New Moon Band and New Moon Morris at Stoke Bruerne Family Festival

(Boats Sickle & Flamingo - posted by Alan)

(Further retrospective post for the weekend of 13th & 14th June)

Some further photos by me of Cath, David and others enjoying themselves in the music and dance parts of this event......

Stoke Bruerne Family Festival 2015

(Boats Sickle & Flamingo - posted by Alan)

(Retrospective post for the weekend of 13th & 14th June)

In synopsis:

The success of these events is always to some extent determined by the weather - if it is good, the crowds are almost guaranteed - if it is poor, then numbers dwindle, and the organisers start to look worried about what is primarily a money raising event.

This year the weather was not great on Saturday, although by the afternoon it was somewhat improved, and more people visited.  However Sunday was a very different day, and the crowds came out to play - lots of them it seemed.

For us personally:

This was the first event we have managed to get both our historic boats, "Sickle" and "Flamingo", to.  "Flamingo" will be an ongoing project for many months, and we had pulled enough of it apart that its attendance was looking unlikely only a few days before the event.  However we managed to turn things around to the point we could not only use her, but also have a back cabin guest.  (In fact for Saturday night we had people guesting in the back cabins of both "Sickle" and "Flamingo".)

Cath and David's Morris side "New Moon Morris" were dancing at this event, but additionally they were performing as a band in the evening as the "New Moon Band".  The latter was a first, with many of the players giving their first ever public performance.

Additionally "Sickle" was again "the Viking Boat", allowing Cath and me to make complete idiots of ourselves once again.  (I'm not involved in the Morris, so this was my best outlet for being an idiot!).

It was generally agreed a good time was had by all, although there were some stresses caused by Morris activities not happening at planned times, and hence conflicting with the "Vikings", which still had to be done at the timetabled time.

We were both quite exhausted by the end of it, I think, but still managed to pack up, and get both boats awa through Blisworth tunnel on the Sunday evening.  As I have until now been the one who always takes the historic boats through the long Grand Union tunnels, and there is only one of me, but two boats, the task of taking "Sickle" through fell to David.  By all accounts he didrather better than I did with "Flamingo" - I'm still not yet used to taking a boat of this length through, and found myself tending to over-compensate if I started to go a bit off course.


Photos copyright David Fincher

 

 

 

Photo copyright Louise Yeoman

Photos copyright Kathryn Doddington

 

Photos copyright Lynda Payton

 

 

Photos copyright James Rudd, Towcester News

Photo copyright Phil Underwood Photograpy

And Yet ANOTHER Trip to Stoke Bruerne!

(Boat Flamingo - posted by Alan)

Friday 12th June

I said in the last posting about "Sickle" that it was our firm aim to also get "Flamingo" to the Stoke Bruerne Family Festival .

In practice it has been a bit of a roller coaster ride, as we have over the last few days had large amounts of "Flamingo's" interior stripped out, right back to the point where we are staring at lengths of the riveted hull sides.  The boat has been somewhat of a building site, frankly, and not in a state where it could have attended this event, and even less so having more than me, Cath and Odin overnighting on it.

Fortunately some long days burning the midnight oil got us back to a point where it could be used just in time, albeit still in some disarray as we set off.

No pictures this time, I'm afraid, but we are now here, and son David joined us on board last night, after I had spent the evening frantically trying to store away as much of the muddle as I could.

The boats have still not formally "met" under our ownership, ("Flamingo" must have boated past "Sickle" many times in her carrying days, though), but they are now tantalisingly close to each other, as we borrow bits of the inventory for onr, to supplement things we don't have in the other.

Weedon to Stoke Bruerne
Miles: 10, Locks:0

Another Trip to Stoke Bruerne

(Boat Sickle - posted by Alan)
Retrospective post for Sunday 7th June

We are now well into the festivals and galas season, so will be attempting to attend as many by boat as we are able, although with so much to do on "Flamingo", we are resigned we will be doing less this year than we might have in previous years.

One lock completed at Stoke Bruerne - waiting for the 2nd.

One that is on our "must do" list is the Stoke Bruerne Family Festival with "Sickle" at least , because, like last year, we have commited her to be used for one of the displays.  Our hope  is to have her joined by "Flamingo", which is the first opportunity we have had to get both boats together.

