Well, 8.00 Wednesday morning I'm pumping the boat out, 8.00 in the evening I'm at the O2 watching Fleetwood Mac!!
Ok, sorry about last night, but no internet signal!!
Right, to try to sum up, and no pictures as signal is very poor here, no idea as to why, we're right next to the M40!!
I think we left you tied up above Clifton Lock on Tuesday evening, oh no we didn't!! We were in Abingdon on Tuesday!! Well, we left 0730ish, worked ouselves up the lock and used the services above. This done, we left at 8.15 heading for Oxford. I can't remember anything untoward happening, steady progress through Sandford and Iffley locks, Billy no mates in both, then at Osney we waited for ages for two boats to come down, they were buying licenses. Another narrowboat turned up and we locked up together, then it was good to see plenty of space on the Osney moorings, which we tied up on. It was 11.30.
A relaxing lunch and a bit of a lounge around, then off to the station for the 1501 to Paddington. We went to the O2 via Desigual in Regent St and GBK on the South Bank, eventually getting there at 1930. Fleetwood Mac were awesome, again!! We've seen them twice now. One of the true great rock bands.
We left as songbird was playing, the last one, as we wanted to make sure we didn't miss the last train back to Oxford. We didn't, but only got back to the boat at 0130!!
As you can understand, we had a bit of a lie in in the morning, it was nearly 10 when we set off. Continuing up the river to Kings lock, then the left turn onto Dukes cut and the South Oxford canal.
We seemed to have it pretty much to ourselves, making good progress as far as Shipton Weir lock, only to find a queue of boats at the top and bottom and a CRT guy fishing around with a keb at the bottom gate. Turns out some local yoof had deposited bricks and rubble near the gate and it wouldn't close. After a while he gave it a try, a big pile of rubble was on the lockside, and sterted to lock boats up and down. The gate was still leaking quite badly, but with some weight on the top gate we managed to force it open!!
We cruised on and stopped for the night at the old quarry moorings near Kirtlington. Been by here many times, the first time We've stopped. Turns out to be very interesting, lots of woodland paths, the old quarry, looks to be very popular with the locals for dog walking and stuff. Such a popular spot that 2 other boats joined us.
Now to today, I think!!
Set off just after 8, very peaceful and quiet, not many boats about. It rained a bit early on and again later. We're now at Twyford Wharf, the noise from the M40 in the background. Just a regular steady cruising day, nothing much of note to report, just the impending end of cruise blues!!
Friday 26 June 2015
Wednesday 24 June 2015
No Blog Tonight!
We're off to London to see Fleetwood Mac tonight, so tonight's blog is cancelled, I'll be back tomorrow.
PS, we're currently in Oxford.
Tim.
PS, we're currently in Oxford.
Tim.
Tuesday 23 June 2015
Wot? No Photo's!
It seems I've been slacking today, there are no photo's, my apologies for the oversight.
It was a short day, we left the gold plated mooring at Clifton somewhere around 8.45, a couple of boats already having gone past. It was a slow pleasant cruise to Culham lock where a cruiser caught us up to lock up with us. There were 2 narrowboats waiting to come down, it was already looking busier tham yesterday.
We continued the gentle cruise, letting the cruiser pass us in the lock cut, another narrowboat coming down from Abingdon just after we rejoined the river.
More luck with moorings today, there was a space left on the right by the park, our favourite side, so we tied up for the day.
A resupply visit to Waitrose, then as we did at Windsor a few days ago, we sat out drinking wine.
A warm, sometimes cloudy day, lets hope we get a good mooring in Oxford tomorrow, we need to get to London tomorrow evening.
It was a short day, we left the gold plated mooring at Clifton somewhere around 8.45, a couple of boats already having gone past. It was a slow pleasant cruise to Culham lock where a cruiser caught us up to lock up with us. There were 2 narrowboats waiting to come down, it was already looking busier tham yesterday.
We continued the gentle cruise, letting the cruiser pass us in the lock cut, another narrowboat coming down from Abingdon just after we rejoined the river.
More luck with moorings today, there was a space left on the right by the park, our favourite side, so we tied up for the day.
A resupply visit to Waitrose, then as we did at Windsor a few days ago, we sat out drinking wine.
