Moored at Foxton.

Travelled 5.1 miles, worked 1 swing bridge in a time of 2 hours.

We had a nice night moored in Market Harborough Basin and left this morning at 9.00 am with the sun shining and all well in my world. Before leaving we filled up with water and emptied the toilet cassette. The pump out for private boats is still not in use, it makes me glad we do not have a pump out.

We arrived at Foxton village and moored up before Black Horse Bridge, that was having tackled the swing bridge which did not work first time, but having played with the offending post which did not work yesterday, I got the bridge to work. So moored up at Black Horse Bridge we had lunch and then waited for our Tesco food delivery to arrive between 3 and 4 pm. Whilst waiting we got chatting to some lovely people who live in a house on the canal where we were moored, they were absolutely delightful and a joy to chat too.

At 3pm I walked up on to the bridge to wait for our food delivery which arrived just before 4pm. Unfortunately there were 17 items missing, which has never happened to us before, they have always been so good. Before contacting Tesco we moved the boat nearer to the locks and on to a mooring.

Moored up for the day, I contacted Tesco who were shocked that so many items had not been delivered. They are on the case and I am assured I will get the rest of my shopping either later today or sometime tomorrow.

Moored in Market Harborough Basin

Travelled 6.1 miles, worked 10 locks in a time of 4 hours and 10 minutes.

Having spent a lovely weekend at the top of Foxton Locks, it was time to leave and head for Market Harborough.

We left the mooring at 8.45am and waited at the top of the flight for three boats to come up before we could head down. 10am and it was our turn to descend the locks, which I think are the easiest on the system and with a glorious view.

We arrived at the bottom some 45 minutes later and I went to work the swing bridge whilst Keith moved the boat, only to find the swing bridge ready for us which was nice. On our way to the Foxton village swing bridge Keith dropped me off in the bridge ‘ole and I walked up to the swing bridge to get it ready. I put my key in the electronic box and turned the key, which allowed me to close the barriers, but I then could not pull the leaver which allows me to push the darn bridge and no matter how I tried it would not budge, even Keith tried and nope it was having none of it, so Keith got on the phone to the Canal and River Trust and they sent Dave out who was working at the locks to come and see if he could get it working. I knew that the hire company in Market Harborough would be sending out their boats, so I rang them to let them know the swing bridge was broken, so they could hold their boats back for a while. He tried all the things we had tried and no joy, but he then had a brain wave, because a couple of years ago they had the same problem. He wiggled one of the posts about which secures the towpath side barrier when its closed and hey presto it worked, but it only worked if he held the post, as soon as he let go we could not move the bridge, so clearly they have a problem and it needs sorting quickly, because there is no way a single hander can hold the post, work the bridge and move their boat at the same time. Anyway whilst Dave held the post I opened the swing bridge allowed another boat through who had been waiting with us and then Keith followed through with our boat. I then rang the hire company to let them know someone was on hand to help their boats through when they got to Foxton. I just hope it is fixed for tomorrow as we have a food delivery arriving at Foxton tomorrow and we are due to be helping set up for the festival on Wednesday.

We finally got away from Foxton village at 12.20pm and made our way into Market Harborough.

We moored up in the basin at 2pm and collected out post. having chatted to Linda on NB Phoenix a facebook friend we walked down into the town and got a few things done,  which I will post more about on Friday. Yep I am going to keep you in suspense ha ha ha.

All fixed and now at Foxton.

Yesterday we went into dry dock and had our leaking stern tube repaired. We had the stern tube, shaft and bearing replace and all is now tickety boo. So a huge thank you to Welford dry dock.

Travelled 8.37 miles, worked 1 lock in a time of 3 hours and 10 minutes.

We left the Welford Arm at 8.50am and were the second boat down through the lock. At Welford Junction we turned right to head for Foxton at 9.25am.

Between North Kilworth Wharf and Husbands Bosworth Tunnel an Ash Tree had come down across the towpath and canal. We have reported it to the C&RT.

Have chickens will travel. Fresh eggs everyday for the boater who owns this and its chickens.

We made Foxton at midday, just right for a spot of lunch. The sun is doing its hardest to come out, but it is very hazy and humid at the moment, so I reckon we are in for some thunderstorms later on.

A perfect moment in time.

Whilst we were moored near Yelvertoft, there was a splendid sunset to be seen, so I took my camera and stood out on the back counter of the boat to watch the sun go down.

