On 11/08/2010 19:04, Baz wrote: > We are chugging along the K&A for the next week or so. Brief reports will be > made where Vodafone allows. > > Late start because we waited at home for Lynne's new fold-up bike to arrive. > Now have to figure out where to keep it on the boat. I found that my Vodafone 'dongle' generally reached the places where '3' failed to get through - although '3' had much improved in the months before I left the K&A for places 'norf of Lunnon' :-)
Regarding folding bikes - I bought one from Argos Online recently, delivered in 18 hours it cost just under £110 and is quite sturdy (although I obviously cannot comment on the long-term outcome - but then again, on current trends anyway, I rather suspect that I'll probably be defunct well before the bike is .. LOL .. !) However, I can say that it *is* fairly heavy, and whilst the welding/locking bracket (which holds the frame together when in use) is also rather 'agricultural' - I don't think that this is particularly any great disadvantage for something which will undoubtedly have a hard life on board. The weight is not really noticeable, either when cycling the towpath or on the road, though mudguards might be a distinct advantage for the former - I'll probably try to pick up a set when I get the pannier rack and a set of larger pannier bags. 'Wyrd' has been languishing in Northampton, a few hundred yards below Lock 17 and the River Nene, on mooring rings set into the concrete mooriings on what was once Northampton Wharf, at Cotton End. Its now a new(ish) housing estate, mainly flats overlooking the wharf, and a useful (14 day? - no BW signs yet!) spot which appears to be fairly safe and secure, and only a few minutes walk from the town centre and - very usefully for me - the railway station, which has a reasonably fast and regular London service. The EA/Northampton moorings, which are just below the Town Lock and look capable of taking at least a score of nb, are only '48 hours'/'no return in 7 days' - though the only sign telling you this is a tiny one, tucked high up on a lamp post! The moorings there are (apparently) covered by CCTV - with a lot more signs telling you about this! - though who actually controls the cameras is unclear.. There is a supermarket only 100m away (Morrisons) and the town centre, with most of the big stores, is about a ten minute walk further on - Tesco seems to be several miles to the south (I didn't bother trying to find it as the Wellingborough Tesco is in sight of the 48 hour moorings down there.) The local populace appeared friendly and, with so many flats overlooking the wharf, I've felt reasonably happy at leaving her here (and I've yet to see any 'pirates' promenading along the, er, promenade .. LOL!) Trevor NB.'Wyrd' About to leave Northampton (again) for Welllingborough - and thence onwards towards Peterborough and the Fens. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