A warm, sometimes cloudy day, lets hope we get a good mooring in Oxford tomorrow, we need to get to London tomorrow evening.
Monday 22 June 2015
It's not the weekend anymore!
Funny that, Monday arrives, we've gone through 6 locks, all of them as a single boat!! It seems so much quieter again, a factor of the weekend and maybe the upper reaches of the Thames, who knows? who cares? It's much more peaceful whatever the reason.
Latest start of the trip today, 9.20, it rains quite heavily for the 4 miles from Whitchurch to Goring locks, umbrella's up the whole time, then eases off and eventually stops, the day weatherwise improving all the time.
Some rowers on the reach below Wallingford, no moorings in Wallingford (there never is!) and on to Day's lock where we intend to stop for the night and go take a walk around Dorchester, or not! As we ascend the lock there seems to be boats on all the good moorings, and indeed there is, we try to get in a space but it's far too shallow and we struggle to get away again, wind was quite strong. Get away we do, I'm a bit annoyed as there would be a gap if one of the boats moved a bit, but it doesn't and we press on.
No decent moorings at Clifton Hampden, so on to Clifton lock, here there are a couple of spots on the end of the lock landing, so, having had enough for the day I cough the £8.90 and we have a bed for the night.
We walk back along the towpath to CH and the Barley Mow for dinner, good menu and good food, have to force ourselves to skip pudding!!
Only 2 pictures today,
The recently renovated Whitchurch toll bridge:
Benson lock and weir:
Hasta luego.
Latest start of the trip today, 9.20, it rains quite heavily for the 4 miles from Whitchurch to Goring locks, umbrella's up the whole time, then eases off and eventually stops, the day weatherwise improving all the time.
Some rowers on the reach below Wallingford, no moorings in Wallingford (there never is!) and on to Day's lock where we intend to stop for the night and go take a walk around Dorchester, or not! As we ascend the lock there seems to be boats on all the good moorings, and indeed there is, we try to get in a space but it's far too shallow and we struggle to get away again, wind was quite strong. Get away we do, I'm a bit annoyed as there would be a gap if one of the boats moved a bit, but it doesn't and we press on.
No decent moorings at Clifton Hampden, so on to Clifton lock, here there are a couple of spots on the end of the lock landing, so, having had enough for the day I cough the £8.90 and we have a bed for the night.
We walk back along the towpath to CH and the Barley Mow for dinner, good menu and good food, have to force ourselves to skip pudding!!
Only 2 pictures today,
The recently renovated Whitchurch toll bridge:
Benson lock and weir:
Hasta luego.
Sunday 21 June 2015
It's the Weekend
Off at a more leisurely 8.30 this morning, Marlow rowers everywhere. Arrive at Temple lock as my old school acquaintance Dave comes on duty, he says "my daughter wished me a happy fathers day this morning and apologised that there was no card or present as she was broke" He replied "what ever happened to home made cards" Had a bit of a natter and were soon on our way for the short trip to Hurley. Quite a few boats on the move again.
We get to Henley and find a ladies regatta in progress:
We get to Sonning and are the second boat hovering in wait of the lock landing, what is going on? Where have all the boats suddenly come from? Lockie is at lunch and the lock is on self service, eventaully some boats come down and 3 get in and I get a place on the landing. I go to the lock to see if I can help, just as the lockie returns from lunch, "Oh chaos is it" he says. Eventually we get up and as we leave I point to the now empty landing and comment on how order has been restored!!
As we pass Reading, there's another rowing regatta going on, pretty chaotic this one with boats everywhere, still, all adds to the fun!!
We spot today's wildlife just before Caversham lock:
Got itself a bit dirty this one!!
We cruise on to Whitchurch, I scan the moorings for a space as we approach, but to no avail. Then, 2 boat lengths ahead, a boat pulls out, that's never happened before, but not being one for looking a gift mooring in the whatever, in we go all tied up for the night. Look out wine, here we come.