So, once again, we find ourselves into planning logistics of moving boats about, and being able to get back to retrieve cars.  As our son Michael uses one of our cars during the week, any short boat moves involving a "two car shuffle" can only be done at a weekend.  Thus we elected to move "Sickle" up to Stoke Bruerne the weekend before the festival.

Onwards and upwsards......

Not a lot to report for the trip, although I could maybe mention the Wyvern Shipping hire boat in the tenuous "control" of one of the least competent crews I have witnessed in many years.  Four of them were stood around the tiller and the controls, and as one got into difficulty with a bad manouvre, another then grabbed the tiller, and completely over-compensated in the other direction.  Thus they zig-zagged down the canal, largely avoiding the banks, except at the bridge holes, which didn't fare as well!  In the end I did what I never usually do, and TOLD them I was coming past, rather than asking them if I could.

We had an easy passage up the locks, but having started late at the other end, and hit several hold ups on the way, our actual arrival wsas quite late.  We elected to grab a quick meal at the pub, before starting to round up the cars, but at least "Sickle" was now where she needed to be.

Fenny Stratford to Stoke Bruerne
Miles: 17.6, Locks: 8

A Trip to Stoke Bruerne

(Boat Flamingo - posted by Cath)

Stoke Bruerne

We've been working on Flamingo on and off for weeks now, since we sold Chalice (except for various medical appointments and our trip to Rickmansworth with Sickle). We are making progress, but there is a lot to do, so any improvements seem small compared to the whole of what will eventually be needed.

Stoke Bruerne, near the tunnel to avoid a long trip in reverse!

I have made progress with the improvements to the back cabin (which I will eventually get around to posting, soon I hope), while Alan has done a lot of work mostly in the engine room. He has done a lot towards cleaning the detritus of ages from the engine bilge, but couldn't do any more because of the restrictions of the diesel boiler and its accompanying tank. We spent a lot of time discussing the boiler, and came to the conclusion that it really is too big for the boat, and we don't want to run a boiler every time that we want a small amount of hot water. We decided to bite the bullet and remove it from the engine room.

Blisworth

Alan unbolted the tank, and we managed to remove it from the engine room between us, but at an estimated 50 - 60 kgs in a small engine room it was hard work. There is never anywhere for you to stand to brace yourself, or to get a proper lift, and we were worried about dropping it onto the engine. Additionally, Alan is really not supposed to be doing heavy lifting with the damage that he did to his shoulder with the fall into the canal back in January.

So, to get the much heavier and more awkwardly placed boiler out, we called on reinforcements - our sons were asked to drive up for the day to lift it out and take it home with them.  As they are both in their mid 20s, and one of them lifts weights as a hobby it was somewhat easier for them than for us.  We now have to decide how to get rid of it.

Towards Bugbrooke

With the boiler and tank out of the engine room there is more access to the floor and beneath that the bilge, so Alan can start to clear some more oily muck out.

Alan has done other work on the engine, and the electrics, as well as simplifying the plumbing in the main cabin - for example, decommissioning the 'heated floor' in the bathroom. At the moment if we want hot water we need to run the multi-fuel stove, but to just heat water we need to turn off all the radiators (the hot water system doesn't operate separately from the heating at the moment), and heating the bathroom floor is just a waste of heat at a time when we don't want the boat hot anyway. Alan also plumbed out the diesel boiler from the main heating system now that it has been removed from the boat.

A week or so ago Alan finally had done enough work on the engine room, and the engine to run the engine up for a while, and was disturbed by oil leaking from the exhaust. We knew that the boat had had a 'bottom end rebuild' at Brinklow Boats, but Alan was worried that there might be problems at the top end. He rang the engineer at Brinklow, who said that the engine was a good one, and he recommended taking the boat for a 'good thrash', rather than running it on the moorings.

So, we finally got fed up with painting, plumbing, electricity and engineering, and decided to go to Stoke Bruerne. Not too far away - about 3 hours, and we wanted to find out if the engine would be OK to go there for the Stoke Bruerne Family Festival in a couple of weeks time. There are also a couple of places that we could wind a 72 foot boat before we got to Stoke, if it became necessary.

