Still pootling along the Thames

Yesterday was a bit of a non event blog wise, I moved from Chertsey back to Shepperton, the lock was on self service, look at that frost along the edges, you have to be very careful.

I did meet a nice couple who were moored in front of me and discussed fold-up bikes (the lady had one) condensation, and baths, amongst other things, I was a bit jealous because they had a full sized bath and I have a mini bath, which as a bath is a waste of time, I stand in it to shower, so later it will be exchanged for a shower tray.

Last night was another frosty one, but the sun shone around 10am and I pulled pins at 11am and set off towards Hurst Park, Molesey where my map said there were short term moorings close to a Tesco, I passed Walton Bridge

and then this interesting home on the way,



Sunbury lock was on self service as well but as luck would have it, it was in my favour and just as I walked up to open the gates a chap also walked up who was coming upstream, he offered to do the gates to speed both mine and his progress, so timing is everything, onwards to Hurst Park and no sign of any visitor moorings, there was a likely looking section of piled edge alongside a park but when I tried to get in to moor I hit bottom about 3 feet from the bank, so I decided that was probably not the best place to stop, instead I moved on through Molesey Lock (which is really in Hampton Court I think) and there was plenty of space on the moorings outside Hampton Court Palace so I swung the boat around to face upstream and that is where I am now for the night. I did walk back to Hurst Park for a bit of shopping, and when I got back I treated myself to a mug of OXO into which I dunked a slice of buttered bread, what a joy, haven’t done that for ages, thanks sis for reminding me of that.

Travel yesterday and today:  3 Locks : 9 Miles

Upstream... just a little distance

So this morning was very frosty, coldest night so far I think, I kept the stove going all night and took the precaution of sleeping in the main cabin on the convertible seating that makes up to a double bed for visitors (or me on cold nights)

this was about 9:30 frosty roof, I am sure I will get colder nights in the future though, but inside with the stove going it's great, when it comes to setting off with frozen ropes and slippery everwhere it's not great, roll on summer :-)



I walked into Shepperton to see my solicitor, they were closed, no times shown on the office door or on the answerphone message so I guess it will be New Year before they reopen, shame as I was so close and I have some things to sign, it will probably mean a public transport journey back whenever I can.
The idea for today was to head through Shepperton Lock obtaining a Thames Visitor licence from the lock keeper and emptying rubbish and the other thing that has to be emptied (black water is the best term, or Elsan another favoured one), and also take on water.
It all went to plan except the water, the visitor licence the lock keeper told me was either £75 for 3 days or £60 for 7, weird, bet they don't sell many 3 day licences, I needed 5 days so took the 7day option, he told me they had no bulk fill water service and I would need to go up to Chertsey Lock for that, so that's what
I did, approaching Chertsey Bridge, so many Arches, why is life so difficult, which one do I use, give me two arches one on the left, one on the right, how hard is that, only joking, it's a nice bridge I have driven over it hundreds of times in my former life, so I took the Arch that seemed appropriate and moored at the lock on the water point. After filling I reversed away and swung the boat around, that was interesting, the current makes all these things not quite as straightforward as they first appear, but all went well and I head back towards Shepperton to my chosen mooring.

I passed this nice little boat house on the trip, you do see some lovely boats and houses and if you remembered to put your camera in your pocket and you remember that you remembered you can snap away.




Moored up at Dockett Eddy Lane just after Chertsey Meads when going downstream as I had visitors expected.
My mooring for the night looking across at this very tiny house, amazing what some people have to get by living in.




My daughter Chloe and her boyfriend Jamie were down just for the day from Great Yarmouth and after visiting her mum they called in on me and gave Quinquireme the once over, had a cup of tea and a catchup before setting off to surprise a close friend of hers, it was lovely to see you both xx

Travel Today : 1 lock : 4 miles

Goodbye River Wey.....

.........hello River Thames

So this was last night's view from the side hatch
just before I went to bed, very dark , quite cold
very quiet....lovely.
It was however not such a lovely morning with a heavy frost and the central heating was bought into use while I got the stove lit.



A late-ish start was the intention as I am just really hanging around a bit before entering the Grand Union sometime after 1st January when my Canal and River Trust licence begins, however, about 10am whilst checking my gas bottles for levels and also checking the securing chains, I managed to knock the horn and tunnel light of off their resting place ( they have to be removed to open the gas locker ) and pulled out all the wires, so after administering first aid to them I finally set off through Weybridge Town Lock at 11am with an audience who had seen me preparing and stopped their car to walk over to the lock and watch, the term for these people is Gongoozlers, no idea why but that is what they are called, then on to Thames Lock to join the Thames, the lady Lockie relieved me of £75 for my weeks stay on the Wey and issued me a souvenir licence (as it was dated 21st-28th Dec 2014).

