Searching for plants, bowls and leaks.

The day dawned overcast, but really looked like it was going to perk up before too long. After breakfast Helen wanted to go and look round an open garden that wasn't too far away. We were there by 1030, and there was just the owner there. The garden has a honesty box for the £3-50 entry that is for the National Garden Scheme (Yellow Book) charities. The lady came out and we had a bit of a chat before setting off round the acre garden by ourselves.

The soil is sandy, or was, as it obviously has been improved over the years. She bought the field where her plant nursery business in 1997 and the garden has been open to the public since 2022. The garden has lots of beds that at this time of they year are full on 'forget me nots', cowslips, fritillarys, and lots of other things that look to be more advanced than we are up north. All the sun in March certainly seems to have brought things on. There were some plants that we hadn't seen before and after a look round the garden we spent a bit of money at the nursery with items for the 'new' garden.

At the back of the garden was a deep pond with pollarded willows and lots of clumps of various bamboos. It seems somewhat drastic to keep a panda to keep the bamboo in check but it seems to be working. 

We headed off to Southam as we were running out of cat food and they have an outlet shop. That was closed but the Co-Op was open. I always find it a little strange when the Co-Op movement has different branches and you have to have the right loyalty card for the area, and ours wasn't the correct one. Just up the road was a one stop shop place that wasn't just vape liquids and the like but full of bits of hardware and ironmongery stuff, and other things that you didn't know you needed. When I rigged the chimney the plastic box I had been using as added protection for the chimney bung just shattered in my hand and the brick keeping it in place just well through. It had been a rectangular box for fat balls for birds and was the right size. It just shows that plastic does degrade with time and sunlight. Helen spotted a bowl that seemed as though it would fit the bill, and after trying to remember the measurements that were required, and compared with it, it was bought. The price on it was £4-50, but it was ours for £2-99. I love a bargain.

It is a nice metal bowl, made in Germany, but I don't think it is stainless so will have to treat it or paint it with something. I also put on the chain that I got from the museum at home. It was old picture hanging chain. I made the bung by filling a plastic plant pot with cement and added a rubber seal too. Hopefully it will all keep the rain out.

After a bite of lunch I set to on a couple of jobs. One was to check the inflatable life jackets and another to fill up the stern gland greaser. I checked that the self activating pellet hadn't absorbed moisture and also that the gas bottle was intact too. I then blew two of the jackets up and left them to see if they would hold their pressure. Meanwhile I popped down the engine hole to see that the deck was covered in the water and coolant that I had put in yesterday. I should have realised there had to be a reason that it had water there yesterday.

I mopped it all up and then started to refill and hoped to see where the 'leak' was. I could quickly see that the water started pooling up again, but I couldn't where it was coming from. I checked all the hoses and connections and all seemed tight. I decided to drain it down, at least to the top, of the skin tank before refilling again. I unscrewed the top, of the bleed valve on the skin tank and took of the radiator cap too.

Top left is the hex nut that is on top of the bleed valve for the skin tank. The hose is from the engine to the bottom of the skin tank.

When the water was out down to the top of the skin tank I started to mop out and dry up, before starting to top it up slowly to see if I could find the leak that way. I noticed eventually that the water was coming from where the deck meets the bottom of the skin tank. I feared the worst that the weld had failed. Once again a drained it down and mopped up and dried it and cleaned it so that I could get a good photo to show a mechanic. I then refilled to take a photo of where it was coming out. When I got to the top I screwed on the top of the skin tank bleed pipe. I then noticed that the water was coming out despite the top being on.

On the right is the skin tank the metal at the bottom is the base plate and the pipe is where the hose in the last picture goes into. The rust bit of weld is where I thought the leak was from. The last time I topped up the system and screwed the cap on the skin tank I noticed that it was still coming out. As I had only put it on finger tight I went to harden it up, but it just  wouldn't stop.

When I looked closer I could see that water was streaming down the side of the skin tank and pooling up where I thought it was weeping through a weld. I hadn't seen it before as the rivulet from the leaking cap didn't catch the light .

This had happened before, in Birmingham, and I nearly died as I had nothing to stem the flow with at hand. Eventually I went round to see Sherbourne Wharf who had a little base down Oozells Loop. They let me root through there odds and sods box and I found the nut/cap that has just failed. They thought that it was some sort of gas fitting!

