tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61091549011956932912024-03-19T03:09:42.760+00:00Narrow Boats SICKLE and FLAMINGOAlan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.comBlogger535125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-91674092677982252792019-08-29T22:00:00.000+01:002019-08-29T22:11:07.002+01:00A straightforward day.<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>(Post for Thursday 29 August)</b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atmospheric morning.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We were away from Newbold before 9:00 am, I think - about as good as we generally manage, as David has the back cabin, so we can't really get going until he is up. In fairness though, he has done a reasonable job most days recently of getting up before we have to nag him too much to do so! I got going immediately before a boat behind us just doing the same thing. When I do this I tend to think "will he be up my tail", as Flamingo can often be slower than a modern boat, but as is so often the case he was a fair bit slower than us - I'm glad I got away when I did!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In fact we weren't going that far initially, as the Newbold Co-Op had failed to supply us many "veggie" items yesterday, so we needed the Tesco at Brownsover (Rugby). This is often a busy place to moor a 72 foot boat, but I needed to do "services", (water, toilet cassettes & rubbish), and fortunately the service moorings were empty - it usually works out that the time taken is much the same as a quick shop, so it can work well, (as it did today). The Brownsover visitor moorings were however quite chaotic, as many boats passed through the insufficient space, because the Canal and River Trust consistently fail to keep offside vegetation under adequate control here.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scraping the bttom at Hillmorton.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Quickly underway again we set off for Hillmorton, but by Clifton, were following a very slow boat that had passed through Rugby. There really was no need for us to have to follow him for several very slow miles, as there are long straight stretches beyond Clifton where he could so easily have waved us past, but he chose not to. This is very poor etiquette in my view, but clearly some of those that like never to exceed snail's pace themselves think it is reasonable to enforce it on others. Mercifully though, he pulled over before Hillmorton.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back on to broad locks - Braunston.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We were warned of queues at Hillmorton, but in practice there really weren't any. However I will make my usual complaint. There were no less than three CRT volunteer lock keepers milling around at the bottom lock, and not doing a great deal, but the pound between the middle and top lock was again so far down that we bounced along much of it. It's not just deep draughted "historics" - a steerer of an expensive build modern boat coming the other way complained of the same. There are back pumps at Hillmorton, so letting down water to keep pounds topped up should not be an issue. Why can CRT not train the "vollies" to perform this very useful task?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Braunston again</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A reasonable run until nearly Braunston, but we caught up an exceedingly slow hire boat about 2 miles from the junction. I actually stopped mid channel at one point, and went inside for several minutes to let them get ahead - it didn't work, as I soon caught them up again!</span><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />By Braunston locks, everybody ahead had pulled over, and we went up alone. Despite it being August we got almost to the top before meeting the only pair of downhill boats encountered. There was nobody in the tunnel either, so that was despatched quickly as well.<br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJIpxxFzctGSAbxd_77dKIODqnj41IoBZUt3aFoy0FOJfq7R3mvvadv_JHhixktEyrzhlnEdhqXvbP792UY5tWcYsWrUccH0Xy9sSOZyZAwMWrGh8OM7jXvWDGDmio4dAVcFAtpOL_hST/s1600/P1020749.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJIpxxFzctGSAbxd_77dKIODqnj41IoBZUt3aFoy0FOJfq7R3mvvadv_JHhixktEyrzhlnEdhqXvbP792UY5tWcYsWrUccH0Xy9sSOZyZAwMWrGh8OM7jXvWDGDmio4dAVcFAtpOL_hST/s400/P1020749.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tar boat Spey - usually Northern based, but has done a tour of the South.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The less said about the owner of the boat we had to wait come up Buckby top lock the better, though. He told Cath she must not help, (fair enough), but expected to be able to bring a lock that is leaking liked a sieve at the bottom end to the point where he could open the top gates using just one set of gate paddles. Sorry mate, but we would all still been there now had we not told you what was required!<br /><br />Tomorrow back to the mooring should be a short day, but I suspect it will very much depend on what other boats we encounter in trying to get there!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ne</span><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>wbold to Long Buckby</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles </span>15.9, Locks: 10</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">96.7, Total Locks:50</span></span></b>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-79788886387302342072019-08-28T21:00:00.000+01:002019-08-28T21:12:59.429+01:00Good progress, but rain stopped play.<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>(Post for Wednesday 28 August)</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our standard not too taxing day from Springwood Haven would probably take us to the All Oaks Wood moorings on the Oxford canal. However despite a not particularly early start, we were making very good progress, with no hold ups.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only photo taken today, it seems - we must try harder!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or nearly no hold ups, at least. Approaching Hawkesbury, Cath caught up with the community boat "The Hargreave" - I knew we would likely encounter it somewhere, when we passed its base in Nuneaton, and it wasn't on it. Often this is not one of the better handled community boats, and in fact on occasions we have wondered how a steerer can possibly be approved to operate it. Today it was mostly just tediously slow, but it turned out it was mooring outside the Greyhound to disgorge it's passengers - presumably for lunch. We were grateful it was going no further, but moored in the winding hole it further guaranteed I had no chance of coming around the 180 degree turn at Hawkesbury in one.<br /><br />We were far to early in the day at All Oaks to consider stopping there, and in fact there really wasn't any space anyway, so I pressed on, still making good speed. I seem to be mastering many of the trickier narrow tight bends that are badly silted on the inside, and getting into far less difficulties than I have in the past - famous last words - something dramatic will now happen tomorrow.<br /><br />I would have pressed on as far as Hillmorton, but Cath needed a quick shop, and finding mooring space to visit the big Tesco at Brownsover in Rugby is often tricky. As there is a more minor supermarket as Newbold, as there were plenty of moorings, and as it now looked set in to rain, we have stopped there. Once again we have beaten CanalPlanAC's default timings by some margin, whereas in the past we have often taken a lot longer than their estimates. OK, to some extent it is to do with what you get stuck behind, if at all. However I'm still just about prepared to believe that the more we get used to the boat, the better we are at making reasonable progress without too many dramas.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Springwood Haven to Newbold</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles </span>19.1, Locks: 1</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">80.8, Total Locks:40</span></span></b>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-85207257286757321512019-08-27T22:00:00.000+01:002019-08-28T21:09:47.475+01:00Time to head home.<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>(Post for Tuesday 27th Augus<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">t)</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had a cracking time at Alvecote, but now life means we have to leave, and get ourselves back home. Whilst we have no need to be in a mad rush, I have hospital appointments on Saturday, so we need to be back on the home mooring on Friday night latest.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing Arundel (a modern working boat) towing Brighton (a 1930s boat).</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've just been reminded by Facebook about the trip away from Alvecote last year, when we arrived at Atherstone locks to find a queue of half a dozen boats waiting to go up. It is inevitable that it will be busy as many boats travel away from this large event - at least this year there were only three or four boats queued ahead of us, although quite a few soon joined the queue behind.<br /><br /> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It may have been very busy at the locks, but this picture looks otherwise.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There was no point in rushing, of course, and anyway we planned to stop after 6 locks for some very much needed shopping, particularly as we had somehow managed to turn our fridge off on Monday, and food we thought we had available to us was no longer necessarily safe to eat. By the time we had shopped, had lunch, and set off again, very few people were using the locks, and the onset of some rain made it unlikely that many more now would.<br /><br /> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYJlyS8a578ZkUTMGNwHpNBEujJIdXEP2D3Ckg725J6_TumjGRaDgAykHpAj_0UlSeqZ2TJXVsLbaPOD_dQxCbAmfD1g33cTSXaevgiHzhZHytcLg9lWACwLO_aAR0x6d16RIsrxNXsi2/s1600/IMG_6977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYJlyS8a578ZkUTMGNwHpNBEujJIdXEP2D3Ckg725J6_TumjGRaDgAykHpAj_0UlSeqZ2TJXVsLbaPOD_dQxCbAmfD1g33cTSXaevgiHzhZHytcLg9lWACwLO_aAR0x6d16RIsrxNXsi2/s400/IMG_6977.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another tranquil picture that seems unrelated to the actual number of boats.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We more or less have a standard pattern of how Alvecote to the home mooring in Northamptonshire can be comfortably handled in four not particularly intensive days. Our regular choice for the first night's sop is Springwood Haven, (which I assume to be a modern name, though I am happy to be proved wrong). It has good moorings, peace and quiet, and quality dog walks. If you push on much further you are soon into the several miles of canal that pass through Nuneaton - a far less enticing prospect altogether!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Alvecote Marina to Springwood Haven</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 10.3</span>, Locks:11</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">61.7, Total Locks: 39</span></span></b>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-69995143651711200972019-08-26T22:00:00.000+01:002019-08-28T21:10:33.914+01:00Alvecote Historic Boat gathering - "One Big Weekend"<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>(Bank Holiday Weekend 24th to 26th August)</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Northwich" boats section - Flamingo shares space with Seaford and Cyprus.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We have had an absolutely cracking weekend at Alvecote.<br /><br />Most of it was in blazing sunshine, so clearly we couldn't spend to long over-heating in our own boat, and needed to go and enjoy the pleasures of the "Samuel Barlow", to chill out with friends, or to just blag a ride around the parade on somebody else's boat. I'm sure that our bar and food bills will have outstripped any time we have been previously!<br /><br />We do have a fair number of pictures of other people's boats, but not exactly a lot of our own, and when I have more time, and better connectivity, I'll try andf work out how best to put up an album of pictures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was a stonking weekend - the best yet, and definitely the premier historic boating weekend of the calendar, in our view. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Boat movements - none in Flamingo.</b></span></span><br />
<br />Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-90982970315620364442019-08-23T22:00:00.000+01:002019-08-28T21:10:09.878+01:00Standard stuff, but it is going to be a very busy weekend.<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>(Overdue post for Friday 23 August - trying to catch up!)</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yesterday we had deliberately pushed a bit harder, to make today a shorter boating day, and to allow plenty of time to deal with any chaos that we might find when we arrived at Alvecote for the event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Actually the Alvecote team are very efficient, but we were starting to hear there were likely to be a record number of historic boats this year, and people who had recently gone past were saying "it's looking pretty full already".</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukKvXjLhtr3bKDN9OPjbJEeYLZpCm85FILLUSfWI5yjFSp3jnOxes6Ki1xpLtQg6di6oR694YRpgJEkyi-okKWN_jXFk4Z24IJhAFFhT-j0o80vn5nCedBeIqt63TuY6sbBwwpmsQWi5u/s1600/IMG_6834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukKvXjLhtr3bKDN9OPjbJEeYLZpCm85FILLUSfWI5yjFSp3jnOxes6Ki1xpLtQg6di6oR694YRpgJEkyi-okKWN_jXFk4Z24IJhAFFhT-j0o80vn5nCedBeIqt63TuY6sbBwwpmsQWi5u/s400/IMG_6834.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for second lock of the day - I seem to be polishing brass.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Atherstone locks are nice easy ones, though slow fillers, but you really can only progress at the rate everybody else is going. Today it was not too bad, but we needed to stop at the services at Bradley, to ensure arrival at Alvecote with full water t</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">anks, empty toilet tanks, and without loads of domestic waste on board. Bradley is a popular services, with just about space for two boats if people are sensible, but only one tap. We had a bit of waiting to do, (though it could have been worse).<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSof4oPTo1eT1NtN29-29fKxiKCDECygxCpVPQuy1d_E8pUseKG8T-xx_wCHk1qAXM7Ye7CtSUBv0r8WPnxyOa8Fu6I_7ChCINgRzGyG6LZU390ESkFpuq4Y8L-D4GfXZhyphenhyphen7hT2ZUQvRK/s1600/IMG_0511.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSof4oPTo1eT1NtN29-29fKxiKCDECygxCpVPQuy1d_E8pUseKG8T-xx_wCHk1qAXM7Ye7CtSUBv0r8WPnxyOa8Fu6I_7ChCINgRzGyG6LZU390ESkFpuq4Y8L-D4GfXZhyphenhyphen7hT2ZUQvRK/s400/IMG_0511.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steady progress down Atherstone</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was getting progressively hotter as we pressed on the final miles to Alvecote, and as we got close people on boats coming the other way were all commenting on just how busy it is. This was supported by the fact that </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">whilst some visiting non historic boats generally end up moored South of the final bridge before the marina there are normally not that many. This year there must have been approaching half a mile of them. It is a stretch with badly overhanging trees on the offside, so all the moored boats made life very interesting whenever boats moving in opposite directions needed to pass. The final approach to the last bridge is on a tight bend, also with badly overhanging trees, and needless to say we met somebody on that bit, taking a bit of shunting to sort ourselves out.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjsZz8suAg1qCwzAviDrvRtASJJBXex5M-rJUcJttrJcducGu0GvZL9bZe9UHezMOtQPXDScPtOkDpvPgekpBntA7hysaNv0rXrucfk-Ffra3h_9EoPO4whqZ8PM4AdIv90dDLhoZ-EtH/s1600/P1020703.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjsZz8suAg1qCwzAviDrvRtASJJBXex5M-rJUcJttrJcducGu0GvZL9bZe9UHezMOtQPXDScPtOkDpvPgekpBntA7hysaNv0rXrucfk-Ffra3h_9EoPO4whqZ8PM4AdIv90dDLhoZ-EtH/s400/P1020703.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the very short pounds between 2 locks towards the bottom of the flight.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Fortunately on arrival, despite nearly all the pontoons for "historics" now being occupied, there was one reserved for Flamingo, and it was empty. Better still somebody knew exactly which one it was.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am never a fan of the long reverse back down into the marina - the only way to get full length boats onto the pontoons with their back ends at the end you want them to be. There are always dozens of highly experienced steerers watching, so it is a classic opportunity for getting things wrong,particularly as cross winds often strike and pin you exactly where you don't want to be. Today it was largely calm, (as unusully was I!), and we got to our allotted space reasonably professionally.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was certainly time for a well earned beer, and to meet up with old friends. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Atherstone to Alvecote Marina</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 6.2</span>, Locks: 6</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">51.4, Total Locks:28</span></span></b><br />
