rubbish dump |
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| Very close to the summit at 600` on the Rochdale Canal |
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| Normally it`s only necessary to open one gate in a Broad Lock for a narrowboat |
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| Mac and Ray having a conversation |
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| A family in Rochdale who hang out at lock 50 |
Last night was woken up at 3am by someone banging on the hull from the towpath and voices saying anyone on the ship. Luckily they soon left and I went back to sleep. Left mooring by 9,30am and went through a low bridge/tunnel and soon reached lock 51. Was so glad to leave Rochdale behind as it had the filthiest canal I had experienced on my trip, people must throw their rubbish into the water. I came across a notice board that said locks 65 to 61 has to be booked in advance, so made a phone call and booked a passage for Friday. Whilst making the call another boat came from astern. It was called Camberwick Green. I joined them all the way to lock lock 64, there was three of them so I could have a welcome break and stay on the boat and let their efficient crew do all the work. They were also booked to go down the flight on Friday so I was keen to stay with them.
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| Annabel ran aground on Goose Island and took 30minutes to be pulled off |
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| Ian a volunteer lock keeper who helped between lock 65 and lock 81 |
Friday 12th April 2013
I got up early as wanted to leave mooring at the same time as Camberwick Green and be ready for lock 65 when the padlock is taken off at 9.30am. We passed though lock 64, then a swing bridge where we held up rush hour traffic. We arrived at lock 65 just before 9.30am and suddenly Ian appeared who is a volunteer lock keeper and introduced himself and explained he would guide us down the flight. We all worked together and made good progress. Ian was so pleased there were two boats going down, as he had been involved with the restoration of the Rochdale Canal since the sixties and was a little disappointed so few narrowboats used it. As we got closer to Manchester there were narrow channels in the canal that the boat had to stay in. Unfortunately after leaving one lock I didn`t leave Goose Island enough to starboard and ran aground and became stuck. It took half an hour to get me off with engine, ropes and advice and poor Ian fell in the mud. Eventually Annabel was pulled into deeper water and we soon reached lock 81 and Ian left us and went home. Camberwick Green took the Ashton Canal and I went through the heart of Manchester descending through 9 more locks in heavy rain towards the Bridgewater Canal. A young man called Steven helped me and knew what to do. Whilst navigating under a tall building the boat drifted away with no one on board as I had left the gear in reverse. Luckily it struck a pillar and was deflected over to the towpath where I was able to board her. After lock 92 I entered Castlefield Basin and left the Rochdale Canal behind. Total locks for the day was 28, a record. It had taken six days to complete the 32 miles, passing through 92 locks. From Huddersfield it had taken eight days with 117 locks.
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| Towards Manchester Annabel had to navigate through marked channels |
Saturday 13th April
I now had the Bridgewater Canal in front of me so I left Castlefield Basin and enjoyed a passage without any locks to think about. I wanted to find a place to moor up and go home. I reached Stretford where I moored up and bought some supplies near the cruising club. I enquired about mooring and was told a Bridgewater Canal licence is required as the canal belongs to the Bridgewater Canal Company. You can pass through with a Trust licence but not moor more than one day anywhere. I felt deflated and didn`t really know where to go. I stayed in Stretford for the night and decided what to do.
Sunday 14th April
I decided to return to Castleford Basin. After an hour`s motoring in windy conditions I arrived and moored up and looked around, spoke to some boaters and the answers I got were positive and encouraging. I wanted to leave Annabel for a month and was told things were fairly relaxed and not too rigidly enforced. I moored under two weeping willows, opposite a boat called Warbler and Ken the skipper said he would keep an eye on her.
Engine hours 2835
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| The last 9 locks leading to Castlefield Basin in Manchester meant passing under tall buildings |
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| Stephen help me through the last four locks |
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| On the Bridgewater Canal I passed Old Trafford home ground to Manchester United |
Monday 15th to Wednesday 17th April
Stayed on the morning, booked my coach home, walked into Manchester used the tram system. It all seemed serene after all the locks on the Rochdale Canal. The Canal in front of me is the Bridgewater that has no locks. After 20 miles or so it joined the Trent and Mersey Canal near Preston Brook. Sometime ago there was a breach where the bank burst and all the water was lost. The breach is being repaired and the canal is expected to open about the middle of May.
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| The Hilton Hotel, Manchester |
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| Annabel moored in Castlefield Basin for a month |
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| A Manchester Tram |
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| Leg 8....Huddersfield to Manchester 46 miles |
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Saturday 18th May and Sunday 19th May
Returned to Castlefield Basin and found Annabel safely moored up under the Weeping Willows where I had left her a month ago. She was covered in twigs and branches but the engine bilge was dry. I started the engine and it fired first time, a sign of warmer weather. I decided to move the boat to a different place in the Basin where I stayed the next day.
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| Castlefield Basin... Two narrow boats entering the Rochdale Canal |
Monday 20th May
Left the Basin, passing many derelict building, new tower blocks of flats and Old Trafford football ground and cruised the short distance to Stretford, on the Bridgewater Canal where I had briefly stayed before. The canal is 38 miles long and has no locks.
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| Annabel ready to leave Castlefield Basin |
Tuesday 21st May
Motored on from Stretford in a south west direction passing Sale, Atcringham and Lymm. I ran out of water and realised I hadn`t filled up since the Rochdale Canal. When I arrived at the pretty little village of Lymm I expected a water point but was told the nearest one was one and a half hours cruising. After a stop I carried on and came to Stockton Heath and tried to pull in at Thorn Marina, only to be told I couldn`t fill up until morning. Although I told them I had run out, they wanted to fill two of their own hire boats then lock up for the day. I moored up a little further along the bank, thinking I would have to buy some bottled water. There was a lady in her garden and I explained my plight. Soon a hose pipe was passed over the fence and I was able to fill my tank. She said her water wasn`t metered so I didn`t offer her any money. She told me I was only about 7 miles from the end of the Bridgewater Canal.
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| A kind lady let me fill my empty water tank with her hosepipe |
Wednesday 22nd May 2013
Left Stockton Heath and completed the last 7 miles of the Bridgewater canal and entered the Trent and Mersey Canal at Preston Brook. There was a flood lock to pass through and a little further saw the famous breach that had now been repaired at a cost of one and a half millions of pounds. It had only been opened a few weeks and it could clearly be see how the water had drained from the canal and covered the valley below. Passed through the Preston Brook Tunnel then a little further reached the Salterford Tunnel and had to wait for half an hours as boats going south could only enter between the half and twenty to the hour. Soon came to the Barnham tunnel and could see a white boat light using the tunnel so pulled in to wait. Whilst waiting a chap in another boat drove straight in the tunnel entrance without slowing down. There was a lot of shouting and he had to reverse out looking a little red faced. When the tunnel was clear I let him go first because he seemed in a rush and I followed but my chimney flue started scraping on the tunnel roof, so I stopped the boat and crawled along the top in the confined space and removed the flue from the cabin top
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| A picture taken from the computer screen of the breach in September 2012 |
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| A view down to the fields where the water flowed when the bank gave way |
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| The work is still going on although the canal is open |
Thursday 23rd May
In the morning, although this was old ground I just had to use the Anderton Lift once more. They had my details on the computer because I used it last year. When I gave them the name of the boat they asked me if I was Mr. Gould or Mr Underwood. Mr Johnson came third. I thought there must be three Annabels around, then I realised Mr Underwood was the previous owner of my boat, so there`s only two. After descending I travelled for twenty minutes to Northwich where I found a sanitary station so could dump rubbish empty loo tanks and top up with water. I tied the boat up near the town and did some shopping and spent the night.
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| A sunken cabin cruiser |
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| Preston Brook Tunnel |
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| The Mallard ducks came aboard and stayed for an hour |
Friday 24th May
In the morning walked into town , visited Weatherspoons and wrote up some blog. The weather was very windy so was glad to be indoors. I was hoping later it would calm down a bit as I wanted to turn Annabel and return to the Anderton Lift. In the end I left the mooring and tried to turn Annabel`s 55 feet against the the wind. I nearly managed it but there was too much windage on the side and she was just blown back, so in the end had to motor further up the river and turn in a more sheltered spot. Once round I headed into the wind and soon arrived at the bottom of the lift. I was quickly told to enter the tank and was swiftly taken up to the Trent and Mersey canal fifty feet higher than the river. Headed south for an hour and tied up at the village of Marston. The fuel was 250 and the engine hours had reached 2856.
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| View of the River Weaver from the top of the Anderton Lift |
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| Waiting to go up to the Trent and Mersey Canal |
Saturday 25th May
Left Marston early and just idled along the canal in the sunshine listening to music for one and a half hours. Passed a village called Broken Cross and saw a concrete quay and pulled up. I then proceeded to paint the gunnel's on the starboard side Buckingham green, first sanding, cleaning and putting red oxide primer on any rusty metal. After I had painted as much as I could on one side I then had to wait for the paint to dry. When it seemed dry to the touch left the mooring and headed towards Middlewich. Came across a cabin cruiser that had run aground in a wide section of the canal. The narrowboat behind me managed to pull the boat off the mud. I passed through one lock with a hire boat. I tied up near the town centre for the night.
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| Cabin cruiser being pulled off mud |
Sunday 26th May
I had decided to stay put and paint the other side of the boat as the weather forecast was good for one more day. I found a winding hole so was able to turn Annabel round and tie up on a concrete bank near the turning place. I followed the same procedure as the day before and got the other side painted. I also painted the inside of the cockpit and the back deck, using most of the green paint. I then brushed the tiller red and the stern red. There was a definite improvement to the appearance of the outside of the boat at the end of the day.
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| Annabel with freshly painted gunnel's |
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| There`s a big improvement in the appearance of the stern of Annabel |
Monday 27th May 2013
I wanted to make an early start but was facing the wrong way. I had several single locks to pass through and yesterday I noticed the congestion as there were many hire boats using this section. The winding hole was behind me but a hire boat had moored to the bank in the winding area. There was a wind blowing and I reversed and tried to turn but she wouldn`t come round because my space was reduced due to this moored boat. In the end the hire boat skipper came on deck and started giving me advice on turning the boat. I interjected and gave him my stern rope and told him to pull the boat`s stern along the bank. She turned and I was on my way. I had felt like giving the offending boat`s skipper a lecture, but didn`t want to spoil his holiday. I headed towards the locks, stopped to top up with water and because there was only one boat in front of me I was swiftly through the locks. I had not seen a sanitary station, but the pleasant man at Middlewich Hire Boats allowed me to dump my plastic bags in his skip and empty my loo tank into the open sewer.. Once on my way again I made a sharp right turn under a bridge and through another lock onto the Wardle Canal ( the shortest canal on the system. 20 metres, I believe) I think it becomes the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. I met a couple of holiday makers who looked fed up because they had hired a boat and the lady was having difficulty understanding lock operation and didn`t want to drive the boat while her husband operated the locks. I tried to cheer them up a bit and let her operate the lock for me with a few instructions. I motored on for a couple of hours and then moored up for coffee at about 11.30am and stayed two hours. Afterwards I carried on in the rain and cold wind until I found a good place to stop. I watched a bit of the French Open Tennis on TV then had a long cycle ride into Nantwich.
Tuesday 28th May
A slow start to the day as just dreary wet weather. Eventually motored along the canal and passed through two deep single locks. First the Minshull Lock then Cholmondeston Lock. I then stopped at Venetian Marina. I visited the cafe at the marina and used the Internet. I accidentally broke one of their flower pots so apologised and soon left. There were quite a few boats moving on the canal because it`s half term so teachers and children are on holiday for a week.
Minshull Lock.... showing Annabel at the bottom, then after the lock had been filled at the new level
Wednesday 29th May
I was planning to go home the next day and so moved Annabel along the canal and moored her just outside the 48 hour mooring area so I could leave her legally for two weeks. The sun was shinning so my mood was good and I cleaned the bilge and vacuumed up the old leaves and dirt. I tried to fix the generator but failed. The carburetter was leaking and although I dismantled it and cleaned it out it wouldn`t stop, so decided I needed a service kit of parts. I went to look at the narrowboats for sale at Venetian Marina and met Phil who owned the chandlers and hired out narrowboats. After a career as a flight engineer, he had ventured into business and enjoyed his life not having to fly all over the world. He offered to keep an eye on Annabel for me for the next two weeks, for which I was grateful. Later in the day it started raining again which is always depressing on a narrowboat, so I packed my bag ready for an early start in the morning.
This part of the canal system is very good for cruising and an excellent place to hire a narrowboat. Phil and Maxine Roberts operate a family hire business from Venetian Marina and also sell chandlery
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| Leg 9 Manchester (Castlefield) to Barbridge (Near Nantwich) 53 miles |
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| Phil, Maxine and Dave the dog www.venetianhireboats.co.uk |
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Sunday 16th June
Made my way back to Annabel and Arrived at Nantwich Bus Station at 6pm only to find there were no buses to Barbridge. The last bus had run an hour before my arrival. So with two heavy bags I walked the 5 miles miles along the towpath to where I had left the boat. It took me over two hours and when I eventually arrived my legs and shoulders ached The engine started first time and everything on board was in order. After a bite to eat I retired to bed in a very tired state.
Monday 17th June
In the morning I dried out the bilge with a sponge and bucket, then turned the boat round in the winding hole just behind where I had moored the boat. I then motored along towards Nantwich Embankment that took about two hours. I stopped and filled the water tank and spoke to some Danish men who had hired a narrowboat, then went along to Nantwich Canal Centre and bought some diesel at 89p per litre. He put in 120 litres for which I paid £106.80. There was a mooring on the embankment available so I tied up and cycled into Nantwich to get some shopping. On getting back I did some fuel calculations. I worked out that I still had 50 litres in the tank, I bought 120 litres and the tank was not quite full. I then looked up the capacity of the tank and it was 135 litres. So I asked myself how 170 litres were in the tank. I was a little suspicious whether 120 litres had been put in my tank as I couldn't see the gauge from the boat. I will had to wait for the next fill to find out if my suspicions are justified.
Fuel 185 (before filling up)
Fuel 600 (after filling up)
Engine hours 522
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| Annabel on Nantwich Embankment |
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| Prices of services on Nantwich Embankment |
Tuesday 18th June
I was moored on Nantwich Embankment where I had spent the night. I needed to turn round to go back along the canal to reach the entrance of the Llangollen Canal, so I pulled out and had to motor the wrong way for half a mile to find a winding hole to turn and head back. I stopped for breakfast at about 11am and took my time as this time of the year the days are so long there is plenty of cruising hours in the day so it's not necessary to rush anywhere. On entering the Shropshire Union, Llangollen Branch I had to pass through 4 single locks quite close together. There was a volunteer lock keeper called Richard who worked for two days a week. Soon after the first four there was another 5 locks to negotiate to reach Wrenbury where there was a shop still open at 7.30pm where a few essential supplies could be bought.
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| Entering the Llangollen Canal at Hurleston Junction |
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| Volunteer lockeeper Richard on the four Hurleston locks of the Llangollen Canal |
Wednesday 19th June 2013
Left Wrenbury and headed towards Marbury where Annabel entered the first lock. The weather was sunny, warm and pleasant and there were several locks to operate. Eventually reached Grindley Lock where there was a volunteer lock keeper called Dave who helped me through the first three locks, then at the three lock staircase another employed lock keeper called Gary who was just about holding on to his job assisted me quickly up to the new level. I then headed towards Whitchurch where there was a lift bridge and a man in another boat who seemed to be annoying everyone by his attitude. Just after the bridge I tied up for the night as was weary after the 10 locks. I later wandered around the town and found a Tesco where the cost of everything is cheaper than the village shops.
Fuel 550
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| Gary the employed lockeeper at Grindley Staircase locks |
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| The Dusty Miller pub near Wrenbury. Named after the book |
Thursday 20th June
As far as I can tell there are no more locks on this canal so it should be continuous cruising from now on. Started cruising at bridge 46 and at the end of the day reached bridge 59, but had to lift three bridges. In parts the canal was very remote from populated areas. Topped up with water and emptied rubbish at Ellesmere Marina and at the end of the day covered about 13 miles and tied up at Ellesmere for the night. There were plenty of hire boats on the move most of them being well helmed as this area is such a good cruising area for people hiring a boat.
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| Pottering along the canal |
Friday 21st June
Left Ellesmere at about 10am and headed towards Franklin Junction where the Montgomery Canal branches off towards Newport in Wales. The countryside was very green and lush with everything at it`s peak. Stopped for breakfast at about 11.30am and later came to two locks that I hadn`t expected at St Martins. Then onto Rhoswiel on the English/Welsh border and continued towards Chirk where some houses are in Wales and others in England. Crossed the Chirk Aqueduct which was impressive. It was opened in 1801 and carries the canal in a narrow cast iron trough from England into Wales. Next to this aqueduct is the railway viaduct on a higher level. After the aqueduct I passed through Chirk Tunnel which is 459 yards long and moored up for the night just the other side of the tunnel in a cutting with banks of trees on either side.
Engine hours 551
Fuel 495
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| Sometimes it was difficult to see ahead |
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| Navigating the Chirk Aqueduct |
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| Entering Wales after Chirk |
Saturday 22nd June
Had a late start before slowly cruising towards Froncysylite. It wasn`t going to take too long so I travelled at a very gentle speed. I saw the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in the distance and soon reached the entrance. Waited for another hire boat to come over, then entered the narrow trough of water that was completely open on the port side. It was windy and at first a little nerve racking. The aqueduct was built between 1795 and 1805 by Thomas Telford and takes the canal over the River Dee Valley and is 120 feet above the river. Moored up in Trevor Basin which is the base for Anglo Welsh Narrowboat hire.and was lucky to get a space as it was hire boat change over day being Saturday.
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| Annabel navigating Pontcysyllte Aqueduct |
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| Looking back from Annabel at the the aqueduct |
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| The view of the aqueduct from the River Dee |
Sunday 23rd June
A very late start to the day due to heavy drizzle. I had a good mooring in quiet place so decided to stay and walk along the towpath to Llangollen. It was about 3 miles from bridge 31 to bridge 45. It was windy and wet but I enjoyed the walk and the scenery as the towpath ran above the River Dee Valley. Llangollen seemed a lovely place and used to tourists. On the canal there were horse drawn narrowboats taking people for trips along the canal.
Engine hours 556..... Fuel level 475mm
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| The canal at Llangollen |
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| Narrowboat being pulled by a horse taking tourists for a ride |
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| The River Dee from the bridge in Llangollen |
Monday 24th June
Began the journey back from Trevor Basin. Passed over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and then the Chirk Aqueduct. There were many tourists taking photographs and a few boats on the move. Coming back there is a slight water flow in your favour so I thought it should be a faster passage and less fuel would be used. I had a slight collision with another boat and at the end of the day had reached Ellesmere covering about 15 miles. Moored outside Tesco and purchased a few supplies and spent a comfortable night
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| Annabel moored in Trevor Basin |
Tuesday 25th June
I left Ellesmere Basin at about 9am. As I was turning the boat round in the Basin, I was walking along the side deck that is narrow and my foot slipped and I nearly fell in the water. Saved myself with my hands but my feet were wet and shin grazed. Although I had performed this operation many times I had never slipped before. Motored on through bridge after bridge passing a few boats. When you pass another boat it is usual to put your hand up to the skipper of the other boat just to be friendly. Most are friendly but some appear moody specially if they think you have taken more than your share of water. A few of the hire boats don`t know this etiquette and don`t respond. Had to operate a few lift bridges and passed the villages of Bettisfield, Mixall Moss and arrived at Whitchurch where it was time to moor for the night. The day`s run was about 15 miles.
Engine hours 569... Fuel level 424mm
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| Going back into England from Wales at Chirk |
Wednesday 26th June 2013
I left Whitchurch very early and soon came to the three locks that make up Grindley Staircase. Gary the lockeeper wasn`t there so decided to operate the staircase myself. The boat behind me said they would wait for the lockeeper. I read the instructions carefully and followed the procedure. The top lock empties into the lock below, so that must be empty otherwise the water will flood everywhere. Everything was going well and Gary then turned up and was happy with what I was doing. I was soon down the bottom. That day I had another 15 locks to pass through and 4 lift bridges before completing the Llangollen Canal. Eventually after a long exhausting day reached the four Hurleston Locks that mark the end of the canal. There was a lockeeper to help who was a little stressed because a boat coming up the flight had blocked the pound by being caught by the strong wind and running aground. It had taken 45 minutes to free the boat. I was soon down at Hurleston Junction and had to make a sharp turn to starboard and under a bridge. It was difficult in the strong wind, but once round headed towards Nantwich. I was so tired I moored up to the bank before reaching Nantwich embankment. I had covered about 16 miles, passed through18 locks and 4 lift bridges and was fed up which is a sign of tiredness..
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| Waiting for a boat at Ellesmere Tunnel |
Engine hours 577... Fuel level 390
I did some calculations from the information I had... It had taken 34 hours of cruising to get to Trevor Basin and 125mm of fuel, plus 4 days.... Coming back it had taken 21 hours of cruising and 85mm of fuel, plus 3 days...The total distance there and back was approximately 92 miles and 61 litres of fuel was used costing about £54. The difference must be caused by the water flow helping Annabel on the way back.
Thursday 27th June and Friday 28th June
Was pleased to leave bankside mooring as Annabel kept hitting underwater obstruction even although I used buoys to keep her about a foot away from the bank. I motored slowly to Nantwich Embankment and stopped at the sanitary station where I topped up with water, emptied rubbish and had a shower ashore. I then noticed a a space for my boat on the bankside moorings as someone had left early. I manoeuvred into the space and tied up. I was allowed to stay here for up to 48 hours.. Decided to have a couple of days here before going south so cycled into the town and did some shopping and wrote up my blog in the local library. It started to rain and it continued for the rest of the day. The TV reception was reasonable as the embankment was elevated and there were gaps in the trees so the aerial could pick up a signal. Had a quiet day just doing a few jobs and watching TV.
Friday was a similar day. The day was wet and miserable but I cycled 5 miles along the towpath just to get some much needed exercise. I got a little bored so decided to head off on Saturday morning as have about 20 double locks to pass through at Audlem about 5 miles south on the Shropshire Union Canal. The engine has done 219 hours since the oil was changed so so will have to look up in the manual if one is needed.
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| Annabel on Nantwich Embankment |
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| A narrowboat shop at Audlem |
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| A water taxi |
Saturday 29th June
After having a chat with a couple of boaters I left Nantwhich and idled along the canal towards Audlem where I quickly got through the two Hack Green Locks. Before reaching the 15 Audlem locks I had a break and ate some breakfast and quickly vacuumed the boat while the inverter and engine were on. Left about 11.30am to face several hours of lock operation and towards the end of the day had operated altogether 22 locks. I carried on to Market Drayton where I tied up for the night.
