Wednesday working

As the rain has been pouring down today, I have set to sawing up the left over beech ply from our entrance hatch. We had our side doors welded during summer and since painting with primer we haven't got any further. The plan is to line the steel doors with the ply and finish with beading.

So this is how they look at the moment...


And I had this heavy lump of wood to saw through...


These are the four pieces cut up. Next I need to sand them down (a planer would come in handy here). It's dark now and the fire is on so I'll leave this job for another day.


Living aboard our boat, I do find that there is always something to do, collect coal/wood, get to a water point and fill up with water, pump out in a marina, move the boat, sweep the leaves off, clear the stern deck channels (like guttering on a house), run the gennie and charge every thing up, turn the stern gland, mop the outside, clean out the burner and tend to the fire, see to the oil in the engine and gennie - change when necessary, find a rubbish point and ditch the black bag, get rid of the many spiders, etc, etc. And I wouldn't change a thing! (Well maybe the pump out.)

Sunday updates

My creative progress has recently been very successful as I have been doing alot of 'finishing off' of looming projects. This is often a rare thing as it is so easy to pick up a new thing every time and forget the old stuff like lost memories.

We have spent the weekend rearranging in the bedroom as living on water does seem rather damp at times and sleeping next to air vents was not doing the best for any of us. So the shelving unit has been sawn in two and the bed moved back to where it first was when we purchased the boat. This does lead to there only being a slight gap to pass the side of the bed, meaning we mostly walk on the bed to get to the bow doors but hey, the layout is working best overall. And most excitingly I have a new studio space! I am on the look out for a small, tall stool as standing at a desk isn't always practical but otherwise I'm sorted!

Today I completed this little devil for a special person...


And picked up the Penniless Peggy Project from ages and ages ago and with the super fast power drill, made finishing it a sinch.


All the pegs were in place so I had to complete the mat by drilling secondary holes, trim the wires and hammer them in the sides...


Now I just need to find someone who may want it...

Loom of the moon

As of late, we have been grafting hard with DiY projects, family arrangements and finding work. I have been scrubbing the engine bay with a wire brush, coating my jumper and unfortunately my arms with tiny shards of metal. Leigh has sealed up the weed-hatch located above the propellor so that when we force the engine in reverse we limit the amount of canal water that flows into the engine bay. We have had many a conversation with fellow boaters about how to's, where to's and what abouts! We've decided against the use of Hammerite and are opting for red oxide paint in the engine bay. I have treated the rust and there was a fair lot of that so when the pennies are plentyful we will get the paint.

Speaking of which, we haven't yet found local work but things have come together back in old Nottingham with several days of work in early October, much of the same stuff as before, so that is a spot of luck!

I've started a new knitting project with these beauties...


and as it is a gift, I have a deadline to work towards, so am knitting at any opportunity, in between rust treatment coats etc. There are some additions to the boat too, we have been concentrating on storage and ease of access issues...

Leigh found this cabinet in an antique shop and it fits so perfectly with the boat that it looks like it was made for her!

This lovely item was kindly passed on by Leigh's mum, who has very fine taste!



And with the left-over green curtain I was able to fashion a divider and noise reducer between the bedroom and living area...


Today Delia has dragged another half dead mouse into the boat and so we have purchased her a collar and tinker-bell to ward off suspecting prey as this cannot go on! Although very shocked, with stories of her leaping about from the hedgerow, she is currently settled next to me, taken to the fact of our need to curtail her natural instincts.

These latest days I have been feeling the swell of full moon and the inner tides, floating in a fog that I can't wait to pass...
Tomorrow we plan to move, not far, just through the rest of Atherstone locks, on our way to Hartshill. And so I leave you, dear reader with this found woodcut; river, moon-light and mountain...

Nottingham to Atherstone *10

Day 10

We left our over-night mooring in Tamworth and continued along the canal through the residential outskirts...


passing under bridge 66a




which immediately led on to a delightful curvaceous bridge...


and on a tight bend we crossed our fingers that a 70footer wasn't approaching from the other side!

