I'm on the canal ...

Setting off this morning a bird decided to use my aerial for a perch.

I soon got back into the swing of working locks for myself.

Nottingham was quite pretty in the sunshine and if I hadn't got a deadline to meet I might have stopped for a few hours.

Having taken the picture I then thought I had been had and he wasn't real.

He is as he did eventually move his head.

Dont you just love what people have at the bottom of their gardens?

All the family out for a walk.

I bought my locking fuel cap from here.  Good to finally see the man in the crows nest from the water.

Plan A had been to turn left here.

Plan B even to turn right.

However Plan X means straight on

Everytime I travel down the M1 I always look down at the water and never see anyone.

And now there are two of us!

Currently moored in a lovely rural location so have been able to open windows etc and let cat out.

Downside - we are right next to the sewage works.

Actually not that bad as I am still contending with the smell of the exploding omelette inside.

All is relative.

Hazleford Lock to Holme Pierrepont

I had planned to go further but once again the heat defeated me so my lunch stop at Holme Pierrepont ended up being the end of that days road.

Long chat with gentleman on boat behind who should be continuously cruising but is injured (by the next lock which had me a little bit worried) so cannot move his boat.  He showed me some good knots and generally bent my ear for three hours but was interesting company so I didn't mind.

Found the source of the bad smell in the galley.  A keep in the cupboard until you need it type spanish omelette had exploded! Oh joy.

Leaving Hazelford

Another lovely weir

Passed by two of my fellow Torksey crowd

Can we fit.

Yes we can.  But if Ngarpi had been any longer we wouldn't!

I have rafted down there.

And got stuck under the raft.  Once again not an experience I enjoyed.

Liked the rafting not the nearly drowning part.

Photos for previous blog post

View from my window yesterday morning.

The blue/red barge is a bar. 

Simon and Cath's boat from the farm.

It's a small world

Passing a canoeist alongside the Amersham Weir.

Doesn't look quite as scary this time in the sunshine as it had three years ago with a boat that had let us down at Cromwell Weir!

Current mooring outside Hazelford Lock.

Didn't take any photos of Fiskerton or of canoe trip.  Which is a shame the pontoon was  a doozy

Quick update

So I moored up in Newark behind the Barge despite being told specifically by the Lockkeeper at Nether Lock to moor with other people.  Unfortunately the pontoon moorings at the Kiln were full up and I didn't realise there were better moorings through the bridge and on the parkside until it was too late.  Chatting to a passerby he said there had been a boat moored where I was for two weeks and it had been fine as far as he was aware!

I sussed out the bus situation and as the bus station is being revamped my bus actually went from right next to where I was so I decided I would stay put.  Travelled into Mansfield on the 'school' bus which was entertaining.  Did a bit of work but had to leave early with the boss as there was only one key for the gate since the main company had gone bust and we were the only chickens in the yard!  Looking forward to when we move premises now.

By the time I got back the park moorings had all filled up so had to stay where I was.  At 4.30am some toerag thought it would be fun to jump on the roof of the boat and jump up and down.  Weird because I had been awake anyway and there had been no 'discussion' before and just as quietly as he arrived he left.  Definately a he from the size of the boot prints on the roof next day.

Arranged to meet Rob at Fiskerton as it had looked nice from the bus.  As I was about to leave a boat came past and upon asking if they were going through the lock and could I join them (I thought it was unmanned at the time due to it showing an amber light) it turned out they were the people who run the farm where my horse Macuba still lives.  Serendipity strikes again.  Had a good chat in the lock and as I had to get to Fiskerton by 12pm in order for us to go fetch Rob's car from Nuneaton before they shut at 2pm I overtook and left them standing!!!  Fiskerton it turns out is not the best for mooring.  The visitor mooring only takes one narrowboat or two cruisers and as it had cruisers on I wasn't able to moor alongside.  I spotted a little extra pontoon just beyond the long term moorings and attached myself to it.  It was very decrepit and scary I was convinced it was either going to sink under me or the boards would collapse under my weight.  Having gingerly moored up I then realised that I couldnt get out the top as the little gate was locked and there was barbed wire strung everywhere.  I carefully moved the boat back so that the rear deck was on the private moorings with the help of a man leaning over the wall telling me how far I could go before squashing the little cruiser/dinghy type thing.  I asked a man off the boats if I could leave it there for a couple of hours or so would I be in anyones way etc to which he said it would be fine.  Rob had arrived so off we went to do the long distance car shuffle.