Sunday 30th June
Today did many little jobs on the boat and thoroughly cleaned the interior in the beautiful sunshine. Stayed put at Market Drayton and spent another night. Engine hours 589, fuel 350mm
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| A boat called Sphinx with a rope round the propeller blocking the canal |
Monday 1st July
After wandering around the town and making a few enquiries about buses in the area, I left Market Drayton at mid day. I filled up with fresh water at bridge 62 then came to the five Tyrley locks that I passed through fairly quickly as there were several boats coming the other way. I got moaned at by a woman from another boat for letting her do all the work at the lock, although her husband had told me to stay on my boat while his wife did the lock operation. The outspoken people I`ve generally found on the canal are women crew of a certain age, maybe they don`t want to be boating. You rarely see them steering their boat that`s usually left to the male but they usually operate the locks. Entered a very narrow section called Woodseaves Cutting where the canal plunges into a deep sandstone rock cutting and careful helming is essential because of rock falls. Eventually reached a 48 hour mooring at Cheswardine where I spent the night and visited the Wharf Tavern.
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| Unusual bridge at Woodseaves Cutting |
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| Annabel at Market Drayton |
Tuesday 2nd July
Left my overnight mooring early and motored along slowly, passing Knighton, Shebdon, High Offley and came to Norbury Junction by mid day. TV reception was excellent and watched some tennis at Wimbledon. Went for a walk and spoke to a local man about my destination, Gnosall. He gave me information about buses and told me the area was crime free and boats moored are not strictly watched and timed. So anticipated finding a suitable place to leave Annabel and go home at the end of the week.
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| Norbury Junction Marina |
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| The Wharf Tavern at Cheswardine |
Wednesday 3rd July
Motored slowly to Gnosall after stopping at Norbury Junction Marina and buy a replacement 13kg gas cylinder for £25.49 and topping up with water. As I came towards Gnosall I stopped for a while on a 5day bank mooring and caught the frequent bus to Stafford where I enquired if I could catch a National Express coach to Southampton on Friday. There was one at 10.40am so I decided to catch it. I now had to find a suitable place to leave Annabel. I spoke to a man in a canal side property and he reiterated there was little crime in the area. There were no 14 day moorings but pointed to a narrow boat that had been on a 48 hour mooring for weeks. I cycled along the towpath and found a spot just out side the 48 hour moorings where I could leave the boat for two weeks without breaking any rules. So later in the day motored to the spot and moored Annabel for two weeks.
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| A friendly donkey |
Thursday 4th July 2013
Spent a lazy day just cleaning, packing and getting the boat ship shape. Also cleaning up a little bilge water in the engine compartment and packing the stern tube greaser with grease. I also put the 25 litres of diesel I had been carrying in a container since Huddersfield into the fuel tank, bringing the level up to 400mm. I decided by doing some calculations the 120 litres I had bought at Nantwich, before going to Llangollen was a genuine amount and I hadn`t been ripped off.
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| The canal at Gnosall |
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| Annabel moored near Cowley Tunnel at Gnosall. The tunnel was carved out of solid sandstone but is only 81 yards long, but used to be 700yards and was built about 1830 |
Friday 5th July
Left Gnosall and headed for home first making sure Annabel was secure. Met Martin on the towpath who said he would keep an eye on her for me. I caught the bus into Stafford and connected with the National Express coach for Southampton.
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| Fuel 400 |
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| Leg 10... Barbridge to Nantwich Nantwich to Llangollen Llangollen to Gnosall Total distance 125 miles |
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Jackie and David visited Annabel at Gnosall and spent a few days aboard to experience living on a narrow boat by..... Jackie Carr
Wednesday 24th July
Arrived at Gnosall at 5pm and found a good parking spot near to Annabel. David had left her in immaculate condition and after unloading the car, we were soon settled in. After a meal we explored the immediate area which was leafy and very scenic. There were a lot of other boats around: it was “official” start of the holiday season.
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| Annabel`s mooring at Gnosall |
Thursday 25th August
We had a good night's sleep and after cooking big bowls of porridge we set off to find a local shop to stock up. Everyone we met seemed very friendly! Later we walked southwards from the mooring, admiring Cowley Tunnel with the steep sandstone cutting each side. We then explored the local countryside, following the prolific network of footpaths between Gnosall and Church Eaton. Glorious weather. Early to bed full of fresh air and sunshine!
Friday 26th July
An early start as today we had to do the 200 mile round trip to Blackpool to collect our student son's belongings from the college there. A huge M^ gridlock on the return leg, prompted us to divert through Warrington and follow the “old” A49 back down to Staffordshire, which enabled us to see more of rural Cheshire and Shropshire.
Saturday 27th July
We replenished supplies at the local shop, then did some cleaning jobs. After an early lunch we set off to walk the two and a half miles to Norbury Junction. It was a hot afternoon but the towpath deliciously shaded by thick woodland. Norbury Junction was a hive of colourful narrowboat activity, with craft for hire, sale and a busy, picturesque canalside pub called “the Junction” After investigating the location of the “Elsan Services” to make use of before leaving Annabel tomorrow. Afterwards we strolled back to the boat for a cuppa.
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| Gnosall: looking along the canal from mooring |
Sunday 28th July
After torrential rain most of the night we found the bilge very full of water so used the bilge pump for a long time to try to remove the water: a mucky job! After packing up our things and trying to restore Annabel to her initial pristine state we drove the few miles to Norbury Junction where we were able to clean out the cassette toilet. A final check round, back on Annabel, then we left her locked up and bid a sad farewell !
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I took Ana`s family from Romania to spend a few days on Annabel
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| Vasile, Aurlie and Mihaela on Annabel |
Friday 2nd August 2013
Engine hours 603
Fuel 390
Arrived at Gnosall and transferred all the luggage onto Annabel from the towpath. There were five of us altogether and Annabel had never been so full. There was much water in the engine bilge a sign of very heavy rain. Vasile and I bucketed it all away. The mooring was not ideal as every time a craft went past Annabel moved violently so was glad to leave and we set off through the Cowley Tunnel. There was a winding hole after a couple of miles at Church Easton where we turned round and headed back north through Gnosall to Norbury Junction. Mihaela, Ana and Aurlie went for a walk. In the evening we watched TV during a thunderstorm and heavy rain that lasted for 5 hours.
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| Vasile at the helm |
Saturday 3rd August
Fuel 600... Engine hours 607
In the morning the rain had stopped
but the bilge was full again, so had to be emptied. We filled up the water tank, emptied the rubbish and I bought 54 litres of red diesel at 77p per litre. It was a lovely sunny, warm morning and we headed back to Gnosall where we stopped and found a supermarket and topped up with supplies, had lunch and at 2.30pm continued south, through one lock and eventually reached Brewood ( Brood). Walked through the town and discovered there was a bus service to Stafford, returned to the boat and I went for a cycle ride while the others watched a DVD on the TV.
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| Cruising along the canal |
Sunday 4th August
Vasile rigged a cockpit cover using a tarpaulin to keep the rain from the bilge while Ana and I cycled back to Gnosall to collect the car. It took an hour and 35 minutes to cycle. We drove back to Brewood and parked close to the canal. In the afternoon it started to rain, but I thought the water should be topped up so we motored to the nearest winding hole, turned round and headed to Countrywide Cruisers and did all the necessary things. Turned round again and tried to find a suitable place to get TV reception. Had to return to the winding hole where there was a little space between the trees where the aerial could pick up a few channels. The cockpit cover that Vasile made successfully kept all the heavy rain out of the engine bilge.
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| Passing under a bridge |
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| Vasile and cockpit cover |
Monday 5th August
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Saturday 10th August
Engine Hours 617
Fuel 560mm
I returned to Annabel after five days and found her safe. Two of the pegs had come out and been jammed back by someone. The cutlery drawer was open. All this indicates passing boats had been going too fast. The red cover was still in place and the bilge was dry. So the cockpit cover had done it's job. Someone told me Annabel had been across the canal and had been pulled back because the bow peg had been forced out.
Sunday 11th August
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| The bigger and more powerful aerial |
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| The cockpit cover was keeping the rain water out of the bilge |
Sunday 11th August
Decided to stay put and tackle some jobs. Made a list of the things that needed doing and set about achieving as many as possible. Later in the day moved Annabel to a more open location along the towpath where I could feel the sun and try out the new TV aerial I had bought. I also topped up with water. Several boats passed and the movement was quite violent, so I used some extra rope and made springs which stopped the forward/reverse motion and seemed to do the trick.
Monday 12th August
Left Brewood late in the day after mending the TV arieal holder on cabin top and replacing the string with elastic. Motored slowly along the canal passing a few boats and eventually reached Autherley Junction where I passed through a stop lock and onto the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal where I moored for the night. Went out for a walk in the evening sunshine then returned to Annabel for food and drink.
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| Be placing diagonal spring ropes it reduced the movement when boats passed by too fast Tuesday 13th August
Stayed put at Alderbury Junction and went for a cycle ride along the towpath and completed 25 miles. Met a boat owner who was fishing with a very strong magnet, pulling up bits of lost equipment. While I was talking to him he retrieved two mooring pegs from the canal and he gave them to me. Still making up my mind as to which way to go south. The choices are through Wolverhampton and Birmingham or towards Kidderminster and Worcester.
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| Ready to leave Alderbury Junction towards Wolverhampton |
Decided to make a passage towards Birmingham passing through Wolverhampton. I left my mooring at 9.30am and starting at lock 21 ascended twenty one single locks. Lock 20 was being repaired because some city children had flooded the stones and they had lifted and were now having to be dug out and relaid. Passing through the locks a hire narrowboat caught up with me because they had a crew of four. I got some help but at lock 9 I let them pass because they were in a hurry and I had a short break. After nearly six hours work I reached Wolverhampton top lock number 1 and moored up in Broad Street Basin for the night.
Thursday 15th August
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| Moored in Broad Street Basin in Wolverhampton |
Thursday 15th August
Fuel 530
Engine hours 629
I left Broad Street Basin at about 9.15am and motored towards Birmingham along the Wolverhampton Level. I had to cover 14 miles but there were only 3 locks. The water was clear in places but very dirty in others with much floating plastic. Everywhere there was industrial Archaeology with derelict buildings, reminders of the prosperity of the past everywhere. There was floating weed everywhere and Annabel felt sluggish. I pulled into the bank and removed the weedbox, put gloves on, armed myself with a sharp knife and removed all the weed and plastic from the propeller. It made a big difference to the speed of the boat. I passed through the Coseley Tunnel and at 2.45pm pulled in for refreshments and a rest with only four and a half miles to go. Arrived in Birmingham at 5.45pm and moored up on the 14 day moorings.
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| All the weed and plastic I had to cut away from the propeller |
Friday 16th August 2013
Engine hours 636
Fuel 495
Stayed put in Birmingham all day, but moved up to the 48 hour mooring near the water point. Walked into the city and looked around and enjoyed the atmosphere in this large cosmopolitan city.
Saturday 17th August
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| Moored in Birmingham |
Saturday 17th August
Left Cambrian Wharf in Birmingham and descended 14 locks sometimes going under huge buildings and dark tunnels. In places the walls were covered in graffiti and it all felt a very uncomfortable place to be. After turning a sharp bend near Ashton Junction there was another six locks which had to be filled and lower gates closed, as a previous boat had left them open. There was another five locks, but eventually reached Camp Hill facilities and moored up for the night after an exhausting day and 25 locks in total.
Sunday 18th August
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| Another canal passing over the lower canal by aqueduct in Birmingham |
Fuel 480mm
Engine Hours 643
After a late start left Camp Hill after locking myself in the facilities enclosure when my key got locked in the shower room. Cruised for three hours with no locks and very few boats on the canal. The weather was warm and sunny and the journey was delightful. Moored for the night at Catherine de Barnes on the Grand Union Canal.
Monday 19th August
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| Passing through the tunnels and locks in Birmingham |
Fuel 460mm
Engine Hours 646
Left Catherine de Barnes at 10am and chugged along a deserted canal in the sunshine. Eventually reached Knowle Locks that were the first double locks I'd seen for a long time. A little day hire boat came through with me. It had been hired by a couple with a baby from New Zealand. There were five locks in total and after continued for miles through many bridges and reached the Shrewley Tunnel then reached the Hatton Locks, totalling twenty. I intended to stop and tackle the locks in the morning, but made a start and soon had gone down the first twelve, but was tired so tied up for the night in a pound.
Tuesday 20th August
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| The weather was warm and sunny |
Tuesday 20th August
Fuel 435mm
Engine hours 654
I was up early and filled the stern tube greaser with new grease. Checked the oil and water. It was a sunny start and still had another eight locks to operate to get to the bottom of the flight and another four to reach Warwick and Leamington Spa. Bought some supplies and moored up for the night in the town. Visited a scruffy pub but had trouble with my computer so didn't make much progress with my blog.
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| Halfway down the Hatton Locks. The canoeists were travelling to London over a five day period |
Wednesday 21st August / Thursday 22nd August
Fuel 420mm
Engine Hours 658
Motored the short distance to Radford and tied up at Bull's Bridge and it was a pleasant spot so stayed there to await Brad's arrival on Thursday. Cycled along the towpath to see if there was a better place to meet Brad, but decided to stay at bridge 34. Talked to a travelling theatre Group who travel from place to place giving performances. Their canal boat is 77 years old but has a deep draft and I helped to free the boat when she ran aground under the bridge.
Brad arrived at about 3.30pm on Thursday. After unpacking his belongings and going for a walk, stayed until Friday morning before moving on.
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| The travelling theatre`s narrowboat. Over 77 years old. They were fully booked up with performances for 2013 www.mikron.org.uk |
Friday 23rd August
Left Bull's Bridge at 9.30am and immediately went through Radford Bottom Lock. Hope another boat would come along so we could both go through together, but this did not happen. Stopped at a much needed sanitary station at Fosse Road Bridge then continued through 7 more locks until we reached Long Itchington and moored up for the night. Generally the canal seemed very quiet.
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| Bull`s Bridge waiting for Brad |
Saturday 24th August
Fuel 410mm
Engine Hours 666
The weather forecast was grim, suggesting heavy rain all afternoon. Left at 9.30am and operated 10 locks including the Stockton Locks. A few boats were coming down the flight so this made the whole thing a lot easier. After this it was a pleasant cruise until the 3 Calcutt Locks where Annabel was moored up near a reservoir and Brad was able to watch a little Rugby League on TV.
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| Brad operating the locks |
Sunday 25th August
Cruised towards Napton Junction where Annabel did a right turn and stopped at Lower Shuckburgh where I met Brad who had moved his car further along the canal. The canal was very busy being Bank Holiday. Headed towards Braunston, eventually making a right turn at Braunston Turn. Found a sanitary station where the water tank could be topped up. Found a 48 hour mooring where Brad and I tied up Annabel for the night.
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| A trading boat where you can buy coal, logs, gas and diesel |
Monday 26th August
Stayed on the 48 hour mooring in Braunston and went for a cycle ride, first to buy some engine oil and oil filter for the boat so I can change the engine oil which is long overdue. The cost was £14.95 for the oil and £9.60 for the filter. I then found some suitable 14 day moorings where I could leave Annabel for 2 weeks. Later cycled above the long Braunston Tunnel following the ventilation chimneys until I reached the towpath at the other end. Cycled for a little way along the towpath and came across a narrowboat blocking the canal. I helped an American couple in another boat pull it back to the bank and secure it. It had been pegged in on a straight stretch and because some passing boats won't slow down the bow peg had been forced out the ground. John and his wife were from Texas who were returning to their roots in England and holidaying on a narrowboat. I later cycled back to Lower Shuckburgh to retrieve Brad's car and bring it to Braunston.
Tuesday 27th August 2013
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| Having breakfast in a narrowboat restaurant moored at Braunston |
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| One way to paint your narrowboat |
Tuesday 27th August 2013
Engine hours 676
Fuel 385mm
In the morning decided to return home, so moved the boat to the 14 day moorings, packed cleaned and tidied the boat and Brad drove me home in his car.
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| Leg 11 Gnosall to Braunston 76 miles |
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Thursday 12th September
Thursday 12th September
Began my return journey to Annabel early and caught a coach from Portsmouth which took me to London, then changed and travelled to Northampton. On the London coach a man had a heart attack and had to be blue lighted to hospital from the coach. I do hope they managed to save him. After a local bus to Daventry and another to Braunston I found myself walking along the towpath towards where I had left Annabel 17 days before. I always get a strange feeling arriving back wondering if anything has happened to her. I found her in perfect order with a dry bilge (The red cover had worked wonders) I spent time preparing the boat for use and later went for a bike ride along the towpath as the weather was pleasant. Always find a boat owner to talk to. This time a lady on her own living on a huge old boat with chickens in a cage. Have to wonder how she copes and judging by her accent and conversation she was well educated. On returning to Annabel I made some food had a glass of wine and listened to the radio. The evenings are now drawing in and hours of daylight reducing, but not cold enough to light a fire.
Friday 13th September
I left the fourteen day mooring where I had stayed three days longer just as the warden was checking all the moored boats and typing their numbers into his machine. I decided to head towards Rugby, about 14 miles away with only 3 locks at Hillmorton. I cruised for about two and a half hours, moored up bought some milk and a newspaper, had a shower and carried on and came to the Hillmorton locks which I passed through, the bottom lock have a volunteer lock keeping that is always welcome. On leaving the last lock when I engaged the gear there was excessive vibration. I pulled into the bank and made a phone call to River Rescue. Eventually Tom arrived who I had met before. He found nearly all the bolts connecting the engine to the stern tube had sheared. He removed them went and bought some new ones and fitted them. All this took about two hours. On starting the engine there was still a bit too much vibration. Tom said the engine needed realigning and an engineer would come the next morning to do it. So far it has only cost me five pounds for new bolts so River Rescue is a good investment for any canal boat owner especially for a continuous cruiser like myself. When things go wrong help is just a phone call away. If I didn't have this cover I would perhaps, have to find a boat yard in the rain, then probably there would be no engineer available. The problem would be stressful and time consuming.
There was still some bad luck left to be had. It was pouring with rain and chilly so I made myself a hot water bottle. The bottle had been hanging in the cupboard all summer and had developed a leak. When I got into bed all the bed linen was soaking. I had to take it off and drape it over the cabin furniture to try and dry it. I slept in my sleeping bag.... Friday 13th proved to be an unlucky day for Annabel and me. Let's hope tomorrow is better, but I`m not superstitious
Saturday 14th September
I waited for a call from, river rescue and eventually they called to say they had no engineer until Monday but maybe I could use the boat if the vibration wasn't too much. After a while I decided to travel to Rugby, only about 3 miles away. All the way I kept the speed down conscious I was holding up boats behind me. On reaching Rugby I tied up on a 24 hour mooring and spent the night. I was concerned about the way the engine was vibrating on its mounts when it was in gear so I was glad to stop moving.
Sunday 15th September
The weather forecast was grim with gale force winds and heavy rain likely. I decided to make my way back to Hillmorton. On the way I had three boats behind me who appeared to be in a rush. So I slowly pulled in to the bank. I walked carefully along the side deck took the middle rope and jumped onto the bank, but dropped the rope. The boat was a little too far away to reach the rope so I made a bridge between the bank and the side deck with my body, grabbed the rope, then found I could not pull myself back onto my feet on the bank. The boat was moving further out so I could only fall in the water. I made a frantic grab at the deck handle, caught it and pulled myself onto the boat and saved myself from a soaking. I felt an amateur as the the three boats passed, my antics being observed by everyone and I got strange looks, but I just smiled and looked unconcerned.
When I reached Hillmorton I made a call to River Rescue telling them the engine was still vibrating too much and therefore couldn't make passage. The lady said they would contact me on Monday.
Engine hours 683
Fuel 360mm
Monday 16th September 2013
Waited for a call from River Rescue but one never came. Eventually cycled to Grantham Bridge Boat Services and spoke to Dave, the engineer who said he would ring River Rescue. He phoned me back and asked me bring the boat to the yard. Suddenly I had a call from River Rescue giving me the same information, then the lady informed me I would have to pay for any work. I felt disappointed with River Rescue who had left me without help because they thought I should pay when Tom their engineer who had renewed the bolts on Friday said I wouldn't have to pay as it was part of the breakdown to have the engine realigned. I did not mind paying but I have Gold Membership and they offer a 365 days a year service if things go wrong. I don't think they were living up to their promises.
When Annabel was in the yard and Dave was free he looked at the shaft, started the engine, engaged gear and immediately said the shaft was bend and the boat would have to go into dry dock., My heart sank imagining the delay, cost of dry dock hire (£150 per day ) cost of the shaft and the labour. I could see my bank manager getting really worried. Dave removed the bolts and then some better news. All the vibration had been caused by a very worn coupling that Tom from River Rescue had pointed out on Friday when the bolts were removed but had put it back with the new bolts. My bank manager was a little happier at this news. Dave went off to fetch a new coupling, fixed it to the shaft and all the vibration ceased. I paid my bill £147 and Annabel left the yard and passed through two locks then moored up as it was getting dark.
Tuesday 17th September
The day started with heavy rain and gale force winds so I decided to stay put and generally tidy up the boat. Later I cycled into Rugby and bought some food from Tesco. In the evening I lit the log fire and spent the rest of the evening reading and watching TV.
Wednesday 18th September
Fuel was 320mm. Topped up to 520mm by buying 55 litres of diesel.
Engine hours 689
Left Hillomorton and motored towards Braunston on the Oxford Canal and stopped just before the town and made breakfast. I then moved onto the Grand Union Canal at Braunston and stopped at the sewage disposal building and emptied the cassettes and filled up the water tank. Just before leaving a trading boat came along and I bought 55 litres of diesel for £49.86. It was priced at 91p per litre. Mark the owner sells coal and gas and serves the area. His boat was built in 1935.
Eventually left Braunston and passed through the 6 locks then navigated through the Braunston Tunnel which was opened in 1796 and passes under the Northamptonshire Height. It's length is 2042 yards and took me 45 minutes to pass through. After the tunnel carried on to Norton Junction, then made a right turn, did more lock and moored up for the night feeling tired but pleased I had started to make progress south.
