MoreThanAdequate

2012-01-19T23:06:00.004Z

Unusual Things

There were unusual and probably unrelated things going on around North Greenwich today. The Royal Navy sent a helicopter to make several passes over the river around the peninsula, at one point hovering at rooftop level over the centre of the river for five minutes, approximately where the future cable car will cross the water.>/p>

Later while walking round the dome I saw one of the Thames Clippers, probably Hurricane Clipper beached on the river bank.

I think the vessel was deliberately beached because if you look closely you can see a man in wellies who appears to be inspecting the sterngear, and this is the nearest handy tidal mudflat to their base.

In the second picture you can just about see how narrow the hulls of these boats are.

2012-01-16T23:07:00.003Z

Dome Abseiling

This last week has seen a number of trips down the O2 domes suspension cables by persons unknown:

We office workers have been speculating and consensus is that they are carrying out some early task in the installation of the rooftop walkway, planned to be opened this year.

2012-01-04T23:01:00.001Z

Packing Away the Toys

The Christmas fair ride has been packed away at the O2. Here it is folding into a package for transport, like a really slow transformer. Optimus Prime comes to mind.

2012-01-02T12:29:00.001Z

Here Be Dragons!

Intrepid robot vacuum cleaner ventures where no cleaner has been in living memory (teenager's bedroom).

2012-01-02T12:27:00.001Z

Geek Gift She Likes

Cathy approves of this year's choice of Geek gift:

iRobot Roomba 531.
This little beastie can do about 90% of the domestic vacuum cleaning from now on, unsupervised.

2011-12-20T13:31:00.000Z

Dukw in Greenwich

Here is a DUKW in Greenwich, parked alongside a simulator in which you can experience the D-Day landings.

2011-12-15T22:55:00.002Z

Christmas at the Cutty Sark

Here's the christmas tree being erected at the top of the mast of the Cutty Sark. The tree appears to be lashed to a spar which is in turn lashed to the top of the mast. Maybe there is some sort of maritime protocol being observed here..

2011-12-14T22:34:00.003Z

Advert Closer

The Emirates Air-Line is beginning to show signs of cable-car like features:

This will be the first advertisement to appear on the London tube map and it will appear twice. See the map on the Transport for London web site linked above. The two new cable car stations will be called Emirates North Greenwich and Emirates Royal docks. I hope they paid a lot for that.

In this picture we see the lowest segment of the Greenwich side pylon about to be lifted into place on its pile in the river bed by a seven-storey high floating crane, the GPS Atlas.

2011-11-29T20:32:00.003Z

Spotted on Indian Chief

The pigeon box on the Stoke Bruerne trip boat has a motto painted on it:

Look closer:

An Inn-keeper's motto if ever there was one.

2011-11-27T22:34:00.000Z

Christmas is coming to North Greenwich

Every year the fair comes to North Greenwich, near the O2. Usually a larger ride arrives first. This year it's the "Skylon Flyer". It's been rebranded: it still has "Star Flyer" painted on the tower. Here's a link to it's previous incarnation in Austria. Hmm. I haven't seen the one at North Greenwich go up and down while it goes round. Perhaps I can persuade my colleagues to take a spin.

2011-10-02T20:47:00.001+01:00

Village at War

We went to Stoke Bruerne's annual Village at War event, organised by the Friends of the Canal Museum. I was excited at the promise of a Hurricane flypast (subject to weather and mechanical fitness). In the event the Hurricane did not turn up but this did instead:

Yes! The observant among you will have recognised the Westland Lysander. As it happens, the first Airfix model I completed to my satisfaction (i.e. that looked like the picture on the box). A little research reveals that this is one of only two flying examples in the world, flown from Duxford; the other being based in Canada.

As always the event was great. This year the battle reenactment was replaced by a demonstration of firepower, as I believe the Germans couldn't make it.

2011-08-24T22:24:00.001+01:00

Personalised Plate

Seen in Leighton Buzzard:

This is a the bottom of a garden in Leighton Buzzard. Normally the Grand Junction Canal Company's mile posts show whole numbers of miles. On this particular stretch, the datum is Braunston.
Here is a "proper" milepost:

Although this is not an original either, you can just see the plaque (horizontal) below the post that records the name of the donors whose generosity allowed it to be restored.

2011-08-22T22:33:00.000+01:00

Out for the Week

This week we're out in convoy with friends who have hired from Gayton Marina. It's quite a novel experience for us to be travelling with another boat. It makes working the wide Grand Union locks easier with more crew. After the introductory talk at the marina we took on water at Gayton Junction and then turned left to make our way south on the Grand Union main line.

Moored at Bozenham Bridge.
Total distance is 5 miles, 5¼ flg and 7 locks.

2011-07-24T20:24:00.000+01:00

Home Again

Back to Blisworth after a pleasant few hours spent at Cosgrove with the Buckingham Canal Society.
Last night was spent enjoying a fish and chip supper and some live music by the lock side. We tested a new Freesat satellite receiver in the evening, found it to be superior to the Sky receiver it replaces. I've been becoming less and less enamoured of the Sky service since they recalled all the Free Sky cards and replaced them. Ours never did work properly so we were unable to view any of the encrypted free channels. None of the Freesat channels are encrypted, so there really is no further purchase than the receiver.
We left relatively early in the day as I had decided to get Syncopation back to Blisworth by tea time. We passed throgh Stoke Bruerne in toiem for ice cream at the Boat Inn.

Moored at Mill Wharf, Blisworth.

Total distance is 9 miles, 5¾ flg and 8 locks

2011-07-23T20:17:00.000+01:00

Lock Ransom

We've made our way down to Cosgrove for the Buckingham Canal Society's annual festival, or Lock Ransom.

For one weekend every year the members of the society take over Cosgrove lock. They operate the lock for everybody who passes through it in the hope of receiving donations for the society's coffers.

Moored below Cosgrove lock.

Total distance is 9 miles, 5¾ flg and 8 locks

2011-06-11T20:42:00.000+01:00

Owl

At the school fete the man with the owl said you should never put your face near a raptor, then suggested a photo opportunity.

2011-06-03T20:36:00.000+01:00

Lunch Time at the Cutty Sark

The restoration of the Cutty Sark is progressing. The covers have been removed and you can see the hull of the ship again. From the artist's impression on the hoarding it looks as though the finished article will have something a little like a conservatory wrapped around it. I can't help thinking the finished article will be about as original as Trigger's Broom or perhaps narrowboat butty Raymond. Still I'm looking forward the the time she's open to the public again.

2011-05-29T20:58:00.007+01:00

Crick Boat Show

At the boat show again. The weather has been threatening all morning but the rain did not materialise.
There were no less than two steam narrowboats at the marina: President was there but behind Kildare, I spotted another funnel:

It was Laplander:

Here we are in the Bell boat, paddling up and down the marina.