<br />Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-33695702496049109472019-08-22T22:00:00.000+01:002019-08-28T21:12:19.579+01:00A bit more of a push, but still can't make that damned turn.<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>(Post for Thursday 22 August)</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8XrPxdSphcUtwsAD5yOt1KFhvIw_YdgWH_nO7SrwFCt0nd_Kj15yfDeKqBpUwbmnb4srijmUDS8S-outy8awL-jRwUJtpGKcDUHLO_FRuA15JgUlt4wjq0fFj2JuacaSSPyx6issiKm8/s1600/IMG_6824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8XrPxdSphcUtwsAD5yOt1KFhvIw_YdgWH_nO7SrwFCt0nd_Kj15yfDeKqBpUwbmnb4srijmUDS8S-outy8awL-jRwUJtpGKcDUHLO_FRuA15JgUlt4wjq0fFj2JuacaSSPyx6issiKm8/s400/IMG_6824.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faking it! (second attempt at the turn at Hawkesbury)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yesterday had put us back on the schedule we had broadly planned when expecting to go to Alvecote with both boats - so with only one, we should have course easily been able to stick to that schedule.<br /><br /> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ_KXGjR9djf8YuYc1tGWq5uD_p-wO7fpqGNGqhOEng6N44tMfd5YjjQrFsRpSkVWqzAqGj3S-fyKphX58OVSTLn7VjZEJhzzOzKSqh9ukvJoKyXa4Bh124ZdLNmNFZSy3Pv5CC7TY4ta/s1600/IMG_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ_KXGjR9djf8YuYc1tGWq5uD_p-wO7fpqGNGqhOEng6N44tMfd5YjjQrFsRpSkVWqzAqGj3S-fyKphX58OVSTLn7VjZEJhzzOzKSqh9ukvJoKyXa4Bh124ZdLNmNFZSy3Pv5CC7TY4ta/s400/IMG_0502.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hawkesbury again, after the turn and now on the Coventry canal</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">However it was starting to become apparent that this would easily be the biggest Alvecote gathering to date, and it seemed increasingly tempting to make the final day of travel shorter at the expense of going further today. We seemed to actually be bettering timings taken from CanalPlanAC - fairly unusual when travelling with Flamingo - so we decided going to half way down Atherstone locks today should still not present us with a particularly long day. This would allow a shopping stop as part of overnighting, and avoid the need to do one during the day.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbcYLTyqiFXCldux8FkrOYO4dfBb-8QBXTe_FqPNYrb09nq8gY4N1n9lNkBx7M0wk-qR3AqT_klRToo7cWauPlb0en1qK5IWOIpAoJloJurLS5Uz3olsaw_cgEGkzZK_vmmlOjqsUHKwH/s1600/IMG_6829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbcYLTyqiFXCldux8FkrOYO4dfBb-8QBXTe_FqPNYrb09nq8gY4N1n9lNkBx7M0wk-qR3AqT_klRToo7cWauPlb0en1qK5IWOIpAoJloJurLS5Uz3olsaw_cgEGkzZK_vmmlOjqsUHKwH/s400/IMG_6829.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can they possibly see where they are going?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is very little to report really, other than it is a very long while since we have passed quite so many hire boats on the move - it certainly looks like programs like Tim and Pru's offerings or "Minor celebrities go mad on a barge", (or whatever it is called), have resulted in a boost for the hire boat industry. At one point we encountered 7 of them queued up all waiting to tackle the same bridge hole, but fortunately they were travelling in the other direction to us. Almost immediately after I was surprised by going around a bend, and finding one on our side of the canal, but "parked" in the bushes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPa2YZQ1KiOWEiSBY526r1CLye_VLtvFiOtPbvvA1ZD6te_zdzxLbVM8PB2h1gsCzRdUIwyv9MGI6eSdDnIxAK_CzZigvOZxFkQgj1X9VX1YIEvrjeXzbazGr6RuDX50JZCnC4B7A1fV3W/s1600/IMG_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPa2YZQ1KiOWEiSBY526r1CLye_VLtvFiOtPbvvA1ZD6te_zdzxLbVM8PB2h1gsCzRdUIwyv9MGI6eSdDnIxAK_CzZigvOZxFkQgj1X9VX1YIEvrjeXzbazGr6RuDX50JZCnC4B7A1fV3W/s400/IMG_0505.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Atherstone flight is easy to work through unless very busy.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Once again I failed to "get around in one" at the 180 degree turn at Hawkesbury Junction - as usual it all looked to be going fairly well, but, (also as usual!), I ran out of canal. Disappointingly this time I ran out of canal sooner than usual, so not only am I not managing it, I'm actually getting worse it seems. I'm not totally convinced it is totally my own ineptitude, (although it may be!), as Flamingo is by no means the same as either bringing an empty or a fully loaded boat around.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDBnfEuEyjeKyQWXbCp3YxOeeY2oYDb3swFLqhDgwxfysZP4YO445IgjKew76RsEyT-8hN9Xki10LSd0dQc9-TgSHwMynn8hZf9unVFs12-rC7KSqggvfQac3_ndIgsYPIGQC0QNudKk6/s1600/IMG_0506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDBnfEuEyjeKyQWXbCp3YxOeeY2oYDb3swFLqhDgwxfysZP4YO445IgjKew76RsEyT-8hN9Xki10LSd0dQc9-TgSHwMynn8hZf9unVFs12-rC7KSqggvfQac3_ndIgsYPIGQC0QNudKk6/s400/IMG_0506.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max waits patiently at the same lock.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Things quietened down from this point, with far less hire boats.<br /><br /> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSY8A9JoAJVvH9wwjOunF1qmKDbCzylPGYYh7BrY5YUm-CMsMQp8POyvqNasXrUrlh4Xg6USUS1NT6bPTSSICzTIQ0sRCdb-0p5uwIjheiYVJEDdl9WwVTnUjbFLbvxiijk1VQQkem-N62/s1600/IMG_6832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSY8A9JoAJVvH9wwjOunF1qmKDbCzylPGYYh7BrY5YUm-CMsMQp8POyvqNasXrUrlh4Xg6USUS1NT6bPTSSICzTIQ0sRCdb-0p5uwIjheiYVJEDdl9WwVTnUjbFLbvxiijk1VQQkem-N62/s400/IMG_6832.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cath was "setting ahead", whilst David worked the locks I was in.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We reached Atherstone with ease, and there were moorings half way down at the best place for access to the shops. The record shows we did it a fair bit faster than the planner shows, despite sheer weight of traffic. I was also pleased that </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">my performance around the snaky bends at Mancetter was by far my
best to date, sailing easily around reverse curves that have caught me
out in the past - it seems that that we do definitely improve in some areas, </span>(even if that doesn't yet include "round in one" at Hawksbury!).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>All Oaks (near Brinklow) to Atherstone</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 19.7</span>, Locks: 6</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">45.2, Total Locks:22</span></span></b><br />
<br />Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-68185754550773337172019-08-21T22:00:00.000+01:002019-08-28T21:11:53.024+01:00Dental "Emergency"<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>(Post for Wednesday 21st August)</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Strictly this post starts off in yesterday, but yesterday was complicated enough without this, so I've carried it over into today...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Having had all the fun and games of deciding to take Sickle back to the mooring, and carrying on delayed with Flamingo, I became increasingly aware that bits of my dentistry that ought to be fixed firmly in place were starting to feel as if they no longer were. I have fairly appalling dentistry, with rather more plastic and metal than my own teeth, I would say, stemming from an atrocious school dentist who did her worst, and from which they were never likely to recover.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As feared as we were nearly into Braunston last night, a bridge decided to detach itself - why do these things only seem to happen when you don't have access to your regular dentist? (I mean a dental bridge, here of course, not a canal one, just to be clear!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />A bit of use of Google seemed to suggest three dental practices in Daventry, but the first two I phoned quickly told me I had little chance of any appointment for days or weeks. The third initially said the same, but eventually told me if I paid a fairly large charge to be seen privately they could fit me in, but it wouldn't be until the early afternoon. This meant much of today's boating time would be lost, but now with only one boat, it should still be possible to catch it back up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A friend was going from Braunston into Daventry, and kindly not only delivered me there, but also dropped and collected Cath from the Tesco, allowing a top up of supplies.<br /><br />I had a couple of hours to kill, and I have to say Daventry is not the most exciting town to pass away time in with nothing to do The Costa, at least, was much like any other.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hillmorton Locks</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Eventually I was seen, but the surgeon I saw was not too impressed with what he was trying to fix back together - a great disappointment, as I spent a fortune having it done not many years back. However, put it back together he did, at which point a further large charge became due, despite only about 10 minutes in the chair.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thereafter I got a taxi back to Braunston, and not yet being allowed to eat, set off almost immediately.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqB9sROT7nFI_9UZryTgIW_QiRHVzKmDcifeVTtps0eKY99K236-Ysbh1BfxQN9FID43pd8eJtTGC7ekElWP7KeIu58qe5_NeILj3v9hV6zLYP5eWCbVhYT1F7Bm13iAFHjIypUIwHqUT/s1600/IMG_0495.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqB9sROT7nFI_9UZryTgIW_QiRHVzKmDcifeVTtps0eKY99K236-Ysbh1BfxQN9FID43pd8eJtTGC7ekElWP7KeIu58qe5_NeILj3v9hV6zLYP5eWCbVhYT1F7Bm13iAFHjIypUIwHqUT/s400/IMG_0495.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hillmorton, again.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We reckoned we could get to probably Newbold despite not leaving until after 2:00 p.m. In practice though, when we got to Newbold, there were no available moorings at all, so we pressed on to All Oaks, by which time it was getting quite late. However for the second day, despite the problems, we were back on track for the timings on our original plan. It is just as well we had initially built in slack to allow for moving two boats - with just the one we were really getting along a whole lot faster.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Braunston to All Oaks (near Brinklow)</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 15.1</span>, Locks: 3</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">25.5, Total Locks:16</span></span></b><br />
<br />Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-47389981081294872912019-08-20T22:00:00.000+01:002019-08-28T21:11:42.397+01:00Erring On The Side Of Caution<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>(Post for Tuesday 20th August)</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The start of yet another trip where things have not gone to plan, but probably the only recent one where it happened on day 1!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The plan was to take both boats to the historic boat gatehering at Alvecote Marina this coming weekend. This is our favourite organised historic boating event of the year, and with Sickle in its shiny new paint we hoped it would balance out the fact that Flamingo is getting increaingly tired externally, and consequently increasingly hard hard to spruce up to any extent.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXbzVrUIW9ZI_tlMqVU9SqJx8gcVS3vWteQX7B6gDoS-BygBY9FlatB4psQ_L-DXnrkziuLavBck4_NxECKwIFg4oFE9jSc1ZiyE1EopXRl1vzyHa_hwCI3EC83xZ4JLKIwfiD08qZFSr/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXbzVrUIW9ZI_tlMqVU9SqJx8gcVS3vWteQX7B6gDoS-BygBY9FlatB4psQ_L-DXnrkziuLavBck4_NxECKwIFg4oFE9jSc1ZiyE1EopXRl1vzyHa_hwCI3EC83xZ4JLKIwfiD08qZFSr/s400/IMG_0490.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As far as Sickle got, before we decided to play it safe.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But it wasn't to be, unfortunately. I had done an oil change on Sickle a day or two previously, and run up the engine on the mooring, including selecting gears, and all had seemed fine. However after she had taken Sickle as far as the bottom of Buckby locks, Cath said she was unhappy with the difficulty she was encountering getting the gearbox in and out of gear. David and I investigated, and agreed all did not seem as it should be. We used our "phone a friend" lifeline for some additional advice, and concluded if there was genuinely a problem we were unlikely to fix it quickly.<br /><br />Much to our dissapointment we concluded the safest thing to do was to take Sickle back to her mooring, and to only take Flamingo to Alvecote. So David and I retraced our steps with Sickle, and spent some time putting everything securely away, and locking her up.<br /><br />We thought we would have to arrange a taxi back to Whilton, but someone from a neighbouring boat heard us discussing it, and offered to run us up there in his Land Rover. I must say we were most grateful, as it was now looking increasingly unlikely we would get Flamingo to Braunston that day as planned.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbO29MsYIxI9b7cHlMUTbp99YT14GsfhZWki2u5L6DJ3tTweqp78vfe27Y-Qr-cDK-ZdXCDyJPeaHIZo5NqlFAqbJE1GtuIHd0DDOKDQ-OmWqTSQdKBpHYQZXucgu6eKI4ppfCFPqCPQNs/s1600/IMG_6816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbO29MsYIxI9b7cHlMUTbp99YT14GsfhZWki2u5L6DJ3tTweqp78vfe27Y-Qr-cDK-ZdXCDyJPeaHIZo5NqlFAqbJE1GtuIHd0DDOKDQ-OmWqTSQdKBpHYQZXucgu6eKI4ppfCFPqCPQNs/s400/IMG_6816.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the top lock at Braunston</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In practice we made good progress, and decided to press on at least through Braunston tunnel to the top of the locks. On arrival there we reckoned we could get somewhere towards the bottom of the flight, and hopefully find a mooring in a pound near the bottom, without having to go all te way down, as there was no guarantee we would find anything on the main Braunston visitor moorings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In fact there were no spaces in the flight, so we carried on in rapidly diminishing daylight. Fortunately the disabled mooring spot was unoccupied. It is legitimate to use these if no disabled boater wants it, and this late in the day it was exceedingly unlikely any would now turn up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We hadn't planned a pub meal that evening, but by now we felt we needed one. We are increasingly drawn to the Old Plough as being the best pub for food in Braunston, and it didn't dissapoint. We were particularly impressed with the efficiency and friendliness of the young lady at the bar who was doing an excellent job as the only server both for drinks and food. Generally it doesn't seem the norm to tip in pubs, but tonight I felt she had earned it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Home Mooring to Braunston</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 10.4</span>, Locks:13</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">10.4, Total Locks:13<br />(Sickle miles not included)</span></span></b><br />
<br />Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-73653864066464486402019-07-18T22:00:00.000+01:002019-07-24T21:47:11.589+01:00Standard stuff<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
