Out of the Water

Albert has been moored at Debdale Wharf since May waiting for their new grit blasting facility to be completed. The facilities, much delayed by the awful weather of the winter and spring, are now completed and the first boat is in the facility being blasted and metal sprayed. 

A boat being grit blasted at Debdale Wharf

We got a phone call yesterday that Albert was about to be lifted out of the water with the plan for her to be grit blasted next week. This is the first time while we have owned Albert, and possibly the first time ever, that Albert has been lifted out of the water rather than use a dry dock. We travelled up to Debdale to look at her out the water and discuss details of the work to be done.

Out of the water

Pressure washing

After lifting, Albert was pressure washed and lifted high enough the have a close inspection of the base-plate. Albert has a 15 mm thick base-plate so I have been quite comfortable about subscribing to the commonly held view that base-plates, out of the heavily oxygenated area near the water surface and subject to lots of attrition from grounding, do not need blacking. However, Debdale were keen to get me to inspect it. 

Having a cup if tea underneath Albert!

After almost 20 years in the water, the base-plate was in good condition but with the odd sign of pitting. I have therefore agreed to the plate being treated with blacking on the basis that the bitumen, at the very least, will fill the pits where it will not be abraded, and will therefore provide some increased protection. It will be interesting to see how the coating as a whole survives until the next blacking.

Onto the supports

So far as the blacking on the hull sides was concerned, the blacking has done its job but certainly needs re-coating. In places, particularly near the bows, the ice breaking earlier in the year had done a good job of removing the bitumen.

Blacking removed on the waterline during ice breaking

We look forward to the grit blasting and the boat being back into the water shortly after. 

Where is the towpath!

Cherwell Valley from Aynho

Last week we decided to organise a walk for our local walking group involving the section of the Oxford Canal between Twyford Wharf and Anyho Wharf. Although we were generally pleased with the condition of the towpath one section of around 100 m length, just south of Kings Sutton lock, was in poor state with very large weeds growing in the margin near the canal and the hawthorn hedge on the field side encroaching well into the normal track. In places where the bank had become eroded it appeared that some walkers had slipped into the water.

Where is the towpath! Hawthorn to the left Burdock to the right

No much left to walk on!

As a result of this we contacted the Canal and River Trust. Their local office had the hedge trimming on their list for action in a couple of weeks but the "aquatic margin" was not due to be cut until November. However, a short email exchange brought the response that whilst cutting the hedge they would try and sort out the other weeds. The local  manager also stated " I think we need a towpath" - you certainly do.

Sloes (left) and Burdock (right) - both used to flavour drinks!
(Sloe Gin and Dandelion & Burdock)

The huge weed alongside the canal is burdock. Very impressive growth!

The rest of the walk was delightful with views across the Cherwell valley. Just by King Sutton I saw a mink or otter dropped into the water just ahead for me and made for the other bank underwater. I have looked on various sites that give identification clues and quite honestly I don't know if it was an otter or unfortunately a mink. On the balance of probabilities it was probably a mink but I remain hopeful.

Lift Bridge and Bulrushes, King Sutton

Aynho Weir Lock (diamond shaped)

The section below Nellbridge lock where river flows into the canal was benign and you could hardly discern a flow by Aynho Weir Lock unlike last October where there was a huge flow that made it difficult to get under the bridge (we bumped) and a standing wave below the weir. Also, last year all the surrounding field were underwater.

Aynho Weir Depth Indicator, August 2013 - little flow and well in the green

Depth Indicator at Aynho Weir, October 2012 - well into the red

Fields near Aynho, October 2012

As a postscript, I found the following image of an unusual use for burdock leaves on the web.

Iron Trunk Looking Refreshed

I have posted about the Iron Trunk aqueduct before, notably about its 200th birthday and my 65th birthday watercolour, but we had not been able to view the aqueduct from below since it was refurbished. Last weekend we were able to walk in glorious sunshine along the River Ouse to Cosgrove from Wolverton Mill and see the new paint scheme.

