So much better weather

Today, as I said this morning, was going to be a bit of a marathon. We have completed almost 16 miles and 23 locks. The Hatton flight is a bit of a monster but we managed it in 3 hours and 40 minutes including stopping for soup part of the way down. Well, it was lunch time and we were hungry. Oh, and we were catching up on the people in front of us who had loads of help but were still horribly slow!

But before Hatton was Shrewley Tunnel. 396m of dark, wetness. Ian managed to get the tunnel light working a few minutes before we arrived and we didn't meet any hire boats coming the other way so we got through without any damage :-)

Also, during the less manic bits of the day we managed (ok, mainly Ian managed) to get the stove finally fitted and screwed to the floor so it can't fall over spilling hot coals everywhere. This evening we lit it for the first time. It is soooooooo nice to have warmth and flickering flames in the corner of the room.

As usual I'm having trouble uploading pictures to the blog in the evening but for some reason they've gone up to my Facebook album without any problem so have a look here and here if you can't wait until the morning.

Tomorrow we're heading for Napton-on-the-hill.

A decent night's sleep

Last night we moored next to the "Heron's Nest" pub just south of Knowle on the A4141 and entertained our first guests! The presence of the pub meant that we sat in front of the open fire in the pub and drank our drinks rather than shivering on Relativity ;-)

Out in the countryside with no traffic or loud music we slept very well. The weather was kinder as well without the high winds and rain of previous nights. We're hoping for some sunshine today.

The aim for today is to get to Warwick and Leamington Spa. This means going down the Hatton Lock Flight which is 21 locks in quick succession. We're not going to be covering many miles today!

Day 2 of the journey home

The rain was worse than yesterday. The cold was worse than yesterday.

But we made it through Birmingham and are now moored next to a nice pub just south of Knowle. Time for a couple of drinks in front of an open fire I think :-)

I forgot to say that yesterday we also had to change the fan belt. That means that the batteries are charging much better. Today's little setbacks included having to stop 3 times to untangle plastic bags and other detritus from the propeller and the rudder coming out of its skeg cup (don't ask me). Fortunately the rudder is easily fixed (if a little heavy) and wasn't a big problem. The plastic bags wrap around the prop and become very difficult to cope with because the make the steering all funny and the engine labours trying to push us forward whilst shredding plastic into little bits!

On the plus side we have the fridge working and lots of tidying up done so one can actually move around without falling over stuff! Oh, and somehow we've managed to eat three cooked meals on both days

For the incurable romantics amongst you who have travelled up the M6 and, whilst passing through Spaghetti Junction, thought "I wonder what this looks like from below?" here is your answer:
The totals for today were: 19 miles and 29 locks which gives makes total progress so far about 23%

Time for the pub.

'till tomorrow.

How far?

Ah yes, forgot to say...

Today we travelled a grand total of 15 miles and 9 locks.

It was this big

Somewhat tired

After chugging through some fabulous British bank holiday weather we've made it to Perry Bar which is exactly where I was aiming for on day one. We've had to contend with huge pieces of plastic wrapped around the prop which really don't help with things at all. It took me 45 minutes to get this thing untangled with my arms in freezing cold canal water up to my shoulders. I really couldn't feel my fingers by the time I'd finished!

A little while further on, whilst trying to leave a lock, I suddenly realised that Relativity would only go backwards! The gear change cable had broken so we had to pull over and make repairs. Another 90 minutes by the canal side and we now have a very fetching looking broom handle to change gear with. Try that by the side of the M4!

Off to bed now. Will add photos in the morning.

On our way!

Relativity and I have left the boat yard. We're on our way!

...

and it is raining - hard. I'm cold and wet. :-(

The satellite tracking is working. Click here: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0OrGPp5u03rC8gG30kqL5qF6reS4UDl8p
book mark it for easy reference.

More later

Finally ready to leave

Here's a picture of me actually doing some work just so you all realise that I'm not just swanning about taking photos of stuff ;-) The bit of wire I'm working on is very important because it controls the gadget that separates the engine starter battery from the domestic batteries that the engine is running properly and it can start charging all of them. If you don't do this you can end up flattening all the batteries and not being able to start the engine in the morning!
So yesterday took a lot longer than planned but everything is now ready and a couple of things that I wasn't sure how to finish got finished. The main one that would have taken ages was that Neil (one of the wonderful craftsmen at Norton Canes Boatbuilders) spent 4 hours cutting and welding a new stove pipe for the stove. It looks fabulous as you can see:
We also fitted the Button Fender on the bow so that we don't scratch the paintwork when bumping in to things like locks!
Judicious use of the kayak meant it didn't get lost at the bottom of the canal ;-)

At almost eleven last night we finished that most essential of things... the Ikea chest of drawers. For those of you who know me well, you'll understand what a big issue actually having somewhere I can put my clothes and know where they are is for me. Having lived out of a suitcase for 2 months it was wonderful this morning to open a drawer and get clean underwear out without having to delve under jeans and shirts too!
Today we really start chugging south.

