Almyne 2011
Tue, 1 Mar 2011
Today we took the boats back to Blissworth and caught the bus into Northampton. My investigation of the bus from Anchor Farm resulted in a change of mind, I know that the busses go from Blissworth. I went to the market, while Rob
met a friend of his, Jill, who was coming to stay with him for a few days, and while I was there found the DVD stall. Got four at £1 each and 3 at £2.50 each, so lots to keep me occupied. Also got a three metre roach pole to replace the one that got stolen off the top of Almyne, so I might get some fishing done as the weather improves, which reminds me I must get my fishing license.
Called in at the supermarket on the way back and Rob and Jill left without me, so I was stood there like a pig in a mosque waiting for them. I rang him to find out if they had finished shopping and Rob told me that they were back at the boats, so I just caught the next bus. Arrived back at Blissworth and we set off back to the wilderness where we had moored the previous night.
I cooked dinner for us all and Rob and Jill joined me on Almyne for a meal and a chat. Very pleasant evening.
Wed, 2 Mar 2011
Today I walked down to Gayton and collected the parcels that were waiting for me at the boat yard, carried them back to Almyne and unpacked them.
The light strip was not what I had hoped for but still useful.
The TV/DVD/USB player looked good when I unpacked it and played DVDs well, but when I came to try using a USB stick in it, I could not make it work at all. I followed the instructions faithfully but the options to select the USB port just did not appear on the menus.
Contacted the supplier and arranged to send it back for a refund and also contacted my bank asking them to refund my monies as it was a credit card purchase, will have to see what transpires. I've got the TV/DVD player all packed up so I just have to pop in to Northampton tomorrow and put it in the post to the supplier.
Nothing very exciting, but it was fairly sunny this afternoon.
Rob cooked dinner and brought it along to Almyne as his boat cannot cope with a sit down meal for three. In fact it cannot cope with a sit down meal for one! It is good to have company for the evening.
I have organised with the welder to do a little work on Almyne, cutting a hole in the side and filling in another hole in the side, along with cleaning out the engine drip bilge and that is scheduled for early next week, so I'll be here for a few more days. Mind you, cannot go far till eleventh February as the next flight of locks is closed till then.
Thu, 3 Mar 2011
I do not spoil my dog
If I were to title each page this one would be called Rob's annual bath.
Up and out by mid day. Rob was taking Jill back to Northampton to catch the train so I joined him on Glue Sniffer and we cruised back down to Blissworth. Just missed one bus, but as they run every half hour there was not too log to wait.
Got to Northampton and Rob and Jill went off to the train station and I found the post office to return the NLR (No Longer Required) TV. Got that sorted out and wandered around the shopping mall to try to keep warm.
Eventually met up with Rob who was looking for a GP so that he could get a prescription for his badly needed tablets. Called in at Boots who directed us to a Health Practice about twenty minutes walk away. Found them and after a little haggling Rob got an appointment for later on in the afternoon.
Rob , by this time was in a state of mild inebriation. Jill had woken him up about half nine, and Rob starts the day with a beer and continues on like that for the rest of the day. Today, he started early!
Anyway, went to his appointment, got his prescription and got it fulfilled.
Caught the bus back to Blissworth, by which time it was already dark. Rob kept falling asleep on the bus, so I had to make sure that I did not. Alighted at Blissworth and Rob decided that he was probably incapable of taking Glue Sniffer back to where we moor up (and D'fer
was, as I had left him on Almyne for the day).
I turned Glue Sniffer around and headed off towards our mooring in the dark. Now I have been told that 'if you cannot see anything in front of you it is because there is nothing in front of you'. I was about to find out.
Having got Glue Sniffer pointed in the right direction I started cruising, sending Rob inside to make me a cup of coffee, mostly to warm me up and partly to keep Rob safe below decks.
Made it safely to the mooring and as we pulled in to the bank Rob stepped off Glue Sniffer with the rope in one hand and his '5 cell Maglight' in the other. By the time he was on the bank the '5 cell Maglight' was in the water.
We managed to get Glue Sniffer secure and Rob immediately stripped off and looking pale and pasty jumped into the canal, feeling around on the bottom with his feet for his torch. While he was doing this I got my fire going properly, put some rice on to boil and put the kettle on to boil as well. Collected some towels and my dressing gown and went back to Glue Sniffer.
Rob was still wading around but by now he had some colour in his cheeks, both his face cheeks and his bum cheeks, while his little pinkie was shrivelled up to almost nothing just below the waterline.
A few moments later he found his torch and I watched him climb out. Once he was on, what used to be dry land, but was now a pool of water, I left him to dry off and get dressed while I returned to Almyne to prepare something hot to eat and drink and make sure that it was nice and warm on board, I didn't want him dying of hypothermia while I was around.
He came along to Almyne about twenty minutes later none the worse for wear, in fact if I had not seen him in the water I would not have know that he had been in at all. The same clothes, the same hat and the same streaks of mud on his hands. Guess that is Rob !
Fri, 4 Mar 2011
Got up this morning to brilliant sunshine, just the sort of day to do all those little things that I have been putting off till the sun comes out. Clear the top of Almyne and give her a good wash, open up the cratch covers and air the cratch. Start spring cleaning inside Almyne, wash the floors, dust the surfaces, clean the headlining and even perhaps do a little washing.
The sun was so warm that I decided that the first thing to do was work on my tan, so I put a chair on the stern, made myself a cup of tea with honey and lemon, rolled a cigarette got out my book and just sat there wearing nothing but my shorts for an hour or two basking. Noticed that one of my socks was on the tow path - how! picked it up and put it away. Then I saw Ax, one of the two puppies with another of my socks. Ah ha I thought, that's how they are getting on the tow path. Retrieved it and noticed another one a bit further along. Ax had been popping on to Almyne and ferreting out my socks from the laundry basket. I'll have to find a better place to keep it.
Rob came along after a while and told me he was going to adjust my gear box, a task that needed doing and since he has already done the same task on his boat I was prepared to allow him to do it. Bang goes my tanning session.
Off with the engine covers, out with the cleaning materials (I don't think it fair that he should have to get all oily and greasy from my engine) and when it was clean enough, let Rob loose on it. It only took him about half an hour after which we moved about three hundred yards a along the canal where there is a place where we can use hooks to moor up with instead of pins (like big tent pegs) that keep getting pulled out when boats go past too fast, testing the newly adjusted gear box on the way. It works just fine and there is no slip when running at full throttle any more.
