A wet and windy morning gave way to a fairly pleasant but cold afternoon. We travelled up to Stoke where we stopped for some shopping and lunch. After an unsuccessful trip to B&Q in search of new wheels for our sack barrow, a new generator and some hinges saw us with just the hinges we carried on to the mouth of the Harecastle Tunnel. Luckily the wheels and generator aren't urgent, the wheels haven't fallen off and the genny still runs, stopping it is the problem. If we can get one a genny from B&Q is about half the price of one from a chandlery.
The scenery through Stoke is uninspiring but there is evidence of the canal's past commercial use with disused wharfs with the cranes still on them.
The Harecastle Tunnel has low headroom in the middle so we have had to take most of the stuff, like my plant pots and the roof-box, off of the roof ready for the morning so the lounge and cratch are a bit crowded.
Today's journey 9.6 miles and 6 locks.
So far we have travelled 213.8 miles, 193 locks, swing bridges, 2 lift bridges and 3 tunnels.
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
"Hung" Weather, Coalition Clouds?
There was no clear mandate for any type of weather today, some rain, mixed with a bit of sun. Overcast with fairly strong winds and just when it looked as if the rain and wind would combine to beat the sunshine we had a glorious rainbow breakthrough followed by a beautiful sunset.
The rain was never heavy enough to make us decide to moor up so we just kept going. The Staffordshire countryside is pleasant but unspectacular, we did pass a farm which had chickens, pigs and llamas. No, I was not drunk, they were definitely llamas. It was a very uneventful day, a stop in Stone gave us a chance to replace our gas cylinder, top up with diesel and buy. the glowplugs Ray has been looking for.
We are definitely in "the Potteries" now. A big clue is the building opposite where we are moored which has Wedgwood in four foot high letters on its roof. I feel no inclination to rush over, even if it was open, I'm not really a Wedgwood fan.
Tomorrow will only be a short trip to Stoke, then some shopping, we may move on to the southern end of the Harecastle Tunnel for the night so we can tackle the tunnel first thing in the morning on Thursday.
Today's journey 18.2 miles and 14 locks.
So far we have travelled 204.2 miles, 187 locks, 5 swing bridges, 2 lift bridges and 3 tunnels.
The rain was never heavy enough to make us decide to moor up so we just kept going. The Staffordshire countryside is pleasant but unspectacular, we did pass a farm which had chickens, pigs and llamas. No, I was not drunk, they were definitely llamas. It was a very uneventful day, a stop in Stone gave us a chance to replace our gas cylinder, top up with diesel and buy. the glowplugs Ray has been looking for.
We are definitely in "the Potteries" now. A big clue is the building opposite where we are moored which has Wedgwood in four foot high letters on its roof. I feel no inclination to rush over, even if it was open, I'm not really a Wedgwood fan.
Tomorrow will only be a short trip to Stoke, then some shopping, we may move on to the southern end of the Harecastle Tunnel for the night so we can tackle the tunnel first thing in the morning on Thursday.
Today's journey 18.2 miles and 14 locks.
So far we have travelled 204.2 miles, 187 locks, 5 swing bridges, 2 lift bridges and 3 tunnels.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Into the unknown
I didn't manage to blog yesterday, whatever pollens I react to must be about and by the time we stopped my eyes were so itchy the thought of looking at a computer screen didn't appeal.
There wasn't really much to say. We didn't travel far, just up through Tamworth to stop for shopping at the Asda on the far side. We were following Da Vinci and Lowry, a pair of boats that belong to canal artists which meant that there was a delay at Glascote Locks as they went through. After that we had a further delay at the second lock because the boat coming up didn't have the good sense to realise that when your boat is only about eight inches narrower than the lock you aren't going to get out if the lock gate won't open fully!
A bit of wood had drifted behind the gate stopping it from opening and they got stuck! Instead of being sensible and backing off they kept trying to push their way out. I walked down, showed them the problem and hopefully they won't make that mistake again.
Today we had a good day's cruising, up the rest of the Coventry Canal and onto the Trent and Mersey, but onto a bit we have never travelled before. The canal was busy so there was a wait at each of the locks, but not too much of a problem. At Shadehouse Lock there was a sunken narrowboat, quite sad really, it was obviously an old one as it had a wooden hull. I hope someone raises it and and repairs it, I hate to see all the old boats disappearing and being replaced by shiny new ones. I'd love to have a historic boat, I wanted to buy a 1929 boat when we bought Morgana but Ray wasn't keen. Well, he liked the idea but not the work involved!
Anyway, we stopped for the night at Rugeley, very quiet for a town mooring. Ray went on an unsuccessful mission to try and get spare glowplugs for the engine. He is getting paranoid about what could go wrong!
Tomorrow we hope to cover a fair distance as we hope to make Stoke-on-Trent by Wednesday. Ray wants to use his old codgers discount at B & Q.
Yesterday's journey 5.5 miles and 2 locks.
Today's journey 17.1 miles, 3 locks and 1 swing bridge.
So far we have travelled 186 miles, 173 locks, 5 swing bridges, 2 lift bridges and 3 tunnels.
