The morning after left us very tired as the bedroom was hot and then 4am we had another massive storm with lots of rain..... then it was a 6am alarm call for our sons graduation....
Busy busy busy and very tiring !
Tuesday, 23 July 2013
The end of summer
A really interesting evening watching the lightening. No rain though a still very very humid.
The morning after left us very tired as the bedroom was hot and then 4am we had another massive storm with lots of rain..... then it was a 6am alarm call for our sons graduation....
Busy busy busy and very tiring !
The morning after left us very tired as the bedroom was hot and then 4am we had another massive storm with lots of rain..... then it was a 6am alarm call for our sons graduation....
Busy busy busy and very tiring !
Sunday, 14 July 2013
My Alrewas accident
Our life is starting to get back to normal so over the next few posts I hope to get some catching up done to reflect what we have been doing around the challenging times.
Part of our 'normal' life is going to Percy for weekends as and when we can. As we have our son back with us at the moment we thought we would give him and his girlfriend some space so we headed to Percy. Percy has not had a shake down clean since returning from the two week blacking cruise. So in very hot temps we got the genny out and the Dyson and gave the boat a good clean. I was in the forecabin sorting plus doing other jobs.
We decided on a whim to go and have an evening cruise as we had been watching the boats pass all day. We have two options facing Alrewas for winding, bottom of Bagnall lock above the busy Alrewas moorings or on and off the river and wind below Wychnor lock. As it was so nice an evening and there were no boats moving plus we needed water we went for the longer cruise.
The law of sod intervened and just after the winding hole in Alrewas and after the bridge I saw a guy walking with a windlass, boat coming on a very narrow stretch I think (Alrewas was full) I was at tickover anyhow as it was so narrow and I like Percy on tickover ! A Shakespere boat come around the bend and saw Percy and tried to 'accelerate' around me !! No chance I see what she is attempting and go full astern with lots of black smoke for effect. We then have luckily a button to button head on with Percy winning or so it felt as she (still under power ) is bumped into a collision course with the moored boats. It was only the efforts of another boater on his boat that stopped her hitting him, despite him very ably and calmly giving the correct tiller directions.
It was nothing really but as the boater said as I passed if it had not been a button to button hit there would have been metal damage !!
The rest of the cruise was pure joy, the only point of interest was the lack of moorings from Wychnor lock back to the top of Bagnall lock (we tied up on the last bit of piling after the road bridge above Bagnall at about 9.45pm for our tea!
We came back early on Sunday as we had to sort out family, but not too sorry as it was very warm on the boat overnight. Rachel suffers from hay fever so does not like the door open when the pressure is falling.... felt like torture to me !!
Some images....
Part of our 'normal' life is going to Percy for weekends as and when we can. As we have our son back with us at the moment we thought we would give him and his girlfriend some space so we headed to Percy. Percy has not had a shake down clean since returning from the two week blacking cruise. So in very hot temps we got the genny out and the Dyson and gave the boat a good clean. I was in the forecabin sorting plus doing other jobs.
We decided on a whim to go and have an evening cruise as we had been watching the boats pass all day. We have two options facing Alrewas for winding, bottom of Bagnall lock above the busy Alrewas moorings or on and off the river and wind below Wychnor lock. As it was so nice an evening and there were no boats moving plus we needed water we went for the longer cruise.
The law of sod intervened and just after the winding hole in Alrewas and after the bridge I saw a guy walking with a windlass, boat coming on a very narrow stretch I think (Alrewas was full) I was at tickover anyhow as it was so narrow and I like Percy on tickover ! A Shakespere boat come around the bend and saw Percy and tried to 'accelerate' around me !! No chance I see what she is attempting and go full astern with lots of black smoke for effect. We then have luckily a button to button head on with Percy winning or so it felt as she (still under power ) is bumped into a collision course with the moored boats. It was only the efforts of another boater on his boat that stopped her hitting him, despite him very ably and calmly giving the correct tiller directions.
It was nothing really but as the boater said as I passed if it had not been a button to button hit there would have been metal damage !!
The rest of the cruise was pure joy, the only point of interest was the lack of moorings from Wychnor lock back to the top of Bagnall lock (we tied up on the last bit of piling after the road bridge above Bagnall at about 9.45pm for our tea!
We came back early on Sunday as we had to sort out family, but not too sorry as it was very warm on the boat overnight. Rachel suffers from hay fever so does not like the door open when the pressure is falling.... felt like torture to me !!
Some images....
If you could bottle it you would make a mint !
They walked up and back taking photos ...any ideas ? Certainly not a sight I have seen before on the canals
Fellow Blogger Paul from NB Lola came past while we were working. He was mored up and not at home on the way out but we did catch a few words as we approached on the way back. One day we will stop for a cup of tea or a beer.
Worth clicking on to see bigger but it was from my Iphone so not the best but it summed up the atmosphere of late evening cruising in the middle of summer....
Sunday, 7 July 2013
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Fancy a Dutch barge !
Well then the best place to go to see them is mainland Europe. Forget the nice narrow beam doddy ones in the UK
So we are in Belgium. On the bike to see if it really is a Pan European ( it very much is)
We have been to some sobering sites, the Menin Gate in Ypres being very special as it was where so many soldiers passed never to return. The last post was listened to with great respect by many nations of all ages. Something to reflect on as the European card is played so very often lately. It has certainly impacted on my view of us in Europe.
I will blog for my own reflection on some of the other sites we have visited and will visit in the next few days.
