In praise of Tilley hats

In 2004 Brenda purchased a Tilley hat (type T3) as a present for me and  it has been my ‘boating hat’ ever since. Although not cheap, one of the benefits of the Tilley is a guarantee against loss or damage.

In 2006, whilst we were doing the Basingstoke at Easter, I found a pair of googly eye glasses floating in the cut and ever since then my Tilly hat has sported then on the brim where they attract lots of comments, both complementary and not, from almost everyone we meet whilst boating.

After this year’s Cutweb rally, she (who must be obeyed) confiscated my hat for yet another visit to the washing machine in the name of hygiene. When the wash had finished she was aghast at what she found and then had to break the news to me that my beloved hat had suffered in the wash and now had a large tear just above the head band for about 30% of the circumference.

I decided to check out the guarantee conditions on the Tilley website and found that if I returned the damaged hat to their Cornwall address with a cheque for £5.00p they would replace the damaged item. I could even request that the original hat is returned to me as well. So the hat was posted back to Tilley on Thursday 20th September and lo behold, a replacement arrived on Monday 24th September accompanied by my existing hat which now sported a large letter R indelibly marked on the inside lining.

Brenda then attacked the old hat and repaired the damage so that it could still be worn. If you look closely in the picture (left)  you can just see the repair  behind the googly eyes which are now refitted in their rightful place.

A big Well done! to Tilley Endurables for a service better than I expected – definitely worth every penny of the original purchase price and worthy of a Jannock recommendation..

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock’s summer trip – days #14 to #17 – The Cutweb Rally

Friday 14th to Monday 17th September

Having been home to do some washing, shopping and collect all the paraphernalia we needed for the Cutweb rally we returned to Jannock and prepared to descend Stockton locks. We waited during which time we had lunch but no-one else appeared travelling Northbound and so we finally set off down the flight solo. No lock wheeling bicycle as I’d taken it home but luckily Ken Kroeker from nb Helmsman appeared and lock set for us so we completed the flight in 1 hour and 10 minutes. We moored up on the outside of a three abreast raft at the end of the Blue Lias garden.

Friday evening we joined the collection of Cutweb members eating in the top end of the bar of the pub where our rally was being held. Their new bar food menu received very positive comments from some of us regular rally attendees. We have themed this year as the ‘Jubilympics’ and so at 22:00 hrs Brian Holt lit the pseudo Olympic torch (converted bird feeder sprayed gold) that he bought on Ebay which immediately went out again. After being relit several times we all retired to bed to prepare for a day of sporting action tomorrow.

Saturday morning arrived with glorious sunny weather which bode well for our planned ‘Jubilympic’ event. We started a selection of games before lunch that continued on through the afternoon. These included Athletic, Equestrian, Sailing, Winter and Raquet sports in which no animals were really harmed at all. They continued most of the afternoon until the Jubilympic steet party started. For this we arranged a collection of the pub’s garden tables into a long line and eat lots of cake, more cake and even more cake. Gold medals were awarded to the games winners at the end of the party. Saturday evenings entertainment came in four parts, Kate Saffin performed her one-woman play Isobel’s War, Neil and Julie Smith entertained us with their own modern take on folk songs, the Queen (aka our club commodore in disguise) addressed us with a side splitting speech and finally a sample of Operatic and ‘last night of the proms’ favourites performed by Simon (a club member) and Camilla, both of whom are training and needed to perform in front of a willing audience. My only regret was that I did not get all of the pictures I’d hoped for because my camera was set to video mode instead of photo.

Sunday morning was colder but still dry and we started with a charitable auction of boaters tat and other unwanted items which was followed by an excellent Sunday lunch. In the afternoon we had a completely new event for a Cutweb rally – a boat tug of war with three great participants. It was great to watch although a little un-nerving for the poor guy moored on the towpath opposite the pub garden as well as the occasional passing hire-boat. Late afternoon, Matt (No. 2 son) and Ali arrived as they are taking Jannock over for a weeks holiday when we finish on Monday. The sunday evening quiz, which contained a fresh format, was prepared and presented by Neil and Linda Arlidge of nb Earnest. Our ‘Team Keens’ didn’t win or come last so we were happy.  Some more medals were awarded before we finally gave in and went to bed.

Monday morning was even colder and very wet as it had rained hard during the night. I arose early and moved the car to our planned destination, returning on the Di Blasi, in time for breakfast. We moved Jannock over onto the towpath side of the cut, filled with water and then shared the Stockton flight with Simon aboard nb Vida~Nueva. Once out of Stockton flight we moved on to Calcutt where we shared with John on nb Black Pig during which Ali steered through her first two locks. Left at the junction after which she drove into her first hedge before we pulled over, removed our clutter and waved goodbye to Jannock as she went off towards Braunston. 

On our way home we called in at the Wharf Inn at Fenny Compton for lunch. The place is obviously under new management since our last visit and the food was excellent. We chose two items from the ‘two for £10’ (11am to 6pm) selection and were surprised at the size and quality of what we received. We were so full after just a main course that we decided not to have the deserts that we had already chosen from the menu. Another establishment that now gets a ‘Jannock Recommendation’ as they also have a shop and a launderette. Where else can you sit and have a pint or two whilst your smalls are doing? There was one old local who came in and had a pint whilst the bar maid made up his shopping order for him to take away – a brilliant local service.

