tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13814832802795446502024-02-21T01:39:24.582+00:00Narrow Boat ChaliceBoating with our canal narrow boat "Chalice"Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14351744855693468657noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-45267223565233173642011-05-17T23:57:00.000+01:002011-05-17T23:57:01.995+01:00A New Chapter Begins!Well, we have just become a two boat family, having just bought the former Working Boat, then Ice-Breaker, then Tug, named SICKLE.<br />
<br />
Current plans are to keep both boats, so it seems appropriate to start a new blog that will cover our adventures with both SICKLE and CHALICE.<br />
<br />
It is not impossible both boats will be out and about together on occasions.<br />
<br />
The new SICKLE and CHALICE blog can be found at<br />
<br />
<a href="http://sickleandchalice.blogspot.com/">http://sickleandchalice.blogspot.com/</a>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-86561228240652094342011-04-27T23:11:00.000+01:002011-04-27T23:11:25.366+01:00Final day (minus Cath)<b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
<br />
I don't know why, but didn't sleep well, and ended up sitting in bed quite early, browsing stuff on my laptop.<br />
<br />
We had arranged with Cath that she would come and have breakfast with us, before she headed into work. She perhaps was not to know that Charlie had not yet had his early morning walk, so that quickly became her first task.<br />
<br />
Soon after Cath has said her farewells David and I set off - a good move, as 4 small boats locking through together did so immediately behind us.<br />
<br />
David generally doesn't do a lot of the locking, but when he does, you know you are on a whirlwind tour, where things tend to get done faster than you are used to! Today was no different, and I can only marvel at his youthful energy, and imaginative use of bike. We found it no problem to pull a paddle at each lock as we left it, to prepare it for the boats following.<br />
<br />
Some of the water levels were seriously low, and I could not get the boat in against the bank below certain locks. David easily leaps the gaps, so no problem there, but emptying a lock in a shallow pound with the boat close to the gates, (and it was also a windy day!), can be quite a challenge, as the boat can get suddenly drawn forward.<br />
<br />
At a couple of the worst cases we took the unusual step of bringing the boat right into the "vee" of the gates, and running it quite fast in ahead gear to ensure it stayed put as the full lock was drawn off.<br />
<br />
The main distinguishing feature of the day, other than how fast David works, was just how "bloomin" cold it was, and whereas other days I had been peeling layers of clothes off, today I just kept adding more.<br />
<br />
Tring summit was reached in record time, I think, but I got very cold on the back steering over it, until the downhill locks commenced.<br />
<br />
We then got a steady run of boats coming up the locks of the main Marsworth flight, sometimes causing us to pause for breath, (well me, at least!), although nobody else seemed to be going down.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazy9nyHAXTg_4ZwEOcYflpstPVvzvF5VIkfOUsbdRE2ImD4edFFKELYKs6kQnEUhbl_7kNRIyK9LlmFwN_jPqtmGAznYlaDODStsHzd0I3XsTinVlGtvIXGjc7AAa29J3AoC9LZgQWr4P/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazy9nyHAXTg_4ZwEOcYflpstPVvzvF5VIkfOUsbdRE2ImD4edFFKELYKs6kQnEUhbl_7kNRIyK9LlmFwN_jPqtmGAznYlaDODStsHzd0I3XsTinVlGtvIXGjc7AAa29J3AoC9LZgQWr4P/s320/IMG_0304.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above final two locks, yet again waiting for boats coming the other way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We were finally joined by another boat for the last two locks, also called "Mars- worth" but some distance on from the main flight, as it pulled off a water point after we passed.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi7tbJ5uIQ9uSULEF67iTR1oFRGKQVqpMStlzVV_l8SZSJsfNS7w14fvK1Od2MPk4Z2YGcM4rgF_VApQ4QTHkhgz-e6lj5CWhpQlqIZPrwKebm7ndn_3lFpavGU7pWHkf2Aec-GooNAQd/s1600/IMG_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi7tbJ5uIQ9uSULEF67iTR1oFRGKQVqpMStlzVV_l8SZSJsfNS7w14fvK1Od2MPk4Z2YGcM4rgF_VApQ4QTHkhgz-e6lj5CWhpQlqIZPrwKebm7ndn_3lFpavGU7pWHkf2Aec-GooNAQd/s320/IMG_0312.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie is generally very patient as we work through locks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So, another trip drew to a close. Not a bad one, given that on only day two we had thought we might have show-stopper engine problems. Not a bit of it, and more than 300 miles of boating, and not far off another 200 locks added to the "log".<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Berkhamsted to Cook's Wharf<br />
Miles: 7.9, Locks: 16</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 309.6, Total Locks: 193</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-83290150000539392802011-04-25T20:13:00.035+01:002011-04-27T22:46:52.909+01:00Another big push towards home.<b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
<br />
So we were now committed to trying to get Cath into the best place to be at work tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9ulpig-l_SlDgRcK-nri8MBrqk-pBLU36CH_q09bPAJiTXbJ12Lgt6HuIXzIpPOW0ORjwNHCPGVEUeCOE9l80UCAi0VtRBa-Hwy1CubVqQ95zjawpbctjpEvUJlRIKUFJK0eSslQ3StE/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9ulpig-l_SlDgRcK-nri8MBrqk-pBLU36CH_q09bPAJiTXbJ12Lgt6HuIXzIpPOW0ORjwNHCPGVEUeCOE9l80UCAi0VtRBa-Hwy1CubVqQ95zjawpbctjpEvUJlRIKUFJK0eSslQ3StE/s320/IMG_0269.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lot Mead - First lock of the day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Hemel Hempstead area would do, but Berkham- sted would be better, but an awful lot of locks. We had no idea if it would be as busy as yesterday, so agreed to just set off, and see how we did, just accepting what came.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zt0z1GKV_RzA8ZdS0SL9EQmdW-yLss1VWfKVPJ4B_FUTQCI9HP986SR1rrJxxmwMnD3YgCGKekIHSK9DuooBhbt4WDBk3sW4h46EUl-rMXC-rCzGkv0IG8qROhRMTpJ6LLj0Pr4ozaDp/s1600/IMG_0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zt0z1GKV_RzA8ZdS0SL9EQmdW-yLss1VWfKVPJ4B_FUTQCI9HP986SR1rrJxxmwMnD3YgCGKekIHSK9DuooBhbt4WDBk3sW4h46EUl-rMXC-rCzGkv0IG8qROhRMTpJ6LLj0Pr4ozaDp/s320/IMG_0277.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ever scenic Ironbridge lock near Watford.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>In fact we saw almost nothing moving the way we were, but passed a lot of boats comiung the other way. As by no means all the locks were in our favour, clearly other boats were travelling North, but for a long while we didn't see any, and worked through all the first locks alone.<br />
<br />
Another day of brilliant sunshine - in fact the only rain we have seen in over 2 weeks out on this trip was a thunderstorm when we had already moored up at Tewddington on the Thames.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95Z_GYatDOrmNhkiKjkO3ZQyQHDdZ59kfvrSJWWtLORAYxSWR94HIxayivi8x_qS3_XU76cgIWEOHMP0XMfisde5CfbWFJcmg0wPx79jHc0fidig8MbHQMiVmD2KM68IuA17uvJKQa8yr/s1600/IMG_0284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95Z_GYatDOrmNhkiKjkO3ZQyQHDdZ59kfvrSJWWtLORAYxSWR94HIxayivi8x_qS3_XU76cgIWEOHMP0XMfisde5CfbWFJcmg0wPx79jHc0fidig8MbHQMiVmD2KM68IuA17uvJKQa8yr/s320/IMG_0284.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home Park lock, near Kings Langley - Hemel in sight!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Also just a day of steady progress, and far less hanging about that yesterday, so we were ticking the locks off quite fast.<br />
<br />
Apsley, (where Cath went shopping, and I filled the water tank), and then Boxmoor, both part of Hemel Hempstead were reached quicker than we could have hoped for, so we decided to head for our first choice of Berkhamsted.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMSNt-wKYhs1eToYwdyIFz2XdIe33XgtKo3DiiAeavrPEMHVlKFboaZFwHysXE1kUFTigxLcgqcakhDq1G3aO7brnLZL3Ekdc4xKx07B3k8z6KN7JJz5gfukRQXkV2OkP8K08oEXzrA-Q/s1600/IMG_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMSNt-wKYhs1eToYwdyIFz2XdIe33XgtKo3DiiAeavrPEMHVlKFboaZFwHysXE1kUFTigxLcgqcakhDq1G3aO7brnLZL3Ekdc4xKx07B3k8z6KN7JJz5gfukRQXkV2OkP8K08oEXzrA-Q/s320/IMG_0303.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The overspill from the Rising Sun pub - never seen it this busy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Before we got there, we finally caught up another boat - an efficient single-hander, and worked with him, until he moored up for the night. We stopped ourselves after just one more lock, having booked a table for a meal at a local Pizzeria. Our son, Michael, who doesn't "do boating" came and joined us for the evening, and we had the rare pleasure of the whole family for a meal out.<br />
<br />
Cath then left with Michael, with an agreement that David and I would carry on for a final day, and hopefully return Chalice to base, unusually with Cath not there.<br />
<br />
The stats say a lot about this part of the journey up the GU, where there is on average less than half a mile between each lock, but where not many are conveniently enough together to work as a mini flight. A suggestion that we should have gone a bit further to get the lock count into the thirties had fallen on deaf ears - I can't think why!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Lot Mead (Rickmansworth) to Berkhamsted<br />
Miles: 13.5, Locks:29</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 301.7, Total Locks: 177</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-1051024163358941822011-04-24T22:15:00.000+01:002011-04-27T22:24:36.670+01:00Change of plan, (and a very long day!)<b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
<br />
Today saw us leave the grandeur of the Thames, and back to our more usual canal environment.<br />
<br />
We had opted to go out of Teddington on the morning tide, and had already found out that meant locking through by about 07:30 am, so we set off down to the lock a bit before this. Despite several boats apparently waiting, none seemed to be going through around that time, and in fact we saw little else moving for the 5 miles we were on the Thames, other than a variety of rowed craft.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqzPffDsICdlIgO6R8mt-7hopSNUElAD_ThuGbGVgKqYpACkvYIXov5E7Lrbqp4CRMWc9_BIaRuo1AHawy5deYdcmBHwH3HBZAqIhF3m2cKWwHNILvEIOr1rpJA0sRrYHyWzq7dIFsLs-/s1600/DSCF4183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqzPffDsICdlIgO6R8mt-7hopSNUElAD_ThuGbGVgKqYpACkvYIXov5E7Lrbqp4CRMWc9_BIaRuo1AHawy5deYdcmBHwH3HBZAqIhF3m2cKWwHNILvEIOr1rpJA0sRrYHyWzq7dIFsLs-/s320/DSCF4183.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another burnt out boat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We did see the burnt out narrow boat "Centaur" that made the news quite recently, and eventually one lone narrow boat going the other way, that seemed to be making slow progress against the now outgoing tide - we were surprised it had not come through earlier on a still incoming tide.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9hWU1L7MtobJN3t8DgIkdanJM3SZlHbAVzJzC0StH0WbRSjFLMRHXtZFsjOf7QJzKrpkEs5U4KZD_t7aiL07sL8Vgtw4Y61A68y-f77R9ORBTwpsesGww3Lu_V6FXHSgZ_Bf-tQ4MXuY/s1600/DSCF4186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9hWU1L7MtobJN3t8DgIkdanJM3SZlHbAVzJzC0StH0WbRSjFLMRHXtZFsjOf7QJzKrpkEs5U4KZD_t7aiL07sL8Vgtw4Y61A68y-f77R9ORBTwpsesGww3Lu_V6FXHSgZ_Bf-tQ4MXuY/s320/DSCF4186.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richmond half-tide barrier and lock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Choosing the timing right means that the "half tide" barrier at Richmond, (a kind of "mini Thames barrier"), is open, so you don't work the lock that only comes into play when the barriers are down.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgX23zDoY7_VuAFfXglkOFcljkM_uWN68cHkBkqfAHzNF8RWM9AuOPt6P-2VIJ9y-a8JWE4E7zQjE-anDMraquOylBczS1k9FdkrX2y84bj3Z6m_6t8TQYpugZtt1JbITgJIj3hGlZLaol/s1600/DSCF4185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgX23zDoY7_VuAFfXglkOFcljkM_uWN68cHkBkqfAHzNF8RWM9AuOPt6P-2VIJ9y-a8JWE4E7zQjE-anDMraquOylBczS1k9FdkrX2y84bj3Z6m_6t8TQYpugZtt1JbITgJIj3hGlZLaol/s320/DSCF4185.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lock, and the "don't use" arch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I find this barrier confusing, as it has an arch near the lock that both has illuminated orange lights, (theore- tically "OK to use"), but also a board with three reds, (which definitely means don't use).<br />
<br />
In fact the tidal effects are considerable. On it's own Chalice probably can make about 5 mph in open water, and we were getting little more than this on leaving Teddington. But before we got to Brentford we were at between 7 and 8 mph over land, something that becomes very apparent as you turn across the river, and almost double back 180 degrees up the channel to Thames lock.<br />
<br />
Brentford has two sets of locks, the first being keeper operated, and the true tidal locks. The next stretch is partially tidal, and you get to the "gauging locks", which are self operated. Or they would have been other than we caught up another boat which must have left Teddington earlier than we did. The crew of this decided to fill the lock before we were fully ready, then be very patronising when this caused our boat to rub against theirs...... (Deep breath, and carry on!.....).<br />
<br />
After this bank holiday weekend mayhem commenced, as we quickly caught two very slow moving narrow boats. We eventually realised that a third boat with them had not left Brentford until we passed it, and they were stalling us to the first of the locks, in the hope it would catch up. (Another deep breath, and carry on!....).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkjfvC9fZ09Qgr4jh6LNtRyCl6LZWmCwYLULRi1PrAwF8EAxfqDqpg42u2afdwqC00PTuScZR709Qyc1LX6W31Z6rjdVl4nlG92AjYwBUSgIfTteGw9U4hdzEUa9gyOGEoKg-44SVvFuG/s1600/DSCF4191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkjfvC9fZ09Qgr4jh6LNtRyCl6LZWmCwYLULRi1PrAwF8EAxfqDqpg42u2afdwqC00PTuScZR709Qyc1LX6W31Z6rjdVl4nlG92AjYwBUSgIfTteGw9U4hdzEUa9gyOGEoKg-44SVvFuG/s320/DSCF4191.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alan, David and another drag the stuck boats back out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>By Hanwell lock flight, our progress was already being heavily slowed by these boats, when the two metal ones attempted to enter a lock side by side, with debris stopping either gate from fully opening, and with fenders between the boats to further restrict their chances of getting through. They were well stuck, and didn't seem to grasp how to get unstuck. We eventually persuaded them to let us try and hand tow them out backwards, whilst people jiggled the gates. This worked quite quickly. We thought we were on our way, then, but apparently the chap on the small accompanying cruiser then refused to go through the gates, (on his own, not with another boat!), because he feared he would get stuck too! (We are talking of a 7 foot of boat in a near 14 foot gap). (We were getting quite good at taking long deep breaths by now!....).<br />
<br />
We have never seen Hanwell locks so busy, but were at least lucky enough to be ahead of apparently experienced crews on the boats behind that then jammed themselves between another pair of gates. (Normally two narrow boats can enter a broad Grand Union lock easily, side by side, but not if there is large amounts of junk stopping the gates opening - a wise crew knows this, and doesn't try!.)<br />
<br />
Meanwhile a debate was going on about whether we were after all going to turn on to the Paddington Arm, and head for London, which had been our original plan. For various reasons we felt we might be better heading for home, and getting as far as we could before Cath had to be back at work. I was still getting visual disturbaces for a start, and didn't fancy trying to involve further hospitals in this, thinking it might be better to get back to where I had had the surgery.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz07-CsMsxEfUjRxhx138-PYx3zYAgt0evSF-uFY4hbxkwrmRvha82_tUSPAzC9ObLCOQqrfGtWRUMxrIIb4bRhoh0b7LcwyKhHipIt-2ZKHbydGpmLb2grQ2TTjzfhFj145u4CtethpxJ/s1600/IMG_0255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz07-CsMsxEfUjRxhx138-PYx3zYAgt0evSF-uFY4hbxkwrmRvha82_tUSPAzC9ObLCOQqrfGtWRUMxrIIb4bRhoh0b7LcwyKhHipIt-2ZKHbydGpmLb2grQ2TTjzfhFj145u4CtethpxJ/s320/IMG_0255.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for Cowley lock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The decision was "Head for home", but being a gorgeously sunny bank holiday weekend, the canal was incredibly busy, and we were spending large amounts of time waiting, sometimes when locks were reversed as we approached them, which is rather poor etiquette. (Yep, lots, and lots of deep breathing, overall!).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-2z3LKr1zo4RPxV-bFQOJab1ZuXN4dqvfROrv45riz2VFMqVLn8-SUdo7vtZB2L3N_Ung6-Z9QDUa3VjPG7jm3hPidm8ohc9FI54IMt-LZMU7maWSptr5ZecnLwpnE8AHbJ4uPcPzxue/s1600/DSCF4194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-2z3LKr1zo4RPxV-bFQOJab1ZuXN4dqvfROrv45riz2VFMqVLn8-SUdo7vtZB2L3N_Ung6-Z9QDUa3VjPG7jm3hPidm8ohc9FI54IMt-LZMU7maWSptr5ZecnLwpnE8AHbJ4uPcPzxue/s320/DSCF4194.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bikes carried precariously over the deepest lock on the Grand Union.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We thought we would stop before Rickmans- worth, but as people started tying up, we found ourselves making far better progress, so pushed on to Lot Mead, which we rather like, as there are good options for walking Charlie the dog. <br />
<br />
We don't normally do non-stop boating days of over 12 hours, but today we did. It was hard to believe we had still been on the non-tidal Thames just that morning.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Teddington to Lot Mead (Rickmansworth)<br />
Miles: 25.1, Locks:22</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 288.2, Total Locks: 148</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-85573563844216364232011-04-23T21:33:00.000+01:002011-04-23T21:33:31.850+01:00Last of the non-tidal Thames - Getting to Teddington<b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
<br />