So, moored up, I took everything off the top of Almyne, including D'fer's ladder, which I put in the canal so he can climb back out after fetching a ball thrown in for him. That is enough for today, I'll wash Almyne tomorrow.
I had collected about eight footballs in my travels and in clearing the roof of Almyne I had placed them on the tow path, but not for long. As soon as D'fer spotted them he was in there playing with one and before long Ax and Bostic found them and all three dogs were busily playing with the footballs and before long they were all in the canal. D'fer was only interested in retrieving the one that he was playing with so the others are floating down the canal somewhere, I'll either pick them up on my way past or collect some more over the next month or so.
Off to set up my new roach pole and perhaps try a little fishing while the sun is still up.
With the sun going down it is time to light the fire, it has not been on all day, most unusual as it has been on 24 by 7 for several months now - perhaps the warmer weather really is on it's way.
Tue, 8 Mar 2011
A couple of weeks ago I was looking at 'Dutch Ovens' on the web and came across a web site run by the US scouts organisation. They had loads of recipes for things to cook in dutch ovens, amongst them pancakes. It suggested getting a pancake mix that you just add milk to. I had never heard of this so I looked for it in the supermarket. Found one and purchased it, along with some skimmed milk.
Today I decided to have pancakes. Got the pancake mixture out, read the instructions and got the milk out of the fridge. The milk was rock solid. Guess I'll have pancakes tomorrow instead.
The recipe that I loved best is:-
Genuine Australian Camel Stew
NOTE: Recipe requires a quite large Dutch Oven, Recommended for entertaining V.I.P's in Camp.
3 Medium sized Camels, 1 ton salt, 500 bushels Potatoes, 1 ton pepper, 200 bushels carrots, 3000 sprigs parsley, 2 small rabbits, 1000 gallons of brown gravy.
Cut camels into bite sized pieces, cube vegetables. Place meat into pan and cover with 1000 gallons of brown gravy. Simmer slowly for 4 weeks. Garnish with Parsley, Should serve 3800 people. If more are expected add 2 rabbits.
But I don't think I'm going to try it.
With all the sun we have been having I cleared out the cratch and have been letting it air for a couple of days with the cover up. Put them down again this evening as rain is forecast overnight, don't want it getting wet again.
I have also cleared and cleaned the stern. In the process I decided to cut the sticky out bits on the anchor off so that it stows more easily. They are (were) not important and as far as I could see served no useful purpose other than to hold it by. At least now I can grab it and throw it overboard at a moments notice, whereas I would have had to 'unpack' it before.
Mon, 14 Mar 2011
Rob is picking a friend, Neil
up from Northampton today and the plan is to set off early tomorrow, go to Rugby to stock up on provisions and shoot off down to Oxford. Well that's the plan.
Neil arrived in full regalia, kilt, tartan socks, boots Tam o'shanter, I half expected to see him pull some bagpipes out of his pocket.
Early night for me, planning on an early start.
Oh, nearly forgot. One of Rob 's dogs is now in season and D'fer has cottoned on. Up until now they have all been playing together quite happily, but now D'fer has a different agenda. Bostic, the one in season is being kept in most of the time and only walked on a lead, preferably when D'fer is not around. Ax, the other still comes out to play but Rob
feels that this is unfair to Bostic so it isn't happening very often. Apart from that Ax is likely to come into season soon too, and neither of us want any mistakes.
Tue, 15 Mar 2011
6½ miles
At last I am on my way to Oxford, the locks are open and I am travelling. Rob has decided to come down to Oxford with me, so the travelling should be easier, especially the notorious Oxford lift bridges, but D'fer will have to suffer a few more weeks of torture.
Late start after Rob and Neil spent all evening catching up.
I am sure I have explained that Rob likes his beer, to the point of it being a compulsion. Neil is teetotal, and I am led to believe that this is a combination of self imposed will and a series of bad experiences. Strange bedfellows!
Stopped short of the Buckby flight as we didn't want to attempt seven locks late in the afternoon and end up doing some of them in the dark. This gave Neil a chance to decide on what work to do first and what materials he needs.
D'fer spent nearly all day on Glue Sniffer pestering Rob to let him inside the boat with the other two dogs - not a chance. He spent the evening whining and moaning, and most of the night howling.
Wed, 16 Mar 2011
9½ miles 13 locks 1 tunnel
Early start today, well early for Rob . Made fairly good progress but it seemed slow.
Neil wants to get on with working on Rob's boat so we are trying to make a compromise between travelling and staying put and working. I expect that once we are stocked up on provisions, there are not many places along the Oxford canal to go shopping, he will hang back and then catch up with me later. He is due to meet his friend Jill in Oxford in a couple of weeks, but I want to get there sooner than that to get my stuff under way.
D'fer is being a nightmare. Both of Rob's dogs are in season, so he is keeping them on board. D'fer is plaguing him. Today, D'fer managed to get the door to Rob's boat open and tried mounting Bostic, Rob
dragged him off and Bostic disappeared under the bed. So D'fer tried mounting Ax. Rob
dragged him off and Ax hid under the bed as well. Not to be deterred, D'fer tried mounting Rob
!! Rob
kicked him off the boat.
Rob sleeps with his dogs and rarely changes his trousers, so he must smell strongly of a bitch in season.
It is becoming a routine that at night times, D'fer lies on my bed whining, alternated with howling. From now on, during the day he will be tied up on the back of Almyne, where he will sit whining and howling. He spends all evening sitting by the back doors whining, looking at me, reproachfully and looking back at the doors in the vain hope that I will let him out.
This evening he ate his dinner, the first time for three days, perhaps all the stress is wearing him down, I know it's wearing me down.
Did the first seven locks and stopped off to fill up with water, get rid of the rubbish and empty the porta pottie. Set off again and after negotiating
Braunston Tunnel, where I met a boat coming the other way that had a headlight so bright that I could not see where I was going and bumped him quite hard. Suggested politely that they try and point the light down a bit.
Once clear of the tunnel we stopped again for a bite to eat and refreshed set of to tackle the next set of six locks.