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock’s summer trip – day #13

Thursday 13th September

Graham was up and out a 6-ish, doing a car shuffle from Banbury lane bridge to Stockton. Brrr – a cold morning. I had a cuppa ready just as he returned and so we breakfasted and were on our way by 9 o’clock.

The sun came out but the brisk wind ensured it was a hat and gloves morning for me. We made our way past the puddle banks and on towards Napton junction meeting about a dozen boats heading the other way.

No-one to share Calcutt locks with and no point waiting for a partner as two pairs of boats were ascending to top two locks so we had an easy passage down. Two more arrived at the bottom as we were coming down the third so it was about the easiest we’ve ever done these.

At about 12 o’clock we moored up on the straight above Stockton flight where Graham had parked the car in order to visit our ‘real’ home with two weeks washing and to dump ‘stuff’ so that we can take the Cutweb rally ‘stuff’ back with us.

A few minutes later Bill on nb Rosy pulled in front of us and moored for his lunch followed almost immediately by Ken and Claudia on nb Helmsman.

At home we had Lamb St George for dinner. These were obtained from the butcher at Atherstone and were the size of real faggots but made from lamb mince with streaky bacon wrapped around. They were superb, not a lot of fat and really tasty. At 90p each they were terrific, definitely worth a visit just for these if you are shopping in Atherstone.

Brenda

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock’s summer trip – day #12

Wednesday 12th September

Graham set off at bbrrrrr o’clock and was soon working up through Sutton Stop lock onto the North Oxford canal. When I felt I could get up without frostbite I warmed up chocolatines for breakfast and got dressed ready to pick blackberries. We found some suitable off-side bushes near Nettle Hill bridge and so we held the boat to the bank with the boat hook and picked about 1 kilo of fruit quite quickly. This year, although we were passed by two boats during this operation, no one complained about Jannock being slightly skewiff on the cut. An American hirer declared our exploits as ‘awesome’. Awesome Jam it is then. Bush to jar in less than 1 hour.

Storecupboard challenge #10 – the jam making sugar was best before July 2010. Additionally, the dried vegetables I put into tonight’s lamb casserole were best before May 2011. The jam was excellent. The veggies were – well – dried veggies.

As we approached All Oaks Wood we followed a kingfisher down the cut for about 15 minutes. We called into Lime Kiln marina for diesel but John said they had run out. He was expecting a delivery today and it usually came first thing in the morning so he’d ring the supplier to find out exactly when it was due. We waited for about 15-20 minutes during which time another boat, who wanted gas, went on past because we were blocking the entrance. We got fed up waiting as time is short and John hadn’t returned to tell us what the oil suppliers said so we left and continued south.

Comong through Newbold 14 day moorings we met a northbound hireboat on a bend who immediately went into reverse and lost control of his front end so we had to stop smartish too. Brenda commented about all of the cans of Strongbow the crew were consuming and so a new superhero, Ciderman, was born. His task is to ensure world peace by going round saying “ I bloody love you!” to everyone he meets.

We made a slow ascent of Hillmorton locks as only one lock of each pair was in operation. Round the corner we met Brain and Diana on nb Harnser closely being followed by Ian and Ann Street on nb Copperkins. They told us that Ken and Claudia on nb Helmsman were waiting for our arrival in Braunston.

And today we had rain, it was mostly light and on and off all the way  from Hillmorton to Braunston until we stopped at the sani-station for water and a pumpout when the heavens opened for the whole time it took to pumpout. Graham got a good soaking. It stayed raining heavily like that until Graham had moored Jannock in the space immediately outside the marina that Ken had thoughtfully reserved for us by parking his boat in it until we arrived when he moved back into his berth. Once tied up it stopped immediately and we had a lovely red sunset.

Hello’s to Mike and Christina nbs Draco and Success and Andrew nb Toulouse who we passed in Braunston but saw no-one aboard.

Brenda

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock’s summer trip – day #11

Tuesday 11th September

Jannock was loosed off at ten past seven this morning. My tea was delivered to my bed and despite the return of sunshine and blue skies I remained there. After four days in holiday mode Jannock is once again a ‘fly-boat’ eating up the miles through long days. Tonight we’d like to make it to Sutton’s Stop. Last night’s rain awoke me from an Alice in Wonderland type dream where however fast you travel, your destination keeps receding. All that rain last night means I’m aware of the slipperiness for the single handed boater so I’d better get up rather than just laying here getting anxious.

What is it with the British weather, too hot to be wearing clothes on Saturday evening and two fleeces and a need for gloves Tuesday morning. And then we got to Atherstone!

Up to lock 6 from 11 we flew, graham on the bike and me steering Jannock until ……. Graham received a text message from the Halifax advising him that the new telephone banking security number he had ordered had been sent. What????? On the phone immediately to find out what’s going on, are we about to have our account raided again? He finally managed to get the new number disabled as he hadn’t ordered one at all.

After lock 3 we had to wait for a good 30 minutes whilst a BW/CaRT tug and lighter sat in lock 2 so that the machines clearing the silt out of the side pond could load it up. A mini-digger in the pond removed the reeds and silt and pushed them towards the larger digger which lifted them into the lighter. At one point the mini-digger driver was ferreting around in his pockets for his cigarettes and dropped a bag of ear-plugs into the mud. Graham pointed this out to him so he bent down out of the cab to retrieve them and immediately dropped his smart phone into the slime as well. Ooooooops!