2011-05-23T16:46:00.004+01:00

Ronnie Barker

I'm on jury duty this week, so spending time hanging around in Aylesbury.
The new Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury opened recently and now has a statue of Ronnie Barker who the town seems to have claimed because he first performed there.

Aylesbury has a few statues but they are all rather Victorian, up on pedestals in heroic poses. I like this new one as it's very personal and captures the essence of the man as I remember him on TV. You can even sit next to him.

2011-05-18T16:41:00.000+01:00

Huge Almond Garnish

MV Amandine passed North Greenwich today.

This large Roll on Roll off ferry was shepherded by a pair of tugs. Built in January this year the vessel appears to have been named after a French almond garnish.

2011-05-10T20:51:00.000+01:00

Walk at Lunch Time

Got as far as the Thames Barrier.

2011-05-01T21:58:00.005+01:00

Home again

After a leisurely start we made our way up the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union again.

The dark concrete tunnel under the M1 is a slightly incongruous section in an otherwise green and picturesque rural arm of the canal.

Moored at Blisworth.

Total distance is 6 miles, 3 flg and 17 locks

2011-04-30T21:31:00.000+01:00

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.

2011-04-29T22:37:00.003+01:00

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

2011-04-27T22:52:00.002+01:00

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.

2011-04-26T14:27:00.001+01:00

Blogshank

I like to read Blogshank.

2011-04-24T17:32:00.000+01:00

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.

2011-04-23T17:17:00.000+01:00

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.

2011-04-22T17:06:00.002+01:00

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.

2011-03-21T22:53:00.002Z

Bulwark

After a few days' stay in Greenwich, HMS Bulwark sailed down the Thames on her way to points south (I suspect). Here is the "Most technologically advanced assault ship in the fleet" squeezing past Antony Gormley's Quantum Cloud

2011-03-20T17:04:00.000Z

Work Begins on Cable Car Across the Thames

Exploratory drilling has begun for the piling for the proposed Thames Cable Car at Greenwich

Here is the Haven Seajack 4 from Red 7 Marine being used on 4th March to drill holes in the Thames. More holes were being drilled in the car park of the London Soccerdrome.

The Cable Car was given the final go-ahead on 18 March and will link the London Excel centre to the O2 dome in Greenwich. The journey time by DLR is currently 25 minutes.

2011-01-23T21:21:00.001Z

Back in Blisworth

We made our way north to Bugbrooke wharf where there is a winding hole, turned and made our way back to the moorings at Blisworth for lunch.

2011-01-22T22:09:00.006Z

A Weekend Afloat

At last! A weekend afloat. Or at least parts of it. Siobhan has asked for her tenth birthday celebration afloat in the shape of a sleepover on Syncopation. I'm so pleased! It's an excellent reason to clean everything aboard and check all the systems out. Syncopation is coming out of her winter hibernation. We moved aboard last night as a family and after a couple of hours the stove had warmed everything through. We got up this morning and spent most of the day cleaning inside and out.

The guests arrived by 3:30 PM and we moved North from Blisworth, stopping at Gayton junction for water and to empty the toilet cassettes. I tested my lastest innovation - a tap on the end of the hose so that I didn't have to dash to turn the water off as the water level reached the top. The extra weight of the valve also prevent the hose from popping out of the water filler point when there is good pressure.

The spout end is interchangeable withg a car wash brush so I also washed one side of the boat with the hose and hot water from the boat. The other side was facing the canal and I thought it prudent to leave the job until it was on the towpath side. It usually takes two buckets and more time. With the brush on the hose it's quicker.

Ewan and I then retusned home leaving Cathy, Siobhan and her guests to spend the night of the sleepover on the boat. We'll return early in the morning to drive the boat to the Bugbrooke winding hole.

Note to self: Start saving for a new set of batteries. The ones we have are showing seriously reduced capacity. The Smartguage was showing 33% capacity in the morning.

We were hoping to make it to Bugbrooke Winding hole before dark but only made it as far as Wright's Lane Bridge.

Moored at Wright's Lane Bridge No 45

Total distance is 2 miles, 2½ flg and 0 locks.

2010-11-01T23:04:00.001Z

Back in Blue

The inverter has made a welcome return from Holland where it was repaired by the manufacturer, Victron. After only a couple of weeks I have reinstalled it in the electrical cupboard. Here it is, lights lit properly again.

I have also rerouted the 240v from the Travelpower to bypass the inverter, direct to the cooker to try to avoid overloading the inverter. This means we can't use the cooker without the engine running, but this is pretty much the situation we were in before as you can't do more than boil the kettle once or twice before the batteries are flat if all the power is coming from them. For hot beverages after 8:00PM (BW byelaws prohibit the running of engines after this time) there will be a small electric kettle.

2010-10-12T20:55:00.002+01:00

Return of Inverter

The inverter arrived back from Victron on Friday. I didn't immediately reconnect it to Syncopation's electrics because I want to change the electrical layout slightly. I have a feeling the inverter failure was due to frequently overloading it. Between then the oven and induction hob in the galley are capable of drawing about 11kW if everything was turned on at once. We've been careful in using them (never more than one zone on full and never more than two zones at once) the inverter has shut down due to overload a few times. I suspect we normally push the 3kW (2.5 kW continuous) inverter to its limit. In retrospect there should have been two or even three inverters in parallel to handle the load. My plan is therefore to cut the oven and hob out of the inverter circuit altogether and have the 5.5 Kw Travelpower generator drive them directly. We'll probably have to get a small electric kettle for evening cups of tea but that's a much cheaper option than buying new inverters at £1700 a pop.

2010-10-03T13:27:00.015+01:00

Village at War

As Syncopation is moored in the next village I decided to go for a day trip to the 1940s. Stoke Bruerne's Village at War event was held this weekend. Arriving by boat saves the car parking charge. There's a daily re-enactment with lots of gunfire, plenty of old military vehicles to look at and a funfair to take rides on. Oh, and the working boats on the canal around the canal museum.
We watched nb Victoria and butty Angel moving up through the top lock.

The number of locals in period costume was impressive, both military re-enactors to civilians.

There were contingents of the Home Guard:

I was impressed with the full size replica Spitfire,

Complete with replica pilot

Even the Yanks were represented.

I think the guy sitting at the front has watched too many war movies.

And I spotted bloggers Jo and Keith Lodge with their narrowboat Hadar, in traditional costume here chatting to an LDV volunteer.

2010-09-29T21:03:00.002+01:00

Not Inverting

Syncopation's inverter has failed. This handy bit of kit draws 12v electrical power from the boat's battery bank and puts out 240v AC for the domestic appliances on board when the engine-mounted generator is not running. Unfortunately at a little over two years old and therefore out of guarantee, our Victron Multiplus has developed a fault and is no longer converting power or charging the batteries.