The final day of a trip that ended up about 5 weeks longer than planned, and through no fault of our own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The trip from Braunston back to our home mooring is fairly standard fodder for us, and we largely know what to expect. One of the things we know is that it is impossible to know how long it will take to traverse either the Braunston or the Buckby flight of locks. The total transit times are highly affected by use by other boats, or sometimes even actions by volunteer lock keepers that actually slow things down, rather than facilitate passage. Also limited opening hours because of limited water supplies are making the locks busier when they are open, (although it is hard to see these measures are contributing much to water savings overall).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcdi3oLQJdFWgYBEzmNtuK4LM9800lf2iNi88GTP3jVtzTRJKk9tPjbPNu3eqZVyidJ-ItxjwEebl50QHjD24AEXlRqzVw89iN2iPXUShrKdUeWwADiE_55WnSAwYPMT5S_6ty2-YjYaQ/s1600/P1020680.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcdi3oLQJdFWgYBEzmNtuK4LM9800lf2iNi88GTP3jVtzTRJKk9tPjbPNu3eqZVyidJ-ItxjwEebl50QHjD24AEXlRqzVw89iN2iPXUShrKdUeWwADiE_55WnSAwYPMT5S_6ty2-YjYaQ/s400/P1020680.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Braunston Top Lock - I wasn't about to let him push ahead!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When we did the same trip a couple of weeks back with "Sickle" after the Braunston Historic Boats event we made a too late start, and got into long queues even before the first lock - today we did better, and were soon into the locks. We started to work up with one hire boat, and were surprised by the fact that after a couple of locks a different one untied, and jumped in instead. Poor etiquette we thought, but perhaps hire boaters don't know this, and the "gazumped" crew didn't seem bothered by it, so we said nothing.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending Buckby locks</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By the top of the </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">flight the "replacement" hire boat was trying to motor out of locks ahead of us - again something I avoid if I'm the second boat who has joined another - generally whoever is "lead boat" tends to stay that way, unless a discussion </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">takes place and changes the order for any reason, (such as when one gate can't be fully opened, for some reason, for example).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />When it looked like he thought he was going out of the top lock first as well, I made very certain he didn't - a very lucky move, as he proved to be very slow in the tunnel, and I doubt was half way through before I came out the other end. I hate trying to follow other boats in tunnels at very low speeds - neither of our boats will go slow enough, in needs you to keep taking them out of gear to avoid running down the one in front - a real pain!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvj2ucfECSZvcuxTOWhhoMGPuf8YcdWAk9tgzcWduEa-xWTY0rIHNCnVApLfV0Y_BjQt7fALNMCckh1q2KZpjdLW5yeEeAo8uIarfkTY50Hy6DCnTRHJ_6Z6FOPez8a0sXUnriFrpr49ON/s1600/P1020687.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvj2ucfECSZvcuxTOWhhoMGPuf8YcdWAk9tgzcWduEa-xWTY0rIHNCnVApLfV0Y_BjQt7fALNMCckh1q2KZpjdLW5yeEeAo8uIarfkTY50Hy6DCnTRHJ_6Z6FOPez8a0sXUnriFrpr49ON/s400/P1020687.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And Buckby Bottom - I love these rejuvenated "Weed Boats"!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't know where he went, but must have moored up, because after a longish wait for our place in the Buckby flight, nobody had turned up to share with us, so we set off alone. However boats in front were very slow, and in many cases there were boats waiting for the next lock we arrived at. As a result we ourselves had a boat catch us up. I</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">t proved to be the one that we had first been with in the Braunston flight - how much easier it would have been had they been allowed to stay with us throughout.<br /><br />Overall Buckby took a long while - far longer than ought to be necessary, if people got their act together, but, as I said earlier, this regularly goes with the territory.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Eventually we got back to the mooring that we have been paying for throughout this whole long saga, but which we have not actually used since early May. <br /> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Braunston to Home Mooring</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 10.9</span>, Locks:13</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">365.5, Total Locks: 362</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-54279643697110864342019-07-17T22:00:00.000+01:002019-07-22T21:25:27.861+01:00Almost back on the Grand Union<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is a fairly easy day, just a few locks, so we weren't too fussed about getting going too quickly. Alan started steering, and I decided that it was time that I had a proper clean around. There was a lot of dust in the carpets, and we'd managed to transfer a lot of dried grass inside at All Oaks Wood.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hillmorton locks</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">However, on the way I contacted our friend Polly to ask if she wanted to have dinner with us that evening somewhere in Braunston. Yes, she said, she'd love to. Did I want to go to the gym with her that afternoon?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ooo! Yes, I did. But we couldn't be too late going because the small gym is getting very busy late afternoon at the moment. Immediately there was a bit of a problem - could we get to Braunston in time?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A quick stop in Rugby was essential for a few things at the supermarket. We were lucky, all the moorings were full but the water point was empty, an ideal spot to fill up with water while I made a very quick visit to the Tesco. I got back to the boat just at the point that the tank was full.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes - the bow needs a repaint even more now it's been welded up!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On to Hillmorton, and while one of the pounds was very low we weren't delayed much with the three locks there. All that was needed then was the 7 or so miles to Braunston. These aren't quick miles. The canal is shallow, and winding and there are lots of boats moored along it - requiring us to slow down while passing. I did a stint steering, but realised that I hadn't had a bath for a day or so, and I was now covered in dust from my boatkeeping tasks that morning, so I persuaded Alan to steer again while I had a very quick shower/bath.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We got to Braunston in good time. People on another boat told us that Braunston was 'chocka', so we moored on the Northern Oxford before the main moorings, and I walked to meet up with Polly.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I thoroughly enjoyed going to the gym. I used the treadmill to check that I can run a mile comfortably in 10 minutes (OK, yes, I'm breaking no records there, but I haven't run for 15 years until recently), then another 15 minutes of intervals to try to build up my speed. Then weights. I felt great afterwards. I wish that I could go to the gym more often, but I am so often away that any gym membership becomes uneconomic.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The dogs, particularly Odin, behaved like idiots when they saw their special friend Polly. Then a pleasant meal in the Old Plough. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One more day to home.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>All Oaks to Braunston</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 15.0</span>, Locks: 3</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">354.7, Total Locks: 349</span></span></b>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-56799671520972737662019-07-16T10:00:00.000+01:002019-07-22T08:48:53.301+01:00Nearly a mile further than yesterday!<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Another day at Brinklow Boat Services - another day of trying to scramble dogs across boards laid over the cloths of another working boat - ultimate no mishaps occurred!<br /><br />Dave had agreed to look at a problem on Flamingo where rust formed between the deck plate and the top bends of the boat. The previous owner had tried fillers in the offending gap, and it hadn't worked, so rust streaks thwarted any attempt to paint it up to look tidy. The decision was to put a weld over the full length on both sides to form a proper seal - something that took longer than expected, because (as Dave explained it) despite all attempts to needle gun the area first, residual rust kept trying to break out, and disturb the weld. In fact he had to do the worse side in small short sections.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No pictures yet, but they would simply show the repaired area covered in a suitable quick drying primer. The front end badly needed a repaint anyway, and now it most certainly does!<br /><br />Dave also wanted to look over the Lister HA2 engine. He fully rebuilt it a couple of years back, but we have had some issues on this big trip, thought to be down to fuel delivery.<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He agreed with the diagnosis of the engineer from Shire Cruisers at Sowerby Bridge that throughput on the fuel lift pump seemed less than might be expected. Between the two people taking a look I had bought a replacement fuel pump, (none was available when we were at Sowerby Bridge), so I agreed that Dave would fit it.<br /><br />Dave also checked the rest of the engine, particularly ensuring all internal fuel joints were tight and not leaking, but also checking tappet clearances. In the end it was all declared in good health, other than the possibly suspect pump.<br /><br />By late afternoon we were ready to leave In the end we only went just up the canal to the usually popular moorings at All Oaks, which we found surprisingly empty.<br /><br />We had travelled about a mile more than we managed yesterday, but it still wasn't much over a mile!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Brinklow Boat Services, Stretton Arm to All Oaks</span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 1.3</span>, Locks: 0</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">339.7, Total Locks: 346 </span></span></b>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-57160113117346803102019-07-15T22:00:00.000+01:002019-07-22T08:47:25.470+01:00A very short days boating!<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
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Almost no boating today, but we did go the very short distance from our overnight stop to Brinklow Boat Services.<br /><br />We had the usual fun of threading our way between boats, with at least one needing to be repositioned temporarily to get our near 72 foot around a corner entering the yard, and getting past the "floating/sinking" dry dock.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />We had to moor on the outside of the "Star", meaning old plywood boards had to be laid across the sheeted hold of that boat to give a route to get the dogs on and off. Max got the hang of it almost immediately, but Odin seemed to want to cross on the bits where the boards weren't! Doable, but all three family members needed to be on hand each time it was done.<br /><br />Today Dave Ross replaced the rotting "back end beam" that crosses the front of the engine room with a steel replacement. It is a common compromise these days, if not strictly prototypical. Anything in wood needs constant maintenance, and quickly starts to deteriorate - the steel equivalent is the same shape, but far less maintenance is required.<br /><br />I didn't take pictures, so these are "borrowed" from Dave.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Old beam removed</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was very rotten</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Complete and primed.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">That's better!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Stretton Stop to Brinklow Boat Services, Stretton Arm</span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 0.4</span>, Locks: 0</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">338.4, Total Locks: 346 </span></span></b>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-69970650746430266852019-07-14T22:00:00.000+01:002019-07-22T08:46:13.151+01:00Another fairly gentle day on the Coventry then Northern Oxford canals.<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Around the turn at Hawkesbury, (180 degrees)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We didn't get going very early, but no problem, it was going to be a relatively short day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I steered the first bit, then Alan took over and I got changed into my running kit. Alan dropped me off at a bridge in Nuneaton, and I set off on my run. I don't like running in warm weather, and it was starting to get warm so that I was grateful of any shade along the towpath. Alan picked me up again on the corner near Charity Dock. We decided to stop at Hawkesbury Junction for a quick lunch and I could have a bath/shower before we set off again.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Flamingo with Brighton (right hand side) [Dusty Miller]</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hawkesbury Junction is also known as Sutton Stop after a family of lock-keepers there in the 19th century. There is one shallow lock, a stop lock, which was to keep the waters of the Coventry Canal separate from the waters of the Northern Oxford Canal - each canal company was a separate entity, and as water was their business they were careful to make sure that another company didn't get their precious water. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="800" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZm4iENhThDe_10hyphenhyphen2cPGZFngls2_bvizeSOs0f5hpmDnuA3zVMCTyhrwUe5OTiKVJFLpMELJsA5wFftrx7Z_prE77HwnQRq82NtOo1YmfN6JUZ_gMcAdR6ENXslej-ibxPSnoGNEDHnIb/s400/Dusty+Miller+Suttons.jpg" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Dusty's painting based on the above [Copyright Dusty Miller]</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hawkesbury is also well known among boaters for a very difficult turn of 180 degrees underneath an elegant arching canal bridge, but also in front of a popular pub where drinkers can watch your mistakes. The ideal is to take a full length boat 'round in one', but there are photos of the boatmen of the past having a crew member holding a rope around a 'strapping post' to help them get around - so it's clearly not an easy thing to do. In practice we work on the principle of getting Flamingo round without completely cocking the whole thing up.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vAih5iITHdzirHWHswRp_SmCtpRVTF9LEmJlJnYArDZxGBgS0DPBYQyFcmBlbo5OnNKtDrqA1qvwal9leHUSmSmRC9SS5Kkb9hJCQdvCl-Z451-vH53L0veD8CIp8LecX-GUCoA2PTJO/s1600/P1020675_Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vAih5iITHdzirHWHswRp_SmCtpRVTF9LEmJlJnYArDZxGBgS0DPBYQyFcmBlbo5OnNKtDrqA1qvwal9leHUSmSmRC9SS5Kkb9hJCQdvCl-Z451-vH53L0veD8CIp8LecX-GUCoA2PTJO/s400/P1020675_Cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">More than 50 years later Flamingo is where the pair were in the 1960s</span>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Once through the stop lock we tried to reproduce part of a photo by canal artist Dusty Miller that includes Flamingo in its Willow Wren carrying days, taken in the mid 60s. Dusty went on to turn that photo into a painting, but artistic licence added another pair of boats, and changed the boating faiy seen with Flamingo. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I steered the first few miles, while Alan polished brass, then he took over. We managed to moor the boat somewhere near to the side just by Rose Narrowboat moorings - enough that the dogs could get on and off with both of the planks placed across to the bank. They don't seem to be able to cope with one plank - it's too narrow - but put both of them to the bank and they are OK with walking on and off. We took the dogs for a walk in the evening sunshine. Tomorrow just around the corner to Brinklow Boats for some steelwork on Flamingo.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Springwood Haven to Stretton Stop</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 14.7</span>, Locks 1 </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">354.7, Total Locks:346</span></span></b><br />
<br />CathFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12183226376253252630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-68189594731670661642019-07-13T22:00:00.000+01:002019-07-16T09:03:53.245+01:00An easier day - but "oh dear!"<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
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The big push to be at Alvecote last evening had put us in a good position for a somewhat more leisurely journey on to the Stretton arm of the Oxford canal, where we have arranged to have small amounts of steelwork done on Flamingo by Brinklow Boat Services. In fact this should have happened about 5 weeks ago, but getting locked in on the Rochdale canal had scuppered that plan - fortunately Brinklow could still accommodate us at this later date.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now we had two relatively short days to get to Stretton, and an obvious half way stop is near Springwood Haven, where there are good deep moorings, and excellent walks for the dogs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today would be the day with most of the locks - the eleven lock flight at Atherstone, a good well maintained flight, though the locks are notoriously slow to fill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately as I tried to hand Cath the camera we normally use for the majority of the blog photos, my hand caught on the strap as I thought I had handed it over, and yanked it from her hand, after which it skidded across the lock-side, and disappeared into the cut just above the top gates of the second lock up at Atherstone. They don't half sink quickly!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cath though it couldn't posibly retrieved, but David had a go with our big magnet. I wasn't sure there would be anything magnetic, but apparently it found something, (maybe the clip on the case), and came briefly to the surface, only to fall off and sink again before it could be grabbed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There was steady traffic up and down the locks, so I had to move the boat on up the flight, but after a long wait David did eventually appear with the camera - once set a challenge he likes to succeed!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Approaching the top of Atherstone, (taken on the "other" camera!).</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now we knew you can resuscitate mobile phones by drying out in tubs of rice, so we have tried the same with the camera. Unfortunately unlike phones zoom cameras contain motors, gears, many moving parts, not to mention lenses, diaphragms and sensors. So far the camera is refusing to play ball, and the lens remains fully extended and any attempt to use it results in a"lens error". There is visibly water inside the lens, and also between parts of the LCD screen on the camera back. There may also be rice grains embedded in the mechanism that should work the lens! I have not completely given up hope, but I am certainly not optimistic of a good outcome. This sadly was not a cheap camera - we do have another with us, but it is less suitable for blog photos, and there will probably be a lot less photos posted for a while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We did get easily to Springwood Haven, and the dogs got a good walk, but I think it will have been an expensive day, unfortunately.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Samuel Barlow, Alvecote to Springwood Haven</span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 10.8</span>, Locks:11</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">323.3, Total Locks: 345</span></span></b><br />