Once through the flight we moored up and walked down into Atherstone for supplies. We found it to be far less depressing than on our last visit. We found the super butcher near the market square, by the church. Then we wandered down to the end of town to visit the big new Co-op. However we spotted Aldi opposite so went shopping there instead – BIG mistake because Graham came out with a new toy, a router table as a holiday souvenir. The market seemed to consist of just three stalls – fruit and veg, clothes and household goods of the kitchen and scullery type (well, I remember sculleries)

Storecupboard challenge day #9 – lunch was hot-dog sausages in warm crispy rolls. The tinned hot dogs were best eaten before 2003. They tasted none the worse for being 9 years out of date, but 6/10 was all they’ve ever scored so 6/10 it is now.

Supper (and overnight mooring) was courtesy of Terry and Christine, nb Grace. Their boat is away being worked on so we moored at the end of their garden and were treated to a very good chilli ‘n’ nachos. Christine showed us some of her watercolours that she’d done, they are lovely. Thanks for a good evening of chat and laughter. We hope to find some lyrical wax soon.

Brenda

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock’s summer trip – day #10

Monday 10th September

I was up and at-em at 7:30 this morning and had completed my FIRST EVER solo lock passage (Tattenhill) by 7:50. I then honed my process during passage of the next two locks before Brenda surfaced as we passed through the river Trent section before Alrewas.

 As we passed through we noticed Allan aboard Pengallanty moored up and shouted hello as he is a fellow Cutweb member. Further on there is a wonderful Olympic themed mural under the bridge by Bagnall lock. It even shows the Queen parachuting into the opening ceremony. We continued on the Fradley services where I filled Jannock’s water tank whilst Brenda went to use the shower. Having inspected the facility she decided to use the one on the boat as the BW/CaRT item was too much hassle to use due to very poor design.

At the junction Brenda completed a very tricky manoeuvre of exiting Junction lock and turning left onto the Coventry canal whilst one northbound boat hovered outside the Swan public house whilst another was coming out of the junction. Once through the swing bridge we continued on to the Plough at Huddlesford where we stopped for lunch. The beer was fine but the food was reasonable typical pub grub.

As we rounded the bend at the top of Hopwas woods we met nb “Hoo Mill”, another Cutweb member according to the sticker in the window which amused Brenda and I a great deal. We know Hopwas woods as “hooty wol woods” (See www.jannock.org.uk – 30th May 2004) and so to meet Hoo Mill was amusing.

On through Fazely to Glascote where we found both locks set against us. I was surprised to see a barge shell in Hudson’s yard. I wonder if it has false rivets?

Passing on through Amington we found a small child in a back garden trying to retrieve his football from the canal so it was ‘Jannock to the rescue’ yet again. Having recovered the ball and returned it to it’s owner we then had to encourage him to say Thankyou. We moored for the night opposite the golf course just before Alvecote marina.

Storecupboard challenge #8 – UHT milk with a best before date of 2011 which was totally correct, the fat had started to separate out even though it still tasted fine – score 6/10

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock’s summer trip – day #9

Sunday 9th September

When we surfaced this morning we found that not only had Linda left early to head back to London but also Neil had set off south down the Trent and Mersey solo. We set off at 9am and made our way to Derwent mouth lock where we found a Canaltime boat that had just entered and were waiting for us to join them in the ascent. Once through the lock they decided to pull over to have their breakfast and so we continued on to Shardlow lock alone and then shared with another Canaltime boat with an Australian crew, once we had made our way to the front of the queue.

We changed partners several times during our passage through all the double locks but each one involved yet another queue to get in. One Canaltime boat had a French crew who appeared to speak no English. Their reputation went before them on the towpath telegraph and luckily we managed to overtake them whilst they were taking on water above Weston lock.

We continued down through Burton, past the wonderful mural under the bridge at Dallow lock, with the sky becoming cloudier and the wind increasing until we finally stopped for the night at Branston water park.

 

 

 

 

 

Today I have realised the foolishness of agreeing to share three short journey days with Neil and Linda on Earnest. Those missing hours plus the time lost in queuing today is making our schedule a bit tight which is not what either Brenda or I really wanted on our holiday. I feel a couple of early starts coming up in order to try and make up some time and get back on schedule.

Last Thursday evening Brenda picked a load of nice blackberries in the country park at Birstall. She made some blackberry muffins yesterday and tonight we had an excellent blackberry fool for desert.

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock’s summer trip – day #8

Last night’s dinner out was very good! We all enjoyed our choices. Look up ‘the Basin’ on t’internet. The food is Chino-Japanese with a hint of Thai. The drinks were not overpriced. The only bad mark was for the noise levels which were probably outside acceptable limits for health and safety. No soft furnishings mean that the noise just rattles about. I expect it is fine when they are not busy but on a Friday night it was like trying to have a conversation and a quiet meal on the trading floor of the New York stock-exchange. We then crossed the road to the Swan in the Rushes and enjoyed a drink in a real pub. As we left there we looked at the Ossie Bar and Lloyds bar opposite and knew we were connie sewers.

We left Loughborough and enjoyed the gloriously sunny weather on our  trip north. Just outside the town the Fire Brigade were playing with a tanker, some water reservoirs and a petrol portable pump in an industrial estate. Luckily they averted their hose when Jannock passed as Brenda had hung the washing out on the front well deck.