Whilst admiring the glory of the sun going down, I closed my eyes and just listened to the sounds and took in the smells around me. The scent of Honeysuckle filled the air and yet I could not see it anywhere, so the scent had travelled on this balmy evening. Listening I could hear the sound of traffic, but this was drowned out by the evening song of a Song Thrush, Chaffinch, baby Blue Tits calling their parents for their last feed of the day, a Blackbird giving a warning call and a Reed Bunting calling from the reeds opposite the boat. It really does not get any better than this. Just by closing my eyes I could really take in the sounds and smells around me. So many people miss out on so much of the wildlife we have, I am so lucky to see it everyday and I never take it for granted.

Excellent post.

If you have never read Maffi's blog then go and do so. His new posting about dog poo is very good and I completely agree with him.
http://narrowboater.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/calling-all-dog-owners.html

Back at Welford.

I am sure there is a flippen magnet at the end of the Welford Wharf, which keeps dragging boats back, because we are back in Welford with a leaky stern tube.

Travelled 11.6 miles, worked 1 lock in a time of 4 hours 20 minutes.

The first job of the morning after getting up, was to walk Paddy, on returning to the boat, I then bailed out six litres of water out of the bilge, from the leaky stern tube. We left our over night mooring at 8.40am and headed for Yelvertoft Marina, where we knew we could wind, unlike the fiasco yesterday at two shallow winding holes. We reached Yelvertoft marina at 9.10am and successfully winded in the entrance to the marina.

A couple of hitchhikers stood on the top plank whilst we winded.

A family of Geese hopped into the water as we headed off back towards Welford Junction. Whilst on the go I put a quick wash on and once it was done, I hung it to dry in the engine room.

Some of the fields are full of gold.

We did not encounter many boats on the move today so had a straight forward cruise to Welford Junction and arrived there at 12.25. We arrived at Welford Marina at 1,00pm and immediately closed the boat up and walked up to see Les at the boat yard. He has fitted us in to his busy diary for Thursday, when we will go into the dry dock. Les had a look at the leak and suspects a cracked stern tube, so we can expect a large bill for the work which needs to be carried out arghhhh, the poor bank balance is going to be depleted yet again this year. But that is the joys of owning a boat. Let know one tell you that owning a boat is cheap, because it most certainly is not. But I would not change my lifestyle for anything. Being a boat owner who continuously cruises means you have to be prepared for wear and tear bills.

We will now see what Thursday brings when Les starts work on the stern gear. I am certainly glad we did not do any river cruising this year now, as we had been thinking of doing the Thames and the Soar.

Back on the move again.

If you have been popping in daily to see my ramblings, I am sorry I have not been around. It has been a busy time, with one thing and another.

As you may remember from my Welford posting, Keith’s bad was decidedly dodgy and that did not improve for a few days, so when the coal delivery came, it was up to me to stack the four tonne in the hold, which was not a problem as I have done it many times. With the hold full of coal, Hadar was sitting nice and low in the water, which really suits her.

Whilst at Welford, the Mikron Theatre paid the pub a visit and performed Beyond the Veil. Keith was still struggling with his back, so I went on my own, I even went and got myself half a pint of Timothy Taylor, which was enjoyed whilst having a laugh.

On Sunday we had work done on our battery trays, had a couple of holes cut in our hold doors for ventilation and Les made us a new bracket for our Klaxon, photographs will follow once I have painted it. So with jobs done, it was time to leave.

Travelled 9.2 miles, worked 1 lock in a time of 4 hours 5 minutes.

We left Welford at 11am and the sun was trying hard to come out.

Goodbye to the wet dock, that is the one with the door closed. We were in there to have our battery trays done.

Keith took this photograph yesterday in the dock.

When we got to the lock there was a boat just going into the lock to go down. We then entered the lock and NB Casson was turned up to take the lock over from us, so perfect timing. We got to the junction at 11.50am and moored up for some lunch. For sometime now we have thought that our stern gland was leaking and despite tightening it up a little, water still seemed to be leaking into the bilge. Whilst we were moored up, I pulled the back cabin floor up and shone the leadlight under there whilst Keith had the engine running in gear and I discovered it was not the stern gland at all, the leak is behind that and was spurting water into the bilge, so this means we have to go back to Welford to get Les to have a look to see if he can find out the cause. At 1.05pm we set off to wind the boat, so we could go back down the Welford Arm. The first winding point was just past bridge 36, but we could not wind there as it was to shallow, so we carried on the just before bridge 28 and yep it was also to shallow grrrrrrr. Our only option will be to wind at the entrance to Yelvertoft Marina, but we decided with the day drawing in we would stop just before Yelvertoft village for the day.