We had only a few miles and locks to go today, to get ourselves to Teddington, so we didn't rush it at all. Alan and I took Charlie for a walk past the moored houseboats at Chertsey, and on a bit further, until we met a road. Charlie was keen to try out his new found swimming skills, walking into the Thames in several places, and doggie paddling about. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYvUgH23n5cVCkERwbqycPXq9mQHIE0GgKOAXCqOx802ZDFn-487-xA12HHDVaPDDlj8yxgx8i3spn8G5CLpZcAJqCSzWgBkN0gQ_lSsITAYdoiMyCAW2aL8S1zN63Ojca4bRIecnCpFK/s1600/IMG_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYvUgH23n5cVCkERwbqycPXq9mQHIE0GgKOAXCqOx802ZDFn-487-xA12HHDVaPDDlj8yxgx8i3spn8G5CLpZcAJqCSzWgBkN0gQ_lSsITAYdoiMyCAW2aL8S1zN63Ojca4bRIecnCpFK/s320/IMG_0242.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bikes out at Walton on Thames - Ready to shop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We decided to moor up at Walton on Thames, to go to a super- market. We've used the bikes a few times while away, but not both at the same time. Alan and I set off on the bikes in the baking sun, stopped for a coffee and cake before we got to the town centre, then went shopping - it really is hard to believe that this is the UK in April. It feels much more like somewhere on the continent.<br />
<br />
As we were being fairly lazy it was after 1 pm before we got going again, on through the final lock to Hampton Court, where we thought we might amble about in the garden for a while. We intended to moor on the visitors moorings outside, but all seemed full, except a small gap, that we weren't sure that we'd fit into. We had a bit of a misunderstanding about what David and I (on the front of the boat) thought needed to happen as we approached, and what Alan (on the back of the boat) heard - so we arrived shouting forward and back, and trying not to look like rank amateurs. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HPkoOmJn0twl10kg79uT7A-a9jE6EypBn53HUOWOCz1aviJSWIseXQJdY44kSEmITPHD_ICokr0TudgxElc6Aqb3lDjDCciWiNgaF9XEYS6aFQfufUE2YINz0auJPC-QjJW2V6tImPhr/s1600/DSCF4167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HPkoOmJn0twl10kg79uT7A-a9jE6EypBn53HUOWOCz1aviJSWIseXQJdY44kSEmITPHD_ICokr0TudgxElc6Aqb3lDjDCciWiNgaF9XEYS6aFQfufUE2YINz0auJPC-QjJW2V6tImPhr/s320/DSCF4167.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee and scones at Hampton Court,</td></tr>
</tbody></table>At this point we were rescued - we spotted Kingfisher, with Lucy and Rob from the Canal World Forum - who had just moored, and who let us breast up to them. We knew that they were travelling up the Thames, and roughly where they might be, but we hadn't formally met them before, so once introductions were over we headed off to the Cafe in the Hampton Court Gardens, and had the opportunity to find out a bit about each other.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CsalP6G1LHsvmgnL41p1kQLy5XKiDYJRKBzGFtKIZ92DD4hd2GbviF5TeVUDNJRBaEY5mYwn4MZsyJ3C6VFcafkkTCeEIvhAQKqi2P32vX7ElkZboPUmel7M7Lb2t1oDp660fFJeqfYM/s1600/DSCF4172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CsalP6G1LHsvmgnL41p1kQLy5XKiDYJRKBzGFtKIZ92DD4hd2GbviF5TeVUDNJRBaEY5mYwn4MZsyJ3C6VFcafkkTCeEIvhAQKqi2P32vX7ElkZboPUmel7M7Lb2t1oDp660fFJeqfYM/s320/DSCF4172.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truly a "House Boat"!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After coffee we said goodbye to Lucy and Rob, and we set off towards Tedding- ton, only a couple of miles further on. As I steered black clouds began gathering towards the south, and there were rumblings of thunder.<br />
<br />
We moored up, Charlie got another walk, and we confirmed what time we need to lock through onto the Tidal Thames with the 'lockie' at Teddington, just as the heavens opened, and the rain began in earnest.<span> </span>We are now moored up, doors of the boat still open at the front, as it is still hot, despite it having been raining now for a good couple of hours.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Chertsey to Teddington<br />
Miles: 11.8, Locks: 3</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 263.1, Total Locks: 126</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-44560974215225950812011-04-22T22:09:00.002+01:002011-04-22T23:29:16.143+01:00Thames is magnificent, but very busy today<b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
<br />
Last night we finally got down to thinking about our options for the rest of the journey. Although we were sure we had probably caught up enough of the time lost over Alan's eye problems, there remained the thorny question about one particular stretch of the Thames which although only just over 5 miles long always places heavy constraints on the journey into London.<br />
<br />
The short length from Teddington lock on the Thames to Thames Lock, Brentford, the entry lock to the Grand Union Canal, is tidal, and there are at best only two short windows in any day where the tides are right for an easy passage. Unfortunately this weekend those times fall badly, either meaning a ridiculously early start from Teddington, or risking arrival and trying to find moorings in Brentford after dark. We decided in the end to delay to Sunday morning, when we reckon we will not have to go through Teddington until around 07:40 a.m., and which should see us locking in to Brentford without having to request a lock-keeper to work out of hours, (it's often hard to contact them).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXmKQz35r_sH-U3JK2ibzOds49vYW7ggFT9D_6buIkRrPImvms1n-1mDw88AlONQqH6e4BtLOCqjnsKHKAL_vKvxJfX6jTw5aUMSDqbxzhv3UsDjv3lpf7HZaz5rMPjJBAQNd3bEXM7l2/s1600/DSCF4148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXmKQz35r_sH-U3JK2ibzOds49vYW7ggFT9D_6buIkRrPImvms1n-1mDw88AlONQqH6e4BtLOCqjnsKHKAL_vKvxJfX6jTw5aUMSDqbxzhv3UsDjv3lpf7HZaz5rMPjJBAQNd3bEXM7l2/s320/DSCF4148.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes the smaller buildings are just as attractive.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So the pressure was now off to do huge mileages each day. As the day progressed it quickly became obvious we had made the right decision. Boats were out in "Bank Holiday" numbers, and we were often in long queues at locks, albeit that we generally got into the next available 'slot'.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOn4mZuj458IYNCd6QE1vDjFyUUmJ4w1bRcgz2FZf-VGhX_IReq_ZotRmG7yo-481Lf1ZPYgEDmnu_QsxPrb-cF1iDM455aBgwTHu8OxjS7I3gyzrjssTa2UUvVFz8K9vzRBBG6_rCaUU/s1600/DSCF4154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOn4mZuj458IYNCd6QE1vDjFyUUmJ4w1bRcgz2FZf-VGhX_IReq_ZotRmG7yo-481Lf1ZPYgEDmnu_QsxPrb-cF1iDM455aBgwTHu8OxjS7I3gyzrjssTa2UUvVFz8K9vzRBBG6_rCaUU/s320/DSCF4154.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cath was fascinated by the use of boat rollers to bypass the lock at Bray.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It has been another stunning day weather- wise, and it really has shown the magni- ficence of this stretch of the Thames at it's very best. There really are all sorts of craft, with a lot of them just being human powered.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_2Xf0DmcqGAxpU-xfokvC9Wskl-EUCJLRjMW3YDn5XZsRfWI-qf72731K6HL1ktgfZB7j09lNczGw-39MJ8OGj3mvCP0M-HzvRZPBcOhw-TW-b-MT6i9FKC-uSUpnsIQGZyjiZgN9x1R/s1600/DSCF4157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_2Xf0DmcqGAxpU-xfokvC9Wskl-EUCJLRjMW3YDn5XZsRfWI-qf72731K6HL1ktgfZB7j09lNczGw-39MJ8OGj3mvCP0M-HzvRZPBcOhw-TW-b-MT6i9FKC-uSUpnsIQGZyjiZgN9x1R/s320/DSCF4157.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chalice looking rather small in a big lock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>In fact narrow boats look very dwarfed by many of the fibreglass boats on the Thames, as this are generally far wider, and massively taller.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CIHu-QkiMnVoYSFAK7-jop1bEFgSaGzGHDCfDgtHwnruCQ36LtPUdGUI_LXW9xqljppfIvQ0Zzc3_dN8gkZSuTec2TL-8Zt3uziUE5rZUd5NDyJddSyUsOzHKHdzBNPvw2mDSFs0TiT1/s1600/DSCF4159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CIHu-QkiMnVoYSFAK7-jop1bEFgSaGzGHDCfDgtHwnruCQ36LtPUdGUI_LXW9xqljppfIvQ0Zzc3_dN8gkZSuTec2TL-8Zt3uziUE5rZUd5NDyJddSyUsOzHKHdzBNPvw2mDSFs0TiT1/s320/DSCF4159.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classic view.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Of course this stretch of the Thames contains some very famous landmarks. It seems "Lizzie" was at home at Windsor today, but I doubt she reads the blog, and no invite for tea was received.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqQJrR0Xqu5xEFCquuAGc5tTWvUiHAuxqcuV59YUBdmDqh_SHavViyIJxUh38Ktq6ffM6zEeKSWBZKhyphenhyphenY5EW8PN5EV8eQpk2xDAd-gJMNUrp_sZkAmzur7oSBCkMqWflm5txG0GCSa_Lv/s1600/IMG_0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqQJrR0Xqu5xEFCquuAGc5tTWvUiHAuxqcuV59YUBdmDqh_SHavViyIJxUh38Ktq6ffM6zEeKSWBZKhyphenhyphenY5EW8PN5EV8eQpk2xDAd-gJMNUrp_sZkAmzur7oSBCkMqWflm5txG0GCSa_Lv/s320/IMG_0226.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does this really fit under all the required bridges ?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>While we waited at a lock for this trip boat, the impression was rather of a house being taken through the lock<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqYfB_PBnGR_dtycF02toKNIkmnR2YPqX8R1Njnq2SdyDMJMCu4L6kjMDqX_wNssvomOvToQatJwSt5icEi4lJoIJpDCkZfKD8NafvPJuwHELU4jMmtcbEah4-22xBpGoSHSroDH2U91U/s1600/CIMG2771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqYfB_PBnGR_dtycF02toKNIkmnR2YPqX8R1Njnq2SdyDMJMCu4L6kjMDqX_wNssvomOvToQatJwSt5icEi4lJoIJpDCkZfKD8NafvPJuwHELU4jMmtcbEah4-22xBpGoSHSroDH2U91U/s320/CIMG2771.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swan by David</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Of course as well as boats of just about every conceivable type, size and condition, there is a near constant display of animal life.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0k9TRiRtWSfCXweAzmJ4dVaPnB5EmxVPIlRlder2oU95CU2puj2w2YY_EE_zMG7fRnmOmRmyu3Jvf_LIniyHJywXXbEdXw-YtmbfotJXw01KItxpng3GDLyWWEi0aRb2ILWGK1EuP4WR/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0k9TRiRtWSfCXweAzmJ4dVaPnB5EmxVPIlRlder2oU95CU2puj2w2YY_EE_zMG7fRnmOmRmyu3Jvf_LIniyHJywXXbEdXw-YtmbfotJXw01KItxpng3GDLyWWEi0aRb2ILWGK1EuP4WR/s320/IMG_0230.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wyvern Shipping" Hire Boat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Last time we came around this way we saw a hire boat from our local fleet back home, and were surprised to do so again. I think you have to be fairly well heeled to afford the length of hire this would require.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHe3vtddjlxL5TGVVprfESj2fuTB_uxr1cd7I6uKrFs-hWUIzPOO0fkrj9jVz9lym1o64c9lukikiO5dDhLkV2vt31Ef2-3Mf9mjIK_jlR9jauwAyszGNgxwUj8QAnByLH47_WpXFRJrYo/s1600/IMG_0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHe3vtddjlxL5TGVVprfESj2fuTB_uxr1cd7I6uKrFs-hWUIzPOO0fkrj9jVz9lym1o64c9lukikiO5dDhLkV2vt31Ef2-3Mf9mjIK_jlR9jauwAyszGNgxwUj8QAnByLH47_WpXFRJrYo/s320/IMG_0235.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chalice in the distance, as we return after our walk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We were aware that Charlie the dog had been aboard far too long, so with no need to make more miles started looking for moorings at Chertsey. We found an ideal spot, and once tied up, Cath and I took Charlie back up a large riverside meadow. Charlie, a rescue dog, initially seemed to be a Spaniel who doesn't actually like water, but he is starting to get the hang of it, and took a few more tentative cooling off swims. Our attempts at a pub were less successful, as you could not get access to the main garden without passing through the "no dogs inside" bar. So we were limited to benches out the front. Good beer and cider, but noisy road.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Cliveden Deep to Chertsey<br />
Miles: 20.1, Locks: 8</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 251.3, Total Locks: 123</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-58140399624607654722011-04-21T22:47:00.002+01:002011-04-21T23:02:27.303+01:00On to Cliveden Deep<b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
<br />
A very hot day.<br />
<br />
We overslept a bit, so got up fairly quickly when we woke, and got started. After not a lot of miles we came to a big Tesco, right by the river - where I stopped to get supplies. One of the problems with supermarkets that you don't know is spending far too long looking for things that you need - this wasn't helped by me not having a shopping list, although I did have a clear idea of what the meals would be for the next couple of days. I was wandering up and down the aisles muttering to remind myself of what I needed to buy. By the time I got to the checkout I had been in the shop for a long time. "Is that man something to do with you?" asked the woman at the checkout. I looked up to see a very fed up Alan, with Charlie, standing at the window, looking in.<br />
<br />
Today we were going through the 'super rich' areas, superb houses, massive boathouses with very shiny boats in them. At one point I found myself staggered that any houses could have quite such big boats moored at the end of the garden, when I realised that the homes were moored at the end of the gardens.<br />
<br />
I spent some time doing the washing, with our "Fisher Price" twin tub washing machine. When we are out for a couple of weeks I try to wash every week or so, when we've got fine weather. Today I managed to break the shower pump again - meaning that instead of spinning the washing, and draining the tub into the shower tray I had to empty into a bucket and chuck it over the side. A woman in a small boat coming out of the lock as I emptied once again through the side hatch shouted, "Have you just pee'd in that bucket?" Embarrassed, I explained that I was trying to do the washing. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMhiTfO2vExcMrMfj5Sjv8sCYtjkxjRM5Mz8vZ842xcXPzj2z3VipCWKPow7Yj12AzrP0c_ejw3uxXenRDCCwMMxXW6tGwJ-AJofBTVJeKkrPFnERM8brf1MXzKPQcSweGzzu1i85793t/s1600/DSCF4142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMhiTfO2vExcMrMfj5Sjv8sCYtjkxjRM5Mz8vZ842xcXPzj2z3VipCWKPow7Yj12AzrP0c_ejw3uxXenRDCCwMMxXW6tGwJ-AJofBTVJeKkrPFnERM8brf1MXzKPQcSweGzzu1i85793t/s320/DSCF4142.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kevin & Lauren</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Over the last couple of days we have seen a man and his young daughter canoeing much of the same route as us, last night they camped at Mapledurham lock, and they were away before us this morning. We finally got to chat to them today. Kevin and Lauren are canoeing from Cricklade to Chertsey. Kevin said that the first parts of the journey were quite difficult, even in the canoe they were scrapping the bottom at times. They have booked camp sites, sometimes at locks, which I didn't realise was possible. They don't have Internet, but their position is being tracked on Google maps aprs - http://aprs.fi - as Kevin is a radio amateur. Lauren will be six next week - the week before I was six I had my tonsils out - I think I'd much rather have done what they are doing. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aFEVT7ADcs3H2wNwn6dRDQ0SqZIPnRJNGHg0bViFloISMyldyuEco3vOxwsk40aQmJGnvoPfjb3WDx1VXhtYltvTW1q02dyH4v5LGYYQygGHTxVr8jxkO4cxb4LAi_c2zRzcKe60ztVQ/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aFEVT7ADcs3H2wNwn6dRDQ0SqZIPnRJNGHg0bViFloISMyldyuEco3vOxwsk40aQmJGnvoPfjb3WDx1VXhtYltvTW1q02dyH4v5LGYYQygGHTxVr8jxkO4cxb4LAi_c2zRzcKe60ztVQ/s320/IMG_0182.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge numbers of these structures were being erected</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We went through Henley, where there were the scale of prepar- ations for the regatta was quite remark- able. The river is very wide at this famous place.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zDaw0QnbDRiKzwx1G8Iv2jH8NVnaSi5UL0VmQOJc27pNumWM-nQyhAyC3VM8AtoWkbaRDIDdit2gkS4nGaobTXfGavDZGYKhGOcuXQEk9lG2lV-WaTHlogAddQOD0Z0Tom3nggjGvkDR/s1600/IMG_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zDaw0QnbDRiKzwx1G8Iv2jH8NVnaSi5UL0VmQOJc27pNumWM-nQyhAyC3VM8AtoWkbaRDIDdit2gkS4nGaobTXfGavDZGYKhGOcuXQEk9lG2lV-WaTHlogAddQOD0Z0Tom3nggjGvkDR/s320/IMG_0201.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Medmenham Abbey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Later we passed Medmen- ham Abbey, former home of the notorious Francis Dashwood, founder of the Hellfire Club.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRWhHqLOeEzZLWinXiShZBqvFImjmliMqqFxJDGw-ce4JgrHW5OVCdijHXSVro-OsYpOhqxtJOtF0VneGBqLCaXSxbpaeGVKcINU4Ggz5ICpyd_OcVntsk3X5iXmp4xIFFxExkwteCyFg/s1600/CIMG2732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRWhHqLOeEzZLWinXiShZBqvFImjmliMqqFxJDGw-ce4JgrHW5OVCdijHXSVro-OsYpOhqxtJOtF0VneGBqLCaXSxbpaeGVKcINU4Ggz5ICpyd_OcVntsk3X5iXmp4xIFFxExkwteCyFg/s320/CIMG2732.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weir at Marlow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As we progress further down the Thames the volume of wsater passing the weirs at each lock gets more impressive, although it is difficult to capture the power of the river in a photo.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYTfsW1IUTYHiR9juPp9yNZ2PC3EnKZxlFGCePto95WyJNM7MHG4i6yKe0TLZK4ggRG6VT1kqJH13Cxqg1HFnLDV6ji2m9tNKV_wWNmh-iNYKIRWXg716Gl-1usUI-UvEGoZSNFY7IMyI/s1600/CIMG2736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYTfsW1IUTYHiR9juPp9yNZ2PC3EnKZxlFGCePto95WyJNM7MHG4i6yKe0TLZK4ggRG6VT1kqJH13Cxqg1HFnLDV6ji2m9tNKV_wWNmh-iNYKIRWXg716Gl-1usUI-UvEGoZSNFY7IMyI/s320/CIMG2736.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bat over boat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We moored beneath the trees in the beautiful Cliveden Deep, Charlie thinks that this is the very best place he's been ever. We lit the barbecue and opened a bottle of wine.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pMzECmkZjN6lh48l4TJfO92QFS69Lc7CApKJkSTgyi6WVGwTdOej5glJAH3483KuVSGFc1ImNGraSVhzzERWJpPXtEHmxhH6MC5l4UpLzgZG-nh_-vtAST3L8L-nhLZV2RrEzWfRA-Wq/s1600/CIMG2742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pMzECmkZjN6lh48l4TJfO92QFS69Lc7CApKJkSTgyi6WVGwTdOej5glJAH3483KuVSGFc1ImNGraSVhzzERWJpPXtEHmxhH6MC5l4UpLzgZG-nh_-vtAST3L8L-nhLZV2RrEzWfRA-Wq/s320/CIMG2742.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batin flight as captured by David.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We sat beneath the trees, eating our meal, until the sun set, and the bats began to loop low over the boat. David even managed to photograph one of them.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Mapledurham to Cliveden Deep<br />
Miles: 27.2, Locks:10</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 231.2, Total Locks:115</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-85809837426635122602011-04-20T22:40:00.002+01:002011-04-20T22:45:33.034+01:00On our way again<b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;"></span>An extremely hot day, although the mist took until very late to 'burn off', leaving even nearby hills faint and faded. <br />
<br />