An email to the manufacturer, Victron, has put us in touch with a UK distributor and the unti is now on its way back to Victron for repair.

2010-08-30T17:43:00.004+01:00

Ashmolean

We went to the Ashmolean musem today. It's the Oxford University Art and Archaelogy museum, the oldest public museum in the country. It contains a lot of archaelogical exhibits - we went to the Egyptian gallery first to see a mummy. A nice young lady warned Ewan that the museum doesn't approve of five year old boys touching the 3000 year old sculptures as the heiroglyphs wear off.

There is a wide range of exhibits, including curiosities like Guy Fawkes' lantern, said to the the one he was holding when he was caught under the Houses of Parliament with a quantity of gunpowder that proved fatally impossible to explain away. I was also intrigued by Powhatan's mantle (Powhatan was Pocohontas' father) and an outfit that belonged to T.E. Lawrence that he wore between 1916 and 1919.

Powhattan's Mantle

2010-08-27T21:10:00.004+01:00

The DUKW Has Landed

Amphibious tour company Meridian Ducks have arrived at the Dome. The company has just started operating an amphibious tour bus from the North Greenwich bus station next to the Milleniumm Dome in London.

A few weeks ago I saw a brand new DUKW, failing to leave the river at the slipway next to the Dome during my lunch time stroll. I had left my 'phone behind so couldn't take a picture at the time. The vehicle (actually a Seahorse amphibian) was digging itself into the silt on the slope despite the efforts of four policemen and two crew members. After lunch I could see efforts continuing to bring it up the beach eventually bore fruit after a couple of hours. A week or so later the slope had been tidied up to make the process of leaving the water feasible.

Today, I saw this at the bus station next to the new ticket booth, at the taxi rank.

2010-08-07T15:44:00.009+01:00

Heron's Rest - Blue Plaque

Ron and Mary Heritage have returned to Banbury after a three month cruise, following the course of Tom Rolt's honeymoon cruise of 1939.

There was a presentation ceremony with the deputy mayor (wonder where the mayor was?). The heritages have collected a medallion at strategic stopping points along the way and Banbury contributed the final one. They have all been added to a stand that will be displayed

at the IWA national rally at Beale Park. Before all this though, the event was announced by a crier.

I thought he looked a little odd for a town crier:

Tricorne hat - check
Bell - check
Red and gold coat - check

But the ensemble looks more nautical than the traditional 18th century look:

Turns out he was not the official town crier.

After the presentation we all made our way down the canal side to Tooley's. I must confess to being slightly distracted by Victoria, passing south through Banbury:

After a short wait for the Oxford Mail photographer (delayed in traffic) Tony Baldry MP for North Oxfordshire unveiled the blue plaque.

Apparently it's on the fence of Tooley's yard because the Castle Quay shopping centre, owners of the nearest bit of brick wall wanted somebody to take out a tenancy for the plaque (and presumably pay rent). As it is it's clearly visible from the canal.
And finally, I went to the Mill Arts centre on an errand for Cathy and found this outside their front door:

2010-08-06T15:34:00.001+01:00

Village Drugs Raid

When we arrived home we learned we had missed a police raid in the road opposite. It made the front page of the local paper (but not the web site, looks like they post their stories about a week later on line). It would appear a couple of local lads have converted their house into a cannabis farm. Police urged people to be "vigilant around houses which have had all their windows blocked up, where there has been little movement or where there has been movement at strange times." Hmm describes a lot of houses I know of. Still, we have not yet seen a hydroponics shop open locally yet as there is near my mother in law. Detection would be fairly simple in this case. Simply follow the customers home.

2010-08-05T20:20:00.004+01:00

Home Again

The pound I moored in overnight was drained somewhat overnight and we were aground this morning. I had to push Syncopation back into the water as she was showing about three inches below the waterline.
I thought I was going to pick up a partner for the rest of the Buckby flight but it wasn't to be as the next people following down the flight from our start position were travelling as a pair, so the morning was quite hard work. I had lunch opposite Whilton marina and didn't go in and buy stuff. I have a weakness for chandlery stores, I fear. It's like nautical DIY shopping. After an uneventful cruise back to Blisworth we tied up about 4PM and made our way home. Blisworth is filling up with boats here for the Blisworth Canal Festival. I saw a few working boats and the Cheese Boat, among others.

Edit: I nearly forgot. I passed Tuesday Night Club's boat Earnest, launched in 1999. Earnest was heading north towards Buckby.

Moored at Blisworth.

Total distance is 13 miles, 2¾ flg and 6 locks.

2010-08-04T21:11:00.005+01:00

Anchored at Anchor Cottage

We were woken by a boat wishing to pass us as we were across the cut because one of our mooring pins had come out of the bank. Luckily the pin was not lost as they are the type with a loop at the end that I always pass the mooring rope through the loop for just such a contingency.

We bought some diesel at Napton Narrowboats. Only about 30 litres as it seemed expensive at the advertised rate of £1.02 a litre. However as it turned out this was closely comparable to the advertised rate of £0.71 a litre we paid at Sovereign in Banbury. I'll digress a little here. Experienced boaters can skip to the next paragraph. Once upon a time red diesel for pleasure boat use was free of the government duty you all pay when you fill up your car. The EU decided to harmonise the duty situation and now we must pay duty on fuel used to move our boats. However, as a concession we don't have to pay duty on fuel used for heating and generating electricity for domestic use in our boats. But we all move our boats and heat and generate using different proportions of the fuel we buy. Most narrowboats use their engine for all three, in different proportions according to whether their owners are continuous cruisers, holidaymakers, residential or even gas free holiday boats like Syncopaion. As a rough guide somebody dreamed up the proportion of 60% propulsion, 40% heat and electric. When a boater buys diesel they must declare the proportion of their purchase that will be used for propulsion and thus attract 48.5 pence per litre duty payment. This is a legal requirement. I reckon we probably use about 50% for propulsion as we cook with electricity generated by the engine and this is what I declared at Sovereign wharf a couple of days ago, which brought the cost of diesel at 71p per litre to an average cost of £1 per litre for the 20 litres I bought from them. Napton narrowboats assume all boaters will declare 60% propulsion and this comes to £1.02 per litre. I'm not sure it is legal for a seller to compel all buyers to declare 60%. But they are probably within their rights to simply refuse to sell at a different rate.

After a collision with the day boat from the Mill House pub in Braunston (not our fault) we passed back through Braunston where half the crew jumped ship and headed home for a doctor's appointment tomorrow. The rest of us continued with me single-handing up Braunston locks. Luckily for me we met up with nb Hyperion whose ample and expert crew took us with them through the flight.

Braunston is a great place to see working boats as they often congregate here. Ilford and Ibex arrived just as we were passing through.

We stopped just below Buckby top Lock, near Anchor cottage, site of the shop that sold the original Buckby can, still selling them today although I think today more of their turnover is due to ice cream sales.

