Golden Age of the Canals

Hi Folks.

If you are into the Waterways and want to see more then why not switch on the TV tonight and watch BBC4 at 9pm this evening where you can watch 'The Golden Age Of The Canals' (CLICK ME). I will be watching if I can get a digital TV signal when we move off.

Madeleine probe 'a ludicrous waste' - mirror.co.uk

Madeleine probe 'a ludicrous waste' - mirror.co.uk

I think Jenny Jones will regret saying the things shed has said. I bet if her daughter had been missing for 4 years, she would want everyone to help look for her. I only hope she never has anything like this happen to her.

Top to Bottom.

Hi Friends,

My morning began with poached Eggs and Bacon on toast Keith made. Keith normally cooks breakfast on a Sunday, it is my treat. Although the sun was out when I took Paddy for his walk, it soon disappeared and left us with a dull morning, it was however still great for moving, down through the locks which were quiet. Some of the lock gates on the flight are heavy, so they make me work hard, but the paddle gear is easy to work, so you cannot have it all your own way. Sadly there was no one around for us to share with, so I was on my jack jones working the locks. As we left the bottom lock we met up with Sheena who owns the butty Angel, which was fortunate because we wanted to chat to her about giving her a tow later in the year to the 'Village at War' weekend in October. The moorings were busy but we have moored outside Braunston Marina on a nice concrete bank with the view to doing some shopping at the boat shop at the bottom lock and Midland Chandlers today, and Tradline tomorrow before we set off up the North Oxford Canal.

Once moored up, I made us both a coffee and whilst we chatted about what to do, Marmite and Paddy were allowed out on the back counter for some fresh air. Paddy laid on the deck and Marmite sat on the step watching the world go by. Coffee's drunk, we set off to Midland Chandlers for a few items for the boat. It would be so easy to spend a lot of money in Midland Chandlers. For instance they had a 16 piece melamine dinner set for £38. We do not have any crockery as such on the boat, for obvious reasons. So we went for melamine, plates, bowls etc. I do have a few china mugs for guests though. I am actually considering buying enamelware instead, because the white melamine plates have gone very discoloured. There are never any breakages on our boat, the plates, bowls etc just bounce. Even our wine glasses are melamine. Back on the boat, I made some lunch and yet another coffee. One can never have to many cups of decaf coffee. I then walked up to The Boat Shop to buy some Brasso and could not resist two Mint Choc Cornetto's, they are my favourite and no I did not eat both of them, I lovingly gave one of them to Keith.

With very little else to do today, it is now time to watch the film on Channel 5 'Gunsmoke'.

Have a very nice Sunday.

Chat soon xx

Mountain Barn to Braunston Top Lock.

Hi Friends.

After a fantastic nights sleep, I even managed to lay-in a little, but no sooner Keith and I were awake Marmite wanted to make her presence known, so she jumped on the both of us and then stood on Keith looking into his eyes, you know like the cat in "Cat Woman" the one where Halle Berry is Cat Woman. Anyway that was Marmite's good morning hello this morning. With us both awake when then discussed what the day would bring.

It is true to say that we both definitely have itchy feet and the need to get moving, so much so, that our golden rule flew out of the back doors of the back cabin, because we decided to travel on a Saturday. We set off at 8.45am, with a view to getting down through Watford Locks. On the way I sold two bags of coal to friends of Charles and Ann on NB Moore2Life and then we actually passed Charles and Ann. The Watford Locks decent did not happen until after some lunch, because we had to wait for six boats coming up the flight. Whilst we waited I made us something to eat and a coffee. Today was much colder day than of late, but at least it was dry, if windy, but with a load of coal in the hold the wind doesn't affect Hadar so much. The new prop is performing well, we can certainly stop a lot quicker, and have been running at lower engine revs for the same ground speed. At 2.30pm we left the Leicester Line at Norton junction and into the deeper water of the Grand Union Main line we really noticed the difference, she motors along quite nicely now. I got to take the tiller to Braunston Tunnel and loved the way she now moves through the water. We had thought of stopping just after Norton junction, but the ringed moorings were all taken, so we carried on to the top of Braunston locks cruising through Braunston Tunnel.

