tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63620011609767364852024-03-13T22:22:37.590+00:00n.b. GUELROSELiving aboard - a dream come trueMike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-1407329782799615992014-01-04T13:49:00.002+00:002014-01-04T13:49:53.321+00:00What does it cost?Frequently questions appear on various canal based forums asking how much does it cost to live on a narrowboat. The answers are never definitive and neither can they be. Narrowboat (and Widebeams) come in all shapes and sizes, and are all of varying ages requiring varying standards of maintenance etc.
We are continuous cruisers and live on our narrowboat GUELROSE. She is 25 years old in July this year and is 70 feet in length. Because of her design, the multi fuel stove in the lounge area provided no heat to the rear part of the boat so we have a second solid fuel stove in use at the rear of the boat. This rear stove cost far less to run than the main stove as it is only ever on tick over to keep the chill off in the back cabin and main bedroom. (We do have a gas fired Alde boiler fitted that would provide heat via a primitive central heating system, however, the boiler is costly to run and is not working at present - you would not believe that our son has his own gas servicing business and has not yet fixed our boiler!!)
In 2013, we cruised the canals and rivers of England, covering 919 miles and 573 locks in 430 hours. The engine was running for a total of 988 hours (we dot not move every day but have to run the engine for approximately 3 hours a day to charge our batteries and to provide us with hot water) and used 1199 litres of diesel. This works out at 1.2 litres of diesel per hour. On average this works out at a pound an hour.
Our total expenditure for the year including licence, insurance, moorings (for when we leave the boat), maintenance, gas, diesel, coal and replacement of fittings worked out at 7200 pounds, i.e. 600 pounds per month. This was a high expenditure year as 1500 pounds was spent on hiring a paint dock for a complete repaint (done myself) and hire of a slipway for blacking, again done by myself. During the course of the year we suffered serious problems with diesel in the sump, see previous blog, which cost about 1000 pounds to sort out, requiring a new diesel injector pump, new armchairs were required for the lounge and a new cratch cover was also needed. If you deduct the costs of these 'extras' (bearing in mind everything will need replacing in due time, i.e. batteries in 2014 and new mattress also required) then 'basic expenditure' was about 3600 pounds, i.e. around 300 pound per month plus food and clothing.
In 2015, she will require slipping again and will be due her Boat Safety Certificate. All these costs need to be considered very carefully when making the big decision to live on a narrowboat. Someone once likened it to pouring cash into a big pot - continuously!! But, we would not change our life style for the world at the moment.
Happy cruising in 2014.Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-1459677955112940732013-09-02T18:49:00.001+01:002013-09-02T18:49:17.817+01:00Diesel fuel in the sumpI have not posted anything on my blog for quite a while, there has not been much to say and nothing too much out of the ordinary has happened on our travels.
However, there is one thing that has happened that I would like to share with you, I know some of you may already know about this and may have read about it elsewhere, but just in case, here goes. But, please bear in mind, I am not a marine engineer and all my comments are what I have gleaned from various people over the last few weeks.
In July I noticed that the oil level in my sump kept on rising. My first thought was coolant in the sump caused by a cracked head gasket. I drew off some of the excess oil from the sump, put a sample in a clear bottle and left it for a couple of days. I looked at it again, and there was no oil/water separation. There also were no other signs such as the oil emulsifying.
The problem continued to get worse and in the end I had to call out an engineer. His diagnosis was definitely not coolant (for the same reasons I have said above) and that it was diesel fuel leaking into the sump. His first thought was that it may be the injectors as they had not been replaced for a long long while. To cut a long story short, he had second thoughts about this and then diagnosed the lift pump diaphragm having a hole in it and possibly leaking into the sump.
As the injectors were due to be replaced, I had them replaced and a new lift pump fitted. Problem solved? Actually no, the problem continued. In the end I resorted to posting the problem on canalworld forum, various suggestions came back, but, Tony Brookes of TB Training, came back with the answer that it could be a problem he had been expecting for some time since the introduction of bio fuel. The new formula could well affect old seals in old engines, and his diagnosis was that the bio fuel had probably damaged the seal on the main shaft of the injector pump!
A new (well service exchange reconditioned) injector pump was obtained and fitted, and, hey presto, the problem has now been solved.
