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.