Thursday 19th September
There were seven locks to pass through at Buckley. As I was preparing to leave Scarlet Rose came past with Richard and Caroline. I had been with them through several locks yesterday and they had been behind me in the tunnel. I immediately left my mooring and followed them to the first lock so we could double up. They had a 30 year old boat and travelled from place to place, leaving their boat and going home, then returning and moving on. The same as me and they were heading for London, the same as me. Whilst passing through one lock and emptying the chamber Richard's boat became stuck on the cill. Quick action had to be taken so I stopped the lock emptying anymore and then filled the lock so his boat would float off. It was a scary moment as some boats have sunk or turned over after becoming stuck on the lock cill, but Richard just laughed it off. After the locks I left Scarlet Rose and motored on. It was very windy and a tarpaulin blew off my boat and into the water. I tried to retrieve it but in the process got the bag round my propeller, then had the job of cutting it free. Carried on and passed Wilton Marina where I had bought my boat one and a half years before. I had travelled over 900 miles since then. I thought about asking them to sell Annabel but decided against it and carried on past stopping at Bugbrook Bridge for a break, then continued to Gayton Junction where I moored up for the night.
Fuel 485mm
Engine hours 699
Friday 20th September
A beautiful start to the day with bright sunlight motivated me into a early start and I soon came to the Blisworth Tunnel where I had to stop for tree telling to finish before entering the tunnel. On entering I could see a pin prick of light in the distance and thought I would have to pass another boat. As
time passed I realised this was the tunnel`s southern exit. It took over 45 minutes to pass through and at times was showered with water from above. Emerging back into sunlight was welcome and moored up for a while then proceeded towards Stoke Bruerne which is an interesting canal centre. There is much activity and a waterways museum and the area is very colourful. On leaving, there are eight double locks to descend which went smoothly with a few boats coming the other way to make less work for me to do. After the locks it was a pleasant cruise along a winding canal. Reached Cosgrove and tied up there for the night.
Saturday 21st September 2013
Engine hours 709
Left Cosgrove and stopped to get fresh water then entered Cosgrove Lock, then passed over an aqueduct called Iron Trunk over the Great Ouse river. It was then a long cruise to Milton Keynes and Campbell Park where I stopped last year. When I stopped in roughly the same place as I did last year, I changed the engine oil and filter. A job I hadn't done before, but it turned out to be a quick easy job.( 351 hours since the last change of oil ) Later I walked into Milton Keynes and bought a few items from the market. Visited the bus station and then returned to Annabel and stayed the night.
Sunday 22nd September
Stayed all day in Campbell park and spent a leisurely day.
Monday 23rd September 2013
Cycled to Milton Keynes bus station and obtained some coach and bus details. Left Campbell Park at about mid day and headed towards Leighton Buzzard, Had to pass through five locks, the first was easy as just joined another boat who had entered the double lock. The people on board were friendly which is such a plus when your on your own. Afterwards had just past through a bridge when an approaching boat veered towards me. I quickly stopped Annabel and a young man from the other boat ran forward along the deck, apologising and used his feet to fend off. He said they had lost steerage. A young girl was driving and I think she lost steerage because she slowed down so much, then revved up but the boat was slow to respond and she panicked.
The next three locks Annabel passed through with the Candy boat. They sell sweets on the canal and the family have lived on the canal for ten years, but the crew lacked social skills with no conversation and annoyed faces.
Eventually passed through Leighton Buzzard Lock on own as the Candy boat had pulled in near a pub. Reached Leighton Buzzard just as it was getting dark and tied up near the bridge on a 14 day mooring and had covered about 12 miles.
Tuesday 24th September
Think Leighton Buzzard is going to be the end of this leg. I booked my coach ticket home from Luton to Southampton for Thursday and wandered around the town looking in the charity shops enjoying the warm sunshine. I moved the boat to a quieter place and and securely tied Annabel up to the bank using crossed pegs and loops of wire as pegs on their own have the habit of coming out.
Wednesday 25th September
Spent the whole day preparing Annabel for two weeks of rest. Did lots of tidying up and cleaning, then walked into the town to find my bus stop for catching a local bus to Luton where I board a National Express coach tomorrow.
Thursday 26th September
Left early to catch local bus to Luton. The bus was half an hour late and I was beginning to worry about my coach at Luton. I found out a lorry had overturned on the M1 blocking four lanes of the motorway so all traffic in the area had been affected. I eventually reached home on the Isle of Wight but it had taken much longer than I anticipated.
Thursday 17th October
Stayed tied up at Uxbridge on the 24 hour mooring. Decided to go for a cycle ride along the towpath to Little Venice and Paddington Basin on the Paddington Arm of the canal. Also cycled along the Slough Arm but there was a barrier across the towpath as work was going on. On the way I checked all the 14 day moorings and marked them on the map. I found five altogether but there must be more beyond Paddington. This means I can potter between them during the winter. I cycled back to Uxbridge having covered forty miles altogether. Later I walked into town and bought some milk and butter.
Saturday 19th October 2013
Thursday 26th September
Left early to catch local bus to Luton. The bus was half an hour late and I was beginning to worry about my coach at Luton. I found out a lorry had overturned on the M1 blocking four lanes of the motorway so all traffic in the area had been affected. I eventually reached home on the Isle of Wight but it had taken much longer than I anticipated.
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| Leg 12: Braunston to Rugby.. Rugby to Leighton Buzzard 68 miles Total distance approximately since I started approximately 944 miles .............................................................................................................................................. Friday 11th October
Travelled back to Annabel which was a mistake as Friday traffic is always so much heavier. I missed my connecting coach at Heathrow and eventually arrived at Leighton Buzzard at 6.30pm after leaving my house at 8.30am. The total distance could only have been 130miles. Annabel was fine and secure with only one mooring rope detached.
During the night there was a near gale blowing and sleeping on the boat was noisy at times. Saturday morning was wet and overcast but eventually there was a little sunshine. I left Leighton Buzzard and cruised to Grove lock, it felt good to be on the move again. I knew this leg of the journey was going to be hard work as there are so many locks because the Grand Union Canal goes over the Chilton Hills. By 2pm when I took a break I had done six locks and later did another five locks. At Marsworth met Richard and Fiona. They asked a lot of intelligent questions and helped me through the last lock so I invited them aboard Annabel for a short trip to Lower Icknield. It was good to have some company. I tied up for the night on a 14day mooring as it was getting dark. I had covered about eight and a half miles and passed through 14 locks and one swing bridge which I had difficulty opening on my own.
It had rained all night and was still raining in the morning. No one was moving on the canal. It got to 11.15am, I put my wet weather gear on, set the first lock and left the mooring being very careful because of the wet slippery surfaces. I knew it was going to be a tough day there were seven locks between Marsworth and Bulbourne Junction. Eventually and unexpectedly another boat caught me up and we did the last three locks together. The couple, Dave and Hester were from South Africa and kept a narrow boat in England at Burton on Trent, coming over when they can to live aboard and use her. They lived near Gordon`s Bay where my son, Duncan lives. After the seven locks were complete which was the summit there was a three mile cruise to Cowroast where the decent begins. We descended six locks and in one a trading boat came in next to me. While the water was being released from the chamber I saw the lady in the trading boat was looking agitated. Suddenly I realised Annabel was leaning forty degrees towards the trading boat. Quickly we stopped the water and refilled the lock and Annabel came upright. She must have caught on a piece of wood but I never discovered what it was. Strange things happen in locks and you have to be on your guard the whole time. I moored up for the night at Berkhampstead with Dave and Hester's boat behind me at 6pm. The total locks for the day were 14 double ones but only six and a half miles covered. When I went below I discovered all the galley cupboards had emptied themselves onto the floor, it was quite a mess.
 Monday 14th October
Engine hours 736
Fuel 360mm
Got up early as I had arranged to leave with Dave and Hester. I did many little jobs like fill the stern tube greaser, check the engine oil and water and clean out the log burner. Just before 9.30am both boats left together. There were a series of locks to pass through and it was much easier for me to be with another boat. During the day we did 15 locks and one swing bridge. Dave and Hester were on a 36 hour fast, but all day never lacked the energy needed to do the work. As a business they distribute natural health products and by the end of the day had convinced me of the benefits.
A Helping Hand To Wealth and Health. Www.healthandwealth-za.gnld.net
Eventually tied up at Apsley where I had left the boat last year. I bought a few supplies from the supermarket in the evening and watched a video to cheer me up.
I woke up late for me and didn't rise until 10am, but felt better for it. I had a leisurely start and just pottered around doing little jobs on the boat. I did a little treasure hunting with powerful magnet on a rope but only managed to find a few rusty nails. Dave and Hester went by in their boat and I waved to them, Dave asked me if I wanted to join them but I wasn't ready so declined the offer. In fact I didn't leave my Apsley mooring until 1pm. The weather was so much better than the previous two days. I finally covered about 7 miles passing through 12 locks on my own. The locks are becoming more spaced out as Annabel descends toward London. I moored in darkness near Coxley Green after passing Kings Langley and Abbots Langley.
Engine hours 750
Fuel 303mm
The morning started grey and dull and by 9.30am it was raining again. I left Cassio Wharf at 10am in pouring rain with the red cover keeping the rain out of the cockpit. Came across a Tesco shop and moored up and bought supplies. At 3pm after passing through five locks, stopped and had a break. While drinking a cup of tea the rain stopped and the sun came out. I worked out I was five miles from Uxbridge and had three locks to pass through. Decided to press on and by 6pm tied up in the town. I was now on the western edge of London and could see the familiar red buses.
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Thursday 17th OctoberStayed tied up at Uxbridge on the 24 hour mooring. Decided to go for a cycle ride along the towpath to Little Venice and Paddington Basin on the Paddington Arm of the canal. Also cycled along the Slough Arm but there was a barrier across the towpath as work was going on. On the way I checked all the 14 day moorings and marked them on the map. I found five altogether but there must be more beyond Paddington. This means I can potter between them during the winter. I cycled back to Uxbridge having covered forty miles altogether. Later I walked into town and bought some milk and butter.
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| Discovered `Duck Dodger`The 72 foot narrowboat I had sunk in a lock near Northampton. Has a new owner now. |
Friday 18th October 2013
I was conscious I had overstayed my 24 hour time at Uxbridge. They threaten you with a £25 a day fine if you over stay. I wonder if anyone has actually been fined.
I needed water and supplies and I knew there was a Tesco and water point at Bull's Bridge, where the Paddington arm branches off through London. After six miles of lock free cruising I came to Bull's Bridge where I pulled in and stayed. I had TV reception and a supermarket and buses nearby. I went for a 10 mile ride along the towpath on my cycle.
Saturday 19th October 2013
Fuel 290mm
Engine Hours: 760
Stayed at Bull's Bridge, vacuumed the boat and at mid day caught a bus to Hayes Station, then other bus to Shepherd`s Bush where I wandered around and walked through the market, then sat in the park at ate some lunch. I then returned by bus to the Annabel through Southall. The traffic was horrendous and I wished I was on my bike.
Sunday 20th October 2013
I just could not be bothered to move although I had been on a 24 hour mooring for 48 hours. Other boats had been there longer. The weather was so unsettled but the sun came out for a while, so I decided to cycle along the towpath to Brentford. I took my BW key with me and once at Brentford had a refreshing shower in the shore facilities there. I spoke to Dell who gave me a lot of information about mooring in the area. Later I carried on cycling along the Thames towpath, but at Richmond the sky became black and it poured with rain. I took shelter for a while but then decided to ride back to the boat and got soaked on the way. It was all so damp so lit the log burner and the cabin became warm and cosy and I felt a lot more cheerful.
Monday 21st October 2013
I finally left Bull's Bridge and headed along the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union towards London. The diesel in the tank was getting low so I stopped at Willowtree Marina. When I found the office. I asked for domestic red diesel and they wanted £1.14 per litre. This was the highest I had ever been quoted for domestic diesel, but I bought 44.65 litres for £50.70. The level in the tank went up from 280mm to 430mm. I carried on and stopped at High Line Yachting where there was an elsan disposal and water point. I discovered the office was closed although it was Monday. There was a hose which I pulled out and started to fill my water tank. While it was filling I read a small notice which said, “Don't use this hose for filling your water tank as it's used for pump out”. I was horrified, so had to drain all the water in the boat's tank by turning on the taps. It took ages, then refill the tank using my own hose pipe. When I tried to empty the cassettes I discovered my key would not fit the lock in the elsan room. It was a different lock than normal. Luckily I saw a lady in the yard and she had proper key and opened up for me. I dumped six rubbish bags in their skip so everything turned out alright in the end. I motored on and eventually tied up on a 7 day mooring at Alperton at Piggery Bridge.
Tuesday 22nd October 2013
I got out of bed only to discover it was raining again. It's so difficult to get motivated and start moving in the rain, but at about 10.30am left Alperton and motored for a couple of hours. The canal was lock free and I was the only boat on the move. Eventually reached Kensal Green and pulled into the bank between two boats on a 14 day mooring. I spoke to Jamie on the boat moored behind about the area and then decided to leave Annabel and go home for two weeks on Thursday.
Wednesday 23rd October 2013
I spent the morning cleaning, tidying and do some small repair jobs on the boat. I had to sponge some bilge water for the first time for ages. During the night there had been a cloud burst and even the cover didn't stop some water from reaching the bilge. After a short chat with Jamie on the boat astern I caught a number 52 London bus to the Albert Hall. I walked down Exhibition Road and saw Imperial College where I used to work. I thought I would just pop into the Science Museum for half an hour. I thought all museums were free in London but they ask for a £5 donation and there was a man standing by the entrance to make you feel guilty if you don't pay the £5, so I didn't bother going in. I then jumped on a 74 bus to Putney where I walked alongside the Thames past all the rowing clubs then looked at the house where my mother and I used to live, then walked across Putney and Barnes Common where I used to exercise my dogs. I then caught a 22 bus to Hyde Park Corner where I boarded a 52 bus and returned to Kensal Green and walked back to the boat.
Thursday 24th October
Fuel 400mm
Engine hours 769
I left some battery powered LED lights switched on, turned everything off, locked the boat and walked to the bus stop and at 9.30am caught a number 52 bus to Victoria where I bought an open return ticket to Southampton. The coach left at 10.30am. It arrived at Southampton Coach Station at 12.30pm. I caught the 1pm Red Funnel ferry for East Cowes, then caught a number 5 bus to Newport. I was indoors by 2.30pm after a good journey.
Sunday 27th October 2013
There was a hurricane force storm called St Jude being predicted
for Sunday night. I regretted coming home as I knew I would
be concerned about Annabel. I had given no one my number
but had put a notice in the window of the boat `any problems
with this boat text or ring xxxxxxxxxxxx ` I was thinking of returning
to Kensal Green just to check she was alright. On Sunday
Morning I got a text from Jamie saying Annabel had survived,
but the the lifeboat above had been adrift.
There was a hurricane force storm called St Jude being predicted
for Sunday night. I regretted coming home as I knew I would
be concerned about Annabel. I had given no one my number
but had put a notice in the window of the boat `any problems
with this boat text or ring xxxxxxxxxxxx ` I was thinking of returning
to Kensal Green just to check she was alright. On Sunday
Morning I got a text from Jamie saying Annabel had survived,
but the the lifeboat above had been adrift.
Total distance since starting 1000 miles
.......................................................................................................................................................................
The next day being a Sunday it was a slow start as there was no departure plan. After the two minute silence at 11am I rode my bike to Camden Market along the towpath. The market was packed with every nationality and cooked food was being offered from everywhere, but to me didn't appeal. Couldn't go any further so returned to Annabel, lit the fire and watched TV.
On the 23rd November I received a letter from The Canal/Trust telling me I had overstayed the on the 14 day mooring at Kensal Green so would be getting a £25 per day fine as from Monday 25th November if Annabel wasn't moved. I would have to pay in 28 days otherwise it would be put into the hands of a debt collecting agency.
.............................................................................................................................................................
Thursday 28th November 2013
Made the journey from the Isle of Wight to Kensal Green and found Annabel on her own with the Patrol Notice fixed to the boat with a plastic tie. It looked just like a Police Notice, done on purpose to scare the boat owner. It told me to move on otherwise I would be fined as from the preceding Monday.
I was soon on the move and helmed the boat along the canal and stopped outside the big Sainsbury store where I bought supplies and spent a very pleasant night.
Friday 29th November
Made a very late start and crept along the canal towards Little Venice and moored up after about a mile. I was in no rush. It was chilly so found a nice warm, cosy pub and made a pint of lager last for over two hours while I answered emails and added to blog.
Saturday 30th November to Saturday 7th December 2013
On Saturday moved Annabel towards Little Venice. There was a water point and elsan there. I needed water and toilet tanks needed emptying. On reaching the point I had to wait for another to finish and double berthed next to a moored craft. Eventually filled my near empty water tank, then had to move into Paddington Basin and turned round and motored back through Little Venice. There was no room to moor against the bank so I continued to bridge 3 and tied up. On the way met Doris who was a German student studying English. I invited her for a coffee on board and a chat. She could not find a native English speaker in London because these days everyone is foreign, so I was able help her with her English a little. She stayed for half an hour then left.
Later a trading boat came along and I tried to stop him to buy some diesel, but he was travelling too fast to stop. He told me Pete was following and I could buy from him. I saw Pete and waved to him and he came alongside. I had the diesel tank filled plus a 25 litre container for topping up. It`s very important to keep the tank level high in winter to prevent condensation in the tank. I also bought coal and kindling. The bill was £120 and Pete was charging 90p per litre for the diesel.
Two Muslim girls in veils and a young man came along the towpath and asked if they could look inside the boat. I invited them aboard and showed them around. They asked many questions and were very pleasant. I was pleased because on two previous occasioned, years before while cycling in London I had asked two Muslim ladies for directions they had both ignored me.
Later I lit the log fire, made something to eat and switched on the TV and the cabin became cosy and pleasant.
I remained in the same spot as it seemed safe and secure but there was graffiti on the walls, a bad sign. I spent my time cycling, walking, tidying the boat and keeping warm. By Thursday I decided to move Annabel along the canal to Sainsburys where there was a 4 hours mooring, enough to buy supplies. I left the boat and caught a bus to Shepherd`s Bush to have my glasses fixed in specsavers. The weather had turned colder and I couldn`t be bothered to move, so stayed overnight outside Sainsburys. There were no other boats there was plenty of room. Unfortunately there was a tap on the hull in the morning and a young warden warmed me I had exceeded my time as he noticed I was there yesterday. He was a reasonable man so I had a conversation with him and asked if he could recommend a place to moor so I could go home. He suggested Little Venice as there were some spaces. He told me Annabel wasn`t on their blacklist and the only reason they move people on was because the owners of boats who rent permanent moorings complain if boats with continuous cruising licences stay longer than they should on a visitors mooring.
I later motored back to Little Venice and found a space next to the bank on a 14 day mooring. I booked my coach home for the next day from Victoria. The next morning I had plenty of time to prepare the boat for up to 2 weeks away. Security is always an issue so I had rows of LED lights powered by batteries timed to light up at night to give the impression there`s somebody on board. A man was taking photographs and I spoke to him. His name was Dennis and he was from Germany. I invited him on board for a cup of tea. Like many Germans he spoke good English. He worked for a Japanese publication called Nikkei and was over in London for a Christmas party. Later I caught my bus to Victoria Coach Station and travelled home.
Fuel Tank : Full up 670mm Engine hours 785m
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Saturday 9th November to Saturday 16th November 2013
One week aboard
Annabel was moored near Ladbrook Grove in a line of other moored boats. It was a good place to be as there was bus and underground direct into central London. I had spent just over two weeks at home, so decided to return to Annabel and stay a week and perhaps move on somewhere else. I decided two weeks on Annabel was too much in the winter and a week would be more than enough.
I returned on Saturday 9th November and found her in perfect order and despite the windy wet weather the pegs were still securely in the bank. All I did was buy some supplies from Sainsburys, lit a log fire and settle down to watch the Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall.
The next day being a Sunday it was a slow start as there was no departure plan. After the two minute silence at 11am I rode my bike to Camden Market along the towpath. The market was packed with every nationality and cooked food was being offered from everywhere, but to me didn't appeal. Couldn't go any further so returned to Annabel, lit the fire and watched TV.
On Monday tidied the boat then explored the area but didn't find much of interest. It takes time to find out much about a new area. Jumped on a bus then later in the day met Nick Searle at Ladbrook Grove tube station. Nick is Ryde Mead`s tennis coach on the Isle of Wight, the club I belong to. He was on a compulsory two day tennis coaching course near Finchley. I invited him to stay overnight on Annabel. In the evening we watched the finals of the 02 tennis tournament at the millennium dome where Jochavitch beat Nadal in two sets. It was good to have Nick's company and in the morning he caught the tube back to Finchley.
It was such a good mooring area that it seemed a shame to move to another place. There didn't seem any pressure to do so. I will think about moving the next time I return to Annabel. I spent the next few days just living aboard, going shopping cycling mainly for exercise. The weather was getting colder and although the inside of a canal boat becomes cosy with the central heating on or the log fire burning, overnight it loses heat fast as the insulation is not as good as that of a house, so the nights and mornings can be chilly.
On the Saturday I closed down the boat, caught a bus to Victoria and then a coach to Portsmouth. I then boarded the Fast Catamaran to Ryde Pier, then a number 9 bus to Newport. I was home by 1.30pm.
Engine hours 777
Fuel 380mm
On the 23rd November I received a letter from The Canal/Trust telling me I had overstayed the on the 14 day mooring at Kensal Green so would be getting a £25 per day fine as from Monday 25th November if Annabel wasn't moved. I would have to pay in 28 days otherwise it would be put into the hands of a debt collecting agency.
I was disappointed as my one and a half year cruise of over a thousand miles without an overstay warning had come to and end. I sent a text to Jamie who was moored behind me and he had got one too.
I couldn't get back to move the boat on the Monday and was due to go back on Thursday. I decided to email the Enforcement Officer telling him why I had left Annabel for so long and asking for a couple of days grace before any fine is implemented.
The reason I left Annabel on the mooring so long was because a map issued by the Trust showed major works to bridges and locks in Camden starting 4th November. I thought the canal was going to be closed until December. I wonder if this was the case whether the Trust should compensate me for holding up my passage rather than threatening to fine me for waiting.
Made the journey from the Isle of Wight to Kensal Green and found Annabel on her own with the Patrol Notice fixed to the boat with a plastic tie. It looked just like a Police Notice, done on purpose to scare the boat owner. It told me to move on otherwise I would be fined as from the preceding Monday.
Friday 29th November
Made a very late start and crept along the canal towards Little Venice and moored up after about a mile. I was in no rush. It was chilly so found a nice warm, cosy pub and made a pint of lager last for over two hours while I answered emails and added to blog.
