All Oak Wood

Yesterday we departed our spot at Willoughby, aiming for All Oak Wood near the village of Brinklow. Setting off we formed part of a convoy of boats, all heading towards Hillmorton. The first point of interest we passed, is the location of the new Dunchurch Pools Marina at Onley. Situated in pleasant rural countryside, but unfortunately adjacent to the local prison. Still work seems to be progressing, and it looks absolutely huge.  

 

 

Next to navigate, was the Barby straight and Barby moorings. This straight section of canal is about a mile long, and passes beneath the M45. Barby moorings are another Marina, but it has the character of a very bleak boat park. Rounding a bend at the end of the straight, and we were on the approach to the Hillmorton flight of three locks. These locks are in pairs, and are reported to be the busiest on the entire network. We were also at the nearest point to our home berth at Yelvertoft, only a fifteen minute drive away. It has taken us four days to get here. We descended the flight, and moored by the water point to refill the tank. The taps here are ridiculously slow, even worse if more than one is being used at a time. Still this allowed for a suitable lunch stop to be had. After lunch we set off on the next leg of our journey, through Rugby. A long section of towpath here was closed to the public, where they appear to be strengthening the bank, below which lays the retail park. Then on through Newbold tunnel, before the final few miles to All Oak Wood. Suspecting that the mooring area might be busy, due to the time of day and the amount of boat traffic we had seen, we opted to try and moor on the south side of the Wood. We had tried here before and found it very shallow, but this time we found a mooring deep enough to get into the side. We had to use the pins for mooring on this side, but now we have found this spot we will opt to use it in our future travels, when we are passing this point.    

 

Today we went for a short walk through the woods, to the further mooring area the other side. It was indeed busy, but there were a few moorings available, however we prefer our new spot. During the walk we saw our first batch of ducklings for this year. They looked to be very new.    

 

 

 

We plan to move off tomorrow and are aiming for Sutton Stop. This is the end of the Oxford Canal at its junction with the Coventry Canal. We plan on spending the weekend there before heading off for the Ashby Canal, which will be new water for us.

• Totals 13 Miles 3 Locks 1 Tunnel
• Running total 50 Miles 18 Locks 3 Tunnels 

Willoughby

Today would be a long day by our standards. It was again misty, with a bit off a chill in the air, but this would be favourable for the crew, who had two lock flights consisting of, the seven narrow locks at Watford, and the six wide locks at Braunston to work. On arrival at the top of the Watford staircase we met the on duty lock keeper. He had seen us coming, and was already preparing the lock for us. He wasn't the most talkative soul, in fact I think he only said two words during our transit of the flight. He did however make up for his lack of chatiness, by working us down the entire flight. This is a first at this flight, and as such our descent only took about 30 minutes. We then headed towards Norton Junction and the Grand Union Canal mainline. Turning right at the junction, we headed towards Braunston and the tunnel. As we were approaching the tunnel entrance, two boats pulled away in front of us. You could almost see them rushing to untie their ropes as we approached. The reason is, the flight of locks ahead, would now all be set against us, rather than them. Our transit through the tunnel was uneventful, with only a single boat opposing, and then we arrived at the top of Braunston locks. So now, not only did we have two boats ahead of us, but it was also apparent they were both single handed. This was going to be painfully slow. It was however nearly lunchtime, and the Admiral Nelson PH is located by lock three. Decision made, we tied up and walked off down the flight for lunch.

After lunch we returned to the boat, and as luck would have it three boats we making their way up the flight. This meant three locks were ready for us as we approached them. Once through the bottom lock we chugged along on tickover, passing numerous moored boats, and as we approached The Boathouse PH we saw the crew of nb Castallan. We slowed for the briefest of chats, then it was onwards passing Braunston Turn and the Oxford Canal heading off towards Napton. Just a mile outside Braunston, adjacent to the village of Willoughby, is a lovely rural spot and this is where we stopped.