nb Comfortably Numb went past as I was mooring up breasted up to another boat.

Picked his car up in Nuneaton, left my car somewhere along the Trent and Mersey canal for me to pick up when I get the boat to it and back to Fiskerton.   Still no room on the visitor moorings so we went to the pub seemed mean not to as we were leaving the car in their carpark!

Leaving the pub there was a man who looked cross.  So I asked him if he was the landlord of the private moorings.  He wasn't but then we realised he was the owner of the decrepit pontoon!  He thought the landlord had said it was okay which made him cross.  But after realising that I had asked one of the boaters he came round and said we could stay the night and didn't need to move back onto the visitor moorings which had now become free.  He even invited us round to his house the next morning for a coffee.

Next morning I took a bottle of wine around while Rob made a start on the oil change which was not to be as they had sent the wrong oil filters!!!  We motored up to Hazelford Lock and canoed back down gently with the flow.  Having a small picnic on the way.  Dried the canoe and had a drink at the pub before packing it away in the car again and Rob gave me a lift back to the boat then he rushed off to watch the England match.  Which he wishes he hadn't bothered now!

I moved through the lock with two boats from the Trent stage intending to go to Gunthorpe after filling with water but the heat was making me feel unwell.  Whilst watering up the other spout kept leaking water which was a godsend as I kept wiping my face and then filling my cap and wearing it.  Bliss.

Collared a random passerby to catch my ropes as I moved off the water wall round the corner to a wall with smaller bollards slightly closer together.  Glad I had as the wind kept moving the boat away but he gamely hung onto the centre line until I was able to join him and together we pulled the boat back in.  Not easy mooring to these walls when you are a solo boater as they are so far above you.  Still in a couple of days I should be back on the canals.

 I am sooo hot and bothered.  What can I eat now?

I've earned my armbands

So the view this morning at about 6am was this.

I was ready to go and wanted to make sure I wasn't tail end charlie.  As it happens I needn't have worried as we stayed in our respective positions all the way to Cromwell Lock.

Most of the journey I was the middle boat of 7 but towards the end a dutch barge caught us up and remarkably stayed at the back. 

According to the others that had travelled up from Thorne to Torksey in one hit hadn't been the case the day before.  Although when it mattered it powered through to make sure it was in the first four locking up through Nether Lock.  This only had one sluice working so again was very slow.  I am ahead of myself.

After an unbelievable 4 hours this was a welcome site/sight.  I can't believe that three years ago we did it in 6 hours from Keadby to here.  Just shows what a difference a tide can make.

It is welcome from this side but not so much from the otherside when you are dragging your anchor towards it!

If the dutchbarge had been a narrowboat we would all have squeezed in the small half of the lock.  We were 4 abreast at the front then three then all by itself in the large back chamber was the dutch barge.  This meant the lock took an age to fill.  Time well spent in using the loo!

As the middle two boats we unfortunately got foamed big style.  I had to go in and shut my portholes as it was in danger of coming in at the top.  Looked really weird from inside the boat.

So having done the last bit of the Trent on my ownsome I think I now qualify as a single boater.

OK

So where are my waterwings?

Sporting a new necklace

With extra bling in the shape of a cylinder dog tag as well as the bell and disc that came with.  Sublime to the ridiculous perhaps!