We were getting ready to leave the mooring when 2 very large "Caversham" cruisers came past us covered with young people wearing life jackets. As Alan was sure that he had seen 4 of these boats together the previous day, we set off towards the lock, hoping that we might get through the lock with the first two of them.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFQ6mLzYKITZgilHuD8VE1uwF9Fz10t1R-_2FpjY5LHHaLtAs_mga_OYUhyphenhyphen9RjPOzlRtVIbtCA6dUAOvhhvvDG4WPMVRd3Vw_EAyJgxI512vHdpVQKi-M99rNvmKE2__5CDVRdsM2mHid/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFQ6mLzYKITZgilHuD8VE1uwF9Fz10t1R-_2FpjY5LHHaLtAs_mga_OYUhyphenhyphen9RjPOzlRtVIbtCA6dUAOvhhvvDG4WPMVRd3Vw_EAyJgxI512vHdpVQKi-M99rNvmKE2__5CDVRdsM2mHid/s320/IMG_0134.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delayed by photo call!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>At the lock someone off one of the "Caver- sham" boats told Alan to go ahead, as they were waiting for the other 2 boats to catch up - but just as we got into the lock the other boats arrived. As Sandford lock is very large we managed to get all of us into the lock, and all the young people posed for a group photo. They were foreign, I don't know what language they were speaking, a germanic language, but not German or Dutch, I think, as I can speak a little of each of those, and I would have recognised some words. Perhaps something Scandinavian, although it is surprising that their English was not better if that is the case - most Scandinavians put us to shame with their command of other languages. The guy taking the group photo was also trying to operate the lock, and was having little success despite adults on the boats shouting "Oepen schlueses", as he perused the options on the mechanism. He did finally manage to find "Open sluices".<br />
<br />
They were refilling with water when we got to the next lock, which was a much smaller lock, so we went on ahead.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2da5mXwZIemMNVlkc6J5TBScuF7bPMD3qt8bPZ1b_EOO3qJ4mvQ74I_IRajHkFXxyFApJgru3ehKZSeSXQr58kgQBbbgiJaRxKlZbxLZ4B6aPcuoU53JREUYAG1f5wJu3cxxOPJMHEzTH/s1600/DSCF4140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2da5mXwZIemMNVlkc6J5TBScuF7bPMD3qt8bPZ1b_EOO3qJ4mvQ74I_IRajHkFXxyFApJgru3ehKZSeSXQr58kgQBbbgiJaRxKlZbxLZ4B6aPcuoU53JREUYAG1f5wJu3cxxOPJMHEzTH/s320/DSCF4140.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We don't think they expected it to be so hot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>At one lock we were joined by two young men, who are canoeing from Lechlade to Teddington to raise money for the Japan disaster fund. Both were looking very sun-burned, and were grateful for some sunblock on their knees. They were with us in several locks, and although we eventually pulled ahead of them, we saw them at the end of the day, working through Mapledurham lock, on their way to Reading.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIUFeUwXwTY_0VQGOLe5bUFizXlkjfhwKx5cij4oQ9_0_Py6QRYVqX2n1tj5gSdGMwyx_pVVX4Vkxz_p4v4SG9IhDjM_q5PFbzO5KkJxuSevtbKrGbIl_DFMdnMw3BcfHl4xgP7GsK7Xf/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIUFeUwXwTY_0VQGOLe5bUFizXlkjfhwKx5cij4oQ9_0_Py6QRYVqX2n1tj5gSdGMwyx_pVVX4Vkxz_p4v4SG9IhDjM_q5PFbzO5KkJxuSevtbKrGbIl_DFMdnMw3BcfHl4xgP7GsK7Xf/s320/IMG_0145.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abingdon</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtI_X1p63QKPJppwzKXlcI1N8Q6Gg71RSQUwArixbG6QTt0lqecu2MaoZMpc3OoYagOEUs8JJ-vPpcYTlZGMQnsmV8bCuMZBvKFBYGaiHddJ8cMb5INLuV1F2qYjSOn5mI3T7uEbi4g9v1/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtI_X1p63QKPJppwzKXlcI1N8Q6Gg71RSQUwArixbG6QTt0lqecu2MaoZMpc3OoYagOEUs8JJ-vPpcYTlZGMQnsmV8bCuMZBvKFBYGaiHddJ8cMb5INLuV1F2qYjSOn5mI3T7uEbi4g9v1/s320/IMG_0147.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clifton Hampden Bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Our plan was to get quite a few miles done today, to try to offset the delays we had in Oxford. So we carried on through picturesque towns, and under the elegant arching bridges of this section of the Thames. Early in the day we were not wearing our inflatable life jackets, but we try to make it a policy that if we are on the back of the boat we wear them, just in case one of us goes off.<br />
<br />
I went to some trouble to make sure that we ate proper food at lunchtime, not just another sandwich, so I prepared bowls of hot food, and took two of them up to the back of the boat where Alan was steering. I flicked the brass step down on the side of the boat, and just began to climb up onto the back, when I heard a loud noise hissing noise, and my ears were pressed firmly against my head. I looked down to see the self inflation toggle from my life jacket caught in a small brass catch on the back of the boat. Alan took a moment to work out what was going on, but by the time that the whole of the lifejacket was inflated he realised. Once it's inflated it's not actually very easy to get off in a hurry. OK, the toggle should have been tucked away, it normally is, I hadn't noticed that it had worked it's way loose.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMyzyIAB8nGJ0yVQBRwYSuIU9KaCqpbHSza6AWlH53zP6vUZWeFMl_YgrXM7gRiUmqfQkMJwN28y-B4AxXZ35tj_-bN2lEjafz7qEZsSuB0cW4bnyOcWf4DBCFDNKOEYxt-S5Wf9EaBGL/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMyzyIAB8nGJ0yVQBRwYSuIU9KaCqpbHSza6AWlH53zP6vUZWeFMl_YgrXM7gRiUmqfQkMJwN28y-B4AxXZ35tj_-bN2lEjafz7qEZsSuB0cW4bnyOcWf4DBCFDNKOEYxt-S5Wf9EaBGL/s320/IMG_0158.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mapledurham overnight mooring</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Although our plan was to carry on late, Maple- durham looked very inviting, and it would have been very late before we could have got to the other side of Reading. A Canal World member suggested a few safe places to moor in Reading, but we got to walk the dog, have a relaxed meal in a meadow by the river, and were treated to an acrobatic display by a small aeroplane. Charlie got to romp in the field with some of the many passing dogs out for an evening walk with their owners by the Thames.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Sandford Lock to Mapledurham<br />
Miles: 31.0, Locks:9</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 204.0, Total Locks:105</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-77130967543143217372011-04-19T23:27:00.001+01:002011-04-20T21:05:56.347+01:00Even More Deja Vu, It Seems<b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
<br />
As we considered it not worth taking any risks with my eyesight, we decided to stay in Oxford for a mid afternoon appointment we had been able to secure at the John Radcliffe hospital. This was going to result in nearly two days spent in Oxford we had not planned for, but we felt to press on without getting it looked at would be foolhardy.<br />
<br />
So we decided we might as well make the most of Oxford before then, and get some shopping in, and by lunch-time both Cath and I had added considerably to our wardrobe, We made a poor decision then about how to get to the boat with our purchases, and ended up walking far further than planned, and not having time for a proper lunch.<br />
<br />
But a bit of rushing got us back into central Oxford in time for the bus out to "the Radcliffe", and we grabbed sandwiches and bottled drink en route.<br />
<br />
This was all starting to seem terribly familiar, as it was the mirror image of when Cath had similar eyesight problems on our last boating trip to Oxford, also at Easter, but 2 years ago. Today was easier though, as we were starting from Oxford, not Thrupp, and it wasn't a Bank Holiday this time, so buses were much more abundant. The downside was that whilst last time the eye hospital was deserted, this time it was very busy indeed.<br />
<br />
As it turned out, we were in a different part of the unit, from most people there, being an "urgent assesment" rather than a routine appointment, and were seen relatively quickly.<br />
<br />
A thorough but fairly unpleasant examination followed. The doctor was surprised how intolerant the affected eye was to the bright lights used, and had to put anaesthetic in the eye to be able to examine it. She said cataract surgery did not usually produce such a reaction.<br />
<br />
Anyway it transpired she was carrying out identical examinations on me to those Cath had 2 years ago - the real worry is either "retinal tears" or the retina becoming actually detached. Fortunately she found no evidence of this, but could see the same "floaters" as the optician had seen yesterday.<br />
<br />
The diagnosis, exactly the same as Cath, although the symptoms slightly different. Cath had "flashes", whereas I was seeing wandering black spots of various sizes, but in both cases what we have is "posterior vitreous detachment" which relates to ageing and shrinking of the "vitreous humour" in the eye. In my case recent cataract surgery may have contributed to the onset.<br />
<br />
Basically I have been told I can continue, but should present myself at an eye hospital within 24 hours if the symptoms worsen, or certain other things happen - a bit of a challenge if part way up the Thames to London!<br />
<br />
Anyway, late in the afternoon we finally got going again, or would have, had we not found the very first lock without power, and with the hydraulics to hand crank the gates not actually doing so. We'll gloss over the exact detail of how we got through the lock, other than to say it put two other potential sharers off attempting it with us, but get through it we did, with no Environment Agency kit harmed in the process! After a few more miles, and one more (fortunately working!) lock, we decided not to press on into the unknown, with no certainty of finding a good mooring.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79bqXNpOLobhD1YTbhNW3Bph8M4P2MDM4bYl0TauOteE5QjnanfSdtNavVqZPpd7CMKd15vEZItnnxJObwZLcc4F3SO2sQX5Dv46jgawq6J2cTH_Tz9I5ap0x2C5sgGHJtpJn-YmlOUWr/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79bqXNpOLobhD1YTbhNW3Bph8M4P2MDM4bYl0TauOteE5QjnanfSdtNavVqZPpd7CMKd15vEZItnnxJObwZLcc4F3SO2sQX5Dv46jgawq6J2cTH_Tz9I5ap0x2C5sgGHJtpJn-YmlOUWr/s320/IMG_0128.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dilemma for spectacle wearers returning to boat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We moored up above Sandford Lock, glad to be moving again, and enjoyed a meal at the King's Arms - a relatively cheap experience, by "Thames side" standards, but non the worse for that.<br />
<br />
We now just have to work out how to do the remaining trip in two days less than planned!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Oxford Osney to Sandford Lock<br />
Miles: 4.0, Locks:2</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 173.0, Total Locks:96</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-36552728856734121102011-04-18T22:44:00.000+01:002011-04-18T22:44:00.540+01:00Deja Vu<b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
<br />
What is it about Oxford and eye problems? Last night Alan started to see black dots in his eyes. By this morning the problem seemed to have resolved itself, so, because I wanted to go into Oxford we moved the boat down a half a mile or so of canal, nearer the middle of the city.<br />
<br />
We were just sitting down for a coffee in Waterstones, when Alan said that the dots were back again. You don't mess with your sight, and knowing that in Oxford you can't just walk into the eye hospital and get to be seen, we went into an opticians. The first one couldn't see Alan today, but we got an appointment an hour or so later in a different opticians.<br />
<br />
It's quite scary, waiting for that hour, walking around, making sure you've eaten something, had a drink, found a loo, and checked the bus timetables to the hospital in case you are told that you have to go straight there, all the time wondering what might be happening to your sight. <br />
<br />
At Specsavers Alan was basically put through the same lot of tests that he had 5 weeks ago, for new glasses following his cataract operation. The optician wouldn't commit, but seemed to give the impression that she didn't think that it was serious, although she wanted Alan to go to the John Radcliffe Hospital for a proper check. The hospital rang Alan and offered an appointment for Thursday - Alan explained that we are on the boat, and that we need to be pressing on.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvIi6JlcY0OctowGUZb8NAZjPsQmnFxPmdxfHvqXDJCfTGi2TbbDHxMq6p58GlSY5-HyL1UzP7Om4I8UZpjRsjX6T4BuSN1ahQBF1ULCkIZl-PoCcOstUF2EMCGbsopIYm1zPY3BmhJa2/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvIi6JlcY0OctowGUZb8NAZjPsQmnFxPmdxfHvqXDJCfTGi2TbbDHxMq6p58GlSY5-HyL1UzP7Om4I8UZpjRsjX6T4BuSN1ahQBF1ULCkIZl-PoCcOstUF2EMCGbsopIYm1zPY3BmhJa2/s320/IMG_0099.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above Isis Lock (Last on the Canal)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The hospital wouldn't say whether they thought that Alan really needed to be seen very soon, but eventually offered an appointment tomorrow afternoon, or told him he could go on to London and go into Moorfields.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PbNgfPybWjRB6JEwsdqWke2_ZhOsv4_5Oj3ZywMDcyU9G2u1gO5UvfmxE2aEiCaXU0LdEyYJCiMCVtjNEB7PhgDnoRXLhfh0SrmdyfUXG6wyJyPE-lovRf8giNQyXtFy61lZWuhfnYVM/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PbNgfPybWjRB6JEwsdqWke2_ZhOsv4_5Oj3ZywMDcyU9G2u1gO5UvfmxE2aEiCaXU0LdEyYJCiMCVtjNEB7PhgDnoRXLhfh0SrmdyfUXG6wyJyPE-lovRf8giNQyXtFy61lZWuhfnYVM/s320/IMG_0103.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back on the big river.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We've decided to hang on here, hope that there is nothing serious, but get it checked out, and if we do have to stay longer, then find ways of dealing with it.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1R0ufrCvIkkRUATFGQYP7hxZMWlLb_IbvaEzS2oBDYgrjFMqRIeUCT7gL3egqlaOR0mgLPG3s-lZSl-i6dWuVQTL5yBIaTAg8t1XXXqa4yKTXYAOYvHnG44aLoEWJfGGJnJ5De3GNQSX4/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1R0ufrCvIkkRUATFGQYP7hxZMWlLb_IbvaEzS2oBDYgrjFMqRIeUCT7gL3egqlaOR0mgLPG3s-lZSl-i6dWuVQTL5yBIaTAg8t1XXXqa4yKTXYAOYvHnG44aLoEWJfGGJnJ5De3GNQSX4/s320/IMG_0105.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moored above Osney Lock</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01LEC_lIWOtK8IKVpKCO64wtXlos8vK82fQURczmPjMjT44wNQql3Jg8q5F3YNNWOvYOulWJEIewx_AV3WnmkbFteBEgXgi7LN4rT_o-q71KvcXkZR4Ja9O6wlELDOHAk0fMbg7_1lJe_/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01LEC_lIWOtK8IKVpKCO64wtXlos8vK82fQURczmPjMjT44wNQql3Jg8q5F3YNNWOvYOulWJEIewx_AV3WnmkbFteBEgXgi7LN4rT_o-q71KvcXkZR4Ja9O6wlELDOHAk0fMbg7_1lJe_/s320/IMG_0107.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rather pointless signs in abundance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Having made the decision we went and filled up with fuel at College Cruisers, (cheaper than expected!), before venturing out on the Thames for a quick trip from the "Sheepwash Channel" up to Godstow Lock and then back to Osney, where we are now moored. This has hopefully charged the batteries a bit, and provided some hot water for showers, as well as getting us off of British Waterways moorings with a very short stay limit.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BSoLKjy9kplx_ZLxP2nTmpG_e44ht9rJ5J9DcdPHoWnl95nRT_XwgnmCbwAJpebVPCkFOAbZq99wCqCvhA9V615YWdo1q6A_l2f6xdCJwB3WISzh7NV-u1yJEWWMqDaLTky2CYYDdz6b/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BSoLKjy9kplx_ZLxP2nTmpG_e44ht9rJ5J9DcdPHoWnl95nRT_XwgnmCbwAJpebVPCkFOAbZq99wCqCvhA9V615YWdo1q6A_l2f6xdCJwB3WISzh7NV-u1yJEWWMqDaLTky2CYYDdz6b/s320/IMG_0118.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osney</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Oxford (Canal) to Oxford (Osney on the Thames) via Godstow<br />
Miles: 5.0, Locks:1</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 169.0, Total Locks: 94</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-30499349977460333822011-04-17T21:09:00.004+01:002011-04-19T09:48:15.459+01:00Start Of The Journey Home<b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Dk-U4e_VS_PDcOUlAZpVIfSu3-iF1MZf_nxHDSofM-lzyLK1RbiIhPdSqzYK9fS5Nd8Q37qblLj_6SAzGHSN-oDw_isI4gjUgVd9SR3f3KpFt0HQGKMVLFf9lKAuBoHnUpOaAMZViVGj/s1600/DSCF4119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Dk-U4e_VS_PDcOUlAZpVIfSu3-iF1MZf_nxHDSofM-lzyLK1RbiIhPdSqzYK9fS5Nd8Q37qblLj_6SAzGHSN-oDw_isI4gjUgVd9SR3f3KpFt0HQGKMVLFf9lKAuBoHnUpOaAMZViVGj/s320/DSCF4119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Father Thames</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Well, we thoroughly enjoyed Lechlade, and a rare opportunity to have had a short lay-over before starting to retrace some of our journey. Other boaters have the opportunity to move slowly around the canal and river system at their chosen pace, often lingering for days at a time, if the fancy takes them. However because of Cath's work we have a stark choice. We can, of course, "potter" sometimes , but if we do, we would constantly only ever visit the same bit of canal, before we had to "potter" back to base. If we want to go to places we only go to infrequently, then we do have to make fairly constant and good progress most days. Here, unusually we have been somewhere completely new, so not spending a lot of time in any one place is a penalty we usually willingly pay.<br />
<br />
So today, we knew we needed to make good progress, and although not essential to be off the upper Thames, we knew if we could get to Oxford, that would be a bonus, as we might then be able to fit in a visit into the city.<br />
<br />
Still no unusually early start, but we were moving by 9:00 for once, although not until some time after we had seen another narrow boat already set off. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDVuYLIKk7EnGh0YDqoClFX5TdUbOboEzdOL6xuWiEDtfHdcYph67qdv8kIA4EE8OIwSF11TdyOf-YXA6CaQgdVjdrhvlLBpEhpdSKuSvz_bWUXjlBPvlVsE2PiUzDBJC-_sr35xgvTiG/s1600/DSCF4124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDVuYLIKk7EnGh0YDqoClFX5TdUbOboEzdOL6xuWiEDtfHdcYph67qdv8kIA4EE8OIwSF11TdyOf-YXA6CaQgdVjdrhvlLBpEhpdSKuSvz_bWUXjlBPvlVsE2PiUzDBJC-_sr35xgvTiG/s320/DSCF4124.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tight Squeeze In A Lock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>There are 9 manned locks on this stretch of the Thames. All are similar, apart from their depth, longer, but not massively wider than a standard long broad canal lock, although the standards of maintenance appear far higher than say the Grand Union, with all gates immaculate, and very little water leakage. In practice we operated more locks as "self service" than expected, which we rather like. Either some lock-keepers take more generous than advertised breaks, or some of the locks were left without keepers today.<br />
