Last Post of 2013.

It's incredible how the weather plays such a major part in navigating the inland waterways. Today started off damp but not raining, but as soon as I poked my head out of the door it started. It became heavier as we negotiated the locks at Cropredy, then all of a sudden it emptied down accompanied with hail. Too late for us, we couldn't do anything to shelter from it, we just had to keep going. Once through Claydon Top Lock we moored up on the public visitor moorings and had a hot drink and a snack before continuing our journey along the summit level. By now the rain had eased and there were beginnings of some brightness, even blue sky on the horizon, but it wasn't until late in the day that the Sun decided to peep out from behind the cloud only for a brief moment.

Nice canal side property in Cropredy.

Loads of berries left on the bushes, I wonder if it's going to be a hard Winter

A feeder into the summit level.

I like this design, it looks good, is functional and something that wouldn't be amiss in the gardens of a stately home.

Does anyone know what these are for?

It's the end of the year, and as in every year so much has happened. I'm not going to look back over the last twelve months, you can watch that on BBC, ITVand Sky News 'til your heart's content, so it leaves me now to thank everyone for reading my drivel and to wish you all a very Happy New Year.

I'm sure the weather knows we're on holiday.

The wind gradually increased in speed over night and it stayed mainly dry until early morning and now it's strong winds and light but persistent rain. As a result of that and the five day forecast we've abandoned the idea of going to Banbury and we'll wind TQ at the winding hole in Cropredy instead. (Sorry Brian and Diana).
The engine wouldn't start this morning, I think some water must have got in somewhere overnight. The Beta control panel was dead, and I suspected the 11 way connector which supplies power to it. Turns out I was right, the two halves don't fit too tightly together and some of the connections don't make very well. That coupled with some corrosion which never helps. I bent some of the connectors to help them make better contact, sprayed it all with a generous dose of WD-40, and reassembled it. This time the panel lit up and the starter clicked when tried it. I kept on trying it and after a few attempts the engine turned over and burst into life.

We waited until the rain had stopped and made our way through Claydon Locks, Locks 22, 23,24 and 25 winded and back through Cropredy Lock 25.
We picked a mooring spot in Cropredy on the way down and winded as a fore mentioned and took on water at the point there and wended our way to just North of the new Cropredy Marina, just short of Broadmoor Lock 24.

Here's some pictures of today:-

Through our front window this morning.

A sign yet to be changed.

Poser.

You make up your own caption.

Don't try this at home...

...OR ON A CANAL!

I bet this dogwood looks stunning in the Winter sunshine.

Named after Reg? No, surely not. 

Well, we've been beaten by the weather again, and have had to cut short our plans. Now, we're aboard TQ again commencing May 11th 2014 for a week. So make a note in your diary, " This week the weather will be a pail O'shate"

What's that noise?

"That's a bit weird, I've not heard that before." It got louder and louder and then tailed off as a canoe paddled by in the ice. ICE? Oh! no, Yes, the cut was iced up, only thin ice thankfully, but it's enough to scare you into believing it could be thicker further on. The Sun was out in full glory but the air wasn't warm enough to do much melting. We had to make way, and so we ventured out into the now slushy stuff and it wasn't long before a boat came the other way making a nice track through it for us. It only lasted a couple of miles and then returned to water and that was the last we saw of it all day and the boat we saw ice breaking for us was the only one on the move.

We moored up just East of Br. 143 ready for Claydon Locks tomorrow, and two boats have now passed us, but it looks like the weather is going to play its part first thing.

We have moved...

...out of the marina and turned left, yes left. That's the second time we've done that, the last time was down to the winding hole just before the locks and back some two years ago. This time we've pushed the boat out (sorry) and navigated all the way to just beyond Marston Doles. The locks, although old and in need of repair, are not too heavy, and nearly all of them were in our favour. It seems a bit odd to be going up locks on the way down to the Thames, but there is the River Cherwell in between which supplies this part of the Oxford Canal. The weather has been very kind with bright sunshine and light winds, but I think it might decline slightly tomorrow. Not to worry, we'll still press on to Banbury.

We didn't meet another boat on the way here, now that we're moored up three have passed all heading in the same direction, one of them is a hire boat (Kates) from Warwick. Looks like Banbury is going to be chocker.

Out in the sticks near Priors Hardwick

I tired, I had a hard day.

I thought we were going to be on our own tonight, but just as I'm typing this another boat has moored in front of us. I don't know what it is about us that makes us a people magnet. When we go away in our caravan we can (and have) pitched in an empty field and straight away, someone will pitch next to us. Not only that, but someone else will pitch the other side - guaranteed - and that has happened on too many occasions.

Another Maintenance Day

Weather again...

Didn't we ever have have a storm last night, and as a result we didn't get much sleep. There wasn't as much rain, as was expected, but the wind was very fierce, rocking and bumping TQ against the jetty. It's been quite windy all day, not as bad as last night, though there were a couple of light showers.

A trip in the car...

I drove to Daventry to get a drill bit, I forgot to bring some with me, though I'm sure I put them in the box. A visit to Homebase sorted it, and I was back on TQ by lunch time.

The Maintenance...

It's important to know how many hours the engine has done so that you know when to service it and the hour meter in our tacho doesn't work, they're the LCD type and we've found them very unreliable. They seem to be susceptible to extreme temperatures and damp conditions. I've purchased a mechanical type and mounted it in the cabin away from sunshine and damp.

So, I marked out the position and chain drilled a series of holes to form a circle slightly smaller than the diameter of the meter body. Then I joined up all the holes using a junior hacksaw blade and the center fell out. Next I filed out the hole until the gauge fitted loosely. The wood oak faced MDF is about 20mm thick and I had to cut the retaining clamp so it would fit in the thicker material.

Fitted but not connected yet.

A closer look.

Tomorrow I'll wire it up, time and energy permitting.

Making a move...

Hopefully tomorrow, we're going to make a dash for it, and head on down to Banbury. 

A Beautiful Day.

Steamy Windows.

Every morning the windows are thick with condensation and a quick flip round with the Karcher pressure washer Window Vac cleans it all up. The problem is the frames get laden and they drip onto the wooden surround and then onto the floor or bed, so it's essential to clean it up every day. Today is not too bad as the Suns heat has helped to keep the condensation at bay.

Back to Base

We're back in the marina now, as the weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow is heavy rain and high winds - more of the same, then. At least here we can hook up to the mains electricity and there's water very close by.

Battery trouble

Checking the domestic pack on the control panel volt meter prior to switching on the Webasto showed a reading of less than 11 volts. The engine was switched off after 20:30 hrs last night and the TV only had an hour and a half after that. The fridge ran all night as usual and nothing else was on. I suspect there may be trouble ahead! I'll do some further checks and see if I can suss out what's going on.

Poo Stop

I fitted the Lee San Micro Vent today, so hopefully there'll be no more embarrassing odours emitting  from the poo tank especially in the Summer.

With charcoal filter installed.

Merry Christmas Everyone...

Enjoy your day.

We woke early this morning, I don't know why, and then we went back to sleep again, not waking until 07:50. With ablutions done we exchanged presents and just before 10:00 hrs I did the daily engine checks and then we Skyped Spain to speak to Lin's parents. I've been getting itchy feet over the last few days and I'm pleased to be on the move again, albeit almost into Braunston and back to just East of Bridge 101. Lin cooked the most wonderful Christmas Lunch, turkey, roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots and, of course, brussels sprouts, washed down with a glass of Merlot.

It's 15:45 hrs now, the Sun has gone down behind the cloud on the horizon and dusk is approaching. Toy Story is on the TV and Lin is in her element.

Lucy doing what she does best (after a belly full of turkey).

We're really pleased with Lucy, she's taken to narrow boating better than expected. 

Bridge 101 in the background.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, we head to Banbury.

Change of plan.

Lying in bed this morning, I suddenly released it was getting light outside and it must be getting late (for me). Lin, (bless her), was deep in the land of nod. So I got out of bed and straight into the shower, made all the engine checks, filled the water tank and prepared for the off. Then we Lin changed our her minds and decided to stay in the marina yet another day. It's a Wonderful Life is on the telly as I write, need I say more?

Marina View - That windsock was horizontal yesterday and the pole was bending

It turned out to be a quite a pleasant day.

Stormy weather...

What a night, TQ was lashed with the heaviest rain I've seen for a long while and it wasn't just a passing heavy shower, it went on for quite a time. Assisted by some very strong winds rocking the boat, it was almost frightening. This morning we have blue skies and hazy sunshine, the winds are light, even cruise-able, but there are some dark clouds on the horizon and I think it's all going to change before long.