There wasn't really much to say. We didn't travel far, just up through Tamworth to stop for shopping at the Asda on the far side. We were following Da Vinci and Lowry, a pair of boats that belong to canal artists which meant that there was a delay at Glascote Locks as they went through. After that we had a further delay at the second lock because the boat coming up didn't have the good sense to realise that when your boat is only about eight inches narrower than the lock you aren't going to get out if the lock gate won't open fully!
A bit of wood had drifted behind the gate stopping it from opening and they got stuck! Instead of being sensible and backing off they kept trying to push their way out. I walked down, showed them the problem and hopefully they won't make that mistake again.
Today we had a good day's cruising, up the rest of the Coventry Canal and onto the Trent and Mersey, but onto a bit we have never travelled before. The canal was busy so there was a wait at each of the locks, but not too much of a problem. At Shadehouse Lock there was a sunken narrowboat, quite sad really, it was obviously an old one as it had a wooden hull. I hope someone raises it and and repairs it, I hate to see all the old boats disappearing and being replaced by shiny new ones. I'd love to have a historic boat, I wanted to buy a 1929 boat when we bought Morgana but Ray wasn't keen. Well, he liked the idea but not the work involved!
Anyway, we stopped for the night at Rugeley, very quiet for a town mooring. Ray went on an unsuccessful mission to try and get spare glowplugs for the engine. He is getting paranoid about what could go wrong!
Tomorrow we hope to cover a fair distance as we hope to make Stoke-on-Trent by Wednesday. Ray wants to use his old codgers discount at B & Q.
Yesterday's journey 5.5 miles and 2 locks.
Today's journey 17.1 miles, 3 locks and 1 swing bridge.
So far we have travelled 186 miles, 173 locks, 5 swing bridges, 2 lift bridges and 3 tunnels.
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Lots of Locks
We made a late start today hoping, unsucessfully, that it would stop raining. By midday we decided that getting wet was the only option. I think the rain had addled peoples' brains. Coming through Lock 1 we spotted that the boaters at Lock 2 were emptying the lock with the top gate open! This would have meant that all the water from the pound ( the bit of canal between the two locks) would have flowed out through Lock 2 leaving us stuck in Lock 1 with nowhere to go. Ray ran down to alert them before it became a serious problem. These things happen sometimes but not very often. Except for today, as we exited Lock 3 I saw the boater from a boat in Lock 4 running back to Lock 5. My first instinct was that he had left something behind. No, the boaters at Lock 5 were emptying the lock with the top gate still open! Twice in one day, on the same lock flight!
There were a lot of boats on the move today so it took us about three and a half hours to get through the eleven locks, but at least it stopped raining around Lock 4. We carried on towards Tamworth but decided to stop short as I'm always a bit dubious about mooring in built up areas particularly on a Saturday night. It's OK if someone has recommended a mooring or you get there early enough to move on it it looks dodgy. We found a nice spot just north of the M42 bridge, far enough from it to avoid the traffic noise. I might add a photo tomorrow morning, the light this evening is awful, very grey and overcast.
So far we have travelled 163.4 miles, 168 locks, 4 swing bridges, 2 lift bridges and 3 tunnels.
There were a lot of boats on the move today so it took us about three and a half hours to get through the eleven locks, but at least it stopped raining around Lock 4. We carried on towards Tamworth but decided to stop short as I'm always a bit dubious about mooring in built up areas particularly on a Saturday night. It's OK if someone has recommended a mooring or you get there early enough to move on it it looks dodgy. We found a nice spot just north of the M42 bridge, far enough from it to avoid the traffic noise. I might add a photo tomorrow morning, the light this evening is awful, very grey and overcast.
Not a bad view to wake up to!
Today's journey 5.3 miles and 11 locksSo far we have travelled 163.4 miles, 168 locks, 4 swing bridges, 2 lift bridges and 3 tunnels.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Carry on boating
On Wednesday Ray ended up talking to the manufacturers of our gearbox, thought we were going to have to have the gearbox removed and fixed, had a bit more of a fiddle with it and now (at no cost) we have a properly functioning gearbox again.
We decided to stay at Sutton Stop for Thursday as we had good internet, TV and radio connections. I remembered from previous trips on the Coventry Canal that the signal is rubbish on a lot of it. I couldn't bear the thought of election night with no info, although the way things went I wish I hadn't bothered.
We are now at the top of Atherstone Locks, hopefully we will make it through the locks and up to Tamworth tomorrow but the weather forecast is not nice.
Today's journey 11.5 miles and 1 lock.
So far we have travelled 158.1 miles, 157 locks, 4 swing bridges, 2 lift bridges and 3 tunnels.
We decided to stay at Sutton Stop for Thursday as we had good internet, TV and radio connections. I remembered from previous trips on the Coventry Canal that the signal is rubbish on a lot of it. I couldn't bear the thought of election night with no info, although the way things went I wish I hadn't bothered.
We are now at the top of Atherstone Locks, hopefully we will make it through the locks and up to Tamworth tomorrow but the weather forecast is not nice.