You can clearly see the crack in the top of the nut, on top of a 2p piece for scale.

I am going to have to take it home to see if I can find some sort of replacement. I don't suppose that the engine will come to harm not full of water. I do hope that there is nothing else wrong after this. I will need to remember to get some more coolant too. The first time I topped the system up and it drained away I did notice that when I had drained it down to when it wasn't coming out of the bleed valve it also stopped coming out where I suspected a cracked weld, despite having the head of a full skin tank above it! Then you look at the very little nut with a crack ion it and wonder how the water drained that quickly! Fingers crossed for when we get back. When that will be I have no idea at present.

It looks like it will be a wet trip back home tomorrow.

A bit of Roman Road, a Swedish shop and an Indian tea.

 Not so much of a boaty day today as Helen had plans. We were off to Milton Keynes down the A5 from Daventry. Even on the boat the new house looms large so as there is an IKEA at Milton Keynes we thought we would go and check out what was available in the way of bedroom and bathroom stuff. It would be less of a trip than at home. We have an idea of what we want, it is just finding it that fits into the space we have.

The trip down was quiet traffic wise. We got there about 1030 and the car park was quite full but was much busier when we left.

We checked out what we wanted and came away with some ideas but will need to measure the spaces once again. Not sure it was my favourite stuff though. The journey back to the boat was longer as more people were up and in action. Shops, garden centres etc were doing a roaring trade, and to be honest it looked like it was taking as long to get out of them in the car as it was to go round them!

We just got back to the boat when it started raining. We had had showers all the way back. We sat and did stuff for a while, had some lunch and when the sun came back out we put our boots on and went along to the other basin here at Ventnor. We are in Sunrise but the main one is sunset. They were having their first open day, trying to attract more moorers and introduce the boat sales. There were a couple of trading boats, and stalls too. There was music (a little loud for me) and Napton Cidery had a stand. We had a drink and after a while went to the curry mobile kitchen and purchased our tea. Apparently Aquavista were pleased with the turn out as it is the first time they have done it here.

I can't wait to get out on the canal. I'm not cut out to be in a marina.

Our neighbouring boat went out yesterday so we were able to taker as photo of 'Holderness'. We had washed it yesterday, not that you can tell really. These days pictures are best taken at this distance.

Oh by the way, as you may expect, we didn't come away from IKEA empty handed as we had a plastic step so Helen can reach the top of the cupboards at home and two packets of cinnamon swirls, £8-99. I suppose if all those visitors only came away having spent that much they would do okay. In 2022 40.4 million people visited all their stores in the UK, that's around £363 million at £9 each, in 2022 prices.

When is Black Green?

 Well here we are. It has been ages since my last post. It hasn't been quite so long since a visit to the boat down here in the Midlands. We did pop down pop down to the boat in February just to make sure that it was still afloat but spent the day in Leamington. The boat was still above the water and generally in good nick.

Some views from Jephson Gardens from our walk around the town.

We have been very busy, well I suppose I always am really, but we need to scratch off dates on the calendar so that we don't don't book anything and are clear to get away. There are all the usual things like grandchildren and son away at sea so become more engaged there, Helen's 92 year old Godmother, and mother needing ,more time and care and all the hobbies and volunteering, museum, history walks, babershop singing etc etc. but the main stop to boating activities early in the year is that we have bought another house!

We have been saying for several years that we should think about downsizing, and Helen does like looking on all the sites at what is around. We had decided that we wanted to stay around where we live now, and suitable properties don't seem to come up very often. Helen talks of downsizing but really she seems to want just a room or two less and a smaller garden. We bought a plot of land, designed our house and had it built over thirty years ago, and I would love to have done that again, but trying to purchase land is prohibitively expensive, if you can fine any, and building costs are fantastically expensive too. 

I was doing a little historical research into our local area when a a house for sale came up that Helen hadn't seen. I told her and after the weekend she called the estate agent up for an appointment to view just to be told that it had already been sold! Never mind, just a thought. A week or two later they estate agent called and said it was back on the market. This was in January. We went to see it and it was 'just what we were looking for' in a great part of the town. It seems that it was a part exchange and two days later we put an offer in.Two days after we were told that it was going to 'full and final offers' with two of us. We um'merd and a'ared and put an offer in and two days later we heard it was ours. We then exchanged a few weeks later. So from mid January to the start of March was all it took.