I only went a short distance to my chosen mooring for the night around the back of Desborough Island to this spot which is again very quiet and lovely.
I thought I might walk up to Shepperton Lock and aquire my Thames visitors licence from the Lock Keeper to save a bit of hassle tomorrow when I am going through anyway and also strech my legs but the lock was on self service, so no lock keeper to pay, I think it may be on self service now until well into the New Year but I will find that out tomorrow.

Travel today: 2 locks : 2.5 miles

A Late Merry Christmas.......

.......but an Early Happy New Year to Everyone.

23^rd December

A bit of a catch up I left Send at about 10am and cruised up through Worsfield Gates which remain open except in times of flood, although looking at them as I went through I’m not sure how much flood water they would hold, but I suppose closing them would be mainly to stop boaters trying to continue on when it was too dangerous. I then winded (turned around) and headed back because I had a visitor planned for that evening. So nice and carefully back down Newark Lock and Papercourt lock which as I was the only moving boat were still as I had left them, in my favour, at Pyrford lock I stopped to take on water and dispose of some rubbish, the water point is just before the lock with a fairly small jetty to moor up alongside and I was a little concerned whether I would be able to get onto it but as it happened and by being very slow I stopped perfectly in position, tied up and filled the tank, had a chat with a nice lady houseboat owner and then reversed back upstream to allow me to get into the lock, I could have pulled the boat into the lock on the centre line but thought I’d try reversing  as I need to master handling the boat, it went well and I went through the lock and headed down to Parvis Wharf where the nice man convinced me to spend more money on new Bow and Stern lines and a lightweight boathook, and a copy of Pearson’s Canal Companion for the Oxford & Grand Union Upper Thames, he then assisted me in repositioning my boat on the Byfleet Boat Club Moorings.

Sarah with Honey in Front of the Stove

That evening I had a visit from my daughter Sarah

and her dog Honey, I cooked a simple dinner and walked them home about 10pm, it was lovely to see them both and spend a bit of time together.

24^th December

Set off about 10am and pootled down to New Haw lock, as I was preparing the lock which was against me I had a chat with another boater who was just walking past and then took the boat into the lock, just as I was closing the gates I saw in the distance another boat coming towards me, quite a surprise as I have seen only two other moving boats so far, so I waited, which they were grateful for, and shared the lock with the couple who were just going down to the next lock to turn around. We both waved goodbye as they went back upstream and I went through Coxes Lock, this has a strong bywash coming from the left as you go downstream pushing you over to the right but a few extra revs saw me past it ok. I moored up for a few nights over Christmas just before Town Lock

Town Lock Sign

Town Lock

Mooring with lock in the distance

at Weybridge and that’s where I am now.

I had a nice quiet Christmas day with my sister who lives close by and stayed the night at her house, another first leaving my boat alone on the towpath, but all was ok when I returned earlier today although very cold until I got the stove fired up! I’ve been to help Tesco out again in Addlestone and was surprised how busy it was on Boxing day but I was in there so why shouldn’t other people be.

Total travel this blog: 5 Locks : 9 miles

Put In My Place

Which is still very much a novice.

Today was shall I say, interesting, I am worried (paranoid) about most things to do with the boat, currently (no pun intended) I think it’s taking too long to charge up the batteries, I don’t know, just think, so first job at 9:30 was to check the batteries acid levels, all seemed ok, next job (one I meant to do yesterday after stopping) was to experience first hand the delights of the weed hatch, this is a device (steel box open under the water and sealed with a locking bar above the water) above the propeller, it allows you to lower your hand into the icy cold depths and carefully feel your way around the propeller for any objects that have become attached, then lying on your stomach with a knife or wire cutters or brute strength remove said alien objects, I must say overall it was not a nice job, however I was happy to remove a school tie (don’t know which school) some fishing line, leaves and twigs and of course the mandatory black bin liner (remains anyway), I presume this little collection was courtesy of Woking town area.

I then set of for Pyrford Marina after having to pole myself away from the bank again, there is an acute turn right at the end of the Basingstoke into the River Wey towards Guildford, I nearly made it around, oh well no harm done, reverse back a bit and have a second go, this time with knowledge gained from the first attempt I got round beautifully, no points for two attempts though.

I repeated the exercise at the entrance to the Marina, just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, made it in second attempt, filled with diesel had a chat about electrics with the man who knows, he said all seemed “normal” but all boats are different and if I was worried book an electrician to give it the once over when convenient. Being anxious about the number of boats around I asked him the easiest way to get out of the Marina quite hoping he would say just go all the way around in a big circle, but no, “just reverse out”, hmmmm..... so one attempt at reversing and then I did a three point turn in the wind and limited space, the only casualty was the loss of my very old dirty baseball cap which the wind kindly donated to a passing swan for a Christmas toy.