Arrived in Braunston just after five, but carried on a little further to get out in the sticks. Eventually moored up just before six, and just before it got dark.
The weather has improved enough that I am letting the fire out at night and not lighting it again till early evening, either four o'clock ish or as soon as we stop, if it is after four, welcome springtime.
Thu, 17 Mar 2011
11 miles 3 locks
Quite a long day today. Set off shortly after ten and arrived at Rugby at about half one.
On the way I managed to get some coal from one of the boat yards. I have used five bags of coal from on top of Glue Sniffer and was getting concerned that Rob might run short as he was on his last bag as well.
Rob missed the supermarket and had to turn around and come back.
Meanwhile, I did my stock up shop and by the time I was leaving the supermarket Rob was just arriving. Neil told me that they were planning on getting liver to do liver and onions for dinner tonight. I explained that I had already got liver and had just purchased carrots, brussels and mushrooms and that I already had the onions and potatoes for exactly that, so they left me to get dinner tonight and planned on something else for tomorrow.
I left them to it and arranged to meet them close to the Hillmorton flight.
Set of back towards Hillmorton and eventually moored up just after half four.
Started preparing dinner so that I could put it on as soon as they arrived and had that ready well before six.
Rob and Neil arrived just after half six and we all had dinner on Almyne. Rob explained that he had not finished his provisioning and would be going back into Rugby tomorrow. Not a problem, I have all the time in the world, except that I do want to get to Oxford sooner rather than later.
Fri, 18 Mar 2011
Lamb Of The Day
10 miles 3 locks
There was no sign of life from Glue Sniffer by eleven so I knocked on the roof and explained that I was going to head of towards Napton and wait for them there. That was OK with Rob so I left them to it and set off.
Cruised at tick-over most of the day and it took me six hours to do thirteen lock miles, that's an average of two lock miles per hour, a leisurely pace.
The only hiccup was getting an Arsenal T shirt wrapped around the propeller at the second of the three Hillmorton locks, so I had to pull over and clear the rear decks to get to the weed hatch and remove it.
After that it was plain sailing. The sun came out and I had a very pleasant day cruising along at tick-over with the radio on the back listening to Planet Rock, watching all the little lambs gambolling around in the fields and butting their mums for a little refreshment. It is so funny when they pretend to be space rockets and launch themselves into the air vertically, and the look of surprise on their faces is a picture. My engine is so noisy that I cannot hear the radio if I travel faster than tick-over, so all in all a really good day.
Moored up just after five, expecting Rob to be close behind me. Apparently not so, will give him a ring tomorrow to see what the situation is.
Ever since I have been on this trip, nearly four years now, my main problem has been bread. I love my bread. As fresh as possible and definitely not sliced. I like to slice my own. But getting a regular supply on a daily basis is less than easy.
I have tried a bread maker and although the result, eventually, were acceptable, the constraints of only being able to use it whilst the engine was running and the specialist flours it seemed to require put a stop to that.
I am now looking at things like pancakes as a possible alternative, but they need preparing and cooking at the point of consumption. Did pancakes with ham for breakfast. If I were in France they would have been called 'crepes'. The batter was a little thicker than I would have chosen and I did keep on thinning it as I cooked each one. Practice makes perfect.
The mix I used just requires the addition of an egg and water, perhaps I should get used to making my own pancake batter, after all the mix I purchased is just flour and powdered milk, both of which I have on board, but at ten P for a packet that makes eight pancakes is it worth the hassle?
Some of the pre prepared, ready to cook, bread sticks and rolls are good, but not the same.
While on the subject of bread, it reminds me that I determine the comfortable temperature of Almyne by the butter. If the butter is easily spreadable then Almyne is warm enough. If I have to scrape the butter off the block so that I can spread it, it is a bit chilly. If I have to stick it under the grill then it is definitely too cold.
I purchased some beef dripping at the last shopping stop and this evening I decided that I would have fish fingers and chips for tea. Two blocks of dripping in the saucepan and on the stove to melt and heat up. I have an infra-red thermometer so can measure the temperature of the dripping accurately. Followed the cooking guide for chips, while the fish fingers were under the grill and when everything was cooked sat down to my meal. The chips were tasty but soggy. I need more practice. I suppose I am more used to a domestic chip fryer that takes care of everything for me.
Sat, 19 Mar 2011
Moon
6 miles 9 locks
Clear sky and very bright moon last night, apparently the biggest moon for eighteen years as the moon is the nearest it gets to us. After travelling all day yesterday on my own, with D'fer acting all forlorn and sulking, tied up on the back, he did settle down for the evening and ate his dinner with some enthusiasm.
Rob arrived early today, about half nine, and I had not been up for long. He suggested that we crack on and I had to get ready in a hurry.
D'fer stayed on Glue Sniffer most of the day, returning to see if I was all right occasionally. Rob was lead boat today. He got stuck in the second of the main flight of locks at Napton , he had left his fenders down.
I got stuck in the third lock of the flight, but it was not my fenders. I think that there was an obstruction in the lock as I could see space all around Almyne, even though she would not move either forwards or backwards. Fortunately I was far enough into the lock to close the gates behind me and when I started filing the lock (slowly) Almyne rose up happily and I had no further problems.
A wonderful days travelling with the sun warm and bright, a cloudless sky and a chance to work on my tan, wearing only shorts and T shirt.
Moored up shortly after three so that Neil could do some work on Glue Sniffer. We plan to stay here till Monday so that he can make some progress.
It seems that Bostic has now returned to normal as D'fer is far less interested in her, which is a great relief to us all, although Ax will probably come into season soon and it will all start over again.
Went out of Almyne shortly after dark and the moon was just above the horizon with an orange aura all around it, just had to try to get a picture of it. The air was clean and crisp, just like an autumn morning, but tucked up all warm and cosy inside Almyne I was not going to worry about that.
D'fer went for his after dinner wander and returned after about ten minutes, so he is pretty well back to normal now.
Mon, 21 Mar 2011
10 miles
Just four an a half miles today, cruising at tick over again enjoying the scenery spread out in a vista either side of the canal. One of the rarer occurrences, I saw a mink today, I think is was after the pheasant in the same coppice.
