Back at Rickmansworth....

.....after a rainy stop at Cassiobury Park.

Well hasn’t the weather changed, I stayed the weekend at Hunton Bridge and did wander down to the ‘village’, nothing to write about though, the Pub did not look appealing and the convenience store was small but handy, although they did charge me 80p for using my debit card which I think is out of order, but when you have no cash on you what else can you do.

Saturday the weather was showers, I looked out of the cabin window to see an amazing rainbow but by the time I had got my camera ready it had faded which was a shame.

On Monday I did a short cruise down to Cassiobury Park for a change of scenery, it was mostly uneventful but the pound between the two Hunton Bridge locks (72 and 73) was extremely low, down about 18”, I could see the top gates were open on the next lock so decided I could get there without running any water down, I did, but it was very slow and I scraped along the bottom even keeping to the centre of the channel, I should have run some H2O down!

Just a cruise picture

Arriving at the first of the two Cassiobury Park locks (75) there was already a wide beam waiting to go down and a narrowboat coming up, so I held station mid channel and waited, once the narrow had passed me and the wide had gone in I moved up to the lock landing and gave them a hand, you can see the second lock and another boat was coming up so I waited for him rather than turn the lock and waste water, I locked him through then entered myself, I was just about to close the top gates when a boat appeared wanting to go down so I waited for them as well, they were surprised to see me still there as I had passed by them some time earlier but I explained what had taken so long and then we shared that lock and the next two before I moored up opposite Cassiobury Park.

Mooring

It rained heavily Tuesday and was not very pleasant yesterday either but I did manage to get a couple of trips to Morrisons avoiding the rain on the mile walk each way.

This morning I cast off just before 9am, first job was to fill the water tank, so I pulled in just before Cassiobury Bridge lock (78) and that took best part of an hour, the tank was down to about 250ltrs so that was about 650ltrs added with a slowish tap.

Water tank filling.

No problems with the next lock and I was on my way again.

'Underground' train rail bridge

At Cassiobury Wharf I passed fuel boat Hyperion, I think this may be their base, I had seen them there when I walked to Morrison’s the day before , unless there are on a break.

Along the very straight section at Croxley where there were plenty of spaces but not for me to use today.

Do you ever feel like sometimes you just can’t get all your ducks in a row?

Approaching this boat I wondered what the box floating alongside was.

But on passing it looked like a duck house, maybe those six white ones’ home.

Lot Mead lock (80) was slow to empty as one paddle was out of action, I had a couple of gongoozlers watching me intently but they never spoke to me.

Batchworth lock was the last for me today and a stop at the service point afterwards to empty the cassette and dispose of the rubbish before moving off to find a mooring, loads of room so I moored well before the large Tesco, having moored opposite it a few times I know the lights stay on all night and can be quite bright disturbing sleep.

Current Mooring:

Totals this post: 6 miles : 10 locks

After the mini heatwave.......

.......time for a change of scenery.

Obviously it has been too hot too cruise (to me anyway)  and I had stayed at Kings Langley waiting for a ‘cooler’ day, a few boats have been passing my mooring, some setting off early to avoid the heat some with the canopies raised or big parasols to shield them and a few moving later in the early evening, not for me though just too hot.

But as the forecast for today was for much lower temperatures I had already decided to move, as long as it wasn't pouring with rain, I woke at 5:30 to a pleasantly cool start to the day, a leisurely cup of tea and two Weetabix with milk and honey before getting myself ready, I had a decision to make though, shorts or trousers?, I settled on shorts.

I didn’t want to leave too early as I only intended it to be a short trip but by 9am I was itching to move so I put a small load of washing in the machine and got everything else ready, as soon I put a foot on deck it began raining, damn weather, so I nipped below and changed into trousers, it was only a very short shower and I was casting off almost immediately having changed, about 100yards along the canal and there was a huge clap of thunder, the sky was dark and I wondered if I had made a poor decision.

The first lock imaginatively named Kings Langley lock (69a) was empty and against me, so I sat on the beam while it filled and looked up at the sky, it looked like rain was definitely on the cards for sometime during this trip.

Kings Langley Lock landing

After entering the lock I was again watching it empty, it was almost there so my boat was hidden in the depths when the mooring warden rode along, I was surprised that he still recorded it but he did, I have chatted to this chap many times and our exchange this morning was all about the weather, typical English folk.

I had passed a moving boat on the next section so when I arrived at Home Park Mill Lock (70) it was in my favour, on the south side of this lock below the bottom gates there are two bridges, the first is a big concrete job and the canal must have been widened during the bridges construction to allow meeting boats a bit of room because the next bridge is quite narrow and skewed so that the approach is blind, it can be tricky when you’re heading north and suddenly find a boat just leaving the lock going south!