SO having done 29 locks all downhill I considered myself quite accomplished, well that was a mistake, first approaching the lock landing right outside the pub at Pyrford lock I again misjudge it and have to back up and have a second go, ok got it right this time, now I am grateful it’s winter as there is no-one outside the pub to witness this minor embarrassment, the lock is against me and for the first time I am going uphill, so first prepare the lock, that bit was easy, into the lock, up the ladder tie up with centre line only, close the gates behind me, open the sluice nearest my boat, I had read all about this, the water shoots across the lock bounces of the far wall and rebounds to push your boat against the lock side holding it in place, in theory, what actually happened is the water with enough force to sink the proverbial battleship shoots into the side of my boat and hurls it across the lock, I shut the sluice PDQ in time to save disaster, two lessons learnt here, first pull the boat to the back of the lock when going uphill, not centrally or towards the front as I did going downhill, second tie up properly bow and stern, not just a centre line, a third lesson was don’t expect the water flows to be the same all locks are different and it appeared the Wey has “quite” fierce flow in the locks. Next was Walsham Lock which is left open except in times of flood, so pootle through that, Newark Priory,

Newark Priory Remains, Taken from the Lock

Papercourt Lock where a number of years ago in my former career we built a small extension onto the rear of the Lock Keepers Cottage

Paper Court Lock Keepers Cottage

for the National Trust, here there was a fierce weir on the right as I approached the lock, so I gave her some extra revs and at that point the wind kindly blew one of the gates closed, fortunately not completely but it did make entering the lock a little more challenging again!.

So another day done, another bit of learning, moored outside another Pub, The New Inn at Send, I am not venturing in because I am allowing myself to calm down slowly and soberly.

I am bored with keeping count, so....

Today 4 Locks : 6 Miles

On to the end of the Basingstoke

Another bright chilly start, leaving my mooring at 8:30 to meet the Ranger at 9:30, the water was low through the Woking section and I struggled a bit rubbing along the bottom and picking up weeds and leaves,

 frequent quick bursts of reverse revs seems to clear the prop for a while then repeat the exercise a few hundred yards later,

  it wasn’t all like this though and some very pleasant properties along the Sheerwater stretch

 and quite a few houseboats along the Woodham section, some nice, some apparently unloved, but all different.

Although the weeds and low water slowed me down I arrived at lock 6 at 9:45 ( the picture may not be no 6, I don't remember which it was),and as with yesterday, the Ranger had opened the lock ready for me. By about 12 I had finished the last lock and moored up for the day.

I had very kindly been invited to dinner by my sons partner Natalie’s parents they live literally a 20 minute walk from my mooring, so I gave Adam a call and he and Natalie walked down the towpath to meet me with Natalie’s dog “Buddy”, after a brief chat we headed off to the Pub for a quick drink before dinner, then it was back for dinner which was lovely, thank you Natalie’s mum and dad :-)

So that is my first weeks cruising finished along with the Basingstoke Canal, I have enjoyed it and can imagine in the summer it would be a beautiful way to spend a couple of weeks, the lack of water was not as bad as I expected and to be honest nor were the weeds, but I did find having to arrange my schedule around lock opening times a little off putting, fortunately I was not in a hurry so no real problem.

To Date : 29 Locks : 1 Swingbridge : 30 Miles

On through St. John's

Another bright day, I am really lucky weather wise at the moment, obviously it won’t last and I am bound to get a rainy one soon but for now I’m just happy to accept it.

Set off this morning at 8:45 to meet the Canal Ranger at 9, he’d beaten me to it and unlocked the paddle gear, so I began filling the first lock not quite sure whether to proceed or wait for him there,  I moved the boat into the lock and started to empty it when he arrived, so a quick chat about how we would proceed then off he went to fill the next lock for me.

Five locks in all and there are very close together, so no time to take any pictures, it all went ok apart from one which the approach to was difficult and shallow near the towpath, I managed to get in to the bank after a bit of a struggle but when it came to moving into the lock I could not get away from it and after trying forwards and reversing a couple of time I gave up and bought the pole out for its maiden use, a quick shove and I was free and into the lock, from then on it was smooth, although I am still having a bit of a struggle with the stopping before the locks, here on the Basingstoke there is not much of a lock landing and without someone to get off at the front of the boat it is proving challenging although I have nothing to compare it to so I may be doing it well, or I may be making a hash of it, who knows, I don’t yet until I see someone else try and then I will have a better idea, whatever, I am managing so it can’t be too bad.

All done by 11:15 and off to find a mooring, right outside a pub again,

The Bridge Barn.

It looks quite nice but it’s Strictly final tonight so I won’t be venturing in for a beer.

I had a shower and then walked Into Woking town for a few bits of clothing and then back on board to light the stove and have a cuppa.

To Date: 23 Locks : 1 Swingbridge : 25 Miles

Locks and more Locks

I stayed at the canal centre last night waiting for today when by arrangement my passage through the Deepcut and Brookwood locks would be possible.

