Narrowboat Balmaha – Braunston to Brinklow

Monday 13th October 2008

There’s a boat next to us, it arrived late one night and although there’s no sign of life during the day someone returns to it every evening after dark. That’s alright, nothing wrong with that, I can guess what’s going on, but this morning it broke free and wandered about on the canal. Metal spikes in soft earth aren’t a patch on piling clips so the next boat to arrive helped bring the wanderer back to the towpath where it was tied good and proper to the ironwork. If you're going to leave your boat all day then TIE IT UP PROPERLY.

Felt it was time to stare down the engine hole and copped a good look at the batteries. One has a bulge in its side. This is the one that overheated some time ago. It still holds a reasonable charge but it doesn’t half gobble up the current from the alternator. Me-thinks it’s time to decommission it. Anyone want an anchor?

Talking about boat problems we noticed that air was getting into the fresh water system, which showed itself by explosions at the tap. Delved into cupboards to check the bilges and found all was dry at the front end of the boat but half way along I found wet boards below the water pump, under the galley sink. Oh dear, how to fix this one?
Tightened the screws around the pump diaphragm and the drips stopped but it’s a hassle getting at the pump to check it so I decided to lift the pump and fit a drip tray below the wet end. In the tray lies a strip of twinned wire which terminates outside the cupboard where I can apply an ohm-meter to tell when the pump starts leaking again. And to make doubly sure that I get a good reading on the meter I sprinkled the tray with salt to improve water conductivity. It should all work, in theory.

Tuesday
Walked, yes walked, to Braunston village and called in at AJ Canopies to get some idea of the cost of covering our roof hatches. Saw a very simple design on a new boat in the marina so enquired and went away trying to justify spending a couple of hundred pounds.
I knew Lorimar had covers on its hatches so called Mark to find out how effective they were at stopping condensation on the metal frames inside the boat. His answer gave us hope but to prove we were spending wisely I made up a polythene sheet with a bubble wrap lining and covered the compete hatch ready for a cold cloudless night.
The results were quite disappointing.
Sure, there was slightly less water than before but there were still drips and drips mean puddles. So I don’t know what the answer is now.

Walking back to the boat from AJCs, looking forward to a coffee in the Gongoozler’s Rest, we met Ian and Carol on Lily Pad, heading for the locks.
Not so fast, we said, givusa coffee, and they did. Spent a while on this immaculate boat with these lovely people before sending them on their way.

Wednesday
It’s a wet day, the sort of day you stay in and mess about. I was going to make a sign to hang outside saying “Coal Boat – Stop”. Didn’t get round to it before we spotted Gosty Hill passing our portholes. Rushed up on deck and hailed them for diesel (78p) and a few bags of coal. We’re doing alright for wood at the moment but coal is a lot more dependable for keeping the fire in overnight so we always try to keep a few bags in reserve.

[gostyhill]

It was also a day when your instincts tell you the gas is about to run out.

Thursday
The gas ran out.
We were cruising north and the kettle was on the stove for our n’th cup of tea when it died on us. Seeing a bridge ahead we slowed and came to a stop under the M45. Tying to the offside railings I wandered down the gunwale to twiddle the taps on the gas bottles in the bow. Getting into the gas locker is always a bit hairy when moored up but loosely tied to the bridge railings and walking on wet paintwork is double fraught with danger.
Having messed about with the tunnel light and horn post to get the locker lid up, twiddled the gas taps and closed the lid I shouted back to V to test the tunnel light. She didn’t find the light button but she certainly found the horn button and I nearly jumped ten feet across the canal. Echoing under the motorway bridge the horn belted out its parp and made a dog walker jump out of her skin. Thanks V.

Backpedalling just a bit, we couldn’t help noticing that the financial restraints are still in place on the North Oxford Canal. Bridge 80 is still undergoing an experiment – to see how long it takes to fall down.

Hillmorton locks added a polybag and a black Calcutt Boats peaked cap to the prop. But to make up for it I rescued a boat pole from the water. Now all I’ve got to do is find a use for it.

I know I posted a picture of this tree last year and probably the year before that but it’s well worth seeing again. Don’t know the name of it but it’s the one with a furry trunk.

Further on, by the golf course, we spotted Ten Bob Note with chimney smoking away. Knowing our horn was working we let off a blast or two and signs of life appeared at her side doors.
There’s only so much you can say before your stern swings in to the towpath and the bow buries itself in the offside brambles and another boat appears from nowhere so we had to cut our meeting short.

We’ll look out for you guys on the way back, don’t go too far.

Did a Tesco run at Rugby, as you do, and made a mental note to moan to the council about the litter along the footpath from the canal. Couldn’t get in on the park side so made do with the tow path side at the right hand bend before the bridge. It’s not advisable to stay here too long and to remind me of its dangers a boat came round the corner a tad too fast and piled into the towpath just behind us. Might as well stop here, he said and tied up for Tescos.

Friday
And so to Brinklow. I’m sure it wasn’t this busy last year, boats galore, from the woods almost to the bridge with only a couple of spaces.
Main and spring lines attached we sat and watched the Friday panic as boats headed home to Roses’ boatyard, weekenders shot out from local marinas and working boats headed north, presumably to a gathering.
A friendly black and white cat paid us a visit in the afternoon, standing on our roof and meowing for attention until it finally gave up at 3am Saturday morning. It’s nice to have someone else’s cats (and children) for a while, but there are limits.

Visitors!! Claire and Ter dropped in on their way past, always nice to see them. Caught me working for a change, letters and bills and things like that.

Someone pointed out that trees had been felled on the road through Oak’s Wood so we paid a visit and sure enough there were a few large and very attractive branches at the roadside. Made a mental note to check this out over the weekend.

Saturday
Had the choice of fitting lights in the galley sink cupboard or messing about with relays and spare batteries. Batteries won I’m afraid.

Not altogether a bad day sun-wise so spent most of it outdoors under the stern boards and there was no sign of that cat. Boats passed like cars on the M1, my arms got weary with all the waving and my face ended up stuck in a permanent smile.

Sunday October 19th 2008
Visitors!! Claire and Ter dropped in again, this time with Mother-in-Law. It’s time for MiL’s autumn cruise so now there are two admirals onboard.

And as if that wasn’t enough excitement we met friends from nb.Fair-fa, I say friends but I can’t remember their names, how stupid of me. Anyway, they’re friends because they’ve got a Sandhills boat like ours. Whenever we pass them there’s always something that prevents us sitting down for a long natter and this was no different. We’ll try a bit harder next time.
Here’s a picture of Fair-fa taken Monday morning at 8.30 under dark menacing skies as we left Brinklow headed south. It would have been nice to see faces at the windows but didn’t dare touch the horn button for fear of waking everyone on the cut.

Word has it that the felled wood down the road has mysteriously disappeared. No point in following it up, someone’s made off with it.

There was the chance we might see Andy from nb.Khayamanzi as he’s only a couple of miles away but he didn’t make it. As it happens his Blog solved the missing wood puzzle, seems there’s a few eagle-eyed boaters down at the marina that liberated my wood. Thanks.