We continued on through Normanton and Zouch where the people, bunting and tents in a field below the lock indicated that we had found a Dragon boat racing competition happening in the river adjacent to the boat club. Their safety boat was moored against the far bank to act as starting point. I expressed concern about them getting very dusty as a large combine harvester was working in the field nearby and so they moved their boat tether to the other bank to try and avoid the large dust cloud that was following the machine around.

On through Kegworth and past the large cooling towers of the power station until we reached the river Trent where we turned left towards Sawley. At the Scout outdoor centre Brenda observed the job of her choice in action. An instructor was placing three cub/scouts at a time into a Canadian canoe and then capsizing it and throwing them into the river. She quite fancied that as an occupation!

Sawley cut was bristling with activity. Boaters wanting services from the marina, new hirers starting their trips and marina users returning to their berths after a grand day out.

We moored up at Sawley bridge, not a very quiet mooring, being so close to the M1, but essential as Linda needs to get the the railway station to go home tomorrow morning. I tried dismantling and greasing our control lever and oiling the throttle cable as Brenda is finding it very stiff when needing to adjust the engine speed slightly. When re-assembled it was just the same so it must be worn and in need of replacing soon.

At 6:30 this evening a Spitfire made four low passes over Sawley cut, possibly part of the event that was happening at the Derby Motor Boat Club further back along the cut towards Sawley locks. It was the most exciting thing Brenda has seen for ages, and heard, and felt, because it was so low and immediately above Jannock. It then went off somewhere else and returned overhead 45 minutes later on it’s way back home and gave a farewell salute by rocking it’s wings as it passed over the boat club.

Store cupboard challenge day 7 went un-remarked. The tuna and mayo paste sandwiches, that we ate whilst moored for lunch, were tasty with some cress added for health purposes and scored 10/10. The fish paste should have been eaten by mid 2007.

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock summer trip – day #7

Last night was very quiet after all the searchlights and tracker dogs had gone home to their beds. It was even quite warm as well so the heating will not be needed overnight after-all. We awoke to a cloudless clear blue sky and found the boat surrounded by swans and ducks.

Store cupboard challenge day 6 – part baked baguettes only a few months out of date. The bread surface had adhered to the inside of the plastic packaging . Once baked, the bread was excellent and the roughed up crust was simply extra crispy. Not a product to leave beyond the ‘best before end’ date but 10/10 for all that. And 12/10 for the weather that we’ve had so far, it has shown the lovely countryside off to it’s very best.

As we travelled north, through the long section between Cossington and Sileby locks, I took a shower and left Graham at the tiller. Coming the opposite way was Ann and Ian Street on board Copperkins and Graham managed a very quick hello as we passed at speed.

At Barrow Deep lock we felt proud to be British.  A fit looking bloke on with his off-road cycle  and a wan looking girl watched on from the bridge as we worked the ‘single hander’ ahead of us through the lock. As hard as I tried I was unable to shift the bottom gate. Did British manhood help? No only the young girl was man enough. As Al Murray says – Shame on you!

As we approached Loughborough the grassy  moorings were as full as we’d been warned earlier. There was, however, loads of space because there seemed to be about 15 to 20 feet between each boat moored there so you could theoretically fit another half dozen boats in if they’d all moored considerably. Just as well that we were heading for the basin. With a wide beamed boat on the water point and another forward of that, waiting to fill up, Graham and Neil had to do some slick manoeuvring to wind in the limited space and then reverse onto the finger pontoons.

We booked a table for dinner tonight at the Basin Restaurant, not fifty paces from our mooring, and then went into town for supplies and a post box – the latter was inside the front door of Tescos opposite the basin. We passed a launderette between the basin and the town mooring, near Lloyds Bar (Wetherspoons) if you need somewhere to wait whilst your washing is doing. Graham also noticed a Castlerock pub, the Swan in the Rushes and so I expect we will take a pre or even post dinner drink in there.

Brenda

www.jannock.org.uk

 

Jannock’s summer trip – day #6

Thursday 6th September

Wildlife of the day – A really angry swan who kept chasing eleven other swans off of his territory only to have them return just as fast once he turned his back.

It was very cold when we awoke this morning – nice and sunny but lots of mist rising from the canal due to the cold air.

Our target was to get through Leicester without stopping but in the end we stopped in the middle, by bridge 1, for lunch and shopping. At Mill Lane bridge there is a selection of shops in a newish block that include Tescos Express, Sainsburys local, a pharmacist, a booze shop and a pizza house – all obviously designed to serve the student accomodation in the area. There is also a childrens play area in the park behind the shops – an ideal stopping point for hireboats.

We set off from Kilby bridge at 8am. At Kilby lock I mounted the lock-wheeling bike and went ahead to set Double Rail lock. Then Linda took the bike and went to set Ervin’s lock and so we melded into the practice of alternating who took the bike ahead to set the next one until the chain came off and jammed between the sprocket and the frame. I managed to sort this out so that we could continue on to Freeman’s.

At Limekiln lock the CaRT workmen were repairing the lock landing stonework and were having trouble getting the broken blocks of stone out. Having failed to free it using a pneumatic jack-hammer they then took to bashing it hard with the digger bucket in frustration.

When is it art and when is it graffiti? I believe this wall at Frog Island should be classified as art.

We moored for the night immediately before Birstall lock in Watermead country park. The outlook is slightly more pleasant than below the lock. The country park is good for walking and exploring. Go up past the White Horse pub and then up to the village for Co-op, doctors and take-outs etc. The post box is at the top of the lane.