Now I am going to have a moan. I so wish people would have a stern light on when going through tunnels. So many people seem to think that anyone following them must have night vision. They think nothing of putting their tunnel light on at the bow, but no thought for anyone following them. We struggled to see the boat in front of us, thankfully he exited the tunnel before we actually caught him up completely. If people would just put a back cabin light on it would help. A stern navigation light would be even better though. The thing I have noticed more and more, is that the cruiser stern boats are fitting skirts around their sterns which when blocks off any light from a back cabin, which means they cannot be seen in a tunnel from the stern. Ok moan over.

Having come out of the tunnel, we moored up at the top of Braunston Locks and this is where we will stay for the rest of the weekend. The TV signal is not great, but at least we have channels 1, 2 and 4. I am however very unlikely to be watching the Eurovision Song Contest, with Jedward involved. I can see Ireland get nil points, although someone said they were second favourite to win behind France arghhhhhhhhh.

Ok off now to do some dinner.

Chat soon xx

A Week in dry dock.

Hi Friends.

Well I am back like a bad penny. Did you miss me?

We have been in dry dock for blacking, so that is why I have not been blogging.

Here is an account of the past few days.

Monday dry dock day.

The day began at 7am with my phone alarm going off to “Hey Sexy Lady”. Just what you need to wake you up in the morning, especially when you look like the living dead. Having taken Paddy out for his walk, we had breakfast and started organising ourselves for dry docking at 9am. I made sure we had all the paint, brushes and pipe work for the outlets ready in the engine room. Keith got our gangplank out of the hold and we then waited for Les to call us in to the dry dock.

8.30am Les gave us the thumbs up that we could go into the dock, so Keith fired up Hadar and reversed her into place. With the boards in place, Les began to pump the dock out, which took an hour and half. Les then set up the pressure washer, which Keith was going to be in charge of. Whilst Keith got his wet gear on, Les gave the pressure washer to me and set me to work. Now I know why men feel powerful with a tool in their hands. It was fantastic seeing all the green algae coming off and some of the old blacking which had been knocked about through out the winter when we were breaking ice.

Keith took over from me once he was suitably dressed, so I got on with drying off around the back counter, so that I could undercoat the red and white areas. Before lunch I got a coat of red gloss on the bow and around the stern, so it was all going very well.

Whilst I did the painting, Keith helped Les to fit our brand new propeller. If it works half as well as it looks, we should be able to fly on the rivers now. To get the old propeller off, Les had to get his torch out to heat it up a little to make it come off, but he said that it was not as difficult as some he has done. So we now have a nice shiny new propeller thanks to the work of the guys at Crowthers.

For lunch I made us some Cheese and Onion Toasted sandwiches, which we have not had for quite a while. Keith went up to the shop to by us some crisps, whilst lunch was toasting, unfortunately Keith managed to drop one of his toasted sandwiches into the dry dock, so he only got to enjoy half of his lunch.

After lunch, I continued painting, whilst Keith took photographs, there was very little for him to do until we start the blacking.

Marmite is not at all impressed with being in dry dock; she has been all over the place since we came into the dock. Paddy is much more laid back and relaxed.

Tuesday. Blacking day.

The alarm went off at 7am again and we crawled out of bed. Having done all the morning stuff, we were both eager to get on with the job in hand. As we stepped off of the stern of the boat on to the gang plank it was clear we either had a leak, or the pump in the dock was not working, because water was creeping up the floor in the dock. Neil checked the pump and it had stopped working, so he set another one to work to clear the accumulation of water, whilst we waited for Les to come into work. Whilst we waited for the new pump to be fitted to the docks pump out machine, I painted the rubbing strakes with Black gloss around the back counter. Keith started to black the starboard side of the boat, whilst I was glossing. I then tackled the port side and we met at the bow, with the dock now dry again. Whilst Keith and I got on with the blacking, Les welded a new battery tray in under the boatman’s cabin floor for us, because the battery box we had glued to the floor had come adrift, so we thought we would have a proper tray fitted, as we are having our boat safety done this summer.

With the first coat of blacking done, I made us some lunch and a coffee, as we had not stopped all morning. After lunch I got on with painting another coat of red gloss on the bow and Keith painted another coat of White gloss around the back counter. I then painted the Red gloss around the back counter, so that is now finished.