We set off South in the afternoon, slightly apprehensive, because while we have done many thousands of miles boating, the only boating I have done with a 72 foot boat was bringing Flamingo south, six months ago, and while Alan has done a bit more, most of it was a very long time ago. Steering a full length working boat is rather different.  Interestingly, we had both thought that Flamingo was rather 'sluggish', but the GPS on the roof proved that isn't the case. Yes, she is slow to get going, but once under way she makes much the same progress as Sickle.

When we set off the oil pressure, as shown by the gauge on the roof was well up into the 40s, but it fell through the journey - as is to be expected as the oil warms up. However, by the time that we came out of the tunnel at Stoke Bruerne Alan was quite concerned just how low the oil pressure was registering - particularly with the engine idling, although of course in such circumstances it is not under much load.

We tied up, and decided to think about the problem in the morning, when the engine had cooled. We went to the Navigation Pub, but there were no seats available in the only part of the pub that allows dogs in, and a number of disgruntled diners told us of long waits. So we went to The Boat pub, where the place was virtually deserted, but they were still serving food, which arrived promptly.

In the morning Alan started the engine, to find that the oil pressure was back up to normal levels. He disappeared to go to ring an engineer friend (there is no phone signal near to the tunnel) and came back to check various things that our friend Richard had asked about.

We spent a fairly relaxed morning, there were lots of people on the towpath to talk to, while Alan disappeared every now and again to ring Richard. We checked the oil to see if there was any evidence of diesel in it, but it seemed clear, so we decided that it was time to go back to our mooring.

After the tunnel we stopped in Blisworth for me to buy milk and bread, and to let the engine cool. Then after lunch we polished brass a bit. Finally we set off again for 'home'.

It was an enjoyable trip out, and it should be possible to take Flamingo to the Family Festival in two weeks time.

High House Wharf to Stoke Bruerne winding hole and return
Miles: 20.0, Locks: 0

Back to Base.

(Thursday 21st May - Boat Sickle - posted by Alan)

Slapton lock.

We awoke still some three feet from the bank, and fairly obviously on the bottom.  The unusual shape of "Sickle's" hull often means that where we are not able to get to the bank when we moor up, it slowly works away the silt on the bottom, and you awake to find slack lines, and less of a jump to get ashore.  This was certainly not the case at Ivinghoe - the bottom seemed remarkably solid, and quite a bit of the bottom of "Sickle" seemed to be wedged on it.


 Our friends don't chose to travel as far in a day as we often do, so we agreed that as they needed to stop in Leighton Buzzard we would work with them until there, but then carry on alone.

"Sickle" leads "Fiddlers Green" away from Grove Church lock.

Cath had already started walking Odin to the next lock, when it became apparent that "Sickle" really was well "stuck to the bottom" - if I could move it at all, and get one end any further from the bank, the result was just that the other end came closer.  We were on a pivot mid way along the boat, and neither poling nor engine power initially got us off.  Fortunately Steve was able to give us a pull with his boat, and initially I seemed to float free, many more feet from the bank.  However having separated the two boats, as soon as I moved forward, I grounded again, so we had to repeat the whole process a second time.

Waiting for Grove lock to fill

After that we made steady progress towards Leighton, but, as before, most locks were not in out favour, and had to be filled before we could enter them.

At Grove lock we said our farewells to out travelling companions, and set off ahead.  It is unusual for us not to make a shopping stop at Leighton, where there is a remarkably convenient store, but today we had no need.  As we passed Wyvern Shipping, (boats 4 abreast today!), there were clearly new hirers taking over, but none, it seemed yet set off - always a bonus!

Steve and I - probably about 10 yeras since we last met!

At Stoke Hammond "Three Locks" the local IWA branch were doing a "we work you through the locks" event.  I knew the thorny question of a "man with a bucket" would eventually arise, but I am very unhappy with much of what senior people in the IWA do, even if it has many good ordinary members. Far easiest would have been to throw in a few quid, but given some of the things said by their representatives in print, and at recent meetings, I really don't want to be funding them at all.

The anticipated "man with a bucket" didn't actually approach until they had insisted on working the locks, so there feels to be pressure to donate, (or at least that is how we see it).  However, although I engaged him politely throughout, the collector  initially seemed dumbstruck when I told him why there would be no fiver from me. So I talked to him further, and he asked my "what in particular don't you like?". I was then able to tell him in some detail. It would be nice if he fed this up his organisation - though I rather doubt he will.

