Sunday 16th June
More rain this morning! Will it ever end I wonder. Two
things I wanted to do today, firstly get some or all of the water out from
beneath the engine and secondly get the fire cleaned out and ready for the
operation exchange tomorrow. Removing
the water was a really slow job, as I was using the Pela Pump to suck away the
surplus, but as the engine had a mat soaking up the oil and water, the latter
flowed very slowly and would have to be removed over a period of days. Cleaning
up the fire was a much shorter operation and completed in 10 mins. Apart from
that, I did very little else except reading and a visit to The Boathouse for a
cheap pint, which is £2.50 from 4pm to 7pm. It seems that they no longer offer
meals at two for the price of one, which was never a bargain because it is
chain pub food anyway and I wouldn’t eat there by choice.
Monday 17th June
I was out of bed early to get in the marina by 8am and be
first on the list for work to be done. I met Graham on the dockside and he
wanted the boat on the wet dock close to where all the tools were. Dave came on
board and started to tackle the stove, but after an hour the flue was still not
free to move up through the cabin top as he had to dig out all the old Heatmate
and fire rope at the bottom end and then remove the fire cement at the top end,
which I had never replaced previously when I replaced the collar at the bottom
of the flue some years ago. At that time I remember, I shifted the flue
skywards by levering the whole fire up with a crowbar, after removing the
fixings on the feet. I suggested this and it worked again, after which the
stove was removed to the well deck and the new one replaced it and the flue
resealed top and bottom – job done, or so I thought!
Stronghold on the left of this picture.
I went into the office to pay the bill for 3hrs labour and
cost of the fire, which had been reduced by £100.00 recently at Midland
Chandlers. Whilst there, Tim Coghlan gave me an article to read about events in
the life of two veteran boaters and which he was willing to donate once more to
The Steerer, the magazine of the Narrow Boat Trust, which I used to edit. He
has always been a good source of historic material which he is willing to part
with after it has been published in Towpath Telegraph. He was as good as his
word and sent me text and photographs for two articles by e-mail that very
afternoon.
Mooring up later outside, I had a chance to inspect the new
fire place, but could not find an ash pan handle. Thinking that it might be an
optional extra, I rung Graham who said it was usually supplied and said he
would get one in the morning. I also queried the smoke hood, which fits just
below the flue to maybe reduce the draw of a flue higher than 4.5 metres, which
mine is not, so that could come out. This is the information read in the very detailed
Morso set of instructions, which are so much more specific than those of the original
fire when fitted 18yrs ago – much of it being about safety issues, but there
are also contradictions in places. Also the ash pan door can no longer be opened
fully if the top door is closed, which I presume is to prevent excessive
draught through the grate.
Tuesday 18th June
Another early morning to get back into the marina arm, but
as I entered through the bridge, I was warned that they were about to move the
large steel Peter Nicholls cruiser that has been there for at least a year, so
I had to reverse out, but at least could get into a part of the marina that was
unoccupied.
Eventually I was able to moor up in the arm and Dave came to
see about the missing handle, before driving to Midland to get a new one. He
showed me how the baffle plate was removed, by taking out one of the firebricks
first and then the smoke hood just lifted out. The baffle plate will have to be
removed before sweeping the chimney at a later date, so I needed to know how that was done.
I cruised slowly through the marina to end up facing north
when I moored up on the towpath. Some more stocking up is required in the
village, so will go before it rains again. In the Braunston Butchers yet again
and he remembered me asking about calves liver and said it would be in on
Thursday, but I am unlikely to be here then. Maybe the week after when I will
be, I can order some in advance. Having made this raspberry vinegar to go with
it, there has been no chance of producing the recipe to even try so far. I have
to admit to not buying sausages very often, having been disappointed so many
times, but I took a chance on the chipolata sized Braunston Bangers and will
certainly buy those again. Not only are they flavoursome, but very meaty as
well. I bought some flavoured chicken kebabs, thinking that it was time I had a
BBQ, that is if I get suitable weather.
Back on board and then the rain began again for several
hours – hunker down time again!
Wednesday 19th June
Another overcast morning, but no rain so far. In fact it did
not rain all day and that’s a first for quite a while.
I cast off with the intention of mooring along my favourite
stretch of canal, between Braunston and Napton – out in the sticks. There are
places along here where it is impossible to see a house, pylon or electricity
cable and hear only the wind and birds – beautiful!
I pulled in after 3hrs behind one other boat, so that I
could tie up to the short length of Armco and be close enough to this end of
the village to sample the delights, or otherwise of The Kings Head, 5mins walk
from Bridge 110. Although I had passed this spot countless times in the years
past, I had never ventured inside. Being a Hook Norton pub, they sold only
Hooky beers, but the inside of this modern road house seems more devoted to
eating, with nearly every table laid for service and the interior rather devoid
of interest. Not my choice of watering hole, although the menu looked interesting,
but rather pricey.
As an addition to the raspberry vinegar that I made a few
weeks back, I had it on some stewed apples with cream this evening and it was
delicious. I had read previously that it was good with ice cream, strange as it
may seem, as it is sweet and sour, but it works.
Thursday 20th June
I moved up to Napton later this morning, expecting to get a
choice of moorings about 11.30am and there were three available close to the winding
‘ole, where I turned and reversed back to a gap. I do wish some of these
passing boaters would slow down as I am just holding Stronghold by the centre
line at the time. Their boats cause shunting back and forth which I am barely
able to control, with the result that the boat is bumped into those fore and
aft.
