At last, starting out on our journey! But by easy stages. Back to the Spring Wood mooring for the night.
While we were having a cuppa on the towpath, Andy & Sue Smith came by, assisting NB 10,000 Reasons, followed by Chris Buck. They all stopped for a natter. The conversation suggested Springwood Haven's price for blacking was about par, so we decided to drop in and book it, if they still had slots this year.
Engine: 516.5 – 517.6
1.9 miles, 0 locks, 1.1 engine hours
Stayed in the marina for church on-line. Cleaned the roof in the afternoon. No need to run the engine.
Wanted to get some supplies, so went back to Atherstone and winded at the head of the flight. Tied up so I could walk down to the Aldi – no longer than the walk from the visitor moorings half way down. Then back to the marina for Kat's party in the evening.
Engine: 513.8 – 516.5
4.7 miles, 0 locks, 2.7 engine hours
Alarm for 7.30, and at Springwood Haven marina at 8.30. They agreed to get Rob to fix the leak on the calorifier. Basically, he screwed the fitting tight down, and constructed some pipework to bring everything together. Annoying to find that now gets in the way of where a folding chair has slotted down.
Strikes me that if we changed over the two exit units, they would be in the right position, and take away the need for the pipework. The main thing would be to get the emergency outlet pointing in the right direction.
Went back to the Spring Wood mooring for the night;
Engine: 513.1 – 513.8
0.5 miles, 0 locks, 0.7 engine hours
De-winterising – the calorifier junction was leaking slightly. Turning the junction piece down tight took it 180˚ past where the outlet and emergency pipes fitted. Not something with RCR's remit, and for their sister to come and do a repair was going to be very expensive. Rang Springwood Haven – she said to ring again at 9 a.m., though it was to be their hire-boat turnaround day.
Decided to simply turn up in the morning, so took Erin Mae down to the mooring spot just before the marina.
Engine: 512.1 – 513.1, 1 hour
1.9 miles, no locks
8.30 start to get to Mancetter to talk with Kathryn about our berth. All straightforward, and ran a wash as we moved. Decision to take a berth very straightforward – and it appeared to have been the last one she had. So both she and we were pleased.
Tied up on 15B, and will move across to 16A when NB Shadow moves out tomorrow. Neighbours will be Anthony and Emma.
Counter: 510.6
1.9 miles, 0 locks, 1.2 engine hours.
Called in at Springwood Haven Marina to check berth availability – negative. On recommendation, checked the Mancetter site and rang them – spoke with Kathryn. Arranged to call tomorrow between 9 & 10, to check out the site and see if a mooring has become available.
Tied up a few hundred yards after the marina – good mooring opposite a large grassy slope. Talked with NB Ruby, who moor at Mancetter.
Ran the engine in the evening, because travel time had been limited. Shockingly, SOC this a.m. was 55.
Counter: 509.4
2 miles, 0 locks, 3 hours engine time
Cloudy day, a few drops of rain, bright sunshine late afternoon.
Took on water at Hawkesbury Junction, in spite of the slow tap, because of uncertainty of plans.
Stopped just after Bridge 21 on the Coventry, and took the Nº10 bus to the Kingswood Road Aldi – very useful connection, with a regular 10/15 minute service.
Moved the boat on a couple of hundred yards to armco opposite the Tomkinson Road Recreation Ground. Feels a good mooring.
Counter: 506.4
8.7 miles, 1 lock, 4.6 engine hours
Facing towards Hawkesbury, the hose was not long enough to get water at Stretton Stop. Couldn't see the water point at Ansty, or perhaps there was a boat permanently on it. Tied up equidistant from M6 and M69, between Bridges 12 and 11. Relative peace and quiet, compared to what would follow.
Neighbours said they had moored near Springhaven, and couldn't hear the trains.
Counter: 501.8
4.2 miles, 0 locks, 1 swing bridge, 3 engine hours
Horrible day – glad not to be travelling!
Engine service @ Rose Narrowboats. Jamie did it – very thorough, if a bit pricey. Email invoice to come on Thursday. Changed oil in both engine and gearbox. Topped up anti-freeze. Greased (Amber silicone grease) the nipple on the drive shaft.