My main reason though for posting this blog is the what could have happened had I not checked my oil level daily, drawn off the excess fluid and changed the oil regularly until the problem was finally solved. The build up of diesel fuel in the sump would have continued and if not checked and sorted would get to the level where the diesel in the sump reached the level where it crept passed the piston rings and the whole lot ignited, and with a great bit bang, goodbye engine!
Luckily this never happened to me and thanks must go to those who have now sorted out my engine problems.Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-82352535967493367112013-06-11T21:29:00.002+01:002013-06-11T21:29:32.926+01:00Quick updateJust to let you all know that we are still about and cruising. After spending the winter in the Midlands, we spent three weeks at Stafford Boat Club doing a complete repaint before heading south to the Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice. After that, it was three weeks on the Lee and Stort before returning to London and the Grand Union Canal. Now moored at Winkwell, when I get anything really interesting to report, trust me, you will be the first to know.Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-23492047037789520202013-01-21T20:56:00.001+00:002013-01-21T20:56:52.242+00:00Winter cruising.... and iceLast Monday we were at Alrewas, we had several appointments made and had to make the decision as to where we were going to stay.... for a few days... if we were iced in.....or as to where we were wanted to be.
This is our first winter as continuous cruisers, we have lived on the boat for many years but have always in the past come back to Hopwas to moor at the bottom of Mum and Dads garden for the winter with all facilities 50 yards away. This year is different, Mum and Dad have gone, the house at Hopwas has been sold and we are now continuously cruising.
We had been moving around, we had left Stafford, been to Alrewas and need to be somehwere accessible for the forecast bad weather and cold snap. We decided on Whittington, a Staffordshire village with a regular (half hourly) bus service to either Lichfield or Tamworth, plus a local co-op, pharmacy, post office, take away and two pubs.... decision made. What else do we need.
WATER!!!! Not in the canal but the drinking variety. We can survive with the various loos, (a combination of cassettes and pump out for a couple of weeks), food - no problem, diesel - we have plenty, coal and logs, getting low but good for a few days yet. However, our water tank is only 100 gallons, we have become expert at using very little water for washing up and our economy showers are something to behold, but, with the best will in the world, we can only last 4 days on our 100 gallons. (Compare this with the usage in an average household and you will see that we are being very miserly!!)
This is where diplomacy kicks in..... or, as in our case, you know the couple who own the canalside house just 150 yards away. So, this morning, we started up the engine, selected forward gear and attempted to move forward. And stopped, this ice is different, normal ice cracks, ,makes a lot of noise and lets you go forward. This ice is like a sponge, you go forward and it absorbs you. Back a bit, forward a bit, and eventually we reached our goal, Eric and Doreen's water tap!!
After filling our tank we reversed back to our mooring, this must be the first time I have managed to reverse 150 yards without touching the tiller, we just glided back through the channel we had made, moored up, sorted ourselves out and went back to Eric and Doreens for a cup of coffee and biscuits. Result!! Thank you very much.
Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-41202100571467317182013-01-04T16:00:00.000+00:002013-01-04T16:03:38.675+00:002013 - and a Happy New Year to you all!!Time for a post methinks.... it has been a while. Christmas was spent with the family in Hampshire and New Year was spent with friends at Stafford Boat Club. All in all, a very good Christmas and New Year.
Time then, once the festivities were all over, to start cruising again, this being our first winter as continuous cruisers. One obvious subject is the weather, first we were forecast to receive the 'beast from the east'. Admittedly, we did get a couple of cold days, one morning the thermometer went down to minus 5.7C and there was a little bit of thin ice on the Shroppie. Then we were to get the 'pest from the west', i.e.rain, and that indeed we did get. Hopefully, there will be no-one telling us in 2013 that there is a water shortage amd that the resevoirs are not full. Obviously, every cloud has a silver lining and the wet winter SHOULD mean trouble free cruising in 2013.
Then there is the weather we are getting at the moment, sitting here on Tixall Wide, it is more like a spring day than a winters day! The weather is mild, it is dry and the sun is shining. We have to keep the fires in otherwise it gets damp, but, we also have to have the sidehatch open sometimes!
We've spent a couple of days here, peace and quiet after all the hectic festivities, there was a bit of sorting out to do, I always try to operate by the premise that if I get something new for the wardrobe then something has to go (BUT, this does not seem to work with her shoes!!) So, the wardrobe was emptied and tidied, but all I could find to thow away was a couple of pairs of old slippers, who needs five pairs of slippers anyway?
