To Crick: Day 16

Today did not turn out to be the day we had planned.  Yesterday, Adrian said he thought there was an oily smell from the engine; I thought it might be diesel.  We thought we’d monitor it.  But when, having stopped at lunchtime, there was still a strong diesel smell in the evening, we thought we’d better investigate.  It was obvious there was a leak, but not obvious where it was from.  But I identified a general area, and put some paper towel down to see what happened overnight.  This morning, the paper was wet; occasionally I could see a drip had arrived, but I still wasn’t sure where it was from.  So I started the engine, and the drips became much more frequent and appeared to be coming from the fuel filter.

After some discussion, we decided we should call RCR.  To make things easier, we also moved through the bridge so we were next to a lane with lay-bys.  There was a bit of a wait for the engineer because he was on another job, but he arrived a bit before 11.30.  The problem turned out to be a pinhole in the bottom of the fuel filter — something he said he’d never seen before.  He got a new fuel filter from the van and fitted it, and because there was some gunk in the old one, he said he’d change the other fuel filter too.  That had so much stuff in it that he said he was surprised we were still running at all!

I was watching the whole process, and learned a lot.  While I’m happy to change the oil and oil filter myself, I’ve never done the fuel ones — so he showed me what to do, what the pitfalls were, and how to bleed the system once the new filters were fitted.  I think I probably could change them myself now.  The guy was very keen to pass on knowledge, and by the end he was showing me photos of his boats!

We finally got away at about 12.30, and headed up to the Calcutt Locks.  A pair of boats were coming down the bottom lock, and there were more at the second one, including a fellow Braidbar.  We had a good chat while the lock filled, but omitted to get a name.

We’d planned to stop for water at the top, but one boat had just left and another that had been waiting was taking its place, so we gave it a miss.  We turned left Napton Junction, and immediately started meeting boats coming the other way.  These are very familiar waters, and the miles take a while to pass because of the number of moored boats.  But it’s always a bit exciting when Braunston Church and the old windmill come into view.

We turned right at Braunston Junction, under one of the bridges.

This side of the junction was very busy with moored boats, so we continued to see if there was space further up.  Adrian jumped off at a bridge and walked up to check outside the marina, and beyond the next bridge.  The only space was just beyond the permanent moorers, before the water point.  It’s a space that’s often missed because people think the permanent moorings go all the way along.  Unfortunately I’d just passed it, so I had to reverse past a boat on the water point.

Once tied up, I thought the bilge pump sounded odd — and on checking I found the pump was no longer connected to the pipe which sends the water into the weed hatch.  The RCR guy had sometimes had to put his feet in that part of the bilge, and I guess he’d accidentally stepped on the pipe.  I thought it would be a quick job to reconnect it, but it turned out not to be.  Part of the spout on the pump had broken off and was in the pipe, so I had to get that out before I could make it fit and jubilee clip it.  It all took ages, with me trying to reach into the bilge over the hot engine.  Then, because I’d baled out as much water as I could to do the work, the only way I could test it was the put a couple of buckets of water down there.  It’s not every day a boater puts water into their bilge.  Anyway, it works, which is the main thing.

So we’ve only done a couple of hours of boating, and yet it’s been an exhausting day.

8 miles, 3 locks.  (102 miles, 119 locks)

Heading north: Day 3

We didn’t light the fire last night, and slightly regretted it this morning!  We were up in good time, and moved across the canal to the marina, where Boating Leisure Services were to fit a new Eberspache diesel boiler.  The old one, which must be more than 20 years old, has been patched up a number of times, but now too many things have gone wrong.  Josh swapped the old and new, overseen by Dave, and we were good to go.  We had a quiet heater and warm radiators!

We got going just before 10, heading along the familiar waters to Buckby locks.  There, a boat had just gone up the bottom lock but would wait for us.  There were a dozen volunteer lock keepers between the two locks, as they were having a training day.  One of the trainers said that for the past couple of years there have only been about four volunteers on the flight, but now there are 16.  The ones at the second lock thought a boat above was ‘loitering’, so waited for it.  It was obvious to that it was moored, so some additional training might be needed.  Once we were under way we made decent progress together.

We got to the top lock at about 1.30, with just a few people enjoying the sunshine at the New Inn.

We turned left at the junction, where the hedge behind the nice towpath mooring there has been radically reduced.  We hardly recognised the place.

We had lunch on the move, before heading through Braunston Tunnel.  We had it to ourselves, which is always a relief, because there are so many places we’re passing a boat coming the other way is tricky.

At the locks, a boat had gone down the top lock but was then waiting for a boat to come up the next one, so we went down to join them.  It was a couple moving from the Nene, where the whole winter had been on red boards, to Dunchurch Pools, where they should have more cruising options.  We moved between each lock together, and had the assistance of a lock keeper so we flew down.

