tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72545364722163930882024-03-08T11:33:57.111+00:00Tortoisefour thousand miles of gardenSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.comBlogger251125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-25049373448301960142019-02-27T06:14:00.000+00:002019-02-27T06:14:56.188+00:00Boo!A quick PSA...
I'm guessing anyone reading this will also know Richard & Sue on <a href="https://indigodream.wordpress.com/">Indigo Dream</a>. I note they haven't blogged in a bit, but just wanted to flag that ID, Richard & Archie were heavily featured on telly on Monday - James Martin cooked a couple of dishes on ID's prow as they bumbled around Birmingham's canals.<br />
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You can watch it through the link below, or on telly with one of the new-fangled smart tvs, youview box or whatever gadget you choose to attached to your idiot box...<br />
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<a href="https://www.itv.com/hub/james-martins-great-british-adventure/2a5543a0011">James Martin's Great British Adventure, Series 1 - Episode 11
James visits the capital of the balti - Birmingham with food critic Grace Dent. James is inspired to cook his version of a chicken balti.</a><br />
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Me? Tortoise eventually sold, went to Rickmansworth, apparently. I'm mostly in Wales. ;-)Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-68170171496024289542018-07-11T17:11:00.002+01:002018-07-11T17:11:22.238+01:00Lovely little boat for sale...<br />
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No surprise to one or two of you, but Tortoise is for sale; it's been twelve lovely years, but new adventures beckon, also involving woods & water, but a little more stonework ;-)<br />
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<a href="http://vcmarine.co.uk/boat-sales/tortoise-john-else-30ft-cruiser-stern/" target="_blank">ad for Tortoise on VC Marine</a><br />
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Anyone who's followed this blog for a few years will know what a great little boat it is & the adventures I've had, very easy to single-hand and would be lovely for a couple, too. Fine on all but virtually waterless canals, goes like a dream on the Thames - and very cosy when the stove is going.<br />
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I've no idea if anyone bookmarked the fancy web address of <a href="http://www.nbtortoise.og.uk/" target="_blank">NbTortoise.org.uk</a>, but that will disappear in a few weeks, but the 'proper' address of <a href="http://nbtortoise.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">nbtortoise.blogspot.com</a> will remain, and may even include news of other adventures in the future. I also note I have an unfnished draft of a guide to single-handing in Thames Locks, which I may finish - one day. ;-)<br />
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Meanwhile thanks to all I've met on the canals and through the internet bit thereof; still not averse to a bit of drinking (or lockwheeling, or even both), so shout if you're passing ;-)<br />
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<br />Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-9845745470979870872016-08-25T22:00:00.005+01:002016-08-25T22:33:12.929+01:00Kennet & Avon V (Bedwyn to Teddington)Putting posts together takes ages - I'd forgotten. I think <a href="http://chertsey130.blogspot.com/">Sarah on Chertsey</a> has the right idea - the briefest of notes, daily, to be fleshed out later, Perhaps next time. As it is I expect these witterings to be fleshed out too. There are, after all, a record for me, really.<br />
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<b>Sat 6th Bedwyn - Hungerford</b><br />
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Ah, the vagaries of fate. I'd got back to the boat, had the engine running and was untying when one boat pulled oyt from a few spaces behind me, and chugged past. Fine, they look a bit grumpy but whatever... but then, through the bridge came a hire boat. I had time to leap out before them... but I didn't, knowing I'd be stuck behind two boats for the next few locks... and I was. I think they were slower than me, single handed, but any excuse to put the kettle on...<br />
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A short day of many locks, tying up again at Hungerford. Supermarket stocking up was a bit over-ambitious for the bag I'd taken, but they let me take a basket back to the boat too, returning it immediately, of course...<br />
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Sun 7th Hungerford to Woolhampton<br />
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The first lock after Hungerford, Dunmill Lock, is in a really lovely setting. Have I already said that? Probably.<br />
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Kintbury - I got shouted at by fish-torturers as I passed them at tickover. Tough.<br />
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Also around Kintbury I was joined by Hera, an immaculate 35' boat I was amazed to discover was about the same age as Tortoise. We generally shared locks side by side, although could have shared single locks too...<br />
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A pause at Newbury - I'd rung the chandlers ahead, and sorted out a long (15m!) front rope in anticipation of getting back down the Thames, and restocked on fuel.<br />
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Monkey Marsh lock is one of the two turf locks, and I did it solo - trickier for a single hander as a lot less access on the sides of the locks, but as ever, slow & steady works...<br />
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At Aldermaston lock there's a handy profile of the K&A - a very neat up & down affair, an efficient connection of two river catchment areas. Almost certainly copyright CRT unless they nicked it from the K&A trust ;-)<br />
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Mon 8th Woolhampton to Fobney<br />
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The facilities at Tyle Mill weren't actually that bad (although no recycling, again). However I suspect either the loo isn't getting the attention it deserves, or the cleaners couldn't resist leaving this gem on display:<br />
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<b>Tues 9th Fobney Lock to Marlow</b><br />
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Through Fobney lock, <a href="https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/9094/fobney-lock-105">hours before it closed with a sunk boat</a> - apparently not a cill problem at all, or even the huge streams of water that pour through the gate paddles - solid streams of water half a metre square. Scary. I remember being glad of having a short boat on the way up, too.<br />
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After Fobney there's a lovely lush river stretch, leading to houses backing on the canal - one garden of which seems to be full of boat:<br />
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Also this handy sign, which I failed to photograph comprehensively there, or back:<br />
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After all that back on to the Thames, opening the throttle again ;-) The wide expanse of the Thames is an impressive change to narrow canals, and needs to be experienced to be believed. Tortoise is quite spritely for a canal boat, quite happily doing 5mph on the Thames, but still easily outpaced by daft cruisers, or in fact almost anything - speed often appears to be proportional to the number of glasses of booze being held by the crew...<br />
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I tried to moor at the Marlow park moorings - but they were full, or rather, weren't. Each plastic wedding cake of a cruiser had left a good 20' before the next. A full on rant about mooring should probably be witheld, but it is the same on canals - by boats not sharing rings, a gap of 15-20' is left between each boat. Although ring placing seems to vary, I normally stretch the ropes across three - centre, front & back. So if I could magic myself on to the bank, moving just one boat along would free up space for me. This applies to longer boats too, of course - selfish mooring screws us all up. Then again, the black looks I have seen when mooring a few feet from on occupied boat (on official moorings, not on rough banks) suggest it would be a struggle to get change. Sliding towards the lowest common denominator, like slowing for moored boats and closing gates...<br />
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So anyway, I paid a fiver for the priviledge of being tied to a tree a little further back. It did afford me a nice view in the evening (so flat without boats mucking it all up all the time). It was just leaves on the other side ;-)<br />
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<b>Weds 10th Marlow to Chertsey</b><br />
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On the Cliveden reach, above Maidenhead, as predicted I passed Chertsey on their way back from Woking - good to see Sarah & Jim again, albeit briefly, and nearly meeting Rocky:<br />
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Approaching a lock (I've yet to work out which one) I passed a large plastic swan, like you do, and then shared the lock with them:<br />
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This was a <a href="https://la-va.facebook.com/groups/1338415989505743/">charity effort by Scout leaders</a> - they managed to get from <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37070509">Oxford to Richmond</a>, in a pedalo 'bought from Amazon', the latter part of the journey with only one set of pedals working, as the other half had broken off ;-(<br />
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Yes, it's called 'Pokeswan Go'. Moving on.<br />
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Two locks were unstaffed today - Bell Weir and then Chertsey (I think) - so I took the boat in, donned by lifejacket (as Cpt Creiff would say) and had a go. It was actually nice to be able to take my time and make sure I was doing everything right - not that difficult in the end, although leaving Tortoise on relatively loose ropes and seeing it float around a bit (andnot twist too far across) was a bit odd.<br />
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Yes, that's a (OK, small) canal boat in a big lock, not a toy boat in a normal lock ;-)<br />
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Something it only really occurred to me this evening - how flat the Thames is on a still evening, if there's been no boats passing for a while. Wash from fast boats puts a lot of energy in the water, and those waves bounce off the banks and hang around for a while. It's a nice thing to see it calm - even if I'm the one mucking it up again ;-) I've put the pic to illustrate this at the top of the post ;-)<br />
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Two completely DIY big locks took their time, so rather than pushing on I found a mooring just after Chertsey lock, realising how close I was to the M3 a second or so too late, and largely not caring. <br />
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<b>Thurs 11th Chertsey to Teddington</b><br />
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Another short hop... high tides were currently (no pun intended) early mornings, and anyway, I had to wait to get the solenoid. I was close enough to home to get back by Oyster Card for tea, though, which felt a little odd...<br />
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My next boat?<br />
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<i>(more edits and pictures to come - possibly)</i><br />
<br />Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-60388500940591252016-08-05T23:09:00.001+01:002016-08-25T22:38:24.142+01:00Kennet & Avon IV (Dundas Aqueduct, Bath, then back to Great Bedwyn)<b>Mon 1st Aug - Dundas Aqueduct to Bath (above top lock)</b><br />
