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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 19:53:27 GMT
I am actively looking to press-gang an innocent passing mariner into service as my own personal lockie, to be recruited at the point of a cutlass and fed a bowl of gruel a day. Have a word with Telemachus . He has some acquaintances at Wigan who need force feeding gruel at the point of a cutlass. The question about competence when it comes to lock operation is not one I am confident enough to answer but pretty sure if you locked them up in the gas locker that would help things go more smoothly. I'm hoping this is where being a single boater actually pays off a bit. From what I've heard, some of the volunteer lockies apparently prefer you to stay on the boat to make the passage quicker, so if I do attempt the Wigan flight my plan is to bravely and loudly make offers to help the hardworking lockies, but all the time to keep my fingers crossed that I can actually skulk in the stern shouting encouraging words at them, but not lifting a finger. I cant be this evil and not have it catch up with me soon....
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 19:57:09 GMT
Have a word with Telemachus . He has some acquaintances at Wigan who need force feeding gruel at the point of a cutlass. The question about competence when it comes to lock operation is not one I am confident enough to answer but pretty sure if you locked them up in the gas locker that would help things go more smoothly. I'm hoping this is where being a single boater actually pays off a bit. From what I've heard, some of the volunteer lockies apparently prefer you to stay on the boat to make the passage quicker, so if I do attempt the Wigan flight my plan is to bravely and loudly make offers to help the hardworking lockies, but all the time to keep my fingers crossed that I can actually skulk in the stern shouting encouraging words at them, but not lifting a finger. I cant be this evil and not have it catch up with me soon.... If you are coming to the waterways with a view that locks are a problem then how about a caravan? Locks are the best thing about canals. Ok they are all falling apart quite quickly now but operating locks is really enjoyable.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 19:58:58 GMT
Aha! I have a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a fox... How about I connect my hot water supply to the cold water inlet feed of the washing machine? The water goes in at say 50 degrees from the boats hot water supply, and the machine thinks its done the job, and turns its heater back off when it senses the water is hot? Is this the way boaters work around the power demands of these cold-water feed machines? yes, mine is connected to HOT so it also rinses hot, I think rinsing in hot water really helps to get the soap out quickly, but Telemachus said a more flexible option is to fit a thermostatic mixer, so you can mix the hot and cold going in as much you need to. I'm going to give that a try, but it wont be for another month at least
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 20:00:56 GMT
I'm hoping this is where being a single boater actually pays off a bit. From what I've heard, some of the volunteer lockies apparently prefer you to stay on the boat to make the passage quicker, so if I do attempt the Wigan flight my plan is to bravely and loudly make offers to help the hardworking lockies, but all the time to keep my fingers crossed that I can actually skulk in the stern shouting encouraging words at them, but not lifting a finger. I cant be this evil and not have it catch up with me soon.... If you are coming to the waterways with a view that locks are a problem then how about a caravan? Locks are the best thing about canals. Ok they are all falling apart quite quickly now but operating locks is really enjoyable. No, I'm just kidding- I actually quite liked working the locks when I was on boat holidays, and it will be a great way to get back into shape- but with 22 of them in one go at Wigan, I could lose some of my enthusiasm...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 20:14:04 GMT
must admit I wasn't that bothered initially about not having a stove, This time of year you don't really need a stove. I've got my feet up against the cold flue at the moment and wearing only pants (yes I know that's too much). The fire looks quite surplus to requirements. Like some sort of ornament. But give it a few weeks you really will want a stove. in fact without one (diesel is ok too) you will have a very miserable time. Specially if living on the towpath because you will bring in all sorts of damp and dirt during bad weather I am not trying to put you off but get a fire in there ASAP. Yes, I'm keen to get it done as soon as I can stop for a week in a spot where I can work on it without bothering other boaters. If I wait till I get to Cheshire it might already be October. I'm wondering whether I can find ways of keeping the mud out during winter- maybe by pulling off the towpath footwear or wellies as soon as I step aboard, and switching to slip on shoes or something. I just dont know if its practical when you're in and out for half the day
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 20:14:46 GMT
