What you might call 'technical' boating

When the wind blows it adds another dimension to boating. Thankfully for me it was the right type of wind today, well for the vast majority of the trip from Tixall wide to the top of Woodend lock. The right type being an east north easterly when I was travelling south west, meaning I has the wind at my back or over a shoulder most of the trip.

Not so the start....the wind was blowing straight across Tixall Wide trying to pin Percy to the armco. It was so bad I had to wait for a lull then push off and reverse off the mooring. The heavier stern with prop and rudder control thwarted the wind and I was able to get out enough to put in an arc without the bow hitting or the stern as I swung out..... the ramblers were not so keen on the black smoke from Percy's engine !

I got another question today - where is Cobden Junction ;-) The guy was walking with me for some distance off the wide, he was one of the ramblers, curiosity/frustration got the better of him so I gave him the story....

After the turn on the junction, the ramblers were amassed watching so I was pleased I did not give then anything to cheer about, the wind was my friend (ish) it was still trying to take Percy to the cafe at Haywood lock. The guy following who came to help with the lock, left me to it as he was concerned his wife would not be able to hold the boat, she seemed to be doing ok, had the centre rope around the bollard on the landing..... but he still went back to give advice/check. They were heading for Alrewas but I did not see them again after Colwich lock so I guess the wind was too much for them. I forget sometimes how heavy and low Percy is, much easier than Waterlily that was like a cork on the top of the water.

It still took some concentration to get the boat positioned correctly. After Colwich lock where I once again met the retired boater /lock wheeler who complimented me on the boat and then advised the forecabin was not authentic as it needed a pot bellied stove as was in the one he was born in ! Lots of help at this lock unsurprisingly as it is the first lock northward from Woodend just above Fradley. That makes this stretch of canal also quite a challenge, in that most stretched 'pulse boats' via the locks, one every 10 minutes or so, such a long pound you can see no boats for a while then 2/3 or 4 can be met at a bend or bridge hole and this canal can be bendy. As it turned out I was very lucky meeting quite a few boats but all in the 'right' places, even meeting a boat just exiting the narrows at Armitage.

It was a beautiful autumnal cruise in warming (for me  - those approaching were coated up into the wind) sunshine. I decided to moor up in perhaps my favourite canal location - just above Woodend lock, very quiet and atmospheric, especially when the buzzards are circling with their echoing cries in the sky.

Here are some pictures taken on this special mooring... kitchen window view Thursday morning 8th October, it really has been a great few days weather wise.

He checked out the boat and did not like it....

I had the pleasure of a real fisherman come calling but he did not stay long. I made it to Tixell wide before the heavens really did open so I hastened a mooring and took shelter... from this 

To this  - the lights are on in the back cabin it got so dark.

In the early evening I did a spot of fishing, while waiting for a fish to be hooked a Kingfisher zipped in and perched on the T stud, took one look at me and was off. I think he would have used the T stud as a fishing place if another less able fisherman was not already in residence.

I did not quite make my destination as I lazed in bed and did not have the first Penkridge lock set with Leia's assistance until 7.30am, the half an hour would have been enough to get me onto the T&M. I was hailed by a lady from NB 'Poppy' I think, one of the few that reads my ramblings, she correctly commented I should have beed past sooner - sticky head on pillow syndrome - sorry and sorry I did not catch your name, please let me know.

This made me smile, clamping is illegal now, not sure how this would be viewed....

A good cruise in mainly autumnal sunshine.

Tomorrow is once again a reverse of today, late start late finish as it will be raining hard when I get up....

Now stoves or rather chimneys, as I do not wish my new paint to be stained by tar from the fire smoke I have purchased a new double skinned chimney, Only to find the internal skin is not making a joint with the inner flue... I have read up and the common sense thing it to get a cheap internal flue extension and cloak it with a single skin chimney..... any advice?

Out of the dock at last - and back towards Fradley

Having done all the Derby chores and left those we care for in the good hands of family we dropped my car off at Fradley and drove over to Johns dock on the Stourbridge canal. ( Saturday)

We did a few last minute jobs and got Percy about ready (not all boxes got unpacked but I will do that  later in the week. then it was a slight boat shuffle to release Percy from her dressing room out into the daylight proper.