Cruising along in the blistering wind we passed some historic looking boats with the character of an ancient malt...








This navy and yellow was my personal favourite, it has British Waterways graffitied on the side, I mean painted!


As we were moving our 14tonne plus boat at walking pace some older pedestrians overtook us on the tow path in their leisurely stroll, stopping to admire the waterside foliage and got across the bridge before we were even through, much to Leigh's dismay. Notice the iron lattice work, rather an unusual railing...


I decided I needed a walk, perching on the roof of the boat as Leigh pushed the tiller this way and that was not doing anything for my desire for exercise. I took the camera and watched Leigh floor it with a glint in his eye and for me, a mouth full of exhaust fumes.






After an incident with the bank and some unidentified fungi, I was back on board and steering. But alas my abilities aren't as expert as Leigh's and in all this wind I careered full pelt into another moored boat. All was fine and I put it down to experience. We shortly moored for water and rubbish disposal.


We carried on as Leigh some how kept the boat going forwards in the middle of the canal whilst the travelling diagonally from the wind blowing her rear end over.

And we approached Atherstone locks. Just 11 or so locks into our destination point! We encountered some characters for sure on this stretch. And as usual, now like old hat we manouvered through the locks until we found a mooring point.














We had tackled six locks in Atherstone and it was six o'clock. We called it a day, satisfied at our journey and arrival in the historic town of Atherstone.



We had made it!

Nottingham to Atherstone *9

Day Nine


Leaving the beauty of Hopwas Wood bridge we intend to get to Tamworth, a journey of about 5 miles today. This length of canal is still lock-less until Tamworth itself, so leads to long cruising without many pauses. I did alot of the steering today to build up my skills of this, it felt a bit like a driving test with navigating tight corners and bridges, on coming traffic and passing moored craft. But all went well!


We reached Fazeley Junction and headed in the direction of Coventry, back on what is called the Coventry canal. I nervously steered her over Tame Aquaduct which only gave a foot of grace each side of the boat. In no time we were through and heading round the sharp bend towards Kettlebrook.


Ahead was the approach to the twin locks named Glascote Locks. We stopped for late lunch and rounded the corner to find a queue for the locks.


I went ahead to lend a hand whilst Leigh managed the boat at the towpath side. They are slow filling locks and so you cannot be rushed.

Leigh took the tiller and steered the boat into the open lock



I wound the paddles and opened up the gates...



And Leigh controlled the movements of the boat from the stern as the locks filled up.


We took the straight into the depths of Tamworth and after enquiring about a local shop from a walker on the tow path we moored for the night at around bridge 67. Leigh went off in search of supplies and I set to sweeping and mopping the boat. Leigh came home with mushrooms and peppers, perfect for my idea of home baked pizza made from scratch.

Comments...

Morning followers, I have just updated the comments section on my blog so please do now comment. I'm sorry to those who were having problems before, all is sorted now so it should be straight forward.

We are in morning ritual today, so will not be pulling up the mooring pins until this afternoon!

Nottingham to Atherstone *8

Day Eight


We left Whittington with a bowl full of plum's from the overhanging tree onto the canal. We passed the stone indicating the Junction of Brimingham and Fazeley and Coventry canals and continue on what is now called the Brimingham and Fazeley.


The bridges on this stretch are delightfully titled with no sight of anonymous numbers. It was a fine and dramatic day as we set out through the back yards of farmer's fields.


The canal lines a beautiful stretch of woodland (Hopwas Hays Wood) with tree tops reaching up to the clouds. Noticing at the foot of the wood, signs have been erected warning of the dangers, it is a rifle range. I looked to the map and quite true it does state, Danger Area!


We continued along until there were other boats and mooring availability. There were no more signs, and the trees at this point were still as impressive so we were happy to settle for the night. Delia went off to explore the woods leading to the quick flowing river...


And Leigh and I barbied the sausages which we needed to use up. And how typical, the heavens opened so out came the brolly to protect the cooking!