We get to Henley and find a ladies regatta in progress:
We get to Sonning and are the second boat hovering in wait of the lock landing, what is going on? Where have all the boats suddenly come from? Lockie is at lunch and the lock is on self service, eventaully some boats come down and 3 get in and I get a place on the landing. I go to the lock to see if I can help, just as the lockie returns from lunch, "Oh chaos is it" he says. Eventually we get up and as we leave I point to the now empty landing and comment on how order has been restored!!
As we pass Reading, there's another rowing regatta going on, pretty chaotic this one with boats everywhere, still, all adds to the fun!!
We spot today's wildlife just before Caversham lock:
Got itself a bit dirty this one!!
We cruise on to Whitchurch, I scan the moorings for a space as we approach, but to no avail. Then, 2 boat lengths ahead, a boat pulls out, that's never happened before, but not being one for looking a gift mooring in the whatever, in we go all tied up for the night. Look out wine, here we come.
Saturday 20 June 2015
And, Ummm... Marlow Again!
Still not sleeping well, still up early, but resist the temptation to set off early and leave Windsor just after 8.30. The river is a lot busier boatwise than when we came down some 4 weeks ago, it seemed like we had it to ourselves then, but a lot more boats out and about now, must factor in that it's the weekend too!
Back through Boveny, Bray, Boulters Cookham and Marlow locks, all shared with other boats and with other boats coming down. Back through places where I walked and fished as a child, passing some 2 or 3 miles from where I was born.
Brunel's Railway Bridge at Maidenhead:
Maidenhead Bridge:
Approach to Boulters lock:
Ummm... so where exactly is Cookham lock?
We took the last mooring in Marlow, intending initially to go shopping and move on a bit, but after lunch and shopping it started to rain, so we stayed in Marlow for the night, the forecast looks ok for tomorrow so we'll put a shift in.
Lazed around and drank wine, took an after dinner walk, seems to be a number of weddings going on. River a lot quieter now.
Back through Boveny, Bray, Boulters Cookham and Marlow locks, all shared with other boats and with other boats coming down. Back through places where I walked and fished as a child, passing some 2 or 3 miles from where I was born.
Brunel's Railway Bridge at Maidenhead:
Maidenhead Bridge:
Approach to Boulters lock:
Ummm... so where exactly is Cookham lock?
We took the last mooring in Marlow, intending initially to go shopping and move on a bit, but after lunch and shopping it started to rain, so we stayed in Marlow for the night, the forecast looks ok for tomorrow so we'll put a shift in.
Lazed around and drank wine, took an after dinner walk, seems to be a number of weddings going on. River a lot quieter now.
Friday 19 June 2015
So, Windsor, Again!!!
Did I say Maidenhead? Well, we didn't make it, we're in Windsor again, despite my remarks from our visit here on the way down.
I woke early, again, and after coffee and granola got the boat under way just before 7, yes, I said 7!! I actually enjoy cruising at this time of day, not many other boats on the move, mist on the water, looking very enviously at the queues of cars on the roads in the morning rush hour, very calming and peaceful.
We trundled along past Runnymede, Magna Carta and all that - remember? I'd wanted to stop here on the return to take a look, but circumstances prevent this, so we look from the centre of the river. Old Windsor comes next, along with Old Windsor lock.
The Magna Carta thing:
The well signed lock, doubling up with today's wildlife shot:
We'd already met a narrowboat coming down, right earlybirds us narrowboaters!! Only to find a largish plastic descending Old Windsor lock, most unexpected, these guys are rarely seen on the move outside of lock opening hours!! Up we went and on past the neverending Crown estate (see comments about this on our downstream trip!!)
Crown estate and some old castle thing:
Then Datchet on the right, Home Park on the left and Romney lock. Two plastics on the way down in this one!! But they're rentals so that's ok. It's 9.00 when it's our turn and bang on time the lockie arrives and does all the buttons for us. Along the lock cut and into Windsor. I'd been having a discussion with Penny as we trundled along about the best way to get to my eye appointment (in the mobile unit at the Meadows) and after running through trains from Maidenhead (plan A) renting a car for the afternoon (plan B) we settled for plan C, getting the train from Windsor!!
So, indecisive as ever, I tried to moor on the Eton side and gave up (too shallow) then on the outside of tyhe island, (didn't look nice enough) and settled for a spot on the inside of the island just before the railway bridge, turns out to be a great spot, completely restoring my faith in Windsor, helps that it's not the weekend too!! Not bad eh? Day's cruise done by 10.00.