Ran the engine in the morning, both for charge and to prepare for the service. Continued running it again after the service to really build up the batteries.
Counter: 498.8
0 miles, 4 engine hours
Ran the engine early, as once again the inverter had been left on and SOC was 40%. Tried to fill the water tank before leaving Rugby, but the tap was hopeless. The one at Newbold would have been hard to get on to, and anyway had someone else on it. Eventually got a pump-out (£20) at Brinklow Marina, and filled the water tank as well.
Tied up, as arranged, on the service wharf at Rose Narrowboats, ready for the engine service tomorrow. Jamie appeared, promising that it would be extremely thorough!
Counter: 494.8
6.3 miles, 0 locks, 5.4 engine hours, SOC nominal 93.
Quiet day on the visitor moorings. Walk to Next for an Amazon package, and Tesco for a few items. Ran engine morning and evening. Central heating for an hour in the morning while engine was on.
Counter: 489.4
0 miles, 3.4 engine hours
Started the engine early. Easy run through the Hillmorton locks, with help from two lockies. Tied up shortly after, to walk to the Aldi in Hillmorton. Long, but useful. Came through to Rugby and moored before Bridge 58.
Counter: 484.4
6.5 miles, 3 locks, 2.9 engine hours
SOC of 45 at 9 a.m. was really annoying. Are the batteries going? So ran the engine for a couple of hours before setting out.
Pulled in at Braunston Midland Chandlers for a 12 mm mooring line and a bottle of Blue, and bought a bag of Supertherm as well. Hope not to regret not buying kindling.
Rejected the risk of finding that the moorings above the Hillmorton flight were full, and tied up at what WaterwaysRoutes says are the last decent moorings before then, between Bridges 79 and 78.
Counter: 481.5
4.7 miles, 0 locks, 4.3 engine hours
Went up to the Calcutt locks for water. Winded, and turned left at Napton Junction. Weather dull, getting a bit sunnier.
Ran two wash-loads. Tied up just before Bridge 100, and put the washing out on the towpath, until it began to rain in the afternoon. Some quite heavy squalls
SOC had been only 48 at 8 a.m., so started the engine then, well before travelling.
Counter: 477.2
5 miles, 0 locks, 4.1 engine hours
At 8 a.m. the SmartGauge said SOC was 49%, so ran engine for a couple of hours. Very sunny, so risked not running it in the evening when SOC was said to be 86.
Took the bus into Southam for a prescription and an Amazon package. Got a haircut.
Arranged with Rose Narrowboats to do the engine service on Tuesday (at least, I think they said they would!)
Counter: 473.1
0 miles, 2 engine hours
Another scorching day – glad we had just one lock to do, with some help from a volockie and another boater. Tied up before Bridge 109, in preparation for the bus trip to Southam tomorrow.
Still getting hit by the passing traffic. Sun was sufficient to push up the SmartGauge to 86, though I suspect in reality it's less, and will probably be just 55 in the morning.
Counter: 471.1
1.8 miles, 1 lock, 1.1 engine hours
Very warm and sunny. Took on water at Marston Doles Top Lock. Tied up on the 48 hour moorings above Napton Bottom Lock, where we were coming up.
Counter: 470.0
2.4 miles, 8 locks, 3.1 engine hours
Reversed to the winding hole at Fenny Wharf, and poled the bows across to wind. Took on water – good tap.
Retraced yesterday's journey in reverse. Much warmer day. Close encounters with a couple of hirers in trouble in the shallow water. Tied up in the same spot, on the armco about a Km short of the Marston Doles locks. Very quiet, except for the Spitfire (?) flight that flew across.
Ran a wash-load.
Counter 466.9
7.1 miles, 0 locks, 3.5 engine hours
Fine day, with some sunny spells. Very winding canal. Tied up on the 48 hour moorings just past the wharf – fortunate to get the space as there are lots of boats here.
James and Hazel Bell came by on NB Gabriel, and passed across the song books for the Fazeley weekend.
Counter: 463.4
7.1 miles, 0 locks, 3.0 engine hours