What is it about Jannock and Leicestershire? When we did the Ashby we had the issue of concussed man and the Police. Tonight it has been the Police and their helicopter looking for a missing old lady. We even had a policeman board Jannock and question us. Ho hum! It wouldn’t be so bad but the East Midlands police helicopter has been apparent in the skies over us every day this week. At least whilst they are whizzing back and forth on their bicycles this evening they are more or less silent with only the flashing lights and reflective stab vests to un-settle us.

Store cupboard challenge Day #5 – we are increasingly confident that out of date food does not kill that we invited guests for supper. The ‘best before’ 2010 curry mix was superb, the ‘best before’ 2007 boil-in-the-curry was fine, the tinned tomatoes were best before 2010. Everything went together and achieved a joint score of 10/10 – even the guests scored it so.

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock’s summer trip – day #5

Graffiti of the day - Willbeck’s Dad, Stan is a bomb disposal expert!       No – we didn’t understand what it meant either.

We untied at 08:45 and followed Earnest north past Debdale wharf. Saddington tunnel is excellent, 1/2 mile long and dead straight all the way through so that you can see the other end when you enter. It’s also quite dry which helps and I’m pleased to say that we didn’t lose any paintwork in it either.

At Kibworth top lock I got the trusty lock wheeling bike off of the roof and set ahead all the way to Crane’s lock. We had a ‘good road’ and I only had to turn one lock with all the others being set in our favour.

Between bridges 78 and 79 there is a solitary church to the south west of the canal which is marked on the map as the “site of old Wystone medieval village”. It has to be assumed that this was the church for the local estate although there are no other buildings around it.

At Newton top lock it was ‘on yer bike’ again for the last seven locks before Kilby bridge, our chosen overnight stopping place before Leicester.

Storecupboard challenge day#4 – six year out of date batter mixture which made perfectly good onion yorkshire puds and  so was voted 8/10

We used the shower facilities at Kilby bridge sani-station even  though the panelled wooden door had large gaps between the planks. If you do not want any-one seeing you shower then take a big towel and a couple of pegs to hang it onto the inside of the door to protect your modesty.

After dinner Neil and Linda came onto Jannock to discuss trip plans and drink my home-brewed beer.

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock’s summer trip – Day #4

Tuesday 4th September

Entertainment of the day – a very amusing puppy getting used to life on a narrowboat.

Today we had visiting crew, Jennie, Chris and Monty the pup. We were up early ready for our visitors who arrived just as I was moving Jannock down to the lock landing at Foxton top lock. Having completed the Welford arm yesterday it is planned to do the Market Harborough arm today.

Jennie has written “ We arrived in lovely sunshine after a goodish run from Bromsgrove. After a much needed cuppa we set off down Foxton locks. This was Monty’s first trip on a boat –  the first of many we hope! After Foxton. Brenda and Graham took us down to Market Harborough where we filled with water and moored for lunch. A splendid spread was provided by Brenda. Then we headed back to Foxton where we moored up. We went to recover our car and on our return tea was waiting for us. Dinner will be in the oub and then we head home. It has been a wonderful day – a very big thank you to then both for a fantastic day. It was great to meet Brenda again and to meet Graham for the first time. As for Monty – how did he do – I am glad to say very well indeed.”

Well, another bit of the system marked off of our map having been to Market Harborough. When we returned to Foxton we found nb Earnest (yes, that one) moored up and so had a chat with Neil and Linda who also appear to be traversing the Leicester ring at the same time as us. The food at the Foxton Locks Inn at the bottom of the flight was good, with my gammon steak being one of the thickest I have ever had to eat, although the red cabbage served with Brenda’s fish pie tasted a bit funny.

We’re sorry about any disappointment this may cause but no old stock item was eaten today because we had guests, back to normality tomorrow.

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock’s summer trip – Day #3

Monday 3rd September

Wildlife of the day – well …. wildlife  ….. and lots of it. Butterflies, Swifts, Dragonflies, Damselflies and best of all, Kingfishers, plural. We saw about 4 individual Kingfishers, one of which escorted us off of the Welford Arm, flying just ahead of us to see if we herded any tasty morsels in front ahead of us.

We started the day with a stroll into Welford. There is a very useful shop and Post Office in the village. If the Wharf Inn was not to your taste then don’t bother walking up to the Elizabethan as that’s unlikely to be either. Between the Wharf and the village is Welford’s ‘pocket park’. The Buddleia was teeming with butterflies, mostly Red Admirals of course.

Graham winded expertly in a confined space and we left Welford in beautiful sunshine and moved back down the arm in wonderful countryside. In Husbands Bosworth tunnel we met a Canaltime boat who was not as tight into the side as we’d have liked and so we stopped immediately after, at 13:00 , under the shade of overhanging trees so that we could sweep off the brickdust and repaint quite a length of the roof edge where a protruding section of tunnel roof had removed all of the paintwork. This is the second time that Jannock has required major touching up of paint after this tunnel and in the pub later, we found that this is not an uncommon procedure. The washing was put out onto the towpath so we spent lunchtime watching both the washing and paint dry.

Then onto the top lock at Foxton. Graham did yet more engineering techery whilst I went and took photos in the sun. Then I prepared a dinner of pork chop, potatoes and vegetable chilli.

Store cupboard challenge – Day #3. Stagg vegetable chilli (best before July 06) 6 years too late but who’s counting, but scoring an impressive 9/10. Graham would have awarded the extra point if it had contained some meat!