Sat around for a bit, gathered my gear, had to pop home to do some things for Natasha's upcoming visit to Tanzania while I was in the area and walked up to the station. Had an early lunch in Costa coffee and caught the 12.20 to Slough. While waiting for the Reading train a steam engine (Brittania I think) comes through the station smoking us all to death, what an unusual sight!! 3 trains later I was in Blackwater. Did the stuff, had the eye appointment, got run over in the Tesco car park, yes, I actually stepped into the path of an oncoming vehicle, all my fault for not looking, very lucky not to get badly hurt, only damage was the guys wing mirror. Anyway, no eye injection this time, and back to Blackwater for the 4.02 to Reading. You've got it now!! - 3 trains later I was back in Windsor. Penny was sat on the grass by the boat, we drank our remaining stock of white wine, ate Waitrose paprika crisp things and whiled the evening away, even found time for a bit of dinner. See you tomorrow.
I woke early, again, and after coffee and granola got the boat under way just before 7, yes, I said 7!! I actually enjoy cruising at this time of day, not many other boats on the move, mist on the water, looking very enviously at the queues of cars on the roads in the morning rush hour, very calming and peaceful.
We trundled along past Runnymede, Magna Carta and all that - remember? I'd wanted to stop here on the return to take a look, but circumstances prevent this, so we look from the centre of the river. Old Windsor comes next, along with Old Windsor lock.
The Magna Carta thing:
The well signed lock, doubling up with today's wildlife shot:
We'd already met a narrowboat coming down, right earlybirds us narrowboaters!! Only to find a largish plastic descending Old Windsor lock, most unexpected, these guys are rarely seen on the move outside of lock opening hours!! Up we went and on past the neverending Crown estate (see comments about this on our downstream trip!!)
Crown estate and some old castle thing:
Then Datchet on the right, Home Park on the left and Romney lock. Two plastics on the way down in this one!! But they're rentals so that's ok. It's 9.00 when it's our turn and bang on time the lockie arrives and does all the buttons for us. Along the lock cut and into Windsor. I'd been having a discussion with Penny as we trundled along about the best way to get to my eye appointment (in the mobile unit at the Meadows) and after running through trains from Maidenhead (plan A) renting a car for the afternoon (plan B) we settled for plan C, getting the train from Windsor!!
So, indecisive as ever, I tried to moor on the Eton side and gave up (too shallow) then on the outside of tyhe island, (didn't look nice enough) and settled for a spot on the inside of the island just before the railway bridge, turns out to be a great spot, completely restoring my faith in Windsor, helps that it's not the weekend too!! Not bad eh? Day's cruise done by 10.00.
Sat around for a bit, gathered my gear, had to pop home to do some things for Natasha's upcoming visit to Tanzania while I was in the area and walked up to the station. Had an early lunch in Costa coffee and caught the 12.20 to Slough. While waiting for the Reading train a steam engine (Brittania I think) comes through the station smoking us all to death, what an unusual sight!! 3 trains later I was in Blackwater. Did the stuff, had the eye appointment, got run over in the Tesco car park, yes, I actually stepped into the path of an oncoming vehicle, all my fault for not looking, very lucky not to get badly hurt, only damage was the guys wing mirror. Anyway, no eye injection this time, and back to Blackwater for the 4.02 to Reading. You've got it now!! - 3 trains later I was back in Windsor. Penny was sat on the grass by the boat, we drank our remaining stock of white wine, ate Waitrose paprika crisp things and whiled the evening away, even found time for a bit of dinner. See you tomorrow.
Thursday 18 June 2015
Some Thoughts on the Basingstoke
I'm trying not to be biased, I volunteer on the canal, it's my local canal! But some thoughts from the visiting boaters perspective on our trip to Odiham:
It's in really good condition, yes there are a few dodgy paddles, a couple of leaky lock gates, but no worse than you would find on any given CRT controlled canal.
It's shallow and mucky in places, yes quite a few spots could do with a bit of dredging, but we never went aground or had to visit the weedhatch.