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A gentle amble into town, the pretty way - the canal tries both sides of the Avon, so valley one side and hill the other. My favourite official long term mooring was at Murhill, on the offside - tucked into the bank, bit of grass, mostly tress. Perfect.<br />
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I'd already decided to stop at Bath, so not point locking down on to the Avon, but I found a nice mooring not far from the Top Lock.<br />
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A quite interesting wander through bridges & short tunnels,. the exit to one blocked by a day boat that was trying to turn, but wasn't really sure how, having got the moveable end somewhere that wouldn't move. I had to shift them out of the way (ok, in the direction they were aiming for) myself in the end..<br />
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I did walk down the the locks to have a look, though, on the way into town to look for useful shops (I failed).<br />
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It's funny using the Nicolson as a guide book - very good in many ways, but as a possible side effect, the Avon above the canal joining is barely shown - whilst still obviously a major landmark in the city. I ended up having a coffee in the covered market cafe (having failed to find nearly enough charity shops), where I spotted a poster for the Bell in Bath, a pub where I'd played many, many years ago (more than two decades). I'd thought a Monday wasn't going to bode well, but it worked out really nicely - The Magick Brothers were an occasional Gong offshoot, Daevid Allen with Mark Robson (of Kangaroo Moon) and Graham Clark, part of the Gong family (he says vaguely). Now sadly without Daevid, but still a great way to spend a wet Monday evening, and revisit a pub that has held many great gigs.<br />
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<b>Tues 2nd Aug - Bath to Semington</b><br />
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The day it rained - all day, more or less.<br />
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Not far from Bath - can't recall exactly where - I passed what claims to be the remains of Chalfont, a wooden hulled boat, that has obviously been cut down at some point,,,<br />
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They're appealing for help - although it'll be one of those jobs where it is dubious how much would be left of the original if restored, even to cut down state. I didn't make a very good job of photographing the sign as I passed, but here's what I did manage to get:<br />
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There's a few swing bridges on this section that aren't single hander friendly - thankfully most have been, with mooring & bridge operation all one the same side - but one or two have either relied on luck (other boats, or the kindness of strangers) or just waiting for someone else to come along. I think it was Milbrook Swing bridge where I resorted to that... but it did give me time to have a quick look at the (sadly largely empty) farm honesty shop for a small co-operative:<br />
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No veg, but I did put money in the box for a Jon Boden CD and a spare windlass ;-)<br />
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Also along this stretch I spotted a family, on holiday, cycling: a blurry photo after they'd passed should protect identities nicely - that's the kids ahead, parents to the rear (including a trailer).<br />
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I'd seen a reassuring number of cyclists along the whole canal - I suppose the canal makes a handy preferable route as part of almost any journey in the area, not just the canal route itself.<br />
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I made another stop at Bradford upon Avon, and actually managed to look at the town this time... very twee...<br />
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It's interesting how little I remember from my cycle along the K&A, again a long time ago, but the large tithe barn at Bradford Upon Avon, I'm pretty sure I stopped & saw that (I also remember freewheeling down Caen Hill, feeling rather smug).<br />
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<b>Weds 3rd Aug - Semington to Bridge 130</b><br />
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More locks & swing bridges - largely on my own, but I did share a couple with a hire boat who were telling me how they'd been told a boat had been nearly cilled 'only the other day'. I'm guessing that was the one I was in the lock for, although surprised the hirers admitted to it when they returned the boat...<br />
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At Foxhangers, just before the various locks of Caen Hill, a gaggle of kids in canoes burst out from the side not far ahead of me. I was already in tickover as passing moored boats, but they paid no attention to the large approaching metal thing - so I came out of gear and coasted, expecting them to at least stay to the left me. They continued their random movement, but when two kids in a canoe suddenly paddled right across my bow - so close I couldn't see them in front of the boat - I had to slam into reverse, and sounded the horn - which at least got them out of the way. The instructor then came up to me and announced 'I'd expect you to share the canal' - sorry, what was I supposed to do?: Teleport past them? I'm not sure how they were 'sharing' the canal, nor how the instructor was keeping his charges safe.<br />
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One of those situations where we've both probably come away thinking we were in the right. If anyone has any advice in such a situation, please give it... I'm normally happy to give canoeists space and pass dead slow (not that some seem to have any idea about passing on the right) - what more can I do?<br />
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I struck lucky again at Caen Hill again - this time a hire boat full of young men, but niether stag party or posh, so actually friendly and normal - and quite happy to work me back up ;-) No free moorings at the top in Devizes - I could carry on without a bit of shopping, they they wanted to moor, go to the pub and then head back down in the morning....<br />
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It's odd coming back the way I came - it's kind of the same, but a different view of everything. Rather trvially, though, there were two signs to 'The Memorial' only readable for those heading east... curious.<br />
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I sought out my little gap in the reeds by Bridge 130 again, and managed a bit of work on the front deck, although not really dry enough to do much....<br />
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<b>Thurs 4th Aug - Bridge 130 to Wolf Hall (Bridge)</b><br />
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At about half past eight I was ready for the off; got all my bits & pieces ready, and went to start the engine - just a clunk of the solenoid, no starter turning over. After about an hour of cleaning contacts, different batteries and bypassing stuff, I gave up and called RCR, who sent John out all the way from - Uxbridge. He chased it back into life, and then we couldn't replicate the fault - which is sometimes as close as you get to fixing things in real-world engineering. A little frustrating as the solenoid/starter were relatively new, but hey...<br />
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While waiting that morning, sitting on the boat, reading - I realised that's what I'm not doing enough of - sitting on the boat in nice places, being. Boats are a good way of being in a beautiful place - all I do is pass through, a lot of the time. A lesson learned (if I get time...).<br />
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Later that day I saw Dan Hollands, who's booked way in advance now he's moved over to the west country. He admittedly he'd had a missed call from RCR that morning ;-)<br />
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A shorter day boating than expected, though - through the long pound through Pewsey etc, then up the last few locks to the summit pound, finding a mooring ready for the locks downhill - downhill all the way back to Brentford, now - in the morning.<br />
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<b>Fri 5th Aug - Wolf Hall to Great Bedwyn</b><br />
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The weather's looking better; the morning first thing boded well. Note the front stuck in the shrubbery in the pic above - after the first lock I found a snail hanging on to the side of the hull for dear life; I returned him to land as I doubted his luck would last (not with some of the angles I've found myself going into locks, anyway). There's some interesting old railway lines and remains of bridges across the canal around here, I must do some research... once again I didn't visit Crofton pumping station. ;-(<br />
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There's a lovely house along here - by lock 62, I think - that has lots of lovely sheds, one of which is an artist's studio. They have no road access, so transport of anything significant is by a small raft with an outboard - lovely, and a friendly chap, too. As I came past I saw they had a table with a few starnge squashes to give away. Looked peaceful.<br />
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Another pause for real life at Great Bedwyn moorings... I didn't mean to repeat mooring spots at all, but sometimes needs must.<br />
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<i>Addendum: mooring at Great Bedwyn, I received the most delicious shake of the head and turn away from the boater adjacent, as I perfectly dropped a 30' boat into a 38' gap... whether it was because I had the temerity to moor in front of him (many people leave a gap of at least one ring spacing between themselves and the next boat), or dared to be seem on the open canal without a pristine paint job, or whether he just wanted to disapprove full stop (rather than offer to help & take a rope, which is what most others would do). Being the inverted snob I am, I feed off such pathertic behaviour...</i>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-91149137757173953632016-08-01T17:00:00.003+01:002016-08-28T12:30:38.400+01:00Kennet & Avon III (Great Bedwyn to Dundas Aqueduct)Where was I? Ah...<br />
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<br />
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<br />
(these
concrete things are on quite a few accommodation bridges, presumably
part of WWII invasion preparations, along wth the pill boxes along the
route. I like the message on this one...<br />
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<b>Fri 29th July - Great Bedwyn to Bridge 130</b><br />
<br />
The
Crofton locks above Great Bedwyn are the last of a constant stream
since Teddington, climbing the Thames, Kennet and then Dunn valleys to a
relatively short summit (and a tunnel) before starting to drop down
again.<br />
<br />
Speaking of tunnels: I never manage to tweak the camera to get a non-blurry tunnel shot, but this was worth posting to show the shadow of the bike, writ somewhat large on the tunnel roof:<br />
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<br />
K&A's locks go out of their way to be
single hander unfriendly - yes, a bridge across the throat of the lock
is very handy if you don't want to be crossing lock beams all the time,
but means that there's very few I can use my usual technique of pulling
the boat in or out. Going down in a lock just means climbing down to the
bat to drive it out, rather than climbing out after having driven in...