Pootling Along

I set off at 8:30 to make sure I was at lock 28 in time to meet the Canal Ranger at 9:30, I arrived at about 9:15 so had a quick cup of tea and then Mat the Ranger arrived, he ran through the way would be proceeding and partly helped, watched me through the first lock, he then went off ahead of me to set the locks ready so I could motor straight in, once I had got through I was able to leave the gates open so that Mat could return later to caulk (seal) them up to try to prevent water loss.

All went ok, and as I got into the swing, I found that Mat had left a few of the locks empty for me to do the complete job, so it was moor up, fill the lock, open the gates, motor in, close the gates, empty the lock, motor out, it all went well, it probably adds another 10 minutes to each lock if it is against you but that very much depends on how quickly the lock fills, some are quite leaky so as the water rushes in, at the other end some of it is busy rushing out again, hence the caulking up after someone has gone through, the main reason why you have to arrange passage and have the Ranger in attendance, water loss is a real problem on the Basingstoke Canal, although I understand it has improved dramatically over recent years.

Leaking back in as I empty lock

So 17 locks, started at about 9:30, finished at about 2:30 and  reached my mooring for tonight by 2:45, what’s the word for it,  exhausted, well almost, but definitely not something I want to do  many times, after all the idea is a leisurely retirement taking in 

 some of our beautiful countryside and visiting villages etc, not  hurrying from lock to lock to lock, so my mooring for tonight is  with woodland one side, and apparently dog walker heaven the  other, it’s Knaphill.

View from the side hatch

View the other side

I won’t be venturing to far on foot as I know  the area anyway, but there is a handy Sainsbury so I will visit that, I  am probably staying put until Saturday,

(although I may move on to  see what other moorings are available), when I have arranged to  meet a Ranger again for the St John’s flight of a mere 5 locks  taking me through to just outside Woking.

To Date: 18 Locks   : 1 Swingbridge : 22 Miles

Onwards

Another nice day especially as we are mid December, I pootled off around 10am, fairly uneventful but calm and peaceful, a couple of very low bridges, line the boat up duck down before you lose your head and hope you got it right, I did a bit of practicing, moored up, set off, reversed back and moored in the same spot, it’s a bit hit and miss at the moment but no real issues, sometimes good sometimes “that could have gone better”.

Then I came to my first Lock at Ash, the lock mooring was on a slight bend but I have to say I bought the boat in lovely and tied up, walked over to the gates, nearly went base over apex on the slippery flagstone (another note to self, caution wins over speed) .

The lock was against me (empty) so filled it up, bought the boat in, emptied the lock, watching the boat carefully, down the ladder onto the roof, took the boat out, shut the gates etc, it was all good, nervy, slow, but no problems. 1 down 28 to go on this canal. I did not think to take a picture I was too busy worrying so no pictorial evidence of my very first solo Lock, oh well too late, but Ash Lock, you will never be forgotten J.

Not long after that I went over the Blackwater Aqueduct, I took a couple of pictures.

  

The traffic beneath me seemed weired.

I am moored up for the night at the Canal Visitor centre at Mytchett, I had some paperwork to fill in and a licence to pay for, but my passage off the Basingstoke is all sorted, there are no other boats moving apart from the Christmas special here at the centre, it goes off every half an hour on a short run along the canal, the kids seem to be enjoying it!

To Date: 1 Lock   : 1 Swingbridge, 

Now I am really away.

This was yesterdays post, no internet signal at my mooring last night.

A nice day, the boating Gods smiled on me, the weather was chilly but bright and fairly calm.

I woke about 7:30 and had a nice full breakfast, eggs, bacon, mushrooms and tomato’s, then I emptied the cassette and filled the water tank.

At 10 o’clock I set off and cruised along mostly at walking pace, this section of the Basingstoke is mostly just wooded, although I passed a few nice properties this one was the only one I had the camera ready for.

At Dogmersfield there has been a landslip on the towpath, so a bit tricky through there at tickover, it’s only just wider than the boat and on a bend so very narrow but got through ok, then I came to my first swingbridge, these along with lift bridges are difficult for a solo boater because the controls are on the non towpath side, normally you would stop on the towpath, a crew member crosses and opens the bridge, you go through and wait, they close the bridge and walk back across it to rejoin you, so on your own none of that is possible, fortunately for me this particular bridge had a short section to moor on either side of it on the non-towpath side, and just as I was tying up having got through a very kind couple closed and locked the bridge, so it was back aboard and continue on, I think it went well, but it was probably an easy one.
Of course being a Sunday I came through an angling match about 30 pegs at a guess so tickover again, most of them ignored my good morning greeting but some did not, one said “ you are an unusual sight, not many narrowboats on this canal”.

At about 1:15 I arrived at my intended overnight stop, moored up and walked into Fleet.

Much like any other town but a little bonus for me, I intended to stop at Millets in Woking and pick up some gloves and a chute, as luck would have it the Millets in Fleet is closing down so 30% off everything.

My mooring for the night, 30 yards to the pub, whats not to like.