Debbie was one of those with my details who was going to keep an eye out for said chat mechant and when I cycled past on the way in I couldn't see her so made a special visit all the way up the other side of the moorings on my way back to let her know she could stand down.  To save me about a mile of further cycling she offered to row me across with bike in the dinghy.

I loved it.

The cat in the hat came back

After a long day searching for her and the two boats she may have absconded on in and around Lincoln I returned to the mooring and at 10.15pm as I was getting into bed I heard an imperious meiow outside and there the little tinker was.  Totally unabashed at being absent without leave for 24 hours.

Today I am mostly going back into Lincoln to stand down all the lovely people who are now also looking for her and to get her a collar and name tag!

That darned cat

I think she has stowed away on another narrowboat and is now heading for Lincoln.

Idiot cat.  Most inconvenient.

Lincoln or bust

Back at the Woodcock Inn moorings waiting for Rob to meet us and do clever things with the gearbox oil change etc.

After him insisting that the steps around the engine must be removed to access the sump plug and us discovering that Andy had not quite grasped the concept of

These panels around the engine must be easily removed.

We put the steps back together and I was able to work out size of bolt with my flexible back and then Rob discovered that lieing down he can very easily reach said sump plug we started the engine to warm oil up and left it for an hour.  Bonus we got hot water again, this is the first time I have run the engine and not moved but I felt it was allowed in this instance as it was for a purpose reason.

Oil change went well, it takes 2 litres not 1.4litres advertised - the icecream container only just held it all!

I transferred oil into old oil can and wiped bilges down again so they are still lovely and 'cleanish'.

We celebrated by having a fabulous meal at the Woodcock Inn.  It was absolutely heaving but we managed to get a table without the 30minute wait we were advised about on walking through the door (probably because we only needed a two table)

I had a good night sleep but apparently the boat up from us were noisy returning from the pub at 1.30pm.

Sunday it was Lincoln for a 'nice day out' we got the last visitor mooring which was lucky - although we later discovered we could have gone through the Glory Hole and moored that side.

I bought this rather fetching hat in Lincoln.  Wearing it I feel like Audrey Hepburn - apparently I am mistaken.

Is this a double helix I wonder?

Having visited the Lincoln Life Museum - thoroughly recommended although we didn't have time to do all of it as we needed to return to The Woodcock Inn moorings for Rob to drive back home at a reasonable hour we took a trip through the Glory Hole and turned around just before Stamp End Lock.

The cat was understandably a little fed up as she hadn't been outside ALL DAY so on our way back to the moorings I left the door open to us on the back.  She very bravely came into the engine bay whilst the engine was running.  I shut the back doors and then lifted her up so she could see what was happening.  After a while she got onto the boat roof.

At this point I felt I had maybe made a mistake.

She took a stroll down the boat and back.  Then things got a little too exciting for her as not only was there a boat approaching but also a Lancaster Bomber overhead!  It is very unlike her to allow me to pick her up but she was very willing indeed and once safely in the bowels of the boat ran back to safety.

Much happier.  She can dive under the tarp into her nice safe hidey hole.

Time for oil and gearbox oil change

HELP

I am an idiot and thought it was 500 hours before first service not 50.  Have just checked and of course I am now at 59 hours.

On looking through the paperwork(Beta 43)  I discover that I should have actually changed the gearbox oil at 25 hours.  I should also have been checking that dipstick too. (Didn't know there was one I am such a dipstick!)

Now what sort of oil should I get?  The manual says API CF (or CD CE) SAE 15W/40.

By chance I bought some Mineral Diesel Engine Oil 15W/40 API CI4/SL in case I needed to top up at any stage. Would it have been okay considering the remains of the previous is APICF4/SF or would it have been mixing two types.

Since I now have to do a full change now is it okay to use from oil change onwards?   (If so I need to get another one as 5l wont be enough anyway)

And the oil filter?  Is this a standard type on a Beta 43?  Can it be got from any Motor factors?