That was the start of it as we bought it knowing that we wanted to do a lot to it, basically changing the front to the back. We have therefore been busy finding builders, making designs, visiting kitchen and bedroom places etc etc. And of course there is then getting our current place to sell when we get closer to getting into our new place. I feel that we will be otherwise engaged, precluding sailing off into the sunset until well into the summer.

I replaced the deck boards and seat locker tops a few years ago, and I have been very disappointed with the longevity of them. I bought Buffalo board, phenolic resin hardwood. It is pretty pricey with a non slip surface ideal for deck boards. When I cut them I treated all edges with cut end and water repellent but didn't seem to extend the life of them at all.

  The old deck boards and seat locker tops showing the delamination of the buffalo board plywood.

I looked on line to see what the alternatives for this sort of thing. It seems that some people used aluminium chequer plate, but it seems that otherwise there appears to be little else to try. I hit upon recycled plastic that was been used in making products such as decking, seats, planters and even been used for pontoons in marinas. I remembered that I had seen it at the little walk around the pond close to Fradley Locks. I have not seen or heard it been used on boats though. I sat on the idea for a while, but then with research found that there were a few companies that made 8' x 4' sheets at various thicknesses. Stokbord by Kedel seemed to be the most widespread one. At first glance it looked to be really expensive, and that put me off for a while. However when I checked the price of Buffalo board it was only a few pounds more expensive! Stokbord is used widely in stables and animal husbandry settings as it can be chemically washed and is hard wearing etc. I was a little worried that it would warp with the heat from the engine, and it might do. However as they did it in 18mm thickness, and the unsupported area over the engine is not large so I am hoping that it will fine. I then wondered if it would pass the BSS but I don't think there is a requirement for the deck boards, and after all usually it is wood. Stokbord is Class 3 fire resistant though.

My nearest stockist was in Driffield but the wood yard was very helpful and even cut it so that it would fit in the car, just for a £5. I brought it with us this weekend and set to this morning. It cuts very like wood. I was going to use a jig saw but as our neighbours were aboard I used a hand saw and it cut the curves nicely. It drills well and even planes too. It takes a screw, and over all I am well pleased with it. Both surfaces are textured, so a bit anti-slip top and bottom. There is plenty of weight in the 18mm board too.

                                                                   Over the engine hole.

The port side seat locker. I have widened the seats out at the for'd end so that there is more surface to put your bum on, rather than having to perch due to the tumblehome, where the top of the coaming sets inwards.

That's the st'bd seat locker with a piece of the bord end on. It seems to be slightly greyer in the middle. It says it is shatter proof. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will do the job longer than the last boards I had. In theory it should last for ever and as it recycles plastic should doubly add to my green credentials.

I had started the engine and run it for a while to charge up the starter battery. after about 30 mins an alarm started for high temperature. I shut down the engine and continued with what I was doing. After it had cooled down a fair bit I went back and found I couldn't see any water in the tank? That would do it wouldn't it. I had a scout around for some coolant/antifreeze and found the stuff that the bloke at Calcutt had left me after replacing the coolant last year. While it was low I checked to see if there was any water in the skin tank. I undid the bleed nut and nothing came out! I mixed up the coolant and started topping it up. Very soon the skin tank was full so bleed nut tightened and continued filling. It was soon done, engine run up and all good again.

After a bite of lunch I filled up with water and then decided to wash the st'bd side of the boat, the side next to the pontoon obviously. Even Helen came out to help and was soon done. And so was my back!!

The Shropshire Union at its best.

 Last night there wasn't a light in sight, other than the moon. There was a farm house quite close but we could just see the roof. We got away in a cool'ish wind.

Adderley Locks were just around the corner and we caught up with a boat and followed them up with a couple coming down.

The girls waiting for the lock to fill and taking the weight off as they do it.

This is another nice bridge that is a turnover one too. That is it takes the towpath from one side to the other. It is quite as graceful as those on the Macclesfield Canal but pretty nice non the less.

