Hi Folks, Forgot to file my second days crusing...
Spent a nice cosy night at Coppermill - the Ecofan did it's job really well, and I've never felt quite so comfortable on board. I tried to keep the fire low over night by just feeding it little by little, though still had a point in the night where I was a little too hot. I awoke at 3am so kept it running low till morning. I couldn't get the stove running hot in the morning - I think I need to use some wood to get it really going well. I decided to try out the new gates BW put in Coppermill. They were really very heavy to move, the paddle gear was stiff, and worse of all there are two planks on the top gates that are just the right distance apart to trap the bow stem. I can't think what they are like on other gates, but never noticed a problem before. I turned in the Stink 'ole entrance, and headed back down. I practiced my thumblining, and apart from one lock where the line caught on the gate post didn't have any problems. The line was a bit long - and shortened it down so that it didn't sit in the water at Black Jacks. I stopped at Uxbridge Boat Center on the way back down - I was going to buy a water hose to fill my barrels with, and a portapoti since the one in Victoria seems to leak, and has seen better days anyway. The problem was that it was shut, and a sign on the door - Remember we are closed on Sundays during December, and January. The fact it was the 1st of Feb seems to have gone un-noticed! Back at Northolt I tried my aerial again, but was a little disappointed in the quality of the signal. I did notice it got better when held higher above the cabin, so will try to get a pole and work out some way of temporary mounting it. Cheers, Mike -- Michael Askin http://shoestring_DOT_zapto_DOT_org/