Some say that the lock opening times are restrictive, yes, maybe, they certainly don't encourage a visit to Woking, but when you understand the need to control the very precious water supply, lock control is essential.
Some say (and I'm not talking about the Stig) it's all a bit the same (tree lined both sides all the way) well, yes it is, mostly, but I think that's part of it's charm, there could be some lovely mooring spots, it just needs some moorings to be put there, over to you BCS. Any way, some may think that hiding Aldershot with trees is a good thing!!
Moorings and services are limited, well maybe, but we managed. It's only 31 miles long, how many services do you need, but yes a few more moorings would be good.
All in all, I think the 'proper' boater would enjoy the experience, it's not really an adventure but it's a rewarding trip. In boating circles I will encourage boaters to visit. And every 2 years you get a free airshow!!
It's in really good condition, yes there are a few dodgy paddles, a couple of leaky lock gates, but no worse than you would find on any given CRT controlled canal.
It's shallow and mucky in places, yes quite a few spots could do with a bit of dredging, but we never went aground or had to visit the weedhatch.
Some say that the lock opening times are restrictive, yes, maybe, they certainly don't encourage a visit to Woking, but when you understand the need to control the very precious water supply, lock control is essential.
Some say (and I'm not talking about the Stig) it's all a bit the same (tree lined both sides all the way) well, yes it is, mostly, but I think that's part of it's charm, there could be some lovely mooring spots, it just needs some moorings to be put there, over to you BCS. Any way, some may think that hiding Aldershot with trees is a good thing!!
Moorings and services are limited, well maybe, but we managed. It's only 31 miles long, how many services do you need, but yes a few more moorings would be good.
All in all, I think the 'proper' boater would enjoy the experience, it's not really an adventure but it's a rewarding trip. In boating circles I will encourage boaters to visit. And every 2 years you get a free airshow!!
Bye Bye Basingstoke
So, today is to be our final day on the Basingstoke!
We both still had trouble sleeping and were up early yet again. We were ready to go quite early and were chatting to the other boaters when the lock keeper Matt arrived early. I explained about the low pound above lock 9 and he went off to have a look, this resulted in a bit of a delay while some water was let down.
At 9.15 we were off, paired up with GM's Teasel again, but this time with reinforcements, well Phil H anyway, he didn't fancy going shopping for curtains and opted for a bit of lock wheeling instead. So, with 11 down to 8 set for us, down we whizzed, there was a boat coming up through 7 so we passed between 7 & 8, Barbara was having a bit of steering trouble this morning and messed up a couple of lock entries, but we exited 7 50 minutes after setting off, pretty good I thought.
The cruise to 6 (Woodham top) took about 90 minutes, it's a bit shallow and mucky through Woking, but at least the weed seems to be under some sort of control at the moment.
The weedcutter, obviously being put to good use!!
We arrived at 6 to see Phil again, he'd cheated and taken his bike to St John's in his car. A boat was coming up as we arrived and it had left all the locks set for us, so second whizz of the day and in no time at all we were locking down 1, it having taken us about 4 hours from Kiln Bridge, only possible because of Phil's (much appreciated) help.
Goodbyes were said to Graham & Barbara (they were heading towards Guildford) and at Woodham Junction we turned left onto the Wey and headed for Thames lock.
Coxes lock and mill on the Wey:
We shared the Wey locks with another narrowboat and soon enough were descending Thames lock and turning upstream for Shepperton lock on the Thames. It was a bit of a shock to see a number of other boats heading for the lock after all that isolation, but we soon got used to it. We filled the water at Chertsey lock, it was on 'self service' so I played lock keeper for a cycle while we watered, then Penny took over and we locked up ourselves. It was nearly 7.00 when we stopped on a mooring at Runneymede, both of us a bit knackered, we'd put a bit of a shift in today ad I wanted to be in Maidenhead tomorrow lunchtime to get a train home for a hospital appointment, looks like we'll still have to be off at 7 in the morning to achieve that, still, we haven't been sleeping......
A dinner of chicken and some stir fry and a long sit down, bliss. Oh, and a drink or two.
We both still had trouble sleeping and were up early yet again. We were ready to go quite early and were chatting to the other boaters when the lock keeper Matt arrived early. I explained about the low pound above lock 9 and he went off to have a look, this resulted in a bit of a delay while some water was let down.
