To beat the fishing match

Ok, this is real'ish time blogging. We or rather I got to Percy 15th October to have another go at the stove, this time with some liquid PTFE  or pipe thread seal. Got the rear 28mm ( future boat owner should know they are 1 inch BSP to whatever the imperial is of a 28mm compression fitting  -inch and an eighth is such a thing exits? ) suitably connected. I sealed the flue into the stove with some black stove putty and wiped a smooth finish on it with a wet pad. Then sealed the flue to the cowl with the black heat proof silicon stuff...went home 

16th October we were due on the boat and I was the advanced party to refill the back boiler and pipes via the expansion tank. Then light the stove, I came with the garage fan to blow any fumes or smoke from the curing new black paint from the refurb. There was a leak on one compression fitting that I was able to nip up. The stove didn't emit much by the way of smoke or much smell. So I was able to give Rachel the green light to follow me with the cat and we eventually had a nice Sweet potato and Halloumi curry in a warm boat.

This cruise has been delayed and cut down, it was due to be up the Llangollen  in September but other things got prioritised as they should and we had to decide where to go. In the end we have put it down to how we feel and the weather and aiming to get back before the clocks go back or maybe just after. We are headed to cut end and may got left or right - might even be on the toss of a coin who knows.

Anyhow this morning we had a lazy start, I know I'm fighting off some virus as I am quite tired. I did some pottering jobs charged the Ecoflow back up from the genny got the boat prepped. I then at the last minute cut the bank down as it was something Rachel wanted to be done once a year. On the last few visits I've noticed diesel in the water around our boat and I and another moorer walked our moorings and concluded it was coming down the canal with the lock flow. I reported it the C&RT and they responded promptly saying they'd passed it on to their local team to check - see later 

I double checked the stoppages list before we agreed a route and saw there was a massive 'event' between Tyrely top lock and Gnosall  - I'd seen two blokes pegging out a fishing match earlier - that is going to be one very slow cruise for anyone getting involved in it. So we planned to be away and clear past the match today the 17th. We struggled a bit to get out but that is just these moorings and were on our way at 3pm. 

I'd have liked to have made it past Cowley tunnel but by 5.45 pm we were past the start of the match so moored up just before bridge 35. On the cruise we didn't meet any other boats. In fact I think I've only seen four past our mooring before we set off. 

I reported back to C&RT the diesel was in the water all the way to Norbury so I guess a boat there either has a very oily bilge and/or  a leaking diesel tank. 

We've moored here before and looking at the weather may well make progress to Chilington bridge tomorrow or the earlier Wheaton Aston then sit out Sunday as the weather looks wet ... we have the option which helps the thinking and planning 

A nice cruise on empty canals. The old boat by the Anchor has gone  - not sure if it was towed away or craned out.... it's been there years. 

Fire lit cleaned up ( us) and food and a quiet evening I suspect  -  I hope 

This extension was in progress when we were last here and that must have been a year ago. Rachel pointed out it looked like an upside down narrowboat 

Yet another shot of this iconic bridge - it is subject to road works on it as a large hole was found close by and some big trees removed

 

These mooring just before the  Anchor always appeal due to the fact they are private owned and have land beneath them. If I  were to be a live aboard with a base it would be these moorings that I would target