<i>(<b>Cath</b>: when I arrived at one lock, having walked Charlie from the previous one, the "lockie"was on the weir behind the lock keeper's house, attached by a harness to a wire running the whole width of the lock, and fishing polystyrene sheets and other rubbish out from the weir) </i><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtxiUJ7JUVKzph6lhqd-8xJI3uwEThPlkDBt6IkihPxCQPOpmkVjQ3hJUUG-UBO5slSVyZS67Bmd77vGgFshu3YCTHDvtBnkA5VWN72meKjyUbg7j4epUsFGx0P_55N087EfJyo5RvvfP/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtxiUJ7JUVKzph6lhqd-8xJI3uwEThPlkDBt6IkihPxCQPOpmkVjQ3hJUUG-UBO5slSVyZS67Bmd77vGgFshu3YCTHDvtBnkA5VWN72meKjyUbg7j4epUsFGx0P_55N087EfJyo5RvvfP/s320/IMG_0073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for a lock to become free</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Where a keeper is useful is in taking respon- sibility for mixed steel and fibreglass boats in the same lock. A keeper put two wide fibreglass boats in behind us at one lock, and it was quite tight, and it looked possible that one of them could have hung it's front on the lock-side. So, when left to our own devices, but with the same three in a tight-fit at the next lock, I kept a steady eye, that all remained well.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91SLh6_ZoJBgDkW3oMKawquqz8ZonTg81K9bGa5pwd35nhTvygBzS5Y6WXsRoRsZ7EqEwz2Z9JRoXyWpJahNEq5JTq9t4ODl0Er7wAHL6iycd7gSJ6-cPYh02wuauUd3_I4Ss1Tyj1TY_/s1600/DSCF4130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91SLh6_ZoJBgDkW3oMKawquqz8ZonTg81K9bGa5pwd35nhTvygBzS5Y6WXsRoRsZ7EqEwz2Z9JRoXyWpJahNEq5JTq9t4ODl0Er7wAHL6iycd7gSJ6-cPYh02wuauUd3_I4Ss1Tyj1TY_/s320/DSCF4130.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smallest "boat" passed today.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The fibreglass boats can often make better progress than Chalice, although strictly they should not be, as we are more or less on the 5mph speed limit, so any boat drawing away from us is probably breaking it. Most seem happy to go at a similar speed to us, this far up, but it is galling when you suggest they go ahead, only to be held up shortly after as they make a fudged attempt at turning and/or mooring up.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KpVWF07C1n8FlfG-8HrQErJ1dZn1Z0-saYmzQEN8sPBwFBllANT1GEGIPUrKhAbXdY6_6iYB2LzPh_kiim3pFOZdfmkWzQgJcsGyqAlva4bKEfeBIREyYYfyb2acgxfiaF-u0QaMBPQt/s1600/IMG_0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KpVWF07C1n8FlfG-8HrQErJ1dZn1Z0-saYmzQEN8sPBwFBllANT1GEGIPUrKhAbXdY6_6iYB2LzPh_kiim3pFOZdfmkWzQgJcsGyqAlva4bKEfeBIREyYYfyb2acgxfiaF-u0QaMBPQt/s320/IMG_0079.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lock keepers use a long metal shaft to move the off-side gate.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The weather has remained excellent thoughout, making this river look stunning. Although what a difference a few hours make. When I took Charlie for his early morning walk, he got soaked in the dew drenched grass, and my shoes were waterlogged. When Cath walked him between two locks later on, it was very hot, and he went swimming twice to cool off. Up until now he has never gone voluntarily in the water, so this may be a start of an unwanted trend - up until now we have dubbed him "the Spaniel that doesn't like water" - now we rather fear he could start jumping from the boat!<br />
<i>(<b>Cath</b>: on our walk between locks Charlie and I came across an older man, a tall lad, and another spaniel. They were putting a cylindrical crayfish trap into the river. We chatted for a while - mostly about spaniels - but I found out that they would expect to get 20 or so crayfish in the trap over night. The man said that these days they are American Crayfish, although in his youth they had all been the native variety). </i><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ch6DogZUVMhCozAbdr7Hqgt-I2Yt4l6kKUDn6mSyJ-2YBBULdDOMaLaZdVxT3Kpmon-5PSrJNr3vxbRI3ODzdhJ5xMqF4nC2D_orhWWDJ4U-GVETi3wDLRwtYxiZ5ZjmkZKXoocT7SwW/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ch6DogZUVMhCozAbdr7Hqgt-I2Yt4l6kKUDn6mSyJ-2YBBULdDOMaLaZdVxT3Kpmon-5PSrJNr3vxbRI3ODzdhJ5xMqF4nC2D_orhWWDJ4U-GVETi3wDLRwtYxiZ5ZjmkZKXoocT7SwW/s320/IMG_0082.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cath works our last Oxford lift bridge for this trip</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRoNi6eWI2sHy0XIns6AI16dHWaW1TlbCL2F0C-1EzO0jARAWKy_9G8XDrUVVA1dWvt4q6ByPegvlIq2nUeYvCzIHz93517e2S8YkMYRBeQkfBTZ4QJSCAVJPP3EUfgBqDReqJmoBomCy/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRoNi6eWI2sHy0XIns6AI16dHWaW1TlbCL2F0C-1EzO0jARAWKy_9G8XDrUVVA1dWvt4q6ByPegvlIq2nUeYvCzIHz93517e2S8YkMYRBeQkfBTZ4QJSCAVJPP3EUfgBqDReqJmoBomCy/s320/IMG_0087.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Penultimate Oxford Canal lock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We decided that, although it would add slightly to our journey time, we wanted to briefly leave the Thames via the Duke's Cut where we had entered it, and to travel through Oxford on the lowest reaches of the Oxford Canal. Our main reason is that we have never travelled this short stretch before, and wanted to add it to the list of those we have been on.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ii5E_5eDYoaqPZECHOZ-ypxSBdDR2CPRz9_8jPR-pSCuGg-t7VKrC0yOeI5gkH7LUF0tRNwYH3GvqRmKsDtDs2yH47HfjpVn7o_4MrrJzoOrPB_t5_w3TlZqlRqhyphenhyphenNfUmqASawWkaUBt/s1600/DSCF4136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ii5E_5eDYoaqPZECHOZ-ypxSBdDR2CPRz9_8jPR-pSCuGg-t7VKrC0yOeI5gkH7LUF0tRNwYH3GvqRmKsDtDs2yH47HfjpVn7o_4MrrJzoOrPB_t5_w3TlZqlRqhyphenhyphenNfUmqASawWkaUBt/s320/DSCF4136.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overnight Mooring</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We are now moored on quiet moorings, but still maybe a mile's walking from the city centre.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Lechlade to Oxford (via Duke's Cut and Oxford Canal)<br />
Miles: 29.3, Locks: 11</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 164.0, Total Locks:93</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-30157463958275732612011-04-16T22:29:00.000+01:002011-04-18T22:37:51.698+01:00Destination Lechlade - Head of the navigable Thames<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdYsWVfjoSgoS-YuG9r-MRFOYr768sNSJia3h_h1qIxCI1BI89dE-L1wHzeQr2u6NPrThfy6QDhzr8q8XYijd8pIkcYpWZSIwmUNZ8uo7PKOD8kCjH9b6m_x2g6eWsmXnUrcSDz20U5tI/s1600/DSCF4109.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
<br />
It was a wonderful, sunny day, although steering the boat past some of the shady plantations of trees can be a bit chilly still at this time of year. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1bi7KSqvYvxN9LrV1dWXsNiSHw7VlIUPlp3F96R6wOeth_VvbCzMheMTbAn3zxuIKVGJ4DFI5xmWJt1AtWXnAl8TuVt8SoHkvZ44sWkRgBsdlkU6CUPQQFnOiqW-8cLdjArh3ZUouq2c/s1600/DSCF4094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1bi7KSqvYvxN9LrV1dWXsNiSHw7VlIUPlp3F96R6wOeth_VvbCzMheMTbAn3zxuIKVGJ4DFI5xmWJt1AtWXnAl8TuVt8SoHkvZ44sWkRgBsdlkU6CUPQQFnOiqW-8cLdjArh3ZUouq2c/s320/DSCF4094.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over-enthusiastic control of moorings ?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Heading west towards Lechlade, the Thames becomes increasingly winding, you need your wits about you to avoid ending up in the shallows on the inside of a bend - it is very physical work to keep the tiller over to get around some of the bends. I decided to walk Charlie between two locks, through the meadows, which he thought was wonderful - although he kept trying to drink the Thames.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJS_sznBJa9TCYWvsFUrBRGbpqAw51bMAFLJWuFzUEBsiyzwX5IcIMsixp21VHwQICmwHFsHe7-md-SQG-m5svic1zkC0C7iQT9HWeHp64_-U5T-f2gkC2Vlk5XufXuIg2LSqV9Lja3em/s1600/IMG_0041.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJS_sznBJa9TCYWvsFUrBRGbpqAw51bMAFLJWuFzUEBsiyzwX5IcIMsixp21VHwQICmwHFsHe7-md-SQG-m5svic1zkC0C7iQT9HWeHp64_-U5T-f2gkC2Vlk5XufXuIg2LSqV9Lja3em/s320/IMG_0041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most bridges are attractive, but all are different</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Thames Path route is much more direct than the Thames, cutting off all of the bends, so I could just about keep ahead of the boat.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFXeFCxmlFKCpHIKtzuQ6l60XuVMAhvCVWLE0trgh2ZJ8Gi9expEmmx6LyOwF-OPHle-hbu9JE8lM12Ou42d_p4INLRwNUk1WeklUJlL75S71i76Ieq9nPH80UdHMlQuGQ22s8q-O7FUR/s1600/DSCF4103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFXeFCxmlFKCpHIKtzuQ6l60XuVMAhvCVWLE0trgh2ZJ8Gi9expEmmx6LyOwF-OPHle-hbu9JE8lM12Ou42d_p4INLRwNUk1WeklUJlL75S71i76Ieq9nPH80UdHMlQuGQ22s8q-O7FUR/s320/DSCF4103.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chalice shares lock with typical large GRP cruiser.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As we closed in on Lechlade there was actually one short section with two hair-pin bends - we were being closely followed by another boat which was travelling in completely the other direction to us for a little while.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJSnlGCop6xTRjYoznNWzMVotaczmR4rLaK9ifUGWByrSHfA1rB-U7gimkeTt6oxKWwWxTVXD-mtfBkT6eTA44nX8pORrhQuF1KM05JAFZfB9Gc5HmX8Iq5rVrmpR43Ct3WIwHtK8q2rc/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJSnlGCop6xTRjYoznNWzMVotaczmR4rLaK9ifUGWByrSHfA1rB-U7gimkeTt6oxKWwWxTVXD-mtfBkT6eTA44nX8pORrhQuF1KM05JAFZfB9Gc5HmX8Iq5rVrmpR43Ct3WIwHtK8q2rc/s320/IMG_0047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Round House at official head of navigation of the Thames.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We carried on past Lechlade itself to the end of the navigable river, at the Round House, Inglesham, where we winded, and headed back to the moorings opposite the church.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdYsWVfjoSgoS-YuG9r-MRFOYr768sNSJia3h_h1qIxCI1BI89dE-L1wHzeQr2u6NPrThfy6QDhzr8q8XYijd8pIkcYpWZSIwmUNZ8uo7PKOD8kCjH9b6m_x2g6eWsmXnUrcSDz20U5tI/s1600/DSCF4109.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdYsWVfjoSgoS-YuG9r-MRFOYr768sNSJia3h_h1qIxCI1BI89dE-L1wHzeQr2u6NPrThfy6QDhzr8q8XYijd8pIkcYpWZSIwmUNZ8uo7PKOD8kCjH9b6m_x2g6eWsmXnUrcSDz20U5tI/s320/DSCF4109.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derelict lock at start of abandoned Thames and Severn Canal</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
After mooring, Alan and I went to the town, which was character -ised by antiques shops, which were far more interesting than any in our home town, although we just browsed, and didn't buy anything in them. The rest of the town was very quiet, even the pharmacy was shut for Saturday afternoon.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA9aWvVaY3VVYL0gxGAluCv3wN7WfW-LAxYs-LIboWKZZLbfDXsLVEJLx7zqhuzPrtjoFpj_wwja-LT7mU1eCebw1mlU7GTG9jZc83jad4RMxu8LRslqjFXV9EnKUo-vZWlqA8gnqxpEt/s1600/DSCF4114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA9aWvVaY3VVYL0gxGAluCv3wN7WfW-LAxYs-LIboWKZZLbfDXsLVEJLx7zqhuzPrtjoFpj_wwja-LT7mU1eCebw1mlU7GTG9jZc83jad4RMxu8LRslqjFXV9EnKUo-vZWlqA8gnqxpEt/s320/DSCF4114.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and Charlie watch as Chalice is turned.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Back at the mooring we dug out the chairs and picnic table, and had our lasagne on the bankside. At the next boat there was a group of people with a barbecue.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYquHuSGE5R56aVBvEFKzA3Lg6BL7GsBvcb0GLxYo9UvqBvWK7wedTryX4Kjr7mHeGPyTAMPVdb1Xjy5BDmkx1Qm6IRyEkDUejND0KekcL_Q2qXeSNrqy_MQ8oDgLEVBa9YHJUOFxSAgy/s1600/IMG_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYquHuSGE5R56aVBvEFKzA3Lg6BL7GsBvcb0GLxYo9UvqBvWK7wedTryX4Kjr7mHeGPyTAMPVdb1Xjy5BDmkx1Qm6IRyEkDUejND0KekcL_Q2qXeSNrqy_MQ8oDgLEVBa9YHJUOFxSAgy/s320/IMG_0066.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atmospheric evening at Lechlade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As the evening drew on, the smoke from the barbecue began to settle above the water meadow, so that when David and I went for a walk at dusk we were able to duck down under the misty smoke and look up at it drifting slowly in fronds. Even on the other side of the field you could smell that the smoke was from the barbecue.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodYbc6bhtB2MPUvPy3ZAeKcmmbv2cnBHwrvEoTEjcHZCU7b0S4a9q5w_JXdC9mPRZdoswRbyMF4XIZWohk2SKexO4sM2TpfPMnhSVQqSGMj27l2riMqu0FL6gLkX6r443ysDM51_MmlrQ/s1600/IMG_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodYbc6bhtB2MPUvPy3ZAeKcmmbv2cnBHwrvEoTEjcHZCU7b0S4a9q5w_JXdC9mPRZdoswRbyMF4XIZWohk2SKexO4sM2TpfPMnhSVQqSGMj27l2riMqu0FL6gLkX6r443ysDM51_MmlrQ/s320/IMG_0071.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meal ended and near full moon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It was almost full moon, which gave a particularly wonderful look to the fields after dark. <br />
<br />
Because we don't get a lot of time to go boating, and because it takes us a long time to get to 'new' bits of canals and rivers that we haven't been to before, we tend not to hang about, however, spending a relaxed evening by the Thames was one of my highlights this year.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Newbridge to head of navigation at Inglesham, and back to Lechlade<br />
Miles: 17.8, Locks:6</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 134.7, Total Locks: 82</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-63982402281704125882011-04-15T23:30:00.089+01:002011-04-16T17:44:00.548+01:00From Oxford Canal On To Thames (Or Isis)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-w2zmec8n4Zvu3hjiVCheZLlJZWUilu3taMqgok4eVUUBdXvIy6OvMU57ERsySy17gcaRZhEVYbh4nIk4RPTCxe9dntBXT1H91j19zW5GCdMf76o-800YtCr7ur0vK0zVlL1uXq2HiiC/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtofPvvpXNk2803FH75ENL8i91_HXaXuzP5JAMdlNHjErwSCFwwJK6L5Y8SWtyl5iNKaJnPr4EUM6W6QXYZ585ZUuiVjb1u3G_xZxfC2fSXgbz1i64tMjZc-pogLpOQWdKWlLcX28wGhAa/s1600/DSCF4073.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtofPvvpXNk2803FH75ENL8i91_HXaXuzP5JAMdlNHjErwSCFwwJK6L5Y8SWtyl5iNKaJnPr4EUM6W6QXYZ585ZUuiVjb1u3G_xZxfC2fSXgbz1i64tMjZc-pogLpOQWdKWlLcX28wGhAa/s320/DSCF4073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another swan's nest in an unusual location.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Not making a particu- larly early start seems to have been a theme of this trip so far, and today was not particu- larly different. In fact it is possible we did get away a little bit earlier than some days, but being low on supplies, and knowing where we were heading is so rural there will be precious few villages, let alone shops, we stopped again very soon to walk to a Co-Op in Kidlington. (We were almost out of one of our most essential supplies, namely ground coffee, and whilst we can live without most things, that would be going too far!).<br />
<br />
<div style="color: black;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Jwvru7FNDU_er7eGJoejPztLlvfh9Zr4RCEtpBt0q2t1A7YanJ9JWVjsafxl0sQo5nOm5aonnf95D-AZ5wGcnIS7qlscwJaGuBoCLTLNAkzJCRZ1YTj6Dsxis9XfN6qXfvt0BMa3wwN9/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Jwvru7FNDU_er7eGJoejPztLlvfh9Zr4RCEtpBt0q2t1A7YanJ9JWVjsafxl0sQo5nOm5aonnf95D-AZ5wGcnIS7qlscwJaGuBoCLTLNAkzJCRZ1YTj6Dsxis9XfN6qXfvt0BMa3wwN9/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last true Oxford Canal lock before turning on to Duke's Cut</td></tr>
</tbody></table>There is a total of just 4 locks to get from the Oxford, and out via "Duke's Cut" onto the Thames, (with somewhat curiously the last lock being uphill ). It actually took longer than we expected to be on the river, perhaps because there really are lines and lines of moored boats on what are really quite narrow and shallow bits of the canal. So we plodded along very sedately, to ensure only friendly waves, rather than any shouts to slow down!</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-w2zmec8n4Zvu3hjiVCheZLlJZWUilu3taMqgok4eVUUBdXvIy6OvMU57ERsySy17gcaRZhEVYbh4nIk4RPTCxe9dntBXT1H91j19zW5GCdMf76o-800YtCr7ur0vK0zVlL1uXq2HiiC/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-w2zmec8n4Zvu3hjiVCheZLlJZWUilu3taMqgok4eVUUBdXvIy6OvMU57ERsySy17gcaRZhEVYbh4nIk4RPTCxe9dntBXT1H91j19zW5GCdMf76o-800YtCr7ur0vK0zVlL1uXq2HiiC/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turning on to Duke's Cut</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQ_hNz1-bDPPXQkmwzNyKb19Ceyn0dmWylzX02uUjxF_KWz1C7aZxkJ1SsPC10QQLy3CbhxdcYIwpzxv0cmFA21fdKD5qYL5UNL74R31XqxSF4NTGQFGPg5Ko_zuco_2O2pTyp0xmaxRb/s1600/DSCF4076.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQ_hNz1-bDPPXQkmwzNyKb19Ceyn0dmWylzX02uUjxF_KWz1C7aZxkJ1SsPC10QQLy3CbhxdcYIwpzxv0cmFA21fdKD5qYL5UNL74R31XqxSF4NTGQFGPg5Ko_zuco_2O2pTyp0xmaxRb/s320/DSCF4076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unusual paddle gear at, and bridge over, Duke's Cut Lock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Duke's cut always seems an odd thing. The lock is under a bridge, for a start, and although now just "uphill" as you leave the canal onto the river, clearly shows signs of having had double gates at each end in the past, so presumably once upon a time the Thames could actually have been lower at this point on occasions than the canal ? Presumably it's this history that causes it to have highly unusual paddle gear for the exit gates onto the river ?</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Now at last we were on to new territory for Chalice - we have gone down river from the Duke's Cut towards London, in the past, but never turned right onto the upper reaches towards Lechlade.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">Despite apparently little flow on the river, progress is slightly slower than I might have guessed - we are generally bettering 4 mph, but not by a lot, although it is clearly deep enough. Perhaps there is more flow than there appears - we will see when we come back te other way.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKWKp9nNmH9EegMc75_WO-rG8mL2l4FJ8nhp4Z4HcC4tP221gztx0ZXXcGppwypaShUzLICA6uNqSHP7yCNCu9nXKJiY6R6hOQgLy5OvLRRpul24JhTGU9hzB1yHjJoRF5IrmXzqea_IL/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKWKp9nNmH9EegMc75_WO-rG8mL2l4FJ8nhp4Z4HcC4tP221gztx0ZXXcGppwypaShUzLICA6uNqSHP7yCNCu9nXKJiY6R6hOQgLy5OvLRRpul24JhTGU9hzB1yHjJoRF5IrmXzqea_IL/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chiswick & Chalice in Eynsham lock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We knew the "Big Woolwich" ex working boat Chiswick was ahead of us, but spotted it tied to a lighter before we entered the Thames. However by the time we reached the first lock, and had completed the lengthy transaction to buy a 15 day Thames licence, (at under £100, better than I feared it might be!), Chiswick was ready to lock through with us.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGg42GhWFZWbd01ljz2IlTIVU7D9LKWKqiNuV99eZWxHJXz22-NWCFbXzApLmmZw-ArYLNdCwvgfG5w9msgwfsyCLgi6gJbHxM6sY9pSzK1aM7r0sEc7ksSg48DZ7CT831yVaT5NB_bLM/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGg42GhWFZWbd01ljz2IlTIVU7D9LKWKqiNuV99eZWxHJXz22-NWCFbXzApLmmZw-ArYLNdCwvgfG5w9msgwfsyCLgi6gJbHxM6sY9pSzK1aM7r0sEc7ksSg48DZ7CT831yVaT5NB_bLM/s320/IMG_0020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..... and again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I was very surprised to see it steered by James, who is normally with the coal boats Archimedes and Ara, but also does commercial river work, I believe. Knowing James doesn't exactly hang about, (to put it mildly!), and with consideration of Chiswick's classic Lister JP2 engine and big propeller, I suggested he went first - a good move, as they quickly drew away from us!</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjI3ak2Y6BPX9KRegV2oCCBCgRURRDEgw0jw7xFRwriQW6vAxjVoYuTA1Eu2d0pgGW0_cA6rwVOyjfboxIghWhU2gO0l2LkUOvsHasPbRXVRIBnY1c3t0eLA1LXyhmwNhv2QdgwePte0_v/s1600/DSCF4091.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjI3ak2Y6BPX9KRegV2oCCBCgRURRDEgw0jw7xFRwriQW6vAxjVoYuTA1Eu2d0pgGW0_cA6rwVOyjfboxIghWhU2gO0l2LkUOvsHasPbRXVRIBnY1c3t0eLA1LXyhmwNhv2QdgwePte0_v/s320/DSCF4091.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David goes into "self service" mode at next lock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>However, he wasn't going far, and we actually had to hold back at the next lock, as he turned Chiswick to pass back down river. The locks are meant to have keepers during working hours, but most are displaying the "self service" sign, and you never quite know if a "locky" is going to appear or not.<br />