On Saturday moved Annabel towards Little Venice. There was a water point and elsan there. I needed water and toilet tanks needed emptying. On reaching the point I had to wait for another to finish and double berthed next to a moored craft. Eventually filled my near empty water tank, then had to move into Paddington Basin and turned round and motored back through Little Venice. There was no room to moor against the bank so I continued to bridge 3 and tied up. On the way met Doris who was a German student studying English. I invited her for a coffee on board and a chat. She could not find a native English speaker in London because these days everyone is foreign, so I was able help her with her English a little. She stayed for half an hour then left.
Two Muslim girls in veils and a young man came along the towpath and asked if they could look inside the boat. I invited them aboard and showed them around. They asked many questions and were very pleasant. I was pleased because on two previous occasioned, years before while cycling in London I had asked two Muslim ladies for directions they had both ignored me.
Later I lit the log fire, made something to eat and switched on the TV and the cabin became cosy and pleasant.
I remained in the same spot as it seemed safe and secure but there was graffiti on the walls, a bad sign. I spent my time cycling, walking, tidying the boat and keeping warm. By Thursday I decided to move Annabel along the canal to Sainsburys where there was a 4 hours mooring, enough to buy supplies. I left the boat and caught a bus to Shepherd`s Bush to have my glasses fixed in specsavers. The weather had turned colder and I couldn`t be bothered to move, so stayed overnight outside Sainsburys. There were no other boats there was plenty of room. Unfortunately there was a tap on the hull in the morning and a young warden warmed me I had exceeded my time as he noticed I was there yesterday. He was a reasonable man so I had a conversation with him and asked if he could recommend a place to moor so I could go home. He suggested Little Venice as there were some spaces. He told me Annabel wasn`t on their blacklist and the only reason they move people on was because the owners of boats who rent permanent moorings complain if boats with continuous cruising licences stay longer than they should on a visitors mooring.
Fuel Tank : Full up 670mm Engine hours 785m
I returned to Annabel at Little Venice in London. Craft there are allowed to double berth and I had another narrow boat tied up on the outside. I had received an email from the enforcement officer informing me that the locks and bridges at Camden would be opened on the 20th December and could I send an email when I leave. In the London area things are more strictly enforced than other areas, I have found out. I emailed the office and told them out of politeness where I would be leaving Annabel and when I would be back to continue my voyage.
I decided that it was going to be so near Christmas and there might be many boats passing through the locks so it might be better to wait for the New Year. However I had to move the boat to comply. Somewhere I had not been before. I went back along the canal and after 6 miles found a 14 day mooring at Greenford where there were spaces.
I tied up and decided to leave Annabel there until the beginning of January. I thought I would stay on board until Saturday, then go home. It wasn't too cold, just wet and windy. Thursday was a sunny day so cycled to Uxbridge, about 10 miles away. The town was full of Christmas shoppers and I was covered in mud from the ride along the towpath. By the time I got back it was nearly dark, the days are so short. Winter on a canal boat is fairly bleak.
I tied up and decided to leave Annabel there until the beginning of January. I thought I would stay on board until Saturday, then go home. It wasn't too cold, just wet and windy. Thursday was a sunny day so cycled to Uxbridge, about 10 miles away. The town was full of Christmas shoppers and I was covered in mud from the ride along the towpath. By the time I got back it was nearly dark, the days are so short. Winter on a canal boat is fairly bleak.
On Friday 20th December I decided to have a wander around London. Caught three buses and reached Hyde Park. Walked alongside the Serpentine then crossed into Kensington Garden. Walked to the Round Pond, where as a boy I used to catch sticklebacks and take them home in a jam jar. Alas no fishing allowed now and no sticklebacks to be seen. After looking at Princess Diane`s memorial garden I looked at Kensington Palace, then walked to Winter Wonderland ( big fair ) near Speakers Corner and just looked at the attractions. It was soon getting dark so I caught buses back. It took two hours to reach Greenford as it was rush hour. That night aboard Annabel I lit a coal fire and got ready to leave very early on Friday.
On Saturday, the shortest day I left Annabel before dawn, leaving LED battery powered lights to switch on at night, checked all the ropes and cockpit cover and made my way to Victoria and caught the next coach to Southampton, then the ferry to East Cowes. There was a gale blowing and the crossing was far from smooth, but it was good to be back on the Isle of Wight.
Fuel........620mm
Engine Hours.....791
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Tuesday 7th January 2014
I returned to Annabel after the Christmas break. She had been left for 18 days at Greenwood on the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal. It was dark when I arrived on the muddy towpath. She was exactly as I had left her, even the red cockpit cover was still in place, amazing after all the wind and rain there had been over the Christmas period. The water levels in the canals usually don't change very much at the water is controlled by locks. After unpacking, running the engine for 45 minutes ( it started first time ) I watched television then went to bed with a hot water bottle.
Wednesday 8th January 2014
I left Greenford and headed west until I reached High Line Yachting yard where I stopped and filled up with water and emptied the sanitary tanks. I carried on and stopped at a park but never discovered what it was called. I chopped some wood for the fire, then went for a walk. Later I motored on I came to Bulls Bridge, where I tied up outside Tesco. I stocked up on food and stayed overnight.
Thursday 9th January 2014
Remained at the mooring all day as didn't wake up until 10am. I then prepared my cycle and rode to along the towpath (6 miles) to Brentford. I gave my Aunt Joyce a ring and arranged to travel to Fulham on Friday. After returning to Annabel I decided to take the bus to Hayes Town and bought a few useful items in the 99p shop, returning to the boat at dusk and spending the evening aboard cooking, reading and watching the news on TV.
Friday 10th January 2014
Left the boat where she was and prepared to cycle to Fulham to see Aunt Joyce. I set off along the towpath at 9.30am and arrived at her house at 11.30am. It took along time because the towpath to Brentford was so waterlogged I had to keep my speed down otherwise I could have finished up in the canal. Aunt Joyce is 95 years old and is remarkable because she has the brain and conversation of a much younger person. We discussed many topics and and she told me the story of when the house was bombed and my mother and her family were inside. Luckily they all survived. I spent a couple of hours chatting with Joyce then cycled back to the boat and arrived long after dark because the batteries in my sat nav failed and I lost my way. It didn't matter because I had all the time in the world.
Saturday 11th January 2014
Had an easy day just cleaning Annabel and staying on the mooring. It was only a 24 hour mooring but there was plenty of space and no body to tell me to move. Life on the canal in winter can be so unstressed and relaxed. You are close to London with millions of people, so much traffic with wardens waiting to pounce on you if you park for too long in your car, but the canals are virtually deserted with no one moving and few people to bother you.
Woke up and the cabin was cold, I looked at the thermometer and it was 5C in the cabin but a beautiful sunny start to the day. I decided to move Annabel and got organised and left Bull's Bridge and slowly cruised towards Uxbridge. It was cold but good to be on the move. After a couple of hours I reached Cowley and tied up just before Cowley Lock on the 7 day moorings. Later I cycled along the towpath to see where I could leave Annabel for 14 days and go home on Wednesday. There were plenty of places so there would not be a problem. Later I caught a 222 bus into Uxbridge Town and wandered around the shops returning later and lighting a roaring log fire and spent a cosy evening on board.
Monday 13th January 2014
Spent a quiet day at Cowley doing a few repair jobs on the boat. I spotted a space, just vacated by another boat the other side of the lock and bridge on the Northern Cowley Visitors 14 day Moorings. It was a good place because there are bank rings to tie the mooring warps to. Saves banging pegs into a wet soft bank that could come out while the boat is left. I took Annabel through the lock and secured her to the bank.
Tuesday 14th January 2014
In the morning I wrote down a list of jobs to keep me busy. They included cleaning a little water from the engine bilge, checking the tightness of the bolts on the sterntube, checking the gearbox oil. Also topping up the fuel tank with diesel from the spare container to keep it full. Emptying rubbish and cassettes and all this work took me most of the morning. When everything was finished to my satisfaction I cycled into Uxbridge and bought a few items of food and asked about buses to Victoria to catch tomorrow. I had an interesting conversation with Fred who I met in the town. A man of 84 years who was fit, slim and looked twenty years younger. I then hunted for a leisure centre and found one on the outskirts of town where I enquired the price to use their Health Suit (sauna,steam room and spa ) which was £6. Returned to the boat to get my bathing shorts and towel just as my front bike tyre disintegrated from wear and tear. Later I took the bus back to the leisure centre and spent an enjoyable evening getting clean, fresh and warm. I was told by another man that all the men have to be out at 8pm because it's then ladies night. He said it's because Muslim women want to swim and must not be seen by any man except their husband and they also swim in their black robes. I tried to imagine all these ladies trying to swim in black with just their eyes showing. I decided he was just exaggerating and pulling my leg. I left the complex before eight and returned to the boat.
Wednesday 15th January 2014
I was booked on the 12.30pm National Express to Southampton. I had to travel on three buses to reach Victoria so gave myself plenty of time. The 12.30pm coach was not full and the traffic was not heavy so I arrived at Southampton coach station ten minutes early enabling me to catch the 3pm ferry to East Cowes. I was indoors by 5.45pm.
Information
Engine Hours 801
Fuel was 580mm
Topped up to 620mm ( full tank ) with approximate 14 litres from spare container.
The hours since last oil change was 92
Cost of diesel is £1.20 per hours cruising.
Photographs from January week aboard Annabel
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Thursday 30th January 2014
Two weeks and one day after leaving leaving Annabel at Uxbridge I returned by bus-ferry-coach-bus-bus-bus. The National Express stopped at Hamersmith so I got off there.The driver wasn`t too happy as he wasn`t supposed to unload luggage. I found my way to Hamersmith Broadway Bus Station and caught a bus to Shepheard`s Bush, then a 607 express bus to Uxbridge. At Uxbridge jumped on a 222 and got off at Cowley.
I found Annabel just as I had left her but the rear cover had a big depression containing water. In the preceeding two weeks there had been so much rain, in fact it had been the wettest January since records began. I unpacked my luggage, lit a fire. started the engine and sorted out items of non-perishable food left from my last visit for a meal. Later watched some TV then retired to bed with a hot water bottle.
Friday 31st January 2014
Made my way into Uxbridge bought some supplies then returned to the boat. At about 1pm with a heavy grey sky I left the mooring. I could not turn round so had to motor about a mile into Uxbridge to find a winding hole. It was difficult in the strong wind to turn and I clipped another boat in the process of turning. I then headed back into the gale and rain, through Cowley Lock and after an hour and a half reached Bull's Bridge and the Tesco mooring. It took me three attempts to moor in the wind each time finishing up on the other side of the canal. eventually managed it and tied up securely.
Saturday 1st February 2014
It started a beautiful cold sunny morning. I left Bull`s Bridge at 9.30am and headed along the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal. The wind blew up and it clouded over for a while. It was a long lock free cruise. I stopped and filled up with water and continued passed Kensal Green and Little Venice. I went into Paddington Basin to find an overnight mooring spot, but every where was taken. I turned and proceeded along the Regent`s Canal, passing London Zoo. All the moorings were taken and although there was plenty of bank it was all concrete so no way of securing the boat. I reached Camden and it was getting dark and I did not want to go through the lock until morning. There was so much activity in the market, cafes and restaurants and revellers everywhere. There were two locks and one of the locks was padlocked so I moored in front of the gate. It was a good place as I was isolated from the revellers, but the noise continued into the small hours.
Sunday 2nd February 2014
It was very quiet on the Sunday morning after the night before so I left early and passed through Hampstead Road Lock, Hawley Lock, Kentish Town Lock and St. Pancras Lock. I soon came to Islington Tunnel which was 960 yards long and followed a broadbeam boat ( a broadbeam is a boat usually twice the width of a narrowboat ) into the tunnel. They were very slow and kept hitting the tunnel sides. I wondered if a broadbeam is difficult to steer or they were just inexperienced. Broadbeams look ungainly and have a restricted cruising area, but great accommodation. I had to creep behind them not getting too close. Eventually reached the eastern entrance and then had to follow the broadbeam through 3 more locks. City Road Lock, Sturt`s Lock and Acton`s Lock. Although the broadbeam had a crew of three they did not bother to close the gates or wind the paddles down on the lower gates after passing through. So I had to do it and was rather annoyed at their lack of good manners. I started to look for a mooring place but nearly every space was taken or it was just concrete. I then spied a piece of grass by the bank where there was room and I could hammer pegs in. I located myself at De Beauvoir Town about 25 canal miles from Uxbridge. I went to the shops near Angel Underground Station and bought a new front tyre for my bike, then prepared the log burner for a cold evening.
Engine Hours 816 Fuel 560mm
Monday 3rd February 2014
Had a lazy start to the day drinking several cups of tea. Afterwards vacuumed and tidied up the boat, then went for a cycle ride along the towpath to see what lay ahead. I went past Victoria Park and carried on towards Limehouse Basin where the River Thames can be entered. It was very quiet and there was work going on at the Thames Lock. There were 24 hour mooring by the lock for boats waiting to enter the tidal Thames. Anyone wanting to pass through the lock has to report to the office and get a locking out time. They also ask boats to carry an anchor and VHF radio. After noting all these things I cycled back along the Regent`s Canal and then along the Hertford Union Canal. It`s only one and a quarter miles long and was build in 1830. It`s very straight and is a connection between the Regents Canal and the River Lee. I was looking for mooring places. There was nothing by Victoria Park, but plenty on the River Lee by Hackney Marshes. I did a little shopping and returned to Annabel for more tea and food.
Tuesday 4th February 2014
I moved Annabel from her place at De Beauvoir Town and headed towards Victoria Park. It`s the biggest park in East London. There were still no mooring spaces a adjacent to the park so I carried on passing through two locks, the second one being Old Ford Lock where there were two volunteer lock keepers. I almost immediately made a left right angle turn onto the Hereford Union Canal. On this canal there were three locks and where it joined the River Lee Navigation the Olympic Stadium ( main site of the London 2013 Olympics) came into view. I made a left turn and continued along the River Lee until I came to Hackney Marsh where I moored up and spent the next two days.
Wednesday 5th February 2014
The night was windy, near gale force and the boat had some movement, but I had deployed fender buoys between the boat and the bank so movement wasn`t too alarming. I went out for a cycle ride to Tottenham Hale and found a sanitary station and water point and decided I could leave the boat there and go home eventually. There was also a direct underground to Victoria where I could catch a coach to Southampton. So decided to move the boat there on Friday.
Thursday 6th February 2014
I found Hackney library where I could sit and type up my blog. The computers were slow but there were not too many silly restrictions on their use like you find in some libraries. Later I found a leisure Centre where I spent the afternoon swimming and then sitting in the sauna and steam room getting clean, fresh and warm, also chatting to the other men doing the same as me.
Friday 7th February 2014
Monday 10th February 2014
Thursday 30th January 2014
Two weeks and one day after leaving leaving Annabel at Uxbridge I returned by bus-ferry-coach-bus-bus-bus. The National Express stopped at Hamersmith so I got off there.The driver wasn`t too happy as he wasn`t supposed to unload luggage. I found my way to Hamersmith Broadway Bus Station and caught a bus to Shepheard`s Bush, then a 607 express bus to Uxbridge. At Uxbridge jumped on a 222 and got off at Cowley.
I found Annabel just as I had left her but the rear cover had a big depression containing water. In the preceeding two weeks there had been so much rain, in fact it had been the wettest January since records began. I unpacked my luggage, lit a fire. started the engine and sorted out items of non-perishable food left from my last visit for a meal. Later watched some TV then retired to bed with a hot water bottle.
Friday 31st January 2014
Made my way into Uxbridge bought some supplies then returned to the boat. At about 1pm with a heavy grey sky I left the mooring. I could not turn round so had to motor about a mile into Uxbridge to find a winding hole. It was difficult in the strong wind to turn and I clipped another boat in the process of turning. I then headed back into the gale and rain, through Cowley Lock and after an hour and a half reached Bull's Bridge and the Tesco mooring. It took me three attempts to moor in the wind each time finishing up on the other side of the canal. eventually managed it and tied up securely.
Saturday 1st February 2014
It started a beautiful cold sunny morning. I left Bull`s Bridge at 9.30am and headed along the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal. The wind blew up and it clouded over for a while. It was a long lock free cruise. I stopped and filled up with water and continued passed Kensal Green and Little Venice. I went into Paddington Basin to find an overnight mooring spot, but every where was taken. I turned and proceeded along the Regent`s Canal, passing London Zoo. All the moorings were taken and although there was plenty of bank it was all concrete so no way of securing the boat. I reached Camden and it was getting dark and I did not want to go through the lock until morning. There was so much activity in the market, cafes and restaurants and revellers everywhere. There were two locks and one of the locks was padlocked so I moored in front of the gate. It was a good place as I was isolated from the revellers, but the noise continued into the small hours.
 |
| A half submerged cabin cruiser. Neglected over the winter |
It was very quiet on the Sunday morning after the night before so I left early and passed through Hampstead Road Lock, Hawley Lock, Kentish Town Lock and St. Pancras Lock. I soon came to Islington Tunnel which was 960 yards long and followed a broadbeam boat ( a broadbeam is a boat usually twice the width of a narrowboat ) into the tunnel. They were very slow and kept hitting the tunnel sides. I wondered if a broadbeam is difficult to steer or they were just inexperienced. Broadbeams look ungainly and have a restricted cruising area, but great accommodation. I had to creep behind them not getting too close. Eventually reached the eastern entrance and then had to follow the broadbeam through 3 more locks. City Road Lock, Sturt`s Lock and Acton`s Lock. Although the broadbeam had a crew of three they did not bother to close the gates or wind the paddles down on the lower gates after passing through. So I had to do it and was rather annoyed at their lack of good manners. I started to look for a mooring place but nearly every space was taken or it was just concrete. I then spied a piece of grass by the bank where there was room and I could hammer pegs in. I located myself at De Beauvoir Town about 25 canal miles from Uxbridge. I went to the shops near Angel Underground Station and bought a new front tyre for my bike, then prepared the log burner for a cold evening.
Engine Hours 816 Fuel 560mm
Had a lazy start to the day drinking several cups of tea. Afterwards vacuumed and tidied up the boat, then went for a cycle ride along the towpath to see what lay ahead. I went past Victoria Park and carried on towards Limehouse Basin where the River Thames can be entered. It was very quiet and there was work going on at the Thames Lock. There were 24 hour mooring by the lock for boats waiting to enter the tidal Thames. Anyone wanting to pass through the lock has to report to the office and get a locking out time. They also ask boats to carry an anchor and VHF radio. After noting all these things I cycled back along the Regent`s Canal and then along the Hertford Union Canal. It`s only one and a quarter miles long and was build in 1830. It`s very straight and is a connection between the Regents Canal and the River Lee. I was looking for mooring places. There was nothing by Victoria Park, but plenty on the River Lee by Hackney Marshes. I did a little shopping and returned to Annabel for more tea and food.
I moved Annabel from her place at De Beauvoir Town and headed towards Victoria Park. It`s the biggest park in East London. There were still no mooring spaces a adjacent to the park so I carried on passing through two locks, the second one being Old Ford Lock where there were two volunteer lock keepers. I almost immediately made a left right angle turn onto the Hereford Union Canal. On this canal there were three locks and where it joined the River Lee Navigation the Olympic Stadium ( main site of the London 2013 Olympics) came into view. I made a left turn and continued along the River Lee until I came to Hackney Marsh where I moored up and spent the next two days.
The night was windy, near gale force and the boat had some movement, but I had deployed fender buoys between the boat and the bank so movement wasn`t too alarming. I went out for a cycle ride to Tottenham Hale and found a sanitary station and water point and decided I could leave the boat there and go home eventually. There was also a direct underground to Victoria where I could catch a coach to Southampton. So decided to move the boat there on Friday.
Thursday 6th February 2014
I found Hackney library where I could sit and type up my blog. The computers were slow but there were not too many silly restrictions on their use like you find in some libraries. Later I found a leisure Centre where I spent the afternoon swimming and then sitting in the sauna and steam room getting clean, fresh and warm, also chatting to the other men doing the same as me.
Friday 7th February 2014
I left Hackney Marshes and motored along the river upstream. I didn't realise how strong the downstream flow had become. When I arrived at Lea Bridge the river had become narrower with bends and the flow increased and Annabel was hardly moving forward on full throttle. I became a little anxious thinking what would happen if the engine faltered as there was a huge angry weir pool on my right. Very slowly she edged forward and as the width of the river widened progress slowly increased. As I approached Tottenham Lock I could see a fast flowing weir below the lock flowing into the river with churned up water and whirlpools. I decided to pull into the bank and wait for the river level to go down. The fast flowing water was the result of heavy rain the previous day but after two hours I noticed the water level and the strength of the flow easing significantly. I then proceeded into Tottenham lock and tied up to the bank between two other narrowboats where the water was calm and it was sheltered.
I spoke to Spencer who lived on the boat in front. He had been living and cruising on his boat for a year and now wanted to buy a house. He had put his boat up for sale on well known site called Apollo Duck. You only have to pay for the advertisement and although his boat had only just been advertised, his first viewing was taking place the next day, so he was busy cleaning his boat. It was a smart 45 footer and he was asking in the region of 49K.
I topped up the fuel tank with the spare diesel I had in the container, then I emptied the two elsen tanks one at a time by strapping them on to the rear carrier of my bike and riding to the next lock where there was a sanitary station. I made two journeys and got rid of the rubbish at the same time.
Engine hours 824
Fuel before top up 535mm. After top up it was 585mm
Saturday/Sunday 8th and 9th February 2014
Saturday/Sunday 8th and 9th February 2014
I decided the stay put and and just lived on the boat for the next two days very close to Tottenham Hale. I spent my time cycling, walking, tidying up and cleaning the boat. On Saturday night the wind was gusting to storm force and Annabel was jerking, rocking a little and was hitting the bank sometimes. In the morning I put some more big fender buoys between the boat and the bank to cushion the impact. By Sunday PM the wind had become gently and the sun was shinning for a while.
Monday 10th February 2014
Travelled to Victoria coach Station and caught the 9.30am coach to Southampton. The roads were quiet and I managed to catch the mid day ferry for Cowes. Unexpectedly met my friend Brad on board and we travelled together and he gave me a lift to Newport. Was indoors by 2pm.