hey ho.<br />
<br />
However after a few locks down there's the
long pound through Pewsey - lots of moored boats; I even spotted Mick
Atkinson's workboat - Mick replaced Tortoise's cabin sides a good few
years ago. Also, amsuingly on I think the first downhill lock, I spotted
a flyer adverting Dan Hollands - another of the people who have helped
to keep Tortoise going over the years who's moved west.<br />
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There's
many stretches of heavily overgown vegetation on both sides - the GU's
clean towpath edges and piling a distant memory. That doesn't stop
people mooring up though, often several feet out from what may or may
not be a bank. Tortoise came with a gangplank, but I think got used once
on the Oxford canal, and wasn't replaced when it became a liability. I
haven't needed one yet.. just past Bridge 130 I found a perfect spot,
30' of relatvely clean bank that allowed me to get in, and apply a few
power tools to the boat. The middle of nowhere stops being the middle of
nowhere when another boat moors a short distance away, but it was
lovely & quiet, and indeed dark in the night...<br />
<br />
<b>Sat 30th July - Bridge 130 to Sells Green.</b><br />
<br />
A
short amble into Devizes, where I ambled around for a bit (and found
the eer-useful Wilkinson's) and largely put off the fateful moment when
I'd have to start the Caen Hill flight. I'd forgotten there are a fair
few locks before & after before the main flight with the lock
side pounds... thankfully at about the 4th down, a hire boat caught up
with me - with nine people on it, largely a random collection of able
children. It ended up being easiest for me to open the left hand paddle
and then get back on the boat, and thanks to them, we got down
relatively painlessly. Whether I have the same luck on the way back
remains to be seen... the pound at the bottom of the flight was around a
foot down, with with moored boats hanging at scary angles. If my boat I
would have run some water down...<br />
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<br />
I
got caught out at one swing bridge - I'd pulled in & waved the
boat behind me through, only to find, unlike every other I'd encountered
on the K&A, the wasn't mooring bollards on the other side, only
a winding hole - I was about to do something nefarious with my boat in
the winding hole to get round this, when a watching moored boater came
to my rescue...<br />
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<br />
<b>Sun 31st July - Sells Green to Dundas Aqueduct.</b><br />
<br />
A
few more locks, dropping down to a long pound all the way into Bath,
with only one lock in Bradford upon Avon. The locks were almost
alternated with swing bridges; I was more or less sharing with another
hire boat, so we'd take turns on getting the swing bridge open while the
other sailed through.<br />
<br />
One fly in the ointment was a
very indignant day boat's occupants who claimed they were 'told' they
could stop on a swing bridge mooring. They tried to tell me to stop
somewhere else, and failed to understand that there was a sodding great piece of metal across the canal, so I'd need to stop there to move it.<br />
<br />
At
Semington, I think, broken left hand paddle gear and plenty of people
around the lock waiting to come up meant I was in the rare position of
being n my boat rather on the side - which meant I noticed that the hire
boat next to me was a little too far back, so suggested they move
forward, but they couldn't, as they were jammed on the cill... just when
I needed to be on the side... ;-( Anyway, a lot of issuing orders
without explanation from me (rare, but sometimes necessary) while
standing on Tortoise's roof got the boat floating again. Lots of people
around the lock, but all hire/day crews. Could have been a lot, lot
worse. I think the crew (especially the rather timid driver) were more
shaken and they let on. After that of course it turns out one of the top
paddles (hurriedly raised, of course) hadn't been closed properly, the
guy with the working lower paddle gear had closed the paddle before
opening the gate, and we were in that far longer than I wanted to be. I
was so glad to get away, I forgot to look for the bricked up mouth of
the Wilts & Berks...<br />
<br />
It does strike me a little
daft for hire companies to supply such long boats - I know that's were
they make their money, and can sleep more people - but another 5' of
leeway might prevent the inevitable hire boat cill hangups everywhere
year. <br />
<br />
Bradford upon Avon was in carnival mode - a hot
Sunday, a floating boat market beyond the lock and, a civil war
reenactment just off the canal. I squeezed on to the end of what might
have been a reasonable mooring, had a quick look around and risked
sunburn watching people in heavy wool ht each other with sticks. I left
after a bit, on the way out one of the stewards (in the inevitable hi
viz jacket, but labelled 'Civil War Staff') asked me what I though - and
I said what was on my mind, that it was a bit strange to celebrate
battles, and death... I know it's a much loved hobby for a lot of
people, but... up to them. I guess.<br />
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(civil war reenacters assemble in surrounded by Barrett homes - sums it up)<br />
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<br />Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-92068783945812643182016-07-28T22:01:00.000+01:002016-08-05T23:17:38.148+01:00Kennet & Avon - II (Newbury to Great Bedwyn)<br />
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<br />
Newbury is a nice enough little place, even if they do hide the boring but useful shops on the edge of town up a scary dual carriageway. The RSPCA shop looked packed with fun stuff, but failed to be open either of the (perfectly reasonable) times I was passing...<br />
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<b>Weds 27th July - Newbury to |Hungerford</b><br />
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Shopping for practicalities (moored by the town park for a bit) - and a lengthy chat with Pat at Newbury Marine (fuel, and paint, of more anon) left a fairly late departure from Newbury.<br />
<br />
While still in town though I stopped to chat with ['they call me'] Traveling Jack, a roving cyclist, bike loaded up with his worldly goods. I'd seem him a day or two earlier; he lives along the canals up & down the country, and long may he continue to do so.<br />
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<br />
I left Newbury via though the'classic' lock & swing bridge I either remember from cycling through many years ago, or more likely seeing photos of it ;-)<br />
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<br />
At this point I picked up another 30' boat and we shared locks through to Kintbury, shame two more didn't join us too. We met the horse trip boat just after Kintbury lock, good timing as apparently they go through, turn and come straight back up - an impressively organised, but slow, prcedure, I was told.<br />
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The lock before Hungerford, Dunmill Lock, nice setting with the river flowing off to one side, below the lock:<br />
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And here's the mooring in Hungerford, another classic view, I suspect...<br />
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<br />
When I got there everyone was eating fish & chips out of posh boxes. Inspired, a quick look up the high street got me chips in a plastic box - I found the posh chippy the top end of the high street in the morning. After that picture was taken the moorings soon filled up...<br />
<br />
That evening I saw a dutch student cyclist I'd passed at a lock earlier - he'd only accidentally found the canal at Newbury, was using it for some of the way to Marlborough & Avebury, and I pointed him and looking up the Ridgeway as a possible route back, as he was thinking of cycling along the Thames back to London. It's nice that I've seen quite a few touring cyclists along the way, a very freeing, flexible way of travelling - while your knees are up to it, and I'm not sure if mine are any more. <br />