<br />
Although we had a target of where we wanted to get to, we also had an idea we fancied yet another pub meal. However the power of the Internet comes into play at times like this, as it is often possible to look up menus, and even whether pubs are "dog friendly". What looked like best choice locationally, ("The Trout" at Tadpole Bridge), was quickly ruled out as being an expensive and pretentious restaurant, rather than coming close to "pub grub". So we stopped much short of plan at Newbridge, as one of the pubs there, the "Maybush Inn" looked more like we wanted.<br />
<br />
In practice we had a very nice meal, although for what we were paying, I felt main course portions could have been more generous. Bitter at £3-80 a pint, and a decent Pinot Grigio at £5-20 for a large glass quickly inflated the bill though. I know the pub trade is suffering, but prices like these rule it out as a regular thing for many families. In a way they are doing themselves no favours - a bit more reasonable, and we would probably have stopped there on the return, but that's now unlikely.<br />
<br />
My party piece was to open up my head on a light fitting projecting from one of the low beams, (I knew the beam was there but not the light). It bled profusely fopr a few minutes, and got me much attention from the staff and landlord, but Cath is a trained first aider, and decreed that other than pressure to stop the bleed, I was fine - she proved right, of course!<br />
<br />
Not content with that though, the pub had it's own entertainments in the form of Oliver, a very poshly spoken young man who's family apparently breed race horses - he was most keen to show s pictures of a "potential future winner" born just that day. The evening got more surreal when his brother appeared - near identical, other than being dressed smartly in a suit, versus Oliver's casual. People always seem genuinely to want to know about the boat, how we use it, and where we end up. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UQ6bvPT6wHYng553Ourap634luqoYLXRqAu-fUXnlfg5hvchyphenhyphenLBbgGnB2WodENPtZ5a0MUi356nr_VCBIhrGN23d7Lfz-NpjsO8EbOsE9tpNF86ZCPc5e7nlcOfhOUHicq-nq-jXWuFR/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UQ6bvPT6wHYng553Ourap634luqoYLXRqAu-fUXnlfg5hvchyphenhyphenLBbgGnB2WodENPtZ5a0MUi356nr_VCBIhrGN23d7Lfz-NpjsO8EbOsE9tpNF86ZCPc5e7nlcOfhOUHicq-nq-jXWuFR/s320/IMG_0030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quiet mooring - lovely old bridge as background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A very quiet night on moorings presumably owned by the nearby farm, although they made no effort to collect the £3 overnight charge that was displayed on a sign nearby.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Thrupp (Oxford Canal) to Newbridge (Upper Thames)<br />
Miles: 14.7, Locks:7</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 116.9, Total Locks:76</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-57328365633413559842011-04-14T23:30:00.126+01:002011-04-16T10:21:50.751+01:00South with the Wests<b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnau8MzqvPHF7bk0beRvRg5aXGb2oSygBCm5NR5_ATaCrvz48E8h_WyQrkJxcUvdJs8X6SwH-aNTNBDNoN492Q-KAf1geiIWN8lR5oCh6XjsOfmVfsLoPzpoLYHQLn62JMXtpWsAcJMyz/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnau8MzqvPHF7bk0beRvRg5aXGb2oSygBCm5NR5_ATaCrvz48E8h_WyQrkJxcUvdJs8X6SwH-aNTNBDNoN492Q-KAf1geiIWN8lR5oCh6XjsOfmVfsLoPzpoLYHQLn62JMXtpWsAcJMyz/s320/IMG_1731.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharing the oddly shaped Aynho Weir Lock</td></tr>
</tbody> </table>We seem to be finding it harder to get started early in the day, and finally got going at after 9:00 am, by which time several boats had passed us.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">We got to Somerton Deep lock to find a couple of boats ahead of us going down. The people immediately in front of use were an elderly couple, by the time that we walked down to the lock they were using two windlasses at 180 degrees to each other, to try to start moving the extremely stiff paddle gear. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpZVATVNGdRyMyFqMa0-z2QES2b0YCP1gW4Mi9sgowts5KmhcZeeuaBYZUiPejpOvM5ZPkc8_tbNBldFT1Gw4RBwianER6RIhVdscJAZ1G125Mnf9w2U7Km5iBmVfu_rnl6XPSCopjCR9/s1600/IMG_1747.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpZVATVNGdRyMyFqMa0-z2QES2b0YCP1gW4Mi9sgowts5KmhcZeeuaBYZUiPejpOvM5ZPkc8_tbNBldFT1Gw4RBwianER6RIhVdscJAZ1G125Mnf9w2U7Km5iBmVfu_rnl6XPSCopjCR9/s320/IMG_1747.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chalice waits while Timothy West and Prunella Scales work through.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: black;">Alan crossed the lock, and raised the paddle on the other side, then walked back to me and said, "Don't make it obvious, but I think you might recognise these people". </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I looked, thinking Alan meant that I might have met them at a banter, but as the man raised his head from turning the paddles it became clear that I had seen him on television, as it was the actor, and canal campaigner, Timothy West. His even more recognisable wife, Prunella Scales, was by now on the other side of the lock. They turned out to be a charming couple, just people out boating, and enjoying the spring sunshine. We followed them down through several locks, chatting as we went. The reaction they provoked in people coming the other way was interesting, cameras came out, and nothing beyond the usual canal talk was said to them, but the passing boaters took the chance to say to me, that it was good to see people who publicly support the canals, actually using them. I was surprised by Prunella Scales' very posh accent, as I'm used to seeing her playing a role, but even more surprised when she told me a somewhat saucy story!</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbgkueynwFsPWtxekMDif0i-t1fubimBJWwh48uWhT8UBqU5109uqk7Xxbr7etX_gxSyv5gy2pvOqwm18bC-4sLfNngxS9mcxo_ryn7Jpan8YlTlndxrqp9gUrqGNT37LdIYe5foQpT_F/s1600/IMG_1752.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbgkueynwFsPWtxekMDif0i-t1fubimBJWwh48uWhT8UBqU5109uqk7Xxbr7etX_gxSyv5gy2pvOqwm18bC-4sLfNngxS9mcxo_ryn7Jpan8YlTlndxrqp9gUrqGNT37LdIYe5foQpT_F/s320/IMG_1752.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another attempt not to look like a paparazzi photographer! </td></tr>
</tbody> </table><span style="color: black;">The West's moored up, and we carried on South. At one lock there was a BW flat coming up. While I helped to work the flat through the lock, one of the workmen began to express his concerns about what would happen to the BW jobs when it becomes a charity. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlZtG3zsAKdL_pZ1ARSjQNgQWgbBdb2Y7tPbM6274YPDL4Hh2Y2xazGh_CZNp26OQ8zUrlr_lUN1PxiQ9iXTPyy8i-r6_ijItlpcd-4wUy9fflaSRm1srqPki8wQG62_7VYsURx5O-B_g/s1600/DSCF4069.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlZtG3zsAKdL_pZ1ARSjQNgQWgbBdb2Y7tPbM6274YPDL4Hh2Y2xazGh_CZNp26OQ8zUrlr_lUN1PxiQ9iXTPyy8i-r6_ijItlpcd-4wUy9fflaSRm1srqPki8wQG62_7VYsURx5O-B_g/s320/DSCF4069.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And sharing the other diamond lock at Shipton</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: black;">In the few minutes that the boat was passing through the lock, I had virtually his whole life story, including how many year's he'd been working for BW - since he left school - and his concerns for what he would do if he lost his job, as he can neither read, write, or drive. An interesting point, physical work, such as traditional BW jobs, probably didn't need those skills, where would those jobs be now? And would they be legal?</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7tULlDZO5xUQSE_ka5SDdQWCKQnveVdegki6oJZorIOY0NlBZIeTOvPD9YnwmTqmEjPB_rVHlnXFPxjAtGwJCT9arTgFgg5IAemuDLCkqeR_8OAGdLNvc4sIAuHTTf1iFqMd3T2PPWrV/s1600/IMG_1761.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7tULlDZO5xUQSE_ka5SDdQWCKQnveVdegki6oJZorIOY0NlBZIeTOvPD9YnwmTqmEjPB_rVHlnXFPxjAtGwJCT9arTgFgg5IAemuDLCkqeR_8OAGdLNvc4sIAuHTTf1iFqMd3T2PPWrV/s320/IMG_1761.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Essential water filling and toilet emptying at Thrupp</td></tr>
</tbody> </table>It was a long day, with the locks fairly widely spaced apart, but we finally got to Thrupp wharf, and tied up at the services. I went to empty the cassette, and the next person up was Maffi, from the Canal World Forum. He said that there were quite a few forum people passing through.<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">We ate, then leaving David in the boat, we went to meet Maffi in "The Boat". A very interesting evening, with Charlie somewhat wary of Maffi's dog, Molly, who was very happy to be given one of Charlie's hide chews. When we got back to Chalice, it was in darkness, and David had gone to bed (not a common occurrence, he's often up until 5:00 am at home), we crept in, somewhat chastened.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">King's Sutton to Thrupp<br />
Miles: 17.1, Locks:11</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 102.2, Total Locks:69</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-12621212056255790042011-04-13T23:54:00.000+01:002011-04-13T23:54:43.220+01:00Fenny Compton to King's Sutton<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qg3X7XBx50rwz2kUzRTs8_zxR2N7zTPCMMYR1o_RwlASmQwYfurDV5JYOQqQgqMxrsToER_dktOxAZarK11VwJXUWn1CKnwMOyDzAtVsExNb3HzD_HH3MwVQPpkzKCV42ViOjsYRJ3YD/s1600/DSCF4062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
<br />
We were moored near to the Wharf pub, next to a field of rapeseed plants, just coming into bloom. As we set off I volunteered to walk Charlie through "the Fenny Compton Tunnel", which is nothing of the kind.<br />
<div style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0y8hGPPSfrruCfB7cwKWa2OWK6TT5NU48nTMgWA3FXDHMnDt09gWkd6tQ1lxGQqv33ZN3Kn4oWaxck4cr_XDSMH7h2IVPPhsgnCxfw8e8zC_twQ40WkyS0xNe25W89wiuv9aXT_efZBp/s1600/DSCF4052.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0y8hGPPSfrruCfB7cwKWa2OWK6TT5NU48nTMgWA3FXDHMnDt09gWkd6tQ1lxGQqv33ZN3Kn4oWaxck4cr_XDSMH7h2IVPPhsgnCxfw8e8zC_twQ40WkyS0xNe25W89wiuv9aXT_efZBp/s320/DSCF4052.JPG" width="320" /></a>Outside the marina, after a couple of hundred metres, I came across a nesting swan, blocking a large part of the towpath. Charlie seemed very excited, and I was a bit worried that he might be daft enough to start an argument, but it turned out that he had spotted a duck on the towpath too. We got past the swan with just slightly raised wings, and a bit of a hiss. The duck jumped into the canal, and Charlie lost interest.</div><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBabuBTJVmn3qeb1BCN5VkFhP_D8e7z9nAWJBTswiECEvQZh1tWmPXqKmqdtaNrh1__k4ySl_tZLb6U-V-lhkIahaaVekKItSX5b_5UrCYzV6dQlxuJPz6MAir-MDsDDvjcwN8qEdiQZ0Z/s1600/DSCF4058.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBabuBTJVmn3qeb1BCN5VkFhP_D8e7z9nAWJBTswiECEvQZh1tWmPXqKmqdtaNrh1__k4ySl_tZLb6U-V-lhkIahaaVekKItSX5b_5UrCYzV6dQlxuJPz6MAir-MDsDDvjcwN8qEdiQZ0Z/s320/DSCF4058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Turnover Bridge" in "Tunnel" where tow-path changes sides/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Walking briskly along, keeping up with the boat, I was struck, once again, just how extra- ordinarily lucky I am to live in a beautiful country, and to have enough time, and money, to be able to indulge myself in the hobby of boating.<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXtpmdpnTQ3xL_WlMtsKmyQK2l18DNyElFhnQdDa_4KVOaSMMZNKIWv5_AJpbBnJ0uhxfAETz5CliighNSiASQBx9zCf03JNRbr9Gnic77hjoROvzlYvqsp64vD_o48q-NcRAiIYw1cc8/s1600/DSCF4063.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXtpmdpnTQ3xL_WlMtsKmyQK2l18DNyElFhnQdDa_4KVOaSMMZNKIWv5_AJpbBnJ0uhxfAETz5CliighNSiASQBx9zCf03JNRbr9Gnic77hjoROvzlYvqsp64vD_o48q-NcRAiIYw1cc8/s320/DSCF4063.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second part of Fenny Compton "Tunnel"<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Spring is bursting into life all around us, hedges are covered in white flowers, plants are blooming along the edge of the canal, in the fields are baby sheep and cattle. Nature seems to have suddenly woken up in the last week - all except a few species of tree, ash included, which still hold bare branches towards the sky.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Charlie can always be persuaded to go searching up (or down) steep banks, you just have to suggest that he might be able to find Jumbones growing there (Jumbones are a favourite treat, he hasn't yet worked out that they don't grow wild). He never seems to find them, but is always happy to look, he hasn't yet realised that it is a ploy on our part to burn some of the excess energy our of our bouncy young dog.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qg3X7XBx50rwz2kUzRTs8_zxR2N7zTPCMMYR1o_RwlASmQwYfurDV5JYOQqQgqMxrsToER_dktOxAZarK11VwJXUWn1CKnwMOyDzAtVsExNb3HzD_HH3MwVQPpkzKCV42ViOjsYRJ3YD/s1600/DSCF4062.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qg3X7XBx50rwz2kUzRTs8_zxR2N7zTPCMMYR1o_RwlASmQwYfurDV5JYOQqQgqMxrsToER_dktOxAZarK11VwJXUWn1CKnwMOyDzAtVsExNb3HzD_HH3MwVQPpkzKCV42ViOjsYRJ3YD/s320/DSCF4062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What was this ramp and winch originally used for ?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Today, while looking he found this interesting abandoned winch gear in the 'Tunnel. It's only a short distance up the side, next to the towpath , but I have no idea what it might have been for.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We seemed to be going in the right direction, there were few boats going south, but at every lock there was a boat coming up, sometimes two or three in the same short pound, many of them hire boats - I suppose that we had got to the day that they all needed to turn back to the hire base. The weather was changeable, but held off from raining, at least until the very end of the day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Many of the fields we passed show the long low humps of medieval strip farming. The canals are old, but the fields show signs of being so much older. It was the ploughing that caused these long humps over hundreds of years. The ploughs were difficult to turn, hence the long fields. By working in one direction, then the other, the soil steadily got turned towards the middle of the field, and into the long hump. Long after the enclosures of the fields the canal came along, and cut straight across these fields. Nowadays most of these fields are filled with sheep and lambs, with occasional groups of bullocks. Those that are used for arable crops have had the hillocks ploughed flat long ago.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I didn't realise that Alan was watching for people that we 'know' from the Internet, that he was expecting to be passing us. At some point he said that we should be looking out for "Harnser". No, I said, I saw that a couple of miles back, going in the other direction. Oops!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzGbhKFvT4aEwP-TF_hEAaNFnzdf8pkGrZmZgNq_qJRe0zNHsptv4JOOINRUJHFo6u8AQmeE1T6nP646Mf9BJA4pEXcfABKOOXFaG6tUkol-G8JS3kgBGKHbJn0vWc13_yv9HxTbOu7Hq/s1600/IMG_1726.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzGbhKFvT4aEwP-TF_hEAaNFnzdf8pkGrZmZgNq_qJRe0zNHsptv4JOOINRUJHFo6u8AQmeE1T6nP646Mf9BJA4pEXcfABKOOXFaG6tUkol-G8JS3kgBGKHbJn0vWc13_yv9HxTbOu7Hq/s320/IMG_1726.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the lock in the centre of Banbury</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">We made good progress, and I went shopping at Morrisons in Banbury. Being used to Waitrose prices this super- market always surprises me, and I staggered back to the boat carrying far too much.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We tied up near to the M40, and a railway line, hoping that the noise would die down a bit before we turned in for the night. After a short shower of rain, David and I took Charlie for another walk, and discovered that some of the lift bridges cannot be lowered, with the balance beams held down permanently by metal structures.</div></div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">A quiet meal at the boat, reading, or working on the computer, then bed. </span></div><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Fenny Compton to King's Sutton<br />
Miles: 14.2, Locks:14</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 85.1, Total Locks:58</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-45346809565294723322011-04-12T23:30:00.002+01:002011-04-13T23:56:58.790+01:00Braunston Puddle Banks to Fenny Compton<span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Alan) </span><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
<br />
Despite having set ourselves a moderately demanding schedule, we haven't exactly excelled at early starts. I am generally up quite early, but somehow things then get very relaxed, and I would struggle to explain how the time gets used up until the engine gets fired up.<br />
<br />
We tend to have a broad plan for the day, and our scheduling (such as it is!) is helped by having done a similar trip two years ago.<br />
<br />
Lots of boats were moving before us, and it was very busy on the stretch from Braunston to "Wigrams", where the Grand Union Birmingham main line branches away from the Oxford. Sadly this stretch usually features a few badly stricken wooden ex-working boats, and this time was no different. I unfortunately am not familiar enough with them to know for certain which boat each is, as they seldom carry an identifiable name.<br />