We did venture as far as Great Haywood today, we needed water and to dump some rubbish, a newspaper and a couple of things from the shops, there were boats everywhere! Queues for the water point, no empty moorings, so, as soon as we had done our business we scurried back to the peace and quiet of Tixall Wide.
What next? We may head towards Penkridge for a couple of days before turning round and going, firstly, to Rugeley for a couple of days and then Hopwas or Fazeley for a couple of days as I have a few meetings to attend in the next week or so and both these locations are good for access to the rail network.
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Sunset over Tixall Wide 02.01.13
Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-25962356869544666082012-12-15T19:31:00.003+00:002012-12-15T19:31:53.305+00:00Winter on the ShroppieDuring our first winter as continuous cruisers, we have spent the last 38 days on the southern section of the Shropshire Union Canal. All 17 miles of it available to us because of winter closures. We have moved up and down, and up and down, stopping at Brewood (lovely butchers), Wheaton Aston,(sanitary station out of order most of the time), Gnosall (lovely butchers) and Norbury. We have also managed to find plentiful supplies of wood to feed the stove to keep us nice and warm.
I would like to think that we have complied with the rules, and, more or less, I honestly beleive that we have.
We have thoroughly enjoyed the villages, the local shops, and their inhabitants, and last night, we had the pleasure of looking at the Christmas lights displayed in Haughton. They were absolutely fantastic and raise a lot of money for charity.
But, all good things must come to an end and we are now heading south on the Shroppie towards the Staffs and Worcs to Stafford. From there we will head over towards Tamworth and then who knows where?
All in all, our first experience of continuous cruising is going well. Other continuous cruisers seem to be very friendly and willing to offer advice. What a lovely community and one I feel honoured to be part of!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-57466855019954827442012-11-14T19:48:00.000+00:002012-11-14T19:48:09.613+00:00Winter maintenance...One thing that I have noticed about the Shroppie is the standard of maintenance. I appreciate it was built later than some canals, but, most of the bridges seem to be in good condition and there is a reasonable depth of water in the canal.
It has its problems with cuttings and embankments which will always cause problems...
The main point of this latest blog though is that the Shroppie where I am cruising has just benefitted from the annual hedge to edge trim. I have first hand experience of this as one side of my boat IS COVERED IN A NICE SELECTION OF GRASS CUTTINGS, LEAVES AND MUD!!!Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-13233790215059679012012-11-12T20:38:00.001+00:002012-11-12T20:38:27.315+00:00The Joys of Winter Cruising.....The weather is mild, okay, there was a bit of a frost the other night and today was a little bit damp, but, the colours of the leaves on the trees up the Shroppie are a joy to behold. Add to this, no queues at the locks and plenty of space to moor even in the usually most popular places.
If my memory serves me right, we only passed one boat on the move today. Every season has its moments and winter certainly has its fair share.Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-83187789312824579322012-11-07T18:40:00.000+00:002012-11-07T18:40:07.723+00:00Winter is coming....Well, the boat has been into a boatyard, the old Kabola Diesel heater has been removed and replaced by a brand new Morso Squirrel. And what a difference, the diesel heater was old and was not really controllable, the Squirrel is new and very controllable.
We are now entering into our first 'real' winter afloat, we have lived on the boat for several years throughout the winter but always with a home mooring. We are now going to be genuine continuous cruisers. Currently, we are at Compton on the Staffs and Worcs. Been heer a couple of days and moving off tomorrow up the Shroppie. Probably go as far as Brewood, then on to Wheaton Aston and then Gnosall. So far so good.
Presently having to rely mainly on coal for heating,apart from not having seen much 'free' wood,seen a bit on the non towpath side of the canal but who owns it? The chainsaw is still down south in the hands of my son and until I can get it back to the boat there is not a great deal I can do with fallen timber. Trying to cut it up with a bow saw just does not seem to be quite the same as using the chainsaw!
Anyway, at the moment we are plenty warm enough and I have a long list of jobs that accumulated over the summer months that now need sorting over the winter months....
Speak to you soon...
Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-81620433805410752512012-10-21T22:51:00.002+01:002012-10-21T22:51:55.322+01:00Kingfishers....It only seems a little while ago that we had a severe winter and the Kingfisher population was decimated as a result....