For some reason I struggled to get the stove going tonight, it's not been a problem before but it didn't seem to want to kick into action, perhaps this sack of coal is not so good, anyway after a couple of hours it's fine now.

Dinner was followed by a shower, watched Strictly results, and then I thought it would be rude not to partake of a couple of beers, being so close and all.

To date: 1 Swingbridge:

And off I go.....

.....well only to the other side of the canal.

On Friday the expected delivery of the sensor did not happen, so I did some alterations to the wet cupboard where I will store mooring pins, chains etc, along with my waterproofs, once I got that finished I put a load of washing on and went off to get some milk, so a quiet day again.

Saturday was a really chilly start, quite a heavy frost, but the stove was still showing signs of life so I got that going quite quickly, and another pottering time waiting and hoping for the spare part to arrive, lunchtime came and went and I was getting quite frustrated, I could take the chance and start cruising without the sensor, but that relied on my assumption that the fault definitely lie with that part and I was not 100% certain, I was just about to make the decision when at 2:30 the postman arrived with my part, phew, so with assistance from Arthur (he had a nice big spanner the correct size), the part was fitted and the engine started, no warnings so all looked good.

So I was off, all seeming a bit real now, changed a gas bottle, settled my bill and with care moved out of my mooring and with Arthur watching the front (it is a very tight turn, not because I was a novice) and turned left, just 200 yards or so and winded (turned through 180 degrees) to get me facing the correct way and moved over to the bank and moored up, I know, not much of a cruise, but a giant step for me, this was only done because there is no-one around on Sunday and the tight exit from my mooring means it’s a lot easier with someone to watch the front.

So a few pictures now I am out.

For the last month this has been my view from the side hatch, it's and ice cream kiosk, in winter, typical me, evidently the ice creams are lovely, if I ever come back this way I will definitely moor up to say hello and try one.

Tonight this is my view, isn't that nicer.

And here are a few of Quinquireme now it can be seen more clearly.

So that's it for today, tomorrow all being well I set off  properly and begin my travels.

Not much happening

Quite a pleasant day today although it's getting windy now, not much happened, I did hoover and dust, and when I say hoovered that's ceilings walls and floors, not something I would normally do but as I got into bed last night I noticed I had company, a nice black spider about the size of a 50p coin next to a very solid looking nest in the angle between the ceiling and wall partially hidden by the curtain, tis no more though, Henry whisked it all away, the amount of dust is amazing, mostly from the solid fuel stove I guess.

I have been told the part I am waiting on for the engine cooling system will be here tomorrow, I hope so, I don't like living with the boat plugged into the mains, seems to be cheating, not real boat life if you can just switch on everything and not worry about the state of the batteries.

Pottered about for the rest of the day, moving things about, trying out new places to put things.

Oh and I wrote the boats name on the life ring (4 times ), hopefully to deter life ring collectors, I hope it stays on the roof, it could save someone's life one day, I hope it never has to, but if it's been "borrowed" it won't be a lot of use to the potential drowning victim.

Tuesday was a bit of a nothing day, got the 10 o’clock bus into town, visited Tesco, well someone’s got to help them out, I am sure my £24 will keep them afloat a while longer, then bus back.

It was chilly but in the afternoon I re-roped the existing fenders and replaced the two broken and missing ones.

Bright New Ropes

As with all things boaty I am very much on a steep learning curve and that includes Knot tying, these are called a Halyard Hitch (if I've done them correctly), 12 of them in all, I think they look quite neat, just have to see if they hold when I “brush” ever so slightly against something.

So that was my day, settled down to dinner, a shower and a bit of TV before sleep.

Wednesday, the smokeless fuel I have had on order was delivered, a sigh of relief, should be able to keep nice and warm for the next month or so, I have been using ordinary house coal as that was all I could get, I found it smelly, smokey, sooty and creates a lot of dust in the boat, so I am glad I was able to get the smokeless.

Exciting times ahead, today I booked my passage back down the Basingstoke, you have to arrange it, to conserve water the locks are not open every day, it makes planning a simple 32 mile cruise quite interesting but hey ho, and only 29 locks in that distance, I told the man I was a novice and single handed to which he replied, “don’t worry, by the time you reach the River Wey you will be an expert at dealing with locks alone!” So I will be leaving the safety of my present position on either Sunday or Monday depending on the weather and how I feel, and should reach the River Wey on Sunday 21^st, a nice leisurely cruise, apart from Wednesday when I have to get through either 14 or 18 locks depending again on how it goes, hopefully the sun will shine, the temperature will soar, the wind will disappear, and the locks will magically open to let me enter and close when I leave, but where would the fun be in that J

Happy Birthday Chloe xxx

Monday was a chilly start, first thing I had on the list was to post a birthday card to my youngest daughter Chloe, Happy Birthday Darling xxx, so it was a walk into town, pick up some milk and white spirit, note to self: “don’t mix them up when you make your cup of tea”.