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<b>Thurs 28th July - Hungerford to Great Bedwyn</b><br />
<br />
The morning's exploration of Hungerford yielded nothing from the two charity shops I found, but a few very reasonably priced books from the nether regions of one of those multiple-seller antique markets, where everything is paid for at the front desk. It goes back a long, long way, mostly full of stuff that... well, anyway.<br />
<br />
Crossed with a boat that the owner proudly told me he'd bought cheap on the west end of the K&A and was taking to London to sell on at a tidy profit, and had been doing the same for a while. Capitalism, eh?<br />
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Cobbler's Lock Cottage is being done up, but has obviously had a few problems along the way...<br />
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Not sure who'd picked out the lock name in various colours, but I like it - it reminds me of something from way back, like the lettering on a Noddy & Big Ears book, or perhaps a 70s sweet wrapper...<br />
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The main feature of the afternoon were showers, which became heavy rain by Great Bedwyn. I'd wanted to stop for a look round anyway, but by the time it was dry, I decided to stay put on the visitor moorings (and make use of the waste disposal point).<br />
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The guide book shows a banked hill fort, which I tried to find, but anything visible was hidden behind fenes and walls, possibly trees too. A heritage style sign did point to Chisbury Chapel, but this was the best view I could get, tucked away at the back of a very gated stud farm:<br />
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Great Bedwyn has a slight mytholocal status for me - for a while some of the local stopping trains through Ealing Broadway terminated there. I was enlightened as to why by an ex railwayman as we passed at a lock - Berkshire council subsidised local trains & stops, Wiltshire didn't, and as a result has much fewer stations still open. Sadly the station just says 'Bedwyn' - 'Great Bedwyn' sounds straight out of fiction, a little like the use of 'Great Wen' for London (even if it's origin is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Wen">less romantic</a>. Also reminds me of when they finally replaced the 'Brentford Central' signs with the more prosaic, modern, shortened versions there today.<br />
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Meanwhile - here's the sunset out of the window:<br />
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<br />Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-64265468109151886552016-07-26T23:39:00.000+01:002016-08-05T23:16:12.974+01:00Kennet & Avon - I (Brentford to Newbury)<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I did mean to be a little more organised on this trip, but I'm at Newbury already... ;-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The K&A is one the of canals I cycled, years ago, and the opportunity came up to take some time off and get over here, so I did...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The strat was a little delayed due to a collapsed water pump on the way down to Brentford; a replacement was ordered from Calcutt, naturally I have a non-standard pulley size, but after bending two gear pullers from Toolstation I took myself down to the huge MSO boatyard in Brentford, who sorted it for me with a certain amount of amusement - and that's without seeing the size of the boat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most pictures are on my phone - so may be added later, or maybe not - who knows... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">For at least my own memories:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Thurs 21st July - Brentford - Sunbury (mooring by park in lock channel)</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I do qu<span style="font-family: inherit;">ite enjoy the Th</span>ames, if everything is going to plan. It's a big expanse of water, but Tortoise is quite happy with a bit of depth, and motors along.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I was accompanied by a small plastic thing and some teenagers, under parental orders to get it back to the Wey. They wanted me to follow behind on the tidal section, as 'it's broken down three times already'. They had no guidebook, so looked to me to guide the way with waves & shouts. I left them to go on through Sunbury lock, they seemed to think the first lock on to the Wey has to be passed when manned, but I know nothing of such things.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Fri 22nd July - Sunbury to Marlow (mooring on inside of bend, just before bypass bridge & Marlow lock)</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The previous times I've been on the Thames I've come down, and somehow the ropes (esp front) seemed long enough - but going up I quickly had to extend the front rope (already the length of the boat, to aid manually turning) so both could be held from the back deck. Lockeepers are [largely] friendly, and whenever possible I'd walk up and ask in advance for a hand with roping up. The grumpier 'I've seen it all' types allow it to feed their preconceptions ;-)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It is a different world from canals, especially at weekends - huge great plastic things whizz around, passing slow old me by default, and often charging around corners on the left - up to them. I realise they look down on me (literally), but it's mutual...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Sat 23rd July - Marlow to Reading (moored above Fobney lock)</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A quick passage through Henley was slowed by the lock keeper at Marsh lock enjoying a long lunch; the queue for self-service was chaotic, and apparently not entirely orderly...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I also realised that the gentle rise in engine temperature when the engine is off at a lock was inevitable was the water had stopped circulating - obvious now, but a quiet concern until I realised. Yes, I watch the temperature gauge a lot.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Like Kingswood junction for the Stratford, the entrance on to the Kennet & Avon is something I'd passed, and planned to explore one day. The first lock was a gentle pleasure after the Thames locks, and then a bonkers trip - on self-operated traffic lights - through the middle of a shopping centre. There are NO BOATS in Reading - apparently there were permanent moorings but long since removed, and nowehere for CCs - deliberate, I'm sure. The kennet winds it's way through the back end of Reading, feeling very small (reminded me of the Wendover Arm, initially).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I was assisted at Fobney lock by Ciaran, on his way back to his boat above the lock. The K&A locks aren't entirely single-hander friendly, but there's always a way, of only climbing out at the lock, or sometimes pulling in with an extended centre rope... Ciaran's boat has an extended well deck workshop and looks like the kind of boat I might have ended up with myself.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Sun 24th July - Reading to Midgham lock </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Being a relatively recently restored canal, there's an amusing mishmash of lock mechanisms, presumably acquired from around the system. Phil from work & NB Jacob had warned me it would be hard work - and it is - but reasonable, with occasional amusements stopping traffic for ages, to get into a lock just past a swing bridge etc. Gongoozlers are largely friendly, and I have borrowed a few to help me out - including the first turf lock, which would have been kind of OK, but it was nice to have help. Also shared a few locks - it's nice to be able to share the work, hopefully at least my fair share, taking turns to close up one & the other goes ahead to deal with the next swing bridge/lock...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I know nothing of Aldermaston the place, but had in my head historical (and more recent) marches from RAF Aldermaston/AWE. Turns it<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> is just a quiet, pretty vil<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">lage:</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I ended up moored on the offside of the lock, after about an hour of looking for somewhere to moor, but no bollards, so think it was OK. There as an unoccupied boat there too, but that & the promimity of the railway (and little else) meant I had no qualms about running the engine to fire up power tools and do some prep work for intended painting on the boat, when the opportunity arises.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Mon 25th July - Midgham into Newbury (mooring by footbridge no 53)</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">A short hop to get where I needed to be for a few days, mainly shared with a shared ownership boat. Comments about 'no moorings in Newbury' didn't prove to be that accurate, especially for a 30' boat... ;-) </span></span><br />
