Repurposed Shower Pump

A small error in the winterisation process meant I dumped the contents of the fresh water tank into the cabin bilge over the course of a week. There's no bilge pump for the cabin bilge as it's supposed to stay dry. However, after a small investment in poly tubing  I was able to temporarily repurpose the shower pump to empty the spilled water from the bilge inspection hole.

pipe from the inspection hole

pipe to the bathroom

shower pump connected to temporary pipe

It was so successful I'm thinking of connecting the pipe permanently via a three way valve. Or maybe a spare shower pump.

Last Day to Aynho

We finished this year's summer expedition at Aynho.

Total distance is 9 miles, 2¾ furlongs and 5 locks
Moored at Aynho Bridge.

Kirtlington

Here is the sign at Thrupp telling passers by on the busy road adjacent that this is the Oxford canal. A pity the hedge has grown since it was put here.

We bought ice creams from Annie's Tea Room at Thrupp then passed on through Shipton Wier lock

There's room for about three boats where we stopped at Kirtlington quarry. Although the edge is rather broken concrete the setting is very quiet.

Total distance is 6 miles, 1¼ furlongs and 4 locks
Moored at Kirtlington quarry.

Kidlington

Much of the crew spent a lot of today dealing with chores on land (fetching GCSE exam results, delivering Hannah back home), so we moved only a short distance.

Total distance is 3 miles, 7½ furlongs and 3 locks
Moored at Kidlington

Aristotle Bridge

Another really full day. We to set off promptly today as we needed to be in Oxford this evening to pick up the car and collect exam results. On-board systems failure made for a change of plan. The toilet clogged just after setting off. After about 20 minutes poking and banging the pipes, I decided we needed a new pipe.

This is the pipe originally installed in 2008.
I took the bike back to Tadpole Bridge, picked the car up and after telephone enquiries with Tooleys boatyard in Banbury made my way to Lee San in Fenny Crompton where I purchased a new length of pipe. Problem solved, not a moment too soon for the crew.
We took the Duke's Cut to rejoin the Oxford canal.

I found a mooring at Aristotle Bridge.

Total distance is 19 miles, ¾ furlongs and 6 locks
Moored at Aristotle Bridge, Oxford canal.

Leaving Letchlade

Having made it all this way we turned around this morning after buying supplies in town and headed downstream.

 Letchlade church in the morning

We stopped again for the night at Tadpole Bridge, for access to the car which we had left here one our way up the Thames.

Total distance is 10 miles and 5 locks.
Moored at Tadpole Bridge.

Letchlade

A somewhat easier day to near the head of navigation of the Thames for powered craft (you can actually get about a mile further to the junction of the former Cotswold canal). Lots of pillboxes to be seen as the Thames was one of the WWII 'stop lines' for defence in case of invasion. We passed about dozen swimmers going the other way. Reading the sign on the accompanying boat, they were apparently on holiday. We were joined aboard by Hannah.
Fish and chip supper for all from Marion's Plaice in town.

Total distance is 10 miles and 5 locks
Moored at Letchlade

Tadpole Bridge

After a reasonably early start, we headed North on the Thames, passing Port Meadow as we left Oxford. We found a wild mooring after failing to find a suitable spot near the bridge, now tied to a tree by a steep river bank. We passed many beautifully kept Thames locks which i completely forgot to photograph.

Total distance is 20 miles, 7¼ furlongs and 7 locks.

Summer Holiday

We joined the boat at Oxford, near the Plough at Wolvercote, it having been moved there by my sister and her other half on their trip from Banbury. We motored down the Oxford canal, past the bottoms of the gardens of North Oxford and Jericho.

Once on the river we turned downstream, through Osney lock, encountering pirates in canoes, one of whom immediately capsized in front of us and narrowly avoided being crushed between Syncopation and another moored narrowboat as the wind carried us toward the bank.

Finding a mooring opposite Christ Church meadow we settled in for the night.

Total distance is 3 miles, 5¼ furlongs and 2 locks

Driverless

Seen today. The TRL are still trialling driverless vehicles at North Greenwich.

This one emerged from the Continental Hotel compound, pursued by two minders on bicycles.

Unexpected Boat Trip

Thanks to a security alert that closed the Jubilee Line from Canary Wharf to Stratford the Greenwich Peninsula is an island this afternoon. I've taken the Thames Clipper to get back to central London.

Unexpected Boat Trip

Thanks to a security alert that closed the Jubilee Line from Canary Wharf to Stratford the Greenwich Peninsula is an island this afternoon. I've taken the Thames Clipper to get back to central London.

Mystery Trees

What  makes trees this shape?

Answer

Empty Nest

They've flown the nest

Hatched

Three nestlings

Fake!

There doesn't seem to be any point in having a chimney that serves no purpose other than being decorative. It's a liability. But here it is on one of the new houses in Tingewick. Where wood is a practical fuel that is easy to obtain.

Very Still

If I hadn't noticed the feathers on the ground I would have missed this nest by my back door.

The nest is on top of the outside light. If you look closely at the second picture you can see Mrs blackbird's tail. I put my phone about 8 inches away from her and she stayed perfectly still the whole time, trusting her camouflage.

Near the Slipway

It looks as if there was some sort of publicity event for Gibbs Amphibians today at North Greenwich. In the car park nearest to the slipway I spotted these:

Although I didn't see them in action, you can see the Youtube video.

Chimney

No really: it's just a chimney.

This is the flue stack of the new combined heat and power station at North Greenwich. It's going to be covered in glass panels when it's finished. The facility will provide heat and power for 61 buildings on the Peninsula.

Starship

 Frankly it's an odd name for a new delivery service. They're trialling delivery robots in North Greenwich. The company is Starship.  Their delivery Robots look like a coolboox with six wheels that trundle along the pavement at walking pace. The one that passed me this lunch time had an endearing squeaky as it trundled past.