A visit to the Blacksmith

This morning I walked along the towpath to find the Blacksmith, Bob Nightingale who started his own business in 1990, his workshop is just before the entrance to Blisworth Tunnel and what a nice man he is, I arrived just as he was setting up, my Bubble Stove grate support had badly warped and although it saw me through my first winter aboard the warping meant that a small guard just inside the door wouldn't fit properly and allow air flow up the front of the door which is why my door kept sooting up.

Warped grate assembly which supports the actual grate.

The parts supplier website said that if this part was warped due to the temperature becoming too hot and uneven a replacement would be neccesary, cost £44.95 inc VAT and delivery.

Bob looked at it and said 'let's see what we can do' he stopped setting up and fired up his mini-furnace, while it was heating up we chatted about various things and he showed me some of the things he did, from boat hooks to wrought-iron work of all types, he allowed me to wander around looking at things as he got to work.

A few belts with the hammer, lose all your stress.

And here is the result.

Flat again, and it has been re-fitted into my stove.

The overall process took about 15 mins but most of that time was heating the metal, a tour of the workshop, some history thrown in, cost £2.00, that's what I call service. If you need a Blacksmith give Bob a call or visit his website Bob-the-blacksmith

On the way back I passed 'The Boat Inn' a very nice pub, good selection of real ales, I had previously sampled two of these, and very busy popular restaurant  attached or bar meals, also has a small shop within which is very handy for boaters.

Just before lunchtime there was a knock on my roof and it was Karl asking if I fancied trying the two main meals for £10 at 'The Navigation' I don't normally eat a main meal at lunchtime but I thought why not, so we walked up the towpath and had lunch accompanied by a beer. It's a bit more modern than The Boat Inn but offers free Wi-Fi and a reasonable range of beer, and a fairly typical pub menu, I had 10oz Gammon steak with fried egg and pineapple, chips and peas, it was what it said it was and ok for a fiver.

The canal museum is about the last thing I want to see here and it was shut when I passed by this morning, but having looked on the website I see it opens at 10am so I will have a look at that tomorrow and then weather permitting move on Wednesday.