However, nature is a wonderful thing, and kingfishers seem to be thriving again. We see them every day now, sometimes several in a day, in such diverse places as Rugby, Nuneaton and Atherstone!!
The difference though is that they seem to be much more people friendly, the other day one stayed on the branch as we passed by only 6 feet away, then there was the one that posed on the tiller of a moored boat as we passed, why oh why don't I have the camera ready for such shots....Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-89543797095483359742012-10-11T14:09:00.000+01:002012-10-11T14:09:13.140+01:00A new beginning.....The summer is now over, autumn is with us, it is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. Soon it will be winter - where has this last year gone?
After spending the summer in London doing voluntary work, we left Little Venice on the 10th September and cruised to Limehouse. Next day we exited Limehouse onto the tidal Thames at 0630 on a beautiful sunny morning and had a very nice cruise up to Teddington.
After paying a small fortune for a Thames licence we set about cruising the non tidal river, hoping to go as far as Lechlade before going back onto the Oxford Canal an then back to the Midlands to spent the winter continuous cruising. We are now proper liveaboards again - our circumstances have changed and we have always wanted to do at least one winter continuous cruising.
The weather had other ideas though..... we got as far as Abingdon and the Thames went into flood, red boards everywhere, we were stuck in Abingdon for five days. When we could eventually move again the lock keeper at Kings Lock advised that we get back onto the canal as soon as possible as more rain was forecast and he reckoned the red boards would be back the next weekend.... and he was right!
So, we got back onto the canals..... and guess what, the River Cherwell went into flood as well and we had to stay put on the Oxford Canal for a couple of days!
We are now past the river sections and are gently cruising northwards again without any worries. We have checked the winter stoppage lists and know roughly where and when we will be going.
I shall not be writing my 'new' blog everyday, but, only on those days that I have something interesting to say or something to show you. Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-62584444024803010742012-07-04T20:40:00.001+01:002012-07-04T20:40:06.686+01:00LONDON OLYMPICS 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is Brownings Pool on the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal at Little Venice in London. This is to be my 'home' for the next ten weeks. One of the houses in the background is valued at £5 million......!!!</div>
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I am here working voluntarily for the IWA on behalf of C&RT to manage the western checkpoint on the exclusion zone imposed by the security services (note - imposed by the security services - not BW). It is our job to scrutinize all the boats that want to enter the exclusion zone to ensure that they have the right permits etc. before they proceed into the zone. We have an 'office', kindly supplied by Black Prince Narrowboats.</div>
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At the end, which is 9th September, the IWA will benefit from a payment from C&RT similar to the profits from recent 'Nationals'. Other festival stalwarts are manning the eastern checkpoint and are mooring managers for the moorings let by C&RT for boaters attending the Olympics. </div>
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Whilst we have been in position for a few days (the exclusion zone came into force on 3rd July) our work starts tomorrow when several boats, moored on the transit moorings at Little Venice, check in at 0800 hrs, receive their paperwork, and then begin their journey from LV, down to Commercial Road Lock and into Limehouse Basin for the night, before setting off up the Limehouse Cut at 0600 hrs onto the River Lee and then past the Olympic Stadium. They may well be subjected to checks from armed police and sniffer dogs before starting their journey past the stadium.. They will not be able to stop on route until they have passed the eastern checkpoint situated at Lea Bridge on the River Lee. Passacge past the Olympic site is only allowed between 0600 hrs and 0900 hrs, and 1900 hrs to 2100 hrs and is subject to immediate suspension dependant on the security state.</div>
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This system will continue for the next ten weeks to take in the Paralympics as well. All passages have to be pre-booked, basically NO PERMIT - NO ENTRY. If you do try and enter the exclusion zone without authority I have no doubt that you will receive a very quick visit from the local SWAT team!!!</div>Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-89058845897756003092012-06-28T21:12:00.004+01:002012-06-28T21:12:55.697+01:00The Grand Union<div style="text-align: justify;">