At 9.15 we were off, paired up with GM's Teasel again, but this time with reinforcements, well Phil H anyway, he didn't fancy going shopping for curtains and opted for a bit of lock wheeling instead. So, with 11 down to 8 set for us, down we whizzed, there was a boat coming up through 7 so we passed between 7 & 8, Barbara was having a bit of steering trouble this morning and messed up a couple of lock entries, but we exited 7 50 minutes after setting off, pretty good I thought.
The cruise to 6 (Woodham top) took about 90 minutes, it's a bit shallow and mucky through Woking, but at least the weed seems to be under some sort of control at the moment.
The weedcutter, obviously being put to good use!!
We arrived at 6 to see Phil again, he'd cheated and taken his bike to St John's in his car. A boat was coming up as we arrived and it had left all the locks set for us, so second whizz of the day and in no time at all we were locking down 1, it having taken us about 4 hours from Kiln Bridge, only possible because of Phil's (much appreciated) help.
Goodbyes were said to Graham & Barbara (they were heading towards Guildford) and at Woodham Junction we turned left onto the Wey and headed for Thames lock.
Coxes lock and mill on the Wey:
We shared the Wey locks with another narrowboat and soon enough were descending Thames lock and turning upstream for Shepperton lock on the Thames. It was a bit of a shock to see a number of other boats heading for the lock after all that isolation, but we soon got used to it. We filled the water at Chertsey lock, it was on 'self service' so I played lock keeper for a cycle while we watered, then Penny took over and we locked up ourselves. It was nearly 7.00 when we stopped on a mooring at Runneymede, both of us a bit knackered, we'd put a bit of a shift in today ad I wanted to be in Maidenhead tomorrow lunchtime to get a train home for a hospital appointment, looks like we'll still have to be off at 7 in the morning to achieve that, still, we haven't been sleeping......
A dinner of chicken and some stir fry and a long sit down, bliss. Oh, and a drink or two.
Wednesday 17 June 2015
I Don't Want to be the Fifth Boat!!
Neither of us slept too well for another night, I picked up a cold in Morocco and Penny has it too, so I was up at 6.30 making tea and presenting Penny with a sausage butty (steady now) as her breakfast in bed, we do have a bunch of locks to do so it can be fully justified!!
Ever since I learnt that 5 boats were booked to go down Deepcut and Brookwood locks today I've had this mantra going on in my head "I don't want to be the fifth boat" and have no one to share the work with. So, at or maybe just before 7.30 I trundle away from the canal centre heading for lock 28. Penny complains that we didn't need to leave until 8.30, but I was untied now!!
We arrive at 28 at 8.15 to find just the one boat there, Galleon Marine's Teasel, I tie up alongside to leave room for other arrivals and get chatting to Graham & Barbara on Teasel. Hooray, I'm the second boat. The ranger arrives just after 9 and down we go!!
It's a pleasant day, don't think it's going to rain and we make steady progress down the Deepcut flight. We go in first, Teasel comes in alongside, down we go, I go off to ready the next lock and Graham closes up for the boats following. The ranger passes by while we are in 24 to check all is well, it is, and we find the next 2 locks with top paddles lifted for us, what a nice ranger.
I should explain, all of the locks need to be left empty, so when you're locking down you have to close the bottom paddle then lift the top ones, a bit of a pain, so nice to have a couple done for us.
Graham has a glass of water 2 or 3 locks from the bottom, good idea me thinks!! Pen, get me a beer, which, great wife she is, she does!! In no time at all we arrive at 15, the bottom of Deepcut, so onto the boat for a brief respite as we cruise to Brookwood, and time for another beer.
A feature of the Basingstoke is the lack (or should I say non existent) lock landings, so at 14 we just nose the boat to the lock mouth, off I jump (oops, sorry, step carefully) and back into the routine. As we lock down 14 I run (YES RUN!) ahead and set the paddles on the next 2 so's they'll be ready when we get there. No problems at all with Brookwood going down, they were a bit temperamental coming up and I tell Teasel about the secret water tap at the Brookwood Lye moorings, which they set off and use.