Tue, 22 Mar 2011
A Tree In Blossom
Stream
8 miles 13 locks 1 lift bridge
A really good days travelling. We set out just after eight, which is amazingly early for Rob and he took the lead. Needless to say, D'fer spent nearly all day on board with him, occasionally running back to me when Rob
got to a lock just to make sure I was still in the convoy.
The early start did have it's own repercussions. At the ninth lock of the day I arrived while Glue Sniffer was still in the lock. I moored up and went along to assist and Rob took Glue Sniffer out of the lock while I prepared it for myself and then went in. As I was leaving, Glue Sniffer could still be seen about one hundred yards ahead, seemingly abandoned in the weeds on the offside bank. Neil and D'fer were sat on the tow path just looking at Glue Sniffer and Rob was nowhere to be seen. From what I could gather Rob had exited the lock, turned off the engine, gone inside and fallen asleep! Too much beer.
Not quite sure what to do I 'floated' Almyne down the canal and by the time I had got to Glue Sniffer she had drifted across to the tow path side and Neil was boarding her. He got her going and I then took the lead to Banbury .
By the time we reached Banbury Rob had surfaced and we negotiated the town lock and lift bridge with no further incidents, moored up a couple of hundred yards further on and I went shopping in town. Managed to get some maggots, so I will be content to spend a couple of days fishing while Neil gets on with preparing and painting Glue Sniffer. Returned to town to get some provisions, I am running out of Cranberry juice, and I am always in need of fresh bread.
With that complete moved on another mile or so to get out in the sticks so that the dogs can be let out.
I might have improved on what little tan I have so far as the day was sunny all the time, although still chilly enough to need a T shirt on.
Fri, 25 Mar 2011
The Dogs Playing
8 miles 5 locks 1 lift bridge
After a couple of days chilling, fishing and just lazing around while Neil got on with the preparation for painting Glue Sniffer, Rob was running out of beer, so we set off towards Kidlington.
This area looks really nice to overwinter in, so perhaps I'll come back here for the winter. There is a whole bunch of timber lying along the tow path side, just waiting to be collected and as we are only just out of the cold period I can only imagine that no-one has been harvesting it. Good chance that there will be loads here next winter too.
Knocked off just after four at Lower Heyford and moored up by a big open field where the dogs could run riot and there was still enough light for Neil to do some more work.
Sat, 26 Mar 2011
Side By Side
10 miles 6 locks 3 lift bridge
Should make Kidlington easily enough today, but I will be stopping just short at The Jolly Boatman, so that Richard
can visit tomorrow.
I seem to remember there being loads more lift bridges when I last came this way, but perhaps that is because I was single crewing and with Neil working them on this trip they have not been so apparent.
Fairly uneventful journey, no-one has fallen in, no-one has fallen asleep at the tiller and no-one has got left behind.
D'fer has been in a couple of times but that is because he has been trying to get on to Glue Sniffer by leaping off the bank and swimming out to her. He couldn't climb on board anyway, but he still tries.
I pulled over at The Jolly Boatman, while Glue Sniffer carried on. I had to tie D'fer up for a while so that he didn't go chasing after them. Once I put his ladder in the water and threw the ball for him a couple of times he forgot about them altogether.
A quiet evening, apart from the group of girls on the boat in front who came back from the pub as only drunk girls can.
Mon, 28 Mar 2011
Jolly Boatman
Jolly Boatman
6 miles 4 locks 5 lift bridges
Spent yesterday outside the pub enjoying the quiet of not having Glue Sniffer and attendant life forms around. Richard visited and we had our usual chin wag, catching up on what is going on in each others lives.
Off to Oxford proper today. Set out just before mid day, enjoying the sunshine.
All the lift bridges up till now have been 'normally open'. Since I was last here, three years ago (May 2008) most of the lift bridges have been re-balanced, so that they stay open rather than closed, so I don't have to stop for them. The lift bridges on today's journey have been re-balanced so that they swing open, but are held closed by a sort of lock that is operated by the BW Watermate key, all except one that has not been changed at all, so had to do the boat shuffle routine.
Arrived at the 50ft winding hole at Isis lock only to find that a plastic cruiser was moored up in it. It took me nearly half an hour to make the u-turn without crushing it against the bank. Not a good place to moor any boat, let alone a plastic one.
Moored up and went for a walk into Oxford, hasn't changed.
Wed, 30 Mar 2011
4 miles 2 locks 3 lift bridges
One and a half days in Oxford and I'm bored with it, too crowded would you believe, even on the tow path.
Niece due to arrive at about eleven yesterday, turned up at half five, only a little late, but she did go to the wrong lock to start with. Had a good chat and she arranged to come back again today with her boy friend to work the locks with me. Text message at half one, she can't make it.
So I waited till the rain stopped and set off my self. Made it as far as Kidlington Green Lock, just before Kidlington itself.
Internet signal lousy, but then I hadn't planned on stopping here for long anyway, off first thing in the morning to meet my sister the other side of Kidlington.
The weather has been glorious, but it is a bit on the cool side today and forecast for some rain, guess I'll have to find a nice spot to hole up in for a few days.
My Niece is meant to be visiting today, but she is notoriously unreliable, so I'm not holding my breath. My sister should be visiting on Thursday.
D'fer is amusing all the tow path strollers by swimming in the canal and climbing out on his ladder, they all think it is so clever. I left Rob behind at Kidlington as there is nowhere in Oxford that he can let his dogs roam, but I'll probably go back that way in a day or so. I need to be near a roadway so that I can get busses to get into Oxford and Rob wants to be as far away from roads as possible. I do normally, but needs must.
I sort of seem to have lost the power of writing at the moment, can't get my head around updating the site.
I would say that life here is a bit boring, but that is by my standards, what I mean is that there doesn't seem to be anything exciting to tell you, Rob hasn't fallen in, I haven't fallen in, D'fer hasn't caught any rabbits, Almyne is still afloat, and the wild life is just ducks, swans and herons. The fishing is quite good though, even if they are all tiddlers.
Just got accosted by an itinerant. He was asking if I knew anyone who might want to hire out a narrow boat. Gave him Clive's number. (The guy I was with at Cowley). Apparently this guy has been on the road for 25 years, ever since he got kicked out of the army for beating up his sergeant with his rifle but!! and is currently living in an underground car park in Oxford. He tells me that his social worker will contact Clive
and set up a deal if one is possible.
There, that's almost exciting.