Where do I start? I must have been quite naive to think things would improve as I got closer to London!! British Waterways have obviously got it wrong and are guilty of gross mis-management of the canal system. Yes, admittedly, more and more boats are licensed. I would go as far to say that in the last two weeks the number of unlicensed boats on the Grand Union could be counted on two hands. BUT, and it is a big but, the continuous moorers, who only pay a licence fee to BW, are breeding like rats. Cruising down the Grand Union we came to Marsworth, we managed to find a mooring,. just! SO many boats obviously lived on and continuously moored. On to Bulbourne, and the same again. Tonight we are moored at Berkhamstead and once again the place is littered with continuous moorers. Why, oh why don't BW do something about it. There is a source of revenue here.... I would not mind if they moored in the middle of nowhere but they don't! The time has come for BW or C&RT as it will become, to seriously look at the way they charge boaters. Maybe the time has come when all boaters are charged a fix amount per foot of length, regardless of where they cruise or moor, and discounts are available for those who moor in marinas, those with official online moorings, and those who can prove that they do actually continuously cruise. </div>
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Due to personal circumstances, I have not been able to cruise the canal system much for the last five years, and it has changed so much during that time. I never cruise fast and always slow down to pass moored boats, BUT, there are so many moored boats now (you virtually have to run on tickover between Leighton Buzzard and Berkhamstead in my experience so far!!) that I pass moored boats at 200 revs more than I used to otherwise I would not ever get anywhere!!</div>
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<br /></div>Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-48045580291660817472012-06-28T21:12:00.003+01:002012-06-28T21:12:31.837+01:00Life without a dongle......<div style="text-align: justify;">
A few days ago, while rigging up my dongle on its 3 metre extension cable I managed to drop it into the canal. Needless to say, it did not float!! So, I have been dongle-less for the last few days and have therefore had no access (or limited access through my mobile) to the internet.</div>
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Today we are near Uxbridge so I took the bus (thank you for my bus pass) into Uxbridge where they have a T mobile store, the original supplier of my dongle. Various questions were asked, to which I did not have the answers, various sums were mentioned, £10 for this, £10 for that etc. Name (I could manage that one) plus address... OH, you have been with us since 2006 using the same dongle.... you are eligible for a free upgrade.....</div>
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I am now the proud owner of a wireless router on board..... which will operate up to five devices at a time..... Jenny is really happy, she can now play her games whilst I do my bits.....</div>
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What a glorious day, weatherwise. Tomorrow it is on to Little Venice.</div>
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The situation with continuous moorers does not get better the closer you get to London, BW are clearly guilty of gross misconduct in the way that they have managed?? the moorings problem over the last few years....... Let's hope CRT get it right,...... but don't hold your breath!!</div>Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-64001473230837831392012-06-18T22:09:00.002+01:002012-06-18T22:12:08.409+01:00How quiet are the canals......<div align="justify">
We have been cruising for just over a week and certain things seem to be noticeable. We have arrived at what I consider to be a prime mooring site to find there is still space. Where have all the boats gone? This afternoon we arrived at Stoke Bruerne, just before 3 p.m. and found a prime mooring. We did the same on Friday afternoon and again on Saturday afternoon (we never moved on Sunday - time for a day off!!)</div>
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SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND SPACE FOR OTHER MOORERS....!!</div>
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So, where have all the boats gone, during the last few days we have passed very few boats on the move, although we have seen many more boats moored up. Are we now at the stage where continuous 'moorers' outnumber continuous cruisers?</div>
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I appreciate that we have been off of the cut for the last five years, apart from the odd trip, but things do seem to be changing and not necessarily for the better.</div>
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I shall reserve judgement and see how the situation improves, or not, as I get closer to my destination - London!!</div>
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</div>Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-56929384306815155312012-06-15T18:32:00.000+01:002012-06-15T18:32:11.165+01:00LIVEABOARD AGAIN.....<div style="text-align: justify;">
It has been a while (5 years in fact) since we have classed ourselves as true liveaboards, but, as from last Thursday, that is what we are! The house is sold (okay, I admit - it is only subject to contract) and we then went through the process (for the second time) of emptying the contents of a house into a narrowboat. Numerous trips to the tip, charity shops and ebay and we are now on board. We left Hopwas last Thursday and went as far as Curdworth, where the lads took over the boat for their 'annual cruise' into Birmingham. They then took the boat down the North Stratford and through Hatton 21 and moored in the Saltisford Arm, where we took over the boat on Sunday afternoon.</div>
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What a lovely place the Saltisford Arm is..... close to Sainsburys and Warwick town centre, free mooring for the first night and only £4 per night after.... very reasonable.</div>