We had decided to stop for a Sunday lunch in Market Drayton. I found the mooring details pretty tricky to read from a moving boat and nearly as much once we had tied up! As we came down the length of mooring it looked like there was no mooring as it was reserved for fishing. However it seems that the angling club with the rights to fishing between Bridges 61 and 69 can not fish opposite the Market Drayton moorings between April and September. (This is the top blue sign on the right hand picture). On the left it says that only overnight moorings are allowed, other than on Tuesday and Wednesday! At the bottom of the right hand post it actually says no mooring between 10am and 4pm.! What is all this madness about?  And surely somebody could come up with a better  way of getting the message across, even if it is a waste of time as we moored there at 1230 on a Sunday along with about 5 other boats.

The old warehouse has been turned into flats and they look pretty nice too.

We walked to the Red Lion in Drayton that is also the brewery . This can be seen behind the pub. The Sunday dinner was very nice indeed, as was the pint of pale ale I had

There were boats waiting at the water point so we tickled along to the bottom of the Tyrley Locks and found that there were two ahead of us. There were numerous coming down too, and one volunteer trying to help any single handers.

At the top of the locks we stopped and topped up with water and dropped off some recycling before continuing onwards. Tyrley Wharf was looking nice with all the baskets.

At the winding hole just past the locks the owner of the property has strung his boat across the winding hole at some inconvenience to himself. I seem to remember reading about this and it seems that the winding hole 'belongs to the property so he can do this. I think everybody going past should make sure they have a bucket of soil and as they pass chuck it into the hole buy the boat and he can have his winding hole. If it is his winding hole, and nobody else can use it, then he would have to dredge it it seems to me. How mean spirited when there is even alongside mooring on his property too.

As it was gone 17:00 when we came to Woodsheaves we didn't meet any other boast. The sign at the start of the cutting warned of just about anything that could happen other than the Boggart leaping out at you. Needless to say we escaped with nothing befalling us.

At the far end the sun came out and the dappling on the sandstone cliff and ferns was very pleasing. It isn't quite the same on a dull cod wet day.

By the moorings at Little Soudley is the best view of The Wrekin to the west. It would be a great canal that took you round it, as the countryside around here is lovely.

It was getting late and I was getting a little bored so we called it a day before we got to Shebdon or the Anchor so found a spot out of the wind but with no trees for the sun, and tied up for the night. Another day done, another pint of Joules Pale and a Sunday lunch under my belt. All set for another week of boating now.

Last Leg

 Wednesday 25th September

We were very grateful to examiner/surveyor Wayne Shrubb for fitting us in after a re-test at Braunston Marina. He was due to arrive at around 1130 so Helen went for a walk whilst I did a few jobs that were waiting to be done.

After a through check on everything the only thing we fell foul to was the fire extinguishers. We had the three extinguishers required but I hadn't added up the A's and B's to ensure that we reached the total required. It is quite confusing as some extinguishers don't have kite mark or other compliance codes that are required and some do not state what the A and B numbers are. For us we need 3 extinguishers and each extinguisher should have a rating of 5A and 34B. The A rating is concerned with the ability to fight solid fires and the B rating to fight liquid and gas fires. Not only must each extinguisher meet a requirement, but the total of the A and B ratings for the three extinguishers must meet at total of 21A and 144B, and this is where we fell foul. However I was able to pop down to Midland Chandlers and purchase a fourth extinguisher that brought us over the requirement and having emailed Wayne photos of the classifications and A and B ratings, and where we had mounted it Wayne was happy to issue the certificate and we have another 4 years. Wayne and I had a good chat and I enjoyed his company, and he passed us, so would highly recommend him for the BSE survey.

We set off about 3 o'clock, passing these thugs at the entrance to the marina. They were resting from holding up passing and moored boaters.

The wing walls of the bridge to the marina are definitely getting closer to finishing. It is a shame that very many other bridges around the system don't get the love and attention that this one has. Some of them are in quite a perilous state.

The black swan is still around. I wonder if they can interbreed with 'normal' swans to make a grey one! He/she must be quite lonely too.

We were following a boat going very cautiously but they turned up towards Hillmorton and then decided to stop at the services. Our way was clear.