We were all done by 2.30pm, which is pretty good going. With no more painting to be done, we got the fenders out and oiled them…..

“Oiled them” I hear you cry.

Yes we use our old engine oil to coat our fenders in, it gives them a waterproof coat for protection. Before coating the fenders I laid down some plastic to stand the fenders on, Keith then dribbled the oil over the fenders, whilst I used an old paintbrush to push the oil into the holes. The fenders were then left to soak up the remaining oil, they will be put back on the boat on Thursday morning, before we leave the dock.

With the days work all done, we sat outside and drank coffee, whilst watching the Ewes and Lambs in the field. Three times we saw Kingfishers flying to and fro, so I am thinking they may have a nest up the river.

It has been another successful day as far as the boat painting is concerned.

Wednesday Blacking Day 2.

Another early morning saw us paint the second coat of blacking and do all the other glossing work.

We were all done by lunchtime so went to the Wharf Inn for a lovely lunch and a much deserved Pint of Old Speckled Hen. During the evening we had a visit from Chris a good friend and whilst we stood chatting we got to watch Springtime at its best when a family of foxes came out to play.

In all there were 4 cubs all of a good size. They were quite happily playing with each other in the evening sunshine, whilst watching for their parents who came back with food. This then meant a squabble of who was getting fed first. We had our very own Spring Watch.
It was such a treat to stand and watch the foxes at play.

Thursday. Dry dock exit.

We got up early to put the fenders back on the boat and to tidy up any mess we had made. Les did not arrive at the yard till gone 9am so we were ready and waiting for him to let the water back into the dock. It certainly fills up much quicker than it empties. Luckily the wharf mooring we had left was still empty, so we moored up there again ready for our coal delivery on Friday.

Today being Friday, so we got the hold ready for our coal delivery which arrived at 11am. Keith and Paul took the coal from Chris on the lorry, they then passed it to me and I stacked it in the hold. When we had finished loading the 5 tonne into the hold, I made us all a drink and bought out the cake and biscuit boxes. Paul and Chris left us to fill the water tank, and whilst that was taking place, I made us some lunch, which we would eat on the move. We are now moored at Mountain Barn, we may stay here the weekend, we have not decided yet.

The whole week has been great one way or another. it is so nice to have the boat blacked and full of coal again. The new propeller is working well, so all is good in my world at the moment.

Chat soon xxx

Signing Off.

Hi Friends.

This is going to be my last post for a few days, because tomorrow morning at 9am we are going into the dry dock at Welford. Think of me as Keith and I black Hadar's bottom and I tackle the rest of the paintwork which needs my attention. I have a feeling it will be early morning's and late nights for the next four nights and then on Friday we are taking on a coal delivery, so it is going to be a busy old time.

Before I go for a few days, I thought I would share with you some photographs of a family nesting in the Lime Kilns at Welford Wharf. I discovered them this morning when out taking photos.

In the wall of the Lime Kilns a Blue Tit family are nesting and have young, because I can hear them chattering when the parents return with food. That is also a give away that there are young in the nest, because the parents have been frantically bring food in every few minutes. For such a tiny little bird, they certainly have a lot of energy.

At times it looked like it was a tight squeeze to get in and out of the hole in the wall. But they were coming and going all day, making sure each time they bought food back with them.

The Blue Tit's were making every effort to keep their nest bug free, by keeping it clean and tidy.

Time for me to sign off now, so see you in a few days I hope.

Chat soon xx.

A blast from my past.

Good morning friends old and new.

Here we are on another Sunday morning and this one has bought rain with it. Overnight we had a deluge of rain, it was so loud on the roof of the back cabin that it woke me up as it came in through the pigeon box.

I then dozed on and off until it was time to get up at 8.30am. Yes I had another lie in this morning, after all I am going to have three very busy days this coming week, so I need all the lie ins I can get before the work begins tomorrow.

Having come online, I checked my e-mails and received an e-mail from Anne and Nigel on NB Enseebee. We have known Nigel and Anne for some years now, as Nigel has a mooring at the boat yard where Hadar was built. Nigel and Anne are on the Bridgewater Canal and spotted the first narrowboat I had ever owned.