I did Wigan in two parts. Stopped outside some houses half way up. Got raided by scrotes middle of the night and decided to moor in an empty lock in order to lose them. I have since found it possible to avoid Wigan. Social distancing. It's all the rage these days. It was quite funny I bought the boat at the bottom of the flight. Transfer went through in the afternoon. rough pikey with bleeding hands turned up asking if I wanted cheap diesel and did my boat have a diesel engine then he disappeared and a couple of security men asked "did you see the pikey?" So I pointed them in other direction. Then moved the boat and got to tired to finish the flight. All good fun I suppose and quite a lot more interesting than Henley
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Post by Clinton Cool on Aug 18, 2020 21:17:18 GMT
Which bit of Cheshire are you heading for Tony? To be honest Ricco I haven't decided. One of my brothers lives near Kelsall and another in Parkgate, so it would be nice to be handy for that general area. The main motivation at the moment is to able to visit my parents a bit more often and they're in Liverpool, so I'm looking at cruising around within 10-20 miles of Chester (the Shroppie I think it is), and I'll also be hanging about not too far from Northwich. If I'm feeling brave I might moor within a few miles of Runcorn. I'll have a CC license so I cant stay put indefinitely, but then you do hear of London boaters who only move 50 miles in a year on a CC licence. I'm not ruling out using a marina for December and January, if it all gets a bit too crappy and muddy doing the CC thing. After March I'm giving the lease car back and I'm going to try and manage with a small motorbike. My current plan is to ride it exclusively on towpaths at high speed, and dismount and push it as soon as I get to a road. Just to keep them guessing. Ah right I'm on the Shroppie maybe 15 miles south of Chester. I'll be hanging around this general area until it's time to go cottaging (as Dogless puts it) when the boat will be dropped off at Venetian Marina. Give me a shout if you come this way, Nantwich/ Barbridge/ Calveley will be the limits of my navigation. I'm hoping I can find a spot with piling to tie to to prevent speeding idiots pulling out my pins; and no engine runners nearby. I don't hold out much hope of finding such a spot in this area, given that I also need to be able to get the bike off the towpath but if I do find one, I'll be overstaying.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 21:20:39 GMT
Overstaying definitely the name of the game when one has cottaging to do Leave the ditches behind innit.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Aug 18, 2020 21:29:35 GMT
Overstaying definitely the name of the game when one has cottaging to do Leave the ditches behind innit. Yes. Some nice folk on the cut but too many engine runners and speed pasters. Lockdown was good though. Mind you I've no idea what awaits me in Wales, I might get my head kicked in, simply for being an English bastard. I'm going to be proactive though, use my (Welsh) first name rather than my (English) second one. While that won't guarantee me not getting a good kicking the fact that half the town are from the Black Country should put me a little way down the list, when it comes to the beatings being handed out.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 21:56:28 GMT
To be honest Ricco I haven't decided. One of my brothers lives near Kelsall and another in Parkgate, so it would be nice to be handy for that general area. The main motivation at the moment is to able to visit my parents a bit more often and they're in Liverpool, so I'm looking at cruising around within 10-20 miles of Chester (the Shroppie I think it is), and I'll also be hanging about not too far from Northwich. If I'm feeling brave I might moor within a few miles of Runcorn. I'll have a CC license so I cant stay put indefinitely, but then you do hear of London boaters who only move 50 miles in a year on a CC licence. I'm not ruling out using a marina for December and January, if it all gets a bit too crappy and muddy doing the CC thing. After March I'm giving the lease car back and I'm going to try and manage with a small motorbike. My current plan is to ride it exclusively on towpaths at high speed, and dismount and push it as soon as I get to a road. Just to keep them guessing. Ah right I'm on the Shroppie maybe 15 miles south of Chester. I'll be hanging around this general area until it's time to go cottaging (as Dogless puts it) when the boat will be dropped off at Venetian Marina. Give me a shout if you come this way, Nantwich/ Barbridge/ Calveley will be the limits of my navigation. I'm hoping I can find a spot with piling to tie to to prevent speeding idiots pulling out my pins; and no engine runners nearby. I don't hold out much hope of finding such a spot in this area, given that I also need to be able to get the bike off the towpath but if I do find one, I'll be overstaying. Will do Ricco- maybe you can scope out any likely-looking pubs in advance of my arrival. Bear in mind I won't get up there for a while. I can only cruise 3 or 4 days each week including weekends, and although I'm keen to get to an area within a short drive of my folks, I also don't want to go on a mad mission. It would be such a shame to try and rush through so many interesting places and not stop to have a nose around. I'm pretty gutted that I have to press on a bit just to get to Northampton to be honest- the Ouse looks fantastic, and I'm sure the Nene will be lovely. I bet in winter they are absolutely magical- but with the