We cruise directly on to the landing at 11, St John's top lock, carefully avoiding the fallen tree and tie up to await the grand opening here tomorrow morning. I sent a report about the tree, and some 5 minutes later 3 BCA guys turn up to sort it out, what a service!!
Looking back to Kiln Bridge, St John's:
The tree undergoing surgery:
Removal by the towing method:
Our mooring tonight:
So, done for the day at 2.30 we have a late lunch, I relax for a bit, then set about repairing the cratch boards and getting everything a bit more back to normal. Penny goes off to get and send a Father's day card and returns to report many restaurants in St John's, so we ignore the well stocked fridge (except for the wine!!) and go to the Thai / Vietnamese restaurant which is opposite the boat, wow, what a good meal we had, especially the chilli squid with salt, go here guys, it's a great place, all you can eat for £15!! So, full, we return to vessel to check the wine stock again, maybe a port or 2!! And await tomorrow. See you then.
Ever since I learnt that 5 boats were booked to go down Deepcut and Brookwood locks today I've had this mantra going on in my head "I don't want to be the fifth boat" and have no one to share the work with. So, at or maybe just before 7.30 I trundle away from the canal centre heading for lock 28. Penny complains that we didn't need to leave until 8.30, but I was untied now!!
We arrive at 28 at 8.15 to find just the one boat there, Galleon Marine's Teasel, I tie up alongside to leave room for other arrivals and get chatting to Graham & Barbara on Teasel. Hooray, I'm the second boat. The ranger arrives just after 9 and down we go!!
It's a pleasant day, don't think it's going to rain and we make steady progress down the Deepcut flight. We go in first, Teasel comes in alongside, down we go, I go off to ready the next lock and Graham closes up for the boats following. The ranger passes by while we are in 24 to check all is well, it is, and we find the next 2 locks with top paddles lifted for us, what a nice ranger.
I should explain, all of the locks need to be left empty, so when you're locking down you have to close the bottom paddle then lift the top ones, a bit of a pain, so nice to have a couple done for us.
Graham has a glass of water 2 or 3 locks from the bottom, good idea me thinks!! Pen, get me a beer, which, great wife she is, she does!! In no time at all we arrive at 15, the bottom of Deepcut, so onto the boat for a brief respite as we cruise to Brookwood, and time for another beer.
A feature of the Basingstoke is the lack (or should I say non existent) lock landings, so at 14 we just nose the boat to the lock mouth, off I jump (oops, sorry, step carefully) and back into the routine. As we lock down 14 I run (YES RUN!) ahead and set the paddles on the next 2 so's they'll be ready when we get there. No problems at all with Brookwood going down, they were a bit temperamental coming up and I tell Teasel about the secret water tap at the Brookwood Lye moorings, which they set off and use.
We cruise directly on to the landing at 11, St John's top lock, carefully avoiding the fallen tree and tie up to await the grand opening here tomorrow morning. I sent a report about the tree, and some 5 minutes later 3 BCA guys turn up to sort it out, what a service!!
Looking back to Kiln Bridge, St John's:
The tree undergoing surgery:
Removal by the towing method:
Our mooring tonight:
So, done for the day at 2.30 we have a late lunch, I relax for a bit, then set about repairing the cratch boards and getting everything a bit more back to normal. Penny goes off to get and send a Father's day card and returns to report many restaurants in St John's, so we ignore the well stocked fridge (except for the wine!!) and go to the Thai / Vietnamese restaurant which is opposite the boat, wow, what a good meal we had, especially the chilli squid with salt, go here guys, it's a great place, all you can eat for £15!! So, full, we return to vessel to check the wine stock again, maybe a port or 2!! And await tomorrow. See you then.
Tuesday 16 June 2015
Now, where were we?
Ah yes, boating!! Got back from Marrakech in the very early hours of Monday morning. Went home and slept, then resorted our stuff and got back to Odiham on Monday afternoon to find the boat tied up with Madam Butterfly, and oh boy! What a mess! One of my boating principles is to never tie up under a tree, guess what? Three weeks under the trees!! What a mess, oh, I already said that!!