Moored at Buckby Lock No 8

Total distance is 11 miles, ½ flg and 7 locks

2010-08-03T23:08:00.003+01:00

Heritage

We made good time today, passing a great number of boats going in the other direction. Most of the locks we went through were already set up for us. In some places we counted queues of up o ten boats waiting to go through. Every other boat we passed seemed to be on its way to Cropredy for the Festival. When we passed through cropredy all the moorings were already taken so the later arrivals will have a long walk.

We also encountered nb Heron, Ron and Mary Heritage's boat nearly at the end of their Tom Rolt centenary cruise. They are due in Banbury on Saturday for the ceremony to dedicate a blue plaque at Tooley's boatyard at noon.

Napton Brickyard Bridge No 112

Total distance is 15 miles, 2¾ flg and 14 locks

2010-08-02T23:48:00.005+01:00

Blogger Spotted

We stopped at Morrison's on the edge of Banbury for supplies in the morning and again near Castle Quay in the centre of Banbury for lunch. I tried in vain for a new boat hook at Tooley's chandlery as some light fingered individual lifted ours sometime around Friday last week. I was asked to leave Wilkinson's as well as I had a dog in tow (sorry Arrow) and had missed the sign on (or rather near) the door. Banbury also yielded some more fishing tackle as the children had lost the hooks from their poles in the bushes a couple of nights ago.
The day before yesterday Cathy asked me what Mortimer Bones looked like. She had spotted somebody matching the picture in Canal Boat magazine with a brown dog at Nell Bridge. I recognised the description and recalled Mortimer Bones blogging about the arrival of her Cropredy Festival tickets. As a result, I was on the lookout for narrowboat Bones as we made our way towards Banbury and spotted her this afternoon:

I was aiming to top up Syncopation's fuel tank at Sovereign Wharf but as they only accept cash or cheque I was only able to buy about 20 litres because I wasn't prepared to traipse into Babury again to a cash point. I'll see if we can use plastic at a boatyard further north.

Moored Below Elkington's Lock.

Total distance is 8 miles, 6½ flg and 7 locks

2010-08-01T22:52:00.003+01:00

Back to Banbury

We started late, went down through Somerton deep lock, turned at the winding point at Somerton Wharf (Cathy received 10 out of 10 for her turn from the audience). We moored just past the M40 bridge near the edge of Banbury.

M40 Bridge (Northern Crossing)

Total distance is 5 miles, 5½ flg and 4 locks.

2010-07-31T22:42:00.001+01:00

Brass

After a morning of shopping in Banbury we set off for a leisurely bimble down to the stretch before Somerton deep lock to moo overnight at a secluded rural spot. I spent another hour polishing brass after dinner. It's always the same on our summer cruise. We spend over a week cleaning and polishing to bring Syncopation up to scratch after the winter lay-up. This year I am lacquering the brasswork immediatley after polishing to preserve the shine for a little longer than a couple of days.

Moored near Chisnell Lift Bridge No 193

Total distance is 7 miles, 6¼ flg and 4 locks (not counting Banbury Lock No 29 and Lift Bridge No 165).

2010-07-30T21:13:00.003+01:00

Banbury

We have stopped in Banbury this evening with the intention of a little light retail therapy in the morning.

We passed through Cropredy today and stopped at the Bridge Stores, where they stock everything, and procured the ingredients for chicken Balti this evening.

It's been a leisurely day moving through the Oxfordshire countryside for all except the dog, who can exhaust himself anywhere.

Moored at Banbury

Total distance is 8 miles, 0 flg and 12 locks

2010-07-29T20:57:00.004+01:00

Napton

All day we kept meeting people going north who reported heavy traffic ahead. When we reached to top of Napton locks there was a queue of 10 boats and there was a steady stream of boats passing.

The western end of Braunston puddle banks was nearly blocked by a sunken working boat and the equipment in place to refloat it.

We set off in the morning following the motor Collingwood and butty Ash. As we neared Napton junction we encountered a boat across the cut. They had swerved into the trees to avoid the pair and lost a pole in the canal. The following boat picked it up and the following scene ensued. I looked as if they had decided to start a jousting tournament.

Moored near bridge 142, Oxford canal South.

Total distance is 19 miles, ¾ flg and 9 locks.

2010-07-28T20:46:00.000+01:00

Braunston, My Favourite

We stopped at Braunston after a leisurely day making our way up the Buckby flight of locks and down Braunston locks. The tunnel light needed some fettling to make it shine as there was a poor connection in the plug connecting it to the boat. Single-handing up Grand Union double width locks is made much easier if there's another boat to share with.
I found a lovely mooring spot just outside the Marina at Braunston but Cathy needed us to move as she arrived with Dominic and essential supplies just after we had eaten dinner and delivery of said supplies would be easier near the road bridge. The boat is now 50% cleaned up outside after a couple of months neglect.
Among the essential supplies are the camera so there will be pictures from now on.

Moored at Brauntson puddle banks.

Total distance is 6 miles, 2½ flg and 13 locks.

2010-07-27T22:10:00.004+01:00

Afternoon Start

We untied at 3PM and made our way North. This week the plan is to cruise the picturesque South Oxford canal. An uneventful afternoon with no locks, just the Northamptonshire coutryside, the M1 and the West Coast Main line for company. The machanical side of things seem to be holding up OK. We are missing some regular crew members; Dominic developed a migraine this morning as has stayed at home with Cathy to minister to him. They will join us in a day or so when he feels up to it.

Moored near Whilton Marina

Total distance is 12 miles, 0 flg and 0 locks.

2010-06-07T22:16:00.001+01:00

Kitchen So Far

Here, by request, are pictures of my efforts so far in the kitchen.
This side is almost complete:

This side has farther to go:

2010-06-06T22:20:00.000+01:00

Average Contents

Whilst buying shoes for my youngest in a large shoe store I came across this:

Look Closely..

Unlike a box of matches I don't think any deviation from the average is acceptable for the purchaser.

2010-06-05T22:32:00.001+01:00

Mammals

We went to London on a day trip to see the Natural History Museum.
Animatronic T. Rex:

After the dinosaurs we went to look at the Blue Whale in the mammals gallery:

It's just as I remember it from school trips as long as 30 years ago, with one small change: There used to be lots of pennies on the whale's tail. Today there is a discreet sign that says you should not throw things onto the tail as it will damage the exhibit.

2010-06-03T23:27:00.006+01:00

Turned Around

As it turned out we couldn't turn until the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne flight, so on we went. Last night I washed the right-hand side of Syncopation and touched up the gloss black paint below the gunwhales. At lunch time we turned round below lock 20 and headed back up the flight, having washed down the left hand side of the boat. We stopped for ice cream again in Stoke Bruerne before re-entering the Blisworth tunnel and arriving back at the car at around 3 PM. A quick dash home, fed cat and fish and then back to the boat and up to Bugbrooke to turn the boat again. Seems like a lot of effort to go such a short distance but the weather has been glorious. Touched up the gloss black below the gunwales on the left hand side this evening. Syncopation is finally in a fit state to be seen in public again.