Misty Lady was my first boat. Keith has been involved with boats of all sorts for over 40 years, but Misty Lady was my very first boat, I am not including the hire boat Holly, which Keith hired from Middlewich hire boats for a week to give me my first introduction to the waterways. We bought Misty Lady from A.B.N.B to live on whilst Hadar was being built by Roger Fuller in Stone. (CLICK ME). Misty Lady was our home for 3 years and she did us proud. We had many happy hours cruising with her, which included doing the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Bridgewater Canal, Trent and Mersey, etc, etc. We sold her in 2007, when we moved on to Hadar and she went to a single gentleman. We then heard she was up for sale again and that she went to a couple, that was the last I heard of her, so it is wonderful to see a photograph of her. She has not changed at all on the outside. I hope they love her as much as I did. For Keith she was just an ends to a means, but for me she was much more because I had never owned a boat before.

Hopefully one day we will see her out on the water, so I can say hello to her new owners.

A few years ago when we had Mosty Lady, we went to the Shackerstone Canal Festival and met up with a couple who used to own her, before they had a new boat built. It is always lovely to meet past owners.

Not doing much today, after all it is a Sunday.

I would like to wish my Sister-in-Law Beryl a very Happy Birthday. I hope it is a lovely day for you xxx.

Chat soon xx.

Dodgy cables.

Hi Friends.

A very strange noise woke me in the night. It was something I had not heard in a while, so when it woke me up, I was like what the hell is that?

The noise of course was the rain, yep we had some rain over night, which is of course much needed. I am so glad I did my painting yesterday. The bow now sports a rather natty pink undercoat. I also managed to get a coat of white gloss on the boarder.

Keith reckons that it is nowhere near enough rain, probably equivalent to spitting in a cup of tea!!

He is of course right, because we do need some prolonged rain to help the farmers, fill the reservoir and keep the canals topped up, but every little drop helps. This lack of rain problem does not just affect us, it is affecting the wildlife as well.

The other day I was told by a passer-by that they had a Blackbird nesting in their garden and there were 6 chicks in the nest, but because the parents could not dig up worms, due to the ground being to hard, the chicks starved to death and the parents left the nest. The sad thing is this is going to be happening all over the country. We also have the problem of the woodland fires which have been raging, this is going to have a knock on effect to the wildlife. Many of the places which have been ravaged by fire have been historic heath and woodland, the home to rare plant life and wildlife. It has been reorted that some of the fires were started deliberately.

What person in their right mind would deliberately start a fire like that???

With rain gently falling, it is not a day for painting, so we did not hurry out of bed this morning. I infect did not get up till gone 9am which is not like me at all. With no outdoor paining on the cards other jobs were looked at. Keith wanted to re-do the radio aerial, which is not working properly due to corrosion of the old wire in the ceiling of the boat. So his plan was to put a new wire through on the inside of the boat, this meant drilling holes in the ceiling and into a cupboard. The ceiling hole went well, but when Keith drilled the hole in the bottom of the cupboard, he managed to drill through the TV aerial cable, so this then meant we had to work on that as well. No job ever seems to run smoothly when we do it and yet we are always so well prepared for any job we do. After a bit of pushing and shoving, snipping and soldering both jobs were done and the radio and TV both work fine once more, so in the end alls well that ends well. It would just be nice to have a job go right first time sometimes.

Because we are going into the dry dock on Monday and Keith wants Les to weld in a surround for an extra battery, I thought I should take down the back cabin curtains, because I don't want either of them getting grease and oil over my nice, new and clean curtains. They will go back up when all the work has been done.

With the jobs done, the rain had stopped and the sun had come out. I poked my nose out of the engine room door to see a Mallard and her ducklings sitting at the stern of the boat.

Yesterday mum had been up and down the arm with her ducklings in tow after the flies skimming the surface of the water. She is very attentive to all of her brood, so I hope they will all survive.

By the time we had finished the rewiring it was time for some lunch. Having just watched the F1 qualifying for the Turkey GP, I am now going to sit and watch Ben Hur for the umptenth (not sure of spelling) time. A true classic movie, which has stood the test of time. I have a feeling this Saturday is going to be a day in front of the TV.

I hope your weekend is a happy one.

Chat soon xx