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Sunday 23rd February 2014
I decided to return to Annabel in the evening and travelled on the 7.30pm ferry to Southampton, then the 9.30 coach to London, Victoria. The coach was early so I quickly walked to Victoria Bus Station and straight away caught an N73 night bus to Tottenham Hale. Arrived in pitch darkness on the towpath and found Annabel as I`d left her and stepped aboard at 12.45am. Everything was fine except the rear cockpit cover had been dislodged by the high winds and was flapping wildly. After a bit of organisation went to bed and slept until morning. During my time at home I had had to pay for my licence which is valid for a year. For Annabel it costs £805 and allows me to cruise around the network on most canals and rivers. It includes moorings and water. I also had to pay for my breakdown cover but instead of taking out Gold membership I took out Silver for £165. I did this because I was disappointed with their help the last time I had to use them near Rugby. My insurance was also due and had reduced to £126 as I had made no claims. I rang the insurance company and asked if I was covered for the tidal Thames. They informed me I was and could go as far as the Thames barrier. I also wanted to know if I was covered when I leave the boat for two weeks and go home, in case of break in. They told me I was fully covered. As I put £170 away each month into a boat account this more than covers these annual costs.
Monday 24th February 2014
Woke up with the sunshine beaming through the cabin portholes. There were jobs to do so after breakfast I walked into Tottenham Hale and purchased a piece of carpet for £20 for the narrow passage of the bedroom to cover up the dismal green lino. I quickly laid the carpet with excellent results. I then chopped many logs for the fire, the sponged half a bucket of water from the bilge. After a the messy job of refilling the sterntube greaser, I went shopping. All these jobs took up most of the day. In the evening I watched TV and didn`t light the fire because I was warm, but by 8.30pm I wished I had as I was cold, but it seemed too late to bother.
Tuesday 25th February 2014
During the night it rained hard with a strong wind and the rear cover detached itself on one side and I could hear it flapping all night. In the morning the first thing I did was secure it. It was a wet miserable morning but the temperature in the cabin was a respectable 11C. I decided just to continue with on board jobs. I tidied the rear locker, hung more horse brasses and photos in frames I had taken, mainly of canal artwork I`d seen on other narrowboats. Later I went into town and bought some suitable interlocking flooring for the bathroom. The floor was an odd shape so it took me a long time cutting the bits to shape and by the time I was tired I had not finished.
Wednesday 26th February 2014
As I was shortly coming up to my canal cruising second anniversity I decided to see where I was this time last year. I discovered I was at Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax in Yorkshire. I was trying to get south but being handicapped by canal and river closures. The canal had frozen and I could not make up my mind whether to go along the Huddersfield Canal or the Rochdale. Eventually I used the Rochdale.
The weather was Sunny and not too cold. I decided to finish the bathroom floor. I had to visit B&Q again to buy some filler. I also tried to find the library to write up some blog, but the only allowed guests half an hour so didn`t think it was worth waiting. I also found the leisure centre but they didn`t have a Health Suite, so much for the facilities in Tottenham I thought. Later that evening the starboard gas cylinder ran out, so had to switch to the port cylinder. I was amazed how long a cylinder of propane gas lasts
Thursday 27th February 2014
I decided to get filled up with water at the sanitary station above the next lock. I motored along and went through the lock. No windlasses required it was all operated with buttons. After leaving the lock I tried to moor up on the left where the water point was located. I had a strong wind behind me and try as I might I could not get Annabel into the bank. Rather than hit a moored craft I carried on and moored up further along the canal at Tottenham Marshes. I decided to see what lay ahead and cycled to Enfield lock to see if I could find another tap. Two were marked on the map but they were no longer there. The map was a few years old. On returning to Annabel I turned her round and headed back to the water point. This time the wind was on the nose of the boat so she would be easier to control. I moored up with difficulty as the wind was blowing Annabel away from the bank. Easy to do with a crew but difficult on your own. It took an hour to fill the tank with water as the pressure was low, but I emptied the cassettes and disposed of the rubbish. I then headed back through the lock and moored up near the mooring I had left that morning. I walked into town and found an internet cafe where I could type up my blog.
Friday 28th February 2014
I just stayed where I was at Tottenham Hale and spent my time on minor jobs, like cleaning the outside of the boat, shopping, walking into town. It`s surprising how many things there are to do when you are on your own.
Saturday 1st March 2014
Engine hours 835 since starting two years ago.
Fuel 545 mm in tank
Turned Annabel round by the lock as she was facing the wrong way, then headed north passing first through Stonebridge Lock, then later through Pickets Lock. During my passage through the lock I opened the paddle too quickly and the flow of water was too much. Before I could stop her, Annabel hit the side of the lock. I heard a noise below and later discovered my old school clock had been thrown off the the wall and smashed to pieces. All the way along this stretch of the River Lee there were huge reservoirs on the right holding 15% of London`s water supply. Eventually reached Ponders End Lock, then on to Enfield Lock. The visitors moorings were just below the lock so I tied Annabel up for the night. While doing so my right foot went down a hole and I hurt my big toe and grazed my knee and I found it difficult to walk for a while. There was a marina across the river called Enfield Marina. I walked over and enquired about using their dry dock so I could blacken the under water part of the hull. As usual they were booked up until May and their charges were £70 per day`s use. Was also told in a dry dock you can`t get underneath to do the bottom of the hull. Later someone told me the bottom of the hull dosen`t rust as there`s no oxygen down there so there`s no need to blacken it. However I think I would still like to make sure and paint the whole hull(thought water was H 2 O )
Sunday 2nd March 2014
Moved from Enfield Lock to Rammey Marsh Lock which wasn`t very far. The weather was very windy and it was coming from behind. I had a moment of panic while entering Enfield Lock as I though the log burner flue (chimney) was going to be knocked over by the very low bridge. I couldn`t stop the boat with the wind pushing her forward, but it passed under with 2 mm to spare. I moored up for the night and walked into the historic town of Waltham Abbey but it was nearly dark so I returned to Annabel and lit the log burner and watched TV.
Monday 3rd March 2014
Stayed secure against the bank below Rammey Lock all day. Although the day began with brilliant Spring sunshine soon it was raining with hailstones. I decided to go sightseeing around London on the buses.
Tuesday 4th March 2014
The weather had changed and it felt cold in the cabin in the morning, despite the cabin beings very warm the night before. I looked at the thermometer and it was 4C. Although it was brilliant sunshine outside Annabel was covered in thick frost. I began the day early and took Annabel into Rammey Lock. I had to be so careful as everything was slippery and so it took a long time. After passing through the lock I stopped at the Narrowboat Cafe where there were facilities. I topped up with water, emptied the cassettes and also saw a Jewson`s store so bought a 13kg propane gas cylinder for £25.05. After everything was sorted, I went through Waltham Town Lock and tied up to the bank upstream of the lock.. I then cycled along the towpath for 5 miles to see what lay ahead. It got cloudy and cold so after reaching Bloxbourne turned round and came back. Had a few conversations with people on the towpath about transport in the area. Later cycled to Waltham Cross Bus Station where I found a bus that I could catch towards central London.
Wednesday 5th March 2014
Another chilly morning so it was a slow start. I cycled into Waltham Abbey and found a big Tesco store where I did my shopping. Afterwards visited the local library and spent an hour typing and updating my blog and was pleased with the help I received after my last bad experience in the Tottenham library which I made a complaint about. I later bought some carpet pieces for Annabel to improve the floor space. In the afternoon cycled to Stanstead Abbot Marina where I asked about blackening the hull. The boat has to be craned out, placed on wooden supports, washed down and painted with three coats of bitumen paint. This is to protect the steel hull from corrosion. It has to be done about every two to three years and Annabel was blackened in November 2011. I asked many questions about how they tackle it and whether they do underneath. The answers I got satisfied me and they gave me a bit of time to explain things, but they couldn`t do it until May. I was just about to walk out when they found a slot on the 24th March, so I booked Annabel in as it would give me time to return home for a couple of weeks before taking the boat up stream to the Marina which is a day`s cruise away. The cost was high, 1K including VAT. I had been quoted half the price at Braunston but that was in dry dock and so probably the underneath wasn`t coated. It was also exactly two years that I moved onto Annabel at Wilton Marina when David and Jackie drove me there with all my bits and left me to begin my voyage.
Thursday 6th March 2014
Had a quiet day and booked my coach home, chopped some more wood then walked to Walham Cross and caught a bus towards central London and had a walk around Hyde Park. Bought a cup of coffee then returned by bus to the boat.
Friday 7th March, Saturday 8th March, Sunday 9th March 2014
Just spent my time doing various activities and domestic boat chores. The forecast for the weekend was good with maybe a taste of Spring. On Sunday travelled back home and closed down Annabel for nearly two weeks just above Waltham Town Lock which is just north of the M25 motorway.
Engine Hours 844 since starting
Fuel 525mm
I travelled to Blandford Forum to meet my son Richard and borrow his VHF radio which is a requirement for travelling along the Tidal River Thames from Limehouse to Brentford or Teddington Lock. Another requirement is an anchor which I have on the boat. It was good to see Richard and his house again and the improvements he had made. He took me out for a Nepalese meal in the evening.
The next day I travelled to Salisbury and caught the coach to London, then by bus to Waltham Cross and reached Annabel at 9.30pm. She was in good order and just as I had left her two weeks before.
Saturday 22nd March 2014
I bought supplies of food then left the mooring place and cruised north along the River Lee passing through Waltham Common Lock, Cheshunt Lock, Aqueduct Lock and eventually arrived at Crown Bridge at Broxbourne
Sunday 23rd March 2014
Departed from Crown Bridge and passed through Carthagena Lock, then Dobb`s Weir Lock and stopped at a water point and elsen disposal at Feild`s Lock. When I was trying to moor up a face appeared at an opening in the side of a moored boat opposite and the person was staring at me and laughing uncontrollably. She was either drunk or mad and her laughter made no sense. There was just nothing to laugh about. She reminded me of Heathcliff and his mad wife locked in the tower from the book Wuthering Heights. I filled up the near empty water tank and emptied the two cassettes. By this time the women from the boat opposite appeared normal and was smoking a cigarette. A man dressed as a Roman Soldier was walking along the towpath. I asked him if he was in fancy dress. He explained he was practising for a sponsored walk in May 2014 from Pompeil to Rome and raising money for `Combat Stress` and `Medecins Sans Frontieres` I gave him a donation then untied continued upstream past the entrance to the River Stort and moored opposite Lee Valley Marina, near Stanstead Abbots/ St. Margarets where Annabel was being hauled out on Monday and having her lower hull painted black.
Monday 24th March 2014
It was a cold night and in the morning it was so misty it was difficult to see across the river. I had to present Annabel at the yard for crane out. I had no idea what time, but I thought I ought to be there by 9am. I slowly motored over in the mist and tied up. I soon learned there was a backlog of work so they would have to haul her out on Tuesday (tomorrow) The best laid plans always go wrong, I thought. I paid my crane fees for the haul out and return to the water. I then caught the bus to Waltham Cross and tried to get my mobile phone repaired, but in vain. I also needed a £20 deposit for a marina key and a few other items. I caught the bus back to the marina but it was rush hour and it took so long that the gates of the marina were closed shut when I arrived. Luckily after ten minutes a car came out and I was able get in and to my boat.
Tuesday 25th March 2014
I think it`s going to be one of those hanging around days. I went to the marina office, paid my £20 returnable deposit and was given a key for the main gate. I was assured they would be lifting Annabel that day, so I kept my fingers crossed. They had to lift another boat first and put her back in the water. There was great activity at first with men rushing around and the crane`s engine was started, but alas it didn`t last long, the engine noise ceased and everyone disappeared. I couldn`t help thinking as to why they just can`t get on with things, no wonder everything costs so much, but I expect it was tea break time. By 11am it was all go again. The boat was lifted off the trailer, deposited in the water, then it was Annabel`s turn. I got off the boat several men dragged her into position, the strops were looped underneath the hull, attached to the crane and she was lifted and placed on a trailer. I had never seen the hull below the waterline before. It was a little slimy with weed growth, but not too bad the men told me. The hull was scrapped and then power washed as it`s best to do this when the boat is first taken out of the water.
Sunday 23rd February 2014
I decided to return to Annabel in the evening and travelled on the 7.30pm ferry to Southampton, then the 9.30 coach to London, Victoria. The coach was early so I quickly walked to Victoria Bus Station and straight away caught an N73 night bus to Tottenham Hale. Arrived in pitch darkness on the towpath and found Annabel as I`d left her and stepped aboard at 12.45am. Everything was fine except the rear cockpit cover had been dislodged by the high winds and was flapping wildly. After a bit of organisation went to bed and slept until morning. During my time at home I had had to pay for my licence which is valid for a year. For Annabel it costs £805 and allows me to cruise around the network on most canals and rivers. It includes moorings and water. I also had to pay for my breakdown cover but instead of taking out Gold membership I took out Silver for £165. I did this because I was disappointed with their help the last time I had to use them near Rugby. My insurance was also due and had reduced to £126 as I had made no claims. I rang the insurance company and asked if I was covered for the tidal Thames. They informed me I was and could go as far as the Thames barrier. I also wanted to know if I was covered when I leave the boat for two weeks and go home, in case of break in. They told me I was fully covered. As I put £170 away each month into a boat account this more than covers these annual costs.
Monday 24th February 2014
Woke up with the sunshine beaming through the cabin portholes. There were jobs to do so after breakfast I walked into Tottenham Hale and purchased a piece of carpet for £20 for the narrow passage of the bedroom to cover up the dismal green lino. I quickly laid the carpet with excellent results. I then chopped many logs for the fire, the sponged half a bucket of water from the bilge. After a the messy job of refilling the sterntube greaser, I went shopping. All these jobs took up most of the day. In the evening I watched TV and didn`t light the fire because I was warm, but by 8.30pm I wished I had as I was cold, but it seemed too late to bother.
During the night it rained hard with a strong wind and the rear cover detached itself on one side and I could hear it flapping all night. In the morning the first thing I did was secure it. It was a wet miserable morning but the temperature in the cabin was a respectable 11C. I decided just to continue with on board jobs. I tidied the rear locker, hung more horse brasses and photos in frames I had taken, mainly of canal artwork I`d seen on other narrowboats. Later I went into town and bought some suitable interlocking flooring for the bathroom. The floor was an odd shape so it took me a long time cutting the bits to shape and by the time I was tired I had not finished.
Wednesday 26th February 2014As I was shortly coming up to my canal cruising second anniversity I decided to see where I was this time last year. I discovered I was at Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax in Yorkshire. I was trying to get south but being handicapped by canal and river closures. The canal had frozen and I could not make up my mind whether to go along the Huddersfield Canal or the Rochdale. Eventually I used the Rochdale.
The weather was Sunny and not too cold. I decided to finish the bathroom floor. I had to visit B&Q again to buy some filler. I also tried to find the library to write up some blog, but the only allowed guests half an hour so didn`t think it was worth waiting. I also found the leisure centre but they didn`t have a Health Suite, so much for the facilities in Tottenham I thought. Later that evening the starboard gas cylinder ran out, so had to switch to the port cylinder. I was amazed how long a cylinder of propane gas lasts
Thursday 27th February 2014
I decided to get filled up with water at the sanitary station above the next lock. I motored along and went through the lock. No windlasses required it was all operated with buttons. After leaving the lock I tried to moor up on the left where the water point was located. I had a strong wind behind me and try as I might I could not get Annabel into the bank. Rather than hit a moored craft I carried on and moored up further along the canal at Tottenham Marshes. I decided to see what lay ahead and cycled to Enfield lock to see if I could find another tap. Two were marked on the map but they were no longer there. The map was a few years old. On returning to Annabel I turned her round and headed back to the water point. This time the wind was on the nose of the boat so she would be easier to control. I moored up with difficulty as the wind was blowing Annabel away from the bank. Easy to do with a crew but difficult on your own. It took an hour to fill the tank with water as the pressure was low, but I emptied the cassettes and disposed of the rubbish. I then headed back through the lock and moored up near the mooring I had left that morning. I walked into town and found an internet cafe where I could type up my blog.
Friday 28th February 2014
I just stayed where I was at Tottenham Hale and spent my time on minor jobs, like cleaning the outside of the boat, shopping, walking into town. It`s surprising how many things there are to do when you are on your own.
Saturday 1st March 2014
Engine hours 835 since starting two years ago.
Fuel 545 mm in tank
Turned Annabel round by the lock as she was facing the wrong way, then headed north passing first through Stonebridge Lock, then later through Pickets Lock. During my passage through the lock I opened the paddle too quickly and the flow of water was too much. Before I could stop her, Annabel hit the side of the lock. I heard a noise below and later discovered my old school clock had been thrown off the the wall and smashed to pieces. All the way along this stretch of the River Lee there were huge reservoirs on the right holding 15% of London`s water supply. Eventually reached Ponders End Lock, then on to Enfield Lock. The visitors moorings were just below the lock so I tied Annabel up for the night. While doing so my right foot went down a hole and I hurt my big toe and grazed my knee and I found it difficult to walk for a while. There was a marina across the river called Enfield Marina. I walked over and enquired about using their dry dock so I could blacken the under water part of the hull. As usual they were booked up until May and their charges were £70 per day`s use. Was also told in a dry dock you can`t get underneath to do the bottom of the hull. Later someone told me the bottom of the hull dosen`t rust as there`s no oxygen down there so there`s no need to blacken it. However I think I would still like to make sure and paint the whole hull(thought water was H 2 O )
Sunday 2nd March 2014Monday 3rd March 2014
Stayed secure against the bank below Rammey Lock all day. Although the day began with brilliant Spring sunshine soon it was raining with hailstones. I decided to go sightseeing around London on the buses.
The weather had changed and it felt cold in the cabin in the morning, despite the cabin beings very warm the night before. I looked at the thermometer and it was 4C. Although it was brilliant sunshine outside Annabel was covered in thick frost. I began the day early and took Annabel into Rammey Lock. I had to be so careful as everything was slippery and so it took a long time. After passing through the lock I stopped at the Narrowboat Cafe where there were facilities. I topped up with water, emptied the cassettes and also saw a Jewson`s store so bought a 13kg propane gas cylinder for £25.05. After everything was sorted, I went through Waltham Town Lock and tied up to the bank upstream of the lock.. I then cycled along the towpath for 5 miles to see what lay ahead. It got cloudy and cold so after reaching Bloxbourne turned round and came back. Had a few conversations with people on the towpath about transport in the area. Later cycled to Waltham Cross Bus Station where I found a bus that I could catch towards central London.
Wednesday 5th March 2014
Another chilly morning so it was a slow start. I cycled into Waltham Abbey and found a big Tesco store where I did my shopping. Afterwards visited the local library and spent an hour typing and updating my blog and was pleased with the help I received after my last bad experience in the Tottenham library which I made a complaint about. I later bought some carpet pieces for Annabel to improve the floor space. In the afternoon cycled to Stanstead Abbot Marina where I asked about blackening the hull. The boat has to be craned out, placed on wooden supports, washed down and painted with three coats of bitumen paint. This is to protect the steel hull from corrosion. It has to be done about every two to three years and Annabel was blackened in November 2011. I asked many questions about how they tackle it and whether they do underneath. The answers I got satisfied me and they gave me a bit of time to explain things, but they couldn`t do it until May. I was just about to walk out when they found a slot on the 24th March, so I booked Annabel in as it would give me time to return home for a couple of weeks before taking the boat up stream to the Marina which is a day`s cruise away. The cost was high, 1K including VAT. I had been quoted half the price at Braunston but that was in dry dock and so probably the underneath wasn`t coated. It was also exactly two years that I moved onto Annabel at Wilton Marina when David and Jackie drove me there with all my bits and left me to begin my voyage.
Thursday 6th March 2014
Had a quiet day and booked my coach home, chopped some more wood then walked to Walham Cross and caught a bus towards central London and had a walk around Hyde Park. Bought a cup of coffee then returned by bus to the boat.
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| Evening rush hour in Oxford Street |
Friday 7th March, Saturday 8th March, Sunday 9th March 2014
Just spent my time doing various activities and domestic boat chores. The forecast for the weekend was good with maybe a taste of Spring. On Sunday travelled back home and closed down Annabel for nearly two weeks just above Waltham Town Lock which is just north of the M25 motorway.
Engine Hours 844 since starting
Fuel 525mm
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| King Harold`s grave at Waltham Abbey |
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| 14th Century Bridge, called Harold`s Bridge at Waltham Abbey |
.......................................................................................................................................................................
Thursday and Friday 20th/21st March 2014
I travelled to Blandford Forum to meet my son Richard and borrow his VHF radio which is a requirement for travelling along the Tidal River Thames from Limehouse to Brentford or Teddington Lock. Another requirement is an anchor which I have on the boat. It was good to see Richard and his house again and the improvements he had made. He took me out for a Nepalese meal in the evening.
The next day I travelled to Salisbury and caught the coach to London, then by bus to Waltham Cross and reached Annabel at 9.30pm. She was in good order and just as I had left her two weeks before.
Saturday 22nd March 2014
I bought supplies of food then left the mooring place and cruised north along the River Lee passing through Waltham Common Lock, Cheshunt Lock, Aqueduct Lock and eventually arrived at Crown Bridge at Broxbourne
Departed from Crown Bridge and passed through Carthagena Lock, then Dobb`s Weir Lock and stopped at a water point and elsen disposal at Feild`s Lock. When I was trying to moor up a face appeared at an opening in the side of a moored boat opposite and the person was staring at me and laughing uncontrollably. She was either drunk or mad and her laughter made no sense. There was just nothing to laugh about. She reminded me of Heathcliff and his mad wife locked in the tower from the book Wuthering Heights. I filled up the near empty water tank and emptied the two cassettes. By this time the women from the boat opposite appeared normal and was smoking a cigarette. A man dressed as a Roman Soldier was walking along the towpath. I asked him if he was in fancy dress. He explained he was practising for a sponsored walk in May 2014 from Pompeil to Rome and raising money for `Combat Stress` and `Medecins Sans Frontieres` I gave him a donation then untied continued upstream past the entrance to the River Stort and moored opposite Lee Valley Marina, near Stanstead Abbots/ St. Margarets where Annabel was being hauled out on Monday and having her lower hull painted black.
Monday 24th March 2014
It was a cold night and in the morning it was so misty it was difficult to see across the river. I had to present Annabel at the yard for crane out. I had no idea what time, but I thought I ought to be there by 9am. I slowly motored over in the mist and tied up. I soon learned there was a backlog of work so they would have to haul her out on Tuesday (tomorrow) The best laid plans always go wrong, I thought. I paid my crane fees for the haul out and return to the water. I then caught the bus to Waltham Cross and tried to get my mobile phone repaired, but in vain. I also needed a £20 deposit for a marina key and a few other items. I caught the bus back to the marina but it was rush hour and it took so long that the gates of the marina were closed shut when I arrived. Luckily after ten minutes a car came out and I was able get in and to my boat.