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On Wednesday we cast off and set off on the next stage of our life. We found our favourite mooring in the middle of nowhere at the bottom of Bascote Locks that evening (just enough space for a 70 footer) although the Canada geese we displaced were not too happy.</div>
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Next day it was on down the GU to Calcutt and turn towards Braunston to another of our favourite moorings in the middle of nowhere around about bridge 100.</div>
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Today saw us into Braunston, a prime mooring by the bridge where the footpath runs up to the village where we topped up the supplies. Then on to Buckby top lock where we found another good mooring.</div>
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As for tomorrow.... let's just see what the weather does, it is forecast to be a bit grim!!</div>
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<br /></div>Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-12748699793535143742012-05-06T21:30:00.001+01:002012-05-06T21:30:11.193+01:00NUNEATON IN THE SUNSHINE<div align="justify">
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It has been a very busy few days, driving to London on Thursday with all the gear for Cavalcade then back to the boat on Friday, then another busy day on Saturday with our annual 'day trip' involving our own boat and two day hire boats on the Ashby Canal. This is an annual event and involves people of all ages ranging from 3 years old to 86 years old, a trip up the Ashby from Stoke Golding to Market Bosworth and return followed by a BBQ and sing song (okay then - karaoke!!) back at the local home of the organisers. A long day cruising today, seven and a half hours, (long by our normal four hours a day cruising) as I had to get back close to home as it is off to London in the van again tomorrow to pick up all the gear I took down on Thursday!<br />
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And back to Nuneaton, the sun shone as we passed through today but, unfortunately, Nuneaton looks no better in the sunshine than it does in the rain. Why is it that some towns make a showpiece of their canal frontage whilst others totally ignore the canal?</div>
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</div>Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-19819742046083120402012-05-02T22:07:00.002+01:002012-05-02T22:07:28.105+01:00A BIT BETTER WEATHER TODAY.....<div style="text-align: justify;">
At least it was dry although the temperature was nowhere as high as it should be... Short trip today, Hinckley to Sutton Cheney, a journey of all of six miles! We will be here for a couple of days as I picked up a hire van this afternoon, drove over to Barton Turns where Jenny and I loaded the van with all the gear needed to stage Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice. </div>
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An early start for me tomorrow, get up, coffee and drive the van to London, back on Friday so no blog tomorrow.</div>Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-40022834014162555822012-05-01T21:45:00.000+01:002012-05-01T21:45:06.656+01:00WHY DOES IT ALWAYS RAIN IN NUNEATON??<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hartshill.... a nice mooring, so long as the wind is blowing in the right direction.... if not, the smell from the dog food processing factory can be a bit overpowering. Winter moorings available from 1st November to 31at March (2011/2012) although the only facility nearby is water...... however, the bus service is good... Stagecoach service Number 48 has a 20 minute service to either Atherstone or Nuneaton up till around 5 o'clock. If you choose the Nuneaton option it is only 2 minutes walk to ASDA. The fare is only £3.50 return if you are lucky enough to be under the bus pass age.</div>
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Nuneaton itself remains much the same, if there was an award for the most depressing, rubbish strewn stretch of canal in the country, Nuneaton remains my number one! Leamington Spa was not much better, but, in all fairness, I have not been to Leamington for a while, it may have improved, however, Nuneaton has not improved and in the rain today it was even worse.</div>
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What always amazes me though is, that, as soon as you turn off of the Coventry on to the Ashby at Marston Junction, you are immediately transported into a rural landscape that is little troubled by built up areas.</div>
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We will be up here for a few days before we return to reality.</div>Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-67315217602712844982012-04-30T20:18:00.000+01:002012-04-30T20:18:07.010+01:00A LONG DAY - BY OUR STANDARDS<div style="text-align: justify;">
As you will see, we did not set out on our cruise yesterday because of the weather. However, this morning was a totally different situation. We were on our way by 0830 hrs.... a brief stop at Fazeley to post a couple of birthday card and to get a paper, no queue at Glascote - that must be a first for years!!</div>
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Then, we arrived at Atherstone Locks...... there was a stoppage.... there was too much water on the flight and the towpath was flooding...!! How can you have too much water when we are in the middle of a drought?????</div>