<br />
We had a agreed to deliver some boat paint, surplus to our requirements, to a friend, and this meant a short detour by turning right onto the Birmingham line, towards Calcutt locks. That done, we turned above Calcutt, but also seized the opportunity to buy some engine spares at the boatyard there.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDDCDldlcfRedh87hHWYyNlMiPMMdfFIO92SzqgCGTqiLBVzV2xRma5rNi0Qgs9R0odrKt7eAWDJMgUnCX87uarAllO8_6x7xDDxSUDyIud_vG4CfibgtZkkgO463EzCOPA_lryolcPpT/s1600/DSCF4030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDDCDldlcfRedh87hHWYyNlMiPMMdfFIO92SzqgCGTqiLBVzV2xRma5rNi0Qgs9R0odrKt7eAWDJMgUnCX87uarAllO8_6x7xDDxSUDyIud_vG4CfibgtZkkgO463EzCOPA_lryolcPpT/s320/DSCF4030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the ascent of the Napton Flight</td></tr>
</tbody></table> We were soon back on the Oxford, headed towards the picturesque Napton locks, where Cath cycled off to shop at the village store, while I attended to filling water tanks and emtying toilet tanks. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98VCdXH9jxgcy6X4SOHhH5s2X8Dh-yGBKH5qxK4K3i8BqSfFAorVzKZK5CoNiIuMiJZE0V42Wk7OTYA5kWVA-Xslsg0Yi3uO7XtXY4NK46aqWwu5b6R0Hn5yfgrB5lYO5GNIYAI7yloyv/s1600/IMG_1703.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98VCdXH9jxgcy6X4SOHhH5s2X8Dh-yGBKH5qxK4K3i8BqSfFAorVzKZK5CoNiIuMiJZE0V42Wk7OTYA5kWVA-Xslsg0Yi3uO7XtXY4NK46aqWwu5b6R0Hn5yfgrB5lYO5GNIYAI7yloyv/s320/IMG_1703.JPG" width="320" /></a>We were soon on our way again, but found this stretch nothing like as busy as our only other previous passage through it. Oxford locks are some of the easiest around, and we made light work of working up the 9 here to the summit level.<br />
<br />
After that it was really just a case of progressing a reasonable distance along the summit, but as Cath didn't fancy cooking, and the pub at Fenny Compton was good on our last visit, we decided to head there.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BI6d8BE8TKzZoFMfXbRjS4QQ8ZDj4F57a0ZRspSHsefJLY-rB0un1hM9PnrJ2oTaXL5Y052V_LvqK3BkSBKMvCN0BzAHyVM05SSf98kDNqL9AebQHxKJ2mYfIy0eDaEbsh7VnMJ94eL6/s1600/DSCF4050.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BI6d8BE8TKzZoFMfXbRjS4QQ8ZDj4F57a0ZRspSHsefJLY-rB0un1hM9PnrJ2oTaXL5Y052V_LvqK3BkSBKMvCN0BzAHyVM05SSf98kDNqL9AebQHxKJ2mYfIy0eDaEbsh7VnMJ94eL6/s320/DSCF4050.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a usual place to see a narrow boat on this stretch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We made good progress, until we caught a former "Challenger" "share" boat who's steerer seemed to think he would save time by sticking to the inside of each of the more major bends, (of which there are plenty on this stretch). Of course each time he ended up in shallow water, and near static with the propeller thrashing as he failed to be able to follow his chosen path. Cath normally just tucks in patiently in such cases, so I was somewhat relieved when she got permission to pass, and quickly left them floundering behind.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivkp2EiqtsweeyvCkMjdYyZiadyy5xfzEFoVWtnLro6A8TEj7cFklp4l8Krj2SzWVBT01bS67baHzht96PreE3Bh_JoLbtRTN__SXoKba0zRz6qh47iQpyt7GdzlPgNtDVchvOjh95Zx6/s1600/CIMG2556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivkp2EiqtsweeyvCkMjdYyZiadyy5xfzEFoVWtnLro6A8TEj7cFklp4l8Krj2SzWVBT01bS67baHzht96PreE3Bh_JoLbtRTN__SXoKba0zRz6qh47iQpyt7GdzlPgNtDVchvOjh95Zx6/s1600/CIMG2556.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivkp2EiqtsweeyvCkMjdYyZiadyy5xfzEFoVWtnLro6A8TEj7cFklp4l8Krj2SzWVBT01bS67baHzht96PreE3Bh_JoLbtRTN__SXoKba0zRz6qh47iQpyt7GdzlPgNtDVchvOjh95Zx6/s320/CIMG2556.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie takes the air!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We then had a very enjoyable run through to Fenny Compton, where, unlike our previous trip, plenty of good visitor moorings were available close to the pub. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3poIU-kdsSN73CSqC0_JXaVBAyLlCz5sAJCtpAS6xio45y7yjvNdqQXtXiVWI0xOy35Ao9W1aPd9rho0f-ZmDAZXtp2eZKqmnEtxqA7yBu4XxjDye_7m-zGDB3c21N9Fp-a0w7a3bAfeF/s1600/CIMG2568.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3poIU-kdsSN73CSqC0_JXaVBAyLlCz5sAJCtpAS6xio45y7yjvNdqQXtXiVWI0xOy35Ao9W1aPd9rho0f-ZmDAZXtp2eZKqmnEtxqA7yBu4XxjDye_7m-zGDB3c21N9Fp-a0w7a3bAfeF/s320/CIMG2568.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie contemplates am alternate name for "his" boat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Better still "The Wharf" not only had good vegetarian choices to suit both us and David, but also welcomed dogs in the bar area. A done deal, then, and we enjoyed an excellent meal. I particularly liked the "Hooky Gold" - a very acceptable beer they had on tap.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Braunston Puddle Banks to Fenny Compton<br />
Miles: 17.5, Locks:9</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 70.9, Total Locks:44</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-85780008851455198512011-04-11T23:30:00.119+01:002011-04-13T21:04:33.230+01:00Some Good News! - Then On To Braunston, And Back To Plan<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg47c6oD5-Rp7q62M5Moyl87zn07xwKGpuXk9p42EYpb5jq6GmKpxJ1IRoBPkdHMTd8GvDAzHf-Ls4m7slHYLWinZZB-PYDP6PEt62nez41T10n_Cq9xEPfK9Xi_vENTlhWFSbByHLJiU8/s1600/DSCF4009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;">Bugbrooke to Braunston Puddle Banks</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Alan) </span><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></div>Last night we had a most unwanted discovery - large amounts of engine oil deposited in the bilge. We were lucky to have checked before levels in the engine dropped to the point where oil pressure was lost.<br />
<br />
Old BMC engines tend to leak small amounts of oil, (and often fuel and coolant too!) but this was quite different. The quantities involved pointed to sudden failure of something, rather than a "routine" small leak. We knew roughly the part of the engine it must be coming from, but none of the obvious "joints" seemed to be likely causes. Much had dripped from the starter motor, (not a part that normally contains the oil!), and our forum friends had suggested that failure of the front oil seal on the crankshaft would probably throw oil around the flywheel housing, and hence into the starter - this didn't look good.<br />
<br />
I decided to remove the starter to peer into the flywheel housing - I couldn't possibly see the oil seal, of course, or anywhere near it, but it should show how much oil had been thrown from the crankshaft and flywheel. Good news! - the answer was "very little", so the failure we feared no longer seemed anything like as likely. I decided to put oil back in the engine, and run it, to try and see a source.<br />
<br />
I actually ran it for a quite a while, and could see or feel nothing, and went off to post progress on the forum. Cath said "before you send that, check one more time!", which I did, and found oil dripping from the starter motor.<br />
<br />
Eventually we got to that "eureka" moment - oil was forming on the casing of the sensor used for the oil pressure gauge, and dropping from there on to the starter, (all hard to see, as there are lots of other bits obscuring a clear view). Chalice's 1970s engine had wrongly taken the blame again - the failed part was a brand new addition only a couple of years old.<br />
<br />
A bit more investigation revealed the sensor as "quite broken and not fixable", but it was possible to take it out of the equation completely, as a non-essential part. So jubilant, and about 3 hours later than we might have been, we were set to head off again.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Cath) </span><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3Lkisicaw84PhuolPKDdq2zkyc0v36WlVyLHFzztqYxLIY6kvOzgE6DztCGB3X02q6j-J2ZqYFMVgWq7r43F16fx5whVHkPuv7rsYonjReVsq_6FQRQoqtYP7fDvSVzcBQzzwPrjRV7N/s1600/DSCF3996.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3Lkisicaw84PhuolPKDdq2zkyc0v36WlVyLHFzztqYxLIY6kvOzgE6DztCGB3X02q6j-J2ZqYFMVgWq7r43F16fx5whVHkPuv7rsYonjReVsq_6FQRQoqtYP7fDvSVzcBQzzwPrjRV7N/s320/DSCF3996.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most seriously burnt out boat we have yet seen - frightening!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We stopped at Stowe Hill Wharf for fuel, where we met Dominic, from the Canal World Forum - his price a bit cheaper than others at the moment. Nice to put a face to a person that we've both corresponded with.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWzj1vAwokWq29EZ5PXKo6fhTIzHG74EaWrl3cJGxqVIjXdDATN07h3kLEadFcrpmIe7hm69zG_pZqAOcrdyof0Juiy_LnIt_u1xGIh6K4FdjSQWncOLZqpcNLJf-o-twkbzKTdgj4qDz/s1600/DSCF3998.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWzj1vAwokWq29EZ5PXKo6fhTIzHG74EaWrl3cJGxqVIjXdDATN07h3kLEadFcrpmIe7hm69zG_pZqAOcrdyof0Juiy_LnIt_u1xGIh6K4FdjSQWncOLZqpcNLJf-o-twkbzKTdgj4qDz/s320/DSCF3998.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ascending Whilton & Buckby Locks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>On northwards until we got to Whilton, then we worked up the flight, following a pair of boats, a Wyvern hire boat and a private boat. The flight wasn't busy, but we met a couple of single boats coming down. I walked Charlie up the flight, but he was very excitable, and impatient to get moving when we stopped at each lock.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyFdfHj5fmR-JlIKWzHTIHqQwc5BwA1YrnZtYW0FONxPBILa29sHXtyWJWsSrybD-w_PdQGS0UZJDuhFuFduyWPZsSbU8anNbqM50ffnKJi9wM4u3bdu8W8Wup8fI5oPwswY0vDsUzD9_/s1600/DSCF4002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyFdfHj5fmR-JlIKWzHTIHqQwc5BwA1YrnZtYW0FONxPBILa29sHXtyWJWsSrybD-w_PdQGS0UZJDuhFuFduyWPZsSbU8anNbqM50ffnKJi9wM4u3bdu8W8Wup8fI5oPwswY0vDsUzD9_/s320/DSCF4002.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In The Buckby Lock Flight</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg47c6oD5-Rp7q62M5Moyl87zn07xwKGpuXk9p42EYpb5jq6GmKpxJ1IRoBPkdHMTd8GvDAzHf-Ls4m7slHYLWinZZB-PYDP6PEt62nez41T10n_Cq9xEPfK9Xi_vENTlhWFSbByHLJiU8/s1600/DSCF4009.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg47c6oD5-Rp7q62M5Moyl87zn07xwKGpuXk9p42EYpb5jq6GmKpxJ1IRoBPkdHMTd8GvDAzHf-Ls4m7slHYLWinZZB-PYDP6PEt62nez41T10n_Cq9xEPfK9Xi_vENTlhWFSbByHLJiU8/s320/DSCF4009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Efficient hire boat crew help make Braunston flight </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Alan steered us through Braunston tunnel, meeting only one boat coming the other way. By the time we got to the Braunston flight, we had lost one of the boats ahead of us, so we went down the locks with the hire boaters, who were experienced and efficient.<br />
<br />
In Braunston we went to moor after the turn, on the Puddle Banks. The side of the canal here slopes considerably, and it is difficult to get close to the bank. Just as we pulled in the wind whipped up straight across the plain to the right, and pushing the boat out. It took all three of us, pulling with all our might, to haul Chalice in and moor her.<br />
<br />
After mooring Alan and I took Charlie for a walk, and met with John, Cotswoldsman, from the Canal Forum, arranging to meet for a drink later in The Boathouse.<br />
<br />
We ate a good and reasonably priced meal - several vegetarian options too - at The Boathouse, and shared a drink and a chat with John.<br />
<br />
Back at the boat we slept well.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Bugbrooke to Braunston Puddle Banks<br />
Miles: 13.4, Locks:13</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 53.4, Total Locks:35</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-49323943041098200882011-04-10T23:30:00.000+01:002011-04-12T19:39:37.480+01:00Quiet Day, But With Entertainment And A Nasty Surprise At The End<span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;">Little Woolstone (Milton Keynes) to Bugbrooke</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Cath) </span><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Alan was up and about early this morning, and couldn’t understand why I was still lying in bed snoring, when I’m usually in the bath by 6 am. The truth is that I push myself for 6 or 7 weeks during term time, then I collapse when we get to a holiday. I finally got up at about 8:20, while Alan was walking Charlie. I made coffee, and porridge, and we finally got going around 9, and had our breakfast on the back of the boat as we headed off.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I took a long stint steering around Milton Keynes, following a slow Wyvern hire boat, which pulled over at Wolverton to go shopping.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">At Cosgrove I jumped off with Charlie, saying that I was taking him for a walk, and that I’d see them when they caught up with me – Oh, and by the way, the cassette needs emptying.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I walked, and walked in the spring sunshine. I started to get hot, so stopped to take off a layer of clothing, which I tied around my waist. Then I walked until I got hot again, so I stopped to take off another layer of clothing – it had been cold standing on the back of the boat earlier. Charlie started panting, and thinking that he wanted to drink canal water – which I discouraged.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Eventually, I started to wonder if the boat had broken down, but reminded myself that if that had happened, then David would come to find me on one of the bicycles, so I kept walking, thinking that Charlie needed the exercise. Finally, at Yardley marina Charlie started to look hopefully at another boat moored up, to see if it was ‘his’ boat – so I stopped.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Charlie and I sat by the bridge for some time, until David hove into view on a bicycle. No, they hadn’t broken down, they just were behind me, and starting to panic that somehow I might be behind them. David rang Alan, who appeared quite a long time later, and I, and a grateful Charlie, jumped back on board. Next time I go for a short walk with the dog, I’ll take my phone.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ko0ZIKcQCyaALcqAjFUfauXRnMSo2t0GRGUQVjpO_g1zn0gMoTq_1rsgmljK2NkPQfWkfHxgnk5eEYjP5uUyf76MZnQbIrkQWkV1eRH6hzy3g7glHbYt4ABfhh9B2Gr5OXWHR_vTmg8K/s1600/DSCF3979.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ko0ZIKcQCyaALcqAjFUfauXRnMSo2t0GRGUQVjpO_g1zn0gMoTq_1rsgmljK2NkPQfWkfHxgnk5eEYjP5uUyf76MZnQbIrkQWkV1eRH6hzy3g7glHbYt4ABfhh9B2Gr5OXWHR_vTmg8K/s320/DSCF3979.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David speeds us through Stoke Locks</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXs1HafIxqDKLHzlAKvDaqrip4shxuiRPtQA7pmjn-8vsdqALZcMCldQzBWWgiPK-i7Xx3vjQXq6gEJOx1dhbtqjV-mm_AUzsDLMLCFBS0ELgaQA_HDJSsSPg6fQojTB68HJMaDBSQT33T/s1600/DSCF3982.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXs1HafIxqDKLHzlAKvDaqrip4shxuiRPtQA7pmjn-8vsdqALZcMCldQzBWWgiPK-i7Xx3vjQXq6gEJOx1dhbtqjV-mm_AUzsDLMLCFBS0ELgaQA_HDJSsSPg6fQojTB68HJMaDBSQT33T/s320/DSCF3982.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working up Stoke Bruerne With An Efficient Hire Boater<span id="goog_1794376744"></span><span id="goog_1794376745"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>At the Stoke flight we went up with a Gayton Marina Alvechurch hire boat, Pied Billed Grebe, the boat that Charlie had previously thought he’d cadge a lift on at Yardley Wharf. The man, said that he’d last done any canal boating when he was 10, but he certainly seemed to know what he was doing. We got talking to them, as one does, they had a nice dog, and a pleasant young daughter, who helped at all the locks. Some of the paddles are very stiff up this flight, so I chose to use the long throw aluminium windlass, which I don’t usually use.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When we got to the top, they decided to pull over to go for an ice cream. Alan decided that he wanted a beer, so we pulled onto the water point to refill while I went to get some drinks. At this point disaster struck. I was focused on jumping back onto the boat, and getting my wallet, I undid my belt, not thinking that the expensive aluminium windlass was tucked into the back. There was only a small gap between the boat and the side, but the windlass fell into the canal, just outside The Boat restaurant. I watched as it sank – far slower than I thought it would, but not slowly enough that I could grab it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Being aluminium there was no chance that we’d get it back with a magnet. Alan has often said that I’d lose it, and is always warning me to be careful. David thought that as it had sunk slowly it might still be where it had fallen in, and he went to get the boat hook.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After a bit of poking around with the boat hook we thought that we might possibly have identified the windlass, but it was far too far down to drag it out. David is tall, with long limbs, so volunteered to strip to the waist and lean in from the side to try to get it out. I held his belt, and the man from Pied Billed Grebe held his feet, but although he stuck his head and shoulders under it wasn’t enough. “You don’t want to strip to your underwear and try to find it with your feet?” I said to David.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMM3K1m2mSDp0seHflD2iiomQqKs38sm9-XBlyN4TLXmvR-B-EXLxbf6amfOdJKovzinkOqkn7A0UpEg6JWTtVnWTjX29QsZiPivt6wcLdV9MlGqEMa5WAxys8eQw9kUqz8PeyHgdLbZlH/s1600/DSCF3984.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMM3K1m2mSDp0seHflD2iiomQqKs38sm9-XBlyN4TLXmvR-B-EXLxbf6amfOdJKovzinkOqkn7A0UpEg6JWTtVnWTjX29QsZiPivt6wcLdV9MlGqEMa5WAxys8eQw9kUqz8PeyHgdLbZlH/s320/DSCF3984.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hero resscuing Cath's Windlass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>“I’ll do it,” said the man from Pied Billed Grebe. “No, no, we can’t ask you to do that,” we said. “You’re not asking, I’m volunteering. I work at a yacht club, it’s nothing new for me,” and before we knew it he had stripped down to his underpants on the back of the hire boat, in full view of the crowds in Stoke Bruerne on a busy spring afternoon, and had slipped into the canal to feel for our windlass with his feet.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Although it was a hot day, the canal must have been very cold, but he spent some time up to his shoulders in the water dedicatedly trying to find our windlass. He ducked completely under a couple of times, without finding anything.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