Iron Trunk, Cosgrove (West Side)

Iron Trunk, Cosgrove - Towpath side (East Side)

It looks a lot smarter and the colours highlight the unique structural details. There was a lot of deliberation about the paints used before the work was carried out last year.

After all you just get wet!

Given yesterday's weather I notice that some other bloggers posting about yesterday chose a line from Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody as titles for their blogs - Thunder & Lighting, Very Very Frightening ...

Albert is currently moored at Debdale Wharf awaiting a grit blast and blacking so we have taking some local trips. We chose yesterday to take four of our friends on a short day trip to Market Harborough and back. However when we looked at the forecast and on Monday, seeing the warnings, we offered our friends the chance to rearrange. Roy, who plays a lot of golf, poo-pooed the idea stating that in these circumstances the weather isn't usually nearly as bad as forecast and when the sun comes out you regret having cancelled. "After all you just get wet" he said. It turned out he was right.

Forecast for 23rd July at Market Harborough - Lots of Heavy Rain

Although it was dull and threatening at home in Northants, we arrived a Debdale in glorious sunshine. We left to have a coffee break at Foxton and it was then that the heavens opened and we got the predicted thunder and lighting. It happened just as I was showing the men of the group, Roy and Alex, the inclined plane and the lock flight. We were forced to take shelter under a bridge but we did indeed get very wet. 

Sheltering in the rain

Foxton Locks in the rain (which got a lot heavier)

However, the intense rain didn't last long and we were soon on our way in sunshine with Roy & Alex operating the pedestrian swing bridge. 

The second swing bridge, the road bridge at Foxton, turned into something of a saga. Two boats were already at the bridge when we arrived and the crews were telling us stories of not being able to open the bridge and getting their BW keys stuck in the electrical operating box. The bridge is manually operated but it has electrical interlocks that are linked to the road barriers - that is why the key was stuck. Why we couldn't swing the bridge open was something of a mystery. 

Discussing the stuck swing bridge

A phone call to CRT put us in touch with the local maintenance staff who suggested we check that the swing mechanism was blocked. It didn't look blocked, although it was dark under the bridge and difficult to see what was going on. The assembled group then decided to try a lot of manpower and swing the bridge too and fro to try and clear any debris. This had the desired effect. The bridge finally began to move but with a considerable amount of grinding noise from underneath the deck. It was then obvious that a lot of grit had collected on the tracks where the wheels ran and this had caused it to seize. We got the bridge open just as CRT staff arrived. Below the bridge deck was a large accumulation of grit and stones that had been washed down the road and lodged in the mechanism. Some canal water applied by a watering can, and a sweep with a broom, fixed it properly and the four boats were on their way (one more had arrived during the process).

Swing Bridge at Foxton (on our return)

The Market Harborough arm is rural and pleasant and with sunny weather so we had great journey down to the basin. We moored up for a late lunch on board and in good weather returned to Foxton for a late afternoon tea.

Footbridge near Foxton

Delightful canal-side garden near Market Harborough

Lin, Maggie, Jenny, Alex and Roy at Foxton

Foxton Locks Inn in sunshine

The weather was better when we returned to Foxton and the whole group then had an extended walk around the inclined plane and locks before we returned to Debdale. An enjoyable day's boating - I think Roy was quite right.

    

Ruston & Hornsby 2YWM page update

A combination of readers contacting me, some research and some good luck (vital for research) has enabled me to find out more about the supplier of Albert's engine back in 1994.

Albert is currently moored at Debdale Wharf waiting for her hull to be grit blasted using their new facility; little did I realise that my research trail to find out about K E Jones Steam Cruising who supplied the engine in Albert would lead me to the Leicester Line, Debdale, Foxton and Welford.

See my the Ruston & Hornsby 2YWM engine page for details.

Ruston & Hornsby 2YWM as supplied in 1994