I think it`s going to be one of those hanging around days. I went to the marina office, paid my £20 returnable deposit and was given a key for the main gate. I was assured they would be lifting Annabel that day, so I kept my fingers crossed. They had to lift another boat first and put her back in the water. There was great activity at first with men rushing around and the crane`s engine was started, but alas it didn`t last long, the engine noise ceased and everyone disappeared. I couldn`t help thinking as to why they just can`t get on with things, no wonder everything costs so much, but I expect it was tea break time. By 11am it was all go again. The boat was lifted off the trailer, deposited in the water, then it was Annabel`s turn. I got off the boat several men dragged her into position, the strops were looped underneath the hull, attached to the crane and she was lifted and placed on a trailer. I had never seen the hull below the waterline before. It was a little slimy with weed growth, but not too bad the men told me. The hull was scrapped and then power washed as it`s best to do this when the boat is first taken out of the water.
Wintering in the London area...Leg 14
Wintering in the London area...Leg 14
I had arrived in the London area on the 27th October when I moored at Kensal Green. I had moved, gone home then moved to another place and am now a at Stanstead Abbots. During that time I calculate I have done 70miles with 83 hours of engine time.
Engine Hours 852
Fuel dip 495mm
Wednesday 25th to Sunday 30st March
Annabel was on a high trailer but I was allowed to live aboard. I had to use a ladder to gain access. In the evening when the lights were on and the curtains drawn, it was just like being afloat. That day the clocks had gone forward and it was warm and calm. I spent my time cleaning the top of the boat and I thought if the weather was good tomorrow I would apply a
coat of paint to the top of the boat. My bike had
gone missing and I couldn`t find it. There was no one to ask as it was a Sunday. Life in the marina is so different to the canal bank. I was talking to another boat owner and the conversation became the doom and gloom variety that I hadn`t heard for ages. When I explained I hoped to go back into the water soon, I was told not to count on it as the crane is always breaking down and I could be trapped for months. Annabel had received her coats of bitumen and looked very smart. However there were many small pits in the steel. I spoke to another boat owner about it and he said it was nothing to worry about and that it was caused by the boat having an electric hook up and being near a metal bank. Apparently in these circumstances the boat becomes a huge battery which causes erosion of the steel. Not a good idea to buy a boat that is kept in a marina all the time with hook up electricity. Since I`ve had Annabel I`ve never had a hook up of mains electricity so can only assume the previous owner kept the boat in a marina.
Monday 31st March
I approached the office as my bicycle had disappeared. Because I couldn`t put it on top of the boat I had left in underneath the trailer. The trailer had been moved and my bike wasn`t there anymore. Sure enough it was safely in the workshop. I was told the boat was nearly ready. I mentioned the small depressions on the hull and the foreman suggested a device called a galvanic isolator would prevent any electricity passing through the hull of the boat.
I began painting part the roof of the boat brilliant white. As soon as I started someone shouted over that it looks like rain. I`m getting used to this banter between boat owners in boatyards. When I had finished and it was drying and I was thinking how nice it looked, the tractor came slowly over and the workman said they were going to reposition Annabel on her trailer, bitumen the parts they had missed then put her back in the water. They promised not to stand on the wet paint. I just hoped not too much dust would fall on the nearly painted roof. However I need not have worried as the operation was achieved efficiently.
By 3.30pm the yard men were ready to putb Annabel back into the water. She was lifted up by the crane and carefully lowered into the river and tied up on the offside of two other narrowboats. For the whole job I paid the yard exactly £1000 which is what I was quoted for the job. At least the hull is protected and I won`t have to have the job done again for about three and a half years. Also the underneath of the hull has been treated which many boatyards don`t do.
Tuesday 1st April 2014
I topped up with water and did some shopping by cycling to Hoddesdon, returning with two big bags of food on the handlebars. Tomorrow Brad is coming and we plan to motor to Limehouse and travel along the tidal Thames. By 5.30pm I got tied of just waiting around and decided to start my journey down river and meet Brad at a railway station further down the line. I cruised along the river for two hours until it was dark. What a difference putting the clocks forwards makes to useful time in a day ! At Carthagena Lock, a man operated the lock for me, as just the other side a party of men were trying to refloat a boat that had sunk. As I slowly went past the pumps were at full strength pumping the water from within the boat. but she wasn`t rising at all. The only conclusion I could come to was that there must have been a hole in the hull and as fast as the water was coming out, in was filling up. However they kept trying. At one of the three locks I had passed through I dropped my windlass in the water. I was so annoyed as it had served me well for over a thousand miles. There was no hope of retrieving it, but I had a spare. That night I tied up at Bloxbourne
Wednesday 2nd April 2014
First thing in the morning I cycled back to the marina at Stanstead Abbots, had a shower there and took their gate key back and received my deposit of £20. I left some books for an enthusiastic Irish boat owner called Shaun who had given me much information and had lent me some books to read. After I got back to the boat, I realised I had not collected my boat key, but luckily I had a spare one.
I sent Brad a text asking him to meet me at Waltham Cross railway station and I continued down river in Annabel, passing through four locks. I was a fast journey as I had the flow of the river pushing me gently forward. At Cheshunt Lock there was a school party and I had to explain to the whole class what I was doing. It was just like old times. I tied up past Waltham Town Lock and walked to Waltham Cross Station where I was due to meet Brad at 2.37pm.
Brad arrived on time and we walked back to the boat and after a cup of tea and a chat we untied and left, completing five more miles before dusk. We moored up at Edmonton and also managed to obtain another windlass from an old bad tempered lock keeper who had collected many over the years, left behind by boat owners passing through his lock.
Thursday 3rd April.
First thing in the morning we continued along the river. Soon passed though Pickets Lock, then Tottenham Lock, both electrically operated which pleased Brad. The flow of the river had almost ceased, not like when I had come up river several weeks ago. At 12 ish we stopped by Hackney Marshes and had some food, only about 4 miles from Limehouse. The rest of the journey was not so pretty but we motored along Limehouse Cut which is semi tidal and into Limehouse Basin where we tied up opposite the canal office. I wandered into the office and was booked out onto the Thames at 3.15pm the following day. We were the only boat that day. I was asked if I had an anchor and VHF communication. I did but it was never checked. We walked over to the River Thames, beyond the lock and I have to say it looked daunting with choppy waves and wash from huge catamarans speeding past.
Fuel check 465mm
Engine hours 864
Friday 4th April 2014
Spent the morning gazing at the expensive yachts in the marina and watched a boat being christened. I also found the padlock key I had lost months before down the engine bilge. I also tried to learn, with the help of You Tube how to use a hand held VHF radio. The bit I was interested in was making a May Day call which shows how I was feeling. I also rang the marina and asked if they could send my boat padlock key to my home address. There was a lot of waiting around for the lock to be opened. They only let you out to go west about three hours before high tide, so the tidal stream pushes you along at about 7 knots with a little help from the engine. I spoke to the young skipper in a broad beam boat moored behind Annabel. He was due to go through the next day and he was dreading it.
At 3pm two lock keepers beckoned us into the lock and we were soon out on the river rocking around. It was a bit nerve racking at first, Annabel being flat bottomed, narrow and used to calm water. We soon got used to it and our progress was rapid, passing many of London`s attractions that I`ve never seen from the river before. We passed under Tower Bridge, then London Bridge and many other bridges. We saw the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral and many other places.
We had to be careful to pass through the correct arch of the bridges, usually displaying an amber light and also lining up the boat so not to be pushed onto the supports of the bridges. A great deal of concentration was needed from the helmsman. By the time we had reached the Houses of Parliament the river water became calmer and progress was so rapid we were soon near Wandsworth Bridge. An officer in a Harbour Masters launch shouted something at us, but we couldn`t hear so we just carried on.
Then we were caught by a Port of London Authority boat, where a smart officer told us the river was closed at Putney as they were practising for Sunday`s Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race. We were asked to tie up to a floating pontoon, so I had to turn the boat round into the strong tidal stream and edge over to the pontoon where Brad managed to get a rope round a cleat and secure the boat. I could not have done this on my own. The polite officer from the boat asked if we could we wait until 6.30pm, it was 5pm.
At 6pm the officer`s boat came alongside and told us we could carry on, the practise was over. By this time the tidal stream which had helped us so much had started to turn in the opposite direction. We passed under Putney Bridge, then Hammersmith Bridge and by this time it was hard going. The engine was screaming to make progress. I wondered at times whether we were going to make it to Brentford. At Chiswick Bridge, the end of the Boat Race course it was nearly dark and we had no navigation lights, but we kept going and soon after Kew Bridge, the River Brent entrance came into view. We crawled up to the Thames Lock in the dark and secured the boat. The lockeeper had gone home so we would have to stay there over night. There must have been a 10 feet rise between low and high tide, so I knew I would have to get up in the night to check the ropes.
Saturday 5th April 2014
It was necessary to get up several times during the night because of rope noises. I had to make several adjustments. When I made the last adjustment the lock quay was at least ten feet above me. I must have fallen into a deep sleep because when I awoke it was light and high tide and Annabel was level with the quay and I was able to step ashore. I started sniffing around the lock wondering how long it would be before I could pass through from the lock. Suddenly I heard `Good morning`. It was the lock keeper who was a young girl. After taking the boat`s name and number she opened the gate and I took Annabel straight through. After a gentle fifteen minute journey along the River Brent we stopped at Brentford Gauging Lock. My crew, Brad decided he would go home because his back ached and he was quickly packed and away. I tidied up the boat then passed through the Gauging Lock that was operated by three volunteer lock keepers. I was now on the Grand Union Canal again and the first thing I did was empty rubbish, top up with water and empty the cassettes. Afterwards I motored to Clitheroe Lock, turned round and moored up in an isolated position on the canal bank.
Fuel 420mm
Engine hours 872
Sunday 6th April 2014
I wanted to stay at Brentford until the 5th May and I`m only allowed two weeks so I didn`t want to make my presence known too soon, so I kept away from the main mooring area. I cycled to Hounslow where the library was open on a Sunday. I spent nearly three hours typing my blog. I had fallen behind and had many sections to catch up with. On my return to the boat I watched the boat race on water we had travelled along only two days before. The race was easily won by Oxford. I felt strongly I wanted to go home and decided to moor the boat in a different place and go home on Wednesday.
Monday 7th April 2014
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| Leg 14 Wintering around the London area from October27th 2013 |
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| High up painting the roof brilliant white |
Annabel was on a high trailer but I was allowed to live aboard. I had to use a ladder to gain access. In the evening when the lights were on and the curtains drawn, it was just like being afloat. That day the clocks had gone forward and it was warm and calm. I spent my time cleaning the top of the boat and I thought if the weather was good tomorrow I would apply a
coat of paint to the top of the boat. My bike had
gone missing and I couldn`t find it. There was no one to ask as it was a Sunday. Life in the marina is so different to the canal bank. I was talking to another boat owner and the conversation became the doom and gloom variety that I hadn`t heard for ages. When I explained I hoped to go back into the water soon, I was told not to count on it as the crane is always breaking down and I could be trapped for months. Annabel had received her coats of bitumen and looked very smart. However there were many small pits in the steel. I spoke to another boat owner about it and he said it was nothing to worry about and that it was caused by the boat having an electric hook up and being near a metal bank. Apparently in these circumstances the boat becomes a huge battery which causes erosion of the steel. Not a good idea to buy a boat that is kept in a marina all the time with hook up electricity. Since I`ve had Annabel I`ve never had a hook up of mains electricity so can only assume the previous owner kept the boat in a marina.
 |
| Hull pitting on the waterline. This is not a serious and most narrow boats have it |
I approached the office as my bicycle had disappeared. Because I couldn`t put it on top of the boat I had left in underneath the trailer. The trailer had been moved and my bike wasn`t there anymore. Sure enough it was safely in the workshop. I was told the boat was nearly ready. I mentioned the small depressions on the hull and the foreman suggested a device called a galvanic isolator would prevent any electricity passing through the hull of the boat.
I began painting part the roof of the boat brilliant white. As soon as I started someone shouted over that it looks like rain. I`m getting used to this banter between boat owners in boatyards. When I had finished and it was drying and I was thinking how nice it looked, the tractor came slowly over and the workman said they were going to reposition Annabel on her trailer, bitumen the parts they had missed then put her back in the water. They promised not to stand on the wet paint. I just hoped not too much dust would fall on the nearly painted roof. However I need not have worried as the operation was achieved efficiently.
By 3.30pm the yard men were ready to putb Annabel back into the water. She was lifted up by the crane and carefully lowered into the river and tied up on the offside of two other narrowboats. For the whole job I paid the yard exactly £1000 which is what I was quoted for the job. At least the hull is protected and I won`t have to have the job done again for about three and a half years. Also the underneath of the hull has been treated which many boatyards don`t do.
I topped up with water and did some shopping by cycling to Hoddesdon, returning with two big bags of food on the handlebars. Tomorrow Brad is coming and we plan to motor to Limehouse and travel along the tidal Thames. By 5.30pm I got tied of just waiting around and decided to start my journey down river and meet Brad at a railway station further down the line. I cruised along the river for two hours until it was dark. What a difference putting the clocks forwards makes to useful time in a day ! At Carthagena Lock, a man operated the lock for me, as just the other side a party of men were trying to refloat a boat that had sunk. As I slowly went past the pumps were at full strength pumping the water from within the boat. but she wasn`t rising at all. The only conclusion I could come to was that there must have been a hole in the hull and as fast as the water was coming out, in was filling up. However they kept trying. At one of the three locks I had passed through I dropped my windlass in the water. I was so annoyed as it had served me well for over a thousand miles. There was no hope of retrieving it, but I had a spare. That night I tied up at Bloxbourne
First thing in the morning I cycled back to the marina at Stanstead Abbots, had a shower there and took their gate key back and received my deposit of £20. I left some books for an enthusiastic Irish boat owner called Shaun who had given me much information and had lent me some books to read. After I got back to the boat, I realised I had not collected my boat key, but luckily I had a spare one.
I sent Brad a text asking him to meet me at Waltham Cross railway station and I continued down river in Annabel, passing through four locks. I was a fast journey as I had the flow of the river pushing me gently forward. At Cheshunt Lock there was a school party and I had to explain to the whole class what I was doing. It was just like old times. I tied up past Waltham Town Lock and walked to Waltham Cross Station where I was due to meet Brad at 2.37pm.
Brad arrived on time and we walked back to the boat and after a cup of tea and a chat we untied and left, completing five more miles before dusk. We moored up at Edmonton and also managed to obtain another windlass from an old bad tempered lock keeper who had collected many over the years, left behind by boat owners passing through his lock.
Thursday 3rd April.
First thing in the morning we continued along the river. Soon passed though Pickets Lock, then Tottenham Lock, both electrically operated which pleased Brad. The flow of the river had almost ceased, not like when I had come up river several weeks ago. At 12 ish we stopped by Hackney Marshes and had some food, only about 4 miles from Limehouse. The rest of the journey was not so pretty but we motored along Limehouse Cut which is semi tidal and into Limehouse Basin where we tied up opposite the canal office. I wandered into the office and was booked out onto the Thames at 3.15pm the following day. We were the only boat that day. I was asked if I had an anchor and VHF communication. I did but it was never checked. We walked over to the River Thames, beyond the lock and I have to say it looked daunting with choppy waves and wash from huge catamarans speeding past.
Fuel check 465mm
Engine hours 864
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| Waiting at Limehouse Basin to go onto the Thames |
Friday 4th April 2014
Spent the morning gazing at the expensive yachts in the marina and watched a boat being christened. I also found the padlock key I had lost months before down the engine bilge. I also tried to learn, with the help of You Tube how to use a hand held VHF radio. The bit I was interested in was making a May Day call which shows how I was feeling. I also rang the marina and asked if they could send my boat padlock key to my home address. There was a lot of waiting around for the lock to be opened. They only let you out to go west about three hours before high tide, so the tidal stream pushes you along at about 7 knots with a little help from the engine. I spoke to the young skipper in a broad beam boat moored behind Annabel. He was due to go through the next day and he was dreading it.
At 3pm two lock keepers beckoned us into the lock and we were soon out on the river rocking around. It was a bit nerve racking at first, Annabel being flat bottomed, narrow and used to calm water. We soon got used to it and our progress was rapid, passing many of London`s attractions that I`ve never seen from the river before. We passed under Tower Bridge, then London Bridge and many other bridges. We saw the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral and many other places.
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| Tower Bridge and Shard |
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| The Tower of London |
We had to be careful to pass through the correct arch of the bridges, usually displaying an amber light and also lining up the boat so not to be pushed onto the supports of the bridges. A great deal of concentration was needed from the helmsman. By the time we had reached the Houses of Parliament the river water became calmer and progress was so rapid we were soon near Wandsworth Bridge. An officer in a Harbour Masters launch shouted something at us, but we couldn`t hear so we just carried on.
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| Blackfriars Bridge |
Then we were caught by a Port of London Authority boat, where a smart officer told us the river was closed at Putney as they were practising for Sunday`s Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race. We were asked to tie up to a floating pontoon, so I had to turn the boat round into the strong tidal stream and edge over to the pontoon where Brad managed to get a rope round a cleat and secure the boat. I could not have done this on my own. The polite officer from the boat asked if we could we wait until 6.30pm, it was 5pm.
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| The Palace of Westminster |
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| Cleopatra`s Needle. It was transported from Egypt in a floating cylinder towed behind a ship. While crossing the Bay of Biscay in a storm, the cable broke and it was lost at sea. Eventually found and brought to the Thames Embankment |
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| Battersea Power Station |
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| We were ordered to tie up to a floating pontoon and wait |
At 6pm the officer`s boat came alongside and told us we could carry on, the practise was over. By this time the tidal stream which had helped us so much had started to turn in the opposite direction. We passed under Putney Bridge, then Hammersmith Bridge and by this time it was hard going. The engine was screaming to make progress. I wondered at times whether we were going to make it to Brentford. At Chiswick Bridge, the end of the Boat Race course it was nearly dark and we had no navigation lights, but we kept going and soon after Kew Bridge, the River Brent entrance came into view. We crawled up to the Thames Lock in the dark and secured the boat. The lockeeper had gone home so we would have to stay there over night. There must have been a 10 feet rise between low and high tide, so I knew I would have to get up in the night to check the ropes.
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| Putney Bridge |
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| Hammersmith Bridge |
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| The tide was against us and it was getting dark as we neared Brentford |
Saturday 5th April 2014
It was necessary to get up several times during the night because of rope noises. I had to make several adjustments. When I made the last adjustment the lock quay was at least ten feet above me. I must have fallen into a deep sleep because when I awoke it was light and high tide and Annabel was level with the quay and I was able to step ashore. I started sniffing around the lock wondering how long it would be before I could pass through from the lock. Suddenly I heard `Good morning`. It was the lock keeper who was a young girl. After taking the boat`s name and number she opened the gate and I took Annabel straight through. After a gentle fifteen minute journey along the River Brent we stopped at Brentford Gauging Lock. My crew, Brad decided he would go home because his back ached and he was quickly packed and away. I tidied up the boat then passed through the Gauging Lock that was operated by three volunteer lock keepers. I was now on the Grand Union Canal again and the first thing I did was empty rubbish, top up with water and empty the cassettes. Afterwards I motored to Clitheroe Lock, turned round and moored up in an isolated position on the canal bank.
Fuel 420mm
Engine hours 872
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| Between the Thames lock and Brentford Gauging Lock |
Sunday 6th April 2014
I wanted to stay at Brentford until the 5th May and I`m only allowed two weeks so I didn`t want to make my presence known too soon, so I kept away from the main mooring area. I cycled to Hounslow where the library was open on a Sunday. I spent nearly three hours typing my blog. I had fallen behind and had many sections to catch up with. On my return to the boat I watched the boat race on water we had travelled along only two days before. The race was easily won by Oxford. I felt strongly I wanted to go home and decided to moor the boat in a different place and go home on Wednesday.
Monday 7th April 2014
I cycled towards Putney on the Thames towpath. Once there I made my way to Richmond Park, entering through Roehampton Gate. It looked just the same as it did fifty years before when it was my playground as a boy. I made my way to the Pen Ponds then to Richmond Gate and down the hill to the Thames Path and back to Brentford.
I later moved Annabel to a new position where I thought she would be safe to leave while I went home for a couple of weeks. While I was securing the boat it suddenly poured with rain and I got soaking wet. I then decided not to wait until Wednesday, but to go home tomorrow as I was pretty fed up.
Tuesday 8th April 2014
I later moved Annabel to a new position where I thought she would be safe to leave while I went home for a couple of weeks. While I was securing the boat it suddenly poured with rain and I got soaking wet. I then decided not to wait until Wednesday, but to go home tomorrow as I was pretty fed up.
Tuesday 8th April 2014
In the morning after turning everything off and locking up I caught two red buses to Victoria Coach Station and booked an open return to Southampton. I was soon seated on the 10.30am coach in my favourite seat and arrived at Southampton Coach Station in time to catch the 2pm ferry to East Cowes. I arrived at my house by 4pm. It felt like I had been away for a month, rather than two and a half weeks.
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Monday 5th May 2014
I returned to Brentford and the boat after a break of three weeks and six days on Bank Holiday Monday. I found Annabel secure but the bank side of the boat covered in grass cuttings caused by trimming of the bank. I ran the engine for forty five minutes, then moved the boat, turning her round and then mooring closer to the facilities. It was then time to buy some provisions for the boat in Morrisons.
Tuesday 6th May 2014
The fuel level was 410mm and the engine hours were 877
I cleaned the boat and made it look pristine as I had advertised it and had someone coming to see it at 11am. I had a bad feeling I was dealing with a time waster and sure enough the person never turned up and didn`t let me know. I had made all the arrangements by text so it`s just possible a text didn`t arrive.
I decided to move but I had completely changed my mind where to go. My plan was to go west towards Bristol, but I decided to voyage north. I passed through ten locks, some very deep from Brentford to Bull`s Bridge where I moored up for the night.
Wednesday 7th May 2014
The weather was unsettled but left Bull`s Bridge and headed towards Yiewsley, Cowley and Uxbridge. There was only one lock on this stretch at Cowley. Stopped for a while at Yiewley for breakfast and a shower. Eventually stopped at Uxbridge Town and was lucky to find a place as a boat was leaving.
Thursday 8th May 2014
The weather was dull first thing and it rained on and off all morning. I just waited for the rain to stop and listened to radio4. By 1pm it seemed brighter so I prepared to leave feeling cheated by the weather, as it was supposed to be summer. It drizzled most of the afternoon but I just kept moving and completed 10 locks. The passage was through the Colne Valley and the beautiful countryside made up for the weather. I reached Cassio Bridge at dusk after nearly 9 miles.