A bird flew across the bow but didn't come out the other side. At first glance I had thought it was a turtle dove, and that would have been exciting. It stopped for a rest on the bow, and then a few minutes later staggered into the air and fluttered to the side. As we passed I could see that it was a young wood pigeon as it lacked the red eyes of the turtle dove. I have never seen one before so I'm not sure of their size compared with a young wood pigeon.

I think this is Bush Hill which is the hill that Flecknoe sits behind. The village was in the Domesday Book and probably means Flecca's Hill. It seems that the village may have been bigger in Medieval times as there is evidence of a chapel and areas of housing etc from then. Also interestingly there are possible cock fighting pits dug into the side of Bush Hill. We will have to walk up to the village again sometime. I remember last time the Olive Bush pub was shut when we were looking for a reward for a walk days walking.

Rothern are busy installing a bit more Armco to protect the bank further along. It looks like this will be claimed as a prime mooring as it is really only one boat long, nice and quiet and an open aspect.

We made the turn into the Warwick and Napton Canal and before we got to the locks it had started raining lightly, but looked set to increase. There was a hire boat shaping up to go down so we had a partner. They had come up the Hillmorton Locks, so this was their first 'down'. They were willing but slow, so we got wet. They were heading on towards Leamington. I mentioned a staircase lock and there were blank looks. I recommended they don't start going down the locks that night, and read the instructions for working the paired locks before heading down. We turned into Ventnor Basin and as it was after 16:30 headed to the fuel berth and moored up for the night to be ready for first thing in the morning.

We took fuel and packed up and were on our way before lunch the next day as we had to be home for picking up the Grand kids as their parents were off out out for the weekend.

Breweries and Braunston.

Tuesday  24th September

Helen had visited the old Crown and Anchor pub just near lock two, which is now the gift and ice cream shop. he was looking for post cards and bits for Christmas and birthday's and managed to find one or two things. The pub closed in 1934.

The weather was dry and dull when we set off in the morning. Just before the bridge before the A5,  Brg. 12, I was hoping to get a glimpse of the old Anchor Brewery behind where the wharf had been. It seems in September 1868 the coal wharf, maltings, inn and various properties were for sale. A brewery was then established by Mongomery and Harris & Co in 1869 and by 1890 seemed to have acquired several tied houses in the area. These included The Champion at Braunston, The Why Not at East Haddon, Horseshoe at Long Buckby,  Shoulder of Mutton Crick, The Case is Altered in Northampton, and the George Inn Long Buckby. The brewery was taken over by Walker and Soames in 1898, a company formed by the partnership of two brewing families, one from Spalding and one from Beverley. Capt. Walker's daughter Geraldine married Gerald Soames and the two men set up the business. Geraldine threw her self into the community and the breeding of elk hounds and goats, She became the chair of each society. She bred the only recorded goat herd in Northampton and had the goat the was the first to produce 2 gals. of milk in 24 hours. She died in 1950 but they had had no children so left the chattels to their long term cook/housekeeper and Chauffeur/Gardener. Gerald had died in 1946, but the business had been bought by Brackley brewer Hopcraft and Norris in 1910. I think it would be around this time that brewing stopped at the Anchor Brewery, but certainly when Hopcraft and Norris were merged with Chesham Brewery in 1946.

We went up the last lock in the flight with the help of two voluntary lock keepers who told us that they had had as many boats before 09:30 today as they had had all day yesterday. I can't think why. We went straight on at the junction and headed towards the tunnel. This picture will be a different picture in a few weeks after a bit of frost and the leaves turn. Strangely after all the rain we have had there was still water coming out of the feeder from Daventry Reservoir.

As we approached the tunnel I could see a boat near the end so I waited for them. We passed another couple of boats in the tunnel and the first shaft had a torrent coming through, but otherwise, despite the recent rain, not that wet at all. My kindness was repaid as when approaching the end a boat waited for me to exit. As we exited I wasn't sure whether I could see the stern light of the boat that had gone in after us, or the tunnel light of one coming our way. It turned out that it was coming our way and we waited for them at the first lock and had a quick trip down the locks. They were heading for the Braunston Marina.

The shop at the bottom lock has just been taken over and both times we have transited these locks this trip Helen has come out with a loaf of bread, a new line the new couple who have taken it on are doing.

