Out we come - all very efficient

Haul out day and we were advised there was to be boat shuffles as there was a very tired looking Braidbar boat going into the paint shed. We were up at seven to start unloading and closing down the boat  - emptying cassettes etc. We got the call at 11 and very efficient Matt and his oppo got Percy onto the trailer and out of the water. 

Never a relaxing time but they were efficient and confident.

While Percy had her bottom jet washed we went for a tad expensive breakfast at the cafe - again nice people and nice service. Overwater is a nice marina like Great Haywood on steroids !

A chat with Matt about the hull... a few pits that need filling nothing bad as she'd passed her 30 year hull survey just over two years ago. We could have relaxed on the survey but while she was out it made sense to take the opportunity. I was pleased how well our DIY blacking had held up over the past two and a half years. The bigger issue was the weather, I'd not factored in they black outside so we agreed with the welding and the weather we'd not expect Percy to be back in on the Friday as originally agreed,  we settled on them to take the time needed to do it around the weather. We will adjust our plans accordingly. 

So for now I'm up to date .... while we wait out the call to come and fetch our boat I'll try and fill a few gaps... more for my record of my life in retirement but might be of interest to you who follow this blog.   

Into the marina a long day !

It was a very hot day on the Sunday  - we should have made more progress the day before but hey ho... 13 locks in full sun reminded us we aren't getting any younger ! 

I started the day with a 50 minute blast of the genny to charge the Ecoflow back up to 75%  - the house batteries are about 5 years old now and showing that age, still serviceable just but will need replacing at some point in the next 12 months. This was fortuitous as the inverter that had worked very well the day before pulling 200w off the alternator and charging the Ecoflow on the move just wanted to throw overload errors even when there was nothing connected !! That'll have to go back bugger

Everything was going one way - down only two boats all day came up the flight meaning we had to turn (fill and empty) 11 of the 13 locks for the day. Due to the direction of travel there was no water in the bywashes on most of the locks I suspect C&RT had reduced the flow to account for the lack of use of the locks due to the stoppage at Tyrley  - judging by the few boats going that was a sound decision.

Once we were in the marina it was round two for me as I unloaded the Brompton from the fore cabin and set off back to Shebdon for the car. A lovely 18 mile ride somewhat spoilt by google trying to get me onto the tow path and finally succeeding at Knighton winding hole and the tow path from there to the Shebdon winding hole isn't great for a small wheeled bike. 

Regardless I was back at the boat for about 7.30pm a quick shower and food then bed after a bit of TV. 

The Audlem flight

 We set off with a fairly unambitious target of the first set of visitor moorings on the Audlem flight basically two locks to do leaving 13 for the following day  - turned out to be a questionable decision! 

Nothing in front or behind as we set off to the lovely 5 Adderley locks. they were quickly descended with our usual swapping of duties half way through.... we still see far too many ladies on the lock while the fella stands leisurely on the tiller. Half or more than half the fun is doing the locks and chatting to other boaters. 

Then more lovely sunshine cruising to the top of the Audlem flight and a noice chat with the cake lady and cakes brought. She actually opened the top gate for us so we went straight in. I did suggest she should have emptied the lock so we'd have been on the lock landing looking at her cakes for longer !!

We dropped two locks then moored up for the rest of the day. This was Saturday so we took a walk down to the Shroppie Fly and had food there which was nice  - basic and the service was a bit erratic but friendly. They got a double tip as I paid the bill at the bar and left a tip and Rachel left one on the table. 

Back on the boat I tried a bit of fishing but was interrupted a few times so ended up magnet fishing for our friends prized windlass she dropped mid channel on her way down the flight with my help ( need to blog about that) a week or two earlier. No luck but an enjoyable two hours all the same.

The bywashes we again very active and there was a procession of boats coming up the flight heading to Tyrley to beat the stoppage. 

Beating the stoppage and a true git

We left the day after the rain on  quite a nice morning chugging off towards the  emergency stoppage at the top lock on the Meaford flight. I like this section of canal on the Shroppie Nice views westwards and within an hour and a half we were passing Goldstone Wharf - this is normally a stopping point as the pub serves value for money food. There is water here and a winding hole. The new occupant of the wharf cottage that has a mooring in the (ex) winding hole has for some reason put a rope across the winding hold and moored his/her boat in the hole which is called True Grit  - they whoever they are are W$$$ers and I still cannot understand how this cannot be a winding hole as its a wide point of the canal and no need to go onto the gits property to wind  - beggars belief. Karma is on its way to them !! 

The Ecoflow getting a charge while cruising.

More winding hole hogging  - not the best place to have been nesting

Anyhow before that we chugged thru Woodseves cutting looking ever more perilous to a full on landslip and stoppage. We had a boat follow us well behind and just as we were exiting around the last blind bend a boat with 8 souls came into view - the helms-woman panicked and had the boat sideways in short order. We were able to hold in a small hollow on the offside.... we did let them know there was another boat and maybe good to hold but they ignored us and bombed off for another sideways across the canal moment ? 

