Hi All, Wednesday 24h September 2008 (the g key on my laptop has just fallen off!!)
Today is sort the dunny dump tank out day. The problem had already been identified, thanks to Tony at Kate Boats and now I need to clear the blockage. Seems straight forward enough. Take out the bottom shelf, conveniently screwed down for easy access, lift off the pipe connected to the tank, clear blockage, reassemble check and test. Easy. OK, I started by unscrewing the bottom shelf screws. The shelf would not come out. Then decided to remove the upper shelf, for easy access. Cold water pipe goes through shelf. Undo pipe, having turned off water. Shelf will not move. When Mr Hudson builds something, he does not intend it to be removed. Undo side shelf supports. This is all inside the bathroom cupboard, my back is starting to hurt. Shelf now removable, having taken out the door catch. I can get at the pipe connected to the tank. Will it move , will it buffalo!. I pull, I twist, I swear, only slight movement. In the end I slice the bottom of the pipe and with one great grab, off it comes, it is full of water, everything now wet. I can now see the blocked lockage. Not pretty. Using various implements I try and move the blockage. Seems fixed sold. Prodding around, it feels like fabric. I need a grab sort of thing to lift whatever it is out. OK time for make do and mend. I get a wire coat hanger, undo it and fit one of Wendy's hair rollers on the end. Poking this down the hole brings up part of the problem, the brown part. The main culprit remains below!. Using the other bit of coat hanger with a bent hook on the end does the trick. Up comes a wet wipe. This has all taken 4 hours. A bit more poking brings up odds and ends of paper and the blockage is now clear. It seems a good idea to make sure, so before reassemble we move onto the pumpout in the arm and do a test. All is well and the tank empties as normal. Whew! Back on the mooring, clearing and cleaning goes on and finally we are fixed. Hopefully I will never have to do that again. During all this time Wendy has been cleaning LT both inside and out. My, she looks good. It's now 6.00pm and a well deserved beer or three. Tonight, trip reports, check the emails ( 3G is fantastically quick ) Corry on the TV, shower, dinner and bed. Tomorrow Hatton locks. One final thing, if you are in this area, Saltisford Arm is a great place to moor. The facilities are very good, it's walkable to Warwick and you will be made very welcome. And, if you only want one night, it's free. More later. Regards Andrew & Wendy - Tales From The Canal - Saltisford Arm