Today we took the boats back to Blissworth and caught the bus into Northampton. My investigation of the bus from Anchor Farm resulted in a change of mind, I know that the busses go from Blissworth. I went to the market, while Rob
met a friend of his, Jill, who was coming to stay with him for a few days, and while I was there found the DVD stall. Got four at £1 each and 3 at £2.50 each, so lots to keep me occupied. Also got a three metre roach pole to replace the one that got stolen off the top of Almyne, so I might get some fishing done as the weather improves, which reminds me I must get my fishing license.
Called in at the supermarket on the way back and Rob and Jill left without me, so I was stood there like a pig in a mosque waiting for them. I rang him to find out if they had finished shopping and Rob told me that they were back at the boats, so I just caught the next bus. Arrived back at Blissworth and we set off back to the wilderness where we had moored the previous night.
I cooked dinner for us all and Rob and Jill joined me on Almyne for a meal and a chat. Very pleasant evening.
Wed, 2 Mar 2011
Today I walked down to Gayton and collected the parcels that were waiting for me at the boat yard, carried them back to Almyne and unpacked them.
The light strip was not what I had hoped for but still useful.
The TV/DVD/USB player looked good when I unpacked it and played DVDs well, but when I came to try using a USB stick in it, I could not make it work at all. I followed the instructions faithfully but the options to select the USB port just did not appear on the menus.
Contacted the supplier and arranged to send it back for a refund and also contacted my bank asking them to refund my monies as it was a credit card purchase, will have to see what transpires. I've got the TV/DVD player all packed up so I just have to pop in to Northampton tomorrow and put it in the post to the supplier.
Nothing very exciting, but it was fairly sunny this afternoon.
Rob
cooked dinner and brought it along to Almyne as his boat cannot cope with a sit down meal for three. In fact it cannot cope with a sit down meal for one! It is good to have company for the evening.
I have organised with the welder to do a little work on Almyne, cutting a hole in the side and filling in another hole in the side, along with cleaning out the engine drip bilge and that is scheduled for early next week, so I'll be here for a few more days. Mind you, cannot go far till eleventh February as the next flight of locks is closed till then.
Thu, 3 Mar 2011
I do not spoil my dog
If I were to title each page this one would be called Rob's annual bath.
Up and out by mid day. Rob
was taking Jill back to Northampton to catch the train so I joined him on Glue Sniffer and we cruised back down to Blissworth. Just missed one bus, but as they run every half hour there was not too log to wait.
Got to Northampton and Rob and Jill went off to the train station and I found the post office to return the NLR (No Longer Required) TV. Got that sorted out and wandered around the shopping mall to try to keep warm.
Eventually met up with Rob who was looking for a GP so that he could get a prescription for his badly needed tablets. Called in at Boots who directed us to a Health Practice about twenty minutes walk away. Found them and after a little haggling Rob got an appointment for later on in the afternoon.
Rob , by this time was in a state of mild inebriation. Jill had woken him up about half nine, and Rob starts the day with a beer and continues on like that for the rest of the day. Today, he started early!
Anyway, went to his appointment, got his prescription and got it fulfilled.
Caught the bus back to Blissworth, by which time it was already dark. Rob kept falling asleep on the bus, so I had to make sure that I did not. Alighted at Blissworth and Rob decided that he was probably incapable of taking Glue Sniffer back to where we moor up (and D'fer
was, as I had left him on Almyne for the day).
I turned Glue Sniffer around and headed off towards our mooring in the dark. Now I have been told that 'if you cannot see anything in front of you it is because there is nothing in front of you'. I was about to find out.
Having got Glue Sniffer pointed in the right direction I started cruising, sending Rob inside to make me a cup of coffee, mostly to warm me up and partly to keep Rob safe below decks.
Made it safely to the mooring and as we pulled in to the bank Rob stepped off Glue Sniffer with the rope in one hand and his '5 cell Maglight' in the other. By the time he was on the bank the '5 cell Maglight' was in the water.
We managed to get Glue Sniffer secure and Rob immediately stripped off and looking pale and pasty jumped into the canal, feeling around on the bottom with his feet for his torch. While he was doing this I got my fire going properly, put some rice on to boil and put the kettle on to boil as well. Collected some towels and my dressing gown and went back to Glue Sniffer.
Rob was still wading around but by now he had some colour in his cheeks, both his face cheeks and his bum cheeks, while his little pinkie was shrivelled up to almost nothing just below the waterline.
A few moments later he found his torch and I watched him climb out. Once he was on, what used to be dry land, but was now a pool of water, I left him to dry off and get dressed while I returned to Almyne to prepare something hot to eat and drink and make sure that it was nice and warm on board, I didn't want him dying of hypothermia while I was around.
He came along to Almyne about twenty minutes later none the worse for wear, in fact if I had not seen him in the water I would not have know that he had been in at all. The same clothes, the same hat and the same streaks of mud on his hands. Guess that is Rob !
Fri, 4 Mar 2011
Got up this morning to brilliant sunshine, just the sort of day to do all those little things that I have been putting off till the sun comes out. Clear the top of Almyne and give her a good wash, open up the cratch covers and air the cratch. Start spring cleaning inside Almyne, wash the floors, dust the surfaces, clean the headlining and even perhaps do a little washing.
The sun was so warm that I decided that the first thing to do was work on my tan, so I put a chair on the stern, made myself a cup of tea with honey and lemon, rolled a cigarette got out my book and just sat there wearing nothing but my shorts for an hour or two basking. Noticed that one of my socks was on the tow path - how! picked it up and put it away. Then I saw Ax, one of the two puppies with another of my socks. Ah ha I thought, that's how they are getting on the tow path. Retrieved it and noticed another one a bit further along. Ax had been popping on to Almyne and ferreting out my socks from the laundry basket. I'll have to find a better place to keep it.
Rob
came along after a while and told me he was going to adjust my gear box, a task that needed doing and since he has already done the same task on his boat I was prepared to allow him to do it. Bang goes my tanning session.
Off with the engine covers, out with the cleaning materials (I don't think it fair that he should have to get all oily and greasy from my engine) and when it was clean enough, let Rob loose on it. It only took him about half an hour after which we moved about three hundred yards a along the canal where there is a place where we can use hooks to moor up with instead of pins (like big tent pegs) that keep getting pulled out when boats go past too fast, testing the newly adjusted gear box on the way. It works just fine and there is no slip when running at full throttle any more.