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</span><b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></b>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-42430988105760017902015-05-19T12:45:00.000+01:002015-05-19T16:38:51.291+01:00Odyssey on the Troy Cut*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFo7Ct-aiL2sunq5q9iK4qrNlacpvOXp7HiBVEoyCGkt_Ab5w_4jLLq45Pem0nG29DovOiNqsfaGkKu8SXcqiMN_9Kv1jCB6m7FeyZRpykLA0WPhmMDrs1_wvPgAu_Qru56PpjXPUGE62/s1600/troy0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFo7Ct-aiL2sunq5q9iK4qrNlacpvOXp7HiBVEoyCGkt_Ab5w_4jLLq45Pem0nG29DovOiNqsfaGkKu8SXcqiMN_9Kv1jCB6m7FeyZRpykLA0WPhmMDrs1_wvPgAu_Qru56PpjXPUGE62/s400/troy0.jpg" /></a></div>
I know nothing about the Troy Wharf, or indeed the Troy Wharf Trust, so why not write a blog post about it...<p>
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It is an easy gentle walk up the south side of the Troy Cut, from above Black Jack's lock, only being forced away from the water just before the basin. Opposite is mainly fishing lakes, we spotted rabbits bumbling around, largely unworried by the 21st century.<p>
I had no idea what was at the end - the basin & boats were a nice surprise. The Troy Wharf Trust Ltd don't really seem to exist on the internet, which is of course fine, the have a nascent <a href="http://troywharftrust.co.uk/">website</a> with nowt on it... they do have boats, though, floating...<p>
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...and less floating:<p>
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Acess seems to be through a gate (locked both times we visited) or through the back of a working granite/marble yard, who we decided not to upset. ;-). Photos are therefore taken through various wire fences, although we did have a good view of a very nice looking outdoor workshop setup:<p>
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The cut itself is listed in Nicholson's as 'unnavigable'. It is certainly narrow and possibly shallow in places, but Mimas - visible in my photo a few weeks ago was spotted at Rickmansworth Festival last weekend, so I reckon it can't be that bad. I'm not convinced, however, there's space for a full length boat to turn, difficult to see on the ground, or indeed on google maps. Also visible is an ex(?)-CRT workboat and a bantam tug - can't imagine they're stranded, either. Couldn't see a name for the wooden boat being worked on, though.<p>
I like that this exists, quietly, away from general radar. Who wouldn't want a quiet little wharf to play with old boats?<p>
<small>* - well, what did you expect? Would also like the offences of being disappointed that no boats are called 'Wooden Horse' (couldn't be more appropriate, bearing in mind their <a href="http://opencharities.org/charities/1108462">charity objectives</a>, or lack of references to MilliHelens (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_humorous_units_of_measurement#Beauty:_Helen">the SI unit of beauty required to launch one ship</a> to be taken into consideration, m'lud.</small>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-829369939373508552015-04-13T21:19:00.000+01:002015-04-13T21:19:07.018+01:00A new cup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KfYAtqMUL74GEwXdP-szKjrLP9JacBd5Rrru3PeXsYLguz1tmuKsr89_5G9H_TFCje2GK9LAcHrVPHOJUoabZPcA2SJYInSdjEl0XYT4FCkfcDi8h1WbHzLNwxV_ph12-DDZ1LpRWcFz/s1600/ubc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KfYAtqMUL74GEwXdP-szKjrLP9JacBd5Rrru3PeXsYLguz1tmuKsr89_5G9H_TFCje2GK9LAcHrVPHOJUoabZPcA2SJYInSdjEl0XYT4FCkfcDi8h1WbHzLNwxV_ph12-DDZ1LpRWcFz/s400/ubc.jpg" /></a></div>
I kind of hoped I'd get a matching teapot or something with the forth, but alas...Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-70040351623715801982015-03-05T22:16:00.001+00:002015-03-05T22:16:24.701+00:00Con-stern-ation*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAmtpV4HiBT4kce2oZ2-o-uc6Cuciu1d2lcGfVN1EM4G7qPTzH_A_GsWFpkaU2bwd3ib8ywVu6RvKEmjOP04MOaM0R-AOD06Vt6J-dYNWZcU4Rmp8r00VXUgsYcLa6Ts7Y3krHGS226ef/s1600/sterngland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAmtpV4HiBT4kce2oZ2-o-uc6Cuciu1d2lcGfVN1EM4G7qPTzH_A_GsWFpkaU2bwd3ib8ywVu6RvKEmjOP04MOaM0R-AOD06Vt6J-dYNWZcU4Rmp8r00VXUgsYcLa6Ts7Y3krHGS226ef/s400/sterngland.jpg" /></a></div>
It goes without saying that Tortoise is a strange boat, and not least in the nether regions. The prop shafts slopes downwards, river-style (there's a bloody great universal joint just to the right of the picture). To the near right there's a plate that the shaft passes through, but serves no useful purpose, as far as I can see, but...<p>
On the left, stuffing box & lock nut. That I understand.<p>
Then - though, the collar with the overlong grub screws (must find some shorter ones), clamps on the shaft. Either side of that, there's a pair of big washers with a ball race in between. I can clamp the collar towards the stuffing box so that the left hand trio have some function, or towards the fixed plate so the other set does - but can;t see a way that both have use. It is possible that the fixed plate it supposed to interact as a sort of bearing, but it can't necessarily support the shaft.<p>
So I'm guessing in the past it has been assembled wrongly, or possibly has bits missing (or even extra, or at least unrequired bits). I'll leave it for now toward the stuffing box as a kind of extra grease water barrier, but all a bit of a mystery.<p>
Blacking soon, so I've the opportunity to at least attempt to replace the stuffing, and try to make sense of the rest of it... <p>
<p><small>* well, there was no call for a gland pun, was there?</small>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-82993763159748731162015-02-12T12:05:00.002+00:002015-02-12T12:05:12.631+00:00The Shipping Forecast Radio
Quite often at a car boot I'll come back with something with no idea why I bothered to buy it, and this was one of those things. I think I had a vague thought about stripping a couple of bits from it. A closer inspection the following day revealed it was a bit more complicated than that, as the saying goes...<p>
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That's a timer added to the end, with familiar time settings:<p>
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Yes, it's been modified to automatically record the daily cycle of shipping forecasts from Radio 4 long wave, and presumably was used on board ship, or at the very least a shore base in communication with sea traffic. Note, though, the very un-Radio 4 errant apostrophe. ;-)<p>
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I'm no <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipping_Forecast">shipping forecast</a> expert - there's plenty out there - but it's part of the radio daily ritual, not to mention uk culture generally. I recall a radio programme about it where boats would record it to cassette, and occasionally send the radio cassette over to nearby vessels on a line so they could hear it too. Even in these hi-tech days, the fundamental robust nature of long wave AM radio is fundamental.<p>