We visited Bridge 61, the alternate pub at the bottom of the flight and had an excellent evening chatting to the locals. We were even introduced to Tom, the celebrity retriever who has achieved almost 250k hits on YouTube as the Helter Skelter dog, as well as being a TV celebrity in the UK and the USA.

Brenda

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock’s summer trip – Day #2

Sunday 2nd September

Top tip for dog owners – If you have two dogs and want them to stay together but you are too busy lockside to keep them under control on leads, just join them together with about a yard of lead or even string. That way, when they get excited, running in opposite directions doesn’t work, and if they make a break for it – passing either side of hoomins stops them in their tracks. Their string/lead interface makes contact with the human at about knee or calf. Hopefully the hooman has two feet firmly planted on terra-firma – I did or else I could have been in the lock with the boat.

Breakfast today was inspired by a picture on Mike Aspin’s facebook page. Graham cooked an excellent eggy bread and bacon.

Watford flight was a pleasure to behold, beautifully kept, flowers in planters and all the flags and bunting out to celebrate the Paralympics. In our waiting time we filled with water, washed one boat side and the roof, washed up the dishes and had a coffee break. Brenda exhibited her prowess at working BW taps by getting right royally soaked. Having completed the flight and seen the poster showing the certificates  available from the staff, Brenda made the mistake of enquiring of the lock-keeper what sort of misdemeanour, sinking the boat or drowning possibly, warranted the award of a failure certificate, and was promptly issued her own ‘Pigs Ear’ certificate.  He must have spotted her clipping the stonework as she entered lock 2 (the dodgy bend mid-flight in her terminology) The lockies at Watford are a credit to CaRT.

Jannock entered new territory today, the Welford Arm. Short and sweet with good moorings plus full services at the end. We saw our first Kingfisher of the year, skimming along the arm and flitting into the bushes. It’s colours were as bright and iridescent as in springtime.

We moored up at 18:15 and walked a few yards to the Wharf for supper. The menu was at the upper end of ‘Pub Grub’, well cooked and plenty of it with the best bit being their excellent selection of real ales and cider that ensured we were both happy.

Store cupboard day #2 – To enhance our lunchtime sandwiches we had 10 year old homemade chutney having rejected the dehydrated mango chutney that resembled Baltic Amber and was equally inedible.

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock’s summer trip – Day #1

Saturday 1st September

OK, so we’re starting our summer trip on the first day of autumn but I can’t help that – blame the Olympics.

We arrived at the boat late-ish last night so just loaded our stuff on and decided to retire early, however, the first task was to refit all the secondary double glazing panels due to our mooring at Banbury Lane bridge being very close to the West Coast main line. This morning my first task was to transfer the contents of the jerry cans I had brought with me into Jannock’s diesel tank. I then locked up the car and we were off to join the Northbound procession heading towards Weedon.  We passed this boat heading south with the row of three contented passengers sat across the front tug deck. We originally titled them ‘Tug Boat Grannies’ but then noticed one was a fella when we got closer and was possibly not old enough to be a grannie. Later we met nb Laura travelling south still bearing the names of Michael and Angela Faull on the side even though they sold her ages ago. We were also reminded of the fact that we are having our summer holiday in autumn by the site of this boat load of coal heading down the canal for sale to boaters to keep them warm in winter.

On our arrival at Wilton bottom lock we were seventh in the queue to ascend. We started our wait moored south of this bunch of trees that protrude from the bank. If you look carefully it would appear that they are actually growing in an old fibreglass cruiser that had sunk against the bank. The boat we partnered up the flight was en-route to a new mooring at Brinklow marina. The owners have only had it since February and had moored it at Oundle marina on the Nene but the combination of drought restrictions followed by flooding have forced them to move it back onto the canal system so that they actually get to use her.

One of Brenda’s objectives this trip is to use up all the old provisions stored in Jannock’s cupboards and so we have decided to score each of them as we use them up. You may remember the tinned carrots that scored 0 (zero) on Saturday 18th August  (see Chillax at Newlands) so here goes:-

Store Cupboard Day #1 = Chira chicken meatballs in tomato sauce.  These were given a grudging 4/10 as they were far too sweet (and obviously designed for kids) We had them with pasta and home grown runner beans – guess which tasted the best? The runner beans of course!

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Shared every Stoke Bruerne lock

Monday 27th August

As we arrived at Jannock a boat with a very  similar colour scheme was heading for the bottom lock. Are you going up the flight I asked? Yes, but we’re filling with water first. Excellent – that gave me time to replace the oil seal on the gearbox selector shaft before we needed to set off.

Top tip of the week for a PRM/Newage box – To remove the old O ring, Select either forward or reverse and then remove the gear selector lever making sure you do not drop the ball bearing in the bilge.  Pull out the stop lever and crank the engine over on the starter motor. Out pops the old seal with a bit of oil pushing it. Remove old seal, fit new seal and reassemble selector lever not forgetting ball bearing. We now have an oil tight gearbox again and Brenda can operate the morse control without damaging her wrist as the temporary second O ring I fitted last week made the lever very stiff.

We pulled out and joined them in the bottom lock once they’d finished filling with water.

