Cropredy or bust

Don't know why I put that as a title but it somehow seemed appropriate.

Still, where did I leave you last time? Ah yes, we were at Napton having met up with our old friends Tim & Pru. Now, as it was my birthday on the 6th September, the Captain allowed me to do all the locks while she piloted Polgara - and a good job she did too! At the end of the day we moored near bridge 130, Knotts Bridge, and enjoyed a wonderful view over the surrounding countryside.

If you've got very good eyesight you will see the windmill on the hill at Napton at the left hand end of the hills in the centre of the picture.

In the evening we had a simple celebratory meal of cucumber soup followed by rump steak, medium rare (cooked by me) accompanied by mashed potato (mashed by me) mushrooms (grilled by me) and tomatoes (also grilled by me) - well, you can't expect the Captain to pilot, navigate and cook, can you? This was accompanied by an Italian red wine that I chose from the cellar (the shower cubicle). A splendid day and a splendid meal. Oh, and just in case you're interested, my birthday present was a sheepskin rug which we bought at Lauriston Farm near Goldhanger.

Sunday 7th September

What a lovely day! We set off quite early for us - 9:50 - just timed it to avoid all the other boats rushing along to get somewhere slowly. Breakfast was my favourite when on the canals, eggs, bacon, toast and tea. Can't beat it!

We went through Fenny Compton and saw this lovely bridge over the canal.

 

This was just before we entered Fenney Compton Tunnel. This bridge was made in cast iron around about 1868. 

Exiting the tunnel

As you can see above, there is no tunnel now. The tunnel was built around 1776 but opened out by 1870 after the Oxford Company purchased the land above.

Here you can see one of the lift bridges typical to the Oxford Canal. Many are left in the open position but I gather that there are one or two where you have to swing on a chain dangling from the bridge beam to open the bridge. No doubt the Captain will honour me with that particular task when we come to it.

Come lunchtime, we were unfortunately nowhere near a hostelry! So it was a case of raiding the larder to see what we could find. After an extensive search the Captain came up with a selection of Italian meats, croissants, cheese and tomatoes - just something that she managed to throw together on the spur of the moment.

Impromptu lunch

Who's a clever girl?

 Soon after lunch and several more locks that the Captain insisted on operating, we arrived at Cropredy where we moored for the night. We had a walk around the village and looked in the church and then back to the boat to watch the motor racing.

Cropredy village

Bother! We are in a dip again and can't get a TV signal so, NO MOTOR RACING! Oh well, roast pork this evening and roast potatoes - let's hope that makes up a little for the TV disaster.

Quick Jump Forward

Friday 5^th September

The intention was to write this blog on a daily basis but today we met up with a couple of people that made me skip a few days to bring you right up to date with what’s happening.

I had intended putting in a picture of Bugbrooke Marina featuring our newly painted boat.

Brigid filming Polgara

And the lace that Brigid made for our ‘four poster’ bed.

 

But events took over and by the time we had gone through most of Buckby locks on Wednesday, (very heavy locks) cooked supper and watched The Hobbit we didn’t have time for the blog.

Buckby Locks

On Thursday we set off through Buckby Top Lock and then ventured through Braunston tunnel. Had to pass four other boats in the tunnel but only ‘shook hands’ with one of them (bumped). At Braunston No. 3 lock we saw that The Admiral Nelson was serving up Fish & Chips for lunch.

The Admiral Nelson

 

So we moored in Braunston, had a brisk walk back to the pub, and, after quaffing ale, decided to stay overnight on our mooring.

What has all this to do with the people we met?

Well, on Friday we set off and turned left at Braunston Turn toward Oxford.

 

Most of this stretch of canal we have travelled before but after Napton junction it was all new to us – that is if you discount passing through 30 years ago – anyway, memory’s not that good at the best of times!

 

At around lunch time we had to start through Napton locks. The moorings below the locks were crowded out and we thought that we might have to tackle all six locks before we could stop. However, once through the first lock, we found that there was a temporary 48 hour visitor mooring so we stopped there for lunch at The Folly Inn.

The Folly Inn

 

A lovely place full of charm and character with lots of antiques and pictures thrown all over the place. As soon as we walked in the bar the Captain says to me: ‘You know who’s sitting over there?’ ‘No, where?’ ‘Don’t look round, they’re right behind you.’ Eventually I manage to pick up my pint, casually turn and, careful not to look directly at them but squinting out of the corner of my eye – I probably looked like Dick Deadeye from Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore at this point – who should we see but Timothy West and Prunella Scales! Well, that decided it for us! Long lunch, hang around and see what they were up to. When the film crew came in we discovered that they were filming a new canal series. For some reason they didn’t want us in it and were on the point of asking us to move out of the room when they started filming but we had, by then, decided to do some filming of our own.

 

Look who's crossing the road

 

Still, lunch was quite interesting listening to luvvie conversations with the crew and when they all bustled off to set up cameras, etc., the Captain managed a few words with Tim. (You can see that we were all close friends by then!?) He told us how one year they had ventured through Northampton only to be stuck on the Nene for the season because of low levels on the Northampton arm, the locks having been closed.