He was hidden from the crowds outside the museum by our boat, which we had moored on slack lines, and were holding away from the side. But the drinkers and the queue of people buying ice cream at The Boat were all watching with unbridled curiosity. That’s the point that we realised that a crowd of the diners in the Restaurant were watching from above through the panoramic windows, cheering and waving.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
He walked up and down in the gap between our boat and the side, but couldn’t find anything. We tried a number of times to persuade him to get out, but he was determined, and suddenly he ducked in again, and surfaced, triumphant, with my long throw windlass.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
He jumped out of the canal, took a dripping bow for the crowds and disappeared into his boat for a shower.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Once again, I am staggered by the self-less generosity of people.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
After that just about everything seemed tame. We had a pint, and headed off through the tunnel. It was still early, so Alan continued on for a few miles beyond Blisworth, finally mooring at Bugbrooke.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #660000;">(added by Alan) </span><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Or we thought everything seemed tame........</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After Cath made the above pronouncement, I decided to lock the bikes up in the engine room. Knowing I could not easily access the engine in the morning, I decided to do engine checks before I blocked access to it. I was horrifed to find large amounts of engine oil disgorged into the bilge, and a check on the dip-stick confirmed a large loss of oil during the day - but mercifully not severe enough to result in any damage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By then it was too late to do any real diagnosis, but none of the obvious places it might be leaking seemed to be candidates, and the starter motor was dripping oil underneath. My immediate fear was failure of the rear crankshaft oil seal - a part buried deep behind the gearbox and flywheel, and not a repair job I could carry out canal-side, I think. I decided to ask for likely causes on the Canal World Discussion Forums, and not unsurprisingly several people thought a similar cause was likely. BMC engines are known to have this oil seal fail.......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Too late to attempt to isolate the problem, I went to bed, rather dejected that, at the very least, outr much needed break was about to be terminated.</div><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Little Woolstone (Milton Keynes) to Bugbrooke<br />
Miles: 21.9, Locks:8</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 40, Total Locks:22</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-57020951990204769472011-04-09T23:30:00.015+01:002011-04-10T11:09:27.043+01:00Start of the Extended Thames Ring, (Hopefully!)<span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Alan) </span><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;">Globe Inn, Leighton Buzzard to Cook's Wharf to Little Woolstone (Milton Keynes)</span></div><br />
Well, things are in chaos at home. Alan is increasingly hobbling around as a result of smashing his pelvis rather more than a year ago, (it doesn't look like it's going to settle down now, unfortunately), and still in a lot of discomfort following cataract surgery. Cath is very over-tired, following having never really caught up her work backlog caused by Alan's mum's illness and passing. So what would any sensible set of people do at this point ? Why, start a big boating trip, (of course!).<br />
<br />
Anyway the plan is to do the Thames Ring, (anti-clockwise), which we have done before, but to try and "borrow" enough extra time to tackle the upper reaches of the navigable Thames to Lechlade, (which we have not).<br />
<br />
This means that while we will not do manic days, we do need to put in a decent mileage and lock count most days.<br />
<br />
We managed to be on board Friday night, (albeit very late), and should have got away promptly on Saturday, (and might have done, had the boat clock not still been on winter time!).<br />
<br />
A glorious day, with steady progress, and no unexpected happenings.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfK5bmbt5wE6OVjmkxYUwGjzznryqerrtAu8VEjcJY2sXV4HWEG_WYQW-KRe2LTRqFsi_v3QLIHLIoM8M1f9t-mO1slRqYYox7-xacsszdKCSdDSheASfXeUBJaf654JwdU3ushld7c0X/s1600/IMG_1683.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfK5bmbt5wE6OVjmkxYUwGjzznryqerrtAu8VEjcJY2sXV4HWEG_WYQW-KRe2LTRqFsi_v3QLIHLIoM8M1f9t-mO1slRqYYox7-xacsszdKCSdDSheASfXeUBJaf654JwdU3ushld7c0X/s320/IMG_1683.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We caught one of our local day boats at the first lock, and worked with them until the Grove pub, a mile or two before Leighton Buzzard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxVB0N6LW8U2b8KCp8EEla6yLXUIHUOZJlWLiW0NCIODO9enuhENw7pVjLoVzZ5qBCSbWAo4PRHjbpsl8mZe6caiu65eYfNfHkqi0Di9gnhZ8FXL6bCmoVXTOmbLSFWqW-DRBrxNnnUoG/s1600/IMG_1685.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxVB0N6LW8U2b8KCp8EEla6yLXUIHUOZJlWLiW0NCIODO9enuhENw7pVjLoVzZ5qBCSbWAo4PRHjbpsl8mZe6caiu65eYfNfHkqi0Di9gnhZ8FXL6bCmoVXTOmbLSFWqW-DRBrxNnnUoG/s320/IMG_1685.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The owner's name on this boat always appeals to my childish sense of humour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAa3Cx6LXkCbmqTl2_FJ1H6Ozi2_1IhDkrGCIKxmLB0WjgAmqic7ll43_k4ssz_mjOl3BJ-K311cM3YHNA8CUXkydhYRFChQ-U_hB8wChIt4KzkB7Cudy00tkUS6-zQSe00TlNXD0Ytpy-/s1600/IMG_1687.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAa3Cx6LXkCbmqTl2_FJ1H6Ozi2_1IhDkrGCIKxmLB0WjgAmqic7ll43_k4ssz_mjOl3BJ-K311cM3YHNA8CUXkydhYRFChQ-U_hB8wChIt4KzkB7Cudy00tkUS6-zQSe00TlNXD0Ytpy-/s320/IMG_1687.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottom lock at "Three Locks"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4s1Kq8OCGHU-P2iNHdsn2LJfJV3ekC5jLR3DkjS6baY5Acu4s0Np0BiCinYbYy80aFIrc4DIrkfze1QODDmg01dIAf5kUK0CwukPCnIeh5V7Oy4Yjmj2upzZ5IrnMoRKDcKu5ILmHJYXi/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4s1Kq8OCGHU-P2iNHdsn2LJfJV3ekC5jLR3DkjS6baY5Acu4s0Np0BiCinYbYy80aFIrc4DIrkfze1QODDmg01dIAf5kUK0CwukPCnIeh5V7Oy4Yjmj2upzZ5IrnMoRKDcKu5ILmHJYXi/s320/IMG_1689.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stoke Hammond</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A standard "grocery stop" at the Leighton Buzzard super -market, and then forwards, with a fair knowledge that there would be Wyvern Shipping hire boats ahead at Three Locks, (there were!).<br />
<br />
We chatted briefly with our friends Allan and Debbie at Stoke Hammond, and then introduced ourselves to Canal World Forum member Chris and his wife Pat at Fenny Stratford.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihloTYxELjPr6eyUL9u8y6HKnw9Sr4sKwj2kiTcPt3vru_TXqqfjcL7uJY7phwhCZi0BVBdHlPtOGNJU7MUseYv701JK3j8A8UIYsPpiZPm16R_Dt0O5phxX6lDNtg8hbsYjgifxp8M_j1/s1600/IMG_1696.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihloTYxELjPr6eyUL9u8y6HKnw9Sr4sKwj2kiTcPt3vru_TXqqfjcL7uJY7phwhCZi0BVBdHlPtOGNJU7MUseYv701JK3j8A8UIYsPpiZPm16R_Dt0O5phxX6lDNtg8hbsYjgifxp8M_j1/s320/IMG_1696.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very shallow Fenny Lock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>On to Little Woolstone, where although still plenty of daylight left, we decided we were knackered, and tied up.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Cook's Wharf to Little Woolstone (Milton Keynes)<br />
Miles: 18.1, Locks:14</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 18.1, Total Locks:14</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-31065277382774901302011-02-27T15:16:00.009+00:002011-02-27T20:47:05.986+00:00Short Break at Half Term - Fifth and Final Day<span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Alan) </span><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;">Globe Inn, Leighton Buzzard to Cook's Wharf</span><br />
<br />
Today was just a case of a fairly standard run back to base from just north of Leighton Buzzard - relatively undemanding, although the weather forecast didn't exactly sound brilliant. There was no great hurry to start, as we definitely needed a stop at Leighton Buzzard Tesco, and being a Sunday, that didn't open until 10:00 am anyway - so we did the short trip down to there to be ready for that.<br />
<br />
By the time we restarted the rain had set in, and it was also colder than yesterday, so not the best of boating weather. There was a brief moment just North of Leighton where we actually had 4 boats moving at once, but at least one of these seemed to be only making a trip of a few hundred yards, and we eventually ended up passing through Grove lock with the same couple we had accompanied through several locks yesterday. As we already knew they were taking their brand new boat to Grove Marina, it was fairly obvious we would be on our own after that, and so it proved to be.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1qF8pSEiaalMfOrMPlLJP9KmrT0VGjYtI5Yjb4x-sEO4FLGpXO-d0ckxdQZqrJUfpMP8YbRp_cBVhERsof50nPvkXd3Fjx8D6ygobCnspxbeINPculkwzRZOVcAtplEpNDsMYxeyLWtH/s1600/IMG_1555_Small.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1qF8pSEiaalMfOrMPlLJP9KmrT0VGjYtI5Yjb4x-sEO4FLGpXO-d0ckxdQZqrJUfpMP8YbRp_cBVhERsof50nPvkXd3Fjx8D6ygobCnspxbeINPculkwzRZOVcAtplEpNDsMYxeyLWtH/s320/IMG_1555_Small.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lots of rain</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRVTDoOk0b1GCEBBZCGbpgkf4YVdArCcTMTgxoGi56-i1540Mg2aqUjsecOcSQCz0FCzAt0V4n9GXCzVbgcvi5ENkFYuZIVp78atIm9ohcr7_P0pmWwTvGouI0XpFjCT6D_DnUCfVhMpe/s1600/IMG_1566_Small.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRVTDoOk0b1GCEBBZCGbpgkf4YVdArCcTMTgxoGi56-i1540Mg2aqUjsecOcSQCz0FCzAt0V4n9GXCzVbgcvi5ENkFYuZIVp78atIm9ohcr7_P0pmWwTvGouI0XpFjCT6D_DnUCfVhMpe/s320/IMG_1566_Small.JPG" width="320" /></a></i></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And even more rain</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>In fact we hardly saw anything else move until we had done the further 8 locks back to base. It rained steadily, so Cath took over steering for stints, to allow me to go in briefly in attempts to warm up. I'm not supposed to be doing much hard work after eye surgery, but did work around 4 of the locks, and was pleased to be doing so again.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAFglvIZU9z_NKHJOBYkhO9sxR3XJY0YPkTLzCwRq5ZDWRRsMA7vTYrWrgsVjQNeT9f1eCKJBIj-ymA15cq9Iu6sKkNueqtMdp9Jj-ai2FFDsYyuF1EV4RC-L4Nq7YlMUPsgL2Y6wHyRx/s1600/DSCF3906_Small.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAFglvIZU9z_NKHJOBYkhO9sxR3XJY0YPkTLzCwRq5ZDWRRsMA7vTYrWrgsVjQNeT9f1eCKJBIj-ymA15cq9Iu6sKkNueqtMdp9Jj-ai2FFDsYyuF1EV4RC-L4Nq7YlMUPsgL2Y6wHyRx/s320/DSCF3906_Small.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Even on days like today there are unusual sights to see some places, and Cath spotted a Muntjac deer in the former side-ponds of one of the many locks. It was really quite close, and in no great hurry to run off, despite us being there.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><i></i>I predicted the rain would stop as we approached "base", and I wasn't far wrong. It seemed to take an eternity to pack and load the car, (we seem to take stuff for 3 weeks, even if only going for 5 days, or so!), but eventually we were ready, and another trip was sadly over.<br />
<br />
Because of our disrupted year last year, we never once got further north than Cosgrove, so already this year, still in February, we have done better on that front than last year. We hope to go a great deal further in the summer!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Globe Inn, Leighton Buzzard to Cook's Wharf<br />
Miles: 7.9, Locks:10</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 65.6, Total Locks:46</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-74927700117539423852011-02-26T21:17:00.003+00:002011-02-28T21:05:08.523+00:00Short Break at Half Term - Fourth Day<span style="color: #660000;">(posted by Alan) </span><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;">Stantonbury, Milton Keynes to Globe Inn, Leighton Buzzard</span><br />
<br />
A strange sort of day, probably best summarised by "it rained!".<br />
<br />
Cath sleeps well on the boat, using it to recharge her batteries after what has been a fairly demanding time work and family-wise. So quite often the "home" routine is reversed and it is me who gets up to attend to the morning chores, which basically are....<br />
<br />
1) See if fire is still alight, and attempt to rescue it if it is.<br />
2) Get gettle on to start coffee making process,<br />
3) Take Charlie out for at least basic toileting essentials.<br />
<br />
Sounds easy, but all involves stumbling through the cabin where David is trying to sleep, (with head to coffee end, and feet to stove and dog end...). As Charlie wants to quickly re-introduce himself to all on board, it can get a bit lively.<br />
<br />
Anyway, we had moored in a spot I never have before, strangely remote, given it was broadly "Milton Keynes", and I quickly found I could deviate from tow-path across a field, with a massive lake to one side, but a ruined stone building ahead. This proved to be a former parish church of Stantonbury, but stood now completely alone surrounded by fields. Next time I must take my camera!<br />
<br />
Once back at the boat, the more the rest of the family started to stir, the more it rained! So we decided we were in no great hurry to get going. However, it really showed no sign of letting up, so eventually I donned reasonably weatherproof gear, got ready, and set off.<br />
<br />
It really was a day when nobody else much was moving, but a boat had passed in our direction maybe 20 minutes before we set off. I was a little surprised to catch it well before Fenny lock, but we did, and followed at their pace. After that they suggested we went ahead, which allowed us to have locks part prepared before they caught up, and we slipped quickly through Stoke Hammond, (greeted unexpectedly by Allan from "Keeping Up"), and then "Three Locks", where the other boat planned to stop. In practice so did we, as Cath got hit by a very sudden migraine, literally whilst walking between the top two locks. (How different is a deserted "Three Locks" on a Saturday in February, to mid-summer, when you would have to be asking sightseers to move, in order to be able to operate the locks at all...)<br />
<br />
We moored for a while, whilst Cath rested - an unexpected bonus being that the rain largely stopped whilst we were tied up. Eventually I started up again, and pottered down the "Jackdaw Pound", still one of my favourite bits of this canal. By then the sun was out, but I really was enjoying it largely on my own, with just the occasional dog walker for passing company.<br />
<br />
We so much enjoyed a visit to the Globe Inn only a month or so ago, that we thought we would go again. By 6pm Cath felt better, if a bit wobbly, and decided that eating out would be better than trying to cook. When we did eventually get to the Globe, we were told "Sorry, no! - we are at full capacity!", but eventually negotiated ourselves into a corner seat, not otherwise booked for dining. Another good meal, although the next time I'll not ask the barman to recommend his selection from around five different ales. Sorry, but the "Abbott" was not what it should have been, and the one I subsequently switched to was a very much better bet. I'd recommend it now, but other than remembering it was from a fairly obscure brewery, and that it's name began with "Old", exactly what it was has already slipped my mind.<br />
<br />
Throughout our stay in the well crowded pub, Charlie, although well behaved, at times acting like an absolute "tart", not just enjoying the attentions of strangers, but at times positively relishing it. Everybody seems to love Charlie, in a way we had not anticipated when he first arrived from the "rescue", and he certainly turns many heads.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure if there are any pictures for today - it really did rain rather too much for photography.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Stantonbury, Milton Keynes to Globe Inn, Leighton Buzzard<br />
Miles: 14.5, Locks:5</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 57.7, Total Locks:36</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-65100838209707871452011-02-25T21:20:00.074+00:002011-02-26T15:57:24.502+00:00Short Break at Half Term - Third Day<span style="color: #660000;">(Posted by Cath)</span><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;">Stoke Bruerne to Stantonbury, Milton Keynes</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: black;">We didn't want to rush back to the home mooring at the same speed as we'd come up to Stoke, and I also wanted to look at the Museum. Alan was not so keen on the museum, but agreed to come with me. </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">We had to wait until 11 am for the museum to open, so Charlie got a couple of walks, and I got an hour or two of coursework marking done - sadly, the pile I am working through is not going down nearly as fast as I'd like.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">The museum has a gift shop, full of the kind of things that were a magnet to our kids when we used to visit museums and castles with them when they were younger - bookmarks, fridge magnets, pencils, pens, erasers, etc. as well as a very good canal oriented bookshop - we found ourselves picking up book after book and deciding that we really did need it in our collection. We were told that if we signed a gift aid certificate for our entry fees we could have a season ticket for the year - not a bad idea as we hope to be in Stoke several times this summer. We were given audio 'interpretation' devices - but found that we preferred to look at the exhibits without being directed at various key points - we know enough of the basics, we were more interested in looking in detail at things. I'm sure these are very useful if you don't have much experience of the canals, but there is only so much detail they can give you.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">We think that there is a basic problem with canal museums - it is very difficult to bring something like this up to the modern standards. So many museums these days are filled with interactivity, games, and animated interpretations. Children are used to having a lot to do - our sons used to love the Science Museum in London, particularly Launchpad and the activities in the basement - there was so much to do, so many ways of exploring science. What is there that you can do in a canal museum? There is only so much you can do with 'worksheets', particularly for a generation brought up on interactive games. While there seems to be a steady stream of people through the museum it is difficult to know how it can compete against the outside world in the current economic climate.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">What did I find interesting? The painted 'ware' - comparing the different styles (and qualities). There was a water can from 1901, showing scenes of canal life, including four little dogs - although the paint was quite old and faded I would like to have been able to see the other side. The 'Idle Women' exhibit was interesting, as well as the information about the canal 'navvies'. There is a huge wheelbarrow on display - surely no-one was ever strong enough to use it? A peculiar leather and wood device proved to be the innards of a bilge pump - it didn't look very efficient. I was also interested to get the chance to pick up and examine a modern replica "boatwoman's bonnet" - I had no idea that they were constructed like that - they must have used huge amounts of cloth. I loved the notice about 'locomotives and other ponderous carriages' - taken from a bridge that could only handle the normal 'local traffic'.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">On the second floor is the reconstructed boatman's cabin of a butty. It doesn't look right - you can't go inside to get a proper look, but the cupboards and stove just seem wrong. I'm sure the museum know what the proportions and measurements should be, but from outside they look odd.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKqR88VLtmAElOtoWWNxi3RrjwFSISHPqv_mr0Ee63Z8Xqy6UVAUAHTPr3zEeo-N2i3tDE5Nvpp4utE6brTKAmu5D-Pj1hpDGczLFxt7joED7xoi2KhcV6uAFfK7bgA8907a4NOukAXWp/s1600/CIMG1581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKqR88VLtmAElOtoWWNxi3RrjwFSISHPqv_mr0Ee63Z8Xqy6UVAUAHTPr3zEeo-N2i3tDE5Nvpp4utE6brTKAmu5D-Pj1hpDGczLFxt7joED7xoi2KhcV6uAFfK7bgA8907a4NOukAXWp/s320/CIMG1581.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>Coming back down the Stoke Bruerne Locks. </i><br />