Shock of the day – out of control spinning windlass to the gentlemanly crotch area 8^(    (luckily not mine G.)     Brenda admits to yelling a rude word, not quite appropriate thank – effin – goodness. Blokey heard her call and stepped back away from the spinning windlass, almost tripped over his flip-flop (no, not that – I mean un-suitable footwear)  but continued the billing and cooing on the phone, which is why he wasn’t holding the windlass. Durr! He told his ladylove that he’d have to go. He recovered his composure and then his windlass and looked at Brenda and declared that men shouldn’t multi-task. Multi-task? – try being stupid enough to make phone calls whilst locking. Mind you, it could have been fun trying to explain the injury to the lady in his life though , when he came out of hospital that is.

Our partners decided to stop in the long pound for breakfast. Breakfast???? it was now 11:15! The was a singleton working up the flight ahead of us so I cycled up and asked if we could share with them instead. Up through lock 15 into ‘gongoozler world’ that is Stoke Bruerne top lock. How fantastic to find a blacksmith now occupying the old leggers hut at the tunnel entrance.

Is it ‘wiki-tunnel’ or ‘tunnel-leaks’? I asked Brenda to go for’ard and blow the whistle to let me know when to dodge the water pouring out of the roof of Blisworth tunnel as I generally get about 10 secs warning of needing to dodge that way. She insisted on me assuring her that her ‘whistle blowing’ would not result in her having to go and live in Equador. Not that she’d mind giving Equador a go, but not permanently.

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

A full English

Sunday 19th August

Despite the tropical temperatures we indulged in bacon, eggs, mushrooms, toast and marmalade for breakfast this morning and so only set of at 10am. Up through Cosgrove lock to the sani-station for water as it was the first time we have ever found it un-occupied. It wasn’t long before we had another boat tied alongside us with a second waiting on the moorings next door. The tap at Cosgrove is not the fastest I’ve ever used but even our heat-addled brains could detect the failings in Mr ‘3rd – in – lines’ proposition that if we fitted his splitter onto the tap then two boats could take water at the same time and it would be faster for everyone. Nice try sir! I had spotted that his splitter was capable of turning a 3/4” thread into another 3/4” thread and a hose-lok connector. Guess whose hose was fitted with the hose-lok connector on the end then?

Brenda asked me a question last night as we sat under a starry sky trying to cool down, “what stars are above us during the day?” The rest of the universe is obviously out there even if we can’t see it but what are the constellations and planets that we don’t see during the day? The ‘Sky at Night’ is all very well Mr Moore, but what’s the rest of the story?

Having filled with water we left the other two to sort themselves out and set off north until we decided we’d had enough of the heat and moored up on a 14 day mooring. I went and retrieved the car from Stoke Hammond, we loaded it up and set off home in the comfort of air conditioning set to flat-out. I loved the ‘Obey’ sticker we spotted that someone has fitted to the 48hour mooring sign at the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne flight.

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Chillax at Newlands

This morning we woke up in a foreign country – Summer!. Mid 20s before breakfast. We hope the warmth lasts through the autumn as there are many families of teeny fluffy ducklings and moorhens not long out of their eggs. It’s mid_August …….

By 12 o’clock we decided that sunstroke was a possibility and so moored in the shade at Newlands Park – conveniently close enough to hear the screams of small children being frightened stupid in a safe environment (tee hee). Lunch was taken and then Brenda dozed in the shade whilst I investigated an oil leak from the gearbox. Paul of Waterways Routes fame cruised by whilst waving and pointing out the paucity of Jannock blogging this year. Apologies dear readers but a small local event, the Olympics, has impinged on our non-sporting lives. That and Jannock being used as an accommodation block. Now the Olympics are over, I can have some leave and so we are back onto the water getting the boat into the start position for our summer holiday in two weeks time – and blogging again.

Supper was fish and chips as an attempt to use up some of the store cupboard items that have sell by dates in the last century. Yes- really, so Brenda opened a tin of carrots, heated them up to accompany said F&C, and served them. I found it best to place a small pickled onion atop each slice of carrot to make them edible. Brenda simply got the local fish to eat hers . She has vowed never to replenish the stores with tinned carrots ever again.

Wildlife of the day – Herons, standing on boat roofs and on low branches, bold as brass, lots of them.

 

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Good weather for Training

Matt and Ali arrived just after 9am having had to be guided in to the Red Lion by phone. We were soon sorted and set off behind a newish Kingsground boat with whom we shared the first two locks. They were pleased as we had four crew to their two so were able to set ahead. Just as we passed Pitstone wharf a day-trip boat pulled out between us so we ended up sharing Seabrook, Ivinghoe, Horton and Slapton with them until we caught a solo boat at Church lock and so changed partners once again. Our new partner was pulling into the new marina at Grove so we waited for the day-trippers to join us in Grove lock.  Having gone down through Grove lock they then decided to stop at the pub and then return to base from there, why they didn’t do this ABOVE the lock I do not know, and so we continued on solo through the last four locks of the day. During all this time Ali was being coached in both steering and working the locks as it was her first visit aboard.

She wrote in the log book “ I had a lovely day on Jannock today, it was the first time I’ve been on the boat. We had fantastic sunshine and great company. I had to drive the boat and was surprised how well I got on with it. Opening and closing locks was a good experience, really hard work and almost a little ‘work-out’ ”

At Soulbury we were third in the queue for the top lock. The two boats in front of us were descending through the top lock to wind in the top pound and then return up again so we switched the engine off and patiently waited for this manoeuvre to complete. Once we had started to descend the C&RT lockie was concerned as the water level in the first (pub) pound was too high and if the middle lock was emptied too quickly then the seating area on the towpath would flood so we descended very slowly and had one of the slowest passages through the three locks that we have ever experienced.