Today's journey 11.5 miles and 1 lock.
So far we have travelled 158.1 miles, 157 locks, 4 swing bridges, 2 lift bridges and 3 tunnels.
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Non-stop to Sutton Stop
On a lovely sunny, if a bit chilly, morning we were back on our way. We are about five days behind my original plan but as I only planned for three hours cruising per day to allow for days off etc that isn't a problem.
However, we do have an "interesting" problem. I will give a bit of explanation for the uninitiated. Narrowboats, like cars, have gearboxes. They are much simpler than cars, forward, reverse or neutral. These are selected by a lever which is pushed forwards, backwards or positioned straight up. No prizes for guessing the system. There is also a button which can be pulled out when in neutral to make sure you dont accidentally knock the lever into gear.
About an hour into our trip Ray wanted to stop to make sure all was well with the cooling system, and that nothing was vibrating loose. So he attempted to moor, gear lever into neutral and "why are we still moving forward?". At the moment we have one gear - forward. It could be worse, it could be reverse. It does make life interesting as the normal system for stopping a boat is, slow down, get to your mooring spot, quick bit of reverse, which stops you, step off and moor up. I now have to step off a moving boat, with mooring line and be a human brake! Luckily at our slowest engine speed there isn't enough power to put a strain on our mooring lines when we do moor. However it does mean we can't really leave the engine running whilst moored.
Today's trip wasn't too much of a problem because there were no locks and only one swing bridge but I wouldn't fancy attempting a lock flight with the gearbox like this. So it looks like another day off to get this sorted, unless we need parts. We are virtually at Coventry which, I think, is where our gearbox was made so we might be lucky if we do need any bits. I have been doing a bit of internet searching to try and find the likely cause of the problem.
We are now at Sutton Stop, officially Hawkesbury Junction, but it's always been called Sutton Stop by boaters. When we carry on we have to go through the shallowest lock, about six inches! This is the dividing line between the Oxford Canal and the Coventry Canal. In the days of canals being operated by independant companies there was a toll office here, it also stopped the Coventry Canal from stealing the Oxford Canal's water!
Today's journey 12.6 miles, 1 swing bridge and 1 tunnel.
So far we have travelled 147.6 miles, 156 locks, 4 swing bridges, 2 lift bridges and 3 tunnels.
However, we do have an "interesting" problem. I will give a bit of explanation for the uninitiated. Narrowboats, like cars, have gearboxes. They are much simpler than cars, forward, reverse or neutral. These are selected by a lever which is pushed forwards, backwards or positioned straight up. No prizes for guessing the system. There is also a button which can be pulled out when in neutral to make sure you dont accidentally knock the lever into gear.
About an hour into our trip Ray wanted to stop to make sure all was well with the cooling system, and that nothing was vibrating loose. So he attempted to moor, gear lever into neutral and "why are we still moving forward?". At the moment we have one gear - forward. It could be worse, it could be reverse. It does make life interesting as the normal system for stopping a boat is, slow down, get to your mooring spot, quick bit of reverse, which stops you, step off and moor up. I now have to step off a moving boat, with mooring line and be a human brake! Luckily at our slowest engine speed there isn't enough power to put a strain on our mooring lines when we do moor. However it does mean we can't really leave the engine running whilst moored.
Today's trip wasn't too much of a problem because there were no locks and only one swing bridge but I wouldn't fancy attempting a lock flight with the gearbox like this. So it looks like another day off to get this sorted, unless we need parts. We are virtually at Coventry which, I think, is where our gearbox was made so we might be lucky if we do need any bits. I have been doing a bit of internet searching to try and find the likely cause of the problem.
We are now at Sutton Stop, officially Hawkesbury Junction, but it's always been called Sutton Stop by boaters. When we carry on we have to go through the shallowest lock, about six inches! This is the dividing line between the Oxford Canal and the Coventry Canal. In the days of canals being operated by independant companies there was a toll office here, it also stopped the Coventry Canal from stealing the Oxford Canal's water!
Today's journey 12.6 miles, 1 swing bridge and 1 tunnel.
So far we have travelled 147.6 miles, 156 locks, 4 swing bridges, 2 lift bridges and 3 tunnels.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Looking good!
This morning I went off to Tesco's leaving Ray checking everything he had done re-assembling the engine and came back to the beautiful sound of our engine running! We are so grateful to Dave at Willow Wren for all his help. We still seem to have a problem with oil in the exhaust system but Dave thinks that may just be residual oil from our previous problems. If not we may need to replace the oil cooler but that's not a long job and Dave reckons he can get one tomorrow if we need it.
All being well we should be on our way tomorrow or Tuesday. That gives us four weeks to get to Leeds for half-term week and six weeks today till Nicholas's baptism.
Happy Birthday to Keith if he reads this today, I must be getting old to have a 37 year old son!
All being well we should be on our way tomorrow or Tuesday. That gives us four weeks to get to Leeds for half-term week and six weeks today till Nicholas's baptism.
Happy Birthday to Keith if he reads this today, I must be getting old to have a 37 year old son!
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