<br />Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-71579225084502652802019-07-12T22:00:00.000+01:002019-07-14T18:42:52.669+01:00The most miles in a day so far.<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood End Lock, Trent & Mersey Canal</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A couple of days ago, when I tried to look at a revised plan of where we might aim to spend each night, I realised that with a couple of long days we might get to Alvecote Marina, and hence to the Samuel Barlow pub - always a favourite for us to treat ourselves to an evening meal. However the fact that we started a bit too late yesterday, and had then hit significant hold ups, had left us not as far ahead overnight as this plan really needed. We were still several miles short of Rugeley, but also food supplies were dwindling, and we needed to make a stop for a serious supermarket shop. (Provided you can find a mooring for a 70 foot boat, Rugeley has a very conveniently located supermarket).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Fradley</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So today we made a much earlier start, and pushed on for the miles needed to get us to the shopping stop. Unusually there was masses of available mooring space, so we were soon tied up and went in the supermarket, although the latter took some time - it's not unusual as you try to find items you need in large stores with unfamiliar layouts.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our final lock on the T&M before turning on to the Coventry</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By the time we were started again the canal planner we use indicated that whilst we probably could get to Alvecote, it was unlikely to be in time for last orders for food - we decided to try anyway - at least we could have a beer.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />There are just 5 locks for today's journey - three before you turn off the Trent and Mersey at Fradley Junction, then nothing until near Alvecote, with two slow filling locks at Glascote. Between those two sets of locks includes some 11 miles from Fradley junction to Fazeley Junction, the first half of which are somewhat confusingly a detached portion of the Coventry Canal, whereas the second half from Whittington is part of the Birmingham & Fazeley - our route becomes the main Coventry Canal again at Fazeley. You can tell which you are on, because Coventry Canal bridges have numbers, whereas Birmingham and Fazeley bridges have only names, (except for at least one where somebody has stolen both the name plates in recent years!).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glascote locks on the Coventry canal</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Against planner predictions we eventually arrived at Alvecote in plenty of time for a relaxed and excellent meal. With Flamingo on narrow canals we seldom beat the default timings from the planner - it is a big heavy boat that needs to be nursed around the many bends, through tricky bridge holes, often filled with silt, and past lines of moored boats. Today, however we beat the predicted journey time by well over an hour - quite unusual, but most welcome. We must finally be doing something right!</span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Trent Aqueduct, near Rugeley </b></span><b><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">to the "Samuel Barlow", Alvecote</span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 23.2</span>, Locks 5 </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">313.1, Total Locks:334</span></span></b>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-11534003165786833032019-07-11T22:00:00.000+01:002019-07-14T10:40:44.660+01:00A slow start, but still good progress overall.<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Waiting near Roger Fuller's yard </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- his boat Clematis is craned out for work.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We were rather later setting off south from Barlaston than we had intended, and it should have been obvious from the large number of boats that had been there last night, but had already left, that queues at the lock flights were likely. The first of these is the rather attractive flight of 4 locks at Meaford. As we were getting near I could see lots of boats ahead, so I dropped Cath at a bridge some considerable distance before the top lock to go up and check the situation, whilst I "hovered" in the bridge hole - this often easier than joining the melee near the lock, knowing there will not be any spare space deep enough to be able to get to the side. I think I "hovered" for more than half an hour - we really should have started earlier!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Slough - same boat type as Flamingo, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">but much altered over the years.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Once able to finally move up to the lock for our turn, things thankfully went a lot quicker for a while. The Meaford locks are not long out of the way before you arrive at another 4 passing through Stone. Again there was some, (but far less), queuing for the top lock, but here at least I was opposite the boatyard run by Roger Fuller, so there were some interesting boats to look at, and a bit of conversation to be had. Cath had suggested we pull over for some shopping, but there are very few moorings in the town centre, and none were available.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXfljsern7T3xg5i1-utQB9pcboj7jtvQ4wE7wCrAr-XoImVZ8bmYRJPSLj4nUGMwCr2nqDOpu4NJwUnaPncBG6go9yLPVJS8nNChcyYhlTilE9dyR7OIUuIEm0GPAaN7riNO4JRIFEur/s1600/IMG_6796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXfljsern7T3xg5i1-utQB9pcboj7jtvQ4wE7wCrAr-XoImVZ8bmYRJPSLj4nUGMwCr2nqDOpu4NJwUnaPncBG6go9yLPVJS8nNChcyYhlTilE9dyR7OIUuIEm0GPAaN7riNO4JRIFEur/s400/IMG_6796.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Working boats would probably also had </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">solar panels had they been available!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Instead she went ahead and bought some oatcakes, rejoining us when we got to Star Lock - these have proved very popular in the past, and were so again today, allowing us to have a hot and tasty lunch on the move with zero effort required to prepare it.<br /><br />Our stretch target today was to get into Rugeley. From the point we made a late start that was always ambitious, and by the time we caught up a very slow moving boat (very, very slow!), it became even less likely we would get all the way into the town centre. However we remembered some very good moorings approaching the Brindley aqueduct over the Trent some distance before the town, so we stopped there. We could still be where we wanted to be the next evening, but tomorrow looked like being a long day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Barlaston to Brindley Aqueduct, near Rugeley</span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 17.0</span>, Locks: 14</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">289.9, Total Locks: 329</span></span></b><br />
<br />Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-46040226082385266052019-07-10T22:00:00.000+01:002019-07-15T22:47:59.714+01:00Finally covering some proper miles again.<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aeD4QbZ_zUKBhPSDiZGyrcWnGQa3G8D_QM8_QBBCDCaLRtdjKW6i9-EcPTFaDamuwy8o6GDLNFzWq-2Pfv4n4y6EKjlxuTFdE_jL53H6LfyMAplIBcNzJ6PDRN1cPm1YSwZVd0UOFxU3/s1600/IMG_6788.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aeD4QbZ_zUKBhPSDiZGyrcWnGQa3G8D_QM8_QBBCDCaLRtdjKW6i9-EcPTFaDamuwy8o6GDLNFzWq-2Pfv4n4y6EKjlxuTFdE_jL53H6LfyMAplIBcNzJ6PDRN1cPm1YSwZVd0UOFxU3/s400/IMG_6788.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hall Green Stop Lock was to protect Trent & Mersey water supplies</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We set off fairly early and travelled the first 9 miles from the bottom of Bosley Locks to the Hall Green stop lock. It's a very attractive canal, although in parts seemed shallower than much of the Macclesfield did yesterday. It is not always entirely obvious which bits may or may not have been dredged so far.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As we approached Hall Green stop lock there were CRT employees at the lock. Another boater told us that they were 'measuring the lock'. After the previous day we were concerned - was this another narrow lock? Would we have to go backwards a mile and a half to the winding hole? Would we have to make the trip back into Manchester in the other direction? Fortunately, it was just part of a survey that they are doing - perhaps they will be measuring the Bosley locks as part of this.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCt1wU82U7-UCYX6LpWlSEFqtiQy-OuaqFB3Fn_oPub-1WifIt2s_b7YrI8b9h8NvOf4ikM8qVwd2qHUQyiv7LkwVZHu6W8Pyvx2qz4jHb3icairJSDl6LkQ9s84dxQd8H2rw24M5XHrVd/s1600/P1020644.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCt1wU82U7-UCYX6LpWlSEFqtiQy-OuaqFB3Fn_oPub-1WifIt2s_b7YrI8b9h8NvOf4ikM8qVwd2qHUQyiv7LkwVZHu6W8Pyvx2qz4jHb3icairJSDl6LkQ9s84dxQd8H2rw24M5XHrVd/s400/P1020644.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Immaculate "Dane" a wooden Mersey Weaver boat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Another mile or so and we were back on the Trent and Mersey canal and approaching Harecastle Tunnel. At the tunnel entrance the tunnel keeper asked Alan "have you been through the tunnel before?" He shouted a few safety instructions over the noisy Lister engine and we were straight into the tunnel without stopping and with very little preparation. the height of the tunnel varies greatly due to mining subsidence, and at one point gets very low indeed for some distance. We are always mindful that a boater died in the tunnel five years ago, it is often hard to see where the roof dips down, and you could strike your head. It is much harder to do this tunnel in Flamingo than in the 'leisure boat', Chalice, that we used to own, as the back of the boat is much higher and it is difficult to adopt a safe steering position if you are tall. However a distinct advantage of being a late addition to the procession of boats already going through is that we were a long way behind the last, so Alan could choose his own speed without any risk of catching them up.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZoMbTdKpM2Zzg_OtuPN227gnDJ4hUdlGwfz9gW0m4G-gEpWYk8g87cX1v7ssC_tOvp4-EaYxLJ8hKeLE2hd2QTrKgxXCf0rmRKs03mQxVl2qUhBiLmzg0uQ3d8D8tBdfvpX6Qc-wTNpK/s1600/P1020651.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZoMbTdKpM2Zzg_OtuPN227gnDJ4hUdlGwfz9gW0m4G-gEpWYk8g87cX1v7ssC_tOvp4-EaYxLJ8hKeLE2hd2QTrKgxXCf0rmRKs03mQxVl2qUhBiLmzg0uQ3d8D8tBdfvpX6Qc-wTNpK/s400/P1020651.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Etruria Bone and Flint mill, with Lindsay & Keppel</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Once through the tunnel we headed on the three miles towards Etruria Junction. The canal winds past the remains of the old potteries, with a few bottle kilns in among the ruins of factories. Then down the four locks at Etruria, and into open countryside again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjF6RewAKSDvWpDmCWduuNslR1h6gNrBxtME4XRO440d-QxgeqSuB8Mxjunwc6oVlW1flw0o7iXgBeNuTsCHkGzuot8sB3bNQ-Cj0bcMv1ETlSoozjPEC-I7dwFNM1Fi6fFaWRD88VVrt/s1600/P1020655.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjF6RewAKSDvWpDmCWduuNslR1h6gNrBxtME4XRO440d-QxgeqSuB8Mxjunwc6oVlW1flw0o7iXgBeNuTsCHkGzuot8sB3bNQ-Cj0bcMv1ETlSoozjPEC-I7dwFNM1Fi6fFaWRD88VVrt/s400/P1020655.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We now believe it was from a wharf here</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">that Flamingo operated as a trip boat.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We passed Hem Heath, where Flamingo operated as a trip boat for nearly two decades in the 70s and 80s and then on to Barlaston. We moored half a mile or so before the village and Alan and I walked to the town to get some much needed supplies. Then we changed our minds. There is a pub there which looked like it would feed us, and would accept the dogs in the bar, so we rang David on the boat and asked him to come down and bring the dogs to join us. The pub is owned by Neil Morrisey, and is filled with pictures of him grinning - as well as signs saying 'No dogs behaving badly!' </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Surprisingly, looking back at the whole delayed trip from when we first started, this is the first day we have covered more than 20 miles. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was good to finally to have the first day in a long while without any real stresses.<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Bosley Bottom Lock to Barleston</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 21.6</span>, Locks: 7</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">272.9, Total Locks:315</span></span></b>CathFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12183226376253252630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-24191122041180809952019-07-09T22:00:00.000+01:002019-07-13T08:45:59.575+01:00The Macclesfield Canal - Actually OK until...<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0xZzo1T6pMyC2GM5NsronE9ga_Lue2OYyNbzqYuesqi5ziF-2MMEranQyXshM04EkSoUbzITcdi41szMS8Npu-UidKInRwSX-KVG3xj6yM0A_wNC_f4rtP81yCvzB-Zq_KT54DelV0oz/s400/P1020629.JPG" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One if several large former mills</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Several
people had suggested that the Macclesfield Canal is very shallow, so
after the tribulations of the Ashton and Peak Forest we were fairly
apprehensive. However, the first few miles were no problem at all. The
reason became clear when we passed a dredging team. we don't know how
much of the canal they have actually dredged, but in practice we found
only the occasionally significantly bad bit throughout more or less the
whole of the part travelled today.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBkp72X4Q0GrVtSYsA03gp2Gp9TioZFaC5D7kZOEDNC_cVyagmFTi5TZoLXyRxTwWpCJP4uDUv3znnCy4hFJteHmLcxTyHiQ2tgVZbsiTNNA5N6_mMJ6Bm7miDqTwqMHmo1XgUzoLPT0p/s1600/P1020631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTBkp72X4Q0GrVtSYsA03gp2Gp9TioZFaC5D7kZOEDNC_cVyagmFTi5TZoLXyRxTwWpCJP4uDUv3znnCy4hFJteHmLcxTyHiQ2tgVZbsiTNNA5N6_mMJ6Bm7miDqTwqMHmo1XgUzoLPT0p/s400/P1020631.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is marked as a visitor mooring, but it's not easy to get on and off</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's
an attractive and largely rural canal with a lot of lock free miles,
although occasionally you pass a massive and impressive former mill. One
of these is at Bollington, and shortly after we stopped for gas and
diesel at Bollington Wharf, run by Brian and Ann-Marie McGuigan, who
also operate coal boats in the area. Brian advised us of a few bridges
that might still be a bit shallow, and which we might bounce through or
get slowed by, but reckoned that otherwise we should hit no further
problems on the Macclesfield canal until we joined the Trent and Mersey.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF83n5m7z2fRS3iCxD82QTcQl0CQW73HH5g4y7Zpv9f0QM3W2M4rGcJbvSUQyFFv7O4ySgeeSf6ckjg2GCClNATFoMO7e0lzkvRnCO_UA9gvsMGzy982umXkjIGy75xtufPWQkGo3Q5o9p/s1600/P1020633.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF83n5m7z2fRS3iCxD82QTcQl0CQW73HH5g4y7Zpv9f0QM3W2M4rGcJbvSUQyFFv7O4ySgeeSf6ckjg2GCClNATFoMO7e0lzkvRnCO_UA9gvsMGzy982umXkjIGy75xtufPWQkGo3Q5o9p/s400/P1020633.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dredging in progress - a very welcome sight</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Nearly all the locks on the
"Macc" are concentrated in a single and very attractive flight of 12
locks at Bosley - tere is one further shallow stop lock at Hall Green. We settled into Bosley with the same pleasing
rhythm, as had been the case at Marple on the Peak Forest the day
before, although this time we were going downhill. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCry2kxx9atx3D4gushh_T9nEIukPN5PFKyLxKb96Kr8bvuymkOcJm2whRPeyELwIMhK4vdMD5N8Z8x7vSPNtvZpkX95PwuxRDisV1Qh63X4gZXc9c098JPWAsOe4wfqujaxXBgZOFaju3/s1600/P1020639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCry2kxx9atx3D4gushh_T9nEIukPN5PFKyLxKb96Kr8bvuymkOcJm2whRPeyELwIMhK4vdMD5N8Z8x7vSPNtvZpkX95PwuxRDisV1Qh63X4gZXc9c098JPWAsOe4wfqujaxXBgZOFaju3/s400/P1020639.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stop for fuels at Bollington Wharf - great people, great service!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">However
at lock no 6, we found the lock was a lot narrower than others had
been, and realised we needed to proceed with some additional caution.