Just as well as there are plenty if gongoozlers at Stoke Bruerne.

Moored at Bugbrooke.

Total distance is 8 miles, 2¼ flg and 11 locks.

2010-06-02T23:13:00.004+01:00

Afloat Again

Finally made it back aboard. Cathy is in Manchester as her mum is ill. I've decided to be brave and single-hand with three children in tow. We arrived at Syncopation's mooring at about two in the afternoon despite my best intentions of a prompt start. We headed south through the Blisworth tunnel, arriving in Stoke Bruerne in time for ice cream from the Boat Inn and fridge magnets from the narrowboat shop moored just past the museum.

I then braved the gauntlet of gongoozlers at the top lock. At about this point I realised I had forgotten to pack number one son's medicine so the plan for the last half of the week has been changed. We'll turn around and go back to Blisworth to pick up the car and go home for the tablets before continuing North for a day.

At the end of the day..

Moored below Lock 15, Stoke Bruerne

Total distance is 3 miles, 1¾ flg and 2 locks.

2010-05-25T22:22:00.002+01:00

Trip on the Thames

More video from my trip on the Thames last month:

2010-05-25T21:48:00.002+01:00

Chelsea Flower Show Water Feature

This caught my eye on the news today. Leeds City Council's entry in the flower show feature a replica pair of lock gates. The gates seem to be built at somewhere near full size (although I guess they don't go down far below water level).

2010-04-27T22:57:00.003+01:00

Thames Clipper

I went by boat from North Greenwich rather than the tube for a change.

2010-04-11T23:10:00.004+01:00

Back at Buckby

Back down the Watford flight and onto the Grand Union main line at Norton junction. We passed the new Yelvertoft marina, now dug out and nearly finished. There are even a few boats moored in it:

I took some video footage at Watford with my ipod. I'll post it later when I've edited it somewhat to remove the twenty minutes of the inside of my pocket.

Moored above Buckby Lock 8.

Total distance is 7 miles, 5½ flg and 8 locks and 1 tunnel.

2010-04-10T23:38:00.007+01:00

Turnaround

We pulled the pins and left Foxton, heading back towards the south, disappointing the swans that approach every boat that stops there.

There are no locks between Watford and Foxton, the meandering course of the Grand Union punctuated by tunnels at Crick and Husbands Bosworth. In all it takes about a day to travel this stretch so we have been without locks for two days, although we were able to look at the ten staircase locks at Foxton yesterday afternoon. We broke our return trip today at Husbands Bosworth for food supplies and at Kilworth Boat Services for diesel and water and to empty our toilet cassettes.

Near the turning for the Welford arm I spotted the rather lovely nb Zulu and although it is considered rude to peer into peoples' cabins it was hard to miss the fact that the interior of this tug style narowboat is decorated with replicas of old working boat name panels.

There was also time to polish some more brassware (boater's bling) on Syncopation. Here you can see a mushroom vent before and after cleaning:

Moored at bridge 20, Yelvertoft.

Total distance is 15 miles, 3¼ flg, 0 locks and 1 tunnel.

2010-04-09T23:31:00.005+01:00

Foxton at Last

We arrived at Foxton in time to buy ice creams and visit the museum. The day's cruise was relatively uneventful with no locks to navigate. Nicholson keeps referring to the route as isolated and remote. We didn't pass through any villages at all. Husbands Bosworth is bypassed via the Bosworth tunnel, considerably drier inside than the Crick tunnel.

View from the top of the inclined plane.

An old boat at the position of the gate into one of the caissons.

More on the engine problem we had earlier in the week: The crankshaft oil seal was badly damaged by fragments of the failed Travelpower drive belts we have lost in the last two years. These had wrapped around the crankshaft end, worked into the area in front of the oil seal and ripped it in two, separating the inner and outer parts. I need to keep a close eye on the Travelpower drive belt.

Total distance is 17 miles, 3¼ flg 0 locks and 1 tunnel.

2010-04-08T23:11:00.003+01:00

To Crick

We made it to Crick today, only two days behind schedule. I had to carry both toilet cassettes to the Elsan point last night, a little further than I expected.

We turned right at Norton junction, towards Leicester. I took the bike to Watford in search of a post office (located in the village, according to Nicholson's guide). Unfortunately the post office was closed some time ago, the nearest in Crick or Long Buckby according to a helpul resident. I had to stop to reinflate the front tyre of the bike three times as it now has a slow puncture. Hawthorn hedge cuttings and bicycle tyres do not mix well.

We continued through the staircase locks at Watford gap (we're in the North now), Crick tunnel, stopping to visit the post office stores in Crick before we moored near Cracks Hill.

On arrival at Watord we met nb Justice going in the opposite direction. Justice was being driven by Steve Heyward, columnist for Canal Boat magazine.

Later on we passed bloggers nb Derwent6 who warned us that Crick tunnel would be wet, and it was.

Total distance is 6 miles, ¼ flg, 8 locks and 1 tunnel.

2010-04-07T22:31:00.003+01:00

Off Again

Work started on the engine again this morning, with the required seal arriving at exactly the right time. It was fitted and the issue resolved. The oil is now staying safely in the sump. Stowe Hill Workshop kindly gave us use of a landline overnight so we could cook our evening meal and charge our batteries. I had to take the toilet cassettes off-site to empty them. We set off at about four in the afternoon and stopped near Buckby top lock, almost outside the shop.

Somebody on board seems to be filling up the Vacuflush toilet cassettes very quickly as we've filled two in the last 24 hours and the little red light will stay lit until tomorrow morning when I can empty them. I suspect Ewan is not able to reliably close the valve when flushing and the flush dribbles until the valve is closed properly. More on the toilet: it blocked for the second time since new today. Last time it blocked somebody had put baby wipes down the pan and the macerator blade go stuck and I had to fish them out. This time a poke with a stick was enough to clear the blockage (phew! No fishing around down there required).

Moored at buckby top lock shop.
Total distance is 5 miles, 5¾ flg and 6 locks.

2010-04-06T22:08:00.000+01:00

Oh Dear

My nightly engine check yesterday revealed a disturbingly low level of oil on the dipstick. I topped up with the oil I had to bring the level jus to the end of the dispstick. At around 11 this morning the buzzer on the control panel went off and the little red light came on, with the oil pressure gauge showing zero. We stopped immediately and tied up. A check of the oil level showed nothing on the stick and a lot of oil in the engine bilge. Oh dear.