The locks at Tyrley were set up for the emergency stoppage on the Monday and we were moving Friday last week 17th May. I suspect C&RT were expecting lots of boat movements as they had a terrific flow going through the locks or rather bywashes. The bottom lock bywash was as bad as I've seen it and of course we had the added challenge of a boat following us down. The effect of this is they are adding full locks of water down the flight maxing the bywashes. Even by opening the two top paddles as we exited the lock to wash us out and try and put the bywash water thru the lock there was still a torrent hitting Percy broadside as we exited the lock. I got pushed over but not crashed into the rock wall as is the risk  - this bywash has to rate as one of the worse and therefore most dangerous on the system we have cruised to date  - quite horrible.

This is what we call Leai's bench. I've a couple of photos taken many years apart of me and Leia on this bench. We still miss her fiercely. 

Percy is due her spring polish !!

We then has a nice cruise through Market Drayton and moored short of the Adderley flight. C&RT are saving money and no doubt being environmental by not cutting the tow path even at known mooring points. as soon as we moored the boat was boarded by lots of spiders  - I set to cutting back the veg and putting a line of insect repellent on the gunwale. We went for a lovely walk and ended the evening in peace and quiet. Just under 4 hours cruising I think. 

Spider city

I wonder if this is the same Phylis May that went from Stone to Carcassonne?

 

Two grandchildren later and maggots

 Its been a while and I really should fill the gap between April 7th and now - but that's later maybe.

We've had Percy booked for blacking at overwater for many months on recommendation from Mandy our boaty neighbour. We've not been able to get to Percy due to family stuff and health stuff (us) with Rachel getting a nasty virus off one of the Grandkids on Mothers day and still struggling with it now. I'm sure it's another covid varient. A quite horrible virus.

Anyhow life goes on and  Lyra Ivy and George Eric both now safely arrived to grow our lovely family and we are so proud of our sons daughter in laws and the other grandkids. It's a worry and it'll never go away but we are blessed and life has worries but it also has joy.  

So lots happened between  the last update and now but we needed to move Percy to Overwater for the 20th. So we arrived loaded up with bikes and Ecoflows to in the pouring rain to find our farmer landlord for some reason had strimmed our little bit of grass all over the boat. if he'd strimmed the other way it would have gone onto the bank!! I was doubly annoyed as I'd brought a replacement grass box to cut the grass as I must have left the original on the mooring and I can only assume it was nicked or blown into the cut !! Grrrrrr 

So pissing down with rain grass all over the boat I set to getting the hose out to fill with water and wash the grass off then I notice maggots on the roof - bloody anglers I thought only then I see them on the non towpath side of the boat crawling up the we side ! Not being squeamish I start picking them off then notice the dead pigeon between the boat and the armoco alive with maggots !! That got persuaded out  with a stick but the maggots kept coming  - they were in the vegetation that ironically said farmer thankfully had not strimmed growing out of the armco. So then it was angry gardener time removing all that including some giant hogweed that has burn me before with the sap  -  so that was dealt with with thick gloves on.

Onto the boat and it was an oil change  - 9 litres of Morris sae 30... checked the oil pump was pumping and topped up the coolant from the last time we were on the boat  - checking the inners of the crank and oiling the bearings prior to a overdue engine start.

For the record the oil was change at 1054 hours. 

Finally got all done and onto the boat for a nice night but it was so wet we lit the fire ! 

More to come !

Kathleen batters Percy

Seems we have a new storm and therefore a new name 'Kathleen' is hitting us as we are aboard Percy for an unprecedented long weekend  after only just being here two weeks ago - Five months no visits then two in two weeks !! 

Part of the reason is to fettle the donk on Percy. Five months is a long time to leave an old engine so I want to get inside and oil up the journals just as the 1929 vintage book advises. 

Not done it yet... typing this Friday night before the storm hits but will update with a few pics when it's done and we have the engine thumping aways all oiled up !!

A bit of a split saw me start the work about 4pm last night  ( sat) and finish up with the engine running after three hours Sunday. To get into the crank door I have to drain the block, remove the pulley guard. Then remove the Alternator the water pump and the starter then the lower water elbows. i can then open the 'door' to check the bottom end ( all good) and for good measure give the bearings a good oil before she starts up. Then its the reverse process  - 6 hours all in all but I feel better knowing the bits that need oil have it and the pump and dippers will do the rest going forward. Some pictures  - I take loads to ensure it all goes back as it should mainly the electrical connections. 

Still blowing hard out side  - we will try for a little cruise tomorrow if possible but not of its still blowing 

The Whaley bridge repair

It seems like an age ago that we were watching the tv and being told of an impending disaster as the Toddbrook reservoir spill way was in danger of breaching and the town of Whaley bridge was being evacuated. As in all good disaster movies the event was avoided and all was well.... apart form the cost to C&RT for the repair . I took the opportunity to have a ride that way the other day while out for a longish shopping trip to Screwfix !  

What a work of art it is to incur costs to all canal users.... banksmen on the road below trying to stop traffic  - I rode by. All the site is protected from prying eyes by hundreds of yards of hoarding all nicely painted, The fella sitting in his road sweeper truck watching vids ( I presume )  on his phone - very little site work being done as evidenced by the chains on the gates.  Goodness knows what the ongoing daily costs are are who is clerking the works and signing off the bills and the need for the 'extras' ?

I'm sure some of it is needed and the repair certainly, but please for the love of all the canals please C&RT get on with it and reduce the costs where you can  - it must be costing us thousands of pounds each day ....