I checked the bilge and it was half full of water, so we do need to get it sorted it out pronto. I have never done the weedhatch before mainly because I did not think I could lift the hatch cover as it is very heavy, but with Keith’s back still a little dodgy I said I would have a go and I actually found it was easy enough to do, the obstruction turned out to be a bramble, so nothing desperate, but I removed it anyway.  Also whilst on the move our temperature gauge was going up and the oil pressure was dropping, which usually means our impellor needs changing, so Keith took it apart and we were right two of the blades on the impellor had come off, so a new one was fitted. It has been one of those days one way or another and tomorrow I suspect will be no better as we head back to Welford again.

Updated.

With little boating news at the moment I have been doing my Flora and Fauna Blog, so feel free to go and have a look. http://canalsideflorafauna.blogspot.co.uk/

Choose

In to Welford.

Travelled 6.3 miles, worked 1 lock in a time of 2 hour 20 minutes.

It was a very leisurely start to the day with a bit of a lie in and the usual morning cup of tea in bed. It was gone 9.30am before we were ready for the off and before we left our mooring of the past couple of days, we had a chat with Jan and Tom on NB Waiouru who were also on their way heading to Foxton. It was a treat to spend the day with them yesterday and I am sure we will see them again before long.

Keith was very creaky this morning, because his back locked up yesterday whilst standing at the work bench and now he is walking like an old man with grumps and groans along the way. Everything he did this morning was done with an expression of pain on his face.

10am we left the mooring waving to Jan and Tom as we left. It was onward to Husbands Bosworth Tunnel. I put a wash on whlst on the move.

Out the other end and the wash was done and hung in the engine room to dry.

11.25am we were at the junction with Welford. Up the Welford Arm I worked the lock and then we pulled in above the lock and I walked further down the arm to see if there were any moorings.

Mooring found we are now moored up, lunch has been eaten and so now the afternoon is my own. On Monday we have a coal delivery coming, so we are ready for that to happen.

Boat Painting Day 4.

With the majority of paint work done on the port side, it was touching up on the white coach line and painting the white hoops on the mop.

Whilst I did all that Keith touched up the white on the water cans. 

As the morning wore on and the sun got hotter, Keith noticed a Hare wandering up the towpath and so went off to follow it. He tracked it to the field on the opposite bank and so I took my camera and tripod and went off to photograph the Hare.

There seemed to be two pairs of Hares and they were having a good game of chase. This is the most I have seen together this year and they seemed quite happy for me to be there. Normally they run off into the undergrowth.

When I got back to the boat, we had been joined by Jan and Tom on NB Waiouru. We spent a good hour chatting on the towpath, putting the world to right and having a good old laugh. 

After a late lunch, we then all sat out on the towpath, soaking up the sun and finished off our nattering. I reckon we covered all subjects and yes this did include boat toilets. It was great to chat to like minded people and to hear all about there adventures. After the boat building disaster from hell, which they had been through, it is amazing they have come out of it very sane, for many it would have been the last straw and now Waiouru is a credit to them and their determination to get the boat finished. She is a lovely boat and their pride and joy.

Before we knew it, it was almost 7pm and so a late dinner was cooked. It has been a fabulous day with wonderful company.

Boat painting Day 3.

A dull start to the day again, but a good time to get on with second coating the galley roof, so that was the first job of the day after having walked Paddy.

Roof all done.

Next job was to rub down and paint the gunwale. I am not one for using masking tap, I prefer to do it by eye and a steady hand. I then got on with touching up the blue on the cabin sides, after I had finished with the paint, Keith got on with painting the water cans.

With the roof dry the solar panel went back to its home with its nice new brackets. Keith constructed it yesterday so that we can capture either the early morning or late evening sun, depending on where we are moored.

With all the painting jobs done for the day, it was time to sit and enjoy the afternoon sunshine. It did begin to get to hot, so I went off with my camera to take photographs of Butterflies. You can see those photographs on my Canalside Flora and Fauna BLOG.

Painting Day Two.

With the promise of another hot and sunny day, I was going to second coat the back cabin and engine room roof.

It was actually a rather grey start with low cloud and a chill in the air, but ideal for painting.

Whilst I got on with painting the roof, Keith set about mending our Kebb which got broken last year on the Marple flight.

He cut the damaged end off and reshaped it to fit the kebb, I then rubbed down the pole with Teak oil to give it some protection against the weather.