Timothy walking back to ...

 

Prunella waiting patiently

 

I must say that I felt sorry for Tim and Prunella since the crew wanted to film, from inside the pub, a shot of Tim walking down the path towards them. So there are the two stars of the show sitting in the garden for about half an hour while the shot is set up. Tim then walks down the aforesaid path accompanied by hoots of laughter from Prunella shouting out: ‘How far are you going?’ after which they sat around again until Tim wandered off toward the canal to talk to the boaters and help work the lock. I’m sure there must have been more action going on and I know that there were people waiting in the Inn to be interviewed. Oh well, just have to wait and see what comes up on the television.

 

Chatting to walkers by lock

Had a lovely meal back in The Folly in the evening which fully made up for our walk in the afternoon to the top of Napton Hill. We had wanted to look in the church but it was locked. There was a helpful notice saying that we could get a key from the shop but, since the shop was at the bottom of the hill and we were at the top, we didn’t fancy the idea!

View from top

Having nearly suffered cardiac arrest on the way up the hill, we bounded back down and met up with a small group of school children at the war memorial who were choosing names of soldiers who had died in the First World War. Their project was to make poppies, put their thumb print in the centre and write in the soldier’s name. They were part of an after school club and the lady looking after them said that they were going back for a meal that she had cooked for them.

On the verge of the main street there were also plaques and trees in memory of soldiers who had died in the Second World War.

It might be quite a challenge for some but I would recommend a visit to Napton-on-the-Hill – only, if you want to see inside the church, collect the keys from the shop on your way past.

Having now written the blog I don’t know when you will see it. We are at the bottom of the hill and there is no mobile signal where we are!

Tuesday 2nd September

We arrived at the marina yesterday and spent most of the time unpacking provisions, getting rid of a load of rubbish and generally settling in. In the evening after supper we walked round to the local church to join the band for practice. They only have five bells and for practice there were only four there, one being a new member still brushing up on bell control. So, two extra ringers were joyously welcomed to the tower. 

Today I spent most of the day servicing the engine. This is something I should have done last year! Tappets adjusted, oil changed and, most dreaded task of all, fuel filter changed. Now changing a fuel filter should be easy-peasy. And it probably would be if you knew what you were meant to be doing and could see what you were meant to be doing. But my fuel filter is hidden against a bulkhead behind and below the engine. You can reach it with one hand or the other but not both at the same time. You can look at the top of it but not if your hands are in the way. Now I had sussed out that there was a screw in the top that needed to be undone first.
The instructions on the box said: 1 Unscrew bolt in centre of unit. So, I started with that. With one hand under the unit to catch the filter when the screw came undone I peered with one eye at the screw top and guessed where the screwdriver should go. Contact and off we screwed.

Screw removed but nothing else! Surely the unit should come apart. After all I had a hand down in the bilges ready to catch it.

With much pressure applied and various twisting motions the filter suddenly came away, slopping diesel, this being caught in a tin can ideally placed for the purpose. Yippee. And for six years of not being changed it didn’t look too dirty. New filter to hand, rubber seals replaced and offer up new unit to filter top – doesn’t want to fit! Take it all apart, sus out that there is a large hole in the filter that has to be located on to a spindle in the top. Offer up new unit again to filter top – doesn’t want to fit! Take it all apart, sus out that there is a shaft in the base unit that has to fit up the centre of the spindle in the top unit.

How on earth, with only one hand, do you get the shaft in the base unit to engaged with the spindle in the top unit when it’s all upside down and you can’t see anything anyway!?

Eventually, by jamming my head against the bulkhead, peering with one eye into the top of the filter unit, shining a torch down the hole and dislocating my left wrist, I managed to fit it all together. Now then, where’s the screw? Thoughtfully close to hand with the screwdriver. All screwed down tight, turn on fuel, drain out the air in the system and, whoopee, the engine starts.

Engine with aforesaid bulkhead behind

Only one small problem, fuel leaking out of the drain plug at the bottom of the unit which I can’t see. The drain plug is meant to be screwed down finger tight – ah well, adjustable spanner to hand and tightened down another half turn – problem solved. All ready for the departure morrow.

We're on the move

Really the title should read 'We've moved.' However, I thought I would get you all excited thinking that we had set off on this autumns jaunt. Not yet, more about that later.

No, it’s just that we’ve moved Polgara from Pillings Lock Marina down to Bugbrooke Marina, near Northampton.

On May 30^th, I set off to move the boat. The Captain couldn’t come with me this time so I recruited another crew, my brother and sister-in-law, Brian and Ann. The only problem was that they could only help over the weekend and had to get back home on Monday. No problem, I had it all worked out so that if we set off on Friday afternoon, by Monday I could drop them at a convenient bus stop, and continue alone to finish by pm Tuesday. Simple.

Except that when we went to get a temporary canal licence we found out that the river was in flood!

