A different sort of day

Although this is Friday's blog it probably won't appear until Saturday because we are moored close to the south portal of Blisworth and the internet signal is a bit hit and miss.

Blisworth tunnel entrance

The day started with Ray managing to leave a mooring pin behind at our overnight mooring, he normally hands me the pins before he steps on board but because the wind was making Morgana behave badly he stepped on in a hurry bringing the rope with him but not the pin.

We made our way to the bottom of Stoke Bruerne, got rid of our rubbish and decided to wait a while to see if another boat came along to share with. Just as we decided to move Shaun (Sean? forgot to ask the spelling) and Mary on NB Zygmena arrived so we shared locks with them. When I walked on to set the second lock I found that NB Victoria, Royalty Fuels was loading with coal there, they said they would be about 15 minutes, it was obviously canal time more like half an hour. Whilst chatting I discovered he had 2 bags of coal to go to the blacksmith's hut at the tunnel entrance, we had intended to stop before that but I volunteered our services to take them, it was easier than him having to walk up the flight with a sack barrow. They were loaded on board as we worked through the second lock and it meant we had an extra pair of hands to work the lock flight.

We made good time up the flight and were soon moored up near the blacksmith's hut and the coal was delivered. Bob Nightingale, the blacksmith makes excellent mooring pins as well as other things. They are more expensive than the standard ones you will find in a chandlery but are worth the extra in my opinion. Our pin obviously got left behind so we could justify buying a new one.

The blacksmith's hut at Blisworth tunnel

The weather has thrown a bit of everything at us today, sunshine, wind, rain, sleet and hail. I'm glad I didn't buy flowers for the boat as there is the chance of frost for the next couple of nights.

Today's journey 5.7 miles and 7 locks

This year we have travelled 116.7 miles, 139 locks and 5 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 2195.3 miles, 1899 locks, 116 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

Out and about in the sunshine

Today was beautifully warm, fairly sunny but so very windy. I'm sure I have commented before about how a flat sided narrowboat presents a large, in our case about 30ft x 5ft, 'sail' to catch the wind. For most of our journey today we had the wind blowing across the canal, it's not too bad when you are in 'open water' but is problematical when passing moored boats, especially if you encounter a boat coming in the opposite direction at the same time. I'm told that our problems are made worse becasue we are shallow-draughted and tend to bob across the surface of the water. Slowing down while passing moored boats wasn't much of an option today,it was either go past faster than normal or risk being blown into them, I know which I would prefer, a little bit of extra rocking on a windy day is preferable to being bumped.

We have noticed a marked increase in the number of hire boats since Easter so I guess the cruising season is underway. There are pros and cons during the 'season' , on the plus side you are more likely to meet other boats at locks to either share the lock or at least do part of the work, the flights of locks are more likely to be manned and the waterside businesses tend to operate longer hours. On the downside when you do want to moor in towns and villages the moorings are more congested, you are more likely to be delayed at locks and going through tunnels can get really interesting.

We gave up after a couple of hours travelling today as the wind was making it hard work, we reached Thurp Wharf and decided to call it a day. The cats were happy because they had loads of time to go mousing, although Treat keeps bringing shrews back, which none of them eat. At least I don't think we have any live ones running around at the moment.

Tomorrow we intend to get as far as Stoke Bruerne and moor in the long pound, giving us two locks and Blisworth Tunnel to look forward to on Saturday.

Today's journey 5.4 miles and 1 lock

This year we have travelled 111 miles, 132 locks and 5 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 2189.6 miles, 1892 locks, 116 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

Meandering round Milton Keynes

Today we continued on our way around Milton Keynes. Anyone looking at the course of the canal could think that it had been routed round modern day Milton Keynes, but the city didn't exist when the canal was built. The canal takes its rather lengthy course from Wolverton to Fenny Stratford not in order to avoid the modern day housing but following the contour line and saving the work and expense of building locks, embankments or digging cuttings.

We said our farewells to Nigel and his family on Iceni, we've been mooring near them for the past three weeks and they moved when we did. They have sold the boat and are moving to Ireland. They gave us their 12v TV which was handy as we have been without TV since leaving Hertfordshire as our remote control is broken and there is no way of re-tuning the TV without it.

The day started brightly but very windy, as the day progressed it became cloudy and we decided to moor near Stantonbury for the night. We are trying to time our arrival at Braunston for the end of the month so we can afford to have our fridge/freezer fixed.

Today's journey 6.4 miles, 1 lock and 1 swing bridge

This year we have travelled 105.6 miles, 131 locks and 5 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 2184.2 miles, 1891 locks, 116 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

Cruising in the sun

At last we are on the move again, nearly two weeks since our last move, at this rate we will have to head straight for Leeds in order to get there by Christmas!

Our engine repairs took a little longer than planned,when everything was back together we had two problems, one was air getting into the fuel system which meant every time you increased the revs ,the engine stalled, the other was that the alternator was running red hot and not charging the batteries. Ray found that one of our batteries had died and when he took that out of the circuit the alternator problem seemed to cure itself,so that was good. He checked everything on the fuel system and we are now running but it still isn't quite right.The engine is still smoking more than Ray does but that is probably the piston rings and that isn't a DIY job. So we now have the expense of fridge repairs, new battery and piston ring replacement to look forward to. Beans on toast for the next few weeks then!