moorings only being 48 hours and me having a couple of things to do to the boat (plus having to work a bit), I'm better off clearing out of there- maybe I can come back in the winter of 21/22 and enjoy the peace and quiet without worrying about working. I must admit I am slightly worried about having to leave the boat on the towpath unattended, and one of the ideas I had were those hurricane ground anchors that screw into the ground. They will hold far more securely than normal pins where there is no armco/piling stuff, and provided you unscrew them carefully there's no damage to the bank or path. www.amazon.co.uk/Durable-tool-HURRICANE-MARQUEES-GRANDSTAND/dp/B07X2KFYRP/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1G22JAYXYOZH4&dchild=1&keywords=hurricane+ground+anchor&qid=1597787659&sprefix=hurrican+gr%2Caps%2C1670&sr=8-4The 50cm ones are on ebay for 30 quid- I'm thinking they might help you get a half-decent nights sleep when the storms start in Jan and Feb.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 22:06:06 GMT
Stop at Oundle Marina on your way through. For reasons I can't fathom we needed to do a load one day in to a two week break. Use the 9kg machine meter 2 on the right. Synthetic programme, 2 quid in the meter, when that finishes put it on a 1600 rpm spin. 1 hour 40 odd minutes. When that finishes bung it on the tumble dryer next to it on the right, feed the meter another £1.20 and you will have enough time to do a 120 drying cycle. Kill the two hours by going for a walk around Barnwell country park, they have a cafe there too 👍 Nice one, thanks Gazza. Not sure where my second water stop will be yet. My first fill might have to be at Ely or nearby. The boat's seller last filled her up a food few months ago, and hasn't cruised her since before the lockdown, and he warned me that the water might be not at its best. My plan is to bring about 30 litres aboard with me, to tide me over for cold water drinking, and I've got a few chlorine-type tablets to throw in if get a bit desperate- but I'll be looking to empty and refill the tank fairly soon I think. I dont even know the size of the tank (yet), but if filled at Ely, it might do me till halfway down the Nene. Its a bit of a bummer that I wont have the time I hoped for to see the area properly, because I want to press on a bit and get it up towards Cheshire fairly soon. I'm back to 2 or 3 days working a week (from the boat) after 2 Sept, so cruising time might be limited and I'll need to use the cruising days I do get to press on. We never pass a tap without filling up - small tank and a female or two onboard see to that! EA Taps on the Nene:- Peterborough Embankment - pump out and elsan if they are working! Yarwell Lock upstream landing stage Upstream of Fotheringhay bridge. Not EA but worth a mention Oundle Marina - diesel and chandlery; current hours are 10am - 1pm . Upper Barnwell lock upper landing stage (No EA Key needed) Kings Head Wadenhoe. Wellingborough Embankment. Northampton Marina. All use normal hoselock fittings.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2020 22:15:27 GMT
As for EA taps on the Great Ouse all of which need an EA Abloy key.
Ely Sanitary station by willow walk which you know about,
Littleport opposite the Swan.
Hilgay mooring upstream of the Wissey.
Denver complex behind the sailing club adjacent to the AG Wright sluice.
You can also slop a bit in at Upwell Staithe and March Sanitation station with a MLC key.
If you overnight at Foxes in March they may put you by the day boat moorings behind the marina office portacabin - good fast filling hose that was free to use, no key needed.
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Post by thebfg on Aug 19, 2020 1:07:05 GMT
Which bit of Cheshire are you heading for Tony? To be honest Ricco I haven't decided. One of my brothers lives near Kelsall and another in Parkgate, so it would be nice to be handy for that general area. The main motivation at the moment is to able to visit my parents a bit more often and they're in Liverpool, so I'm looking at cruising around within 10-20 miles of Chester (the Shroppie I think it is), and I'll also be hanging about not too far from Northwich. If I'm feeling brave I might moor within a few miles of Runcorn. I'll have a CC license so I cant stay put indefinitely, but then you do hear of London boaters who only move 50 miles in a year on a CC licence. I'm not ruling out using a marina for December and January, if it all gets a bit too crappy and muddy doing the CC thing. After March I'm giving the lease car back and I'm going to try and manage with a small motorbike. My current plan is to ride it exclusively on towpaths at high speed, and dismount and push it as soon as I get to a road. Just to keep them guessing. 50 miles for a London boater is quite optimistic. I bet they get nowhere near that. I have a 7kg machine at home and that only uses 7 litres per cycle, I'm pretty confident the one we had on the boat used less.
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Post by Jim on Aug 19, 2020 5:06:07 GMT
. I do the laundry every two months and it can easily handle four T shirts, two pairs of pants and a pair of socks. What? Even if they don't need it? Wear them inside out and you could run to 4 months.
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Post by naughtyfox on Aug 19, 2020 5:25:16 GMT
Talking of laundry, my engine needs a wash!
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