Quite wide as you pass beneath the first bridge

But narrow beneath the second bridge and it's on a bend so the approach is
blind until it's too late! 

They are doing something to the underside of the huge M25 bridge and have a large scaffold erected, it does not improve the look.

The next lock, North Grove (71) was against me having emptied due to leakage, so I had to turn that one before scanning for a mooring.

I arrived at Hunton Bridge, a small village surrounded by busy roads, mooring can be problematical as “the bottom is too near the top” (it’s shallow) along the edge, I have struggled here before but fortunately found a reasonable spot today with the stern just about 18inches off the bank.

Current mooring:

Totals today: 1.5 miles : 3 locks

I know I haven’t moved far but I am still killing time a bit and although I don’t think there is much here I have never wandered along to the village, according to Maps.me there is a couple of pubs and a convenience store, I will take a look tomorrow if it’s dry.

The rain today must have passed me by and it's been very pleasant despite the early stormy skies.

This little bunch were nipping along the canal across from me, they were going full tilt and with camera on zoom it’s a bit fuzzy but I liked the tight little group and just managed to get them all in shot.

I will probably stay here the weekend and watch the Formula 1.

What do you do?

When it's 34 degrees on deck but the the steelwork feels like 50, it's probably hotter inside and even with all the windows open the doors, roof hatch and side hatch open there's no breeze.

Well I cooked a Chicken Jalfrezi washed it down with a cold pint of London Pride and then had a cold shower.

Lovely weather.

Hectic week.......

......for a boat dweller.

On Tuesday I walked into the village and got my haircut.

Wednesday saw me again walk into the village this time to visit the launderette to get a duvet cover and sheet washed and dried. Back on the boat I put a load of ‘normal’ washing through the machine.

On Thursday I headed off on foot in the other direction to an industrial estate to purchase oil for the engine oil change due shortly. Back on the boat I washed the bedroom and shower room floors.

On Friday I put the washing away and then washed the galley and saloon floors, exhausted now from the activity of the week I rested and read from my kindle, sometimes you have to chill, no sense in over doing things J

On Saturday I had a visit from my son Adam, daughter in law Natalie and granddaughter Hazel, after feeding the ducks we went off to in the car to Cassiobury Park where we had a ride on the miniature railway, a play in the playground then an ice cream, sadly the paddling pool area was all closed for refurbishment work, we walked through the park and down to the towpath on a circular route that took us back to the car and we went off for something to eat, it had all been exhausting for little Hazel and she slept while we ate our meals waking briefly as they dropped me back at the boat, it was a lovely day, thank you for coming to see me.

Just locking up before heading off to Cassiobury park.

A happy face on the miniature railway.

Yesterday was of course Fathers Day and I was treated to another visit, this time my ex-wife Elaine, two daughters Chloe and Anissa, and latest granddaughter Imogen, her first visit to Quinquireme. We spent a while on the boat chatting with me opening gifts and Imogen being fed before heading off to the recreation ground alongside the canal for a picnic, where we found a nice shady spot beneath a tree and chilled for a couple of hours, it was another lovely day and so nice to get some cuddles of the very tiny Imogen, she’s just five weeks old. Again thank you all for coming.

Cuddles with Auntie Chloe.

Grandpa assisting with some winding.

Nice shaded spot for a cuddle

I will be staying here today and topping up with some provisions before deciding when and where to head off again.

Time to go.

A few trips to Sainsbury saw the provisions topped up, I decided to stay the weekend and let the weather brighten up a bit, I could also watch the highlights of the Canadian Grand Prix which was a walk in the park for Lewis Hamilton.

I have treated myself to a new Vax battery vacuum cleaner, there was nothing wrong with the old ‘Henry’ but it was pain getting out from the cupboard (it meant moving the rear steps) and having to run the engine during use and also it was quite bulky, the new one is a revelation, light, convenient and with 25 minutes of run time and 5 hours to recharge it would seem to be a good purchase (£120).

My son said he would have the old one for work and had arranged to collect it next Saturday, but it was a lovely surprise when he asked where I was yesterday and drove over with my Granddaughter  Hazel for a visit, we had a walk down to Apsley Marina and bought ice cream which went down well with Hazel, quite a lot down her clothes J

She'd had a choccy biscuit too, so looking a little more disheveled
 than when she arrived.