I got the Brompton out of it's locker and cycled up to Whilton (about 4 miles). I really should have gone by road, not the towpath as bicycle tyres and hawthorn hedge clippings don't mix well. I had to stop and pump up the front tyre three times as I now have a slow puncture in it. Whilton lock chandlery sold me some oil and an oil extraction gadget to suck the oil out of the bilge. As we'd cached the car at Whilton I didn't have to carry all this back on the bike. They didn't have an engine fitter available but as we had broken down at Stowe Hill I asked at the workshop and Rob and Graham kindly fitted us in. They did an outstanding job, stripping down the engine and diagnosing the problem, a leaking crankshaft oil seal. The part is on order from Beta Marine and is due to be delivered tomorrow morning.

Here is the problem area. One last pulley to remove. Loads of oil in the engine bilge.

Moored at Stowe Hill Marina.
Total distance is 1 mile, 4½ flg and 0 locks.

2010-04-05T22:46:00.002+01:00

Setting Off

We set off from Blisworth at 3PM, having had a delivery from Tesco, following instructions on Sue's (No Problems) web site. We would have left earlier but as usual we couldn't get out of the door on time. As we need to collect Dominic's prescription tomorrow we have placed a car in a place convenient for tomorrow. Cathy can also nip back home to collect things we've forgotten.

Syncopation desperately needed cleaning and we started on that immediately, scrubbing the roof while we moved and cleaning the starboard side when we stopped. It was just cold enough to need the stove lit when we moored up at Nether Heyford.

Moored at Nether Heyford.
Total distance is 6 miles, ½ flg and 0 locks.

2010-02-20T23:06:00.002Z

Computing Again

After replacing the RAM there was no improvement to the BSOD situation. I found a replacement motherboard (Exactly the same as the discs are configured as a mirrored array under the control of an on-board controller) and all was well again. Feeling I was on a roll I went to EBay again for a better processor. Now we're back on track with a working computer with upgraded processor and memory.

2010-02-01T22:33:00.000Z

Dazzle Ships

The new Ravensbourne college building being constructed next to the office where I work in North Greenwich reminds me of the Dazzle ship camouflage used in World War I.

The building has round windows of different sizes and will be entirely clad in a pattern that will camouflage them. In the picture above a portion of the external cladding has been fitted and it's quite hard to see the windows in that area.

2010-01-18T22:17:00.000Z

Cambridge

My grandfather took up painting in his later years and this is a photo taken by my father in 1965 of the location of one of the scenes he painted. My aunt has the painting hanging in her living room.

I always remember the peculiar trick of perspective with the wall in the lower right. In the painting I could never work out if the wall was at water level or in the foreground.

2010-01-10T16:50:00.001Z

Pump Replumbed

Here it is replumbed. The filter is now on the correct side of the pump. This should prevent the cover from cracking again.

The canal at Blisworth is frozen over, like so many other locations. These look like swan footprints on the ice.

And an old resident of the Blisworth area has returned:

2010-01-01T23:33:00.000Z

Three Children Grow Two Inches Overnight

Here's the door from the kitchen to the back porch. We've always measured our three childrens' heights using the chart we pin to the back of the door. Yesterday we found the two youngest had grown two inches each since September when they were last measured. Wow! We became suspicious when the eldest was measured today and was also found to have grown by over two inches. Then it clicked. I sawed two inches off the bottom of the door a few weeks ago to accommodate the rise in floor level in the porch caused by the pouring of a load of concrete in the bathroom and porch for ther installation of the wet room. After moving the pin down the children have been measured again. They have not had a sudden unexpected growth spurt.

2009-12-31T19:06:00.000Z

BSOD(2)

New RAM, still dead. I'll replace the motherboard.

2009-12-30T19:05:00.000Z

BSOD

Or Windosw Blue Screen of Death:

This time it looks like a hardware fault.
All the memory tests I've run show faulty memory. I'll replace the RAM.

2009-12-28T18:11:00.001Z

Spot the Mistake

Those in the know will notice the filter has been fitted on the output side of the pump. Apart from the fact that the pump is not being protectyed from particles this should not be an issue. However, the pump is just strong enough to break the transparent cover on the filter housing. It takes it about a week to make it crack.

2009-11-15T23:29:00.000Z

Complete

It's only three square metres but it all fits.

2009-11-01T18:55:00.002Z

Tiling in Progress

The floor is 3 sq meters so tiling the bulk of it was quite quick. Filling all those gaps at the edges will take some time though.

2009-10-31T18:47:00.000Z

Three Days of Bathroom Contruction

Here the bathroom is ready for tiling. The floor has been rasied about 50mm to accommodate the drain and then waterproofed to prevent any leaks.

New toilet in place and the plumbing prepared for the basin.

The toilet has to be replaced because I overtightened one of the nuts holding it on the wall and it has cracked. Curses!

2009-10-26T18:42:00.000Z

Three days of bathroom destruction.

I've spent three days stripping out the downstairs bathroom. Above is where the shower used to be.

2009-09-29T20:54:00.005+01:00

Greenwich Peninsula

I've moved to an office in North Greenwich, on the Greenwich peninsula. It used to be a vast chemical works, cleaned up for the millennium dome and now site of a huge urban renewal scheme. From the office I can see river traffic and walking at lunch times I can see some of the wierd and wonderful things left over from the millennium.
River traffic:

Millennium sculptures:

Quantum cloud by Antony Gormley

If you look carefully you can make out a human figure at the centre of the cloud.

Slice of Reality by Richard Wilson

2009-08-30T22:46:00.000+01:00

These Are Not Tractor Seats

We went to Honiton Hill Rally. It's an annual meeting of steam and agricultural machinery enthusiasts and much more. Oddly, for such a large event it lacks its own web site. There were dozens of working traction engines, steam rollers, classic cars, motorcycles, military vehicles and marquees containing everything from corgi model cars to a bar.

Quite a few exhibitors turned up with their collections, from the man with hundreds of Dinky cars (all in Post Office livery) to the collection of ~~tractor~~ agricultural machinery seats. The collector in question was quite particular that these are not tractor seats.

The best moment was, I think, when all 40 or 50 steam traction engines all blew their whistles at the same time.

A Burrell showman's engine.

A Fowler ploughing engine, built 1872. These used to be used in pairs and would winch the agricultural implement across the field between them.

Sentinel steam lorry.

White steam car disappears into the mist.

2009-08-15T21:18:00.002+01:00

Home Again

We arrived back at the mooring in Blisworth at about 11 AM and were back at home sorting washing by 12:30. A brilliant fortnight. We seem to have caught up with the cleaning and polishing just as the holiday finished!

2009-08-14T21:11:00.004+01:00

To Stoke Bruerne

We made a fairly late start, passing though over the new (1991) aqueduct over Grafton Street and then over the Wolverton aqueduct. We stopped at Cosgrove for lunch and a play at the park. As we passed Yardley Gobion I saw Kingfisher, the Grand Junction Canal Company inspection launch, built 1928. This is what all those inspection launch narrowboats are trying to emulate.

