...And back to base.

Spent the morning polishing the starboard side and preparing to go home. TQ shines really nicely, at least on one side. I'll do the other side tomorrow morning on the jetty. We had a leisurly journey back to Wigrams and with a moderate wind making things a little difficult I almost got into our mooring at 2F when someone came out and said we were to move to 1F. OK, fine, it made things a little easier as there is large amount of space to manoeuvre in. Once moored we unloaded all the stuff we didn't need into the car ready for tomorrow.

Heading back to base

Had a lazy morning just doing some odds and ends. It was frosty and foggy so going anywhere early would have been a little less enjoyable, but we're in no hurry, so waiting 'till after lunch was the decision. N B Serendipity moved off before 08:00hrs to our surprise so no gossip - shame. I finished off the draught excluding and touched up some paint which peeled off when I glued the tunnel light in place.



Early morning fog

 

Approaching Braunston

 We took on water just before Braunston Junction and I spotted Halfie on N B Shadow going back to Wigrams Marina.


Spotted just outside Braunston, from my home town. What's it doing here?

 At first we thought we'd go into Braunston and find a mooring, but after the number of boats heading this way decided against it and headed out toward Napton Junction. Now moored about two miles out in quiet countryside, but it's been very busy along here, with many hire boats heading back to their bases after the Easter break.

Another day of Maintenance

I put my overalls on and got down and dirty in the engine 'ole this morning, there's been a fault with engine starting, and reports have been coming through to wiggle the red wire and try again and usually the engine will start. I found an insulated connection with some considerable corrosion and so I went about taking it apart to clean it. First things first, isolate all the batteries so no accidental shorting can occurr, then verify by trying to start the engine. Then, if all is well, procede with loosening the offending connection. I managed to get the nut off and found the connected terminals were very corroded. I cleaned them up with abrasive paper, gave it a squirt of Wobbly Wee 40 and re-assembled it. I switched on the isolators and tried it out and success, it starts with no problem. Only time will tell!


Terminals, all a little corroded




This is the starter motor connection. Maintenance done here too.

 While I was down the engine 'ole I drop tested the starter battery, and it's in top notch condition.


Lin said...

 ..."I've got some more maintenance for you". "What've you broke?" I asked. "Nothing, the coat hooks are loose". "Well come on", I said, "You can do this one". - "This is a screw driver..."

We moved up a bit this afternoon, all of about two miles and moored near Willoughby. We got ouselves nicely parked and N B Serendipity moored up in front of us. I feel some gossip coming on!
More tomorrow.

Four Seasons in One Day

Yes, we've had it all today, rain, snow, hail, wind and even some warm sun. We cruised our way up to the winding hole just after Bridge 74 on the North Oxford Canal, did the obligatory 180 and ambled back to just North of Bridge 79 when there was the most spectacular flash of lightning (sorry, I wasn't quick enough with my camera) and the heavens opened. I was desparately hoping to find a nice stretch of pilings to moor against before the storm came but the wind kept me away from them and then there appeared to be some sheltered water next to a hawthorn hedge. So in with the bow and then the stern, hey-up where's the bow going now? I grabbed the Luby line (that's the centre rope) jumped off the boat and heaved as hard as I could and eventually TQ came into the pilings. By now the rain/ice (rice) was hammering down and I was struggling to get piling hooks temporarily installed. I got TQ sorted and went inside for shelter and discovered I was covered in ice fragments. This is where we'll stay for the night, and as I'm writing this it's calm outside and is rather a nice evening.

In our lunch time spot, then it rained.

The contraversial Barby Marina

Entrance to Barby Marina

It's ricing down

Both Bridges 79 and 80 have had considerable damage done to them, apparently it happened a few years ago so I expect there are some arguments over who is going to pay.

And the maintenance continues.

Today has been better weather wise, but not quite so much work has been done. We've moved to Braunston, taken on water and done a self pump-out. Phew, it's hard work pushing sh!t up hill. Then we had a late lunch in the Boathouse and rather than crash for the afternoon we went for a walk toward the locks. There were some bits we needed for TQ so we went in the chandlers there and picked up some grease for the stern gland and some sealant to stick down the tunnel light which had come adrift - job done.
There's not been many photos so far and I'll edit some of the blogs later and put some in.



Braunston - last lock of the day, and it's only 3pm

 Some considerable time ago, when TQ was blue and red, we met up with someone Lin knows through crafting/Facebook etc., Anne and Dave from NB Kernow. We bumped into them today on the bridge where the above photo was taken. What a coincidence, it was great to see them again and have a natter.
Back in the Boathouse for our evening meal tonight, and as yet, even after extensive discussion, we're undecided where to go tomorrow. Ahh! I love this life!

Not quite a total write off.

The weather is what I mean, yes, it has rained nearly all day, but I've managed to get quite a lot done. The first job I did was actually yesterday while we were in the marina. I had to find out why there was no mains shore power and it didn't take long to find a fault. The live connection had become severed in the inlet socket and now I've reconnected it, all is working as it should be.

This is as I found it.

We now have a Carbon Monoxide alarm fitted properly instead of it knocking around in the boat somewhere.
There is some draught excluder fitted to the front doors, though I couldn't find a way of making them easier to close, they appear to be warped a little and the door frame being a very close fit doesn't help.
The bathroom light switch - we have a new one.
Oh! And the all important dog lead ring - fitted.



Here's one I made earlier.

 TQ will be brand new by the end of the week!

At Last...

...We've waited six months for this, and such a lot has happened in that time. We (our Syndicate) has decided to go down the self managed route, and it's proving to be pretty good so far. TQ has had a new paint job and is looking sparkling. As always there is work to be done and I, as maintenance manager, have decided that this week will be dedicated mainly to maintenance. So we're not going far, and sticking to the pound between Braunston, Hillmorton and Napton. We'll not be going through any locks, saving water for the Summer, as we're heading into the wettest drought on record. (Just a thought, I wonder what would happen if (as we do) everyone paid £x for their car tax only to find we can only navigate through traffic lights from 10:00 to 16:00). Ouch!
We're moored in a quiet country spot, somewhere between bridges 111 and 112, but there's quite a lot of canal traffic about. Tomorrow looks like a write off weather wise, heavy rain and gales and I think we're going to hole up for the day.