I also bought a new duvet set, I was baffled by the different types of pillow case names and had to ask what the different types were, I thought a pillow case was a pillow case!

I decided to move on today but on looking ahead to the service point I could see that a wide beam who had moored there overnight was still there, I wasn’t in a rush or desperate to move but he really should have moved on early, it was 10am when I noticed him preparing the lock for himself to leave so I decided I would still go, first I put a load of washing in the machine and then set off to do the usual empty and fill.

Having finished that and moved into the lock I could see a brested pair heading towards it, so on leaving I opened both bottom gates for them so they could go straight in.

Apsley middle lock (66)

The short run down to the next lock.

I had hoped the next lock which wasn’t far ahead would be in my favour as the brested pair had just come up but when I arrived another boat coming up had already started to turn the lock, so I tied up and helped him through before going through myself.

Apsely bottom lock (67)

Arriving at the next lock a wide trip boat was just leaving so I held back, the approach is on a bend, until he was out and clear and then went straight in.

Nash Mills lock (68)

I could see in the distance another wide beam was in the next lock so that meant another bonus for both of us, no gates to close, we both left our locks about the same time and as I watched him approach I was a bit amused at his antics, he was literally rubbing along the offside bank, so much so that he managed to rip a big bush out, it was very strange, he didn’t look at all embarrassed or make any comment as he passed by, very odd behaviour.

The next lock also had a boat waiting to come up so he assisted me through, 4 locks and all had gone well meeting boats at them all.

I passed by Darth Vader who seemed so shocked to see me he had stumbled backwards but luckily he was cable tied to his storm trooper buddy!.

I wanted to stop at Kings Langley and was pleased to see a nice space as I approached, last time I moored here I had quite a job getting the pins into the solid edge, today I only needed to pin the stern as there was a handily place rope looped through the edging near my bow, and the pins at the stern went it well.

I am staying here over the weekend again, visits have been arranged for Fathers day and I need to use a launderette for my larger items (mainly to get them dry and put away same day) and get a haircut.

I should be safe enough as I have a knight opposite watching my boat.

Current Mooring:

Totals today: 2 miles : 4 locks    

Hot water back on.

Having waited the requisite 24 hours for the rust treatment to dry on Monday I managed to get two coats of Hammerite over the affected areas before the rain came down.

Tuesday it rained all morning but in the afternoon I re- installed the cylinder adding a stop valve and drain off point to the cold feed, which will allow me to isolate the supply and drain down in future if I need to.

I replaced the washers to all the connections and after some minor problems with air locks on the central heating coil it was all back up and running successfully.

A nice hot shower last night completed the testing and then this morning I checked it all again for water soundness, luckily no leaks! 

However I did find a very minor leak ( about 1 small drip per hour ) on the diesel stop tap something I hadn’t noticed before but it showed up on the new paint work in the area I painted the other day, so I have pinched up the fitting and tied some tissue around it to see if that has worked, if not I will have to fit a new stop tap.

I am leaving it all a day or two before putting the stored bits and pieces back, and later when summer arrives properly I may tackle the bilges (again) where there is some rusting, it needs nice warm weather to dry the area properly.

Meanwhile, not much happening, my lock duties have continued and I am amazed how many people just ignore the signage, I must have walked up to sort out the lock paddles a dozen times, I now  also check it before going to bed.

When arriving here I found I had lost my glasses somewhere between the lock and my mooring, they must have fallen out of my shirt pocket, probably straight into the canal, so I took a walk into Hemel Hempstead today to visit Boots, I only buy reading glasses these days and at £18.95 a pair it's not too painful, a special offer of two pairs for £30 tempted me so I now have two new pairs plus two old backups!

I am killing time a bit waiting for another family 'thing' before finally getting off this canal ( I can't wait ) and will no doubt move a bit further South shortly, once the boredom here sets in again.

Low water....

..... and no water.

When I arrived here at Apsley there was only one place to moor up, that was immediately after the lock I had just come down, it was ok but a bit shallow, the stern of the boat sits lower in the water than the bow so it meant I could not get the stern against the bank but it was no problem really and one of those things you just accept, but when I woke at 6am on Saturday I rolled out of bed, literally, the boat was listing quite badly as the water level in the pound has dropped overnight, I knew this might occour as I have been here before, the bottom paddles of the lock adjacent to me should be left up and the lock empty but whether out of laziness or just not reading/seeing the signs a lot of boats do not do this, so having had brekkie and sorted myself the first job was to run some water down through the lock leveling my boat.