So, moored up, I took everything off the top of Almyne, including D'fer's ladder, which I put in the canal so he can climb back out after fetching a ball thrown in for him. That is enough for today, I'll wash Almyne tomorrow.
I had collected about eight footballs in my travels and in clearing the roof of Almyne I had placed them on the tow path, but not for long. As soon as D'fer
spotted them he was in there playing with one and before long Ax and Bostic found them and all three dogs were busily playing with the footballs and before long they were all in the canal. D'fer was only interested in retrieving the one that he was playing with so the others are floating down the canal somewhere, I'll either pick them up on my way past or collect some more over the next month or so.
Off to set up my new roach pole and perhaps try a little fishing while the sun is still up.
With the sun going down it is time to light the fire, it has not been on all day, most unusual as it has been on 24 by 7 for several months now - perhaps the warmer weather really is on it's way.
Tue, 8 Mar 2011
A couple of weeks ago I was looking at 'Dutch Ovens' on the web and came across a web site run by the US scouts organisation. They had loads of recipes for things to cook in dutch ovens, amongst them pancakes. It suggested getting a pancake mix that you just add milk to. I had never heard of this so I looked for it in the supermarket. Found one and purchased it, along with some skimmed milk.
Today I decided to have pancakes. Got the pancake mixture out, read the instructions and got the milk out of the fridge. The milk was rock solid. Guess I'll have pancakes tomorrow instead.
The recipe that I loved best is:-
Genuine Australian Camel Stew
NOTE: Recipe requires a quite large Dutch Oven, Recommended for entertaining V.I.P's in Camp.
3 Medium sized Camels, 1 ton salt, 500 bushels Potatoes, 1 ton pepper, 200 bushels carrots, 3000 sprigs parsley, 2 small rabbits, 1000 gallons of brown gravy.
Cut camels into bite sized pieces, cube vegetables. Place meat into pan and cover with 1000 gallons of brown gravy. Simmer slowly for 4 weeks. Garnish with Parsley, Should serve 3800 people. If more are expected add 2 rabbits.
But I don't think I'm going to try it.
With all the sun we have been having I cleared out the cratch and have been letting it air for a couple of days with the cover up. Put them down again this evening as rain is forecast overnight, don't want it getting wet again.
I have also cleared and cleaned the stern. In the process I decided to cut the sticky out bits on the anchor off so that it stows more easily. They are (were) not important and as far as I could see served no useful purpose other than to hold it by. At least now I can grab it and throw it overboard at a moments notice, whereas I would have had to 'unpack' it before.
Mon, 14 Mar 2011
Rob
is picking a friend, Neil
up from Northampton today and the plan is to set off early tomorrow, go to Rugby to stock up on provisions and shoot off down to Oxford. Well that's the plan.
Neil arrived in full regalia, kilt, tartan socks, boots Tam o'shanter, I half expected to see him pull some bagpipes out of his pocket.
Early night for me, planning on an early start.
Oh, nearly forgot. One of Rob 's dogs is now in season and D'fer
has cottoned on. Up until now they have all been playing together quite happily, but now D'fer has a different agenda. Bostic, the one in season is being kept in most of the time and only walked on a lead, preferably when D'fer is not around. Ax, the other still comes out to play but Rob
feels that this is unfair to Bostic so it isn't happening very often. Apart from that Ax is likely to come into season soon too, and neither of us want any mistakes.Tue, 15 Mar 2011
6½ miles
At last I am on my way to Oxford, the locks are open and I am travelling. Rob
has decided to come down to Oxford with me, so the travelling should be easier, especially the notorious Oxford lift bridges, but D'fer will have to suffer a few more weeks of torture.
Late start after Rob and Neil spent all evening catching up.
I am sure I have explained that Rob likes his beer, to the point of it being a compulsion. Neil is teetotal, and I am led to believe that this is a combination of self imposed will and a series of bad experiences. Strange bedfellows!
Stopped short of the Buckby flight as we didn't want to attempt seven locks late in the afternoon and end up doing some of them in the dark. This gave Neil a chance to decide on what work to do first and what materials he needs.
D'fer spent nearly all day on Glue Sniffer pestering Rob to let him inside the boat with the other two dogs - not a chance. He spent the evening whining and moaning, and most of the night howling.
Wed, 16 Mar 2011
9½ miles 13 locks 1 tunnel
Early start today, well early for Rob
. Made fairly good progress but it seemed slow.
Neil wants to get on with working on Rob's boat so we are trying to make a compromise between travelling and staying put and working. I expect that once we are stocked up on provisions, there are not many places along the Oxford canal to go shopping, he will hang back and then catch up with me later. He is due to meet his friend Jill in Oxford in a couple of weeks, but I want to get there sooner than that to get my stuff under way.
D'fer
is being a nightmare. Both of Rob's dogs are in season, so he is keeping them on board. D'fer is plaguing him. Today, D'fer managed to get the door to Rob's boat open and tried mounting Bostic, Rob
dragged him off and Bostic disappeared under the bed. So D'fer tried mounting Ax. Rob
dragged him off and Ax hid under the bed as well. Not to be deterred, D'fer tried mounting Rob
!! Rob
kicked him off the boat.
Rob sleeps with his dogs and rarely changes his trousers, so he must smell strongly of a bitch in season.
It is becoming a routine that at night times, D'fer lies on my bed whining, alternated with howling. From now on, during the day he will be tied up on the back of Almyne, where he will sit whining and howling. He spends all evening sitting by the back doors whining, looking at me, reproachfully and looking back at the doors in the vain hope that I will let him out.
This evening he ate his dinner, the first time for three days, perhaps all the stress is wearing him down, I know it's wearing me down.
Did the first seven locks and stopped off to fill up with water, get rid of the rubbish and empty the porta pottie. Set off again and after negotiating
Braunston Tunnel, where I met a boat coming the other way that had a headlight so bright that I could not see where I was going and bumped him quite hard. Suggested politely that they try and point the light down a bit.
Once clear of the tunnel we stopped again for a bite to eat and refreshed set of to tackle the next set of six locks.
Arrived in Braunston just after five, but carried on a little further to get out in the sticks. Eventually moored up just before six, and just before it got dark.
