Problems, Problems!
Monday 6th May
Another chilly and cloudy day, although somewhat warmer than
yesterday. I borrowed a bicycle pump from the waterways chaplain, despite the
lack of bike on board his boat. I pumped up the air reservoir, which smoothes
out the water pump pulsing and increased the pressure switch on the end of the
pump, which seemed to improve things somewhat. I was also aware that too much
water pressure would open the hot water tank pressure release valve into the
engine ‘ole, which in turn would start the automatic bilge pump. To stop that
possibility I had to remember to turn off the water pump when I left the boat,
just in case it happened again.
After some breakfast, I had a walk along to the Paddington
Arm to see who was moored there and also to warm up. I had allowed the fire to
go out this morning, thinking that it was a warmer day – perhaps not! When I
returned to Stronghold, many boats had left the South towpath moorings already
until there were only three of us left on the end – Helen Dobbie, Phil Bassett
and me. At the same time Mark Saxon was phoning me to ask me to move off the
mooring, so it was time to go. With the wind blowing from my left it was
impossible to turn into it, until I could get alongside the towpath, after
which it was easy to power up and turn in the direction of Delamere Terrace,
where I was hoping to moor up again for the night. I spotted Miss Matty where I
could breast up alongside and thinking that there was no one on board I pulled
in, but both Robin and Laura were there and I requested permission while they
helped moor me alongside, so safe for tonight at least.
In the meantime I mentioned to Phil Bassett that I had left
it too late to book in for the Rickmansworth Festival in two weeks time. As the
main man for the Ricky Fest. he said that there were still a few places
available, so as soon as I had moored up, I booked a place and am keeping
fingers crossed meanwhile until I get confirmation. It’s not what you know, but
who you know in this game.
Tuesday 7th May
What a beautiful morning, sunny and no wind for a change. A
brief chat with Robin and Laura before departing just before 09.30. Miles and
miles of moored live-aboard boats of every size and description. Nb Jack
Merrick is still here, previously owned by David Brixey and now joined by the
cruiser Herbie, previously owned by the Pilgrim family and on the Pelican Wharf
moorings. I knew she was up for sale only a few weeks ago.
As I had mentioned previously, the Paddington Arm was far
cleaner this year than last and I had no problems that couldn’t be shaken off
by chucking back now and then. I arrived at Bulls Bridge just after 13.30 and
there was no one on the water point, so that was the first place to moor and
fill the tank. After that, I could move up beyond a wide beam and go to Tesco
to stock up and then write a bit more of this drivel. Rain is due tonight and
could last into Wednesday morning and I have no intention of boating in that,
unless I have to.
Wednesday 8th May
I awoke to the sound of rain pattering on the cabin top and
sure enough it was fairly pelting down, so no moving for a while. In the
meantime I prepared and cooked pork chops in cider with apple and onion
according to Nigel Slater. I now have details of the Ricky Festival and payment
details, but will have to wait for a better internet connection before I can
pay the fee of £40.
The last and only time I went to Ricky was with the Narrow
Boat Trust way back in 2011, which was my first ever trip with a pair of
working boats. Very exciting times and I was soaking up everything new like a
sponge.
I thought I knew all about narrow boating, until I joined
NBT and then it was a case of more or less starting all over again, especially
with a butty in tow. It certainly improved my personal boating skills
afterwards, but no one ever knows it all, despite what they might say.
The rain ceased about midday, although the forecast showed
it continued until about 20.00, but decreasing all the time, so I will collect
some charcoal from Tesco, in hope for the future good weather and continue to
Uxbridge.
It was not to be today however, what with squalls and heavy
rain showers in the afternoon. The wind was so strong that if I released the
mooring lines, Stronghold would have easily been blown across to the other
bank. Resigned to spend a boring afternoon and evening waiting out a break in
the weather for tomorrow.