Here is John the guy who has took so much care over the paint job over the last 8 weeks. He really did not want his photo taking  - can you tell !

It was one lock up to wind in the pound - just, then with the help a a local lock wheeler called John we headed of to the junction.

Sunday was progress day.....Rachel was heading back down south Monday am and I was to bring Percy home so we tried to clear off as many locks as we could - certainly Botteram  staircase and the Bratch.

The S&W is a beautiful canal and it was very quiet  - lots of cyclists and walkers but few boaters. The lockies on the Bratch said we were just the ninth boat all day and we went through after 4pm. We pressed on stopping at Wightwick, clearing another three locks for me. Then it was a taxi ride for me back to Johns yard to collect Rachel's car and a drive back to the boat for a last supper before Rachel left in the very early AM....

Monday was true to the weather forecast - rain am. After seeing Rachel off before 7 I set to unpacking the rest of the boxes we had packed prior to the paint job, more chores then I set myself the task of putting a spliced loop in the centre line  - wow am I dumb, it took me ages but true to my stubborn nature I mastered it. Well, looking at it now I think it is not quite right but it has held after hauling Percy out of quote a few locks today.

I will post another blog about single handling  - respect to all those who do it all the time - it is really hard work and you have to concentrate !

I only met one boat prior to cut end....a small hire boat who kindly put a few scrapes onto the newly cosmastic'd gunnel as he tried to get into the lock while I was still coming out -tw@t .... he did not apologise, just had some sort of strange simple grin, hopefully embarrassment, I do try hard not to take issue, we all have to learn. As soon as I hit the northern S&W after cut end I started to catch up with NB Catherine, I was happy to stand off but another boat came off the Shroppie and appeared from nowhere behind me, how fast some boats travel, but then again I was catching NB Catherine to the point of having to hit neutral to allow me to keep a respectable gap.

He eventually slowed and indicated for me to pass, he did not look happy, but (see above) I was pleasant then I pulled over to let the boat behind me overtake !

I did pass the overtaking boat at Gailey as she had stopped for the day on a private mooring there.

Steady progress to the top of the Penkridge locks, when a combination of bad light and tiredness plus a healthy dose of common sense prevailed and I stopped for the night.

Leia had her tea and crashed out ..... she has been on the back with me all day, loyal hound or what !

Tomorrow looks like the reverse of today, dry start rain from 1pm ish

CanaPlan AC  says...

Total distance is 10 miles, 4¼ furlongs and 7 locks. There are at least 4 small aqueducts or underbridges.

This is made up of 10 miles, 4¼ furlongs of narrow canals; 7 narrow locks.

This will take 5 hours and 36 minutes

So I will be aiming for a first light getaway, destination Great Haywood... sunrise is 7.18am I'll aim for 7am  - watch this space !

Unfinished business and beauty on our doorstep

We took today to eventually find a location that had some meaning for us. Before Charles my  father in law died Rachel made a donation to the Woodland trust to have a tree planted in his name.... the wood was called Coed-Aberneint. Last year we were thwarted by extreme weather that brought a tree down on the road to the wood, not to be deterred we eventually found the wood and went for a lovely walk there today.

We then took a drive over the Harlech and walked the beach before parking next to the castle to watch the sun drop below the Llŷn Peninsula....  a simple but joyous pleasure. The expansive sands were there for just us and a few others to enjoy. 

Disappointment but every cloud has a silver lining

The brass went to Stourport today, but was met with a 'canal time' delay. In the great scheme of things not at all a problem and we have always been happy not to press John the boat painter, he has had to deal with some sadness during the painting and we were understanding of this and to some extend I had allowed for slippage.

It was at the  cost of a second week of my annual leave but it has allowed us to do something last minute. We have stayed at the Synchant Pass hotel before, it is owned by ex BBC people, not that it makes it better or worse, just makes for some interesting conversations. So we have booked in for three nights this week, plenty of history for us to catch up with in this area.......and we may do the trip on the Pan.