The lock keepers keep the bottom lock surrounding, around the dry dock, very neat and tidy.

I'm sure these buildings could tell a few canal stories. We found a mooring between the two marina entrances and before Butcher's Bridge and settled in. Chatting to the couple we came down the locks with I had asked if he knew somebody local to do a Boat Safety Certificate survey and he supplied a name. I phoned him up and he said he could come down the next day. I spent the afternoon checking over all that was required for the survey and getting everything ready for it.

We walked up the hill to the Old Plough and got in before any rush for a very nice steak and bottle of wine. Apparently the pub has been here since 1672. The first mention of a Plough Inn I can find is 1810.

Whistling Past The Wharves in the Wet.

 Monday 23rd September

Rain was forecast for much of the day but as we had about three hours until the first lock and there was little wind we decided to get going and give ourselves options for the next few days.

The first bridge of the day was a proto roving bridge which isn't quite so well designed as those on the Macclesfield canal and others. This is perhaps because there is a road bridge on the other side of the wall. Just through the bridge and on the port side was a brick and tile works. In 1912 it was the Northampton Brick and Tile works but it seems that they got into difficulties that year and had to sell up the equipment etc. Ten years later it was owned by the Blisworth and Stowe Brick and Tile Co and they had it up for sale or rent. It was said the yard could turn out 300 million bricks a year. It certainly seemed to have a very big kiln. It seems that it was after this sale in 1922 that the yard went down and soon closed.

Whilst not raining at the time these cows seemed to be heading for shelter, but not lying down. Just about as reliable as the Met. Office!

This is the old Gayton Wharf that is just past the old Banbury Road. There was a electric level crossing here but the railways wanted to close the road and put in a footbridge. As mentioned in a previous post Banbury Road was an ancient drovers road. In the end they built a new bridge for vehicles. It is good to see that somebody is looking after the buildings. It is on the land of a portaloo hire company so maybe they are being put to a more basic use.

As you can see it still wasn't really raining, just dull and damp, but nice and still.

I think this building by Bridge 36 was the pub called the Swan in the old days and where the modern pub called the Wharf is where the old Bugbrooke wharf used to be. A William Harris ran a coal and corn business from the wharf from about the 1840's. He sold up in 1874. By 1889 there was a warehouse of 40' x 20' an enclosed yard a spacious wharf and a weighing machine and a good house and garden. The Swan Inn was lumped in with the sale of the wharf along with 5 houses that were the opposite side of the road opposite the pub, but have no gone. This was a Mr. Hinks who was leaving the area.

Needs a good paint job, much like 'Holderness' but we are getting closer.

This was the old Crown Inn by Bridge 35. In 1859 the pub was up for sale along with adjacent Crown Inn Wharf and three lime kilns that seemed to be on the opposite side of the canal to the inn along with a store.

This Furnace Wharf by Bridge 32. Here was Heyford Iron Works from around 1857. Ore was brought in by boat and railway, that is just beyond the wharf. Stowe Iron works was just the other side of the railway line, just beyond the buildings. Ore was also brought by narrow gauge railway from a site to the west of both works. In later life bricks and tiles were also produced on this site. The site had become disused by 1901.

What a shame this unsual wooden boat has sunk. I hope they manage to get it floating again before it is too late.

From about 1987 to 1998 Marion and Philip Gardner ran 3 hour boat trips from here, High House Wharf, near to Bridge 29. The boat was called 'Saucy Sue'. It was also one of the stopping off points for a performance by the Mikron Theatre Co.

By Bridge 27 is Floore Lane Wharf. It seems to have been run by a Mrs Tibbs who had it up for sale in 1878. It consisted of the house, granaries, warehouse 3 stall stable, cow barn and pig sty and cart shed and lime kilns. In 1880 Mrs. Tibbs died at the wharf so it probably didn't sell and it isn't real heard of after that date.

It was about at this time that it started to chuck it down so no more photos. We got to the straight canal just before the bottom Buckby Locks and could see a boat just going in. They very kindly waited for us. They were an ABC hire boat when just two blokes aboard. They had been hiring for many years so we raced up the locks to moor up in the long pound as I thought that the other moorings would be full of people that hadn't moved in the rain. We sat still and didn't venture out into the rain.