Ok, more about the mess later. I started the engine to get some charge and hot water, swapped out an empty gas cylinder and loaded all our gear. We wriggled out from the inside of MB and reversed into Galleon Marine for a bit of diesel. One of the young ladies took pity on me (I've still got it!) and swept several trees off of the roof, I settled up with GM and took the boat over to the wharf.
We topped off the water and started to clean up, roof first then starboard side, front and back. Leaving the port side for another day. Did I say it was a right mess? The worst I've ever seen, I was a bit unhappy!! Anyway, we spent the night at the wharf, it still feels a bit odd to be here on our boat, and Penny went off to work in the morning. I dismantled the cratch so as to avoid the problems with Reading Road. Pondtail and Farnborough Road bridges that we had on the way up, had a chat with the fisherman, yes, it's the 16th today, fisherman are back on the scene, and set off for Mytchett.
A pretty good day weatherwise, saw 2 kingfishers, a GM boat at the Barley Mow and not much else!!
Dick had asked me to report on water levels and stuff as the John Pinkerton is due to go to Mytchett soon, this I duly did - Broad Oak feeder flowing, level looks pretty much near maximum, Dogmersfield looks tight (for JP) but probably ok if lightly loaded, water empty etc and most surprising, water going over the Ash lock bypass.
Still not been attacked by the angry swan, most disappointing. Big shock at Ash lock, there was a boat coming the other way!! Saved me having to close the gates. And so on to Mytchett, passed a couple of moored visiting boats, there are 5 booked for Deepcut tomorrow morning so these were probably a couple of them, and arrived at the canal centre at 2.15, time to clean the other side and reassemble the cratch.
More damage to the cratch than I realised, top plank hinge broken and 2 bolts bent!! Have to have a root around to see what I can find.
Caught a taxi home, and got some dinner going, went to my Spanish class and found a suitable replacement hinge. Penny's daughter gave us a lift back to the boat and here we are!! Deepcut and Brookwood tomorrow - at least the forecast looks good!!
Nothing really of note to take pictures of, so there aren't any!!
Ok, more about the mess later. I started the engine to get some charge and hot water, swapped out an empty gas cylinder and loaded all our gear. We wriggled out from the inside of MB and reversed into Galleon Marine for a bit of diesel. One of the young ladies took pity on me (I've still got it!) and swept several trees off of the roof, I settled up with GM and took the boat over to the wharf.
We topped off the water and started to clean up, roof first then starboard side, front and back. Leaving the port side for another day. Did I say it was a right mess? The worst I've ever seen, I was a bit unhappy!! Anyway, we spent the night at the wharf, it still feels a bit odd to be here on our boat, and Penny went off to work in the morning. I dismantled the cratch so as to avoid the problems with Reading Road. Pondtail and Farnborough Road bridges that we had on the way up, had a chat with the fisherman, yes, it's the 16th today, fisherman are back on the scene, and set off for Mytchett.
A pretty good day weatherwise, saw 2 kingfishers, a GM boat at the Barley Mow and not much else!!
Dick had asked me to report on water levels and stuff as the John Pinkerton is due to go to Mytchett soon, this I duly did - Broad Oak feeder flowing, level looks pretty much near maximum, Dogmersfield looks tight (for JP) but probably ok if lightly loaded, water empty etc and most surprising, water going over the Ash lock bypass.
Still not been attacked by the angry swan, most disappointing. Big shock at Ash lock, there was a boat coming the other way!! Saved me having to close the gates. And so on to Mytchett, passed a couple of moored visiting boats, there are 5 booked for Deepcut tomorrow morning so these were probably a couple of them, and arrived at the canal centre at 2.15, time to clean the other side and reassemble the cratch.
More damage to the cratch than I realised, top plank hinge broken and 2 bolts bent!! Have to have a root around to see what I can find.
Caught a taxi home, and got some dinner going, went to my Spanish class and found a suitable replacement hinge. Penny's daughter gave us a lift back to the boat and here we are!! Deepcut and Brookwood tomorrow - at least the forecast looks good!!
Nothing really of note to take pictures of, so there aren't any!!
Morocco
A random selection of pictures from my 3 weeks in Morocco:
To sum up, mountains, desert and Marrakech.
To sum up, mountains, desert and Marrakech.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)