Friday 9th May 2014
Fuel 360mm Engine hours 893
I left Cassio rather late and moved across the canal to a marina to see if I could buy diesel, take on water and empty rubbish. I was told by a grumpy attendant I couldn`t do anything unless I bought something, so I asked about red diesel which was advertised at 85p per litre. I was then told this price was without duty and the cost would be between 95p and £1. I sometimes think marinas don`t want to do business with boat owners. The attendant had a way of putting me off so I moved on without buying anything. I`ve noticed many marinas have this don`t care attitude to their customers.
I travelled through 9 locks most of them with another boat called Miss Matty owned by a pleasant couple who were heading to Milton Keynes. They eventually stopped at Kings Langley and I moored further on where I thought I might be able to get a TV picture as there were less trees blocking the signal. Sure enough I got a signal. I like to watch the news, find out what`s going on in the world. Some boaters don`t want anything to do with the outside world and isolate themselves, but not me.
Saturday 10th May 2014
Left Kings Langley early and had a break and stopped by Apsley Marina where I had breakfast. On continuing I was asked by another boat ( Destiny ) if I would like to double up going through the locks. This means work is shared and less water wasted. They waited for me and we passed through the first lock, but when we reached the second there was a hireboat with cubs or scouts on board and two leaders in charge, that had broken down. My partner boat decided to give them a tow through the locks so I was on my own again. It turned out the broken down boat had run out of diesel. The scout party weren`t being very well supervised and the children were doing all sorts of dangerous things. The woman from Destiny was getting more annoyed with the scout leaders. Eventually when we reached Winkworth and a boatyard the scout boat were able to get help and I was back with my partner boat and we continued until Birkhamsted where I decided to stop and they carried on. I found a tap and decided to fill the water tank of my boat but while manoeuvring in a strong wind an overhanging weeping willow tree took my bike off the top of the boat and deposited it in the canal. Just this once I had not tied it on. Once moored up I retrieved the bike with a rope and hook, then took on water and then spent a quiet evening with no TV or radio signal. Today I had passed through 16 locks, and travelled 10 miles and I estimated I had enough fuel for about another 50 miles.
I was 33 miles from Brentford where I started this time.
The fuel had gone down to 325mm ( 180mm is the critical level)
The engine hours from start of cruise were 906
Sunday 11th May 2014
I have been told my blog is too masculine and I don`t write enough about my emotions and feelings. I do really appreciate the countryside and it`s colours and the little villages. The farm animals, especially the little lambs. Also the clouds in the sky and changes in the weather. Most of the time while I`m moving I`m happy and contented, especially when it`s a sunny day. I like to wave and see happy smiling faces while listening to music on my phone. I don`t mind being on my own except sometimes in the evening it would be great to have someone to talk to.
I was suffering from some aches and pains after the 16 locks of yesterday so I had nearly a day off. By 5.30pm I decided to do a few more locks before dark. In the end I managed six and tied up just before Cowroast Lock. Cowroast is the name of a village not a meal.
Monday 12th May 2014
A very slow start to the day. I`m feeling much better after a good sleep. Most of my aches and pains had subsided after yesterday. I left my mooring and immediately entered Cowroast Lock and reached the summit of the canal. The canal now became very attractive and I had a couple of miles without locks to enjoy the countryside..I then reached the seven locks at Marsworth but this time I was going downhill. It was much easier as most of the locks were set and I only had two paddles to operate rather than four. I was soon at the bottom and I moored up at the junction with the Aylesbury Arm for a break. After using the facilities there I carried on and after another four locks I pulled in near one of the Seabrook Locks making a total of twelve for the day, but the distance was only 7 miles.
Tuesday 13th May 2014
Slept in this morning but when I was ready to leave, I was releasing ropes ready to enter the lock when several men appeared standing at the lock. I was beckoned with an arm wave and I acknowledged. I had to untie several ropes and take out mooring pins. I was doing it as fast as I could, but the men were waving impatiently and seemed in a hurry for some reason. When I entered the lock I saw five unsmiling faces and before closing the gates behind me two of the men opened both paddles and I was sucked forward with reverse fully engaged and hit the forward gate. I shouted at them but I didn`t get an apology and I don`t think they realised that it was their fault
I carried on along the canal through two more locks, Horton and Slapton Locks. Then Church Lock and pulled in for lunch. I knew I only had one more lock to do before Leighton Buzzard. Later after Grove Lock, I moored up in the town and spent the night.
Wednesday 14th May 2014
Another narrowboat passed by too fast and two of Annabels mooring pegs were pulled out of the bank and she drifted out and blocked the canal. I managed to pull her back to the bank but lost one of the pegs in the canal in the process. When the boat was secure I went to the library to write up some blog. When I returned I discovered same thing had happened a second time and Pete from the boat Matilda had pulled her back for me. He gave me a spare peg from his boat and also a recovery magnet used to treasure hunt on the bottom of the canal for steel objects.
About 12.30 pm I left Leighton Buzzard and headed towards Milton Keynes. There were so many locks like yesterday. The weather was pleasant and I felt wonderful steering the boat in the warm sunshine. I knew now why ancient people thought the sun was a god and offered sacrifices to keep it happy and shining. A hot sunny day after all the miserable weather we have had works wonders on the body and well as the mind.
On reaching the three Soulbury Locks I found there were two voluntary lock keepers helping boats through. One of them told me traffic was very light this year. After the locks I passed the Globe Inn very close to where the Great Train Robbery took place in 1963 when two and half million pounds were stolen.
I reached Stoke Hammond Lock and eventually came to Willowbridge boatyard. The diesel was advertised at 89.9p per litre, but the yard was closed so I decided to stay there overnight and buy some in the morning.
Thursday 15th May 2014
89.18 litres cost £80.17
Fuel in the tank rose from 280mm to 600mm
Engine hours were 923
At 8.30am I filled up with fuel, it was the first I had bought for six months. Not long afterwards I left the yard and made my way towards Milton Keynes. There was a lock at Fenny Stratford with a swing bridge inside the lock area. A couple of cyclists gave me some help so I soon passed through. Progress was good as there were no other locks and I moored near Milton Keynes for a coffee break. After a sleep, tea and some food I moved a short distance to Campbell Park and tied up on a 48 hour mooring where the view was perfect. I met the waterways chaplain who introduced himself as he walked past. He was a volunteer from a local church and makes himself available if any skipper or crew has any problems such as financial, personal or matrimonial. I couldn`t think of any problem I wanted to discuss, so later I cycled to Milton Keynes library to use a computer. Their organisation was so poor it was impossible to use their computers for anything as you are limited to 30 minutes.
Friday 15th May 2014
I got up early and the sun was shining beautifully and this gave me the energy to organise myself and leave at 7am before most of the boating fraternity are awake. I just kept going and continued for two hours, passing over two aqueducts, the second one was called Iron Trunk. I pulled into the bank at Wolverton for breakfast, just before Cosgrove Lock. I left at 11am and passed through Cosgrove Lock. I continued for two hours passing several boats. Just before Stoke Bruerne I stopped for another break and at 1pm started negotiating the 7 locks which took me two hours. The last one brought me out near the Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne and there were many spectators who asked me questions, not the best place to make a mistake. I moored up for the night then went off on my cycle across the top of the Blisworth tunnel and came to the little village of Blisworth where I discovered I could catch a bus to Northampton.. Maybe a good place to leave Annabel, I thought.
Saturday 17th May 2014
I left my mooring just after 9am and it took only 10 minutes to reach the tunnel entrance. The Blisworth Tunnel is the third longest tunnel on the canal system at 3057 yards. It was opened in 1805 and restored in the 1980s. Although I had the headlight switched on it took a while for my eyes to adjust. The journey in the dark took three quarters of an hour. I got very wet from water coming through the roof or down the ventilation shalt. At first I was apprehensive as I was on my own and it felt spooky and there was a mist rising from the water that looked eerie in the beam of the headlight and I did wonder if the tunnel was classed as haunted. After nearly an hour It felt good to re-enter daylight at the north end and after a short distance tied up at the village of Blisworth in hot sunshine.
Later I caught a bus into Northampton and visited the library, but their price for using a computer was £3 per hour, far too much when in many libraries it`s free of charge. Also their system was very slow. I told them they were too expensive, but it`s the local council who make the rules
Sunday 18th May 2014
Fuel 555mm Engine hours 934
I wasn`t going any further on this leg and would be leaving the boat at Blisworth and going home after two weeks. I did a few chores on the boat and then cycled along the towpath into Northampton. The shops were open so I bought a few items and found a leisure centre. On my way back along the towpath I slowed down, rang my bell and rode my bike around two pedestrians. Suddenly I saw a bike in front and the only way I could avoid it was to steer onto the grassy bank and stop. I was just going to apologise to the cyclist when he called me a bloody idiot. I had never been spoken to like that by a fellow cyclist before, so I called him a bad tempered old man. The pedestrians told me it was a woman not a man and we all started laughing.
Monday 19th May 2014
I left Annabel clean and tidy and everything turned off and walked along the towpath pulling my bag on wheels mainly containing a fortnights dirty washing. After arriving in Northampton I found the National Express stop, no longer in the bus station which had closed down. I caught the 11.30am coach to London, then the 2.30pm coach to Southampton, missed the 5pm ferry by five minutes, so had to catch the 6pm. It was good to get home after a fortnight away.
In the morning after turning everything off and locking up I caught two red buses to Victoria Coach Station and booked an open return to Southampton. I was soon seated on the 10.30am coach in my favourite seat and arrived at Southampton Coach Station in time to catch the 2pm ferry to East Cowes. I arrived at my house by 4pm. It felt like I had been away for a month, rather than two and a half weeks.
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Monday 5th May 2014
I returned to Brentford and the boat after a break of three weeks and six days on Bank Holiday Monday. I found Annabel secure but the bank side of the boat covered in grass cuttings caused by trimming of the bank. I ran the engine for forty five minutes, then moved the boat, turning her round and then mooring closer to the facilities. It was then time to buy some provisions for the boat in Morrisons.
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| Annabel was moored in front of this Dutch Barge at Brentford |
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| Hanwell Locks near Brentford |
The fuel level was 410mm and the engine hours were 877
I cleaned the boat and made it look pristine as I had advertised it and had someone coming to see it at 11am. I had a bad feeling I was dealing with a time waster and sure enough the person never turned up and didn`t let me know. I had made all the arrangements by text so it`s just possible a text didn`t arrive.
I decided to move but I had completely changed my mind where to go. My plan was to go west towards Bristol, but I decided to voyage north. I passed through ten locks, some very deep from Brentford to Bull`s Bridge where I moored up for the night.
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| Rising up in a lock |
Wednesday 7th May 2014
The weather was unsettled but left Bull`s Bridge and headed towards Yiewsley, Cowley and Uxbridge. There was only one lock on this stretch at Cowley. Stopped for a while at Yiewley for breakfast and a shower. Eventually stopped at Uxbridge Town and was lucky to find a place as a boat was leaving.
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| Four Sikh men who closed the gate for me |
The weather was dull first thing and it rained on and off all morning. I just waited for the rain to stop and listened to radio4. By 1pm it seemed brighter so I prepared to leave feeling cheated by the weather, as it was supposed to be summer. It drizzled most of the afternoon but I just kept moving and completed 10 locks. The passage was through the Colne Valley and the beautiful countryside made up for the weather. I reached Cassio Bridge at dusk after nearly 9 miles.
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| Am alligator on the bank to put boats off mooring in the householders garden. |
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| Waiting at a lock... The wild water behind was difficult to steer through |
Friday 9th May 2014
Fuel 360mm Engine hours 893
I left Cassio rather late and moved across the canal to a marina to see if I could buy diesel, take on water and empty rubbish. I was told by a grumpy attendant I couldn`t do anything unless I bought something, so I asked about red diesel which was advertised at 85p per litre. I was then told this price was without duty and the cost would be between 95p and £1. I sometimes think marinas don`t want to do business with boat owners. The attendant had a way of putting me off so I moved on without buying anything. I`ve noticed many marinas have this don`t care attitude to their customers.
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| A contented cat at Cowroast Lock |
I travelled through 9 locks most of them with another boat called Miss Matty owned by a pleasant couple who were heading to Milton Keynes. They eventually stopped at Kings Langley and I moored further on where I thought I might be able to get a TV picture as there were less trees blocking the signal. Sure enough I got a signal. I like to watch the news, find out what`s going on in the world. Some boaters don`t want anything to do with the outside world and isolate themselves, but not me.
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| The hired scout boat had run out of diesel. A good start to their weekend on the canal./ |
Saturday 10th May 2014
Left Kings Langley early and had a break and stopped by Apsley Marina where I had breakfast. On continuing I was asked by another boat ( Destiny ) if I would like to double up going through the locks. This means work is shared and less water wasted. They waited for me and we passed through the first lock, but when we reached the second there was a hireboat with cubs or scouts on board and two leaders in charge, that had broken down. My partner boat decided to give them a tow through the locks so I was on my own again. It turned out the broken down boat had run out of diesel. The scout party weren`t being very well supervised and the children were doing all sorts of dangerous things. The woman from Destiny was getting more annoyed with the scout leaders. Eventually when we reached Winkworth and a boatyard the scout boat were able to get help and I was back with my partner boat and we continued until Birkhamsted where I decided to stop and they carried on. I found a tap and decided to fill the water tank of my boat but while manoeuvring in a strong wind an overhanging weeping willow tree took my bike off the top of the boat and deposited it in the canal. Just this once I had not tied it on. Once moored up I retrieved the bike with a rope and hook, then took on water and then spent a quiet evening with no TV or radio signal. Today I had passed through 16 locks, and travelled 10 miles and I estimated I had enough fuel for about another 50 miles.
I was 33 miles from Brentford where I started this time.
The fuel had gone down to 325mm ( 180mm is the critical level)
The engine hours from start of cruise were 906
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| Cowroast Lock |
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| Annabel sharing a double Lock with a boat called Destiny |
Sunday 11th May 2014
I have been told my blog is too masculine and I don`t write enough about my emotions and feelings. I do really appreciate the countryside and it`s colours and the little villages. The farm animals, especially the little lambs. Also the clouds in the sky and changes in the weather. Most of the time while I`m moving I`m happy and contented, especially when it`s a sunny day. I like to wave and see happy smiling faces while listening to music on my phone. I don`t mind being on my own except sometimes in the evening it would be great to have someone to talk to.
I was suffering from some aches and pains after the 16 locks of yesterday so I had nearly a day off. By 5.30pm I decided to do a few more locks before dark. In the end I managed six and tied up just before Cowroast Lock. Cowroast is the name of a village not a meal.
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| The Grand Union Canal at it`s highest point where it passes over the Chiltern Hills |
Monday 12th May 2014
A very slow start to the day. I`m feeling much better after a good sleep. Most of my aches and pains had subsided after yesterday. I left my mooring and immediately entered Cowroast Lock and reached the summit of the canal. The canal now became very attractive and I had a couple of miles without locks to enjoy the countryside..I then reached the seven locks at Marsworth but this time I was going downhill. It was much easier as most of the locks were set and I only had two paddles to operate rather than four. I was soon at the bottom and I moored up at the junction with the Aylesbury Arm for a break. After using the facilities there I carried on and after another four locks I pulled in near one of the Seabrook Locks making a total of twelve for the day, but the distance was only 7 miles.
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| A narrow boat covered in pot plants |
Tuesday 13th May 2014
Slept in this morning but when I was ready to leave, I was releasing ropes ready to enter the lock when several men appeared standing at the lock. I was beckoned with an arm wave and I acknowledged. I had to untie several ropes and take out mooring pins. I was doing it as fast as I could, but the men were waving impatiently and seemed in a hurry for some reason. When I entered the lock I saw five unsmiling faces and before closing the gates behind me two of the men opened both paddles and I was sucked forward with reverse fully engaged and hit the forward gate. I shouted at them but I didn`t get an apology and I don`t think they realised that it was their fault
I carried on along the canal through two more locks, Horton and Slapton Locks. Then Church Lock and pulled in for lunch. I knew I only had one more lock to do before Leighton Buzzard. Later after Grove Lock, I moored up in the town and spent the night.
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| Annabel moored at Leighton Buzzard |
Wednesday 14th May 2014
Another narrowboat passed by too fast and two of Annabels mooring pegs were pulled out of the bank and she drifted out and blocked the canal. I managed to pull her back to the bank but lost one of the pegs in the canal in the process. When the boat was secure I went to the library to write up some blog. When I returned I discovered same thing had happened a second time and Pete from the boat Matilda had pulled her back for me. He gave me a spare peg from his boat and also a recovery magnet used to treasure hunt on the bottom of the canal for steel objects.
About 12.30 pm I left Leighton Buzzard and headed towards Milton Keynes. There were so many locks like yesterday. The weather was pleasant and I felt wonderful steering the boat in the warm sunshine. I knew now why ancient people thought the sun was a god and offered sacrifices to keep it happy and shining. A hot sunny day after all the miserable weather we have had works wonders on the body and well as the mind.
On reaching the three Soulbury Locks I found there were two voluntary lock keepers helping boats through. One of them told me traffic was very light this year. After the locks I passed the Globe Inn very close to where the Great Train Robbery took place in 1963 when two and half million pounds were stolen.
I reached Stoke Hammond Lock and eventually came to Willowbridge boatyard. The diesel was advertised at 89.9p per litre, but the yard was closed so I decided to stay there overnight and buy some in the morning.
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| The Globe Inn near where the Great Train Robbery of 1963 took place when two and a half million pounds were stolen |
Thursday 15th May 2014
89.18 litres cost £80.17
Fuel in the tank rose from 280mm to 600mm
Engine hours were 923
At 8.30am I filled up with fuel, it was the first I had bought for six months. Not long afterwards I left the yard and made my way towards Milton Keynes. There was a lock at Fenny Stratford with a swing bridge inside the lock area. A couple of cyclists gave me some help so I soon passed through. Progress was good as there were no other locks and I moored near Milton Keynes for a coffee break. After a sleep, tea and some food I moved a short distance to Campbell Park and tied up on a 48 hour mooring where the view was perfect. I met the waterways chaplain who introduced himself as he walked past. He was a volunteer from a local church and makes himself available if any skipper or crew has any problems such as financial, personal or matrimonial. I couldn`t think of any problem I wanted to discuss, so later I cycled to Milton Keynes library to use a computer. Their organisation was so poor it was impossible to use their computers for anything as you are limited to 30 minutes.
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| Campbell Park at Milton Keynes |
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| A good name for a boat.... Something the owner`s wife might be thinking |
Friday 15th May 2014
I got up early and the sun was shining beautifully and this gave me the energy to organise myself and leave at 7am before most of the boating fraternity are awake. I just kept going and continued for two hours, passing over two aqueducts, the second one was called Iron Trunk. I pulled into the bank at Wolverton for breakfast, just before Cosgrove Lock. I left at 11am and passed through Cosgrove Lock. I continued for two hours passing several boats. Just before Stoke Bruerne I stopped for another break and at 1pm started negotiating the 7 locks which took me two hours. The last one brought me out near the Waterways Museum at Stoke Bruerne and there were many spectators who asked me questions, not the best place to make a mistake. I moored up for the night then went off on my cycle across the top of the Blisworth tunnel and came to the little village of Blisworth where I discovered I could catch a bus to Northampton.. Maybe a good place to leave Annabel, I thought.
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| Iron Trunk Aqueduct |
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| The southern entrance of the Blisworth Tunnel |
Saturday 17th May 2014
I left my mooring just after 9am and it took only 10 minutes to reach the tunnel entrance. The Blisworth Tunnel is the third longest tunnel on the canal system at 3057 yards. It was opened in 1805 and restored in the 1980s. Although I had the headlight switched on it took a while for my eyes to adjust. The journey in the dark took three quarters of an hour. I got very wet from water coming through the roof or down the ventilation shalt. At first I was apprehensive as I was on my own and it felt spooky and there was a mist rising from the water that looked eerie in the beam of the headlight and I did wonder if the tunnel was classed as haunted. After nearly an hour It felt good to re-enter daylight at the north end and after a short distance tied up at the village of Blisworth in hot sunshine.
Later I caught a bus into Northampton and visited the library, but their price for using a computer was £3 per hour, far too much when in many libraries it`s free of charge. Also their system was very slow. I told them they were too expensive, but it`s the local council who make the rules
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| Coming out of the Blisworth Tunnel |
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| Annabel moored at Blisworth Village near Northampton |
Sunday 18th May 2014
Fuel 555mm Engine hours 934
I wasn`t going any further on this leg and would be leaving the boat at Blisworth and going home after two weeks. I did a few chores on the boat and then cycled along the towpath into Northampton. The shops were open so I bought a few items and found a leisure centre. On my way back along the towpath I slowed down, rang my bell and rode my bike around two pedestrians. Suddenly I saw a bike in front and the only way I could avoid it was to steer onto the grassy bank and stop. I was just going to apologise to the cyclist when he called me a bloody idiot. I had never been spoken to like that by a fellow cyclist before, so I called him a bad tempered old man. The pedestrians told me it was a woman not a man and we all started laughing.
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| The cheese boat selling Welsh Cheese |
I left Annabel clean and tidy and everything turned off and walked along the towpath pulling my bag on wheels mainly containing a fortnights dirty washing. After arriving in Northampton I found the National Express stop, no longer in the bus station which had closed down. I caught the 11.30am coach to London, then the 2.30pm coach to Southampton, missed the 5pm ferry by five minutes, so had to catch the 6pm. It was good to get home after a fortnight away.
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| Leg 15 From Stanstead Abbots, along the River Lee to the River Thames. Then the tidal Thames to Brentford onto the Grand Union Canal to Blisworth. 118 miles |
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Saturday 7th June 2014
I left the Isle of Wight on the 5.45am ferry and after walking to the coach station in Southampton caught the 8am coach to Heathrow, then boarded the 11.30am coach to Northampton and arrived at 2pm after spending most of my time asleep. Once in Northampton, boarded a bus to Blisworth. Walked down the hill to the towpath and felt pleased when I saw the boat. Nothing had been touched and everything was in order. I unpacked, made some tea. It was a fine sunny afternoon after a dull wet start to the day. While I had been away it had rained a lot and although I had the cockpit cover on some water had found it`s way into the starboard bilge. I was soon dressed in my overalls and rubber gloves getting the water out. I noticed there was a small hole in the cover where water had been dripping into the bilge. Later I caught the bus to Asda and did some shopping.
Sunday 8th June
The 12 volt fridge didn`t seem to be working too well so I pulled it out and cleaned behind it. After reading the manual and pushing it back I left more space behind and the fridge started getting colder and the ice box started frosting up.
