Not sure this made it to the list, so try again: Well Sunday came, and again another early morning due to stove troubles (too hot and cold at the same time this time!). I had a nice meal in the Wharf Inn last night, but real trouble finding a good phone signal and was wondering around the carpark trying to find a good spot. Eventually found one around the front of the building.
I started doing the brasses while waiting for the 8am start, which was when we agreed to move the boats around. The bloke from the other boat was already about, and after showing him and another bloke around the boat, go the JP2 started, and had no problems getting the boat around with plenty of room. By the time I was through the lock the other boat had decided to set off as well, so saw them arriving at the top as I left. I stopped later to sort out a few things - including my GPS which was showing times in double BST! - and the other boat and a second one passed by. Even by this time it was still cool, so I kept the stove going finishing off the coal I'd put on in the morning. By the time I reached Crick it was getting close to lunch, so I pulled in just near the marina entrance, as I was doing so the phone rang - an internet chat group friend was in the area, and we meet up at Edwards for lunch. I wasn't impressed with the food there - we all had the beef sandwich, but I think the meat had only passed the oven on it's way to the bread rather than spent any time in it. After showing them the boat, I was on my way again towards Watford Locks. Just as I was approaching the locks, I slowed down for the mooring, but when I put it in reverse something had wrapped itself around the prop. It did start to slow down at first, but it slowly got worse, and I'm sure even started to get faster as I ran out of moorings before the lock. I jumped off with a rope on the stern dolly, but didn't get it around the post in time and ran out of rope. The next post was too close to the lock, so had to try and slow it down by hand which is not easy as she really weighs some tons. She bumped the lock wing wall, but it wasn't too hard. There was no-one in the office at the top, so had to walk down the locks to find the lock keeper (typical - never where you are) - who said to drop down the top lock after the first boat, but there were another two heading through the staircase. After mooring in the little pound above the top I walked down to see if I could help people through, and the last boat was just entering the first staircase lock. I helped them up, they are on their way to the Leeds and Liverpool, and we caught up the middle boat which was already through half the flight when I walked down. Victoria really attracts lots of interest everywhere she goes, even the lock keeper was interested. I tell you what, BW should give historic boats (especially unconverted ones) more discount as I'm forever explaining the history of the canals and the boats to people along the way. Everyone says what a great sound the engine makes (I agree with them :-) and how good she looks. Can't wait to be able to afford a decent paint job. I headed down the locks with a good technique, and even did a little filming: http://vimeo.com/3921762 I tell you what though - very little room in these locks for such a big boat. You really do have to be careful. At Norton, David, a bloke we did the 2006 Jam Ole with, was moored up at the end of the boats, but said there was some space further along - we agreed to meet up a little later. Once past the Narrowboat Trust boats I could see that there was no room at the Inn, and the spot I had come out of had a much shorter boat in it. I asked if they minded moving to another gap just along the bank, but they said they were settled, so had to reverse the boat up to a spot that was still too small, but the hire boat could be easily shuffled along the towpath. These boats are not easily reversed with a paddle wheel effect the Waverley would be proud of, so ended up in the shallows on the other side of the canal. David had heard my troubles, and had come out to lend a hand, and asked the hireboat if he could move along, and so managed to get myself in the gap. I showed David around, and then went back to his boat (a nice town class replica) for a cup of tea (since I let my stove out at lunch time). I had some tasks to do around the boat - in fact I had to fix my lock wheeling bike which had a puncture so I was using my folding bike which now also has a puncture! By the time I had got it sorted out it was pitch black, and after closing the boat up, walked back down to the car. Just before the junction, a Narrowboat Trust friend, Nick, was moored there with his working boat. He invited me in for tea, and had a good old chat lit by candles and torches as his engine was in bits after seizing up because it was re-assembled wrongly by the previous owner so the oil pump worked in the wrong direction! It was late by the time I got back to Northolt, but no later than I normally am if I visit Hull for the weekend. All in all, it was a great weekend, and I'm now gearing up for the two week holiday thats starting this Saturday. Cheers, Mike -- Michael Askin http://shoestring_DOT_zapto_DOT_org/