Kingfisher at Yardley Gobion

Wolverton Aqueduct

Cosgrove Bridge

Total distance is 9 miles, 5 flg and 7 locks.

Moored at Stoke Bruerne.

2009-08-13T21:25:00.001+01:00

Past Where it all Started

We stopped off for supplies at Tesco in Leighton Buzzard. After lunch we passed the base of Wyvern Shipping company. You could say that is where it all started, as that is where my first canal holiday began with my parents in 1976. We went as far as Harefield and then back again.

At home at Wyvern Shipping was the Ocean Princess, the sea-going narrowboat built for the owner of the Wyvern Shipping company, James Griffin.

The last but one lock of the day was a trifle traumatic as we managed to hang Syncopation up on the lock side as the water level dropped. I could see the angle of the boat increasing as the water dropped. I shouted to Cathy to drop the paddles and she started doing so. As she reached the paddles on the other side of the lock I could hear crockery falling off the worktop. The boat slipped off the snag on the lock side just as the second paddle was closed. I was pretty sure the boat would come off the snag on the lock side as it was a double width lock and Syncopation was the only boat in the lock but it was a worry until she did.

Syncopation at Leighton Buzzard

Fenny Stratford Lock

Total distance is 20 miles, 0 flg and 8 locks.

Moored at New Bradwell.

2009-08-12T18:58:00.004+01:00

Down the Chiltern Escarpment

We left the environs of Berkhampstead, up to the Tring summit level and down the Marsworth flight. We met Chiltern Countess, the trip boat from Pitstone wharf in a bridge hole at Marsworth and had to reverse sharply to let her through. We left the Aylesbury arm for another time.

Total distance is 9 miles, 4½ flg and 18 locks.

Moored near Slapton lock.

2009-08-11T23:00:00.000+01:00

Short Stop at Berkhamstead

We made our way from Apsley through Hemel Hempstead, with a stop at the park in Berkhamstead for a play and ice cream.

Cathy finally got a close up of a heron. Normally they tantalise you and then fly off before you can get close enough to take a picture. This one stayed still long enough for us to get close enough for a good picture.

And here is Arrow crossing a lock gate:

Total distance is 6 miles, 2 flg and 15 locks

Moored at Northchurch Top Lock.

2009-08-10T22:20:00.001+01:00

We Left London

We made good progress and the weather held today. There was not much direct sunshine but it has been warm all day. We joined forces with Paul and Sharon on the Jennie B for most of today's locks. We passed under the M25 in the afternoon, and I consider that to be the edge of London.

Near the end of the day I saw Banstead, one of the two boats featured in the The Bargee in 1964, the year I was born.

Arrow is tired as he spent most of today off the boat running around the locks.

I finally reinstalled Enuff on the laptop today as I have had enough of the children bickering over whose turn it is and complaining that the other has had longer on it. We have Enuff installed on the computers at home as well. It saves so much parental effort as it automatically regulates the hours the computer can be used by each user.

The water pump filter cover cracked again today. After we had mopped up the water I fitted the last spare filter housing. Still no idea why these are failing. Each one seems to fail after about a week in use. When we get back to Blisworth the water pump is to be replaced with a different make.

Total distance is 10 miles, ½ flg and 18 locks.

Moored at Apsley Top Lock.

2009-08-09T22:48:00.005+01:00

I wonder when we'll reach the M25?

We passed under the A40 this afternoon and I took a picture because I usually pass over the same bridge on my way to and from work.

Water quality in the Grand Union has improved as we move North, probably due to the use of the river Colne as a feeder. We keep seeing coconuts in the cut. It appears that if you are a Hindu born at a specific time of year you are expected to throw a coconut into a river on your birthday.

We spotted Columbia (ex-FMC motor) at Cowley Peachey as we passed. She was the next boat fitted out by Mill Wharf after Syncopation.

We also passed nb Tafelberg going in the opposite direction near Bull's Bridge. Aha! According to their blog they've just started their holiday!

Total distance is 15 miles, 5¼ flg and 15 locks

Moored near Stockers Lock, Rickmansworth.

2009-08-08T22:43:00.005+01:00

Back on the Grand Union

We're back on the canal system again. We went to look around Hampton Court Palace in the morning, having lunch in the Privy Kitchen cafe at the palace. There is a lot about Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace and part of it is the recreated kitchens of that monarch. Much of the food on display in the kitchen consists of pies and bread, along with fish and roast meat, together with food and cooking smells. In a brilliant piece of marketing you can buy a lunch of an authentic looking Tudor pie and a slab of bread served on a wooden trencher in the Privy Kitchen cafe nearby.

King Henry VIII's portrait

The King in person.

We had to go into the maze as well of course. When we reached the centre there was a lady giving out stickers to all the kids (big and small). We took the short way out from the centre rather than find our way back to the beginning as we had a tide to catch at Teddington lock, scene of the Monty Python Fish Slapping Sketch.

After leaving Hampton Court we continued downriver to Teddington and on to the tidal Thames for the transit to Brentford and the southern terminus of the Grand Union canal.

Stealth houseboats at Richmond

The origin of the phrase "Floating Cottage" (narrowboaters take note).

Working boat Falcon and butty Venice on the Thames at Richmond.

The rubbish and the smelly water were an instant reminder that we are back on the canal system again.

Arrow made use of his lifejacket for the first time, falling into Osterley lock as we were going up it.

Total distance is 11 miles, 6 flg and 5 locks.

Moored above Osterley Lock.

2009-08-07T22:30:00.004+01:00

In London

We passed under the M25 this morning, mooring at Staines for lunch. I was pleasantly surprised by Staines. I was expecting a place like Luton but it has a very pleasant town centre and efforts have been made to make the town attractive to boaters.

This fountain overlooks the town centre moorings at Staines.
Moorings are free and very close to the shopping centre.

We continued to find moorings at Hampton Court.

Total distance is 14 miles, 4 flg and 6 locks.

Moored at Hampton Court.

2009-08-06T22:14:00.001+01:00

We Did the Castle

After a leisurely start we made our way to Windsor Castle. The children were not particularly impressed by the longest inhabited royal castle in the world, the weekend home of our monarch. What really fired their imaginations was the room where they could make their own armour, shields and helmets from cardboard. We didn't queue to see the State Apartments or Queen Mary's Doll House as the children were getting bored. We headed out to find some lunch in Peascod street.

We left Windsor late in the afternoon, stopping early in the evening as the rain was becoming rather tiresome.

Windsor Castle from the Thames.

A Cute Boat

Big Wheel in Windsor.

Total distance is 5 miles, 2 flg and 2 locks

Moored at Runnymeade.