Also what about the gearbox?  PRM150  the book says below 0 degrees 10W30 or 20W Engine oil
0 to 30degrees 10W30 or 15W40 engine oil (I'll ignore the over 30degrees we are in england after all)

Can it be the same as whatever I end up putting in the Engine so I only need to have one sort on board for topping up purposes.

All/any assistance in this matter gratefully received ideally before I attempt the Trent again.

Plus should I get this service done by people who know or can a motorbike type person (not me) be able to do it without compromising my engine?

Sowing the seeds

I took a trip over to the boat today to check it wasn't sinking and also to transfer some of the rather large pile of 'stuff to take on board'  that has been cluttering up the hallway.  Two trips today and possibly two or three on Wednesday and the boat is not near where the car is parked so you can see why I didn't want to have to do it all in one hit especially as one of the trips would involve the cat.

I was amazed to see nose to nose with my boat one that I have been following on blogger.  Namely nb.Zindagi.  They were instrumental in my not buying an Envirolet but a Natures Head instead.  I couldn't resist the temptation and once I had finished loading the boat I knocked on their hatch.  I like the fact I have now met in reality someone I have had several conversations with over the ether.

Of course I picked his brains regarding best use of the NH and between us we decided the plants I appear to be growing in there since I have been away are probably hemp.   Hmmm.

Tale of a tile

My Mother likes to try her hand at anything and everything especially all things artistic.  Before they left Portugal in 1997 to return to England she wanted to record the last house etc in the Portuguese Azulejo style.  Nearby a tile factory let her buy the basic blank tile and presumably the inks to decorate them with and she produced several of the house, garden flowers etc and they took them back and fired them for her.  I have one of the practice flowers and the posh ones are beautifully framed and hung on the wall in their conservatory.


When I discovered that she still had one blank tile left I thought she could make me one for Bobcat like the stained glass portholes.  Well trying to find anyone in England that would be prepared to include this tile in their next firing was proving to be impossible.  They were all concerned with Health and Safety, wasn't one of their tiles, could blow up their furnace etc etc. (Which I suppose bearing in mind the age of the tile probably wasn't so outrageous)

As luck would have it they were going on a trip to Portugal and contacting one of her old muckers from over there managed to locate a tile factory that would fire it for her.

Of course their trip wasn't without incident (remember the National Express Coach debacle?).

They got to Gatwick fine and got on the plane where they sat for up to three hours before being returned to the airport for lunch.  I was asked to email the hotel in Madeira where they were going to first to advise that they were still coming but were a little bit delayed by the Nueva da Cinza.  After overnighting at Gatwick they did eventually get to Madeira and on to Portugal.  The tile was fired and survived the firing and the travelling.

It then got posted up to me.  I was on the boat and small boy was on alert every morning for the knock on the door by the postman.  This didn't happen and we were getting a little concerned - no little parcel and no note advising of any attempted delivery.

At 9.30pm a knock on the door on the day I returned from the boat resulted in the tile finally reaching it's destination.  It had actually arrived the day after posting and my neighbours across the way had taken it in.  However they were confused by the lack of car on my driveway and they thought the lights going on and off randomly were a clever anti burglar system.  (Yup all 6 foot of him).

So here it is

One unique tile with cork backing.

On another note my mother has also knitted a jumper for my dad starting with the wool off the sheeps back, carded, spun etc etc.  She doesn't do things by half my mum.  I am a very proud daughter I just wish some of those skills had been passed on to me.  Hey ho.

Photos of trip 2010 so far

Ranby

my led mirror

past Ranby

Drakeholes

Our fast departing companions on the Trent

Torksey

washing way hay.

I was right to be scared of the washing machine it tried to do the fandango/irish clog dance.  Turns out the travelling doo hickeys hadn't been removed!  Luckily Rob and Phil were there at the time and they worked out that was the problem.  I though my quarry tiles would break.