At about 11am I decided to leave Blisworth and head for a little village called Bugbrooke. It was glorious sunshine and very warm. I motored for about one and a half hours and pulled in at Bugbrooke Wharf for a break. I had passed many boats on the move, so perhaps they had come out because it was a warm sunny Sunday in June.
Later carried on and eventually moored up near Stowehill Bridge at Weedon. Hoped to get a TV signal as there was a space between the trees, but I got no picture.
Monday 9th June 2014
The day began with hazy sunshine. I was moored near a main road and it was a bit noisy with the cabin doors open. I thought about catching the bus into Northampton, write up some blog in the library, then move on to Norton Junction, about 5 miles away. That was the plan but I just stayed put, enjoying the lovely sunshine.
Tuesday 10th June 2014
I left Weedon and cruised on for a couple of hours. I came to Wilton Marina where I had bought Annabel two years and three months ago. I had a good look at the craft for sale. It was good to see all the boats had changed from when I bought Annabel. I spoke to a salesman at the marina and they were keen to sell Annabel for me, if I should ever want to sell her. The terms and conditions were outlined and their 5% commission stressed.
Later I carried on and passed through the seven Buckby locks and reached Norton Junction where I turned left and moored up for the night. The day had been sunny, warm but windy and in the evening there was a heavy shower of rain.
Wednesday 11th June 2014
Left Norton Junction and headed for the Braunston Tunnel which soon came into view. The tunnel was opened in 1796 and is 2042 yards long. During it`s construction a mistake was made and it has a slight S bend. I entered the darkness, but could see a pin prick of light which was the tunnels northern exit. It took about 40 minutes to pass through and was not as scary as the tunnel at Blisworth. After emerging into daylight there were six locks to navigate before reaching the canal village of Braunston where I was able to tie up on a 48 hour mooring. For a while I just sat in the sunshine then bought a few provisions in the local shop.
Engine hours 948 Fuel 505mm
Thursday 12th June 2014
I stayed in Braunston all day and visited Braunston Marina and met Paul the salesman. He later came to see Annabel and said he would like to sell her for me. I had advertised her privately but only had a few enquires and time wasters. Paul said this was normal when trying to sell a boat. In the end, he said you have to leave it to professional brokerage. I would be allowed to leave Annabel in the marina free of charge for people to view and once it was sold the marina would takes 6% commission.
I had been thinking of selling for a while as had been cruising for over two years. I had enjoyed it so much, but my original plan had been to do this for a year. If I sold the boat then missed the cruising life so much I could always buy another boat in a year or two. Paul and I agreed that I could bring the boat into the marina on Monday morning and he would take photographs and prepare a leaflet.
The weather was so perfect I decided to carry on cruising. I filled the water tank at a water point. It took ages so the water tank must have been nearly empty. I left about 12.30pm and very soon left the Grand Union Canal and turned onto the Oxford Canal, heading north through very green, lush pleasant countryside passing sheep, cows and horses, grazing peacefully in the sunshine. Motored for three hours before reaching Wharf Bridge at Hillmorton near Rugby. I secured the boat to the bank, then went for a cycle ride to see what lay ahead and for some exercise.
Saturday 14th June 2014
I was glad to leave the mooring in the morning as the Oxford Canal was quite narrow at that point. When boats went past, sometimes too fast the ropes strained and the pegs kept getting pulled out the soft ground. I soon reached the three locks at Hillmorton. They were single locks so soon passed through and at the bottom there was a winding hole. I had to make a decision whether to carry on towards Coventry or turn round and return to Braunston and put her up for sale. I decided to go on and motored for another couple of hours, pulling in for a break at bridge 34. After an extended rest carried on until 7.30pm where I stopped on the outskirts of Coventry. Had one scare when a hire boat came round a bend too fast as I was passing through a bridge. Although he saw me he seemed incapable of slowing down and nearly hit me. The grandparents in in the front were scared stiff. I managed to take evasive action and avoided a collision. Hire boat skippers don`t always have the experience to know what to do in any given situation. I eventually moored up for the night and for the first time managed to get a TV picture. I was pleased as I was able to watch England`s first World Cup match. Unfortunately they lost to Italy by two goals to one.
In the morning I cycled along the towpath to find a suitable place to leave Annabel and go home. It had to be a safe place where I could catch a bus into Coventry bus station and catch a National Express coach. After a couple of miles I found a place at bridge 4 ( Tusses Bridge ). Cycled back to Annabel and moved her to the spot I had found. Later on I cycled to Tesco and bought some food. On my return I search the canal with my treasure hunting magnet hoping to find a steel mooring peg, as I only had two left. Instead I pulled out an chopper in good condition which I`m sure will be useful. Later I sent an email to Paul, the salesman at Braunston saying I would delay any decision to sell Annabel
Monday 16th June 2014
Woke up this morning as heard loud voices then a crash as a passing boat hit the side of Annabel. She was on a bend but there were boats in front and behind. I think it must have been a hire boat skipper. Later I placed two big red fenders on the outside in case it happens again.
I took the bus into Coventry and spent a couple of hours in the vehicle museum looking at all the vehicles that were produced in Coventry. During the 1980`s most of the factories closed down as the British car industry collapsed and after that nearly all the cars on the road were made by foreign industry.
I booked an open return at the bus station to Southampton for Tuesday morning, then returned to Annabel to pack.
Tuesday 17th June 2014
After a thorough tidy up and clean and turning everything off, I caught a bus into Coventry with a bag full of washing. At the bus station I caught the 12.45pm coach direct to Southampton. It arrived at 5.25pm on time and I had time to walk to the ferry and board the 6pm ferry to East Cowes. I was indoors at 7.45pm.
Engine hours 961 Fuel level 450mm
Blisworth to Coventry (bridge 4) 40 miles
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Monday 7th July 2014
Returned to Annabel and found her on her own with no other boats around, but safely moored to the bank. Always a relief to find that everything is fine after not being on board for nearly three weeks. I intended to move her to Hawksbury Junction a couple of miles along the canal, but as soon as I reached the boat the heavens opened and it rained for over an hour. I had plenty to do inside the boat so decided to remain in position until tomorrow .
Tuesday 8th July 2014
The next morning was sunny, so after a leisurely beginning started the diesel engine and moved towards Hawkbury Junction where three canals meet. I passed through one lock then turned round, tied up and got rid of rubbish and filled up the water tank. I then passed back through the same lock, tied up to the bank, had some breakfast then lay down and slept. It was 3pm when I moved again and headed south back towards Braunston. I could motor well into the evening and eventually a couple of miles before Rugby tied up for the night. Managed to get a TV signal and watched Germany beat Brazil, seven goals to one in the semi finals of the World Cup. I received a phone call my son, Richard giving me the news that Sarah, his wife was expecting their first baby. I nearly slipped into the canal with surprise. I conveyed my congratulations over the phone.
Wednesday 9th July 2014
Awoke after a good night`s sleep. Looked through the porthole and the water in the canal was sparkling in the sunshine and a farm tractor was busy in the field across the water. Took my time getting ready as there was no rush. When I was ready to leave the strong wind was holding Annabel against the bank. Every time I push her bow out and ran to the cockpit to engage the gear and throttle off, the wind had pushed her back. After several failed attempts I used the boat`s pole to push the front nearly 60 degrees out from the bank and this time I was successful and began my journey. I went as far as Rugby and managed to get a 48 hour mooring near the middle of town. I cycled to Tesco and stocked up on supplies. It was a beautiful hot day and everywhere was colourful. In the evening I went to the Harvester pub and watched the match between Holland and Argentina that was won by Argentina on penalties.
Engine hours 969 Fuel 430mm
Thursday 10th July 2014
Woke up late and pottered around the boat and cleaned the deck. She was moored in such a pleasant place and the sunshine was hot. I bought a few more items from Tesco. Again I was in no rush to move as the days are so long. Well, they should be as it is July now. Left about 3pm and slowly made my was to Hillmorton Locks where I tied up on a 14 day mooring below the locks. It was very quiet after the night before in Rugby.
I stayed on the mooring until the afternoon. I had a long conversation with a chap called called Yogi who had lived on a canal boat for fourteen years and ran a small business from his boat selling items like fenders. He recommended Braunston Marina if I was thinking of selling the boat. I left the mooring and passed through the three Hillmorton Locks. At the first one there was a volunteer lock keeper called Ted who helped boaters one day a week through the lock. I continued towards Braunston but stopped at the Canal Shop Marina and bought 34.9 litres of red diesel for £30.36 at 87p per litre. It was to top up the tank to a reasonable level. Paul the salesman wanted to sell Annabel and their commission for doing so was low, but I didn`t think they would market Annabel as well as Braunston Marina. I continued my journey but it was getting late so I pulled into the bank and tried to get a TV picture without success, but tied up any way. The area was like the wilderness with no one about but I spent the night there.
Saturday 12th July 2014
Left the wilderness mooring and half throttled towards Braunston, I was in no rush to get there as these were my final days on the canal. I reached Braunston, then stopped and filled the water tank and disposed of more rubbish. Everywhere was crowded with boats and I only found one space outside Braunston Marina on a 48 hour mooring. This was the end of my cruise as I intended to put her up for sale if the marina would market her for me. I visited the marina office and saw Paul the salesperson. He was still keen to sell her for me. He showed me a space on a floating pontoon where to leave her and I decided to take her in the next day.
Sunday 13th July 2014
I moved Annabel into the marina at 11am and tied up to the pontoon allocated near other narrowboats for sale. It felt secure being in a marina. I walked over to the marina and presented all the necessary documents required including proof of ownership. I completed a form giving full details of the boat and left everything with Paul. It was Sunday and many people were looking at narrowboats for sale. Although Annabel wasn`t officially up for sale at that moment, I thought I would invite people aboard to view her. She compared very well in price with the other boats, many of whom were nearly 50K. Annabel was for sale at 35K. Every one who came aboard seemed impressed, but one doesn`t sell a narrowboat just like that. It takes time and effort. In the evening went to the Old Plough Pub in Braunston and watched Germany beat Argentina in the Wold Cup Final.
Monday 14th July 2014
I took the bus into Daventry and booked a coach ticket to return home the next day. After returning to Annabel I completely cleaned her inside and out. I still had many items on the boat that I would not be able to take home, so decided to bring the car to the marina within a week and empty the boat. The office told me that narrowboats were selling very well at the moment, helped by the fine weather, rising house prices and thriving economy.
Engine Hours 980 since starting cruise Fuel level 510mm
Tuesday 15th July 2014
I had to catch a bus at 9.40am to Daventry, then another bus to Northampton where I was on time to board the 11.30am coach for Southampton. via London. When the coach arrived at the coach station in Southampton at 4.45pm I had fifteen minutes to catch the ferry at 5pm. Dragging my bag I got to the ferry terminal in record time and they were just going to raise the ramp, but they let me walk on to the car deck. I was home before 7pm.
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I left the Isle of Wight on the 5.45am ferry and after walking to the coach station in Southampton caught the 8am coach to Heathrow, then boarded the 11.30am coach to Northampton and arrived at 2pm after spending most of my time asleep. Once in Northampton, boarded a bus to Blisworth. Walked down the hill to the towpath and felt pleased when I saw the boat. Nothing had been touched and everything was in order. I unpacked, made some tea. It was a fine sunny afternoon after a dull wet start to the day. While I had been away it had rained a lot and although I had the cockpit cover on some water had found it`s way into the starboard bilge. I was soon dressed in my overalls and rubber gloves getting the water out. I noticed there was a small hole in the cover where water had been dripping into the bilge. Later I caught the bus to Asda and did some shopping.
Sunday 8th June
The 12 volt fridge didn`t seem to be working too well so I pulled it out and cleaned behind it. After reading the manual and pushing it back I left more space behind and the fridge started getting colder and the ice box started frosting up.
At about 11am I decided to leave Blisworth and head for a little village called Bugbrooke. It was glorious sunshine and very warm. I motored for about one and a half hours and pulled in at Bugbrooke Wharf for a break. I had passed many boats on the move, so perhaps they had come out because it was a warm sunny Sunday in June.
Later carried on and eventually moored up near Stowehill Bridge at Weedon. Hoped to get a TV signal as there was a space between the trees, but I got no picture.
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| A beautiful time of the year |
Monday 9th June 2014
The day began with hazy sunshine. I was moored near a main road and it was a bit noisy with the cabin doors open. I thought about catching the bus into Northampton, write up some blog in the library, then move on to Norton Junction, about 5 miles away. That was the plan but I just stayed put, enjoying the lovely sunshine.
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| Filling the water tank |
I left Weedon and cruised on for a couple of hours. I came to Wilton Marina where I had bought Annabel two years and three months ago. I had a good look at the craft for sale. It was good to see all the boats had changed from when I bought Annabel. I spoke to a salesman at the marina and they were keen to sell Annabel for me, if I should ever want to sell her. The terms and conditions were outlined and their 5% commission stressed.
Later I carried on and passed through the seven Buckby locks and reached Norton Junction where I turned left and moored up for the night. The day had been sunny, warm but windy and in the evening there was a heavy shower of rain.
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| Wilton Marine |
Wednesday 11th June 2014
Left Norton Junction and headed for the Braunston Tunnel which soon came into view. The tunnel was opened in 1796 and is 2042 yards long. During it`s construction a mistake was made and it has a slight S bend. I entered the darkness, but could see a pin prick of light which was the tunnels northern exit. It took about 40 minutes to pass through and was not as scary as the tunnel at Blisworth. After emerging into daylight there were six locks to navigate before reaching the canal village of Braunston where I was able to tie up on a 48 hour mooring. For a while I just sat in the sunshine then bought a few provisions in the local shop.
Engine hours 948 Fuel 505mm
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| Approaching the Braunston Tunnel |
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| Just entered the Braunston Tunnel looking back |
I stayed in Braunston all day and visited Braunston Marina and met Paul the salesman. He later came to see Annabel and said he would like to sell her for me. I had advertised her privately but only had a few enquires and time wasters. Paul said this was normal when trying to sell a boat. In the end, he said you have to leave it to professional brokerage. I would be allowed to leave Annabel in the marina free of charge for people to view and once it was sold the marina would takes 6% commission.
I had been thinking of selling for a while as had been cruising for over two years. I had enjoyed it so much, but my original plan had been to do this for a year. If I sold the boat then missed the cruising life so much I could always buy another boat in a year or two. Paul and I agreed that I could bring the boat into the marina on Monday morning and he would take photographs and prepare a leaflet.
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| Braunston Church |
Friday 13th June 2014
The weather was so perfect I decided to carry on cruising. I filled the water tank at a water point. It took ages so the water tank must have been nearly empty. I left about 12.30pm and very soon left the Grand Union Canal and turned onto the Oxford Canal, heading north through very green, lush pleasant countryside passing sheep, cows and horses, grazing peacefully in the sunshine. Motored for three hours before reaching Wharf Bridge at Hillmorton near Rugby. I secured the boat to the bank, then went for a cycle ride to see what lay ahead and for some exercise.
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| Hillmorton Locks |
I was glad to leave the mooring in the morning as the Oxford Canal was quite narrow at that point. When boats went past, sometimes too fast the ropes strained and the pegs kept getting pulled out the soft ground. I soon reached the three locks at Hillmorton. They were single locks so soon passed through and at the bottom there was a winding hole. I had to make a decision whether to carry on towards Coventry or turn round and return to Braunston and put her up for sale. I decided to go on and motored for another couple of hours, pulling in for a break at bridge 34. After an extended rest carried on until 7.30pm where I stopped on the outskirts of Coventry. Had one scare when a hire boat came round a bend too fast as I was passing through a bridge. Although he saw me he seemed incapable of slowing down and nearly hit me. The grandparents in in the front were scared stiff. I managed to take evasive action and avoided a collision. Hire boat skippers don`t always have the experience to know what to do in any given situation. I eventually moored up for the night and for the first time managed to get a TV picture. I was pleased as I was able to watch England`s first World Cup match. Unfortunately they lost to Italy by two goals to one.
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| Newbold Tunnel |
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| Treasure hunting in the canal with a powerful magnet |
Sunday 15th June 2014
In the morning I cycled along the towpath to find a suitable place to leave Annabel and go home. It had to be a safe place where I could catch a bus into Coventry bus station and catch a National Express coach. After a couple of miles I found a place at bridge 4 ( Tusses Bridge ). Cycled back to Annabel and moved her to the spot I had found. Later on I cycled to Tesco and bought some food. On my return I search the canal with my treasure hunting magnet hoping to find a steel mooring peg, as I only had two left. Instead I pulled out an chopper in good condition which I`m sure will be useful. Later I sent an email to Paul, the salesman at Braunston saying I would delay any decision to sell Annabel
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| The museum was full of vehicles manufactured in Coventry |
Woke up this morning as heard loud voices then a crash as a passing boat hit the side of Annabel. She was on a bend but there were boats in front and behind. I think it must have been a hire boat skipper. Later I placed two big red fenders on the outside in case it happens again.
I took the bus into Coventry and spent a couple of hours in the vehicle museum looking at all the vehicles that were produced in Coventry. During the 1980`s most of the factories closed down as the British car industry collapsed and after that nearly all the cars on the road were made by foreign industry.
I booked an open return at the bus station to Southampton for Tuesday morning, then returned to Annabel to pack.
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| Moored for two weeks at Tusses Bridge, Coventry |
After a thorough tidy up and clean and turning everything off, I caught a bus into Coventry with a bag full of washing. At the bus station I caught the 12.45pm coach direct to Southampton. It arrived at 5.25pm on time and I had time to walk to the ferry and board the 6pm ferry to East Cowes. I was indoors at 7.45pm.
Engine hours 961 Fuel level 450mm
Blisworth to Coventry (bridge 4) 40 miles
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Monday 7th July 2014
Returned to Annabel and found her on her own with no other boats around, but safely moored to the bank. Always a relief to find that everything is fine after not being on board for nearly three weeks. I intended to move her to Hawksbury Junction a couple of miles along the canal, but as soon as I reached the boat the heavens opened and it rained for over an hour. I had plenty to do inside the boat so decided to remain in position until tomorrow .
The next morning was sunny, so after a leisurely beginning started the diesel engine and moved towards Hawkbury Junction where three canals meet. I passed through one lock then turned round, tied up and got rid of rubbish and filled up the water tank. I then passed back through the same lock, tied up to the bank, had some breakfast then lay down and slept. It was 3pm when I moved again and headed south back towards Braunston. I could motor well into the evening and eventually a couple of miles before Rugby tied up for the night. Managed to get a TV signal and watched Germany beat Brazil, seven goals to one in the semi finals of the World Cup. I received a phone call my son, Richard giving me the news that Sarah, his wife was expecting their first baby. I nearly slipped into the canal with surprise. I conveyed my congratulations over the phone.
Wednesday 9th July 2014Engine hours 969 Fuel 430mm
Thursday 10th July 2014
Woke up late and pottered around the boat and cleaned the deck. She was moored in such a pleasant place and the sunshine was hot. I bought a few more items from Tesco. Again I was in no rush to move as the days are so long. Well, they should be as it is July now. Left about 3pm and slowly made my was to Hillmorton Locks where I tied up on a 14 day mooring below the locks. It was very quiet after the night before in Rugby.
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Friday 11th July 2014
I stayed on the mooring until the afternoon. I had a long conversation with a chap called called Yogi who had lived on a canal boat for fourteen years and ran a small business from his boat selling items like fenders. He recommended Braunston Marina if I was thinking of selling the boat. I left the mooring and passed through the three Hillmorton Locks. At the first one there was a volunteer lock keeper called Ted who helped boaters one day a week through the lock. I continued towards Braunston but stopped at the Canal Shop Marina and bought 34.9 litres of red diesel for £30.36 at 87p per litre. It was to top up the tank to a reasonable level. Paul the salesman wanted to sell Annabel and their commission for doing so was low, but I didn`t think they would market Annabel as well as Braunston Marina. I continued my journey but it was getting late so I pulled into the bank and tried to get a TV picture without success, but tied up any way. The area was like the wilderness with no one about but I spent the night there.
Saturday 12th July 2014
Left the wilderness mooring and half throttled towards Braunston, I was in no rush to get there as these were my final days on the canal. I reached Braunston, then stopped and filled the water tank and disposed of more rubbish. Everywhere was crowded with boats and I only found one space outside Braunston Marina on a 48 hour mooring. This was the end of my cruise as I intended to put her up for sale if the marina would market her for me. I visited the marina office and saw Paul the salesperson. He was still keen to sell her for me. He showed me a space on a floating pontoon where to leave her and I decided to take her in the next day.
Sunday 13th July 2014
I moved Annabel into the marina at 11am and tied up to the pontoon allocated near other narrowboats for sale. It felt secure being in a marina. I walked over to the marina and presented all the necessary documents required including proof of ownership. I completed a form giving full details of the boat and left everything with Paul. It was Sunday and many people were looking at narrowboats for sale. Although Annabel wasn`t officially up for sale at that moment, I thought I would invite people aboard to view her. She compared very well in price with the other boats, many of whom were nearly 50K. Annabel was for sale at 35K. Every one who came aboard seemed impressed, but one doesn`t sell a narrowboat just like that. It takes time and effort. In the evening went to the Old Plough Pub in Braunston and watched Germany beat Argentina in the Wold Cup Final.
Monday 14th July 2014
I took the bus into Daventry and booked a coach ticket to return home the next day. After returning to Annabel I completely cleaned her inside and out. I still had many items on the boat that I would not be able to take home, so decided to bring the car to the marina within a week and empty the boat. The office told me that narrowboats were selling very well at the moment, helped by the fine weather, rising house prices and thriving economy.
Engine Hours 980 since starting cruise Fuel level 510mm
Tuesday 15th July 2014
I had to catch a bus at 9.40am to Daventry, then another bus to Northampton where I was on time to board the 11.30am coach for Southampton. via London. When the coach arrived at the coach station in Southampton at 4.45pm I had fifteen minutes to catch the ferry at 5pm. Dragging my bag I got to the ferry terminal in record time and they were just going to raise the ramp, but they let me walk on to the car deck. I was home before 7pm.
Final leg 16
Blisworth to Coventry 40 miles..........Coventry back to Braunston 22 miles..........Total 62 miles
On the 30th July Libby at Braunston Marina contacted me and told me an offer had been made for Annabel. It was close to what I expected, so I accepted the offer. The offer is always subject to survey which will take place on the 14th August. The boat had only been up for sale for one week and it was good to know she was sold so quickly, but at the same time it was sad knowing she was going to have a new owner.
Total miles since me buying Annabel..... 1300 miles
Total engine hours recorded....... 980 hours
Test
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