The weather forecast was right...

It started off wet and windy, ended even wetter and windier, and tomorrow doesn't look much better. We stayed put today being lashed by the wind and rain all day, but we're cosy, warm and dry inside TQ. Lucy had quite a good night, not waking us all night, even using her litter tray quietly and leaving it very tidy. We've taken the opportunity to chill out today after yesterdays escapade, hopefully we can go cruising tomorrow. Banbury beckons, but we're not sure yet, I think it's going to be all about the weather. Sorry there's no piccies today, 'twas the rain...

What a journey that was!

We set off at 06:00hrs and everything was fine to start with, the satnav was behaving itself 'til we got through North Petherton then it locked up. Lin reset it and it seemed to be working correctly. We know the way to Wigrams, we just take it for reassurance and if there is a road block for any reason it'll help on the detour. The M5 was quite busy with loads of lorries (it's Christmas, don't you know?) even that time of the morning, and by this time it had started raining. When we were nearing Junction 11a, our turn-off, our special guest started with "Are we nearly there yet?", on and on for the next few miles. The rain became heavy, there were floods in places and I nearly missed a turn-off despite the satnav telling me "In 0.1 miles, turn left", "In 100 yards, turn left", "TURN LEFT". The visibility was dire, I knew the turn-off was there somewhere, I just couldn't see it. Suddenly I could see it and copious quantities of braking just managed to slow us down enough to negotiate it. Then there was a moan from our special guest as if telling me off for going too fast. Of course she was right, dare I argue?

On arrival at Wigrams we unloaded our special guest and placed her aboard TQ and the first thing she did was find a place to hide - behind the Bubble Stove. And there she stayed until it became chilly in the evening and we really wanted (needed) to light it. We had to gently hoike her out which turned out to be easier than expected, then she was walking around all slinky-like, looking for another hidey-hole.

There was no rush to get away today, the plan was to stay here in the marina for the night and move out tomorrow morning, weather permitting.

Lucy spends most of her time doing this.

Getting ready for the off and a special guest comes with us.

The car is already packed to the gills leaving a small space for a special person who is coming with us this time. More of that later, but right now it's 04:45hrs and we're hoping to beat the traffic for the most part of our journey to Wigrams.

A Share is for Sale in Tranquility

Click on the Shares for Sale tab above for more details.

Maintenance

I paid a visit to Tranquility today to get a few maintenance jobs done. There's been some embarrassing smells emitting from the tank vent when the loo is flushed and I discovered that there's no charcoal filter fitted, nor a housing to put it in. I'm thinking that perhaps we ought to get one...

It's that big white pipe in the middle.

Our dashboard has been looking a little "old" lately and so it was decided at the AGM earlier in the year to replace the gauges worst affected...

Before

After

The last person to use TQ reported that the flue needed resealing - Job done.

Just needs some black BBQ paint to finish it off.

As always with TQ the bilge and engine bund have loads of water in them and I took my wet and dry vacuum cleaner with me and sucked it all out and made it all a bit cleaner. I also gave the firewall a wipe down, it was black with soot after the holed exhaust escapade two years ago.

Clean - ish.

Also on the list, I filled the stern tube greaser, fitted a new Co alarm, cleaned out the deck gutter and drain pipes and glued and sealed the trading hatch inner frame, though it requires a little more work, that'll be done over Christmas.

Back to Base

We're back on our mooring at Wigrams today, just a very short cruise of about 400 metres. We tied up and got down to the business of unloading and thoroughly cleaning TQ. It took all day but she's gleaming.

Back on home moorings.

We've had a great holiday, and this time we actually completed the Leicester Ring (unlike last year). We'll be back for Christmas all being well, when Banbury looks a likely destination. Tomorrow we vacate and take the long sprint down to Zunny Zummerzet.

Almost back to base and a bucket of sloes.

We had an easy-ish day today, after breakfast we reversed TQ back to the water point in Braunston and filled the tank. Then we made our way along the Oxford Canal to Napton Junction and just dropping short of the junction by about 250 metres where there is a nice little recessed spot, just the right size for TQ. We spotted this little mooring on the way out nearly three weeks ago, it was the sloes that caught our eye, and this afternoon we picked about two kilograms.