<br />
We spent an hour in the museum, stopped at the Cheese Boat for some supplies, then back to Chalice, a snatched lunch of toasted cheese on crumpets, and off down the locks again. We shared with a single hander from Blisworth, passing a number of boats going up - far more moving than yesterday.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;">It was grey, and drizzly, and by the time that we were through Cosgrove it was clear that we weren't going to be able to get much further before dark. We moored next to a spinney of trees near Stantonbury, almost in the dark by the time were were there. Wine, and spaghetti bolognese, then sleep. We need to buy some food, or stop for a pub meal this evening.</div><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Stoke Bruerne to Stantonbury, Milton Keynes<br />
Miles: 10.3, Locks:8</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 43.2, Total Locks:31</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-44140058356726532782011-02-24T23:55:00.044+00:002011-02-26T14:57:18.565+00:00Short Break at Half Term - Second Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2G89O5_PEhzmIEJkiOMuirB6mejC_0Uo27Mijto31KzZObp6gnVbJzhxq3rbZeEDCR_6C-OAGxql1fjp7z1c_UiCrvNgxmOqV9knxZzhH_hALEGGWOAcUdpDvUVq9ek3QK3a7J4eRMCW/s1600/CIMG1513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="color: #660000;">(Posted by Cath)</span><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-weight: bold;">Fenny Stratford to Stoke Bruerne</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: black;">We knew that today would be a lot of long miles, then the climb up the flight to Stoke Bruerne. It was a glorious day, cold, but with high, broken cloud letting the sun through.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2G89O5_PEhzmIEJkiOMuirB6mejC_0Uo27Mijto31KzZObp6gnVbJzhxq3rbZeEDCR_6C-OAGxql1fjp7z1c_UiCrvNgxmOqV9knxZzhH_hALEGGWOAcUdpDvUVq9ek3QK3a7J4eRMCW/s1600/CIMG1513.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2G89O5_PEhzmIEJkiOMuirB6mejC_0Uo27Mijto31KzZObp6gnVbJzhxq3rbZeEDCR_6C-OAGxql1fjp7z1c_UiCrvNgxmOqV9knxZzhH_hALEGGWOAcUdpDvUVq9ek3QK3a7J4eRMCW/s320/CIMG1513.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>Grafton Street Aqueduct, Milton Keynes </i><br />
<br />
We took it in turns steering. I spent two hours cleaning the inside of the boat of the dust and grime that had settled over the recent winter when it had been necessary to neglect Chalice due to family matters. Then Alan took over and washed down the mud and footprints from the outside. David was on kitchen duties, providing sandwiches and fruit bread to keep us going. </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hQlQuvflk5pLqCR-rtgtD0IgplgRauVIZ-ZZ6BuX-nA_ZmmwVMMO5fIRliAqv3aB07LH-CgwasuIgbM7DHCfLcggZxvtUk7McKIrmfZKPhfHGKxHhOA5PKVwWdP84aMaEBCpv_NRiFCN/s1600/CIMG1517.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hQlQuvflk5pLqCR-rtgtD0IgplgRauVIZ-ZZ6BuX-nA_ZmmwVMMO5fIRliAqv3aB07LH-CgwasuIgbM7DHCfLcggZxvtUk7McKIrmfZKPhfHGKxHhOA5PKVwWdP84aMaEBCpv_NRiFCN/s320/CIMG1517.jpg" width="320" /></a> <i>Charlie enjoys the sunshine</i></div><br />
We saw very few boats moving - perhaps three before we got to the Stoke locks. There are a few hire boats out, not many, but not really surprising given that it is February - a couple of Alvechurch boats and some 'Canal Club' out of Gayton Marina. </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
Through Cosgrove lock, then the winding miles of countryside towards Stoke Bruerne. I walked Charlie along the towpath for a while, then I steered while Alan took a shower. At the bottom of the Stoke flight we stopped to fill our nearly empty water tank and also to buy some solid fuel off the coal boats - we like to support the canal traders, whenever we can. Whilst doing all this, a couple of boats came past and up the flight. Although the boats ahead of us were single handers, they came back and shut gates after going through, and even pulled paddles for us if we weren't yet up at the lock, they were efficient and speedy.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLz-NvrJ5YuxKkPp_e_ahJGQ6x5WWDjlOd_u7rBM_wdnvRY9Se1rm2S9Wgh733vRRFnq7PKWtQTRci6TD6vxKq_RZvetSgsHRBYf69BIOuQK9TTcQ_c77fOQYQX_PkdxN6KMxkhKdhz8ul/s1600/CIMG1543.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLz-NvrJ5YuxKkPp_e_ahJGQ6x5WWDjlOd_u7rBM_wdnvRY9Se1rm2S9Wgh733vRRFnq7PKWtQTRci6TD6vxKq_RZvetSgsHRBYf69BIOuQK9TTcQ_c77fOQYQX_PkdxN6KMxkhKdhz8ul/s320/CIMG1543.jpg" width="320" /></a> <i>Coming up the Stoke flight</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NJq38Q57lR2QRhBpYSjhnf13-OuhkYDAahp5AOtmqyVwanfw96OL390ppjFCQcLZglJ1FM2jWrIuRXGVE3VNDkYLlJVlW22MWGjWAz4Pm6ZFZ2QDXeKJN2uvXUzUue1FRFZeWbhT5pVi/s1600/CIMG1546.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NJq38Q57lR2QRhBpYSjhnf13-OuhkYDAahp5AOtmqyVwanfw96OL390ppjFCQcLZglJ1FM2jWrIuRXGVE3VNDkYLlJVlW22MWGjWAz4Pm6ZFZ2QDXeKJN2uvXUzUue1FRFZeWbhT5pVi/s320/CIMG1546.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
<div style="text-align: right;"> <i>Crossing the lock</i></div><br />
We arrived at Stoke well before dusk, moored up, and I had a shower, and even got a little marking done before we headed off to the Boat Inn for a pint and an excellent meal.</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Fenny Stratford to Stoke Bruerne<br />
Miles: 18.3, Locks:8</span><br />
<span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 32.9, Total Locks:23</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-86395390377708922362011-02-23T23:55:00.066+00:002011-02-27T19:29:44.285+00:00Short Break at Half Term - First Day<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Cook's Wharf to Fenny Stratford</span><br />(posted by Cath)<br /><br />Alan got the boat ready on Tuesday afternoon - taking some of the bags, getting the fridge cold, lighting the fire - while I tried to get a few things sorted at home. David had real problems getting himself organised and it was quite late when we finally got on board with all of the other stuff.<br /><br />We stowed everything away, and I cooked dinner, after which I went to bed, as I was quite tired. I have spent the last week fighting a chest infection, and for the first few days of the half term I needed a lot more sleep than usual.<br /><br />I fell asleep quickly, Alan came to bed soon after, but was clearly disturbed by an intermittent knocking noise that seemed to be coming from the direction of a boat moored across the canal. Eventually, at some small hour, he got up, got dressed, and went out to find out what the noise was. I became aware of him clambering along the wet gunwale, and as our neighbouring boat is away from its mooring I knew that if he slipped he'd be in the very cold cut. I have to admit that I found myself thinking, "No, please don't fall in, I really don't want to have to leave my nice warm bed."<br /><br />Well the knocking noise proved to be the fender that normally hangs between us and our neighbouring boat. The fender was just into the water, and any water movements made it bang against the side of our boat - it doesn't usually happen because the other boat is normally there.<br /><br />We set off soon after nine o'clock, with hot porridge for breakfast. It was a damp morning, the tops of the Chiltern hills hidden in the mist. There are the very first signs of spring appearing, a tiny white-flowered wild flower poking a rosette of leaves through the cracks in the brickwork around the locks; catkins on the alder trees and the hazel bushes; and a tinge to the colour of some of the bare branches as the first buds appear.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluejWGx6qHJjMRL5oRSzSOxgta077iakG53ou0k09RDW8clSOuuWVCyFr7xOjdTh_Cz3Alm5uityDdxts9CV3o8u3Yx_lQehik_IkKYVAtsLKDQ6B0Uqa1plKP3FgH9rSMYAGsOeka1_n/s1600/CIMG1367.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjluejWGx6qHJjMRL5oRSzSOxgta077iakG53ou0k09RDW8clSOuuWVCyFr7xOjdTh_Cz3Alm5uityDdxts9CV3o8u3Yx_lQehik_IkKYVAtsLKDQ6B0Uqa1plKP3FgH9rSMYAGsOeka1_n/s320/CIMG1367.jpg" width="320" border="0" height="240" /></a> <i>Horton Lock</i><br /><br />Most of the morning was just damp and misty, but we had occasional periods of drizzle and rain. We headed north, through the Seabrook and Ivinghoe locks, then onward into Leighton Buzzard where we stopped to get some food, and I tried to persuade David to get a pair of jeans in Tesco, as I was not sure that all the pairs he had brought would last through the trip.<br /><br /><br /><br />Just south of Linslade Manor we saw the Canal World Forum boat Pinmill travelling south - a chance for a quick greeting and a wave, and they headed on towards Aylesbury.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-O7lXeud0G5-lpvLDbL_XQluukgBqexDiKesoFKiZLugMamAeqTxfA3AKYOnKpiRIpToLVCZGEm6L6puXVJOzIB37ONO6AeKEtw7B1_3y4-qsOnN6ATiPVwyubGRWgVRgUbod8e2Bolpp/s1600/CIMG1415.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-O7lXeud0G5-lpvLDbL_XQluukgBqexDiKesoFKiZLugMamAeqTxfA3AKYOnKpiRIpToLVCZGEm6L6puXVJOzIB37ONO6AeKEtw7B1_3y4-qsOnN6ATiPVwyubGRWgVRgUbod8e2Bolpp/s320/CIMG1415.jpg" width="320" border="0" height="240" /></a><i>Soulbury, three locks</i><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNlHn5m0ZBNrc78F8MdyNS2-Vc2cDmCB7QZqYfH7bkmp-2W3mIxrVrmFKf4WgCs7ChyphenhyphensHJcpmmYjN-YmG2rgmhjwSZYwyv0R4OXt1yKKulcKyCkAve0Lyngj8Q6w7j-A4PIbrF_fyiTZw/s1600/imag0172.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNlHn5m0ZBNrc78F8MdyNS2-Vc2cDmCB7QZqYfH7bkmp-2W3mIxrVrmFKf4WgCs7ChyphenhyphensHJcpmmYjN-YmG2rgmhjwSZYwyv0R4OXt1yKKulcKyCkAve0Lyngj8Q6w7j-A4PIbrF_fyiTZw/s320/imag0172.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578453391248719346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">David at Three Locks</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCLzvzx552WhZRjswR6c-cMCwYGGKseIkIfqxcN3bFrDnqE2XVJ_GD2wvRabLLyyCH3OOL4a07ZPSo3ZKGG_Pm8k9GrRi46W2MCn1Q3WEyKGGpR_NYwl_7yxvTsAFTKQxtE_Dr1n7k9Zy/s1600/CIMG1443.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCLzvzx552WhZRjswR6c-cMCwYGGKseIkIfqxcN3bFrDnqE2XVJ_GD2wvRabLLyyCH3OOL4a07ZPSo3ZKGG_Pm8k9GrRi46W2MCn1Q3WEyKGGpR_NYwl_7yxvTsAFTKQxtE_Dr1n7k9Zy/s320/CIMG1443.jpg" width="320" border="0" height="240" /></a> <i><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Stoke Hammond Lock</i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i>Alan is still recovering from his cataract operation, so I have to do most of the locks - with some help from David.</i></div><br />We finally got to Fenny Stratford at about 5:30, moored up, and had Cottage Pie for dinner, once again I fell asleep early, and slept like a top.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Cook's Wharf to Fenny Stratford<br />Miles: 14.6, Locks:15</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Total Miles: 14.6, Total Locks:15</span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1381483280279544650.post-80578038059478469602011-01-23T22:11:00.011+00:002011-01-25T14:01:17.086+00:00More mad runners<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Sunday 23rd January 2011</span><br /><br />Alan woke up early, and got up to check the fire, then took Charlie for his first walk of the day. I have to admit that I snoozed on in our warm bed for a while.<br /><br />Once fortified with coffee I got up to make porridge, which we ate outside, as we headed on north to the first winding hole.<br /><br />The weather forecast threatened rain from midday, so we wanted to get on fairly quickly.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiz2OkyUJC17xUrSKy563e5nect0eulQfWSwBCwb8wkGTFm0IIIzU1T6yQPJ8kY-7b9VUE8eZWwDGet_8Hu95yWR6BfI4O3pFhP7H8Df-dwL0fiDTtrbJ1VkpWDd7mz_uLNW3QWHgzzVn/s1600/New_Gates_Leighton_Buzzard.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiz2OkyUJC17xUrSKy563e5nect0eulQfWSwBCwb8wkGTFm0IIIzU1T6yQPJ8kY-7b9VUE8eZWwDGet_8Hu95yWR6BfI4O3pFhP7H8Df-dwL0fiDTtrbJ1VkpWDd7mz_uLNW3QWHgzzVn/s320/New_Gates_Leighton_Buzzard.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565861971874053202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Brand new top gates at Leighton Lock - Good to see it now has gate paddles.</span><br /><br /><br /><br />We turned, and headed south again, only to see the runners from yesterday heading back in the other direction again. Once again they had set off at 8 am, and by 10:00 the faster ones were heading back through Leighton Buzzard on the way back to Northampton.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvCuqaccYh-P_0LSRsBBcfjVMdd3WxvaUhnzTISAo3F3S7yWWIXxp82vZDXphZnyzZ0fLzBMM-b7Mf9OlxQKVoETGWYB1mHnacxuFhCchRTjHiPVhyphenhyphenL1v5OFtZBK1hJ4hg9zTws7f1DTt/s1600/Double_Bridge_Horton.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvCuqaccYh-P_0LSRsBBcfjVMdd3WxvaUhnzTISAo3F3S7yWWIXxp82vZDXphZnyzZ0fLzBMM-b7Mf9OlxQKVoETGWYB1mHnacxuFhCchRTjHiPVhyphenhyphenL1v5OFtZBK1hJ4hg9zTws7f1DTt/s320/Double_Bridge_Horton.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565862831726139234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">One of the charac- teristic double bridges from this stretch - for a brief time in history, a narrow lock was added alongside the original broad one, as a water saving measure.</span><br /><br />It remained a cool, and damp day, but we never saw the promised rain. Charlie spent a lot of his time - when not walking between locks - standing on the front of the boat like some figurehead and watching the world go by.<br /><br />It was an uneventful trip, but it was so good to be out on the boat again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2TMrzAe3qcFWXKxhepMF0CxUJEdP5CecLsj0NB5vOtxB8dH0zmGlvA2OmbVxmAfTx-gKekkvDVnxhg14XtZA-VYj9ila4qKAUx-69oEEoPPDCUO57t5OC7msegYoFQwy4b1ZiRCz7U7_/s1600/Alan+and+Charlie.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2TMrzAe3qcFWXKxhepMF0CxUJEdP5CecLsj0NB5vOtxB8dH0zmGlvA2OmbVxmAfTx-gKekkvDVnxhg14XtZA-VYj9ila4qKAUx-69oEEoPPDCUO57t5OC7msegYoFQwy4b1ZiRCz7U7_/s320/Alan+and+Charlie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565507646621639330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Boater and dog.</span><br /><br />I've been reading Richard Mabey's book 'Weeds', about our relationship with "plants which are growing where we don't want them". Alan and I were talking about the season and agreed that we are probably in the middle of winter now. Even though we are a month after the solstice it is probably the coldest and greyest that it will be, with few signs of the spring to come. I did see bunches of hanging hazel catkins, but they never seemed to be where I could take a photo. However, by Seabrook middle lock there was still a bit of colour around when I looked for it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6k3_gs7LGr6ua_NvnzrPQtzGGVLTeeHhO9GO9NlVBDUKILcilkh63888IKmxrY2Fiseib2joq9VGoeW7OLlAdbkgpmwMmXDYOx34CsggtgrOQSkt05yNFpPaGlPSBC-y7roRSk580YGo/s1600/mosses.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6k3_gs7LGr6ua_NvnzrPQtzGGVLTeeHhO9GO9NlVBDUKILcilkh63888IKmxrY2Fiseib2joq9VGoeW7OLlAdbkgpmwMmXDYOx34CsggtgrOQSkt05yNFpPaGlPSBC-y7roRSk580YGo/s320/mosses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565507653903794866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Mosses on the coping stones.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwRO-u_oh27ieRSMn2wFle17Di8EcrackbgxnnHA-u8-77ri2OENIMAQ6kFkkMk-DUVddzsdxtj743YzoN9TWQLyeIyxx4mVVoSPDEZ1E74L6MM5PGLbZVamrpPmIxyUILoWAMOjx_UOP/s1600/lichen.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwRO-u_oh27ieRSMn2wFle17Di8EcrackbgxnnHA-u8-77ri2OENIMAQ6kFkkMk-DUVddzsdxtj743YzoN9TWQLyeIyxx4mVVoSPDEZ1E74L6MM5PGLbZVamrpPmIxyUILoWAMOjx_UOP/s320/lichen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565507658889703666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lichen on a blackthorn tree.</span><br /><br /><br />We arrived back at the mooring around 3:00 pm. Our weekend trip was less than 18 miles, and only 20 locks.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Footnote by Alan (who hopes he didn't muck up Cath's post too much by inserting a couple of extra photos!)<br /><br />We have always tended to think of "Chalice" as a bit of a fair weather boat. It's only form of heating is a small solid fuel stove, located at the very front end of the cabin - there is no form of radiators or other "central heating". However experience is showing that despite the boat's length that stove can heat the whole living space in really quite cold conditions. We get maybe a 5 degree temperature gradient between the toasty warm sitting area at the front, and the cooler bedroom at the back. So we are increasingly happy to venture out now in mid-winter.<br /><br />Not much heat gets to the steerer though - not like a traditional boat that would have a stove in the back cabin right alongside. I'm tempted to see if a normal style heater from a car or van could be added to the engine cooling circuit - I rather fancy having hot air blasted up when steering on a cold January day!Cathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14351744855693468657noreply@blogger.com2