What had actually happened was the water level had risen during the afternoon and so the stern of my boat had drifted in to the bank and the when the level had dropped again I was left high and dry, so I decided to employ a second bow line (called a 'spring') to keep the bow in and prevent the stern drifting in again, this is not their real purpose, there are meant to prevent the boat moving backwards and forwards as other boats pass by but I thought I'd try it anyway.

Black rope is the 'spring' line

I'm about 30" off the bank at the stern

This situation has also led to me being chief paddle raiser and lock monitor, before going to bed Saturday night I walked up to the lock and raised the paddles, Sunday I woke still level, however I have just had a cuppa on deck and the last boat up the lock not only ignored the signs but he has left the top gates open with the paddles raised, pure laziness and inconsiderate in this instance, I will sort it out later, partial rant over!

Back to the project, Saturday saw me remove the hot water cylinder, draining it and putting the water from it, by way of a 20ltr water can, into the cold water tank, this process along with the removal took roughly 3 hours, the next 4 hours was spent doubled up in the engine bay removing a heavy layer of rust from beneath the cylinder and a lighter layer elsewhere, by the end of it I was knackered filthy and my back was urging me to have a pint of beer, not yet though, first I had to get the area treated, then having done that, tidy up, then having done that a nice long hot shower.........would have been lovely........ but no hot water, so three kettles of boiling water and about a 30 minute process of washing my hair and then myself, it's blooming awkward stood in a bowl of hot water trying to get the grime off! Then I sat and had a bottle of London Pride beer, lovely.

That rust is no more !

The treatment takes 24 hours to dry so no work on it today, hopefully it will be dry along with the weather tomorrow and I can get two coats of Hammerite on, well hopefully, this is England!

Now I am off to sort the lock out, again.

Hello.......

.....it’s me again.

It’s been a while since the last post; I’ve been doing a few jobs but nothing that required an immediate blog update and they have kept me busy and tired.

It’s that rust again, anyone who has been following this blog for a while might remember that two years ago I painted the engine bay, an horrendous job, after finishing it I was very pleased with myself but rust began to reappear some few months later and I found the product I had been sold was not the correct one, I wasn’t happy. So the time has come to sort out the horizontal areas above the engine ( I believe the correct term is the ‘swims’), they have suffered most as they were the worst to begin with, but first I had another little problem to solve, the enclosed area of stern deck held water, the boat builders soloution was to drill a hole in one corner, this worked but the water flows down onto the swim before ending up in the bilge where the pump deals with it, the upshot was a more or less permanently wet area on the swim where my starter battery and other bits are stored, this was not helping the rust problem!

So the first job was to put a fitting in the hole and connect to hose to it taking it straight to the bilge, whilst doing that I repainted the bit of stern deck which was also showing rust again.

Fitting in the corner prior to repainting the whole area (again!)

No picture of the finished job as I put my folding bike back without thinking (it’s stands in this area) and could not be bothered to move it out again just for a picture.

On Saturday 27^th it rained, fairly hard!

Happy gardeners, I understand.

So on Sunday I started on the work below deck, I had to disconnect the starter battery and remove that prior to preparation and painting, it was a dirty dusty job, what isn’t on a boat! In this situation I am trying Owatrol Oil as a rust inhibitor followed by two coats of Hammerite, fingers crossed that it lasts more than two years, I replaced the starter battery and it’s wooden enclosure having raised it of the swim with a couple of supports.

I am often amused by my own stupidity, to remove the worst of the rust I used a mini angle grinder with sanding disc, to do this you need to remove the safety guard, care is required, I managed to 'nick' the knuckle on my right index finger, not badly, but enough to warn me, I then proceeded to nick the knuckle on my left index finger, oh well at least they match, almost perfectly actually!

A trip to the plumbers merchant prior to moving this morning to Apsley, the next job is one I am not looking forward to, the other swim area holds my hot water tank, for some reason unknown to me the cylinder is called a calorifier in boating circles, and it has to come out, there are no drain off or stop valves ( very useful!) so it will be cut through a pipe and panic, anyway I have bought the necessary fittings and will tackle it tomorrow if the weather is dry.

This bit was not painted last time

This bit was!

 As you can see the rust is apparent, when I painted two years ago I did not remove the cylinder, it was a job for ‘later’, now is ‘later’, with the lack of space as an added (but not unusual) problem, it should be ‘interesting’ to say the least, wish me luck.

So the trip this morning was short, just a mile or so and two locks, nothing of interest really and I am back in Apsley, the water service tap is a few hundred yards ahead of me so if all goes base over apex I can at least fill a kettle!

Just a picture of the cruise

 Current Mooring:

A bit 'arty'