So back to the to do list, a minor overheating problem (maybe), down into the engine hole, check coolant levels, a bit low, top it up, sorted? While I am down there I will change the oil and the oil filter, no idea when it was last done so to be safe now would be a good time, now I am no mechanic, probably 40 years since I did any work on an engine and that was a Royal Enfield motorcycle, very basic stuff, you could strip the engine and rebuild far quicker than you could stop the oil leaks after you had done it, so read manual, drain out about 5lt of very black oil, struggle bent over in cramped space to remove the filter, (will my hands ever be soft and smooth again) finally done, shout out to Arthur who kindly identifies said filter, locates one and drives away to collect it, I like this man!

Meanwhile job two, leaking mushroom vents, two minutes into that I find the fixings are corroded and it will be better left until I have purchased new ones ‘cos I’ll have to drill these out!  So I will incorporate that repair when I paint the roof in the extreme heat of the forthcoming (hurry up) British Summer.

Arthur returns, so I put the oil filter in, oil in, fire her up, 10 minutes later, the shrill whistle of the overheat, read manual, down engine hole, Google for ideas, down engine hole, try it again, (it may have fixed itself), 2 minutes later it’s screaming at me again, you know that feeling when you look at something but have no idea what you are looking for? Try it again (you never know) immediately that horrid noise, then it dawns on me, how can the engine overheat as soon as I switch it on it’s not even warm, fool, you don’t necessarily get wiser as you get older, faulty thermostat or sensor? Now where is that located, off with that, a new one on order, have to wait and see when it arrives. Wish me luck.

It WILL be worth it all when I get moving              won’t it?                         Of course it will.

For £3.33 !

A quick update on the faulty LED which cost £3.33

After informing them of the problem immediately I got this reply today.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please return the unused or faulty items item to the address below quoting:

·         Order number (from your invoice)

·         Reason for return

·         Your name

·         Returns number

Please make sure you obtain a FREE certificate of postage from the post Office if you are not sending items back tracked (we do not pay for recorded, special delivery or courier charges only standard 2nd class postage and then only if we are sending out replacement goods).

If you have ordered incorrectly or prefer other items we will refund the items so you can reorder.

We aim to process returns within seven working days and refunds as soon as possible (back to whichever car you used)

Please note: unwanted items can only be returned within 14 days of receipt by retail customers only (non Business sales)

Please note: please check the items are still under warranty.  A returns number does not guarantee a replacement for out of warranty items.

All items must be returned in the condition they were sent (including packaging) without being defaced or written on.

We are not able to arrange for collection of any goods once they have been delivered.

Regards

Ultraleds Ltd

Returns department

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I replied to that "you must be joking, it's a faulty LED bulb costing £3.33, just pop a replacement in the post.

They then replied;-

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi,

We do not get credit from items not returned so neither does the customer unfortunately.

Regards

Ultraleds

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well they won't be getting any credit from me either, or any more orders for anything else.

If you need anything LED wise avoid Ultraleds Ltd.

One for 69p.........

On Sunday I woke today to find it quite pleasant but slightly windy, cool, but dry and sunny.  First job of the day was to fill the water tank, it had been eight days since the last fill and although it wasn’t empty I thought that it must be getting very low.

I then put the anchor away for now, stored in the cratch (that’s the pointy area at the front where those lucky enough can sit in the summer and take in the views while the steerer does all the work) in one of the seat-storage boxes, I need to make or buy a box of some sort to store the chain and make it easier to handle, another job to do.

The LED’s have made a fairly decent difference, the batteries over the last three or four days have been showing around 64-67% charged in the morning after an afternoon/evenings use but this morning they were showing 77% so that reduced the engine run-time to recharge from four hours to three, a significant saving over the course of a year, not bad for a £66 outlay and a hopefully they will last some time.

As I am discovering with narrowboat life it seems so far to be for everything I sort out another problem rears its head and today when running the engine the overheat warning screamed at me, so that’s top of the list for tomorrow, I also discovered when fitting the LED’s that a couple of the mushroom roof vents appear to be leaking so if it’s dry that is number two job tomorrow!

I was feeling a little tired, washing the boat yesterday was, I think, the cause, so I took it easy, put away my summer shirts, don’t think I’ll be needing them for a while :-(, then got down to some reading on cooling problems and correct usage of the stove, I think I have now got a better handle on the stove, not literally, although the current one does keep falling off so another on the to do list, but just how to load it and keep it more constant, rather blaring hot or hardly burning at all, it’s all quite a learning process, I’ll find out tomorrow if the reading on cooling problems has helped enough for me to sort out that problem.

.....and one for 69p or three for a pound, the single persons dilemma, I am talking about silly offers, this was for bread batons, two for a pound would be fine but three? the third one will be stale before I eat it, wasteful.

Retirement does not mean you stop working.........

you just don't get paid anymore.

