Collection from Gayton

When we bought the boat, the stern gear held the canal water out about as well as the average colander. The boatyard agreed to fix this, but at their boat building centre at Gayton rather than the yard we took delivery from. We'd managed to get the boat to them; now we had to get it back. We were delayed by a cold snap, that froze the canals. No sense in ripping the blacking off the hull.

Saturday 10th February 2007

Gayton to Lower Weedon

Picked up the boat just before lunch. Very cold day, some ice still on the canal but not thick. Boatyard have replaced the stern tube, both bearings and the propshaft, also serviced the engine and replaced seals in rudder assembly and the skeg cup bearing. Failed to start engine. Boatyard started it with portable jump unit about a quarter past two. We got under way about fifteen minutes later.

Intermittent rain, which helped to clear the ice and snow. Saw fieldfare and heron around bridge 42, a large flock of fieldfare between bridges 38 and 36, and a kingfisher just after.

Steering had seemed vague at times but at about 16:20, just north of Bugbroke, the tiller stopped doing anything useful. Ric was on helm and wound up nosing the bank (gently - reverse is good!). Big bolt on top of the steering post was finger-tight, so Ric applied a big spanner and all was then well. Haven't these people heard of splines or keyways? ;-)

Moored in the rain almost exactly opposite Lower Weedon church on the embankment. Engine off about a quarter past five. Batteries are well down.

Although I made a bit of a joke about the tiller bolt above, the boatyard have done an excellent job. Vibration is much lower now and the stern tube no longer drips. The greaser came up hard after about a half turn. Before, it wouldn't come up tight at all. Engine on 3h00, 6.5 miles, no locks.

Sunday 11th February 2007

Lower Weedon to the Haven

Excellent alarm - woken by bell-ringers at the church. Damp and dull but not actually raining. It brightened later. Engine on with no trouble at 08:30; ran it for nearly an hour before setting off.

Lone mandarin duck on the cut just after we set off, then a kingfisher a little later, then a flock of redwing just before a grand bank of snowdrops at Dodford House. Another kingfisher flying away at five past ten. A quarter of an hour later, Jane spotted a perched kingfisher who held his perch whilst we motored past. We spotted a buzzard on the wing after another quarter of an hour.

We reached the bottom of the Buckby flight just before 11, and went up in company with a single-hander. New gas cylinder at Whilton marina - they seem pretty comprehensive. Jane spotted a flock of fieldfare whilst we were working through the flight, which we finished about a quarter past one. Turned on to the Leicester section and moored for lunch.

Decided we didn't want to go home yet, so about ten to three set off for the Watford lock flight. Turned in the winding just before, backed up to the landing below the flight and walked up to look at it. The cottage at the bottom has what appears to be an eagle owl.

Set off back towards the main line and promptly spotted a couple of flocks of long-tailed tits in the hedge. Moored for the night on the Leicester section just north of the Hythe about half past four.

Engine on 8h00, 8 miles, 7 locks.

Monday 12th February 2007

Around Welton

Mixed day with showers. Very gentle start, packing and tidying. About 10:20 set off for Norton junction. This is to warm up the engine, of course - nothing to do with not wanting to go home!

Back to the Hythe for a pumpout and 150 litres of fuel, then back to the marina in the rain. Engine off about half past twelve, Jane packed up whilst Ric took a taxi to the boatyard to pick up the car, then finished tidying and left.

Engine on 2h00, 2 miles, no locks.