Lock no 7 was fine, but at lock 8, once in the chamber it was fairly
obvious that the lock is much narrower across the coping stones at the
bottom gate end than it should be - at least 3"narrower than other locks
in the flight. We measured it, and it really is only just 7 feet and
half an inch. This is the width that "Grand Union" boats like Flamingo
were actually built to, so even as delivered brand new, and fully to
specification, such a working boat would rub the edge, and possibly
"hang" as the lock is emptied. Many "Grand Union" boats have developed a
bit of "middle age spread" over the years, and Flamingo is known to be
around half an inch wider than its quoted design dimensions - not
particularly unusual. This will not normally be a problem in almost all
narrow locks, as usually they are at least 7' 3" minimum, and on some
canals as much as 8 feet. However when you find you need to get a boat
through a lock that is wider over the "guards", (the rubbing irons that
protect the extremes of the hull) than the lock structure it needs to
pass through, you generally have a problem - as we now did!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamIhBC4o5bRIXPpoE1WOGh0Qm6cJAGcY-3Q2VMPfAoTPEH9hsLrnHONw6uXI4vTAviCx8OF4KCUrR02OIQquMj7-s2Zi5Afiy6u9xOCsc_oX9jGynBcQCTIWe1ZTI2RPSkhyq3s7sGRuK/s1600/IMG_6774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamIhBC4o5bRIXPpoE1WOGh0Qm6cJAGcY-3Q2VMPfAoTPEH9hsLrnHONw6uXI4vTAviCx8OF4KCUrR02OIQquMj7-s2Zi5Afiy6u9xOCsc_oX9jGynBcQCTIWe1ZTI2RPSkhyq3s7sGRuK/s400/IMG_6774.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The only swing bridge encountered</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I
will not detail the steps we took to get the boat through the lock,
other than to say what we did was highly unconventional, and used more
"creative thinking" than we have ever done for any problem encountered
on canals in the past. It didn't actually involve any damage to the
boat or any part of the lock structure, but quite how we managed to make
it work we are still not quite sure, as the maths involved seemed to
say it couldn't possibly!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Needless
to say we were all mightily relieved, as the prospect of working
backwards up 8 locks, reversing a mile to a winding hole, (where we
might well not have been able to turn anyway - many are too silted),and
then retracing our steps to Manchester for several days, only to start
South again by a different route was more than any of us wanted to even
think about, after all we had endured so far on the "escape from the Rochdale"!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3wONfNtkfzyrk5PZEJf4bEn5IDcRvCtsgELMV_aAlveOIhpMjvq2T5ukb3z6eaclAWFKlan9hlvu3qMQKNNUjNAIBa5ZaCCKdaoMiYTX3FPM-8vZVJUXTZcWU5cK0jN14t4cVNYHqCnL/s1600/IMG_6778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3wONfNtkfzyrk5PZEJf4bEn5IDcRvCtsgELMV_aAlveOIhpMjvq2T5ukb3z6eaclAWFKlan9hlvu3qMQKNNUjNAIBa5ZaCCKdaoMiYTX3FPM-8vZVJUXTZcWU5cK0jN14t4cVNYHqCnL/s400/IMG_6778.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The early part of descending Bosley locks was as it should be</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We
simply don't understand why this doesn't seem to be recorded anywhere
as a known problem. We had done our research on these canals, and this
possibility didn't come up. A lock that ony measures 7 feet and half an
inch across the top coping stones will normally inevitably be an issue
to quite a few boats, as plenty exist that are wider than this. It
seems there is some evidence that this lock may have been "grouted" in
recent times - that is injecting grout through and behind the stonework
to seal leaks. If that has occurred we wonder if it has resulted in the
coping stones getting moved inwards, and this is only a quite recent
happening.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoRE-xkB7n7H-9zSj6EcYkEIDGqzkHveHwfmcRsNezqZxZqCeiI6uFkzNT34BEm6VsvM9G8kFiqQbdXYzy2xyHqOGcmnJYBpRu7Rxlikf2g9RdfwrHV5MwuQboD-jqwfg9FxD1RCsjiZ5/s1600/IMG_6782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoRE-xkB7n7H-9zSj6EcYkEIDGqzkHveHwfmcRsNezqZxZqCeiI6uFkzNT34BEm6VsvM9G8kFiqQbdXYzy2xyHqOGcmnJYBpRu7Rxlikf2g9RdfwrHV5MwuQboD-jqwfg9FxD1RCsjiZ5/s400/IMG_6782.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But "there may be trouble ahead"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We
will of course record the problems with this lock with CRT, once we
have time to write up exactly what we think the issue is. We were lucky
to get through - very lucky. It is bound to affect other boats, some if
who may not have crews prepared to do what we found we had to do!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Marple Junction to Bosley Bottom lock</span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 17.4</span>, Locks:16</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">251.3, Total Locks:296</span></span></b><br />
<br />Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-74781561601399716512019-07-08T22:00:00.000+01:002019-07-12T08:56:56.822+01:00The journey to Marple<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyx8w9Zdv2YzebOTjWNc4cNN-nhD8MkUzC6ECICOP164m0UccfnE9vfPoUlJ3faFMbGv-syzxK57cyrubMXDUm35BmzMjm8nqzOc66YjF5Zk5BO-nwyx2Km1ypVXk2E2VYbx6_lUFc6gqo/s400/IMG_6748.JPG" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lift bridge to start our day</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Peak Forest Canal is slow and shallow, and there were a several miles to go before the locks at Marple. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Alan and I started the day by finding our way up to the Asda to get some much needed supplies. The store has clearly been designed with cars in mind. It isn't easy to get there from the canal towpath and requires crossing busy roads with no pedestrian crossings. We loaded ourselves up with as much as we could carry and slogged back to the boat.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The new railings on Marple Aqueduct are not really in keeping.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Through the first lift bridge and on through the sludge. We were brought to a halt at almost all of the bridge holes after that. Each time we all got off, I would 'bowhaul' the front of the boat with a rope, while Alan and David walked the boat through the bridge hole by walking along the roof and pushing on the bridge.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraBeeqY2uRQfhMFJYR3dCdUvpO5WodylvIBXukrTiugJOhELpxPQitD50K33O_ZItLfBqVghnCqWmgfKwuexgOb4KhyphenhyphenrH4W96ZgsHRchEHEHyeFIqqdoW1FQTN3cSOg22VlYaro84ay76/s1600/IMG_6753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraBeeqY2uRQfhMFJYR3dCdUvpO5WodylvIBXukrTiugJOhELpxPQitD50K33O_ZItLfBqVghnCqWmgfKwuexgOb4KhyphenhyphenrH4W96ZgsHRchEHEHyeFIqqdoW1FQTN3cSOg22VlYaro84ay76/s400/IMG_6753.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Marple locks are all fairly deep.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had been warned by an experienced local historic boater that we needed to be particularly careful in the entrance to Hyde Bank Tunnel. There is a large pile of masonry in the middle of channel there. He said to take a run at it. Before we got there we talked it over. The boater has slightly shallower boats than Flamingo - should we got at it gently to try to float over it? We decided to try that first, then take a run at it if we didn't get into the tunnel.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbLmrjFU9N56h7_oP5Yyx9kRRtNWL-ildk4HA-OsWqgpIwfifmyqdoWSPwhjlFQSz29MOiJLp4zvDo4JbzDA3UVyhwWrUoiD5_QQBhrqjkgCIaColhyd4AFyCccNXNTB9D5VPjKqTnGpn/s1600/IMG_6757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbLmrjFU9N56h7_oP5Yyx9kRRtNWL-ildk4HA-OsWqgpIwfifmyqdoWSPwhjlFQSz29MOiJLp4zvDo4JbzDA3UVyhwWrUoiD5_QQBhrqjkgCIaColhyd4AFyCccNXNTB9D5VPjKqTnGpn/s400/IMG_6757.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Marple Flight is very attractive throughout</span>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I went and sat on the bows, to try to lift the back of the boat, then we floated in gently - and stuck fast. So Alan took the boat back and made a run at the tunnel. There were graunching noises and we slowed. Just for a moment thought we were going to stick fast in the tunnel - what would we do? As it is a fairly short one-way traffic tunnel we would hope that nobody would come in from the other end. Inside the tunnel we would have no phone signal, and we would have to wait for a boat to arrive behind us before we would be able to get a message to CRT. Fortunately, another shudder and the boat began to move forwards again.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Very attractive former warehouse</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Shortly before the flight of locks there is a well-known aqueduct crossing the River Goyt. It is visually stunning, but what has caused controversy in recent years is that fact that on the opposite side to the towpath there was just a wide stone path with no railings and a drop of 90 ft. CRT decided to install railings, as many people have stopped boats mid aqueduct for a stroll on this path. There have been rumours of youths jumping the canal from the towpath to the wide path on the other side. How they would get back again with no run-up remains a question. The railings are quite attractive, are they really appropriate to a more than 200 year old aqueduct?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The locks at Marple are very deep, but mercifully without any AV locks. It is a very attractive flight. The paddles and mechanisms work beautifully and there is one large gate at the top of the lock where you can wind all paddles from the same place and open and close the gate without having to walk around the lock. However, they all have a narrow stone bridge over the bottom end, which makes opening the bottom gates a bit difficult. To close them you have to stand on the bridge and start pushing, then you have to climb up onto the lock side to finish the job.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The top of the flight has a road alongside - quite unusual, we think</span>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We were lucky that we met boats coming down the flight and all of the 16 locks were 'our way', making the job of the 'lockwheeler' - who goes on to prep the next lock ready for the boat - nice and easy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We got to the junction at the top at about 6 pm, and decided to moor there for the night. We weren't really sure how far the next viable moorings were down the Macclesfield Canal - and everyone had said that it was 'very shallow', so stopping where we were seemed the sensible move.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dukinfield Lift Bridge to Marple Junction</span></span><b><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 7.8</span>, Locks:16</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">233.9, Total Locks: 296</span></span></b>CathFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12183226376253252630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-48156272719437709732019-07-07T22:00:00.000+01:002019-07-11T15:04:43.777+01:00The Ashton Canal - No longer "bandit country", but still problems with navigating it.<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ5tLo3bbE9uyGn-IloNFrZt4-Id6dhluNOa4cCg005EnaoHDt6VjtJYBqNrB1RVsMJuNVp48qAilKOq6_y-pGQWvNxVATsH2rCScbfLVXMo0zvPV5oYUiNr7Fnvn_u0M8MNHsH1E6KbN/s1600/P1020598.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ5tLo3bbE9uyGn-IloNFrZt4-Id6dhluNOa4cCg005EnaoHDt6VjtJYBqNrB1RVsMJuNVp48qAilKOq6_y-pGQWvNxVATsH2rCScbfLVXMo0zvPV5oYUiNr7Fnvn_u0M8MNHsH1E6KbN/s400/P1020598.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thomas Telford Basin - a secure and quiet refuge in Manchester.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Ashton Canal is notorious. You will hear stories of gangs of feral children ("bandits") stoning boaters as they try to work up the locks. The reality is that the families of troublemakers were largely moved out years ago. The flight is now bordered by blocks of chic and expensive apartments. You are more likely to see joggers and families with pushchairs than 'bandits'. However, it is important to realise that we weren't far from where we had the unhelpful kids the previous day. In fact, because the canals are parallel at the beginning, barely a third of a mile, but, somehow it seems populated far more by what would have been called 'yuppies' a few decades back.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXGiHx6Q7xW0v2nGZEAo7McAGirBqdSqDR14Z3mtozCNxFncdRAcUn4rpBz0GHyweDQ0QCNLpzCTve3Mns98H2OvWlIM0CqFncrYfvfUZi6HZT4ARHSl_OZpBSFhjtCBi2OTzddcRGtjY/s1600/IMG_6735.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXGiHx6Q7xW0v2nGZEAo7McAGirBqdSqDR14Z3mtozCNxFncdRAcUn4rpBz0GHyweDQ0QCNLpzCTve3Mns98H2OvWlIM0CqFncrYfvfUZi6HZT4ARHSl_OZpBSFhjtCBi2OTzddcRGtjY/s400/IMG_6735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Setting off - the start of the canal is "urban chic" these days.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">W</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">e set off up the flight in the sunshine. The first few locks were 'our way' and didn't need emptying so we made reasonable progress. Passers by chatted, asking about the boat, or how the lock works. A man and his elderly dad told us to watch out for the troublemakers we would encounter up the flight. There were large numbers of runners out, many of them walking back down the flight wearing medals and race numbers for a 10K race. We passed a stadium where an amplified woman's voice was commenting on the race, and cheering the runners on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We passed the National Cycle Centre. The sun shone. We knew that we had to get nearly to the top of the flight by about 4 pm, as there is a broken swing bridge and CRT open it twice a day (8:00 - 9:00 am and 4:00 - 5:00 pm). There was no hurry, things were going well.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The building with somewhat crazy sides.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then Flamingo stopped centre channel. A bit of poking around with the short shaft showed something around 2 feet of water (Flamingo draws nearly 3 feet), and a large number of solid rectangular blocks under the water - probably coping stones, though how anyone had managed to lob them mid channel I have no idea. The pound was down around a foot. I was on the tow-path, David on the front of the boat, trying to locate the deepest water - but also transfer weight forwards, we'd learned on the Rochdale what a surprising difference moving one person from the stern to the bows would make. I went up to the next lock, perhaps a hundred yards, and started flushing water down. As it was so far to the boat, and because the pound was significantly down I thought we would have little chance of moving the boat, but, slowly, steadily Flamingo started to move as the wave of water going down reached her. We'd taken quite a lot of water out of the next pound up but we'd made it to the lock.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptMmz0D88s_HDazWU9kCEWPi4v39HiC7a7yZK5bH33dRbhLzGWaCbWkf2V31cTBnx-rQ-vD9amNWQYeifEF3b53CgCq7W67Az5-X7Pz36q4Z3mDrR9A6WpKx5vx3QsKYtVo0aEv5aIdup/s1600/IMG_6741.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptMmz0D88s_HDazWU9kCEWPi4v39HiC7a7yZK5bH33dRbhLzGWaCbWkf2V31cTBnx-rQ-vD9amNWQYeifEF3b53CgCq7W67Az5-X7Pz36q4Z3mDrR9A6WpKx5vx3QsKYtVo0aEv5aIdup/s400/IMG_6741.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Alan and David contemplate the "bottom too near the top" situation.