Saturday morning was a chilly start, a heavy overnight frost coupled with the fact the I had let the stove go out intentionally so I could carry out a small fix on it meant the boiler was switched on as soon as I got out of bed. I carried out the fix which was just securing the baffle plate which had been intermittently falling down on to the fire, not very easy to re-position when the stove is burning at full tilt, anyway that’s another job temporarily done.

Bubble corner Stove

Anyone know how to stop the door sooting up?






Next job was to sort out how best to position the anchor/chain and rope when I am on the rivers, I decided on the roof at the bow, obviously with everything attached ready to hurl over the side should the worst occur, engine failure, it will mean running along the roof first, but the other alternative having it at the stern, to hand, would mean it would be in the way most of the time and a potential trip hazard, whether my decision is correct? I hope I never need to test it out, it is ridiculously heavy, have I over-estimated the size etc? Oh well it’s done now.

Once the frost had gone I decided to wash the left side gunnel and side of the boat, I can tell you that is hard work when you are walking between two boats, the different rise and fall as you step made it interesting and afterwards I felt like I was rocking from foot to foot when I was standing still J, anyway another job done and she looks more respectable now and definitely safer to walk along the sides.

Before

After

Back inside for a warm up it was time to change all the lights to LED’s for the technical amongst you that cuts my potential useage (with all lights on) from 10amps per hour to 2.5amps per hour (I think), so a good saving and I will see tomorrow how much difference it actually makes to the state of charge in the batteries and the re-charge time.

Unfortunately within a couple of hours one of the LED's "blew", I have emailed the supplier and hopefully it's a one off problem, they are supposed to last 5,000 hours.

That was it for the day, so settled down with dinner to watch Strictly, I think Caroline will win, sorry Caroline probably just killed off any hope you had.

Time flies

Well it’s been an interesting week, on Monday I returned the hire car and had a pleasant public transport journey back, the first in many years, I picked up some supplies and got back to the boat.

Smart Gauge Fitted

I finished fitting the Smart Gauge battery monitor and uplugged the shorepower line to see how things performed using just battery bank and engine, after all that’s how it will be when I get moving.

On Tuesday about 2:30, the Smart Gauge was showing the batteries 64% charged so I ran the engine to see how long it would take to get back to full charge expecting it to take a couple of hours. I must stop assuming things!
4 hours later the Smart Gauge was showing 67% charged, at this rate after an evenings use of electricity it would take 2 days running the engine to get back to full charge, something was wrong, a look at the voltmeter told me the charging rate was woeful.

So Wednesday morning a shout out to Arthur, he soon located a broken cable in the charging system and left me to repair it. A run of the engine after repairs showed that to be ok and hopefully now all is well.

Wednesday afternoon saw me removing a leaking porthole to investigate and repair, it seems the problem is just the sealant breaking down, so after rust removal and priming I have put a temporary cover over the hole (black bin bag) and will reseal it and fix it back temporarily when the rain stops, the internal liner is swollen due to the water being soaked up into it, so a new liner is necessary, all four portholes are in a similar condition so at some time in the future I will source new liners, probably non-timber, and carry out the repairs permanently.

Internally Water Stains

Saturated and Swollen Liner 

Thursday was a spending day, sourced an anchor, anchor chain, anchor rope, centre line, 2 mooring chains, 2 mooring pins, 1 replacement fender, life-ring, life jacket, most of which are only necessary for the rivers I will be on occasionally, oucccchhhh....... still have to find a plank and pole somewhere locally. Moved the boat to the diesel point, 122 litres, oucccchhhh....... moved the boat back to it’s mooring and with a much lighter wallet I decided by 3pm to call it a day.

Today, Friday a fairly nice day weather wise so I decided I would refit the porthole, and while doing that wash that side of the boat, of course as soon as I started it began to rain, anyway got it all finished eventually, looks better for a wash,

Unwashed Left Side

Washed Right Side

and hopefully the porthole will hold out the rain until I do the permanent job on all four of them. The shopping from yesterday arrived, I just hope I never have to use the anchor in anger, the anchor is heavy enough, add the chain, and the rope, hoisting it over the side will just about be ok but how I would recover it after the danger has passed is beyond me!!! oh well at least fitting the centre line was easy.

Must get moving, Chilli Con Carne to cook, wine to open......

Another Good (Cleaning) Day

I was away from the boat yesterday visiting my sister and shopping for some bits and pieces, a nice new little stainless steel kitchen pedal bin, a small folding table/tray and some other bits, when I got back to the boat it was cold and misty but my ecofan had arrived along with the battery monitor which I now have to fit.

I also bought these....so now my feet are warm and snug whilst looking very inhuman.

As it was cold I decided to light the boiler first, this gave me my first scare when as soon as I pressed the ignition button there was a very loud bang followed by a puff of smoke, so I switched everything off, gas and power to the boiler, and lit the stove instead, I needed hot water so I ran the engine for an hour to heat enough, then settled down to dinner and the obligatory glass of red wine.

