BOATS AND CANALS

Cruised 10 hours 40 minutes today are are on the climb up to Marsworth. There was ice on the boat this morning. I have some great pics to show you when I get back. Cheers Graham

Another long day yesterday starting at 7am and finishing at 4:30 pm. We are moored in Aylesbury basin.

On the main line some back pumps had failed and we helped some boaters with advice. We were just floating in the middle but at the edge you could just about see the top of their propeller sticking out of the water. They were at a loss as to what to do. 'Fill it up', I said. 'How?' was the reply. 'From the next pound up', I said. Have we really lost so much initiative today that people can't do simple things without someone telling them what to do?

The Aylesbury arm is pretty, has leaky locks and in places the reeds seem to meet in the middle.

Cheers Graham

It also seems that haven't really taken any time to read up on the basic things to do, before they started cruising.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

Yesterday we can back up the Aylesbury arm, left onto the Grand Union and down to near Slapton. The weather was gorgeous, shorts, short sleeved shirt and sun block. We are on the move again (since 7:09) and am in jeans, jumper, flying jacket and gloves! The sun is shining with cloudy parches so it is quite nice.

Cheers Graham

We had a good trip today, 11 hours although that did include a short break to top-up chocolate supplies. We shared Soulbury locks with a nice girl and her friend. The friend had never worked locks so I gave her some tuition.

Now moored above Cosgrove lock.

Early start again to get to the top of Buckby locks before Strictly come dancing.

Cheers Graham

Set off at 7:00 stopped with engine fire around 10! Moored above the 5th lock up on the Stoke Bruerne flight. Canal and River Rescue due here now.

Graham

Hopefully everything will be OK Graham.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

The pound beneath the 5th lock had only just enough water to float the boat, as we sledged our way through the mud we picked up something big around the prop and then I couldn't stop the boat as we came into the lock and clobbered the gates. The weak link on the front fender gave so the fender was hanging off. We worked the lock using ropes then hauled her onto the bank.

Then we discovered we couldn't stop the engine to go down the weed hatch. Colin said he could smell something burning and when we opened the engine bay there was a small fire complete with flames on the back of the engine! We put that out and then stopped the engine by cutting the fuel supply. There was a mess with bare copper and some completely severed wires. The support for the oil cooler had also burnt away.

I didn't have any wire big enough to do a repair so we called River and Canal Rescue. They got us going with a temporary repair about 3 hours after it all started.

As an asside I met Julie, who is an old friend, coming down the locks. I needed a hug from a nice blonde at that point! Julie writes the roof top gardening bit in canal boat.

We are a little behind schedule now but did have about 5 hours float.

Cheers Graham

The lengths you boatmen will go to just to get a hug.

I guess that your railway modelling will be playing second fiddle to boat repairs for a while now

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

Hope it all gets sorted soon.

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

I will do a proper job when we get home, the RCR fix will work for now providing I don't trip over the wires in the engine bay!

Should get back to Calcutt today, we are currently crusing through Weddon.

Cheers Graham

Back at Calcutt on the new mooring. Started at 7:04, a bit slow going up Buckby locks and 4 boats arrived at Norton Junction from 3 directions at once. We passed 4 boats in Braunston Tunnel.

Happy snaps to follow.

Cheers Graham

I bet in some ways you will be happy to be back.

Happy snaps are always a bonus Graham.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

It was quite an exhausting trip with long days. It was the only way we could get to Aylesbury in the time my sister had available.

132 miles, 108 locks.

Happy snaps.

Stoke Bruerne



Dawn just north of Cosgrove - it was icy that day.



Interesting boat - I think just south of Cosgrove.



Dawn just south of Leighton Buzzard - you can just see the Chiltern Hills.



The bid gates in the staircase at the start of the Aylesbury arm




Plenty of water



Slightly overgrown



Aylesbury Basin





Back on the Grand Union



The results of the engine fire.



It was probably cause by the tight bend in the loom to go under the oil cooler pipe.

The offending bit of wire.



Dawn south of Weedon



Dotterel and crew on new mooring.



I am up on the boat at the weekend to winterise her and start maintenance including properley supporting the new cables.

Cheers Graham

Happy snaps, are always welcome Graham as I have said before.

Your Interesting boat picture looks like some kind of container boat to me.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals