BOATS AND CANALS

There is gold at the end of the rainbow!



Cheers Graham

The only trouble is, there is no end to a rainbow, OK, sorry for being a kill joy.

A great picture though.

_________________
Maurice

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We are traveling again, just going through Braunston having stopped on the puddle banks and visited the community cafe in the village. We also topped up our chocolate supplies. We are turning north here and heading in the direction of Coventry. We will see how far we get. This is a chilled trip not a crusade!

Photos will follow when I am back on a land line.

Cheers Graham

Moored just short of Hillmorton locks. It is one of our favourite moorings but they are developing the old aerial farm as a housing estate so it may not be one of our favourites much longer.

Cheers Graham

We came down Hillmorton locks in record time, every lock was set for us. The on to Rugby for a walk into town and coffee. Then we had a very pleasant afternoon cruise to one of our favourite moorings by the railway.



On to Coventry tomorrow.

Cheers Graham

We changed our minds about Coventry and turned by the entrance to the Wyken Arm near Hawkesbury. This isn't an official winding hole but we made it with about 5 feet to spare.

We encountered some confusion at Newbold tunnel and a boat in the tunnel honked its horn at us as we entered. They then stopped and froze rather than moving over to the right. There was a bit of a coming together and when we passed I explained his to work two way tunnels.

We stopped at Newbold to explore the old quary then headed back through Hillmorton locks, it was busy coming in the opposite direction with boats queing for an hour or so.

Now back on our mooring where we had a nice chat with the neighbours.

Photos to follow.

Cheers Graham

On Monday we filled up the water tank, pumped out the loo and filled up with diesel. It was a bit chaotic with boats queuing for the water point , then 7 boats in the short pound by the wharf. We did some excellent steering to show off, we sprang the back in to moor in a hole 1 foot longer than the boat, then used some pretty nifty rope work to turn the boat through 90 degree on the wharf to get off. And then we sprang the back in again to get on our mooring.

Happy snaps

Braunston visitor moorings



Just for comparison - about 20 years ago



Sunset at Hillmorton



New housing state earthworks, Hillmorton.



Sunrise whilst cruising north of Stretton, just me the canal and the boat for 2 hours!!!!!



Newbold Quarry





Cheers Graham

I don't think that you would 'show off' Graham, I am sure that you were just demonstrating how to manoeuvre your boat.

Good selection of pictures Graham.

_________________
Maurice

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Just over nine years ago we had the cratch cover and rear tonneau cover made by a local supplier in the boating trade. They charged £495 plus VAT to make the tonneau. This did include visiting the boat to measure up and again to fit it.

The cover has stretched over time probably as a result of damage when someone broke into the boat.

So I need a new one. I decided to talk to Carter's of Basingstoke who made the covers for Madam Butterfly. They had a look and said yes we can do it - £70 plus VAT.

Clearly they can copy the old one so the measurement side is not included in that price and we are using slightly cheaper material. But????

Cheers Graham

I agree ???? there is a big difference in price, sounds very much like the original was a con man.

_________________
Maurice

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Other suppliers in the trade quote similar prices. I am using Strong PVC this time so it is easy to clean rather than fake canvas. When I looked at covers for Madam Butterfly as soon as you looked at anyone in the boating industry the price tripled at least.

Carter's make tents and vehicle covers.

Cheers Graham

Sadly there are too many con men on the canals, I've been done loads of times

At last I have found a boat yard that I can trust.

I wish I could list the con men/yards who have tried to con me and also the ones that did.

_________________
Laurie Booth
http://www.pamelasalem.net

On boat, it has stopped raining. Waiting for crew, we may actually leave the mooring!

Cheers Graham

Now moored on the visitor's moorings above Buckby locks. It was a nice day for crusing and we shared half of Braunston locks with a very nice couple from Wigram's marina.

Cheers Graham

We have come down Wilton locks, through Blisworth, spotted the ghost boat (more of that when I get back) then down Stoke Bruerne. Moored just short of Cosgrove. Cheers Graham