Congerstone

On-line service from BCC. Lunch at the Horse and Jockey. First coat of primer on the base of the front right locker.

Batteries were on 94% at 6 p.m., so didn't feel the need to run the engine.

No travel.

Snarestone to Congerstone

 Winded by the ACA shop. Cloudy morning – wore a fleece! Sun eventually came out.

Tied up on the 2 day moorings at Congerstone. Once it was cool enough, finished the (rather inadequate) prepping of the front right locker, and put down Fertan over the corroded surface.

5.1 miles, 0 locks, 2.2 hours engine.

Sutton Cheney to Snarestone

Cloudy day – actually quite cold after the week's heat. Decided not to do a pre-emptive pumpout at Bosworth Marina, and eventually stopped briefly at Shackerstone for lunch.

Continued all the way to the terminus at Snarestone and tied up on the 48 hour moorings. Walked up to the Wharf and the shop of the Canal Society, and then on to the end of the navigation at Bridge 62.

10.5 miles, 0 locks, 1 tunnel, 4.5 engine hours

Ashby Canal Bridge 16 to Sutton Cheney

 2 hours again enough in the heat. Thermostat continues to be OK.

Water at Sutton Wharf, then onto the 48 hour moorings just beyond the water point. An odd jetty on the off-side, with not enough rings in a composite plastic construction. Had to use thinner rope to make loops to run the mooring lines through. Had to use a spring, but even so it was not very satisfactory.

Nice iced latte from the café boat at the wharf.

5.7 miles, 2.5 hours engine

Ashby Canal, Bridge 2 to Bridge 16

Set out before 9 to avoid the worst of the heat. Water at Bridge 15. 48 hour mooring just after Bridge 15 – very good mooring but no shade.

Abortive visit to centre of Hinckley – not realising the museum is only open on Saturdays.

5.3 miles, 0 locks, 2.5 hours

Warwickshire wilds to Bridge 2, Ashby Canal

 Came through Nuneaton – canal really shallow at times. Stopped just after Bridge 21 and walked to the Sainsbury's Local 200 yards from the bridge. Stopped for lunch just a bit back from Marston Junction.

Turned left onto the Ashby and found a shady mooring on a bend just after bridge 2.

7 miles, 0 locks, 3.5 hours

Atherstone to Warwickshire wilds

Up the remainder of the Atherstone flight and out into the countryside. Good help from others and the volunteer at the top lock. Very hot again. Very little towpath shade to be found. Ran the washing machine.

Felt like we were very isolated. But the tractor was busy till late, the traffic on some major road got going, and in the evening it seemed as though a whole kennel of dogs was barking.

2.5 miles, 5 locks, 2.2 engine hours 

Polesworth to Atherstone

Even hotter, even though we set out by 9.30 to try to beat the heat. Inside the cabin this afternoon it reached 33.5˚

Came up the first 6 locks of the Atherstone flight, and tied up on the 48 hour moorings that offer good access to the town itself. That was enough for today.

3.75 miles, 6 locks, 3 hours engine time 

Fazeley to Polesworth

Another really hot day. Came up the Glascote locks and took on water at the slow point above them.

Stopped for lunch after Alvecote marina in the shade. Tied up after Bridge 51 in Polesworth after seeing a notice about the Abbey, to which we walked (but couldn't get in). Found ourselves in front of Liz and Graham (BCF members) on NB Reeve, so had some nice fruit-cake with plenty of water.

6.2 miles, 2 locks, 3.25 hours engine

Huddlesford Junction to Fazeley

Very hot. Stopped in the shade for an hour for lunch. Engine temperature mostly 90 - 95. Hit just under 100 at one point.

New gas cylinder from Fazeley Mill Marina (£32.45)

Tied up opposite Kew, and went for a cuppa with John & Jane Pescod and David and Mary.

7.8 miles, 0 locks, 3.5 engine hours

Wood End lock to Huddlesford junction

Called in at Streethay Wharf:

(a) Chimney repair. Nigel said he would check availability of parts. Agreed that we would postpone the repair until beginning of September, dependent on:

(b) Radiators: check integrity of the system. Check with Nigel for a clear date once we've been up and down the Ashby Canal.

(c) Overheating engine. Nigel checked for airlock in the coolant. Concluded the overheating was probably due to a sticking thermostat valve. He thought it would sort itself out – meanwhile monitor it. They don't normally do Isuzu engines, so probably find an alternative boatyard if the problem continues.

Water at Fradley. Tied up at the moorings just before Bridge 83 (Plough Bridge).

5 miles, 3 locks, 1 swing bridge, 3 hours engine

Rugeley to Wood End Lock

 6 miles, 0 locks, 3 hours engine

Engine overheating (just over 100˚). Oil and Coolant seemed OK.

GH Marina to Rugeley

 5.5 miles, 2 locks, 3 hours engine

GH Marina to Tixall Wide

Lovely sunny day, so decided to take the boat out for the only saunter of the summer so far. Got a pump out before we left. Tixall Wide looking great in the afternoon sun.

Contacted Amazon about the failed delivery to GH Post Office. They promised to contact the driver about deliveries to the Post Office.

1 hour engine

GH Marina

Mains electric was down to zero. Bought £60 = 461.54 units (KwH), as price is about to go up by over 30%.

Ran a wash load, after which the reading was 460.88.

Rubbed down the sags on the undercoat above LH kitchen window. Did another coat slightly thinned with WS.

GH Marina

1st undercoat on LH kitchen window. Re-applied the masking tape to provide a bigger area, top to bottom.

Moved across to the other berth to facilitate removing RH kitchen window. Came out without much difficulty, though the inner wooden frame fell off. Removed silicone, rubbed down and applied Fertan.

GH Marina

2nd coat of primer on LH kitchen window.

BBQ in the shade, while England / Stokes beat Australia.

GH Marina

1st coat of primer on LH kitchen window.

GH Marina

Drilled and tapped the extra M4 holes on the LH kitchen window, using the new Volkel tap and the cutting paste. Went very well.

GH Marina

Drove up, finding everything as it should be.