Today was a good day, I topped up the water tank, cleaned the remainder of the, postponed due to injury, roof, the bow deck, the stern deck, the engine hatch frame, the weed hatch frame and just about every other horizontal surface externally. With a call to the very obliging Arthur we together (Arthur mostly) investigated the boiler problem, we think we have solved the problem and having hoovered out some 50mm of soot dislodged by the minor explosion, I stood at one end of the boat whilst Arthur switched the system back on (in the middle of the boat), all was well and it seems to be running fine now, but I will monitor the burners and pilot light over the next few days.

My little Tv ariel arrived, so I connected that and tuned the TV, 99 channels, 25 radio channels excellent result in this location, if it continues like that when I get cruising I will be very happy although I doubt it will and to be honest I didn’t miss the TV much, but it’s nice to keep up with the news and of course Strictly Come Dancing.

Spag Bol tonight, a glass of el Vino and an early night. Tired but content.

This is my internal view, not quite organised yet, but getting there!

First Weekend On Board

Moved onto the boat Friday after a week of clearing, cleaning and sorting stuff out, there’s lots of storage but it’s not like a house, it’s all tucked away in every useable space, so being organised is a requirement and remembering where you have put things is a necessity, already discovered that when trying to find where I’d put the laptop power lead. All’s good though, Friday evening I looked out of the side hatch to see total blackness, the very faint rumble of traffic a few miles away, possibly the M3 or my tinnitus, not sure which. I would love to say I slept like a log but I did not, I slept the same as usual, waking every 2 or 3 hours, but I did sleep til just before 8am, that’s an improvement!

Saturday I decided to clean the roof and gunnels (little strip along both sides of the boat about 10cms wide where you walk), as the boat hasn’t been used for some time they are slimy with a sort of moss type covering, not too visible but very noticeably slippery when wet, so I did the starboard gunnel (impressive what, picking up the terminology already) and then started on the roof, well it’s a bit bigger than a car and having got half way along one side and running out of energy I decided to walk along the (uncleaned) gunnel between my boat and the boat moored alongside me, to finish that half, all went well, but as I was finished and walked back towards the stern (just showing off now) the inevitable happened, slipped on the uncleaned bit of gunnel which was covered in wet leaves and my right foot discovered that canal water is cold, catching myself before falling in completely, and rapidly looking around to make sure that no-one was watching, I thought I had got away with it, but by late evening my left knee was melon sized, in case you don’t know me it’s normally coconut sized, so I either banged it or twisted it while I was averting the disaster of going headfirst into the cut (more boaty vocabulary). So a big note number 1 to self, “no hurry, look, think, look again, if in doubt, don’t”

Sunday awoke at 8:30, I like this improvement, nobody around, just the odd walker on the towpath, hobbled off to empty the cassette (you don’t need to know) and relaxed for the rest of the day.

Monday morning I woke up to a chilly boat, I had deliberately allowed the stove to go out, note number 2 to self, “always check the weather forecast”, evidently it was -4 degrees here last night, ice inside the Houdini hatch made me look outside to a lovely sight of mist over the water and frost all around, (when I find my camera I will start posting some pictures, I know, get organised Alan) so boiler on, light the stove, and then all is well, I have lots to learn, but that’s all part of the fun. I just pottered around really the knee is better but not enough to work on the boat, lots to do, but no rush,(see note to self number 1)

Now where did I put that corkscrew? As if.

Deal Done

The survey was carried out and all was fine, just a few minor items which were soon sorted and after meeting the current owners today, the result is I now own these.........

There is a boat to go with them !

Phase II next which I will call familiarization (only because that's what it is) followed by moving loads  of stuff onto the boat and probably finding there's not enough room to keep everything I want to keep so then moving it to various recycling and disposal bins. I must also explore the local public house and exchange some money for the local brew, I have heard that this is a formality all boaters are required to comply with.

At the moment as the blog title suggests I have no fixed plans and with Winter rapidly approaching, various lock closures, and a few other worries I may have to stay where the boat is moored for the time being, but once I've got things sorted both practically and in my head I will attempt to draw up some loose plans to get moving, after all that is what the boat is for.

And so it begins...

After three years of research, anticipation, and some planning ( almost definitely not enough ) I have retired from work and today put a deposit on my new mobile life and home, which will be aboard the narrowboat....

                             “Quinquireme”. ( I will take some better pictures later )

She’s a 55’ semi-trad, constructed in 2002 and I think she will suit me admirably, she needs some tender loving care to bring her back to a condition which befits her, but I have time on my hands now and will look forward to the challenge of working on her, living on her, and exploring this countries canals and rivers aboard her.

Survey etc. to follow before I actually own her, but hopefully that will be problem free and next post will confirm that and I will begin the process of getting her ready for me to start this new adventure.