We got to the bottom a little after 3.30, so decided we’d head out into the countryside to moor.  But we spotted Derwent6 opposite the Boathouse pub, gave them a toot, and they popped their heads out the side hatch.  We changed our plans and moored up in a space between the junction and the road bridge.  Walking back, it turned out there were lots of boats waiting after the turn in the Napton direction, because the canal had been closed by the police, after a man was found in the water.

We spent a lovely couple of hours with Del and Al, with a lot to catch up on.  Then later in the evening, just as we were finishing our dinner, we had a visit from my cousin-in-law, Nigel, who came to find us while out for a walk.

13 miles, 13 locks.  (26 miles, 20 locks)

Wending to Wales: Day 32

The promised strong winds certainly blew yesterday evening and night.  The rustling of the bushes was quite loud, and we were glad we were moored on rings and without any big trees nearby.  This morning we set off about 8.15, Adrian bringing the boat while I walked up to Itchington Bottom Lock.  There waiting for a locking partner were our friends on Conqueror. We went up that one, then Shop Lock.  Lola the dog was keeping a lookout.

We started up the Stockton Locks, but at the second lock a dog Walker told us the pounds further up were empty, and there didn’t appear to be a volunteer lock keeper about to sort it out.  Richard went off on his bike to investigate, and started running water down, while we came up the lock.  I walked up to see what the situation was.  The pound with the bridge was empty, even with some water now arriving, and so was the one above.

A lockie had arrived and said it was a daily occurrence for the pounds to be empty.  But actually it didn’t take long before we were on the move again, and by the time we reached the top half of the flight there was, if anything, too much water — with cascades over the gates.  Towards the top we also met a single hander coming down.

At the top, we did the couple of miles to Calcutt Locks, where Adrian and Sharon did the work while Richard and I steered.

We were following a boat up, but the three locks didn’t take long, and a boat arrived at the top as the rose. Conqueror carried on, while we reversed onto the water point to fill the tank and get another load of washing going;Adrian also went to the marina shop for some milk.  We’ve really enjoyed the past few days travelling with Sharon and Richard.  It’s amazing how sometimes you just click with the people you’re sharing locks with.  From Calcutt it’s just a short hop to Napton Junction; the boat in front of us turned right towards Oxford, while we turned left towards Braunston.

The next section is shared between the Oxford and Grand Union canals, and I always repeat the quirk that boats going north on the Oxford go one way, but boats going north on the GU are going the opposite way. Along this section we passed Mary H with Richard at the helm, and also a boat whose steerer I recognised as the woman who’d been steering the Brindley trio boats in Birmingham at the weekend.  We also passed Conqueror moored up, and Derwent6 where we had a brief chat with Del and Al.  Then it was the right turn at Braunston Junction.

After some investigations about the availability of moorings, we slotted into a spot after Butcher’s Bridge.  It’s been quite busy with boats in both directions.  We went to Tradline Fenders to get a mooring line to replace one which got a broken strand at Grindley Brook, then to the butcher’s for some bacon and black pudding for a cooked breakfast, and finally the Bottom Lock shop for a Llangollen Canal bridge plaque.  We also treated ourselves to an ice cream, even though the sun has only been out for brief moments today.

10 miles, 13 locks.  (359 miles, 294 locks)

Post Crick: Day 1

We set off at 8am, in rather chilly dank conditions.  When we got to Norton Junction, we turned right towards Braunston instead of left towards home.  There were no boats stirring at the junction, or on the run down to the tunnel.  At the tunnel, there was a kingfisher sitting on a branch right at the tunnel mouth; you can just make him out if you zoom right in.

As we came through the tunnel I could see a light behind us, so I was pretty sure we’d have a partner down the locks.  We passed one boat inside, right at the Braunston end; if I’d been them, I’d have waited outside for us to come out.  At the top lock, a couple of volunteer lock keepers had been running water down to a low pound a bit further down, but then filled the lock for us.  By the time that was done, the boat behind had arrived and we shared the locks down.

We made excellent progress down the locks, meeting uphill boats at a couple of them.  The shop at the bottom lock has a window full of slightly frightening Royal portraits.

A boat had gone into the dry dock next to the bottom lock, and they began to drain the water as we came down the lock, so that by the time we needed to leave there was quite a jet of water across the exit.

We’d wondered whether we’d find space to moor in Braunston, but in fact there was loads of space.  We opted for the first mooring after the marina entrance (the one with the wooden bridge over it).  It’s a nice open spot, and the only one by the other marina entrance was under a tree; a few minutes later, the two boats moored down that way left, meaning we were one of only two boats here.  It’s filled up since, though, and is now full.

We walked up to the butcher in the village so I could get food for the next few days, and I also managed to sort out a boat test for tomorrow.  Later in the afternoon, Adrian got changed into his uniform and headed off to work — his car having been left here on Saturday.

I washed the roof of the boat. While I was doing that, I saw an example of why sounding your horn is no substitute for a lookout.  A share boat came steaming out of the marina, and only narrowly missed a hire boat coming down from the locks.  It had given a warning, but there were spare crew who could have been on lookout duty, and there was no need to be exiting that fast either.  