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The problem with going up hill on a flight is that any water that you run down is taking it from a pound you are going to have to go through later on. Going downhill you take the water with you. So we were struggling for several locks, trying to let enough water down to get through the pound, without taking too much out of the next one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We spotted some boats a few locks back following us, and catching up fairly fast as they weren't struggling to get into each lock. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A recurring theme - often pulling does better than the engine can.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The next lock was empty with one gate was open, the other nearly so, so Alan was planning on nudging the gate open with the bows. I spotted that there was a mobility scooter parked on the wrong side of the balance beam of the lock, so that if Flamingo went into the lock the scooter would be swept onto Flamingo. So Alan had to stop fairly quickly to prevent that happening. The owner of the scooter - who was fishing - faffed around, he couldn't find the keys, he couldn't move the scooter so it took a while before it was possible to get the boat into the lock. Unfortunately, the sudden reversing had pulled up some of the rubbish from the bottom of the canal, and we had a serious prop foul. Added to which the boat had drifted sideways with her bows in the lock apron, so was jammed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">David took a pole and started to push the stern out so that the boat could go straight into the lock, but Flamingo was stuck on the bottom - the following boats had started to drain the pound we were in. The fisherman with the mobility scooter was full of advice about what we should be doing, shouting advice loudly, but he didn't really seem to understand what our problems were. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I went up a couple of locks to let some water down. When I got back I found David lying on the lockside trying to use a freezer saw to remove more of the fouling from the prop. I held onto his belt to stop him from sliding from the lockside under the back end of the boat. We don't really have a freezer on the boat, but we have two freezer saws, specifically for removing fabric from the prop. Each time David got a bit more of the curtain (and flags, and dresses) off the prop before we headed on to the next lock. The people on the following boats were helpful, and sympathetic, but like us they wanted to get to the broken swing bridge and get through it.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not seen by us in a long while </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Equus, one of the oldest surviving iron hulls.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finally we got to lock 16, I left Alan and David to get the boat through, and went on to talk to the CRT employees, explaining that there were two or three boats following us who all needed to get through the swing bridge. It was the two men who had had to rescue us twice the previous day, and they seemed sympathetic to my pleas that they let all the boats through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Flamingo went through the swing bridge at 4:00 pm. Then the last two locks and we could tie up to take on water and empty the toilet cassettes. After the last two days I went and got straight in the shower while we were taking on water. David stripped to the waist and got into the canal, where he started to try to clear the prop properly. After he cut his hand he called for some gardening gloves that we use to handle coal - there was barbed wire twisted around the prop. The bolt croppers we had bought weeks ago in Manchester made short work of that.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabbLusXTdxuniGJNnEOqcyj_2fsWcZbFhu27tHYy8bqP3NZkMGxVH0Zu-Wy5kLEoz982F99K82M0MyP51VYmtetPq5LE6F8Spl0fJV_MrN3DUR1iLBuH8QisDeg8bBwyP8-IE6A9JO8P0/s1600/P1020609.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabbLusXTdxuniGJNnEOqcyj_2fsWcZbFhu27tHYy8bqP3NZkMGxVH0Zu-Wy5kLEoz982F99K82M0MyP51VYmtetPq5LE6F8Spl0fJV_MrN3DUR1iLBuH8QisDeg8bBwyP8-IE6A9JO8P0/s400/P1020609.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We didn't see the other boats, which was somewhat surprising as they had been very close behind us. It turned out that the CRT employees had let us through, then gone away. The other boats had to call CRT out again and only got to the top of the flight around an hour and a half after us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then there was a trip of a few miles to Dukinfield junction where we planned to moor for the night. I had planned to go to the nearby Asda superstore, until Alan reminded me that it was Sunday and Asda had shut hours earlier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The final few miles to the Peak Forest Canal were slow, and mooring close to the bank at Dukinfield was impossible. We managed to get the boat close enough in that the dogs could jump the gap to the towpath- fortunately they are both fit. I cobbled together some kind of meal from what I could find in the fridge and the cupboard - while motorcycles roared up and down the towpath outside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here to There</span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 1.0</span>, Locks: 0</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">2.0, Total Locks: 0</span></span></b><br />
<br />CathFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12183226376253252630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-33747827838759532052019-07-06T21:11:00.000+01:002019-07-09T15:16:23.689+01:00Back into Manchester<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Cath)</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePWXFMofZ6Ux3OtO5RaNkKYDevWjdfwT3Opa0NvcVCOOsOmGJkUmAgp29H2QbszO_S7-_Ybu-EjP2rShQn3IN0RdibTTRcSDdeLXn7gmxn5WwAe5utqvkv43q_byrES1cGa6zmGs1hEMo/s1600/P1020568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePWXFMofZ6Ux3OtO5RaNkKYDevWjdfwT3Opa0NvcVCOOsOmGJkUmAgp29H2QbszO_S7-_Ybu-EjP2rShQn3IN0RdibTTRcSDdeLXn7gmxn5WwAe5utqvkv43q_byrES1cGa6zmGs1hEMo/s400/P1020568.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saltaire and Flamingo about to break out after a hold-up of four weeks.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A 7:30 start. Lynnette didn't have crew for the day, so it was the four of us to move the two boats. This section needs not just windlasses, but also Anti-Vandal keys. Every lock has AV locks on all of the paddles to prevent the local youth from draining all of the water out of the canal. These are fiddly and difficult to use, and you have to remember to lock up all the paddles again as you leave the lock.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFJTmsn3PZDbBnfTWzLcga91gLzanmL2cMSjqDk5eMsopnaaGGIP7wE7xM5Wwa0YTQzW50DC_tkEdkds6Q1TRDrykfXdH8QaT6i4rIkfy3JmtCik1ok4geobv6cfF7u_QkTbjx_eS3cyQ/s1600/IMG_6710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFJTmsn3PZDbBnfTWzLcga91gLzanmL2cMSjqDk5eMsopnaaGGIP7wE7xM5Wwa0YTQzW50DC_tkEdkds6Q1TRDrykfXdH8QaT6i4rIkfy3JmtCik1ok4geobv6cfF7u_QkTbjx_eS3cyQ/s400/IMG_6710.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First lock - we had no idea how hard the first half dozen or so would be.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It started OK, the first lock was fine. In the second lock we got both boats to the bottom of the lock and they wouldn't move, they were on the debris at the bottom of the lock. We couldn't even open one of the gates because Flamingo couldn't go backwards. We had a theory that it might be a little deeper in the middle of the lock, and if not we could 'flush' single boats out if we could open the gates. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmcqViU9CFEtIN9TKf5ighdv9u0-Oppt8c7pZi9RXIaG4DUG-s1kCMe7HbD2ycoDN3x2sqP91w9pIz0fRa55ryrVQX98Xv7biTk4skT_QtDw8qQMO_kExtU3JmKOqy1UWNkVzdL0PNS4o/s1600/IMG_6713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmcqViU9CFEtIN9TKf5ighdv9u0-Oppt8c7pZi9RXIaG4DUG-s1kCMe7HbD2ycoDN3x2sqP91w9pIz0fRa55ryrVQX98Xv7biTk4skT_QtDw8qQMO_kExtU3JmKOqy1UWNkVzdL0PNS4o/s400/IMG_6713.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This vertical lift bridge is unlike any other canal bridge we have ever used.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So we filled the lock and took Saltaire out of it. Then we emptied it, keeping Flamingo in the middle, and keeping her back just enough that we could open both of the gates. She stuck again, but this time we could open the gates. We tied the gates open to stop them shutting when we started the 'flush', then opened paddles 'flushing' her out of the lock under power. She stuck again just past the bottom gates. We debated, do we flush her again, or do we use the water from the full lock to move her? We went for the second option, and refilled the lock letting Saltaire in. We immediately realised that we had made a mistake. Because there was a bridge below the lock Flamingo was pulled backwards very fast despite being in full chat forwards. We eventually managed to wiggle Flamingo by use of ropes and poles (leaving Lynnette stuck half way down the lock on Saltaire) enough that we could continue emptying the lock. So, one lock, three fillings and three emptyings...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQUQk-d9KyMvNGzLrLdjY7eWQdhbXI2Zh1pb3KmVMBi3OHB6zCZnPuiZVV4Zxwp8uPyaU3fIZ0v7zzn-3xQMf9lr0G_cRb88JFad8E07mtYhVvbWWVOgQB1PAybqkdn0OCgVpLUgkYM75/s1600/P1020573.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQUQk-d9KyMvNGzLrLdjY7eWQdhbXI2Zh1pb3KmVMBi3OHB6zCZnPuiZVV4Zxwp8uPyaU3fIZ0v7zzn-3xQMf9lr0G_cRb88JFad8E07mtYhVvbWWVOgQB1PAybqkdn0OCgVpLUgkYM75/s400/P1020573.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We couldn't have guessed how long to get both boats through this lock.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our next problem happened about 200 metres further on. In a very wide area we stuck on the bottom in the middle. We couldn't move, we couldn't get off the boat, the dogs couldn't get off the boat. We called CRT who said that it would be an hour or so. So I made toasted crumpets knowing that we wouldn't have time to prepare lunch later on. It was 11 am.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWvYR9PEHnMfvycF__f_4w8f2LNcKBlzMxcT7chW5vvfjPnmxMfy0TwwTr7YPjViF_PluuJK0lNiehEd5mVeTs6HaLe56L4mifu1pHIMDgqnCG3PcwsGVC6Ks3WTCX_TbxC_80iEvN2yV/s1600/IMG_6717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWvYR9PEHnMfvycF__f_4w8f2LNcKBlzMxcT7chW5vvfjPnmxMfy0TwwTr7YPjViF_PluuJK0lNiehEd5mVeTs6HaLe56L4mifu1pHIMDgqnCG3PcwsGVC6Ks3WTCX_TbxC_80iEvN2yV/s400/IMG_6717.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attempting to hold Flamingo into the middle of an emptying lock. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In fact CRT turned up after about 20 minutes. "Are you stuck?" they asked. It turned out that despite this being a long pound it was down by several inches because they had been taking water out to fill empty pounds further down the flight. They got us going by 'flushing' a large amount down from the lock.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdo8NO5KVJuAQJYS2gIIGu5CW8R7rfuO8js8nvcJaJB8eRjiGceTJRNwGkBDrqzby1NWVDiOR2ptRPh8uIQkGdXZGUWFYg0zJZwHmuERociugATmOxOXyaBwcbG_TW-u7bgGtyMfM2ZV3/s1600/IMG_6719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdo8NO5KVJuAQJYS2gIIGu5CW8R7rfuO8js8nvcJaJB8eRjiGceTJRNwGkBDrqzby1NWVDiOR2ptRPh8uIQkGdXZGUWFYg0zJZwHmuERociugATmOxOXyaBwcbG_TW-u7bgGtyMfM2ZV3/s400/IMG_6719.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newly repaired gate and new quoin stone at lock 66.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then the dreaded lock 66 that has been the problem for the last four weeks. Fortunately it worked well, the repairs seem fine. However, we needed to single up for the next two locks, because of subsidence. Alan and David went down in the first one, I stayed with Lynnette, but as we went to move into the lock her engine died - a prop foul. It took about 45 minutes of fishing around under the back end with a boat hook, and Lynnette bringing buckets of foul smelling wadding out through the weed hatch. Saltaire is unusual as a historic boat, having had a weed hatch fitted. We thought at first that it was carpet underlay, but the mixture of wadding, springs and scraps of moquette fabric eventually showed that it was an armchair. Some kind council workers who were trimming hedges by the old peoples' bungalows said that they would take the remnants away to prevent it being put straight back in the cut.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w2VjCjg-yxzUSVgspLs1P-4vAKg9obrQ4LRYjRUBegMZ5RapnFd6cJtl1fFONTmsdKIJ0yNu44U1ltFtpPrtLdwe20nUN8d9xldmkT8GAsesu0-o-2GyvAEmwZMNjPHGyklnkThHrgcR/s1600/IMG_6722.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w2VjCjg-yxzUSVgspLs1P-4vAKg9obrQ4LRYjRUBegMZ5RapnFd6cJtl1fFONTmsdKIJ0yNu44U1ltFtpPrtLdwe20nUN8d9xldmkT8GAsesu0-o-2GyvAEmwZMNjPHGyklnkThHrgcR/s400/IMG_6722.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuck so can't even shut bottom gates, re-float, and try again.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All this time Alan and David had been trying to go down in the next lock. Every time Flamingo got to the bottom it stuck fast on the shopping trolleys and bikes. Every time they refilled a bit, and fished another trolley out with the short shaft. Finally they thought they had got everything out and tried flushing Flamingo out. She stuck fast, halfway out of the gates. They couldn't shut the gates to fill again, they couldn't flush. They tried another Spanish windlass...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPJZkH1vl8pLh6BVAAXncB4j5VcAJtCcp5uV-h9e1Iqhj_LEf0TgKAJPF6wxUHRBNqXTkuZQoKoHowuue2fe7WmdIzUEr8sgcJDWjVIfb7MGXAY7urDvpXYT3_SHVNsRPu76148s2g_Zm/s1600/IMG_6724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPJZkH1vl8pLh6BVAAXncB4j5VcAJtCcp5uV-h9e1Iqhj_LEf0TgKAJPF6wxUHRBNqXTkuZQoKoHowuue2fe7WmdIzUEr8sgcJDWjVIfb7MGXAY7urDvpXYT3_SHVNsRPu76148s2g_Zm/s400/IMG_6724.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another pound where "the tide has definitely gone out"! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We called CRT. Their superior flushing skills moved Flamingo and their grappling hook pulled Manchester's equivalent of a Boris Bike out of the bottom. Saltaire went down needing only a small flush, and we set off again into a seriously depleted pound. The first five locks had taken 7 hours. David pointed out that at that rate of progress we wouldn't finish until the same time the next day. I pointed out that we didn't have a choice. We were in an unsalubrious part of Manchester, and I had no wish to stop until we got to safety in the centre of town.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPStWVz_cRm2l7O0Bno8dFYEjFCUI4ZUJqvREMnEXOQCKWH846_7B2ZfoJWL6Z4zlEk8SmjxUaXGZiA-aOGEChoaIgzbD5mkcwxB0-DHAwaLL8PrZPGNGekRz3H1dJuFpRo4EhFhoNB2V/s1600/IMG_6729.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPStWVz_cRm2l7O0Bno8dFYEjFCUI4ZUJqvREMnEXOQCKWH846_7B2ZfoJWL6Z4zlEk8SmjxUaXGZiA-aOGEChoaIgzbD5mkcwxB0-DHAwaLL8PrZPGNGekRz3H1dJuFpRo4EhFhoNB2V/s400/IMG_6729.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very, very shallow - but moving, (just).</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We plodded on. Nothing was as bad as it had been in the first half of the day, and we slowly ticked off the locks, one at a time. The paddles were stiff, the gates were hard to move - especially where they had no balance beams and were moved by a system of chains and pulleys that had to be wound with a windlass. At some point David put some cheese between sliced bread - I dropped most of my cheese on the ground so the dogs got it. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaxDLUr3ur4IeVgNOnO-W_R4Z10JVkX1EG4Xpl_99as9OhSw-WzyFrp_zuJy5NBimgNIzVwDrrYv7vUcEaRkX7cRZFo5hYa6gBghjpmEDvj3M6Fxq5qN14ARAmaGRkLlhXCjPj0Xdt4AS/s1600/P1020583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCaxDLUr3ur4IeVgNOnO-W_R4Z10JVkX1EG4Xpl_99as9OhSw-WzyFrp_zuJy5NBimgNIzVwDrrYv7vUcEaRkX7cRZFo5hYa6gBghjpmEDvj3M6Fxq5qN14ARAmaGRkLlhXCjPj0Xdt4AS/s400/P1020583.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The local "yoof" were all over the boats here, but have now left us.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A mile or so out of central Manchester there is an attractive park in the middle of a housing estate. Being a pleasant evening there were families around, as well as crowds of youths. I went down to the next lock down to get it ready for the boats. A couple of lads saw the boats and opened the gate on the other side of the lock. "Thanks, Lads!" I called. Another boy came up and shut the gate. "That needs to be opened, leave it as it is" I called, politely. "No, it needs to be shut" was his reply. His friends said "the boat's coming". "Fook the boat!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He was intent on shutting the lock, they wanted to open it. I said, "OK, don't worry, I'll get my son to do it". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Where is your son?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Up at the next lock, the tall one."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Fook!" he said, shutting the gate again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"No, problem, I'll come and do it," I said as I finished opening the gate on the other side. "Fook! Dogs!" he said as he ran away.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirg9urZkkHhaWFm3_6xK1eds0JZ-sI5HY2tLoRNl8wtFHa6dqusG2UOz3LGipjI2o4OxS2YJriGtpOXUyeW6SscDtA_bAD4_MIzuVoHqb41vlUAG2HyUiy9WM2fvMNSRn24Ix6RYawWxca/s1600/P1020590.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirg9urZkkHhaWFm3_6xK1eds0JZ-sI5HY2tLoRNl8wtFHa6dqusG2UOz3LGipjI2o4OxS2YJriGtpOXUyeW6SscDtA_bAD4_MIzuVoHqb41vlUAG2HyUiy9WM2fvMNSRn24Ix6RYawWxca/s400/P1020590.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not a canal boat, it is a shed on a large floating skip.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After this lock David went on to the next lock with the boats. I finished shutting up, locking the anti-vandal locks and then started to head down the short distance to the next locks. The crowd of 15 or so boys had gathered by that lock, and three of them had started to jump on the roofs of the boats. From one side of the lock onto one of the boats, then onto the other boat, then onto the lockside only to turn around and do it again. This is irritating, but also dangerous, if they fall they can end up caught between the boats and crushed. It is not unusual for people to die in locks (often hire boaters who try something a bit dodgy), and a few years ago a boy persisted in riding his bike over a narrow bridge over a lock in Stourport, despite being warned by passers by. He fell into the lock and drowned. Nobody else seemed to have the cure to this behaviour to hand - a camera. As I ran up shooting photos in every direction they pulled their t-shirts up over their mouths and ran as fast as they could into the estate shouting "FOOK!". Only one photo came out, but no problem, they didn't know, but it stopped them. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoQwLvRWAM_7fEhgYr6uElAWgnq1rAt_0lWfvKOvcT057t4kvggHPinPBELTI9eboF7_rNx2in6NVMRPASrxJ0_Xo_9VSg0PrkPIyHhLLbTY7KNc1rqZvvOZq9D88gLsQRLMMpkgFWlai/s1600/P1020594.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoQwLvRWAM_7fEhgYr6uElAWgnq1rAt_0lWfvKOvcT057t4kvggHPinPBELTI9eboF7_rNx2in6NVMRPASrxJ0_Xo_9VSg0PrkPIyHhLLbTY7KNc1rqZvvOZq9D88gLsQRLMMpkgFWlai/s400/P1020594.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One from last lock of the day - nobody sleeping rough under the bridge this time.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We finally went through the last lock just before 9:00 pm. Lynnette opted to stay in Ducie Street basin, which is where we had stayed on the way up. As it was Saturday night and the previous time we had stayed there had been very noisy on the Saturday we went a short distance onto the Ashton Canal where we reversed our way into Thomas Telford Basin - which is in the middle of a locked estate of houses and apartments. Peace and quiet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At 9 o'clock, having had a very tough 13 and a half hour day I started cooking dinner - and we opened the gin that Alan and I had bought at Asda on Thursday evening, when we still had a car available to shop with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Chadderton to Thomas Telford Basin, Manchester</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 7.1</span>, Locks: 20</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">220.1, Total Locks:262</span></span></b>CathFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12183226376253252630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-31383615417114051442019-07-05T22:00:00.000+01:002019-07-09T08:23:22.859+01:00Four weeks at Chadderton<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan/Cath)</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtGRSbpX5BnLw5rZUGsLiAjTYNmXCpVJtWkK9rK3pelHuXOX8AD-tGuaEDmG4Rd8ulpBUPlqjaZZqMyoDPlg0KeLFT6rNplw2tcQYT0XtvgeKJicC7drp_-aP8OpTNvo1s1hJqqMPgk0U/s1600/P1020464.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtGRSbpX5BnLw5rZUGsLiAjTYNmXCpVJtWkK9rK3pelHuXOX8AD-tGuaEDmG4Rd8ulpBUPlqjaZZqMyoDPlg0KeLFT6rNplw2tcQYT0XtvgeKJicC7drp_-aP8OpTNvo1s1hJqqMPgk0U/s400/P1020464.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Forget-me-not & Hazel - two other historic boats trapped on the Rochdale</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Well, we moored Flamingo and Saltaire at Chadderton, near to the Rose of Lancaster pub, and we waited for a few days to find out from CRT what had happened to the lock, and what was going to happen about it. Because it was a weekend we didn't find out until the following Monday. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VJwiyPoSDrG5HEsA5MRYFg6GuThAegfz6J5LPUk8F5Kyb_JqKOA-953fB8htS7mF8Xm1kfmXMWUhU8BB_I3Mi3MbkD28YEdNBjWRUKBtfWCfOggD3SePg3tAXoItnRXQB0QIZPpiuA_7/s1600/IMG_6551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VJwiyPoSDrG5HEsA5MRYFg6GuThAegfz6J5LPUk8F5Kyb_JqKOA-953fB8htS7mF8Xm1kfmXMWUhU8BB_I3Mi3MbkD28YEdNBjWRUKBtfWCfOggD3SePg3tAXoItnRXQB0QIZPpiuA_7/s320/IMG_6551.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Still like this on 9th June</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">CRT said that the lock was completely unusable and they had no idea how long it would take to fix. There were many rumours flying around as well - for example, many people thought that the gate was so badly damaged that it couldn't be repaired, and a new gate would have to be built.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is a fairly spectacular failure!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We decided that Alan had to go back to the mooring in Northamptonshire by train and bus, retrieve the car that we had left there, come back up to Manchester, then take our valuables off the boat and us to go home for at least a few days. Our plan was to take David home until such time that we could restart the journey so that we would</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">reduce pressure on water, power and toilet.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> If we had stopped at Littleborough we would have had access to water and toilet, but where we were there was no where to fill our water tank, or empty our toilet cassettes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEWFMyXNqvypiVE3zUa-Ev3Y831GhThGLaiA2QTJiRKzElO6EVhL_u-sIzYQYenwajg5NosXrmZ6NlyVOGjk34eUoOXlcrW5ppmZTWEHHdz2dRr9ePo7xL6nivicsDhq39QJBR0lvGvLq/s1600/IMG_6561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEWFMyXNqvypiVE3zUa-Ev3Y831GhThGLaiA2QTJiRKzElO6EVhL_u-sIzYQYenwajg5NosXrmZ6NlyVOGjk34eUoOXlcrW5ppmZTWEHHdz2dRr9ePo7xL6nivicsDhq39QJBR0lvGvLq/s400/IMG_6561.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gates are not meant to rest one on the other!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We drove home, taking any valuables off the boat, and all the washing (so that we didn't have to use the limited water supply on the boat). While there we went up to the moorings to see Sickle, which had been painted while we were away. Then after a couple of days Alan and I went back up to Flamingo at Chadderton. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">With a car we could drive to the nearest Elsan emptying point - some eight miles away across Manchester, and involving a 4 lane motorway. We also filled some large water containers that we had fished out of Sickle's hold so that we could eke out the water for longer. We stayed clean by going to the local sports centre for a swim and a shower. I at least got to go running up and down the towpath carrying on with working through the NHS couch to 5K programme.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By the 25th a coffer dam was in place to allow the lock to be pumped out.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We were on the edge of the town, with fields by the boat, but with a large housing estate starting very near to the boats. It wasn't an unpleasant place to be, but there was quite a lot of foot and bike traffic past the boats, and we didn't want to be too obviously abandoned by the canal. Lynnette was on Saltaire in the evenings, when other demands on her time allowed, and we tried to cover times when she wasn't available to be on the boat. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This looked like overkill by CRT, as all work was limited to the bottom end.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Local people walking by started to notice that the boats had been there for a couple of weeks, and they started asking questions. There is not much you can say but the truth, so we told people what had happened if they asked. Then the next day we would have people stopping to chat saying 'you are the people that are stuck here, my friend told me all about you'. So much for trying not to be noticed.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMr5TtRwz04qfwFKKifZIudDZyHUnjmPg_fdfiZv5bxlElhJCz-JuKAj6TdYrEURJzD4p80EtZ_it7rgDzb_m5lULwS2MV3h9hkBHaA2FMLNqGg0oXRQXj_xWLlbVLZN8IDOJpMpzX6049/s1600/IMG_6654.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMr5TtRwz04qfwFKKifZIudDZyHUnjmPg_fdfiZv5bxlElhJCz-JuKAj6TdYrEURJzD4p80EtZ_it7rgDzb_m5lULwS2MV3h9hkBHaA2FMLNqGg0oXRQXj_xWLlbVLZN8IDOJpMpzX6049/s400/IMG_6654.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some of the detritus removed from lock bottom </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- up to 30 bikes for a start!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This went on for four weeks. We drove up and down the motorway, trying to be at home for Morris events that we said that we would be attending (including 4 events in 3 days). I found the driving particularly exhausting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">However, we were determined to take our newly painted Sickle to Braunston historic boat show - as it may be one of the few historic boat rallies we can get to this year. We had a fantastic weekend, in excellent weather, and saw many of our friends.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoo7PvY4sv0j5GVgpxI8FBTMXcElAN6T2d99yMLCUZnrCKuxNg2fVofoO4NXpj_WDDjUmUAMUBmKUUv0Bmsji9jkloHfa1mOE_WpiDEyGCHs_0nnDUrWcdtX2llexGrYtYII82tAycCqm/s1600/IMG_6653.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoo7PvY4sv0j5GVgpxI8FBTMXcElAN6T2d99yMLCUZnrCKuxNg2fVofoO4NXpj_WDDjUmUAMUBmKUUv0Bmsji9jkloHfa1mOE_WpiDEyGCHs_0nnDUrWcdtX2llexGrYtYII82tAycCqm/s400/IMG_6653.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However no effort was made to remove trolleys below the lock, I think.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finally, CRT had got the lock gate rebuilt, and a new quoinstone into the lock. They opened the lock on Thursday 4th July - a day earlier than originally scheduled. We couldn't do that date because we had planned for us all to drive back to Chadderton on the Thursday, and Alan to return the car to the mooring on Friday by reversing his journey. Alan had already booked the train tickets for Thursday. Both times, as well as the longish drive, it involved 3 trains, one bus, and a fair amount of waking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We arrived at Chadderton on Friday 7th June, we left on Saturday 6th July. Four weeks. Added to the time we had to stop at Hebden Bridge this means that on our 'big trip up North' we've spent more than 5 weeks kicking our heels somewhere trying to eke out water and power.</span>CathFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12183226376253252630noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-79920125680651997932019-06-30T22:00:00.000+01:002019-08-21T21:56:39.664+01:00Braunston Historic Boat event with Sickle.<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Sickle - posted by Alan)<br />(Retrospective post for Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had two excellent days at Braunston with Sickle, and for once rain was the least of our worries. In fact the major problem we faced was overheating - Saturday was exceptionally hot, and Sickle's back cabin rather stifling overnight. Fortunately by Sunday although temperatures were still high, things had cooled down a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cath took Sickle around on the Saturday parade, which, not unusually, proved to be the busier one. I took the tiller on the Sunday parade.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Too many photos to post in line here, but hopefully this Flickr album gives a fair idea of both parades.</span><br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHsmFwFgVP"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Link to Flickr album</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Two Parades</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 2.4</span>, Locks: 0</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">12.9, Total Locks:13</span></span></b>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-87702115455083444232019-06-28T22:00:00.000+01:002019-08-21T21:56:04.595+01:00But meanwhile we had another boat.<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Sickle - posted by Alan)<br />(Retrospective post for Friday 28th June)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3AzXf84qDVeHz2IehxT8F41wgql4a5LKy_HoMmvylua9nQpT2eBT_0q3gHZ5ayTVFV-5damPhY1r0O789269uL-U89rQOcYSFbx4YIdUWlfWKCdvlN6Xb-L_7luHC3VztiPUcTmy4yEQ/s400/IMG_6660.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First lock - Buckby Bottom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Flamingo being trapped in by the long term lock failure on the Rochdale canal
didn't necessarily mean a stop to all boating activity until the lock