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BW were out in force and after a short delay (we were held up for only 30 minutes - apparently boats at the top of the flight had been waiting for up to 3 hours) we were on our way. It was one of our easiest passages up the flight, BW were everywhere trying to help, and boats were coming down so we had an easy life for once...</div>
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It had been our intention to stop at Atherstone but there was no room, so on to Hartshill where there was plenty of room. Tomorrow we will catch a bus into Nuneaton to buy a couple of bits and peices we forgot to stock up on - the bus stop is right by the canl bridge at Hartshill and the bus takes you to within 100 yards of ASDA in Nuneaton....</div>
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A long day by our standards, eight hours cruising, 13 locks and 16 miles..... tomorrow will be a lot easier!!</div>
<br />Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-91873945257485151492012-04-29T19:05:00.002+01:002012-04-29T19:05:58.851+01:00TO CRUISE OR NOT TO CRUISE.....!!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Having spent the last two days getting the boat ready to cruise, today was the day we were due to set off for a little wander up the Ashby Canal. The weather forecast for today was bad..... heavy rain and strong winds, and, sure enough, for once the forecasters were right. However, everything was on the boat ready to cruise, all the food had been loaded etc. so what to do? Discretion (i.e. THE WIFE) prevailed and we moved on to the boat and spent the rest of the day and evening on the boat at the bottom of the garden!! The winds have now died down but it is still raining and cold, so in the end we made the right decision. The forecast for tomorrow is much better so up early and make an early start. That's the plan anyway....</div>Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-30632384297673089182012-04-18T16:37:00.001+01:002012-04-18T16:39:16.756+01:00Rain, rain and more rainThey really should have declared a drought earlier in the West Midlands! On the news yesterday it said that the West Midlands was now suffering from a drought........ and ever since it has not stopped raining with more forecast for the next four days.....Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-40454202868635264682012-04-17T20:21:00.002+01:002012-04-17T20:35:59.439+01:00Time to ponder.....<div align="justify">Had to go to another funeral today..... another fellow boater (and close friend) has gone to the great boatyard in the sky.... R.I.P. Andy, his boat will up for sale in the future, his widow will be unable to manage it on her own. The family, however, have plans, n.b. SORREL will have a final trip, before being sold. Friends and family will be invited for its 'final' cruise. Whatever happens I will make sure I am on that cruise!</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Meanwhile, our plans continue, the house is still for sell, there has been some interest but no firm offers yet, however, our plans are now made. As from the beginning of June, the contents of the house will be sold, the house will be empty, in the hands of the estate agent, and we will set sail again on GUELROSE, hopefully heading for London and the Olympics, and then who knows where....? There are so many places we want to visit again (70 feet permitting!!) - initial plans suggest CCers for a couple of years, and don't, just don't get me started on extra charges for CCers.... In my opinion there are genuine CCers and then there are people who live on boats as compared to houses, and the two are most definitely different.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Before that, we still have a cruise up the Ashby planned for May with some close friends.... hopefully water supply will not be a problem there....</div>Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-2961895858092471762012-04-02T17:00:00.001+01:002012-04-02T17:05:16.957+01:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sWYRza9uEUI/T3nNo5XeVzI/AAAAAAAAAF4/36IS9bbRiB4/s1600/CIMG1009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 400px; height: 300px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726834503656036146" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sWYRza9uEUI/T3nNo5XeVzI/AAAAAAAAAF4/36IS9bbRiB4/s400/CIMG1009.JPG" /></a>It is a sad day, our two cruising companions, LEWIS and ALFIE, are no longer with us. Thank you 'boys', for a wonderful 15 years, R.I.P.<br /><div></div>Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6362001160976736485.post-29934553154558088272012-03-22T23:31:00.002+00:002012-03-22T23:43:35.881+00:00Planning ahead<div align="justify">It will soon be time to prepare n.b. GUELROSE for cruising...... all being well we will set off around the end of April for our annual 'day trip' where we meet up with friends who have hired day boats on the Ashby Canal, whilst we are away I will have to programme in van hire to transport all the bits and pieces that need to go from Barton Turns to Little Venice for Canalway Cavalcade, then back 'home' for a few days before we have to take the boat to Curdworth so our son and his mates can have a few days on the boat taking it into Birmingham and down to Warwick where we shall take it over again. Then, it will be down to London, water levels permitting, where I, with others, will be managing boats attending the Olympics, on berhalf of BW, and hopefully earning some much needed revenue for the IWA. Once we set off, I will publish regular blogs and photographs of our travels.</div>Mike Moorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08425839458792422943noreply@blogger.com0