5 miles, 6 locks.  (44 miles, 34 locks)

Northern Exposure: Day 2

It was very windy overnight, and there was rain heavy enough to wake me up.  But this morning there was bright sunshine while we had breakfast, and we set off at just before quarter to nine.  It was still fairly breezy in places.  As we approached Buckby Locks, a man on board an ex OwnerShips boat, Cotonwood, asked if we were going up the locks, and would we like company, as they were just about to set off.  The answer to both was yes.  At the bottom lock, Catherine, Nigel, Grace and Matthew were waiting to act as crew, and there was a boat just coming down the lock.  With all the help and good company we made excellent progress up the flight.

Just round the corner at Norton Junction we saw Derwent6 so tooted the horn to alert Del and Al; our chat was brief as we passed, but it’s always good to see them.  We came through the tunnel, and moored at the top for lunch; Adrian had made a chicken and broccoli pasta bake with garlic bread and salad.

Our locking partners we’re going the same way as us, and had also stopped for lunch so we could do the Braunston flight together too.  We were following a boat down, but there were also a pair to come up the top lock.  We all got on very well together.

During the bottom half of the flight, Matthew took over the tiller and was excellent at steering into the locks in spite of a stiff breeze in places.  He’s too young to do a helmsman’s certificate, but is hoping to get a Scout badge for steering powered boats.  At the bottom, we found a mooring outside the marina, where we had dessert — one of Catherine’s amazing sticky toffee cakes.  We’d had a couple of sharp showers during the day, and after we moored up there was another.  Within a few minutes the sun was out again, lighting up Butcher’s bridge just behind us, again the dark sky.

10 miles, 13 locks.  (26 miles, 20 locks)

One-way weekend: Day 2

A much better day weatherwise today -- bright, sunny, and sometimes even warm. We set off at a little after quarter past 8. A little while later, Brian and Mike got off for a walk. They went via the little Tesco's express in Weedon, and caught up with us at Buckby locks. We went up alone, but met boats coming down at every lock.

We stopped for lunch just after Norton Junction. Epiphany was moored there, so I went for a chat with Fiona and John; it was good to see them, if only briefly. The stretch from the junction to Braunston Tunnel always takes longer than I expect. The entrance to the tunnel is very overgrown -- which became particularly obvious as a couple of boats came out as we approached.

We passed two boats on the tunnel, fortunately neither of them at the very uneven sections. We had to turn the top lock, where a volunteer lock keeper was in attendance. A boat which had gone gone before us waited in the third lock. They turned out to be a very nice couple, and the lady steerer and Adrian did some excellent synchronised boating between locks.

At the Admiral Nelson I chatted to a boater and blog reader who'd been perching on the balance beam; at the bottom lock, I popped into the shop for ice creams, and then walked down to see what the mooring situation was like. We squeezed into a space just past the first marina entrance that was about three inches longer than the boat -- but before we'd even finished tying, the people on the Rose hire boat ahead returned and headed off, so we were able to spread out a little. The fuel boat, Southern Cross, is moored just along, so we bought a gas bottle.

13 miles, 13 locks. (26 miles, 20 locks)

Big Trip - Day 2

It was pretty murky this morning, but the rain didn't last long.  We shared the Buckby Locks with a boat called Rambling Rose, so it was two roses together.

There were dozens of boats in the flight, so we didn't have to turn any locks.  At the top we stopped for water.  While we were there, James and Debbie from Lois Jane, which was moored at the bottom, walked up to see us.  It was great to finally meet them, having only waved at each other before.

We then went past the junction and moored up for lunch.  This afternoon, we had family visitors.  My second cousin Catherine with children Grace and Matthew, and Catherine's dad (who I haven't seen for several decades!).  Grace and Matthew had particularly wanted to go through the tunnel, having previously come with us through Blisworth Tunnel.

In the tunnel we passed four boats.  The second one stayed determinedly in the middle, and even though I was up against the wall and virtually stationary, he gave us a hefty whack.  At the locks, the sun had come out, and there was lots of traffic.  We had to wait while the lock keeper ran some water down because a pound had been significantly lowered by someone sitting in a lock with the paddles open at both ends.  We had a good run down the locks, marred only by a bit of an incident involving Grace's head and a windlass.  An ice pack followed by an ice cream made her feel better, and by the time it was time to go home, she seemed quite proud of her bump.

We found a mooring in Braunston, just past the marina exit, where we just fitted.  The people behind us obviously didn't like sharing a ring with us, because an hour later they pulled back so they had a ring all of their own.

In the evening, we walked up to the Admiral Nelson for dinner.  Being Sunday evening, they were doing only the bar snacks menu, but the food was excellent, and we were treated to a rather nice sunset.

8 miles, 13 locks.  (26 miles, 20 locks)