Waiting for ships cat on wet Tuesday

Gooseberry

One large boat handed through 'small bridge hole'

Week two of 2010 Summer Voyage

Saturday 29th May 2010

So I set off from Clayworth to West Stockwith at about 9am.  It was a drizzly day and not much fun due to the shallowness and weediness of the canal.  Stopped for an early lunch at Drakeholes as I knew there would be no other chances.  Felt I was unwelcome as a gentleman and I use the term loosely in another boat that had overtaken me way back at Clayworth looked at me.  I can't explain it.  Previously when we had met coming the other way we hadn't had a problem as we met just outside the Chequers Inn at Ranby and I went onto the moorings however on speaking to the cruiser that had been following me (and helping me at locks) they had been run into the bushes and aground without any ceremony.  When I let him overtake me he got cross because my bows were stuck onto his rear due to catching his slipstream.  He shouted back that unless I stopped he couldn't overtake I replied that I was in reverse!!! Basically one of those that give boaters a bad name I think.

Anyway I carried on and did the next three double locks solo and it was tough.  By the last one I was exhausted and was bowhauling my boat across the pound when some hirers from West Stockwith with loads of crew in two boats 'stole' my lock.  Fair enough as I was struggling to get the boat back from the otherside of the pound but when they left me with both gates open and paddles up I could have wept.

Rob arrived later and then my ex and his partner came to view the boat since they live nearby.  We then did the car shuffle collecting the company car from Clayworth and taking it across to Torksey.

Sunday

Up early ready to head out onto the Trent.  As the other boat was filling with diesel I took the opportunity to fill my tank up completely.  We can now see exactly how far a full tank will get me.  The trip was uneventful and better weather.  I may attempt the next hop on my own as I may have to travel during the week when crew will be thin on the ground.

Monday

Rob left about lunchtime and I set off towards Lincoln.  I stopped at Saxilby.

Tuesday

Cat went out about 9am and didn't return until 9.30pm.  It was a rainy dismal day so I didn't mind not moving (I did at least get some work done) but would have preferred not to have to worry about her possibly being squashed by a train as the line was very close to the boat.  When I popped out to post the wages off I was disconcerted to see several 'my cat is missing' type posters up in the shop windows!!

Wednesday

We set off towards Lincoln but the moorings just before Burton Waters looked very inviting so we pulled in.  We lounged in the sunshine and generally chilled.  Apart from the trains going passed the cat was fine, I think she must have been slightly traumatised the day before by being stuck in the undergrowth with trains going past but not daring to return to the boat due to people and dogs.  Oh yes we also had several flypasts by the Red Arrows but they were too quick for me to take a photo.

Thursday

Leisurely start to the day, turned around in the Marina entrance and set off back to Torksey.  At Saxilby we had to hang around near the wharf whilst an enormous cruiser/gin palace edged it's way through/under the rail bridge.  Probably a good job a train didn't go over at the crucial moment.  They apologised for holding me up.  They must have decided not to try and get any further as they caught us up near Torksey.  They overtook the narrowboat behind us okay but when he passed me his engine suddenly went bang and they stopped.  I asked him what had happened and he said he had gone aground having left me too much space!  It was hilarious to see the previously indolent crew leap up and start running backwards and forwards to rock the boat.  When they finally passed us after we had moored up he said at least he no longer had to take them for a walk!  Nice people.  Made a change as most cruisers and gin palaces on the Fossdyke do not slow down for moored craft.  At Burton Waters I had had to use 4 mooring pins in the end as I had moored way up one end for the cat and couldn't make use of the bollards.

Ships Cat Photo Blog

One very hot pussy

How did she get in there?

At Forest Locks

At Clayworth

Clayworth

Near Burton Water Marina

I'll just go and talk to them over there

Drake says some sharp words

So I will leave them alone then.

Oh that is so not fair.  They are following me now.

Okay so now how do I get back into the boat mum?

I'll just pose here then.