Descending "Three Locks"

No doubt some will see me as a cheapskate, but I have strong principals about how all boaters should be treated, and I do believe that the IWA currently unfairly writes of many people who have boats. So after reflecting on it, I'm still comfortable I didn't cave in to pressure, and just pay up.

After that an easy passage saw us back to our home mooring, although the amount of clearing, cleaning and car loading we found it necessary to do still surprised us.  If we are going to keep switching boats, we really do need to start to get more organised about moving stuff between each of them, or between either and home!

Overall though, a very enjoyable trip to and from "Ricky" and also a very enjoyable festival itself.  It had been a difficult decision whether we just went and enjoyed some boating, or try and progress work on "Flamingo".  I'm rather glad we decided to "play" rather than to work!

Ivinghoe to Fenny Stratford
Miles: 13.2, Locks: 12
Total Miles: 73.2, Locks: 122

Over the Summit

(Thursday 21st May - Boat Sickle - posted by Alan)

"Gas" locks, Berkhamsted

This has been a slightly unusual trip, as it has involved us breaking it in both directions to spend time at home, rather than on the boat.  To some extent this has been down to pure practicalities, and on this occasion I faced some unpleasant dentistry, (and unpleasant it proved to be!), and being in the middle of the day, it seemed sensible spend two nights at home "regrouping" before carrying on with returning "Sickle" to its mooring.

Entering Northchurch lock

Again, even by Thursday there was no great rush, although we did need to get a reasonable amount of the remaining trip under our belts, if we were not to run on late tomorrow.

Dudswell

In keeping with much of the rest of this trip we found all locks against us, often with top gates left open, even at the locks clearly marked as "leave empty".  Only on reaching Cow Roast did we catch up a boat, and share a lock with it.  Unfortunately the owners of this boat apparently had a damaged gear box, and their "antidote" to this seemed to be to turn on us, and have a right go at as, but apparently with no obvious justification.  I couldn't hear the obvious ranting over the Lister, but apparently Cath was shouted at that we should only go into a lock on tick-over.  The obvious implication was that they had wanted us to crawl in even more slowly than we had - a bit odd, as when I had entered the lock, I had actually taken "Sickle" out of gear, and just drifted in under no power!  It is (fortunately) highly unusual to find yourself locking thrrough with another crew set on being abnoxious, so we were mightily relieved when they immediately turned into Cowroast marina!

Dudswell

Coming down from the other side of Tring Summit, through Marsworth locks and beyond, we again found ourselves sharing, but this time with a more typical crew who were pleasant and efficient.  Our load was lightened by two volunteer lock keepers who were often setting ahead for us, and, indeed also for a boat coming down behind us. Volunteer lock keepers come in for mixed press, but these ones were good, being helpful, but without prescribing how things must be done.

"Arcas" tied up exactly where "Sickle" regularly once was.

The crew we were working with had initially said they were going on to Leighton Buzzard that day.  This had sounded highly optimistic, and so it proved, as they stopped after just the first of the Seabrook locks.  We didn't intend to press on late, and thought we might stop just above Ivinghoe locks, but were uncertain if "Sickle" could be got close to the bank there, (important because of getting Odin on and off the back deck - he is reluctant to walk planks).

Setting off in tandem down the Marsworth flight.

However about half way between Seabrook and Ivinghoe we spotted a boat moored up that a former work colleague co-owns with another person.  So far we have only ever seen this boat when it is not being used by my friend Steve, but on this occasion it was, so we attempted to pull in.  This proved somewhat of a challenge - Steve's modern boat was at the side, but we struggled to get front or back of "Sickle" within three feet of the bank.  We couldn't really see how to stay at this point overnight, until I decided to use some of "Sickle's" substantial deck boards as a planks.  Would Odin be prepared to cross one?  No, not one, but two side by side did the trick!  I have not seen Steve in 10 years, since our firm made us redundant when they "off-shored" to India the activities we were involved in, and had never met his wife Claire.  As former dog owners they were more than happy for Odin to go aboard, and indeed we ended up taking food that Cath prepared on "Sickle" aboard, and also enjoying a couple of bottles of wine with them.  There was quite a lot of catching up to do, after so long. You never quite know where your next mooring may be, or who you might find there!

A very pleasant day, apart from that one brief unpleasant interlude.

Berkhamsted to Ivinghoe
Miles: 9.2, Locks: 19
Total Miles: 59.9, Locks: 110