was fixed and we could escape.</span></span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had always planned to take both boats, Flamingo and Sickle, to the Braunston Historic Boats event, but clearly Flamingo had ceased to be a possibility as soon as it became clear how long the Rochdale stoppage would inevitably last.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15ehBuVxh_-m5efRuBPICl5_IxzXmkulhx6s-QnSAxK7ho30yaUkJYAXM0Qor0zY9EWQ0B-TjAJNfFXyw9RTXcEl7YB_H6c__bWJTF0QhZqqlY0YtuAHhV29lilyjQHMAVC43aR6BtOPl/s1600/IMG_6661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15ehBuVxh_-m5efRuBPICl5_IxzXmkulhx6s-QnSAxK7ho30yaUkJYAXM0Qor0zY9EWQ0B-TjAJNfFXyw9RTXcEl7YB_H6c__bWJTF0QhZqqlY0YtuAHhV29lilyjQHMAVC43aR6BtOPl/s400/IMG_6661.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving towards next Buckby lock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In fact whilst we went away with Flamingo, Sickle had been left with the local boat painter, Colin Dundas, for a complete repaint of its topsides. We had now owned her for some 8 years, and the paint was already some years old at the time of purchase - it had generally held up well, but was now tired, and in need of a full refresh. Colin had done an excellent job of meeting our requirements for a revised livery, and the work was complete. We could take Sickle to Braunston if we were prepared to leave Flamingo unvisited for nearly a week up in Lancashire - we considered carefully and decided it was a slight risk we were prepared to take.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzae8KcFOGBSCkTs7rwJzpjcz04QA_j13tds9ieAC_8zGIGe4JCcVt4oFMJBWL_8QnESJG_xi3PHXpIuJfcY2K2n28fQ1gmr87eyYeVQsZAW6XJSIx6M6Jz53_PB-T03B5B_nnrHUaVMit/s1600/P1020470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzae8KcFOGBSCkTs7rwJzpjcz04QA_j13tds9ieAC_8zGIGe4JCcVt4oFMJBWL_8QnESJG_xi3PHXpIuJfcY2K2n28fQ1gmr87eyYeVQsZAW6XJSIx6M6Jz53_PB-T03B5B_nnrHUaVMit/s400/P1020470.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cath takes over for the Braunston flight.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The principal reason Sickle has seen little use on its own for several years, and generally only travels about with Flamingo, is that since we inherited a second large black dog, back cabin living has ceased to be possible. Cath, Odin and I could squeeze into a back cabin for night time, but fitting Max in as well is a step too far. So we had to negotiate with the sons that they would have the dogs for the duration of us travelling to Braunston, attending the show over the weekend, and then travelling back to our home mooring - a bit tricky as David was scheduled to be involved in other things. However a deal was struck, so we were on.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ilbybaq58SrDzPXNFuXKxyXZuqHKHRVsZYbAgsmk_znYtOg2jHRVjSjfx_27JVuvrzMFRmYxbUw7IoPdNc7UuOKdYgy-nK0AzVLwoasYlZgWQBn0UMXv78xLOS1BLP0CRxCcxwoMSE_x/s1600/P1020475.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ilbybaq58SrDzPXNFuXKxyXZuqHKHRVsZYbAgsmk_znYtOg2jHRVjSjfx_27JVuvrzMFRmYxbUw7IoPdNc7UuOKdYgy-nK0AzVLwoasYlZgWQBn0UMXv78xLOS1BLP0CRxCcxwoMSE_x/s400/P1020475.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working down Braunston</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There were several things needing close consideration. Much necessary stuff had been removed from Sickle prior to it going in the paint dock. We had to work out what all that was, and ensure we had all key items necessary for 3 or 4 days on board. Mercifully Colin was true to his word, and very little of the inevitable mess from removing all the paint back to metal had found its way inside the living space - we had very little additional cleaning up to do. We also needed to be aware of the short opening hours at both Buckby and Braunston locks. Effectively we needed to be installed on the boat the previous night, if we were to get through both trouble free in the same day. So we actually headed up to the mooring on the thursday afternoon/evening.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rti1khCy-yfoxHF8Ttk09sEoifZF-dPih1BhMUFrICdvfZpJViS63zjFtxMmOadnWMWtdnP13bfYAmtt64RzJXUXLKhJsa5qNTZ60ekFnrLXEwpRI6xGUzAnamyaaLSwnup6gT_mSr3F/s1600/P1020478.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rti1khCy-yfoxHF8Ttk09sEoifZF-dPih1BhMUFrICdvfZpJViS63zjFtxMmOadnWMWtdnP13bfYAmtt64RzJXUXLKhJsa5qNTZ60ekFnrLXEwpRI6xGUzAnamyaaLSwnup6gT_mSr3F/s400/P1020478.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time the name has been on the front in very many years.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was great to be out with Sickle again - a very useful chance to do some boating whilst Flamingo could go nowhere, and Sickle on the Grand Union is a very different prospect from Flamingo on the Rochdale as well.<br /><br /> </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiC0PqKrbfKB923VclPvUEuFI4ZumhyphenhyphenWVUJxyOIXvUsbj42nWXIHFidfPpLYAwNtjPNI1or8AXewpxWP8mNhkNksf7NGHcEfjHLq1wKLDdGZBujXueCUkGcWlTKS7vVoEwwNgmtf099zoI/s1600/P1020479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiC0PqKrbfKB923VclPvUEuFI4ZumhyphenhyphenWVUJxyOIXvUsbj42nWXIHFidfPpLYAwNtjPNI1or8AXewpxWP8mNhkNksf7NGHcEfjHLq1wKLDdGZBujXueCUkGcWlTKS7vVoEwwNgmtf099zoI/s400/P1020479.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodness knows how many photos I've take at "Pub" lock over the years!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We think Sickle looks superb, (although given what it cost, I would have been very disappointed if she didn't!). Flamingo is externally very "tired" and unlikely to get addressed for a year or two yet. So it is very pleasing to once again be able to present at least one of the boats with its paintwork and sign-writing in very good order. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1VSgxNE5p8nvCEvz1l5u9zW6piJaR3TD7HF04FQvEPg-iZgSSAADs-WZwYsUvq0GbSjg8ojeU9POWeNsfCzKfckLKVwyTaxJJACEFxVXXUzCCBSyEO-fJIuAmGR7QzYm4zFNUJfP9hyV/s1600/P1020483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1VSgxNE5p8nvCEvz1l5u9zW6piJaR3TD7HF04FQvEPg-iZgSSAADs-WZwYsUvq0GbSjg8ojeU9POWeNsfCzKfckLKVwyTaxJJACEFxVXXUzCCBSyEO-fJIuAmGR7QzYm4zFNUJfP9hyV/s400/P1020483.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sickle is 6th amongst the 7 tugs stretched across the canal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had some tricky choices about exactly what scheme to use, and what directions to give Colin about the finer detail, but we think it has worked out very well indeed. Colin is a superb sign-writer, and amongst other things has entirely hand painted the "British Waterways Transport" logos, as well as painting "Sickle" onto the bows in an area that actual has Sickle's former British Waterways "asset number" crudely added in raised weld. We didn't want to destroy that bit of Sickle's long history, and Colin having worked over the top of it has produced a result that has far outstripped what we thought might be possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>High House Wharf to Braunston</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 10.5</span>, Locks:13</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">10.5, Total Locks:13</span></span></b>Alan Fincherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05818658735421434869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109154901195693291.post-23679825199188628412019-06-07T22:00:00.000+01:002019-08-21T21:57:38.510+01:00Rescuing goslings, the notorious Lock 61 again, and some very bad news.<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Boat Flamingo - posted by Cath)<br /><br />Very late post for Friday 7th June 2019 - please see the explanation at the end.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG8FRi2uIBID5gYvCbgMaYk5S2eEfWjafmWyCdBBg7nGmEwndy6LhNTQaY_-3A5-H8-ZCIUG0bFsWSGOfqd5slkbWyvp01H0tsskl39KqjOs8wTgkIV8a1cX6mBP9kHtJ6I5L5Fc4YNYF/s1600/P1020449.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG8FRi2uIBID5gYvCbgMaYk5S2eEfWjafmWyCdBBg7nGmEwndy6LhNTQaY_-3A5-H8-ZCIUG0bFsWSGOfqd5slkbWyvp01H0tsskl39KqjOs8wTgkIV8a1cX6mBP9kHtJ6I5L5Fc4YNYF/s400/P1020449.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Leaving Littleborough past other boats held up by Rochdale failure.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Because the weather forecast was for rain later in the day we started fairly early, getting going at just after 8 am. The sky was blue, with a few wispy clouds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Down through Durn Lock - another one at a time lock - then we met up with Lynnette on Saltaire again, who has a friend, Paul, assisting with working the boat today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrYsxeNdtjkbx6U5zNK8qGW-Ah0YFH9pXtRIt1Sd9ul-06Pfc0peO-_Ysc1u5vc755JwH2z9D3GANd880ilrYeS6nsexj6x7_BkfPIZVp98bc32RvvANPYQST18T4M7Y0CGVYuzi6735N/s1600/P1020450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrYsxeNdtjkbx6U5zNK8qGW-Ah0YFH9pXtRIt1Sd9ul-06Pfc0peO-_Ysc1u5vc755JwH2z9D3GANd880ilrYeS6nsexj6x7_BkfPIZVp98bc32RvvANPYQST18T4M7Y0CGVYuzi6735N/s400/P1020450.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">More of the same - Bath & Beatty</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is a longish pound through Rochdale, and then we got Lock 49, which has been subject of a stoppage for nearly two weeks. We got the boats in the lock, and drew the paddles, but almost immediately Saltaire 'hung' (this is the boat catching on something as the water starts to empty out of the lock). Both boats are wider than many modern narrow boats, so this is always a danger, but no problem, it was spotted quickly, we 'dropped' the paddles and filled the lock again from the top. We moved Flamingo as far forward as possible, and Saltaire as far back as possible (without risking it on the cill at the back of the lock), then emptied the lock very slowly, checking all the pinch points all the time. The problem was that some of the coping stones at the top of the lock were slightly overhanging the rest of the lock, once we were past those the lock emptied with no further problems.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeGHkAvclqNVCuonKnoei5T4Itdhu7qyuGoZr5UnFmDL6dkWw2WXybnH-ALJz8ilXhCytgmAjBjZxozpPvFPXmwnBX14JOzteZ4_IQvHp-C1KCyZQAOzQPU-qny4M6rJeOtRW8CRu0Maa/s1600/IMG_6529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeGHkAvclqNVCuonKnoei5T4Itdhu7qyuGoZr5UnFmDL6dkWw2WXybnH-ALJz8ilXhCytgmAjBjZxozpPvFPXmwnBX14JOzteZ4_IQvHp-C1KCyZQAOzQPU-qny4M6rJeOtRW8CRu0Maa/s400/IMG_6529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Totally grounded in narrows for a swing bridge.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then on to three 'Blue Pits' locks just south of Rochdale. As we shut the gates for the last one, at about 12:15, we got the first few scattered raindrops. At about this time Lynnette got a phone call to tell us that Lock 66 was broken. That's further than we planned to go today, but if there is a stoppage, then we won't be able to get to Manchester tomorrow. It eventually turned out that due to 'boat impact' the 'mitre-post' on the bottom gates has been damaged, meaning that the gates won't seal. (<i>Note: it later turned out that it had nothing to do with a boat - the lock sprang apart on its own</i>)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOFZShJr4nhMadFQjpsh8QoNR6DNJTN2fqEocAIuaG70w6O3FXLBCahik2YwCSAUnZ_KcC29f-81-iIgU17qXYbzI5GQ2NK4stYEJ92Kb2jyV0nienSV4_Pk_Qq7IjVJwIUmMYpPIIT4v/s1600/P1020454.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOFZShJr4nhMadFQjpsh8QoNR6DNJTN2fqEocAIuaG70w6O3FXLBCahik2YwCSAUnZ_KcC29f-81-iIgU17qXYbzI5GQ2NK4stYEJ92Kb2jyV0nienSV4_Pk_Qq7IjVJwIUmMYpPIIT4v/s400/P1020454.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the lock in Rochdale that had caused our first week of delay.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By the time we got to the Slattocks flight the heavens had opened. I've rarely seen quite so much rain - I suppose it's needed, but it made everything slippery and dangerous.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_M9wa8aDvKaaMp3wpuZwYjosVm4u6NuotntdwLeRRUA_O-XOLHKMS56bXyNOvAUk7TCpXVyo1wjrji5XJ1peSWAyX44MsdugIj676mX0fSbFuyorOoxcGykdaPgF6sAWhJzoH837vKTO/s1600/P1020459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_M9wa8aDvKaaMp3wpuZwYjosVm4u6NuotntdwLeRRUA_O-XOLHKMS56bXyNOvAUk7TCpXVyo1wjrji5XJ1peSWAyX44MsdugIj676mX0fSbFuyorOoxcGykdaPgF6sAWhJzoH837vKTO/s400/P1020459.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Clearing one of many propeller fouls on Saltaire.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Slattocks is supposed to be a corruption of 'South Locks', which makes some sense, but I always think that it should be some mild and affectionate insult - 'Ah, get on with you, you gurt slattock!'</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvjcUhgpAbg_C91dLZPmOmZAY7f0H82_gCAcYiRldOJ3ePvsN4KLXD7V93VmjXXrRdd-0Ri6A4t8tbtuVtwm67Te8kav2m84XqVS_flIkD3MJ1gYYSo9aSRO-JIeKWREWGwedZ3U1V6k_/s1600/IMG_6537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvjcUhgpAbg_C91dLZPmOmZAY7f0H82_gCAcYiRldOJ3ePvsN4KLXD7V93VmjXXrRdd-0Ri6A4t8tbtuVtwm67Te8kav2m84XqVS_flIkD3MJ1gYYSo9aSRO-JIeKWREWGwedZ3U1V6k_/s400/IMG_6537.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Rescued goslings.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At one lock there were a pair of Canada Geese hissing at me, and waving their wings, but I couldn't see why. They don't usually do this if they haven't got goslings. Then I saw them, three very young goslings in the lock, just by Flamingo's bow. The parents had got out of the lock when the boats went in, but the babies couldn't make it up the couple of inches from the top of the water to the lock-side. I didn't expect to be able to do anything, but I knelt down at the lock-side and scooped the babies out one at a time, while the parents stood back - although I half expected an enraged goose to attack me. The babies seemed quite tired, stumbling as I put them onto the lock-side, but they waddled to their parents. Once they had gathered the babies up again the parents returned to threatening me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We carried on down the flight, it was wet, cold and miserable for most of the way, although it eased to drizzle later on.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Very worrying "repair" to disused railway bridge at Lock 61!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At lock 61, which was the lock that we stuck very firmly in on the way up, we planned carefully. It was very clear that despite the reports, the lock had not been fixed. The pound below was very empty, so we ran some water down. We put Saltaire on the side of the gate that would open, and Flamingo behind the fixed gate. Then we slathered washing up liquid on the widest parts of the boats. Lynnette nudged the boat up to the point that the boat stuck, then opened the throttle as we tried 'bouncing' the other gate. Slowly, very slowly, Saltaire slid out of the lock. Then we tried with Flamingo. Once again, the boat left the lock slowly, but we were out in a fraction of the time that we took getting unstuck last time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Two more locks and we were at the moorings. Quarter past four, about 8 hours in all. Tiring, but not a bad day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now we have to find out what is happening about Lock 66, and when we will be able to continue our journey again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Note: This post was written the same day as what it refers to, but has deliberately not been published until 4 weeks later. We decided that if we were going to have to leave a boat for periods on an unattended tow-path over 200 miles from our home, it was probably best to publicise the fact as little as possible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Littl</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">eborough to Rose of Lancaster, Chadderton</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Miles 8.7</span>, Locks: 17</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Total Miles </span><span style="color: #274e13;">213.0, Total Locks: 242</span></span></b><br />
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CathFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12183226376253252630noreply@blogger.com0