The radio cassette itself is a Pye (a Philips brand, by then) <a href="http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/pye_radio_cassette_recorder_tr1728.html">TR1728</a>, from around 1985. The mains timer has been modified for DC use (easily done - I've done a couple of 12v canal boat use myself, and there's a description of a similar modification <a href="http://www.reuk.co.uk/Convert-Digital-Mains-Timer-To-Low-Voltage.htm">here</a>.<p>
A few more pictures:<p>
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Being from a car boot sale, with the seller not knowing much about it, I've no idea about it's history. The 'Serial No.004' suggests it was at least part of a small run, made either commercially or in-house somewhere. Note that there's a guard over the timer buttons, wave switch on the back (and also one that can be swung in on top to keep the radio on 'AM'). The timer has been mounted in such a way that precludes easy dissembly, but the mains inlet socket is either damaged beyond use, or has been replaced with something else (which may also be damaged).<p>
The unit has attracted enough interest to be going to a museum, possibly one called 'Ships Timbers' being set up in North Wales.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-8839182460218874202015-02-06T13:13:00.003+00:002015-02-06T13:13:48.918+00:00Sofa so good...*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBb8hwra4NE1y2K06GI5FfU8zXZJtxVQIDURUUNURjS76ErjcyY4hRKPpuuCDiNJTQUzRTYdTVJFYwGZnn9Isw59eON4ZyJbmE56v62usm1R3j7Uqf8eA9StapoppeKH1MjDHae6En3pO2/s1600/sofa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBb8hwra4NE1y2K06GI5FfU8zXZJtxVQIDURUUNURjS76ErjcyY4hRKPpuuCDiNJTQUzRTYdTVJFYwGZnn9Isw59eON4ZyJbmE56v62usm1R3j7Uqf8eA9StapoppeKH1MjDHae6En3pO2/s400/sofa.jpg" /></a></div>
On Wednesday it was a sad day for saggy my old sofa, it got dismantled, yielding firewood, springs and some very nice firewood.<p>
I spotted a date printed on the inside cheek. <p>
Ah, 1975, it's forty years old, I thought.<p>
Febuary, right, ok. <p>
The 4th. What date is it today? It was the 4th.<p>
Yep, my sofa last exactly forty years between construction and destruction. Kind of like a Logan's Run for furniture...<p>
<small>(* always happy to sacrifice meaning for the sake of a pun)</small>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-85044059758301076952014-09-10T12:20:00.002+01:002014-09-10T12:36:02.275+01:00Something worth regretting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPAWg8dE-eaqU0DDzzc8lwTp02gtbYdqwZhpAIJ18N2jcUTaZ4GeGmQ6bdN_cFOrGOReBQRaL3t6Y4JjiM5T2OadPB5K4e7D9CMU6ZtsT1Qsn74Xx6i3cZqUBWu87QZCVXvrKZfeX1gUq/s1600/virtualorchard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPAWg8dE-eaqU0DDzzc8lwTp02gtbYdqwZhpAIJ18N2jcUTaZ4GeGmQ6bdN_cFOrGOReBQRaL3t6Y4JjiM5T2OadPB5K4e7D9CMU6ZtsT1Qsn74Xx6i3cZqUBWu87QZCVXvrKZfeX1gUq/s400/virtualorchard.jpg" /></a></div>
I largely agree with whoever said that the only things you can regret are the things not done... and not stopping at<a href="http://www.virtualorchard.co.uk/">Virtual Orchard cider</a> for a couple of bottles was one.<p>
I passed this guy merrily stomping apples in a trailer, with crates of apples next to him. It was early Tues morning - not yet nine, possibly. <p>
I asked him how much he loved his job - he grinned and held out his arms as wide as they would go...<p>
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<p><i>Edit</i> - here's their view from the wharf that morning - well before I passed and ruined the view:<p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Another perfect morning down at the wharf... <a href="http://t.co/NcnajKvUDJ">pic.twitter.com/NcnajKvUDJ</a></p>— Virtual Orchard (@VirtualOrchard) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtualOrchard/status/509224123978248192">September 9, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-2694586916066327332014-08-21T17:51:00.001+01:002014-08-21T17:53:32.811+01:00Photo Opportunity?The weekend of 18th/19th Oct, the <a href="http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk">"Great Western Society, based at Didcot</a> are running steam railmotor trips down the line from Southall to Brentford, which closely follows the route of the Grand Union down to Brentford.<p>
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(I've nicked their picture, but probably fair use, as this is a plug for their trip - book <a href="http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/news/news_special.html">here</a>)<p>
These steam railmotors ran on branch lines such as this from the turn of the 20th century. My mind turned to this picture, I've <a href="http://nbtortoise.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/lyons-tea-three-bridges-advert.html">mithered on about before</a>.<p>
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So... if anyone with an old boat, who fancied lurking about at Three Bridges that weekend for the fun of having a few photos? Just a thought...Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-79933304246285638742014-08-18T21:01:00.000+01:002014-08-18T21:02:51.956+01:00You don't have you be mad to work here...One of the few things in Stratford not entirely based on some bloke who wrote plays ( or extracting money out of those here because of him) was another highlight of the trip - <a href="http://themadmuseum.co.uk/">The Mechanical Art & Design Museum</a>, full of various machines and automatons - imagine a particularly vivid dream after playing Mousetrap...<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqfS4dOJduO_BEc78aK5ARQ2ZkYhRq7DfXxBaog-ToHNMfS98xKafIhkshx7aNY6PIVu93aXMsTgxvB5J88rf7jtR9q1eYX091CX0F2gGMkqUW2Q8XomYvLjuZ4xzrViFPxmPUHsZRrV_/s1600/mad1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqfS4dOJduO_BEc78aK5ARQ2ZkYhRq7DfXxBaog-ToHNMfS98xKafIhkshx7aNY6PIVu93aXMsTgxvB5J88rf7jtR9q1eYX091CX0F2gGMkqUW2Q8XomYvLjuZ4xzrViFPxmPUHsZRrV_/s320/mad1.jpg" /></a></div>
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I don't seem to have taken any pictures of the various ball rolling machines (which were fascinating, and seemed far more complex & random than you'd expect), but a few of some more imaginative & inventive devices:<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4MubSv-5CSyFLDTthEIuIP_k1uWPXG8_Cb-bb94h5DZnYu-1NUPe6CShrYpqPoY86w4qq9KvJCcT1duA3l7onTLaMIQdAD9ibvwN-vIcRrL8Mt-LGUaJgmN26pR3_IcSd2qPmfA44m7W/s1600/mad2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4MubSv-5CSyFLDTthEIuIP_k1uWPXG8_Cb-bb94h5DZnYu-1NUPe6CShrYpqPoY86w4qq9KvJCcT1duA3l7onTLaMIQdAD9ibvwN-vIcRrL8Mt-LGUaJgmN26pR3_IcSd2qPmfA44m7W/s320/mad2.jpg" /></a></div>
This one repeated wrote in the sand, and then wiped out what was written...
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Carrie has a better picture of this, but it has the disadvaantage of also having me in it - each of the jars can be 'played' by hammers attached to strings, worked from a manual typewriter keyboard - in fact nothing automated about it, but a lovely, big, daft idea.<p>
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Having said that this one has me in, being hard to avoid, as it's an infinite mirror thingy with LEDs around the edge.<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pRQBwk21JPbxImkYjzFi1tOyPTP5XGMa7eYf07hWuFvJQgNWppMqFdSIjq_JHddBt3D2TCLqZ2RgA3kMNsaUM2Rc6iurSZCcZkFOn-tyCYlT_jsonBc_9WZ-ccd6_9AO8L_Du78BhZLK/s1600/mad5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pRQBwk21JPbxImkYjzFi1tOyPTP5XGMa7eYf07hWuFvJQgNWppMqFdSIjq_JHddBt3D2TCLqZ2RgA3kMNsaUM2Rc6iurSZCcZkFOn-tyCYlT_jsonBc_9WZ-ccd6_9AO8L_Du78BhZLK/s320/mad5.jpg" /></a></div>
lighting is more theatrical than practical (although they do encourage photography, thankfully), so difficult to get clear pictures of some things - but this was part of a set of flea-powered machines, in theory, which very much reminded me of my friend Martin's <a href="http://mysteryfaxmachineorchestra.wordpress.com/recordings/master-flea/e-t-a-hoffmanns-master-flea-from-book-to-album/">song cycle 'Master Flea'</a>.<p>
it was a lovely, bonker, diverting (if noisy and chaotic) couple of hours. Also, at no point was blank verse attempted.
Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-13363285575673175532014-08-18T20:47:00.000+01:002014-08-18T20:48:51.649+01:00a moan about CRT<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_hVkjC2LkegpDfpIcbvgynArnGvW6v0434kBaC-Wx8KvD_0do1boGaAj5KMNn1nwKwMxVUELfXeBHzDg0IqwiVlZC0bLyV_z7xvzjMWupWMyzYVMqj5HeNVHR5_RzfPQw9OZR62IH8lu/s1600/workboat.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_hVkjC2LkegpDfpIcbvgynArnGvW6v0434kBaC-Wx8KvD_0do1boGaAj5KMNn1nwKwMxVUELfXeBHzDg0IqwiVlZC0bLyV_z7xvzjMWupWMyzYVMqj5HeNVHR5_RzfPQw9OZR62IH8lu/s320/workboat.jpg" /></a><p>
On Saturday afternoon, just below lock 50 on the Stratford Canal, we passed a CRT workboat, locked up, spewing noxious smoke across the canal. On closer inspection I guess it was some kind of webasto style heater running very inefficiently, also drizzling tar down the outside of the boat. It was all locked up, of course.<p>
I called the CRT emergency number on the back of the licence holder - and got through to a call centre who apparently couldn't care less. They tried to end the conversation before I'd given them the boat details/description, for a start. However, I'd done what I could - what more could I do?<p>
This morning - late Monday morning, that is - I passed the boat again - still stinking the place out, still locked up. Yes, that heater should have run safely unattended, but it seems in a right old state. It's probably running as I type - and who runs a heater in mid August anyway?Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-84871940602254278042014-08-17T21:35:00.000+01:002014-08-18T07:46:09.168+01:00A Little Dark over Bill's Mothers<i>(Actually, we were pretty lucky with the weather this weekend, but when have I ever let reality get in the way of a good title)</i><p>
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This isn't Mary Arden's house, in Wilmcote. It's indeed a very nice old house in the parish of Wilmcote, a stone's throw from the Stratford Canal, but Shakespeare's mother grew up, it is thought, in the slightly less spectacular one next door. Nevertheless, it forms part of a <a href="http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit-the-houses/mary-ardens-farm.html">rather endearing complex</a> that represented our one monetary dalliance with the local bardic tourist industry. <p>
You can read more, by clicking on the bit that says 'read more'...<p>
<a name='more'></a>
Thankfully there's little enough of the S-word bloke, but plenty of good, practical examples of how a farm (including a relatively wealthy family) would have operated in Tudor times. There were animals:<p>
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more animals (and people in period, yet practical, dress)<p>
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(I turned my back for a moment, to find Carrie happily communing with the horse. I consider myself lucky we didn't bring a goat home...)
and plenty of domestic aspects that aren't that far removed from the way some of us live (or would be happy living) today. A familar style of loo, for a start:<p>
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herbs drying by the range:<p>
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Alas I failed to take a picture in the main kitchen, busy cooking vegetable pottage for the staff, as it was full of people (although I think we made them burn the onions). We missed out on the Archery, but did watch the falconry, which looked more like owlery to me:<p>
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Those hats are called 'statute' hats, apparently because they were to be worn by statute on Sundays. Not sure if it would suit me, but I'd give it a go, anything that keeps my head warm in winter...
Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-5990986464832719052014-08-07T21:07:00.002+01:002014-08-07T21:07:18.468+01:00The Herbies Were Right<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6mfcPMXnR4S9cA6q3BPH45p2lpsyV7f1d_wwIWWGqOtmtUvRN_6SkpEYyZTTiQJW9ClUMV81VD7PC82j1FFghmvbsjlRXyJZJMASdVpnCsO_R2FudiQP0aycXkgXooHRcMfYB7OVtGM7/s1600/IMG_20140807_182258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6mfcPMXnR4S9cA6q3BPH45p2lpsyV7f1d_wwIWWGqOtmtUvRN_6SkpEYyZTTiQJW9ClUMV81VD7PC82j1FFghmvbsjlRXyJZJMASdVpnCsO_R2FudiQP0aycXkgXooHRcMfYB7OVtGM7/s320/IMG_20140807_182258.jpg" /></a></div>
You be right in thinking the title goes without saying, but this time they were even righter than usual: -)
There i was, bumbling through middle england when i noticed the charge warning light was on. I shrugged mentally (read that in any way you wish), revved the engine, it went off, and i forgot about it - until the next time, and the next. After a while it wasn't staying off, it would be only off on high revs...
I was approaching Calcutt locks, and there's a handy boatyard half way down. I tied up and now whatever i did, that pesky charge warning light stayed on.
This was at 4.30; by the time they closed an hour later Tortoise had a new alternator, and i was very glad i hadn't decided to press on and try to see if i could sort it...
So yes, the Herbies where right. I'd link to the right post but i'm on a new fangled infernal contraption - which is also why i'm making do with a poor pic (although i was impressed, i'd never seen it go that far before...Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-38264826914814976972014-07-10T17:31:00.001+01:002014-07-10T17:32:35.794+01:00Thank you British Waterways*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfZi5myy8BUoVqD86GhnRDhF74n-8xuTEaY_lTQ9XzKAFN93y_5dquQ3_RSNeoqkrWVEutHVue-6qyNQ-bEI2C6fZ2mf6Lkzy1RtOgZNrLMpvezhzjvAcQw9W-vr7WKk8Z-Cx8xteq3Xh/s1600/knob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfZi5myy8BUoVqD86GhnRDhF74n-8xuTEaY_lTQ9XzKAFN93y_5dquQ3_RSNeoqkrWVEutHVue-6qyNQ-bEI2C6fZ2mf6Lkzy1RtOgZNrLMpvezhzjvAcQw9W-vr7WKk8Z-Cx8xteq3Xh/s320/knob.jpg" /></a></div>
So, these new knobby handle things on the paddle pawls (I bet there's a proper name for them, but hey, there's a picture) have an interesting feature; they're just the right height to get stuck up the leg of my boating shorts as I cross a lock gate. Thankfully any results were comedic rather than tragic, but it could have all gone horribly, horribly wrong...<p>
* I know. But they title refers to a rather jolly (if unrepresentative) song by <a href="http://www.jeays.com">Philip Jeays</a>, which you can listen to <a href="http://www.jeays.com/thankyoubritishairways.php">here</a> - but do try things like <a href="http://www.jeays.com/richenda.php">Richenda</a> or <a href="http://www.jeays.com/idiotsinuniforms.php">Idiots in Uniforms</a> too. So, the title stays, until Phil writes a song about Banal Liver Rust, which I believe is a minor disease that cattle get, spread by white Range Rovers (never has a car colour been so pointless - would anyone take it anywhere near the mud?)Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-28743329717386097112014-07-02T22:50:00.004+01:002014-07-02T22:50:56.830+01:00Modern Canalstwo pictures...
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the Slough Arm, or is it the Sargasso Sea?<p>
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In Uxbridge, the canal so shallow at the edge that this guy's dogs could paddle in it. Not swim, paddle. Picture taken with permission.<p>
More positive posts to come, I'm sure... ;-)Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-36476586686353086152014-04-23T21:38:00.000+01:002014-04-23T21:45:39.572+01:00'The Holy Greyhound: Guinefort'<i>'All over the world, threading through a multitude of diverse cultures, and as some scholars assert, perhaps originating in prehistoric times, there has been passed down a legend of a heroic, selfless greyhound'</i><p>
On Saturday, <a href="http://carrieblackbirdsinging.blogspot.com/">Blackbird</a> & <a href="http://indigodream.wordpress.com/">Indigo Dream</a> fortuitously coincided at Apsley, and very pleasantly moved up to Berkhamstead together;<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9mj-adio oZYOlOM/U1gdVfHGsqI/AAAAAAAACJU/90hXTSMQeeo/s1600/indigo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sxlZjF8dGqiP1TbabLZNUNOMLEUigmoeyHtA7ZPcl_f2oJOUjiC57BpH2qRVH8b__C-J7UOrnlMX41ATWMaQf2ZKoL4JNWJm-J8FSEAw_MAnJH8LlF_KlbxLrkxtAA9TjUm2N7wEZiN6/s320/indigo.jpg" /></a></div>
You'd never guess if from the picture, but, as you might guess, Richard & Sue had a dog or two with them...<p>
Then, on Monday, John Finnemore (author of modern day radio classic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabin_Pressure_%28radio_series%29">Cabin Pressure</a>) was on 'The Unbelievable Truth' on Radio 4, and did an almost Reithian 'talk' about dogs. Most of this was amiable tosh, but it did include the fact that St Christopher was often depicted with a dog's head. This was explained on the radio as being confusion between Canaan and Canine (<a href="http://johnfinnemore.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/good-dog.html">John Finnemore writes it up rather entertainly here</a>), but there seems to be far more to it than that, <a href="http://www.beyond-the-pale.co.uk/dogsaints.htm">explained here</a>, and <a href="http://www.florilegium.org/?http%3A//www.florilegium.org/files/ANIMALS/Guinefort-art.html">also this one</a>, which goes into the Greco/Roman cult of Asclepius. I took the quotation at the start of this entry from that, and goes on to say:<p>
<i>These greyhounds, which were kept at the temples, appear to be akin to an animal totem for the god Asclepius. It was believed that their lick had great healing powers. People's affection and tokens given to the greyhounds were offerings made to the god himself. </i>
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So, neatly back to Indigo Dream - here's Carrie's picture of a mere fraction of the seven greyhounds on board - including two from <a href="http://dogsontour.blogspot.co.uk/">Greygal</a> (owner of the rather lovely <a href="http://nbbriarrose.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/henry-h-on-test.html">Henry H</a>) and latterly two with Maragaret & Roger of the <a href="http://www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk/">Wendover Arm Trust</a>.<p>
So, thanks to Asclepius worshipping (or possibly just greyhound obsessed) Sue & Richard for a lovely day - and coffee the following morning, and we just hope our dawdling didn't mean a long day boating in the rain on Monday... and I think we have a name for your next boat ;-)
Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-35836793764925822682014-04-05T22:39:00.002+01:002014-04-05T22:46:25.711+01:00...in which I impersonate a musician...