Whilst the roof dried I painted the new fireman’s hose with 2 coats of white emulsion. So from a dirty brown colour, it is now nice and white.

Keith then got on with painting the red on our water cans. Red bleaches easily and so it was looking a little tired.

I then turned my attention to the galley doors and gave them their second coat of varnish.

After some lunch, it was beginning to warm up, so I got on with rubbing down the galley roof and then gave it, its first coat of paint. The sun then came out drying the paint really quickly. Tomorrow it will get its second coat. It was nice to get so much done today and tomorrow it will be another day of painting.

Up on the roof.

Oh joy of joys we have sunshine and not just one day of it, but a whole week yippee.

This means it is good painting weather as far as I am concerned, and so this the roof which has not been painted for two years will get a couple of new coats of paint. I had rubbed it down during last evening, so it would be ready for some paint.

Up with the lark and before the heat of the day set in, I wanted to rub the roof down on the back cabin, but it was covered in an early morning dew, so before anything else I wipe the roof off with a cloth and allowed it to dry whilst I took Paddy for his morning walk. Where we are moored it is so quiet and no other boats, so Paddy was allowed to jump off the boat and run along the towpath without a lead. This he did with gay abandon, until he realised I was not in sight and so he did an about turn to find me. Paddy hates it when he cannot see either Keith or I. On getting back to the boat, the roof was almost dry, so I gathered together brushes and the paint, which we have been using for the past five years and we still have a quarter of a tin left, which is just as well because the company that made it does not exist anymore, so I lovingly look after the remainder of the paint so it lasts. As the last of the dew evaporated away, I got on with putting the first coat of varnish on the galley doors, so they had all day to dry, the tin said 16 to 24 hours drying time, which seems like a long time to me, but hey what do I know. At last I could get on to the roof and start painting from the engine room back towards the back cabin doors. I do so love it when it is first painted and no I am not one of those people who likes her paintwork perfect. I just like a tidy boat and for it to look nice. After all when you spend a lot of money on something and it is your home you want to keep it in good fettle. All the varnishing and the roof was done by 9.40am, just as the sun was coming over the hedge. I then turned my attention to the bow, which had been painted whilst we were in dry dock, but Keith had managed to knock chunks of the red paint off, so I rubbed it down and undercoated the bald patches ready for some gloss during the afternoon. The varnish was dry by lunchtime to the touch, but I will put another coat on tomorrow. All in all it was a good mornings work and it left me the afternoon to soak up the sunshine. Whilst I got on with the painting, Keith was also busy. He mad the brackets for the solar panel, so now we can tilt it up and down to point it in the direction of the sun and he made up a new fireman’s hose for the cratch board as our old one had perished.

After lunch Paddy and Marmite were allowed out on to the towpath, where they joined me in lounging in the sunshine. By 4pm I felt like I was cooked enough and as I did not want to burn, I called it day outside and went in to the cool saloon to catch up on correspondence. Tomorrow is going to be another painting day, as everything gets second coated.

Back at Laughton Hills.

The Red Campion as the sun was going down.

The sun setting whilst a spider spins its web.

Travelled 5.9 miles, worked 10 locks in a time of 4 hours 15 minutes.

It is so nice to wake up to the sun shining and a cracking start to the week.

We set off at 9.15am set of for Debdale Wharf to fill up with diesel.

I walked up to the swing bridge and got it ready for Keith to being the boat through. Ian and Lizzy on NB Quo Vardis we moored up waiting to go up the locks, so we gave them a wave as we passed by.

Diesel tank filled.

Moored outside the wharf was Mike and Marian on NB Duxllandyn, who very kindly take the time to read our blog. It was lovely to meet them and have a natter about all things boating. We really do appreciate it when people take the time to sit down and read our blogs. So Mike and Marian if your reading this Thank You and we hope to meet up with you again sometime.

having said “Cheerio” to Mike and Marian, we headed back to Foxton to wait our turn to go up the locks.

We waited outside Bridge 61 patiently for our turn, drank coffee and chatted to the visiting public. The sun was really lovely and I can see me topping up my tan over the next few days. 12.15pm and it was our turn to head up the locks.

There were plenty of visitors watching us climbing the flight with the help of Tony and Peter the volunteer lock keepers.

1pm we made it to the top and headed off for our mooring at Laughton Hills.

All moored up at 2pm and we will spend the next few days painting the boat, as the weather forecast is favourable for painting, I also want to do some varnishing as well. We will then be off to get our coal delivery at Welford.