Great progress.

Today we made excellent progress, getting much further than CanalPlan said we would. 

The Grand Union was much more rural as we left Warwick. 

But we were soon into lots more locks. 21 in total today so we are now past half way. 

We got lots of help by pairing up with NB Moonstone. Their skipper, Tom Lewis, even gave the children one of his CDs  called Tinker Tailor Soldier Singer. What wonderful people. 

They were stopping at Long Itchington, but we pressed on and were fortunate to be able to pair with Katy Jade for the rest of the day. Another great person and a pleasure to travel with. 

Unfortunately the jamming fender was up to similar tricks yesterday. We had moved it to the port side so I could keep a check on it but in the top Calcutt lock it jammed again and did this. 

As we were by the chandlery we immediately bought 4 new rubber fenders and ditched the rope ones that have been causing the trouble. 

We will see if we can stop bending the boat. 

As we went to the pub to celebrate Alison's birthday we passed two interesting signs. 

If you are going to order people about with a big sign you could at least spell it correctly. 

Whereas this one made us laugh. 

It was late when we got back but we had had a thoroughly good day. 

Two flights in one day!

We set off early today, being up at 6:30 and casting off at 8:03. 

The generator got another run this morning and powering the fan heater we managed to get everything dry. 

First up it was the Lapworth flight. 

The Stratford canal is well known for its split bridges where the horse rope could go down the gap in the middle. We were more concerned with whether it would split our chimney from its mounting. There were several near misses. 

The helpers tended to need more rests today, again the camera never lies. 

It also took a little persuasive encouragement and the threat of docked pay to get them to keep up. 

Through Lapworth and onto the Grand Union. A new canal for us. 

We passed these, which incredibly had a For Sale sign at the far side. 

Then there was Shrewley Tunnel which as you can see has its own horse tunnel. 

Unfortunately I'm the dark of the tunnel we hit the side several times and unbelievably trapped the same fender as two days ago and now the hand rail is bent much more. Not a happy skipper. 

We stopped for thirty minutes to repair damage and paint over all the new scraped areas, most of which were down to bare metal. 

Then it was on to the Hatton flight. 

Our first real experience of wide locks, and 21 of them to do. 

They are very big. This is a view inside the lock that we visited on the open day in February. 

We were really lucky to share the entire flight with NB Kestrel. They were brilliant and as well as superb locking techniques they also passed on lots of other advice, including ideas on how to fix the hand rail. Hopefully we will meet again. 

 

We have moored by another Camra GBG

pub and are meeting a former work colleague tonight. 

It's beginning to feel like a holiday. 

Another flight begins

Last night's trip to the Weighbridge proved very nice. We found a very appropriate drink considering what we had done earlier. 

Today it rained. 

And rained. 

And rained. 

Consequently there are few photographs. 

We set off around 10AM. The nicest part of the morning was sailing through the Wast Hills tunnel. That was 2726 yards and about 40 minutes of not being rained on. Also all traffic was moving in the same direction as us, so no awkward in tunnel passing required. 

We finally stopped at the Drawbridge pub in Shirley  once we were on to the Stratford Canal for a large Sunday afternoon meal. 

Two and a half hours later, and a lot fuller, we left, together with a pink pig and a pink fish that had proved irresistible to the children and cost them 20 locks worth of money each. A lack of canal side shops has proved very frustrating for them. 

We had a brief bit of fine weather and I got these pictures of the lift bridges. 

This is bridge 26. 

And this is bridge 26 about five minutes later. 

Eventually we got through and made it to the start of the next flight of locks. 

Then it started to rain again so we moored straight after lock 3. Hopefully we will progress further and on to the Grand Union tomorrow. 

Not that we are worried about our leak, but the measuring jug used for catching the ingress was up to 300 ml today in just 8 hours. 

The longest flight

Today we started off a bit later than scheduled due to unforeseen escapades trying to dry wet clothes. 

We finally thought we could use the small fan heater we have but to power that we would need the generator. 

The first time it has been used in proper service it started on the 346th pull of the chord. 

So first thing after a late morning coffee we set off. 

The crew were still willing to help though the bribery of 10p each per lock is working well. 

It's always nice seeing this sign on the way down but today it was the start of a mission 

The weather was far more clement than yesterday, though tomorrow should be appalling. 

We made the most of today. 

There was the odd sneaky rest, strenuously denied but the camera never lies. 

There were plenty of gongoozlers along the way, but all crews going in the opposite direction were keen to lend a hand. 

Alison and Km set went ahead to set the lock, then when it was filling they would go on to the next. 

I would close the paddles and Gracie operated the upper gate. 

Finally we made it. I am £6.20 worse off but both children worked hard and will sleep tonight. 

We have moored up at Alvechurch so a visit to the Weighbridge is in order after tea (Camra GBG pub). 

The only down side today was a jammed fender in a lock which did an instant stop and we now have a bent handrail to show for it. 

Let summer begin

Yesterday it was finally time to enjoy the good weather and begin our summer cruise. 

The best laid plans ......

We are aware that every cruise is an exercise in disaster management but didn't expect a disaster before we even set off. The good news is that we think we now know why the floor went rotten. 

There is water ingress around a window. 

There was water running rather than dripping in through the panelling and typically right above the electrics too. 

I tried to absorb the water as a temporary measure but to no avail. 

Gordon has recommended Captain Tooleys Creeping Crack Cure. 

We hope we will find some at a chandlery  at some point in our cruise. We will pass enough. 

If the boat is letting water through the window seal then it must be raining. 

It poured down all day, we did however reach our minimum progress place by the end of the day and we are moored just below lock 28. Tardebigge flight today so we will be off early. 

We did enjoy yesterday despite the weather. 

But the financial black hole deepens. 

The Great War Day

Saturday was another duty at Crich. I now only have three more left this year.

Today our friends Roslyn and Graham came as well and all these photos are theirs. 

I was driving the Recruitment Tram, Chesterfield 7. 

There was lots going on today. 

The star attraction was probably the Battlebus. 

Lots of teams in service today. 

Sheffield 74. 

London 106. 

And totally out of period, Blackpool 166. 

LUT 159 was also in service but it ran over the yellow staff token and was subsequently withdrawn. 

Rotten luck

One piece of furniture had become uneven so I decided to remove the carpet tiles and have a look. 

Oh dear. 

The green patches just crumble when touched. 

We immediately called Gordon of Gordon's Narrowboat Services and even though it was Sunday evening he called us back within 15 minutes. 

He came over the next day and pronounced it not as bad as first thought. 

He thinks there has been a historic plumbing leak which has left water in the bilges. As the carpet tiles were rubber backed and formed a pretty good seal, the wAter has sat there for a long period of time. 

The carpet tiles have been thrown away. Holes have been drilled in some boards to allow ventilation. Gordon has patched up temporarily and will fix after the summer cruise. 

He has assured us that this is from before we bought Magpie II but we were extremely deflated by it. 

One more thing to worry about.