IWA Festival

We've been in one place all day. That's unusual when we're out in Syncopation. We are attending the IWA Campaign Rally here in Northampton, celebrating 250 years of the Nene navigation. To be honest I was slightly disappointed by the failure of the programmed events to materialise, but the surroundings are very pleasant.


















We are moored in the new Beckett's Park Marina. I decided to take advantage of a special deal the IWA arranged with the marina to get access to a shore line, rather than run the engine at the mooring most of the day to provide us power for cooking and worry about the state of the batteries all evening.

The marina is so new it's not entirely finished as there are no water points or facilities block yet. The first was no issue as we filled the fresh water tank at Gayton Junction. The second is more of an issue as the nearest place I can empty the toilet cassettes is a ten minute walk away. Not too far really, just tiring on the arms as the cassettes weight 16kg when full.

Northampton

Syncopation was still where we left her on Wednesday, although the pin at the front was on the verge of pulling out. A pleasant trip down the remaining three locks brought us to the Nene. We had booked a place in the new marina with a shore line and so we've no worries about keeping the batteries charged until Sunday when we leave (as many cups of tea in the evening as we want). Plus the satellite dish doesn't have to be set up every evening.

Moored in the new Beckett Park Marine, Northampton.

Total distance is 3 miles, ¼ flg and 3 locks

Another Hot Day

We've moved Syncopation down to the edge of Northampton in preparation for our visit to the Inland Waterways Campaign festival next weekend. The weather was outstanding again in the afternoon. It's the first time we've been down the Northampton arm. In the space of 3 miles we worked down 14 locks. The Northampton arm is a short length of canal but heavily locked and despite being next to the A43 for almost its entire length quite picturesque. On Friday we will move Syncopation down to the new marina at Beckett's Park.

Moored near Northampton.
Total distance is 3 miles, 3 flg and 14 locks.

Blogshank

I like to read Blogshank.

All Clean

We've finished cleaning Syncopation. We made our way to New Bradwell in Milton Keynes before turning and heading back North.

We stopped for lunch at a busy Cosgrove where I carried out some repairs to the damaged hatch. With the aid of a 4lb lump hammer I was able to straighten the hinge back to near its original position. The hatch can now be closed with difficulty. I need to trim some of the lining away. It was always a tight fit, but now there is a clash of hatch liners and the hatch needs persuasion from outside to close.

Barbecue.






















Moored near Stoke Bruerne bottom lock.
Total distance is 9 miles, 2¼ flg and 1 lock.

Port Side Clean

I cleaned the port side this morning, then applied wax polish. This was after we had scrubbed the roof clean of algae and duck poo. They seem to have enjoyed perching on the cratch cover and the front end of the roof during the winter.

At lunch time we stopped near Thrupp wharf to wash the starboard side. Unfortunately we left the side hatch half open when we set off. It was at about 30 degrees. This was enough projection to catch on the side of nb Far Far Away as we left Cosgrove lock. Narrowboats don't travel very quickly but 18 tons have a lot of momentum even at 2 mph. Both boats rocked noticeably and there was a bang as the bottom hinge on the hatch door gave. We didn't notice the hatch was open until the iron trunk aqueduct as Wolverton and didn't realise it had been damaged until some time after that. The hatch would not close in the evening so we left it open (with the glass inner door closed).

Moored at Stantonbury.

Total distance is 9 miles, 2¼ flg and 1 lock.

Going South

After a winter laid up Syncopation is on the move again! We're out for the weekend. The aim is to have the boat in a fit state to be seen in public next week at Northampton.

Total distance is 3 miles, 5¾ flg and 7 locks.