The weather has improved enough that I am letting the fire out at night and not lighting it again till early evening, either four o'clock ish or as soon as we stop, if it is after four, welcome springtime.
Thu, 17 Mar 2011
11 miles 3 locks
Quite a long day today. Set off shortly after ten and arrived at Rugby at about half one.
On the way I managed to get some coal from one of the boat yards. I have used five bags of coal from on top of Glue Sniffer and was getting concerned that Rob
might run short as he was on his last bag as well.
Rob missed the supermarket and had to turn around and come back.
Meanwhile, I did my stock up shop and by the time I was leaving the supermarket Rob was just arriving. Neil told me that they were planning on getting liver to do liver and onions for dinner tonight. I explained that I had already got liver and had just purchased carrots, brussels and mushrooms and that I already had the onions and potatoes for exactly that, so they left me to get dinner tonight and planned on something else for tomorrow.
I left them to it and arranged to meet them close to the Hillmorton flight.
Set of back towards Hillmorton and eventually moored up just after half four.
Started preparing dinner so that I could put it on as soon as they arrived and had that ready well before six.
Rob and Neil arrived just after half six and we all had dinner on Almyne. Rob explained that he had not finished his provisioning and would be going back into Rugby tomorrow. Not a problem, I have all the time in the world, except that I do want to get to Oxford sooner rather than later.
Fri, 18 Mar 2011
Lamb Of The Day
10 miles 3 locks
There was no sign of life from Glue Sniffer by eleven so I knocked on the roof and explained that I was going to head of towards Napton and wait for them there. That was OK with Rob
so I left them to it and set off.
Cruised at tick-over most of the day and it took me six hours to do thirteen lock miles, that's an average of two lock miles per hour, a leisurely pace.
The only hiccup was getting an Arsenal T shirt wrapped around the propeller at the second of the three Hillmorton locks, so I had to pull over and clear the rear decks to get to the weed hatch and remove it.
After that it was plain sailing. The sun came out and I had a very pleasant day cruising along at tick-over with the radio on the back listening to Planet Rock, watching all the little lambs gambolling around in the fields and butting their mums for a little refreshment. It is so funny when they pretend to be space rockets and launch themselves into the air vertically, and the look of surprise on their faces is a picture. My engine is so noisy that I cannot hear the radio if I travel faster than tick-over, so all in all a really good day.
Moored up just after five, expecting Rob to be close behind me. Apparently not so, will give him a ring tomorrow to see what the situation is.
Ever since I have been on this trip, nearly four years now, my main problem has been bread. I love my bread. As fresh as possible and definitely not sliced. I like to slice my own. But getting a regular supply on a daily basis is less than easy.
I have tried a bread maker and although the result, eventually, were acceptable, the constraints of only being able to use it whilst the engine was running and the specialist flours it seemed to require put a stop to that.
I am now looking at things like pancakes as a possible alternative, but they need preparing and cooking at the point of consumption. Did pancakes with ham for breakfast. If I were in France they would have been called 'crepes'. The batter was a little thicker than I would have chosen and I did keep on thinning it as I cooked each one. Practice makes perfect.
The mix I used just requires the addition of an egg and water, perhaps I should get used to making my own pancake batter, after all the mix I purchased is just flour and powdered milk, both of which I have on board, but at ten P for a packet that makes eight pancakes is it worth the hassle?
Some of the pre prepared, ready to cook, bread sticks and rolls are good, but not the same.
While on the subject of bread, it reminds me that I determine the comfortable temperature of Almyne by the butter. If the butter is easily spreadable then Almyne is warm enough. If I have to scrape the butter off the block so that I can spread it, it is a bit chilly. If I have to stick it under the grill then it is definitely too cold.
I purchased some beef dripping at the last shopping stop and this evening I decided that I would have fish fingers and chips for tea. Two blocks of dripping in the saucepan and on the stove to melt and heat up. I have an infra-red thermometer so can measure the temperature of the dripping accurately. Followed the cooking guide for chips, while the fish fingers were under the grill and when everything was cooked sat down to my meal. The chips were tasty but soggy. I need more practice. I suppose I am more used to a domestic chip fryer that takes care of everything for me.
Sat, 19 Mar 2011
Moon
6 miles 9 locks
Clear sky and very bright moon last night, apparently the biggest moon for eighteen years as the moon is the nearest it gets to us. After travelling all day yesterday on my own, with D'fer
acting all forlorn and sulking, tied up on the back, he did settle down for the evening and ate his dinner with some enthusiasm.
Rob
arrived early today, about half nine, and I had not been up for long. He suggested that we crack on and I had to get ready in a hurry.
D'fer stayed on Glue Sniffer most of the day, returning to see if I was all right occasionally. Rob was lead boat today. He got stuck in the second of the main flight of locks at Napton , he had left his fenders down.
I got stuck in the third lock of the flight, but it was not my fenders. I think that there was an obstruction in the lock as I could see space all around Almyne, even though she would not move either forwards or backwards. Fortunately I was far enough into the lock to close the gates behind me and when I started filing the lock (slowly) Almyne rose up happily and I had no further problems.
A wonderful days travelling with the sun warm and bright, a cloudless sky and a chance to work on my tan, wearing only shorts and T shirt.
Moored up shortly after three so that Neil could do some work on Glue Sniffer. We plan to stay here till Monday so that he can make some progress.
It seems that Bostic has now returned to normal as D'fer is far less interested in her, which is a great relief to us all, although Ax will probably come into season soon and it will all start over again.
Went out of Almyne shortly after dark and the moon was just above the horizon with an orange aura all around it, just had to try to get a picture of it. The air was clean and crisp, just like an autumn morning, but tucked up all warm and cosy inside Almyne I was not going to worry about that.
D'fer went for his after dinner wander and returned after about ten minutes, so he is pretty well back to normal now.
Mon, 21 Mar 2011
10 miles
Just four an a half miles today, cruising at tick over again enjoying the scenery spread out in a vista either side of the canal. One of the rarer occurrences, I saw a mink today, I think is was after the pheasant in the same coppice.
