Narrow Boat Albert

A Bit of a Gap

It's been quite some time since a post. With Albert safely moored at "home" in Yardley Gobion not much boating related has happened. The only small boat-related kerfuffle occurred when I discovered that our land line (240 volt) meter had failed and sunk Albert's domestic batteries. When I put a multimeter across them I got 4.5 v, whoops. Brian, the new caretaker at Kingfisher soon sorted us out and the batteries are now back up to full charge. I hope (presume) that the domestic batteries are back to normal. Maybe the deep-cycle has been a positive thing - who knows.

As an aside, it's interesting the additional batteries on board that provide power to the fridge, mains sockets (via an inverter), and lights are often referred to as "leisure" batteries giving the misapprehension that they are some how optional or perhaps unimportant. It's clear that they are important to today's boaters but obviously a battery bank isolated from the important task of starting the main engine must take second place. I must remember to call them domestic and hope that they are still "happy"!

Austin Seven RN Saloon 1932 and proud owner

So to catch up on a couple of things. Firstly, I must report on my new passion - my "baby little Austin Seven". In the autumn I manged to buy a 1932 Austin Seven RN Saloon from a friend in Stony Stratford. My first car, purchased in 1965 was an 1936 Austin Seven Special. I met Maggie whilst putting it back together and the marque has retained a special place in our hearts (but particularly mine). I just had to buy it. This has meant time fettling it - notably improving its brakes which were always the Achilles heel of the design. The car was named Harvey by an earlier owner. Harvey attended the New Years day Vintage Car event just down Watling Street at Stony Stratford. It felt strange sharing the "stage" - in this case the Market Square - with such exotic machinery as Brough Superior cars (and bikes), Buggatti, Alvis and Bentleys. Not to mention an ERA E type!

I don't think I could sustain a vintage car blog so I may drop in the odd item in this blog. The annual event at Stoke Bruerne (Village at War) may bring both passions together.

Whilst at Stony I noticed a significan canal-related Red Plaque.

Back to Yardley Gobion

Autumn Colours on the Buckby Flight

Over last weekend we covered the final leg of our journey back to Kingfisher Marina. We arrived at Braunston on Friday lunchtime just in time to enjoy lunch at the Gongoozler's Rest. It was quite being half-term and with the imminent closure of Long Buckby locks for maintenance. We went up the Braunston flight with a crew of two bearded men. I know that lots of male boaters are bearded but these two looked like brothers but who in fact weren't when Maggie questioned them.

Large & Small boats descending Braunston Flight

Because plenty of boats were going down the flight we made good progress although this was somewhat marred at the fifth lock when it became clear that we had picked up something significant in the propeller. That significant object turned out to be a pipe fender and its lanyard. It took around 20 minutes to clear by which time our lock companions were well ahead in the tunnel. It was also beginning to get dark. We made good progress once the prop-fouling was cleared but found the tunnel full of smoke. As we made our way through the murk it appeared that there was boat in front coming towards us with and erratic light. Our assumption was wrong it was our companions from the Braunston flight who were making exceedingly slow progress in our direction; we ended up coasting in neutral until their boat suddenly accelerated and their exhaust magically became clear. We passed them in the gloom as they moored up just after the tunnel. They explained that their engine was struggling, presumably with something around the prop. We carried on in the dark using our navigation and tunnel lights until we moored up at Norton Junction. A trip to the New Inn followed.

The next day was misty to start with but the mist soon cleared and it was clear and bright. We travelled down the flight alone but made fair progress - the gates on the Buckby Flight are some of the heaviest we know. A barge at Norton contained the gates ready for the work on Lock 12.

New lock gates ready for fitting

Lock 12 with its temporary gate repair

As we got to Brockhall we met the boat we had shared locks with on Friday - it was being towed. It appeared that their engine had expired after its earlier exertions. We passed them and then made for Weedon. At Dodford quite a plethora of interesting working boats has grown up over the last few years including Royalty Class boats, George, Mary and William. They had been joined temporarily by Mike Askins Victoria. Tim Carter popped his head of a boat to say hello. Their historic camping boat William looks very smart.

William

More historic boats

In glorious sunshine we finally made Stoke Bruerne in the late afternoon. It was too late to go down the flight so we moored up for the night. I was in time to catch the Rugby World Cup Final in the public bar of The Boat. The resurgence of the Australia team in the second half made it thrilling and there was some good banter. That night we treated ourselves to an excellent take-away from the Spice of Bruerne.

