Stoke Bruerne

This was a working trip to Stoke Bruerne and back to get some paint on the outside of the boat.

Sunday 1st April 2007

Down the Buckby flight

Excellent weather. Got to boat about 14:30, left about 15:00. Lots of water in the bilges around the engine, some coming in through two of the windows.

Went down the flight in company with some Australians who are living aboard an ex-hire boat. This was the first time Jane had helmed into a broad lock. There are some interesting features on this flight, including side ponds (now disused) and ornamental benches. A quick glance at the picture shows why we want to get some paint on the boat. This is really too early in the season and the date seems appropriate. Finished the locks about ten to six, stopped about an hour later. Close to railway and A5 but so tired we won't notice!

Engine on 4 hrs, 5 miles, 7 locks.

Monday 2nd April 2007

On to Gayton (nearly)

Spent the morning doing odd jobs around the boat, including scraping off the remains of the glue where the old hire company transfer had been. I also made up some clamps to hold fenders from the coachroof rail so we can put them anywhere along the side of the boat, not just at the three attachment points. During the afternoon we moved on to Weedon Beck for water. Whilst we waited I prepared a section of the hull for painting with Hammerite later. The top of the hull will probably get a lot of knocks so something that goes straight on, needs no primer or undercoat and dries quickly seems like a good idea.

We'd planned to get past Gayton junction but settles for bridge 43. I painted the section I'd prepared earlier. This seemed to take really well. We'll see how it lasts.

Engine on 3 hours, 6 miles, no locks.

Tuesday 3rd April 2007

To Stoke Bruerne and back.

Dull and overcast but not raining so continued odd jobs on the boat, including planing and painting the helmsman's seat and the gangplank. The Hammerite on the hull has taken really well so will go in for wholesale painting soon.

Set out for Blissworth and Stoke Bruerne just after one. Blissworth tunnel is very wet with a couple of full-scale cascades. About 35 minutes getting through, then turned in the winding, backed up to a suitable mooring point and walked into Stoke Bruerne.

There is a very impressive set of boat scales alongside the top lock.

Went into the shop and bought a book and a mug, but decided against a book on fender-making. Ironic, that.

Back to the boat and, pausing only for a cup of tea, set off again about five past five. Jane on helm at the start of the tunnel but we swapped in the middle and I managed to rip off the starboard front fender (which we'd forgotten to take in) against the tunnel wall.

Spotted a kingfisher near the new marina just south of Gayton. Decided to press on for a bit but the tiller was jerking rhythmically, so moored a bit early (ten past six) and I went down the weed-hatch. Yes, it was the missing fender, tied round the prop and hitting the rudder every revolution. It was beaten to a pulp, of course.

Engine on 4 hours, 8 miles, no locks.

Wednesday 4th April 2007

Back to the Leicester Section.

Overcast but not actually raining. Forecast is the same all day. Put a quick coat of primer/undercoat on the other side of the gangplank then set off.

Saw a tree creeper just before bridge 22 but not quick enough to get a picture. Lots of more conventional signs of spring, however. Why do lambs have to grow up into boring old sheep?

Reached the Buckby flight without incident about a quarter past two, after a lunch stop before the locks. Second in queue waiting for a boat to come down. Following boat was in rather a hurry; they had the paddles open before we'd closed the gates! The boat we went up with was a party of hirers on their second trip. Their first has been on the Llangollen. We met a couple of boats coming down which helped speed things up but these locks are deep enough that you don't want to fill them too quickly so we didn't hurry. Spotted a couple of herons, one on the rail bridge in the middle of the flight, the other a lock further up.

Parted company with the other boat at Norton Junction at the top of the flight. They were going on the main line to Braunston and beyond, but we turned onto the Leicester Section and moored between bridges 2 and 3.

Engine on 7 hours 30 minutes, 12.5 miles, 7 locks.

Thursday 5th April 2007

Back to the mooring.

Weather much better so put another coat of Hammerite on the side. Didn't want to go home immediately so went on up to the Watford flight and made a really bad job of winding in the winding hole just below the locks. Back to the marina, pump-out and a new gas cylinder, measured up lots of bits of the boat and set off for home just after lunch.

Engine on 2 hours, 2.5 miles, no locks.