Set off this morning with Dawson driving for the day as I needed to get some work done.. (A life afloat is good – but work does keep getting in the way) – and a very good drive it was. Easy all the way, good with locks – and even dealing with the cross wind […]
Well.. thats the cherwell stretch upstream from Shipton weir lock done.. Boards all red again and the snow had not started to melt yet.. so it was a choice to do this now.. before the snow does melt and the amount of water going into the Cherwell increases more than it is now…. upstream is […]
After a week in Oxford.. The Thames still on flood and strong stream alert with 1 lock still closed for maintenance and the lock at the entrance to the Kennett & Avon canal still closed with at least 20 boats each side queuing to get through.. so the Thames is delayed for a month at […]
And it was all going so well.. 12.3miles down today.. almost into Thrupp.. Arrived at Bakers Lock to find that the River Cherwell has a strong stream warning and red lights for “do not proceed”.. so were forced to wait until tomorrow.. with luck we can continue tomorrow morning. So we settled down and.. once […]
Its time to say goodbye to Banbury. Yes – we could stay until the 16th which is when the winter mooring runs out and we have to move on.. but were getting travel twitchy – so its time to head south to spend a week in Oxford, and then onto the Thames for the Kennett […]
Just back from Cropredy.. diesel tanks re-filled (after the polish) and a quick stop over at Tesco to stock up on food etc.. Stopping in the centre of Banbury tonight.. then were off.. summer cruise here we come.. and if the weather holds like this.. an enjoyable summer it will be !
OK.. 1 day before “the beast” hit.. I had the fuel in the boat “polished”.. mainly to get rid of the rust that I knew was in the bottom of the tanks. It was a bit costly.. and took 6 hours to do (as we have two tanks), but was well worth it as it […]
Well.. the last two days failed to freeze the canal totally.. until last night. Its now 2″ thick and the boats locked in solid.. and the kids are complaining about feeling land sick 🙂 as “the boats not moving like it should”. The weather report states its going to remain above freezing for the next several […]
What with the side winds & the weather it had to happen sooner or later… Yes.. Whilst attempting to moor up at the service berth in Cropredy.. the side winds kept blowing the boat around and away from the birth.. by the time I eventually managed to get the centre rope.. it was not long […]
Canal has finally thawed at the winter mooring.. The water tank is empty.. the diesel tank – dunno – but not empty.. however: the toilet tank is full.. so time for a quick jaunt to cropredy.. But not all the canal was playing ball.. ice breaker time! ( thankfully there are no fibre glass “yogurt […]
Well.. I’m glad we did a water run yesterday and filled the water tank.. as were not going anywhere soon due to this lot falling! And.. after a few days with the heating on.. the snow is still on the boat – which is good, as it shows the insulation is still sound!
After over 3 weeks of trying to get a 100mm diameter hole in 10mm thick steel for the warm air exhaust – the fuel cell finally went online last week!. Not a bad bit of kit – still need the engine when the washing machine is on as the fuel cell only delivers 9amps @ […]
Time for a run to Cropredy marina – top off the diesel tanks, empty the toilet tanks.. and pull in at a pub on the way back! Brasenose Arms.. here we come.. again.. Sorted!
The CRT team who have been working on replacing the bottom gates of the lock in Banbury had an open day today, where the public could go into and see the inner workings of a lock. The bottom gates had already been changed – with the old ones sitting in the crane barge waiting to […]
It s just a little bit cold today.. Fires on and the cats taking advantage of it ! Does it get cold in a narrowboat.. well.. does it get cold in your house when you don’t have the heating on ? Thats why we have the heating on! and its 30 degrees in here.. apparently […]