On Sunday we took the short journey to Yardley Gobion. The weather was glorious and unseasonably warm. Going down the flight we met up with the crew of Silver Lady who were moving their boat from Fenny Compton to Kingfisher Marina. It turned out that their new mooring was just two boats away from ours.

Its nice to have Albert back at her home moorings. We spent the rest of the day packing up, cleaning the boat, organising our power line and meeting the neighbours. It appears we are moored near a sociable group. We don't anticipate taking Albert for a summer break away next year.

Braunston

On Sunday the rain had passed over and we had good weather for our short trip down to Braunston. Although it was quiet there was a volunteer lock keeper on duty at Hillmorton. The pounds were quite low so I let down an extra "lock-full".

Hillmorton Locks

As the day progressed the canal became more busy although relatively quiet compared with summer. I think a number of hire boats were out for the half-term week. We managed to find a good 14-day mooring in Braunston and tidied up Albert. Visits to the excellent Gongoozler's Rest for lunch and The Boat House for dinner followed. At the weekend we have to move Albert through Long Buckby Locks before the winter closure that starts next Monday so we can get to our home berth at Yardley Gobion.

Newbold on Avon

On Saturday it rained and rained. It was one of those days when, because we had to get south on a timetable, we just had to "grin and bear it". We left Atherstone under cloudy skies but no rain. However, it quickly degenerated and by the time we reached Nuneaton the rain had really set it for most of the day.

I noticed that at Mancetter, just out of Atherstone, there was an interpretation panel concerning the site Boudicca's last battle. As a resident of Northants I still go with the Dan Snow theory that it is more likely to be Cuttle Mill, near Towcester.

Hartshill Wharf

Passing along the section of canal between Atherstone and Nuneaton you are greeted by a site that once must have been familiar, a telegraph pole with a plethora of cross beams and conductors. I have photographed this item before, but passing by this time I wondered if this structure was actually worthy of listing. In a few years only a small proportion of the population will remember these iconic structures which lined railways, roads and canals. Is there (or should there be) a Society for the Preservation of Telegraph Poles?

Telegraph Pole nears Hartshill

We reached Hawksbury Junction (Sutton Stop) by lunch. Maggie optimistically suggested that the rain might be easing. Unfortunately within half an hour we had a deluge. With Albert's tradition stern the stern doors can be closed, the hatch drawn back. With the engine doors also closed warm air keeps your lower half cosy but the upper half is another matter!

Impending heavy rain near Ansty

Of course rain does eventually ease and by the time we reached Stretton Stop it was only drizzling. For some time I had noticed a boat in front with a steerer wearing a bright yellow fluorescent jacket. He stood out in the gloom as it got darker. By the time we got near to Cathiron we had caught him up and he was hailing us. His engine had quit in a cloud of smoke and he wanted a tow the moorings at Newbold; the other side of the tunnel. We obliged by hitching up his 60 ft Harborough Marine boat behind Albert on "short straps". It was getting dark as we approached the tunnel and for safety we waited until no boats were coming north. The tow was fine with Albert coping well at modest speed. Amazingly we managed find a mooring just south of the tunnel where both boats could moor so we avoided having to manhandle the disabled boat.

Towing a broken-down boat near Newbold

That night we repaired to the Barley Mow in Newbold. We both had a good meal of steak and chips. As we left for the night I decided to visit the gentleman's "facilities". I just had to take a photo of piano! I gather it does occasionally get played. The waitress moaned that the Ladies was quite boring with no musical instruments. Do the locals use "tinkling the ivories" as a euphemism for going to the lavatory.

Urinals and Piano!

Atherstone and Yarn Bombing

A dull autumn day and locks - Glascote and Atherstone. A feature of autumn boating is leaves - lots of them. Over the last two days Maggie and I have given Albert a short burst of reverse to remove leaves around the prop on numerous occasions. No serious prop-fouling occurred but it felt like moving through soup and the engine began to work hard.

Grendon Wharf - Bradley Green

At Glascote Locks the bottom lock filled very slowly. The two locks were described by Mike Pearson as being like piggy banks - "slow to fill and quick to empty". However today I wondered if the bottom lock would actually fill at all. Unlike the incident we had at Sandon Lock when the bottom gates did no seat, there appeared to be no obvious reason for this. I suspect that the problem lay underwater in the cill.

The climb up Atherstone flight was straightforward, helped by a number of boats going down and a volunteer lock-keeper who helped us up the "thick". All locks up the flight had small heart-shaped knitted leaves attached to the lock beams. It appears that it is "yarn-bombing" and not unknown on canals - it is surprising what turns people on!