Spring line set up on TQ

I fitted a spring line on TQ tonight and I'm glad I did. The canal was very busy this afternoon and into the evening. Some boaters throttle back as they pass, but do so far too late and then not down to a tick-over and they still create too much wash, others don't bother throttling back at all, and one young upstart thought he could go as fast a he liked, even boasting to his mates that he was doing eight miles an hour. I guess he had a GPS. Very few actually throttle back to a tick-over and in plenty enough time not to rock your boat. The spring line stops all boat movement even when some oike goes haring past at a million miles an hour. 

A Maintenance Day.

Loads of work done today, I've changed the three drive belts, for coolant pump/starter alternator, domestic alternator and generator. All three belts were showing signs of fatigue, and now is the right time to change them. Also I changed the air filter, cleaned out the deck board and counter gutters and drains, checked the anti freeze in the engine and the Webasto heater, and I think I've pinned down our engine starting fault.

Three new belts fitted.

Here's where the fault lies, inside that black cover.

There's an 11 way connecting block inside that black cover, and the two halves are held together by a cable tie. I snipped the cable tie and the two halves came apart very easily and, no surprises, they were corroded. I worked them together many times to establish a better connection, gave it a squirt of WD-40 and wrapped a new cable tie around the assembly before putting the covers back. I can see what was happening, the corrosion was creating a resistance at the connection and there being not enough energy in the solenoid to fully engage the starter motor, therefore not switching the starter motor on. It all adds up now, That's why I was only getting about five volts on the solenoid when the ignition key was turned. This time there was zero volts on the solenoid but I had 12.7 volts on the back of the ignition switch, so the fault has to lie somewhere between the switch and the solenoid, and other than a cable breakage, this is the most likely spot.

On a completely different subject:-

Bad Moon Rising.

More tomorrow...

The Full Circle, 16 miles and 14 locks to Braunston

Today we completed the Leicester Ring with a few days in hand to get ourselves back to Wigrams Turn. The day started with a shower, (it had not rained all night) then slowly cleared up to quite a respectable day, although the wind got up in the afternoon.

It's raining again - I feel a song coming on!

The first obstacle of the day came at Watford Locks where there was a queue, so we booked ourselves in at 12:05 to go down the flight and then waited an hour and a half before it was our turn, so we had lunch while we waited.

We waited...

....And we waited.

Eventually we were in the locks...

It's my turn this time.

This one leaks badly but it didn't affect its operation, all the locks here at Watford operate very nicely.

A leaker.

Seen along the way.

We made it to Braunston and moored up on the visitor moorings, after locking up the flight with a very nice couple aboard NB Dunslavin. It's so much easier with another boat in double locks, you can control the vessels and you don't need to rope up.

We had Jacket potatoes and chilli-beans for tea and then we went to see what had been done at the accident site which occurred here just before Christmas last year. The brick walls had all been rebuilt and a new lamp post has been erected but you can still see the track marks in the grass where the lorry left the road. I hope the driver is well again by now. Then we went in the Boat House for a pint.

What a rotten day, but tea made up for it.

Up at first light, the sky was red, a sign of things to come and we had to make sure we were first in line for the locks. They open at 08:00 but, of course, they were late, and then they started at the top letting four down first. I spoke to the lock keeper to book in TQ and asked about the pressure washing that was supposedly taking place and he knew nothing of it. TQ was booked in to be first up, but we had to wait for the four to come down. While waiting I was chatting to a very nice lady with an american accent, turns out she was from Israel, I would never have guessed that. She's with family friends on a Canal Club boat, and are heading toward Gayton. Through the locks and by Bridge 60 it started raining and slowly became heavier and heavier. We stopped for lunch, as by now the rain was incessant, and the Canal Club boat passed us undeterred by the weather. We thought we might catch them up later in the afternoon, but we kept going 'til 17:30 and we still hadn't seen them.
We're moored near Bridge 27, and it's still raining. Never mind, chilli-con-carne for tea, good and hearty.
Sorry there's no piccies today, the weather has been abysmal.

When the North wind doth blow...

...Then we shall have snow. Well we had hail today, but the Daily Mail forecasts heavy snow for next month. I'll believe it when I see it. Having said that, Falmouth in Cornwall had about four inches of the white stuff last week.
We're on the 24 hour moorings in the lower basin right outside the Foxton Locks Inn. We visited the museum and it was nice to see the history and why it all went to wrack and ruin. Of course a visit had to be made to Bridge 61, where we had a pint and a baguette, had to be done. Tonight we're going in the Foxton Locks, I'll keep you posted...
Today's pics.