Nothing on the internet said anything about flooding – I had checked – and I checked again – river levels all normal! What to do now? We had a Monday deadline and we couldn’t even get started!

Well, we went for a walk, had supper in the Marina, turned in and waited to see what Saturday had in store. Amazingly the river had gone down overnight – seems it was localised flooding in just one stretch of the river. So, cast off, take on diesel and full speed ahead (all of 4mph). We managed to get into Leicester and find a mooring at Castle Park – not the quietest of places to moor on a Saturday night! Sunday, an early start and we managed to get to Foxton Locks, back on target for the bus stop drop on Monday. But, and there’s always a but, at the pub that evening – and no, I didn’t ply them with drinks first, Brian and Ann casually asked how many hours would it take to get from Foxton to Bugbrooke. Foolishly I blurted out ‘13 hours in all.’ They decided that if we set off at 6 in the morning we’d be in Bugbrooke by 7 in the evening! And that’s exactly what we did. Even with an hours delay at Watford we still managed to complete the journey in 13 hours. Supper in the pub, a quick car ride to collect their car from Pillings and then fond farewells – and an extra day for me to sort out the mooring on Tuesday. Thank you B&A for all your help.

New Paintwork - new flooring

Another task I started on was to replace the carpet in the saloon. Outside looking good, so how about the inside as well?

Several years ago we had seen some oak laminate flooring being sold at a discount because all the box corners were damaged. Well, the captain said to me, "Let's buy enough for the whole of the boat." Which we did at something like £26 for six boxes.

Since then they have sat quietly under the bed just waiting for the right moment to see the light.

So, I trotted off to Polgara for a week alone to tackle, what I thought would be, re-flooring the whole boat.

The first job was to empty the saloon, lift the carpet and prepare for action. I enjoyed that bit.

Next, read the instructions - something I don't usually do but it seemed a good idea at the time - so, on with the coffee.

Looked quite simple and straightforward! Another coffee while I checked it over again.

All I had to do was select a length of flooring and, using spacers, lay it against the wall of the boat and then interlock the next piece and with a sort of twist of the wrist lock the adjacent pieces into place - and, off you go, beautiful oak fitted floor.

Right, I can tell that you can see where this is going!

First length laid OK - good progress so far. Next length - Ah! - Just needs a bit to cut out round the corner cupboard - set up work table, mark up wood, cut out and - it's back to front! I'm sure I checked. Measure again, cut out, right shape this time, lock in place.

Time for another coffee.

Next piece goes in alongside the first two but needs cutting so that I get the seams offset across the boat. Also, that bit has to be shaped around the same unit and the other end around the settee. Right, all ready now for the flick of the wrist twisting action - originally laid two lengths instantly spring apart! End up sitting on first two lengths and wrestling with new sections.

Mutter, mutter, mutter!

Time for lunch in the Marina restaurant since chairs are in the sink, shower room is full up with cushions and fire irons and I think I need a real drink!

Work-in-Progress

Of the whole floor, I think there were only six lengths that didn't need cutting or shaping and some of the flick of the wrist bits just didn't!

The finished job looks really good but I only completed the saloon in the time allocated. Next time I shall be taking the power saw with me since hand sawing down the whole of one length is very tiring and takes too much coffee time! Also, it's the galley where every length will need cutting or shaping.

Well, the boxes have sat quietly under the bed for a few years already - I'm sure a few more won't matter!

Newly painted boat

I knew that we had some photos somewhere. So, feast your eyes on Polgara in all her finery.

Moored at Loughborough

Closer detail

What on earth has happened since last year?

At times it feels as if you haven't been near the boat for ages, but then, you look back and find that you've spent weeks on the boat but not recorded anything.

Well, as you will remember, last summer was one of the hottest for a long time. Were we out and about on Polgara? No! We had decided to have her repainted.

After six years of being bashed about we felt that a makeover was in order for the 'old lady.'

We decided to ask Andy Cain at Kegworth if he would undertake the task for us having seen the job that he did on Ramyshome. Luckily he had a spot available BUT in August. Oh well, never mind, we weren't intending to go out until September anyway.

It was quite an odd feeling leaving our beloved boat with someone else for a few weeks.

Anyway, he soon got started on the preparation. Now our chimney had always given us a problem with leaks and tar running down the outside and Andy soon found out why.

After he managed to grind away the bolts holding the chimney plate to the ceiling rust he discovered a whopping great hole right where is shouldn't be - no wonder it was leaking!

Well, undaunted he carried on and stripped it all back, removed the windows and started on the reconstruction. The following show some of the progress.

Getting ready

Starting on the primer

 

Primer applied

Looking good

Windows back in

Nearly finished

After we collected her we spent a week or so pottering about with grins like Cheshire cats. What a glorious boat we had.

The only problem is that most of the photos were videos - but don't worry, I will find some somewhere to show you.

I felt sorry for Andy when he was trying to paint the boat because some days it was too hot to apply paint, other days the humidity was up in the air - and one day his floating dock started to sink! But the end result was and is terrific. Thank you Andy.