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2lJcdMgTeQ2HnhIM6zi2lpAxqmXWy70wENuaKwn5VQPO2w2MbHxOaklMBwExnpeu-KwIQ2Syj7LWtVeIaSmlH4DNvc_wiw-NmZrQ75HNJZawso8Dhyc081xdQuSHea51ZBUtFWFe0dE9/s1600/narberth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2lJcdMgTeQ2HnhIM6zi2lpAxqmXWy70wENuaKwn5VQPO2w2MbHxOaklMBwExnpeu-KwIQ2Syj7LWtVeIaSmlH4DNvc_wiw-NmZrQ75HNJZawso8Dhyc081xdQuSHea51ZBUtFWFe0dE9/s400/narberth.jpg" /></a></div>
A trip to South Wales to visit various relatives took us in the vicinity of old acquaintance George, a far better accordion player than anyone has the right to be. He hosts a singaround type session in Narberth, suitably between our respective parent's domiciles, and close enough to home for George for me to be able to borrow his double bass (every good home has one) and carry it under my arm to the bar... <p>
Carrie took this panorama picture with her phone (inspired by Neil Herbie's work), and I think it sums up the evening pretty well - click for a better size. I'm having fun with a real bass (haven't really played one since sixth form), George is doing his thing, Adrian on the left is trying to work out the differences between his uke & my mandolin, and a lovely surprise was the trumpet on far right, which came into its own when Sue (on my right) sang Kirsty McColl's 'In these shoes'. The designated driver's orange juice takes a starring role - and so it should. ;-)<p>
Boat, yeah, must write something soon...Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-49639118027787005962013-12-24T18:09:00.000+00:002013-12-24T18:10:45.958+00:00Eu-piphany<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvdZ-XEilHR9IYdgdhcqrzQrz_TkkeVs9Ls9mMBAW5o9dKSzhQHN76ViPMHRGgOqpYdeplr_BovHaJmASrKgECj5kp__E5-YOjztuZTkeO7TUdt-LE5FetmHmluNU93mTzutlD5bNEsD7/s1600/euph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvdZ-XEilHR9IYdgdhcqrzQrz_TkkeVs9Ls9mMBAW5o9dKSzhQHN76ViPMHRGgOqpYdeplr_BovHaJmASrKgECj5kp__E5-YOjztuZTkeO7TUdt-LE5FetmHmluNU93mTzutlD5bNEsD7/s320/euph.jpg" /></a></div><p>
It appears to be something of a tradition to decorate something innapropriate in these parts, and what's more inappropriate than a large brass instrument, albeit a slightly beaten up one from a car boot sale. Long hours at work, and intolerant neighbours mean that I haven't mastered it in the way that I'd hoped (it's only an octave lower than the trumpet), but in the mean time - it is just as useful covered in fairy lights.<p>
It is, however, lacking the traditional figure at the top, but perhaps anyone who feels that should be rectified, <a href="http://carrieblackbirdsinging.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/happy-christmas_23.html">Carrie has a picture of one...</a>.<p>
So, anyway, happy Saturnalia, Solstice or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malkh-Festival">Malkh</a>, and see some of you on the other side...Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-59776323468317494142013-12-09T17:46:00.000+00:002013-12-09T23:05:09.752+00:00Daybreak in Holland<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYuU44z9Dj0NwxQu4dS1c-54kw4KcCfX0RXBKcj1BMndOem0CJtwuTMGHlccw4mcaMKDvIGMfrKEXNbdlFfTUsDdNZNbMDLR9Q9TJ55wRFhD1gvedVfvazKPgirqBmfaWuNuyhujuxks4/s1600/fabian.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYuU44z9Dj0NwxQu4dS1c-54kw4KcCfX0RXBKcj1BMndOem0CJtwuTMGHlccw4mcaMKDvIGMfrKEXNbdlFfTUsDdNZNbMDLR9Q9TJ55wRFhD1gvedVfvazKPgirqBmfaWuNuyhujuxks4/s320/fabian.jpg" /></a><p>
We went to see <a href="http://www.twickfolk.co.uk/">Fabian Holland</a> after hearing him played on t'radio, and a local gig being plugged... a mention of him being a boatdweller (Tottenham, doing up a canal boat) got our attention, admittedly. We bumbled down to <a href="http://www.twickfolk.co.uk/">Twickenham Folk Club</a>, to find we knew half the people there, including being pounced upon by people who recognised me from work, very scarily.<p>
Anyway, nice gig, I neglected to think of taking any pictures, so borrowed one under a creative commons license from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/petegrubb/sets/72157634978986694/with/9461778779/">Pete Grubb's Flickr account</a>. Good voice & guitar, reminded me a lot of Chris Wood - although still very young, so more of a Chris Sapling...<p>
Inevitable boat chat happened, and it turned out that the couple next to us - Tom & Sally, I think - live on <a href="http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/1834/daybreak">Daybreak</a>, a Humber Keel built in 1934 and thought to be the last cargo vessel built for sail in the UK. They've had it since the seventies on the Thames, and their children now live on boats either side of them - although not for log as they intend to take it round the UK, initially up to the Humber where it started out. A blog is being 'set up', so should be interesting, although we never did quite understand why people want to muck about on the lumpy stuff...<p>
In passing, we discussed <a href="http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/">Dylan Winter</a>, who's sailing around the coast too and making videos as he goes, available as DVDs <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/KeepTurningLeft">but also uploaded to youtube</a>. Whilst briefly known for his <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brHqBcZqNzE">'heat a room with two tealights'</a> video (the physics don't really add up, but there's so many variables..), I remembered him from some lovely radio work such as <a href="http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/blogs/a-hack-in-the-borders-episodes-1-and-4/">A hack in the borders</a>.<p>
Speaking of lovely radio work, RIP <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Gosling">Ray Gosling</a>, who's radio documentary work I haven't known bettered.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254536472216393088.post-48910981057597560452013-09-08T19:30:00.000+01:002013-09-08T19:30:05.298+01:00The Good Mooring Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BPVWmWUpzruAHRqoOV-gQm19Gvj_6rDYT4t5i83EJVkJS3mFF6A2b7uaUWa9CYzzYLjkbvmyGlO4gtaEqbjKXBDjnJvnGA3xInKqO5TNjcNTHyXryIzDTFoWLyEIu4YdMdWB3lG_f7OR/s1600/poo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BPVWmWUpzruAHRqoOV-gQm19Gvj_6rDYT4t5i83EJVkJS3mFF6A2b7uaUWa9CYzzYLjkbvmyGlO4gtaEqbjKXBDjnJvnGA3xInKqO5TNjcNTHyXryIzDTFoWLyEIu4YdMdWB3lG_f7OR/s320/poo.jpg" /></a></div><p>
Anywhere but under this tree! This was after a week.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098938874477314472noreply@blogger.com3