Tue, 22 Mar 2011
A Tree In Blossom
Stream
8 miles 13 locks 1 lift bridge
A really good days travelling. We set out just after eight, which is amazingly early for Rob
and he took the lead. Needless to say, D'fer spent nearly all day on board with him, occasionally running back to me when Rob
got to a lock just to make sure I was still in the convoy.
The early start did have it's own repercussions. At the ninth lock of the day I arrived while Glue Sniffer was still in the lock. I moored up and went along to assist and Rob took Glue Sniffer out of the lock while I prepared it for myself and then went in. As I was leaving, Glue Sniffer could still be seen about one hundred yards ahead, seemingly abandoned in the weeds on the offside bank. Neil and D'fer were sat on the tow path just looking at Glue Sniffer and Rob was nowhere to be seen. From what I could gather Rob had exited the lock, turned off the engine, gone inside and fallen asleep! Too much beer.
Not quite sure what to do I 'floated' Almyne down the canal and by the time I had got to Glue Sniffer she had drifted across to the tow path side and Neil was boarding her. He got her going and I then took the lead to Banbury .
By the time we reached Banbury Rob had surfaced and we negotiated the town lock and lift bridge with no further incidents, moored up a couple of hundred yards further on and I went shopping in town. Managed to get some maggots, so I will be content to spend a couple of days fishing while Neil gets on with preparing and painting Glue Sniffer. Returned to town to get some provisions, I am running out of Cranberry juice, and I am always in need of fresh bread.
With that complete moved on another mile or so to get out in the sticks so that the dogs can be let out.
I might have improved on what little tan I have so far as the day was sunny all the time, although still chilly enough to need a T shirt on.
Fri, 25 Mar 2011
The Dogs Playing
8 miles 5 locks 1 lift bridge
After a couple of days chilling, fishing and just lazing around while Neil got on with the preparation for painting Glue Sniffer, Rob
was running out of beer, so we set off towards Kidlington.
This area looks really nice to overwinter in, so perhaps I'll come back here for the winter. There is a whole bunch of timber lying along the tow path side, just waiting to be collected and as we are only just out of the cold period I can only imagine that no-one has been harvesting it. Good chance that there will be loads here next winter too.
Knocked off just after four at Lower Heyford and moored up by a big open field where the dogs could run riot and there was still enough light for Neil to do some more work.
Sat, 26 Mar 2011
Side By Side
10 miles 6 locks 3 lift bridge
Should make Kidlington easily enough today, but I will be stopping just short at The Jolly Boatman, so that Richard
can visit tomorrow.
I seem to remember there being loads more lift bridges when I last came this way, but perhaps that is because I was single crewing and with Neil working them on this trip they have not been so apparent.
Fairly uneventful journey, no-one has fallen in, no-one has fallen asleep at the tiller and no-one has got left behind.
D'fer
has been in a couple of times but that is because he has been trying to get on to Glue Sniffer by leaping off the bank and swimming out to her. He couldn't climb on board anyway, but he still tries.
I pulled over at The Jolly Boatman, while Glue Sniffer carried on. I had to tie D'fer up for a while so that he didn't go chasing after them. Once I put his ladder in the water and threw the ball for him a couple of times he forgot about them altogether.
A quiet evening, apart from the group of girls on the boat in front who came back from the pub as only drunk girls can.
Mon, 28 Mar 2011
Jolly Boatman
Jolly Boatman
6 miles 4 locks 5 lift bridges
Spent yesterday outside the pub enjoying the quiet of not having Glue Sniffer and attendant life forms around. Richard
visited and we had our usual chin wag, catching up on what is going on in each others lives.
Off to Oxford proper today. Set out just before mid day, enjoying the sunshine.
All the lift bridges up till now have been 'normally open'. Since I was last here, three years ago (May 2008) most of the lift bridges have been re-balanced, so that they stay open rather than closed, so I don't have to stop for them. The lift bridges on today's journey have been re-balanced so that they swing open, but are held closed by a sort of lock that is operated by the BW Watermate key, all except one that has not been changed at all, so had to do the boat shuffle routine.
Arrived at the 50ft winding hole at Isis lock only to find that a plastic cruiser was moored up in it. It took me nearly half an hour to make the u-turn without crushing it against the bank. Not a good place to moor any boat, let alone a plastic one.
Moored up and went for a walk into Oxford, hasn't changed.
Wed, 30 Mar 2011
4 miles 2 locks 3 lift bridges
One and a half days in Oxford and I'm bored with it, too crowded would you believe, even on the tow path.
Niece due to arrive at about eleven yesterday, turned up at half five, only a little late, but she did go to the wrong lock to start with. Had a good chat and she arranged to come back again today with her boy friend to work the locks with me. Text message at half one, she can't make it.
So I waited till the rain stopped and set off my self. Made it as far as Kidlington Green Lock, just before Kidlington itself.
Internet signal lousy, but then I hadn't planned on stopping here for long anyway, off first thing in the morning to meet my sister the other side of Kidlington.
The weather has been glorious, but it is a bit on the cool side today and forecast for some rain, guess I'll have to find a nice spot to hole up in for a few days.
My Niece is meant to be visiting today, but she is notoriously unreliable, so I'm not holding my breath. My sister should be visiting on Thursday.
D'fer
is amusing all the tow path strollers by swimming in the canal and climbing out on his ladder, they all think it is so clever. I left Rob behind at Kidlington as there is nowhere in Oxford that he can let his dogs roam, but I'll probably go back that way in a day or so. I need to be near a roadway so that I can get busses to get into Oxford and Rob wants to be as far away from roads as possible. I do normally, but needs must.
I sort of seem to have lost the power of writing at the moment, can't get my head around updating the site.
I would say that life here is a bit boring, but that is by my standards, what I mean is that there doesn't seem to be anything exciting to tell you, Rob hasn't fallen in, I haven't fallen in, D'fer hasn't caught any rabbits, Almyne is still afloat, and the wild life is just ducks, swans and herons. The fishing is quite good though, even if they are all tiddlers.
Just got accosted by an itinerant. He was asking if I knew anyone who might want to hire out a narrow boat. Gave him Clive's number. (The guy I was with at Cowley). Apparently this guy has been on the road for 25 years, ever since he got kicked out of the army for beating up his sergeant with his rifle but!! and is currently living in an underground car park in Oxford. He tells me that his social worker will contact Clive
and set up a deal if one is possible.
There, that's almost exciting.
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