Day two and we’re back where we started from.

Friday 19th April 2019
Last night, when I turned on the Alde boiler, the unit made some horrible cracking noises as the flame started heating the water jacket. A while later all we could hear was air bubbles being circulated in the radiators. I tried bleeding the radiator and topping up the header tanks but with no joy. Investigation in the ‘black hole of Calcutta’ (aka the heating cupboard) revealed that not only was the Alde losing water but also the hot water tank was sat in a puddle of it’s own. After discussion we decided that tomorrow we would turn and head back to Brinklow where I could sort out these issues with access to parts and transport if needed for fetching bits.

This morning investigation revealed that a guy named Graham Cutmore in Northampton sells exchange refurbished Alde boilers but he’s on holiday and not back until 24th April. Midland Swindlers Chandlers at Braunston had the calorifier in stock that I required.

So, having been embracing the luxury of having an extended cruising season it a bit like one step forwards and one back again. We cast off and proceeded to the first winding hole, just after bridge 18, turned and then made our way South back to Hawksbury junction and a hard left onto the North Oxford canal for the run back to Brinklow marina. I spotted this old BCN spoon dredger moored just before Stretton Stop – I suspect it must be owned by the Rose Narrowboat peeps.
Back on the mooring, with little wind luckily, and straight out in the car to Braunston. The man there was very knowledgable about all this plastic plumbing and so proffered lots of little bit I would not of thought of to help connect the new calorifier to our old plumbing – we’ll see how it goes tomorrow. It also turns out that Midland Chandlers also sell the Alde boiler water jacket as a spare part so I’m hoping to move all our other bits from the existing boiler onto that once I’ve got the hot water on again.
On our way back to the mooring we did shopping at Alde and Screwfix and then collected Fish and Chips for tea from Brinklow chippy (under new management since I last used it but still as good) Brenda was pleased that they used cardboard boxes rather than polystyrene to contain the fish and chips – far more eco-friendly.
There may not be a blog post tomorrow as I’m likely to be up to my armpits in plumbing tomorrow.
Graham