Short Boats

Some time ago I noticed that our site was receiving hits from an internet forum who were discussing short boats. I have been phographing them for some time so I thought I might as well bring a few photos together in a post.

I hope they create interest.

 

Crossrail Tunnelling - just like Blisworth

Watching the BBC One Show tonight I was taken by the item on constructing  London's Crossrail. The item included lots of information about the size of the project and the usual comparisons with familiar items. This time it was how much water was drained from the dock near Canary Wharf -  it was compared to Olympic-sized swimming pools.

However, what really caught my eye was the wonderful tunnelling machine, or tunnel boring machine (TBM), called Elizabeth. It was shown in action along with the construction of the concrete rings that followed it. Sound familiar? Well yes, it is just like the reconstruction of the middle section of Blisworth Tunnel in the early 1980s. Those of you who have travelled through Blisworth Tunnel will have probably recognised the similarity with the Crossrail tunnel concrete sections, particularly if you have examined the example ring that is on the bank by the South Portal Blisworth Tunnel at Stoke Bruerne.

Blisworth Tunnel

More details of the Blisworth reconstruction, and some good views of its tunnel boring machine and the concrete sections are given on the Blisworth village site. In 2009 it was the 25th anniversary of the reopening of the tunnel. We attended the celebrations and went to the wonderful talk by the two ex-Mowlem engineers that masterminded the project. (See our post about the event)

Although the principle used for Crossrail is the same as for the rebuilding of Blisworth Tunnel, the level of mechanisation and the size are quite different. Crossrail is, of course, larger and much more complex but the removal of spoil is also very different. Still it's good to be reminded how canals took the lead, even in the 1980s, since both the subsequent Channel Tunnel and Crossrail projects used the same tunnelling technique.

Below is an animated Crossrail video about the project. Viewers should be warned there are comparisons with London buses, taxis and jumbo jets! You may be relieved to know that the size of Wales is not mentioned.

Up go the water levels - again!

Overnight, instead of the expected snow, we got rain. However our village still has plenty of frozen snow around and our local streams are full. It will be interesting when it all melts.

It looks like the rivers are set to rise quickly as the warning below from the Environment Agency email service shows. The current status on their river conditions web site shows even more red!

Likely outlook Levels on the River Thames are rising in response to the rainfall overnight and associated snowmelt. The forecast for the next few days is for a more unsettled period of weather.  Many locks are still displaying red 'Caution Strong Stream' boards. Some Thames weirs remain fully drawn.

Lechlade to Oxford

Reach Current conditions Northmoor Lock to Pinkhill Lock Caution strong stream

Oxford to Henley

Reach Current conditions Culham Lock to Clifton Lock Caution stream decreasing

Henley to Teddington

Reach Current conditions Bray Lock to Boveney Lock Caution strong stream Boveney Lock to Romney Lock Caution stream increasing Romney Lock to Old Windsor Lock Caution stream increasing Old Windsor Lock to Bell Weir Lock Caution stream increasing Chertsey Lock to Shepperton Lock Caution stream decreasing

Kingfisher Marina in the Snow

We visited Albert today (Monday) after the heavy snow of the last few days. Living close to Yardley Gobion we estimate that around 10 inches (250 mm) has fallen since last Thursday evening. The canal was iced over, as you might expect, but as the temperature today only dropped to around -1 deg C the ice wasn't that thick. At least the boats were not frozen "rock" solid as in 2010/11.

Picture post card views of snowy marina

Only the phographer's footprints in the snow

Great patterns on the stern fenders and Turks head ropework

Lost poles and planks - just the exhaust is visible

On the next boat the snow bridged between the staging and the gunwhales

Pretty ice pattern on NB Rangitoto

More pretty patterns on ropes and fenders

Below these deep rectanglar "pillows" of snow are some mats!

Sterns, bows and ropes all with heavy snow deposits

Strictly Pitt-Rivers!

Another week, another museum. We visited Oxford over the weekend with our friends Edward and Anne and showed them the marvellous updated Ashmoleum Museum. We had a short visit to some of the collections and an excellent lunch in the museum restaurant on the top floor. It affords great views from the terrace. On the next table was John Sargeant (ex-BBC Political Correspondent and Strictly Come Dancing star) - must be some sort or recommendation.

After lunch we visited a museum we had failed to visit on our trips through Oxford. This was the Pitt-Rivers Museum which houses the University of Oxford's collection of anthropology and world archaeology. To put it simply it is a Victorian treasure trove.

 

Pitt-Rivers with totem pole in background

 

Although updated through the years, the museum has stayed true to its original 19th century style of glass cabinets and small hand-written labels. The exhibits are packed in. The collections are diverse and sometime bizarre. For example, there is a section on body adornments and tattooing alongside shields, bows, lace making and coins. There are even shrunken heads.

Cases and drawers of artefacts

Because of the sensitive nature of the exhibits, light levels are kept low but visitors are encouraged to use torches. This makes it great fun for curious children. Viewed from the balcony the sight lots of lights from torches making their way through a maze of cabinets is fun.

Model Ships of the Line

For the marine enthusiast there is a superb collection of model boats (the models are of a great age) and several full-size canoes suspended from the ceiling. If you are boating through Oxford or visiting by other means (like us), we can thoroughly recommend the Pitt-Rivers. It is accessible through the Natural History Museum which is being refurbished at the moment.