Another case of waiting around for Saturday, but I have no
problem filling these idle days and I really do need to clean the outside of
Stronghold, despite people admiring the boat. Tomorrow is free, so the
opportunity is there. Most of the afternoon was taken up with composing a long
reply to Jaqueline (Jaq) Biggs in America, who sold nb Valerie last December
and returned to the US. After meeting at Weedon, we got on famously for a few
days before we parted company at Braunston in 2017.
Jaq Biggs.
Another American pair of boaters I met last year at Ricky
were Mike and Leslie , who I had mentioned previously when at Ricky Festival
this year. They have just completed the Portishead to Sharpness Crossing with a
pilot and sent me some photos, so a reply to that was also due. If we are lucky
and our plans coincide, we may even meet up again this year.
Mike and I at Ricky.
Friday 21st June
The Summer Solstice
and true to form, the sun shone nearly all morning and the barometer is
rising at last. I had a walk up to Napton Village Stores and noticed that
Napton Cidery was open this morning, despite it being Friday, when the notice
board denoted opening on Saturday 10.00 to 16.00 only, so I popped in to see if
they had some Apple Cider Brandy, which they did at £45.00 for 70cl. With a
strength of 43% it won’t take much to give anyone brain damage, so I bought a
bottle – let’s hope the quality is as good as the price!
After a light lunch I felt like some exercise, so decided to
walk up to a farm campsite that I had heard about and to see what it was like.
It was easy walking along the level towpath and when I got to Adkins Lock I
asked a lady who was unpacking her car to spend the weekend working on her boat
– that is doing her own private business on board, not doing anything to the
boat. She told me that her name is Jane and her boat is moored on the main line
close to the private Engine Arm just above the lock. She also told me quite a
bit about the Adkins brothers who own the farm and about the campsite, so I strolled
across the field to have a look. Just a normal family holiday retreat in the
middle of nowhere and basic facilities.
Walking back towards The Folly, I had a chat with most boaters
coming up the locks thick and fast at this time of the day, before having a
thirst quenching pint of Old Hooky and walking back to board the boat. I have
not walked a total of 3 miles for a very long time and I felt good at the end
with no aches or pains. I must do more of this.
Holt Farm Campsite.
Intruders Beware!
Saturday 21st June
Just had enough hot water for a shower after running the
engine. So time to change clothes for a visit to the Napton Cidery when my
daughter arrived. The shop was being run by the owner’s mother at the time and
she was not very knowledgeable about the cider pressing equipment, so although
it was an open day it was really for visitors who wanted to pay £10 each for a
tour and tasting. The Apple Cider Brandy I can now say is excellent and unlike
any other Cognac or Armagnac that I have ever tasted. We bought some cider and
walked back to the pub to hear the music from Folk on the Water, but were disappointed
because the session consisted of various groups of singers of mostly 80s and
90s pop songs like Abba and Fleetwood Mac. We stuck it out with beer and
conversation before going in for a good meal at 8pm. I also had a photo taken
of me outside the pub to send to my boating mate Colin entitled JTPYO . This has
become a joke between us, so that every time one of us visits a popular
waterway pub, we send the other one a photo. The initials stand for “Just To
Piss You Off”!
JTPYO!
Sunday 22ND June
I had overstayed the time on this Napton mooring, so it was
time to make a move with the intention to moor out in the sticks, possibly
close to Bridge 100 for a night, before heading back into Braunston once again
and get organised for the Historic Boat
Rally. It was a very quiet place to moor and I don’t do it very often out in
the sticks, but there was room for privacy away from other boats, so I ran the
generator for a few hours to get some amps into the batteries. Time spent reading
and watching some TV as there are surprisingly good signals for both here.
Before departing from Napton, I put some K-Seal in the
engine water system to hopefully seal up the weeping core plug and the
following morning it was leak free at last. The thing about this product which
appears to be different is that it is permanent, whereas most of the Bars Leaks
and Rad Seal type products are only temporary.
Monday 23rd June
A strange morning with light mist and very muggy with no
wind - some light showers later in the day. I let go late in the morning to
make the most of the opportunity to get a mooring after someone had left
Braunston, which was less than a mile away. There were several historic boats moored
now waiting for the show next weekend. I filled with water at the Stop House,
winded and retraced my steps to a place opposite the pub, where I knew I could
get a decent TV and wi-fi signal. Why is it that the mooring rings are always
in the wrong place?
On walking along the towpath I met Linda and Chris, two of
the stewarding team and we caught up on a years worth of gossip. Further along
nb Joseph was moored with John Boswell in charge and more banter was exchanged.
Eventually I got to the butchers and ordered some calves liver for Thursday and
had a pint in The Olde Plough before returning to write up this blog. Quite an
uneventful day really.,
Tuesday 24th June
When I was in the village stores yesterday, I bought a
bottle of rum. Later in the evening I looked for it in the boat – twice! I
searched again this morning, but to no avail; by this time I thought I was
going crazy, but phoned the stores anyway and sure enough, I had left it in the
trolley by the front door. Fortunately, the boss had discovered it before any
light fingered customers.
John, Graham and Keith Lodge were now putting up No Mooring
signs, so I lent a hand finishing in the rain. I got so wet that I had to change my trousers and
boots when I got back. The rain continued in the afternoon, which I spent
surfing the net before going to the Marstons pub for a pint. Surprisingly, I
was charged £3.60 during the happy hour and when I complained the barmaid said
the till would not let her change it. I questioned it with another barman later
and he said all the ales were £2.50 at that time. At that moment the barmaid
came over and made some feeble excuse and said she had refunded the difference
and left it on the counter. It was found below in a pint pot – honour was
satisfied.
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