2009-08-05T23:49:00.005+01:00

Windsor

After taking on supplies at Henley we set off down Henley Reach. We were overtaken by a large plastic gin palace at Temple Island just at the end of the reach. He was going too fast and almost swamped a single scull who shouted a few choice words about his ancestry. The rower following asked if we should not all have been in the other channel around the island but I checked my Nicholson's guide and it distinctly says take the channel to the West to avoid rowers. The sign at the north end of the island says all upstream traffic should take the West channel as well. Somebody neglected to tell the rowers to take the East channel.
I saw this floating stand on Henley Reach although the official Regatta site tells me the Regatta was on the last weekend of June.

There were still marquees in the process of being dismantled as well.

As we moved closer to London, the houses became increasingly grand and the boats larger.

We spotted this sign at Bray lock:

Total distance is 21 miles, 3¼ flg and 8 locks.

Moored at Windsor railway viaduct.

2009-08-05T00:40:00.003+01:00

Henley

We set off from Wallingford after I had fitted the spare belt to the Travelpower alternator. I screwed my courage up and tensioned the new belt as much as I dared. I feel the previous one may have failed because it was too loose.

Another blogger's boat spotted although not photographed was Pukeko. Looking at the blog now I realise it has not been updated since 2006!

We fuelled up at Reading.

I spotted several interesting boats including Cygnus and Albert in Ovaltine livery.

Total distance is 25 miles, 5¾ flg and 8 locks

Moored in Henley Reach.

2009-08-03T22:37:00.001+01:00

First Full Day on the Thames

We left Christchurch Meadow and headed south, passing through Abingdon. Moorings were few and far between at Abingdon. Our first attempt to moor did not go too well. You're supposed to be able to get of the boat after you've finished tying up. We couldn't fight our way out of the trees. As we were expecting guests for dinner we moved a little further away from the bridge and another less than optimal mooring but one on which it was at least possible to enter and leave the boat. We still had to make Jeremy and Fiona walk the plank before we could serve the dinner.

Also, the drive belt failed on the Travelpower, so cooking was done with the domestic alternator trying to drive the electric hob. By morning the batteries were down to 45% according to the Smartguage.

Total distance is 21 miles, 2½ flg and 7 locks.

Moored at Wallingford Bridge.

2009-08-02T00:17:00.006+01:00

Christchurch Meadow

We spent the day mostly in Oxford. Plan A was to do some culture and take our brood to the Ashmolean museum. It would have been difficult keeping all three interested but we were willing to take a crack at it. As it was we found the museum closed for building work until November. Plan B swings into action and instead we spent the afternoon in Oxford's Natural History museum (Yes, they have a T Rex skeleton) and then the Pitt Rivers museum. I love the Pitt Rivers; it's just like an attic, dark, mysterious, cluttered, full of treasures. A recent extension has seen the floor space increased so it is less cluttered but the lights are kept low (presumably to avoid damage to the more fragile exhibits) and you can borrow a torch to help you read the hand-written labels on many of the exhibits.

Carmen Miranda hat made from used cans.

After returning the to the boat we moved Syncopation down onto the Thames opposite Christchurch meadow where we had our dinner before going to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the Odeon in George Street. I kept boring the children by pointing out all the colleges as we passed them on our way to the cinema.

Salters' steamer Wargrave passing the college boathouses near Christchurch Meadow.

Total distance is 1 mile, 4¼ flg and 2 locks.

Moored at Christchurch Meadow.

2009-08-01T23:59:00.005+01:00

Bones Wasn't There

We managed to join the boat by about 11:30 in the morning, just Ewan, Siobhan and I. We had to drop a car in Blisworth for our return home in two weeks time. We also needed to pick up two replacement filter housings for the fresh water pump from the boat yard. The filter housing cover cracked again last Wednesday night. When we arrive back in Blisworth the current Johnson pump will be replaced by a different brand of pump. This one has failed four times now.

I was hoping to capture a photo of another blogger's boat: narrowboat Bones at Thrupp but when we passed, the mooring was empty.

We made our way down to Jericho where Cathy joined us, having taken the car back home and obtained a lift to Oxford. The edge of the canal is very shallow here so we have had to use our new boarding plank for the first time to reach the land.

Moored at Jericho Footbridge.

Total distance is 6 miles, 0 flg and 4 locks

2009-07-31T23:51:00.002+01:00

Another Blogger's Boat

I loaded most of the luggage and groceries on board from the very handy car park at Pigeon Bridge before setting off again. I decided to push on to get within walking distance of Kidlington to make it feasible to join the boat by bus at the start of our holiday tomorrow. There are a remarkable number of long term moorings around Shipton on Cherwell and Thrupp and I was unable to find a mooring until it was nearly fully dark. It was too dark to take a picture of Maffi's boat, the Milly M, at Thrupp. I moored outside the surprisingly quiet Jolly Boatman restaurant.

Moored at the Jolly Boatman, Thrupp.

Total distance is 4 miles, 0 flg and 2 locks.

2009-07-29T23:44:00.002+01:00

Another Evening Run

I moved the boat from The Cleeves winding hole down through two more locks to a position just above Pigeon lock. It was beginning to get dark when I moored up so the location was not ideal with soft bank and a narrow towpath. I had my doubts about the security of the position the mooring pins were in but couldn't really move to find anything better.

Moored at Pigeon Bridge.

Total distance is 3 miles, 4¼ flg and 3 locks

2009-07-28T23:04:00.003+01:00

Onward! In Little Steps

A short hop tonight after work, from Somerton Mill bridge to Just past The Cleeves Winding Hole. A very pleasant evening's cruise. Nether Heyford is a very pretty village with a railway station and is a popular mooring place. A very helpful chap opened the lift bridge 205, solving my dilemma about how to tackle it single-handed. I was very careful to slow to tickover past every boat and still had a head poke out to say the speed limit is 2mph! No it's not. The limit is 4 mph. We are asked to slow to tickover past moored boats and to make sure that we don't travel fast enough for our wash to break when this happens below 4 mph. I'm always careful to abide by these rules and I resent it when folk tell me I'm speeding when I'm not. One thing that was obvious was that boats with slack mooring ropes move far more when boats pass, so try tightening your ropes Mr. 2mph!

2 miles, 5¼ flg and 2 locks.
Moored near The Cleeves Winding Hole.

2009-07-26T19:23:00.003+01:00

Gazelle

I read about narrowboat Gazelle, on sale some weeks ago. I passed her today at Aynho. For the price being asked £118,000 she was in a state, externally at least.

2009-07-26T18:18:00.006+01:00

Solo Again

I started late from Aynho Wharf and then had to queue for 1 1/2 hours at Somerton lock. I put Arrow's life jacket on him because he has a knack for falling in the canal, sometimes the locks. As Somerton is one of the deepest narrow locks on the system I felt it would be prudent. Even though I had to wait for so long to get into the lock there was plenty of help once there as there were at least four boat crews waiting their turn.

Somerton Deep Lock

3 miles, 5½ flg and 1 lock.

Moored at Somerton.