This passed through the flight today, nice...

Tomorrow we have to book early to get the first available slot, the locks open at 08:00 but C&RT are pressure washing some of the lock gates (my thoughts exactly) so passage may not be available until lunchtime, but if we're first in the queue...

Shortest days' travel

We didn't move far today, only about three miles, from around Bridge 74 to Bridge 68, and moored up in the reeds where there is only room for one boat. It's a favourite spot for us having moored here on two previous occasions. A strange thing happened in Saddington Tunnel, the outside temperature was about 6 degrees and just inside the tunnel it warmed up by several degrees and the windows suddenly steamed up on the outside.
A Maintenance day today, I've cleaned the extractor fan, it was in a bit of a state, as you can see by the picture below.

Yuk!

Other jobs done today are; repaired two fender hangers, the material was sold to me as marine ply but despite being well painted they have delaminated in the wet, so I've glued them back together with epoxy resin.
And I refilled the stern tube greaser.

A feature in the immediate vicinity

A mile post from the Grand Junction Canal Company.

TQ in one of our favourite mooring spots.

We've been here most of today, almost completely hidden in the reeds, and no room for another boat to moor on your stern.

The weather didn't really do its worst as forecast, its hardly rained at all until late when there was a squally shower, but the winds have been strong all day.

Sunday lunch at tea time, roast chicken, roast potatoes, and garden peas, topped off with a glass of Merlot - delicious.

Some maintenance and a lot further than we intended.

We're about two and a half days ahead of schedule so we decided to have a lazy morning. After a Full English Breakfast, I got down and dirty in the engine shed and changed the gear control cable. It's been on there for at least two years so rather than letting it go 'til it snapped, I'd rather have it renewed. It's one of those faults which could present itself as a very nasty situation, so I feel better now it's done.

There it is, pretty in red.

We left our mooring quite very late at 13:00 and made passage to Bumble Bee Lock and as luck would have it, it was empty, so once the gates were opened we were straight in, filled and out. We did this for the next six locks after which things changed and we had to empty them first.

Phew! Hard work.

At Cranes Lock a former Canaltime boat was coming down, turned in the winding hole and we waited for them to join us for the remaining locks in the flight. What a difference two boats in a lock make, almost twice as fast, and pleasant company as well. It was one of those days where the weather really good and I just didn't want it to end.

Talking of weather, tomorrows forecast is not so good, heavy rain and gale force winds but the early morning looks like the best time to travel, so we'll try and wend our way to Foxton.

More tomorrow.

We slipped our Birstall moorings at 08:20 and headed for Kilby Bridge, a distance of 13 miles and 16 locks. The day started a bit cloudy and very soon became partially sunny and warm. Once we'd navigated through the detritus of Leicester, (though not all of it is bad), and entered the countryside again the River Soar is much more beautiful, becoming narrow and overgrown in places and somewhere where no one knows you're there. The locks, in places are a bit of a chore, wide, cumbersome and hard work, while other are quite acceptable, even one or two in Leicester. The lock we'd waited for most of all was Kings Lock, the point at which the Soar transforms into the Grand Union Canal. We're pleased to be off the river as the forecast is for heavy rain tonight and the threat of flooding and the inevitable rise in water levels meaning a possible repeat of last years' escapade where we were holed up at Kegworth Deep Lock for four days and having to turn around and come back the way we came instead of completing the ring.

There's litter everywhere when entering Leicester from the North

The river has been cleaned up quite a lot since we were here last year, the weirs are almost completely clear of litter - much better. On the main stretch through the City Centre CaRT were weed cutting using a boom which had to be removed to let us through.

CaRT boom operator. Thanks for letting us through without delay.

Nice pump house, having been cleaned, it looks new. 

Some nice bridges too.

Freeman's Meadow Lock. This was a raging torrent last year.

Kings Lock Tea Room, right beside the lock 

There was an aroma of sausages and onions emitting from here. roll on tea time.

At Ervin's Lock the sky was beginning to turn grey and it wasn't long before the first spots of rain were felt. By the time we arrived at Double Rail Lock the rain was steady and waterproofs were donned. Through Kilby Lock and it was time to take on water at the BW facilities. It takes for ever to fill when its raining. Job done and it's time to find a mooring. Through Bridges 87 and 86 and we found a perfect spot, no one in sight and away from a main road.

See you tomorrow.