The views above are from the side hatch, however as I write this the sky has turned black, and the sound of rolling thunder can be heard in the distance. We are not sure yet whether to stay put here for a day, or push on to Brinklow and All Oak Wood tomorrow.

• Totals 8 Miles 13 Locks 1 Tunnel
• Running total 37 Miles 15 Locks 2 Tunnels

Crick

This morning the hills around the Marina basin were shrouded in mist, the wind turbine on the top of the hill, completely obscured from view. Today we would leave Yelvertoft for the summer, there were a few jobs to finalise before setting off. The crew returned to the boat around lunchtime, so after a bite to eat, we manoeuvred from our berth onto the service dock. A little after two o'clock we were underway. Turning left this time from the Marina entrance, we could just about feel the sun starting to break through. We rounded Cracks Hill, a regular walking route, and passed Crick Marina, famous for its annual boat show. The moorings restaurant appeared shut, and then we could see the gapping mouth of Crick Tunnel ahead. In the distance within the tunnel, was the telltale tunnel light of an approaching boat. As we entered the northern portal, we got a thorough drenching from the constantly leaking roof, passing the boat we had seen on our approach. There would be a further two boats to encounter, during our transit of the tunnel. Our intended spot was just prior to bridge 9, about half a mile from the tunnel southern portal. It is always a gamble as to whether your favourite spot, is also someone else's, but today we rounded the bend, and saw it was vacant. We have used this spot before, so we know it is good for the satellite and phone signals. As we secured the boat, the sun finally won its battle with the mist, and now we are in a great rural location, settled for the remainder of the afternoon.

As the photos show this is a great mooring, which is why as I write this another boat has pulled in just beyond the bridge. We are now just half a mile from the top of Watford locks, which we will descend tomorrow as we head for the far side of Braunston.

• Totals 4 Miles 1 Tunnel
• Running total 29 Miles 2 Locks 1 Tunnel

Yelvertoft Marina

Just a short post today. Having spent yesterday with the hatches battened down due to wind and rain, it was nice to see the sun this morning. We had two options today, either moor near the Marina at a favoured spot by bridge 22, allowing the crew to collect the car for a trip home, or get back on our berth and plug into shore power for the weekend. The latter won. The trip was an uneventful but pleasant cruise through the Northamptonshire countryside, until we turned into the Marina. The wind had gradually been picking up, and by the time we turned in, it prevented the bow from turning and we were in danger of being blown broadside against the boats on the end Pontoon. Seeing this impending danger, a quick burst of reverse was required to allow for another run in, this time under much more power than previously. Our second attempt at re-entry was successful. Me and four legs now have a lazy long weekend to look forward to.

• Totals 3 Miles
• Running total 25 Miles 2 Locks

Elkington

Having spent a wet, and very windy Monday at Welford, it was time to move on. After breakfast we had the opportunity to test the reversing capabilities of our new axiom propeller, as we needed water and the water point was three hundred yards to our rear. I would like to report that I was able to reverse the whole distance, including rounding a slight bend, without the use of the front rudder aka the bow thruster, but alas it was not to be. Still whilst filling with water we were logged by the CRT boat checker, possibly for the first time this year, and then at 11 o'clock we were underway. The sun was shining but there was a slight breeze which was bitterly cold. We negotiated the single lock, and continued on towards the junction. We had considered turning right and popping along to Foxton for the day, but the weather tomorrow is not looking good. At the junction it was left, on a return journey towards Yelvertoft. We however were going to be stopping before then, at a frequent location of ours, near to bridge 27. Both the crew hopped ashore at bridge 33, in order to provide four legs with his exercise. Not long after, he was seen to be examining something in the hedgerow a little too closely. This usually means he has found something disgusting to stick his nose into. However on this occasion it turned out to be coiled grass snake, sunning itself in the spring sunshine. On arrival at our intended spot, we found we were alone and so had our choice of mooring. During the afternoon several boats have passed by with none stopping.  

