Grà on test

The September Canal Boat is out, and includes my boat test on Grà by Finesse Boats. It will be their Crick Boat Show exhibit. 

Oleanna

On Friday, I walked from work to Islington to pay a visit to Pip and Mick on Oleanna — an Tilly the cat, obviously. We had a good catch up over tea. 

I walked from there to Waterloo, crossing Blackfriars Bridge — which is not normally a route I take, so there was an unusual view up the Thames.

Back to work

I set off at 7.30 with a cup of tea and a cereal bar at the helm. It’s only a mile back to the marina so I was soon turning in and reversing into our space — all done with no difficulty (which was just as well as the lady next door was there). As I tied up, the marina ducklings came to visit, now growing their adult feathers.

That mile was enough to heat some water for a shower, and after packing up I got changed for work. I drove down to Guildford to get a train into London. 

1 mile, 0 locks. (4 miles, 0 locks)

Lancashire and Yorkshire

It has been a very long day.  It started at 6am with a 20 minute walk along the towpath to the marina, where the car was.  I drove to Bicester, filled up with fuel, and picked up Andy and all his photographic clobber.  It was then a three hour drive up the M6 to Reedley Marina in Lancashire for a boat test.

Once that was done, we headed east, across the border first into North Yorkshire and then West Yorkshire to Apperley Bridge Marina for a second boat test.  En route we passed the Damart factory chimney which is right beside the canal, and saw signs for the Bingley 5 Rise locks, and Saltaire.

It was 5.30 by the time that one was done, and another three hour drive down the M1 to Bicester, to drop Andy at his car.  I filled up with petrol again, then went to get some chips from the chippy in one of the new developments there.  Then it was back to the marina, and another 20 minute walk back to the boat.  There was a spectacular sunset to look at as I walked, which looked best from the cornfield alongside the boat.

In total, I’ve driven about 430 miles, which is more than 8 hours at the wheel.  Plus a few boat miles along two sections of the Leeds and Liverpool canal about 40 miles apart.

Through the hedge

I have some boat tests tomorrow, so came up to the boat this afternoon.  It was too nice to stay in the marina with boats either side, so I set off at 4pm and turned left.  I justified the trip because I need a tank of hot water, so I might as well make it by going for a jaunt.

I turned around at Baxter’s Boatyard and retraced my steps.  The place I have often stopped between Bridge 61 and 62 was quite busy, so I’ve come through Bridge 62, past a couple of boats, and moored at a spot I’d taken note of on the way past.  I have lined up the galley window with a gap in the hedge, where a public footpath goes off the towpath.

The wheat and barley round here is well on the way to ripening, as you can see.  I’d been intending to have my dinner and then return to the marina, but Google tells me is’t just over 20 minutes walk, so I’ll just get up a little bit earlier in the morning and walk back to the car.

3 miles, 0 locks.

Narrowboats on the Thames

On Saturday, I’d been told that a convoy of narrowboats would be doing the Thames tideway, having got special permission to go under Hammersmith Bridge.  As I was working that afternoon, I timed my arrival at Waterloo Station so I could see some of them.  The convoy was in three parts, and I knew I’d miss the first group, but as I arrived on the South Bank I could see the middle group arriving.  I went up onto the Golden Jubilee Footbridge to take some photos.

There was then a wait of 15 minutes or so before the final group, which was the one I was waiting for.  On schedule, the first boat turned up, and it was only a matter of time before Oleanna came into view under the railway bridge.

I waved at Pip and Mick, then went to the other side of the bridge to get them with the London Eye.  There were lots of trip boats, clippers, and ribs on the move, and the Thames was very choppy.  There were waves coming over the bow, the boat was rocking back and forth, and the swell meant you could see almost down to the base plate.  I got a photo of Pip taking a photo of me!

The convoy headed off towards Westminster Bridge, and I went to work.  You can read Pip’s account of the whole trip here.

Winifred on test

The August Canal Boat is out, and includes my boat test on Winifred, a 1980s hire boat completely refitted by Jim Birch.