We headed off this morning to dump our rubbish, empty the loo and top up the water tank, with a couple of additional bags of rubbish from the volunteers who were litter picking, well it saved them carrying them to the rubbish point. I headed to Tesco for a few bits of shopping and then we were on our way to Fenny Stratford.

Today was cruising as it should be, sunshine, birdsong and flowers in bloom.Not many flowers yet,today's theme was yellow,daffodils, coltsfoot and butterburr. Our journey was made easier because there were volunteer lock keepers at Soulbury Three Locks which made for a quick passage.Then we shared Stoke Hammond Lock  with NB Somerset Joy, another easy time with more people to do the work.

Tomorrow we plan to visit the garden centre, even though we are a bit skint I need some herbs and possibly some flowers to brighten the boat up now that the risk of frost has passed.

Today's journey 7.4 miles and 5 locks

This year we have travelled 99.2 miles, 132 locks and 4 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 2177.8 miles, 1893 locks, 115 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

More of Leighton Buzzard

I had hoped that by now we would be well on our way to Braunston but it was not to be.

BMC engines, which ours is, are notorious for oil leaks but ours has been particularly bad recently. We have also been excessively smoky so Ray decided to do a major overhaul on the engine to try and sort out the problems. This has, of course, taken precedence over the cosmetic jobs of remodelling the cratch and rubbing down and painting Morgana and Merlin.

After cleaning everything in the engine bay up and tracing the leaks Ray detected a problem with the head gasket. Replacing the head gasket is major surgery as it means disconnecting all the oil, fuel and water feeds from the engine, very time consuming. We thought that the spare head gasket that we had was a usable one but it wasn't. It was the weekend so no hope of getting another. Nigel on NB Iceni told us of a supplier here in Leighton Buzzard so Ray walked up there yesterday and the gasket was delivered this morning. He is now in the engine bay putting everything back together so my fingers are crossed (not easy to type with fingers crossed).

Our plans for the summer have been modified slightly as we are later getting away from the south than planned and our finances have taken a bit of a dent with the engine repairs and the prospect of the cost of getting the fridge/freezer repaired. Our original plan to visit the River Avon has been put on hold until later in the year or maybe next year and we now intend to visit Oxford then head for the Droitwich Canal via Birmingham, Stourport and the River Severn. After that we will head back to the Birmingham area to give me access to the rail links to Bristol in early July when Keith and Leesa's baby is due. My fourth grandchild, I don't feel old enough!

I haven't done a great deal, just the usual cooking and cleaning. I have managed a bit of craft work, mostly experimental including a dishwashing scrubbie crocheted from strips of plastic carrier bag! I'm currently working on a crocheted 'flannel' and a pair of very intricate fingerless mittens. I'll post pictures when they're finished.





This year we have travelled 91.8 miles, 127 locks and 4 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 2170.4 miles, 1888 locks, 115 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

The spring has sprung at last!

We woke up to warmth and sunshine this morning, for the first time this year I enjoyed my coffee outside.I really feel as if spring is here at last. Cruising in the sunshine, a field of lambs beside Seabrook middle lock, daffodils in full bloom and a brood of twelve tiny ducklings between Ivinghoe and Horton.

Loads of help at the locks today, with boaters heading in the opposite direction and others following behind, even managed to pair up for three locks. So nice to enjoy the sunshine.

It hasn't been an exciting day, just a leisurely cruise. We are moored back at Leighton Buzzard in almost the same spot as we were at Christmas. We plan to stay here until at least Friday, I have a continuous cruisers meeting to attend in Rugby on Thursday and the station here is as convenient as any, easier to get to than Milton Keynes.

We will spend the next few days doing some thing around the boat. We are thinking of doing a bit of remodelling of the cratch area to make it a nicer area to sit in the sunshine.

Today's journey 4.2 miles and 9 locks


This year we have travelled 91.8 miles, 127 locks and 4 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 2170.4 miles, 1888 locks, 115 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels

Seabrook Locks

As you will have gathered by both by the brevity and content of my last post I wasn't feeling too good. We spent a couple of chilly windy days at the end of the navigable bit of the Wendover Arm and I'm feeling lots better.

We woke up rather late this morning but soon got on the move. The wind had dropped considerably and the sun was shining. You remember the sun, that big bright yellow thing in the sky! We cruised the mile and a half back to the junction, we timed it rather well as a boat had just come up through the top lock when we arrived.

Marsworth Locks are manned by volunteer lockkeepers until the end of October so we had a fairly easy passage down thanks to Ian and Keith. Although we made better time than expected we decided to still stop as planned between the swing bridge and Seabrook Locks. It gave the cats a chance to enjoy some time in the spring sunshine and bring us a mouse home. I think we still have a live mouse loose on the boat!

Today has been the first really enjoyable day of cruising this year, hopefully the first of many.

Today's journey 4.5 miles, 9 locks and 1 swing bridge

This year we have travelled 87.6 miles, 118 locks and 4 swing bridges

In 2012 we travelled 876.9 miles, 675 locks,  55 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 31 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 2166.2 miles, 1879 locks, 115 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 71 tunnels