 

  The views from our side hatch over the canal, show what a pleasant rural spot this is. It was on a visit to this spot over the winter, that cost me a propeller, so I am hoping whatever we hit has been moved since we were last here.  

• Totals 7 Miles 1 Lock
• Running total 22 Miles 2 Locks

Welford

This morning we arose when the alarm clock, aka the diesel heater went off. The sun was streaming in through the roof prisms, however upon opening the side hatches, the sky was disappointingly cloudy. The forecast was for some very gusty winds, and these seemed to be building by the minute. After breakfast we were underway, 200 yards to the junction, and then turning right towards Welford. The arm is quite overgrown and shallow in places, but it was not long before reaching the solitary lock. The gates were already open in our favour, so it was straight in at which point the furry crew member, kept his beady eye on things from the bridge above.

Once through the lock it was only a few hundred yards to the end of the arm. The 48 hr spot at the far end was full, so we winded and moored opposite the Marina. Lunch was taken in the Wharf Inn, where we met fellow Hudson owners from nb ATLAST. The afternoon was spent watching England crumble at the final hurdle, in pursuit of a second Grand Slam. Looking at the weather forecast, we will stay put till Tuesday, when it appears we have some decent sunshine to look forward too.  

• Totals 1 Mile 1 Lock
• Running total 15 Miles 1 Lock

 

 

 

Welford Junction

Today after filling with water and pumping out the black tank, we finally departed the Marina following our winter confinement. The early signs of the sun soon disappeared as the sky clouded over, and the wind was decidedly chilly. Turning right from the Marina we headed north towards Welford. This was going to be the first opportunity to see how the axiom propeller performed. Despite being cold it was not long till we met an oncoming boat at a bridge hole. A quick burst of reverse throttle and the boat came to a complete stop. It also maintained a dead straight line. It appears as if the prop works as it should. We carried on passing beneath the A14 and a little more than three hours after setting off we arrived at Welford Junction. There was only one other boat moored here so we had plenty of room to choose our spot. We quickly secured the boat and lined up the satellite dish, doing so just before the rain arrived. Tomorrow we plan to turn right at the junction and travel the short canal arm to Welford and the Wharf Inn.   

• Totals 8 Miles
• Running total 14 Miles

An expensive day trip

This is our first post of 2017, having spent most of the winter in the relative luxury of Yelvertoft Marina. We have had a few jobs to sort out prior to commencing our travels on the waterways, including, changing the primary fuel filter, replacing a noisy and temperamental fresh water pump, and servicing our hurricane diesel heater. We have also had one or two days when the weather was so nice, it would have been criminal not to take the boat up the cut for a spin. It was during our last cruise a couple of weeks ago, we developed a bit of tiller wobble, well in fact more than a bit, it was quite a lot. Once back on our berth, it was down the weed hatch for the first time since the boat was built, to remove whatever had attached itself to our propeller. It couldn't be anything more serious than rubbish round the prop, as we had not heard any noise of the propeller striking a hard and unforgiving object. How wrong. As I felt the prop whilst perched upside down in the weed hatch, it was quickly apparent that the prop was no longer the shape it should be.  Today, it was round to the slipway to be dragged out by tractor for the new Axiom prop to be fitted. This was also the first time I could see how the hull was looking following our zinc treatment at Debdale Wharf. The hull looked as clean as a whistle. The prop however was a bit more bent than I thought.

The prop needed a bit of encouragement to free itself from the shaft, then it was time for the nice shiny new one to be attached. All in all the whole process took 15/20 minutes.

Shortly after lunch we were relaunched, and we made our way back to the berth. One of the claims made by Axiom, is the design of their prop allows for stopping in much shorter distances. I tried this, and it did seem to be the case that we stopped much quicker than previously, and also maintained a straight line. We will give it a proper trial later in the week, when we set off on our eight month journey.  

• Totals 6 Miles
• Running total 6 Miles