I must say that the internet connections around here are
dire. I have an expensive BT broadband account which should give me a choice of
5,000,000 BT hotspots nationally. Well
here they might well be spots, but hot they are distinctly not. I must take
10mins to actually log on and when you think you are, I get lies telling me
that I am, when I cannot get a connection to another site. So much for BT
expensive crap.
Thursday 9th May
The weather had improved somewhat by this morning, so I let
go mid-morning intending to get to Uxbridge and get some advice about the low
domestic water pressure from Uxbridge Boat Centre, where I seem to have visited
every year as far as I can remember on this stretch. They mentioned every item
that I had previously checked and that they no longer supplied the Shurflo
pumps any longer after so many returns of the 3901, which was the one I had.
Recommended was the Jabsco, who have been manufacturing pumps for more years
than I can remember, so I bought a replacement, although it produced only
slightly more pressure than the Shurflo.
By this time I was outside the Swan and Bottle, with nb Stafford
moored ahead of me (Malcolm Burge’s boat). The pub gives a 10% discount for
CAMRA members, so I had a second pint at a reduced rate.
Friday 10th May
It was that time again when I had to tighten the alternator
belts, as I was tired of hearing the squeeling of the belts when starting the
engine every morning. Surprisingly enough it was a very quick job to do, having
done it so many times before and being aware of exactly the size of spanners
required.
I hailed a live aboard boater later in the morning, hoping
to go through Uxbridge and Denham Deep Lock at 11ft. without having to climb
the long ladder. He was a single handed boater and I mean that literally, as he
was minus his right hand! How could he possibly climb any vertical ladder I wondered?
His boat was just entering the lock when the gear button on the Morse control
became stuck when he tried to reverse, so he had to back out and let me in. I
returned to see exactly what had happened, but the Morse control was firmly
fastened to a plate holding all the gauges with no easy method of removal. He
phoned a friend close by for some help and when I met him later it appeared
than the cable had come loose behind the panel and was soon fixed.
There was a small plastic cruiser already in Denham and the
guy waited for me to enter also, so that I was astern of his boat. It was only
fastened at the bow by one line and could not be controlled easily as the lock
was slowly filled. Meanwhile I remained on board Stronghold to keep clear of
crushing the cruiser and held by a centre line only. The lock took ages to fill
and although leaking badly through the bottom gates, one of the gate paddles
was not fully closed, although he thought he had closed them. Both men were
live aboards and obviously not experienced boaters, which was so obvious.
Arriving just below Copper Mill Lock, I took the first
available space at the back of a line of mostly widebeams. It was opposite some
smartly built houses and only a short walk to The Coy Carp, which I visited
later. Another Vintage Inns establishment, but they did offer a CAMRA discount
as previously mentioned. I had not been in here for several years and not much
had changed in the interval.
Saturday 11th May
Today was a day of rest for me, as I was too early to get
Ricky for the festival next weekend, so it was a day of some walking along the
towpath and reading, as the TV reception here is non-existent.
Sunday 12th May
I still had enough hot water in the tank to do some washing,
so set up the Mickey Mouse twin tub machine that I found at the Braunston tip
last year. Much to my disappointment, the spinner drum would not rotate at its
usual high speed and there was some washing water also in the drum. Anyway, the
washer drum was OK, so I was resigned to do the washing and ring it all out by
hand. Just another annoyance to be fixed if possible. The back plate was taken
off and the brake Bowden cable appeared to be very rusty, so the brake did not appear
to release. Duly lightly lubricated, it gradually worked loose, but still no
joy on the drum speed. Eventually with the washing completed, the machine was
drained and with the water out of the spinner compartment it worked at full
speed. Why that slowed it down was beyond comprehension, but it saved a great
deal of hand work and cheered me up no end.
It had been a day of sunny spells in between the cumulus
cloud, and very warm in the sunshine, with even better days forecast for the
remainder of the week. A great many people were walking the towpath and
enjoying the good weather for a change.
Strangely enough, I was unable to get any decent wi-fi
coverage from BT-with-Fon yesterday, but today it appeared at a strength of
five bars. Maybe someone close by had it turned off yesterday.
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