But the boating theme has to be the variety of large barges we have seen on the Meuse
So we are in Belgium. On the bike to see if it really is a Pan European ( it very much is)
We have been to some sobering sites, the Menin Gate in Ypres being very special as it was where so many soldiers passed never to return. The last post was listened to with great respect by many nations of all ages. Something to reflect on as the European card is played so very often lately. It has certainly impacted on my view of us in Europe.
I will blog for my own reflection on some of the other sites we have visited and will visit in the next few days.
But the boating theme has to be the variety of large barges we have seen on the Meuse
Friday, 21 June 2013
It all feels a little sad....
No blogging recently, I have been to the boat and like most done some painting in the interlude of good weather My father in law Charles passed away, on Rachel's birthday sadly. I will blog about him when it is right to do so, but for now it has rightly kept us off the boat as we prepare for life without him.
Other challenging stuff it also going on that means the blog has been neglected but it will be updated on brighter days.
More people are signing off the life on the canals, Paul and Lynn from NB Piston Broke have now sold and are in the process of moving off, and Heth from WB Takey Tezey is selling up to jet off to Spain and Jacquie and Stein from NB Like Duck to Water are taking a break from blogging.
Who next I wonder?
Take care
Nev
Other challenging stuff it also going on that means the blog has been neglected but it will be updated on brighter days.
More people are signing off the life on the canals, Paul and Lynn from NB Piston Broke have now sold and are in the process of moving off, and Heth from WB Takey Tezey is selling up to jet off to Spain and Jacquie and Stein from NB Like Duck to Water are taking a break from blogging.
Who next I wonder?
Take care
Nev
Thursday, 6 June 2013
....and so to sleep
One thing about buying a second hand boat is the quality of the mattress.
On Waterlily it was not too bad but when we had the bed extension added we opted for a new mattress. The fact it had an infill made it sumptuous but a pain in the bum to get out and back.... I liked sleeping on it I did not like the faff of getting it out and back.
So when we got Percy a new mattress was on the shopping list. Gill, Tony's wife said she thought we would be replacing it and to be honest I think it might have been the original one that was put on board twenty years ago when Percy was fitted out.
Just before we did the blacking cruise we ordered two new mattresses, one for the back cabin and one for the main bed. Rather selfishly as we knew we would be having my mum and partner for one week then a mate for the other sleeping on the main bed so we kept the old mattress and just fitted the new one to the rear cabin drop down bed.
So today I nipped back over to Elite Furnishings to collect the main mattress and took it with the memory foam topper (hey we might live on this boat one day !!) to Percy.
Due to poor planning I had to do all this myself.... On getting to Fradley I carried the 6x4 mattress to Hunts lock. I met a jolly boater who said... take care getting that over the lock and then walked on to open the Junction lock paddles for his boat !! So no other option other than balance the mattress on my head and walk the top gate.... a one chance journey completed I am happy to say without mishap. Of course I chose to do this on the hottest day of the year. I was able to use the wheels we keep in the forecabin to return the old mattress to the car and it was heavier than the new one... I think horse hair or similar but blimey was it heavy. A further return journey with the topper and all is now set for hopefully a weekend visit to try out the bed !
Another expensive but necessary personalisation of Percy for us.
On Waterlily it was not too bad but when we had the bed extension added we opted for a new mattress. The fact it had an infill made it sumptuous but a pain in the bum to get out and back.... I liked sleeping on it I did not like the faff of getting it out and back.
So when we got Percy a new mattress was on the shopping list. Gill, Tony's wife said she thought we would be replacing it and to be honest I think it might have been the original one that was put on board twenty years ago when Percy was fitted out.
Just before we did the blacking cruise we ordered two new mattresses, one for the back cabin and one for the main bed. Rather selfishly as we knew we would be having my mum and partner for one week then a mate for the other sleeping on the main bed so we kept the old mattress and just fitted the new one to the rear cabin drop down bed.
So today I nipped back over to Elite Furnishings to collect the main mattress and took it with the memory foam topper (hey we might live on this boat one day !!) to Percy.
Due to poor planning I had to do all this myself.... On getting to Fradley I carried the 6x4 mattress to Hunts lock. I met a jolly boater who said... take care getting that over the lock and then walked on to open the Junction lock paddles for his boat !! So no other option other than balance the mattress on my head and walk the top gate.... a one chance journey completed I am happy to say without mishap. Of course I chose to do this on the hottest day of the year. I was able to use the wheels we keep in the forecabin to return the old mattress to the car and it was heavier than the new one... I think horse hair or similar but blimey was it heavy. A further return journey with the topper and all is now set for hopefully a weekend visit to try out the bed !
Another expensive but necessary personalisation of Percy for us.
Tuesday, 4 June 2013
Best ever fishing and a Personal Best
...Only an evening session at some lakes a good friend introduced me to.
22 carp in total in 4 hours, got broke twice and finished the day with a personal best. I estimate well over 150 lb of fish tonight.
It does somewhat spoil canal fishing, but when you get good fish from the canal you know you have done well. The one above nearly took the rod, then me in with it, estimated at 16-18 lb click the photo to see me it us in all our hi res glory !
Thanks again Graham for the venue and the bait tip.... !
I checked back on my Waterlily blog here for my best canal carp.....
Both excellent fish... read the story on the link above to find out how I caught the one from the canal !
22 carp in total in 4 hours, got broke twice and finished the day with a personal best. I estimate well over 150 lb of fish tonight.
It does somewhat spoil canal fishing, but when you get good fish from the canal you know you have done well. The one above nearly took the rod, then me in with it, estimated at 16-18 lb click the photo to see me it us in all our hi res glory !
Thanks again Graham for the venue and the bait tip.... !
I checked back on my Waterlily blog here for my best canal carp.....
Both excellent fish... read the story on the link above to find out how I caught the one from the canal !
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