'till tomorrow....

A big step forward

Just a quick note to say that the engine started first time!

Yay!

Almost ready to leave.

Windy nights

After a very windy night that has seen two other boats loose their moorings and drift across the canal we woke to bright sunshine - ok, I was awake for 2 hours in the night and so feel very much like going back to bed but never mind.

Here is a nice little picture of reflections in the paint. I still can't stop stroking it.We're still securely moored so no embarrassing walk of shame for us!

I've posted a few more photos of yesterday's activities here so you can take a look.

More in the morning. Orange mobile internet is so much happier at this time of day!

Pain and rain

So, after a restful night on board we got on with the electrics - ok, we had a nice cooked breakfast first just to get in the mood.

We found several places where cables had not been connected properly and were in danger of burning through! How there hasn't been a fire on this boat I have no idea.

We've now moved all of the batteries out of the back bedroom (insane place for them to be) and put them into the engine hold where there is lots of space to lay them out safely. Most of the cabling is re-done, we just need to connect up the starter motor for the engine and the battery isolation switch (you really wanted to know all the detail didn't you?)

The best bit of today happened in the last half hour which was that we were finally brave enough to turn on the inverter - this is a huge piece of electronics that turns 12v DC from a car battery into 240v AC to run interesting things like computers and fridges. There were no alarming bangs and very little smoke so I think we're ok :-)

Most of my electronics is done with piddling little cables and a few milliamps. Today we've been joining cables as thick as my thumb carrying 200 amps. No fine tipped soldering iron here. This is electronics with a blow torch!

In the middle of the day I left dad to it and went to Ikea to buy a chest of drawers. After 2 months of living out of a suitcase I need somewhere to put my smalls. After that it was a quick trip up the M6 to pick up the new toilet. Soon we can poo in comfort :-)

So, to finish, a final couple of things: First, there are no pictures in this post because Orange won't let me upload pictures at the moment. I'll try again in the morning. The net seems to work better in the mornings so perhaps I'll update the blog in the morning from now on. The second thing is the plan for tomorrow... Well, we need to get the wiring finished. It has taken longer than we'd hoped but we're not too far behind schedule. Then we hope that Graham and the guys will help us weld the new flue onto the new stove so that we can have heat. Graham fashioned a wonderful hearth for it out of a big bit of scrap steel that he had propping up the side of his workshop. Such a kind chap.

Why "pain and rain"? Because Ian kept banging his head on a bit of metal in the engine bay until I pointed out that I could lift it out of the way - doh - and, it being April, we kept getting drenched with showers. Not a lot of fun when you're trying to do wiring!

Night all,

S.

First sight of the new paint

Here it is! The first picture of Relativity's new paint. Doesn't she look fabulous?

Ian and I are working on things pretty much as planned. An unexpected bonus was being offered cash for the two old stoves that I really didn't like or want (one was diesel burning heater with a back boiler that wasn't plumbed in to anything and so was likely to break). So we used the fork lift truck at the boat yard to lift them off.

Tomorrow we get the electricity sorted out - my batteries are almost flat so this'll be it for tonight!

S.

The great trip south

So, here is the plan and the invitation...

On Monday and Tuesday my dad and I will be working on the electricity supply and the new toilet whilst in the boat yard at Norton Canes.

On Wednesday we will set off south. From Wednesday until Easter Monday you are all welcome to come and crew for a day (or more, we can sleep 6 comfortably if you bring a sleeping bag).

From Easter Monday to Thursday the 16th my boys are staying with me for some serious father and sons time :-) guests are still welcome but things will be significantly more crowded and chaotic. Only come if you can cope ;-)

From Friday the 17th until finally arriving in Reading it will be just a skeleton crew so guest crew are more than welcome.

Call or email me for exact location details. I'll have the satellite tracking on line by Wednesday and I'll post a link here and on Facebook.

Please do come and join in the journey, even if only for a few hours. Don't leave it until I get back to Reading, things will get crowded ;-)

S.

Great news

Well folks, I've just had a phone call from Graham at Norton Canes. They'll have finished the painting by Friday night which means that it can harden over the weekend and I can move on to Relativity on Monday morning.

This is fabulous news. I am so excited.