Onto Stoke Hammond and as we were mooring up I noticed an un-usual  craft messing about on the other side of the bridge. It resembled a childs go-cart frame fitted with large black plastic wheels that not only provided flotation but also had paddle webs built in to provide propulsion. It did appear to move the craft forward OK but made a lot of splashing in the process.

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

Static at Maffers

Saturday 11th August

No boating today as we have a ‘training day’ planned for tomorrow. We arrived at Jannock mid-afternoon. Having unloaded  our stuff onto the boat I went and moved the car to our planned destination for tomorrow and then returned on the Di Blasi. I then carried out a bit of maintenance (battery levels and water pressure switch) before tea. Once we had eaten we took the opportunity for a walk around the reservoirs. We’ve not seen them so full for a very long time but there’s still room for a little more water so perhaps we have more rain yet to come.  As we came back towards the village I spotted that the fish & chip van was parked up near the Anglers so I told Brenda I’d treat her to a meal out. The last time we stopped here the van was on-fire as we went past on the way home with attendant fire brigade (see http://jannock.blogspot.co.uk/2011_10_01_archive.html ) so we decided we’d better try it this time before that happens again. Whilst we waited to be served  Brenda spotted the County sign that someone had modified – obviously a very frustrated individual – plus the fact that the van did both Spam AND Corned Beef fritters. I was very restrained and just shared a single portion of chips with Brenda. The vinegar was ‘spritzed’ with a spray bottle instead of being poured.  They were excellent quality as only chips out of paper can be.

Graham

www.jannock.org.uk

The mystery of the Wol Strangler

Sunday 5th August 2012

As himself was making ‘Pain Singe’ for breakfast we discussed the relative merits of the overnight mooring with a view to leaving Jannock here until next weekend, the lady-crew was muttering mutiny because of the rain. However the towpath is sodden with loads of puddles and it would mean multiple treks in the mud to vacate the boat. We moved on to discuss it’s quietitude rating. This morning we were rudely awoken by a family of swans bashing the hull to demand feeding – with menaces. Not your usual duck-weed-nibbling interface. Pigeons had been a-flapping and cooing in the trees opposite since dawn, not that they didn’t also make loads of noise attempting to get airborne out of the trees at stupid-o’clock. What we hadn’t heard was the owl that was hooting for England when we returned from the grand Junction Arms – not a quiet drinking spot due to a lack of soft furnishings and a vibrant CD collection. I declared that I’d have to think about shooting said owl if it carried on like that all night. Another hoot and then .  .  .  .  the strangest sound a wol has ever made. It could only be described as a strangulation in progress. We then heard no more from it all night! So, keep us informed if you hear the Bulbourne woods owl or find an owl strangler creeping about the towpath at night. Or do I read too many murder mysteries?

In a society that is too afraid to let it’s children play in the street for fear of kidnap or abuse, finds the game of conkers too risky, fails to immunise some children against killer diseases on the say so of poor and discredited science for fear of autism, why the heck are little ones of 2 or 3 allowed to wander over open back decks or be freely moving around on moving day-boats without life jackets. If you love your children make them wear a life jacket. Be a responsible adult.

We descended solo down the Marsworth flight without having the opportunity to wait  for a partner due to two boats awaiting to ascend the full top lock when we arrived. Only two things of note during our descent. First was the enormous dead mirror carp that we shared one lock with and the second was the amazing bit of manoeuvring that Brenda did in order to enter lock 41 having had to wait on the offside for an ascending boat. The crowd of gongoozlers were very impressed.

www.jannock.org.uk

Jannock is on the move again.

Saturday 4th August 2012

We moved back onto hotel Jannock today and ran away so that no-one else can move in. As we were about to cast off from the mooring nb Great Britain was coming up through lock 59 so we were able to share a couple of locks with them until they decided to moor up to watch the World Sports Day athletics rather than continue boating.

Ascending Sewer lock we decided to exit as a pair since there was a widebeam boat waiting to descend so we had no need to close gates and pick-up crew. Neither of us could see that the top gates would not open fully and were a little surprised when both boats got wedged. We went into reverse to un-stick ourselves and then left the lock singly. It was as we were doing this that Mr Bombastic from the waiting widebeam informed us of our folly and a new law of physics. He told us that narrowboats never come out of a lock together, never! It’s because they get stuck. I must admit that it is a phenomenon I have never experienced before, but it obviously had nothing what so ever to do with gates that wouldn’t open fully. No. Mr Bombastic went on to explain that it was because the two boats moving close together at the same time created magnetism that prevents them from getting out of the lock. Now, call me stupid, but if boats are closer together due to a magnetic attraction surely they’d find it easier to get through a narrow gap. But then again – he must have been correct because his one widebeam boat found it difficult to enter the lock, after we’d left, even with two men rocking on the balance beam.We tested his theory at Bottom Side lock. We were unable to substantiate his hypothesis.

A steady solo run after that, no Olympic congestion here and no evidence of the multitude of boats taking up BW’s offer of Olympic moorings conveniently close to a station to make attending easier – not one – not surprising at the prices they thought they could charge for Berkhamstead and Tring.  We finally called it a day at Bulbourne and finished with a pint (or two) at the Grand Junction Arms.

Sorry – no pictures as Graham left his camera in the work kit he was using Friday ;^(

Brenda