It will mean much of the return trip from the yard back to Fradley will done by yours truly with the help of Leia the dog.....I guess any scratches to the paint will then be only one persons responsibility.

Now the painting ....

What do you recon....very close., all the back end just about finished, including some stunning sign writing from Dave Moore. A small amount of detailing for the back end to complete it.

The boat now really has new owners ....

We were asked for our opinion on the issue of the back cabin portholes overlaying the sign writing.... we were happy to take advice. The old working boats were in part advertising hoardings for their companies and owners so the bigger the better for the lettering. We could have gone smaller and not been a tad infringed but we went on the advice and experience of the professionals so there will be a little over laying when the 'shiny' brass is put back on.... I think it will look great.

We also wanted to give the boat a little provenance  so we asked for the boat builder's name and number to be added, once again Dave came up trumps with his setting out. 

The extra work is for the front end. The principal of the painting was to put the detail in the back and front end. John is finishing off much of the detail of the front end as well as the roof and the well deck....

Just as I was about to leave Joe turned up with a car full of fenders, two tipcats, a small stern button and a nice tyre covered front fender..... I had a chat with him, he was indeed born at Fradley Junction. Dave Moore advised on NB Victoria. Joe's a great character, I really likes the way he is able to introduce a few expletives into the production process of fender making that are so natural and funny. A top chap, a nice option to give him some business and get some quality fenders on Percy. 

Joe was happy to pose for a photo for my blog.... just got to creosote the fenders when they are on as John was less than keep to fit creosote soaked fenders to the boat !

Hopefully Saturday will see us back on board......

Lots of brass, less in my wallet more on the table

Big brass cleaning session today, did not help we had no Brasso so Sainsburys first thing. All of the brass is / was badly tarnished so it took some effort.

A from and to photo.....

The brass polishing factory.....

Off to the boat tomorrow to see how close we are to bringing her home....but I expect to be fully engaged in putting brass back onto the boat  - and hopefully some cleaning ....Joe is bringing the two tipcats and a small button as well so that may get some attention. Oh... and I have to call in the chandlers on the way for a new long shaft and a shaft for the boat hook - both not worth trusting. The gangplank will have to be another time.

Might be some pics next week !

Dave Moore comes a calling.... and then there is Joe

The canal community is small with a few characters. Our boat was built and engineered by one of them  - Tony Redshaw so when it came to getting it painted why would we not use some of the other names in the community.

Dave Moore spends a lot of his time at Norton Canes as their resident sign writer but does work all over. He was our first choice for sign writing  when we decided to have Percy painted at Dadsford Wharf on the Stourport canal.

Dadsford wharf was also the yard Phil Speight  - the guy who writes for canal boat on painting matters was based at for many years before he headed to the west coast of Scotland for some semi retirement I believe.

His long term apprentice  John Sanderson - I hope that is not a insult, now is a master painter in his own right, and a very approachable and nice fella as well.

Finally for the fenders.... our old ones were looking very tired and did not deserve to be back on the newly painted boat so Dave Moore gave me Joe Hollinshead's phone number. Those with an interest in TV canal stuff will know Joe from Waterworld, being one of the ex boatmen on the series. I recall he was actually born on a boat at Fradley Junction  - or did I dream that?

Anyhow you don't want to read all about my name dropping, even if it is to show I like to keep those who have given so much to the canals some of my easy earnt money for their skills.

The boat is getting close now.... I still have a shed load of brass to clean, curtains to iron (all washed ages ago) long and boat hook shaft to buy as well as a gangplank.....We are hoping to be cleaning her up next week and bringing her back over the next two weeks, I am getting withdrawal  - walking the Chichester canal just is not the same however pleasant.

John advises he has now applied 2 primer coats, 2 undercoats and 4 top coats, easy maths that, 8 coats of paint plus more in some areas to get the right coach lines etc. The final colours will be a mixture of Red, black and a very very dark green that is close to black..... we went to see a boat like it on the Stourport canal and it got our approval. Lots of other bits and pieces to compliment the final colours. But for now the close to finished images....

Can't wait ..........