HS2 Stars
Watch this amazing little film about the proposal to build a high speed rail link between London and Birmingham
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J2hSwo06Sk
To sign the petition to Stop HS2 here is the link
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-hs2.html
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Before and After
We finished the blacking on Saturday and spent Sunday and Monday doing some painting and other chores which are more easily accomplished when the boat is out of the water. this gave the blacking time to cure before dunking it in the cut again.
Of course you cannot tell from these pictures whether we blacked both sides
or just one side for the photographs.
We finished the blacking on Saturday and spent Sunday and Monday doing some painting and other chores which are more easily accomplished when the boat is out of the water. this gave the blacking time to cure before dunking it in the cut again.
Of course you cannot tell from these pictures whether we blacked both sides
or just one side for the photographs.
Saturday, 26 March 2011
My Landmark of the Week
New Inn, Peasenhall, Suffolk
 |
| From Left to Right - HIGH END - THE HALL - LOW END - THE COTTAGE |
High End | |||||||||||||||
| Sleeps: 2+2 Beds: D B | |||||||||||||||
Low End Built as a medieval hall-house and subsequently divided, Low End is one of three cottages with the main hall in the middle for all to use. The building was in use as an inn by 1478. Peasenhall is a long, open village, with a stream running beside the road. It is much-visited by connoisseurs of sausages and ham, sold in more than one of its excellent shops. | |||
| Sleeps: 4 Beds: T D | |||
This Medieval Hall House (try saying that quickly) was our first Landmark. The boys were aged eight and ten. We travelled there by bike and train and so carried no provisions. Whilst the elders took tea in the cafe the boys were sent off to the shop to buy essentials for breakfast. They returned to inform us that the shop which we had seen open on a Sunday did not open on Saturday afternoons. The kind lady in the cafe found us bread, butter milk and jam for the morning so all was not lost.
We stayed in the High End with its Solar room.. Two families with children were staying in the other parts of New Inn and one evening we all had dinner together in the grand hall - at the colossal table.
The boys also made friends with the local butcher and obtained bacon rind and string from him to go crabbing at Walbleswick.
Friday, 25 March 2011
Flying Boat
The serious work of blacking the hull commenced this morning. First our neighbour for the night had to pull away. They had originally intended to drop off the Section 8 boat but realised that the crane was on hire for a week and so they ought to get their money's worth and departed in search of other prey.
Meanwhile we took to the skies and flew to roost on trestles where we could access the underside of Gecko.
The slime and grime of the past few years was blasted off with a jet wash the like of which you cannot buy from B&Q. This is so much easier than scraping away manually as I did the first time we blacked the hull.
By this evening we had managed to get the first coat of blacking onto the hull before collapsing in a heap.
Up early tomorrow to apply the second coat. What joy!
The serious work of blacking the hull commenced this morning. First our neighbour for the night had to pull away. They had originally intended to drop off the Section 8 boat but realised that the crane was on hire for a week and so they ought to get their money's worth and departed in search of other prey.
The slime and grime of the past few years was blasted off with a jet wash the like of which you cannot buy from B&Q. This is so much easier than scraping away manually as I did the first time we blacked the hull.
By this evening we had managed to get the first coat of blacking onto the hull before collapsing in a heap.
Up early tomorrow to apply the second coat. What joy!
8 till Late
We arrived in Bridgewater Basin near Croxley yesterday afternoon and breasted up alongside a WIP boat as the crane was occupied with a tiny tug called Tiny.
Around 8pm we were surprised by voices on our water side! A peek through the curtains and we found a 14ft wide dumb barge with crane trying to come alongside. It appeared to be the one that had passed us at The Grove, heading north. But now it had a cargo - a plastic boat due for *Section 8 destruction although there was not much more destruction to do to it. We previously saw this craft sunk just below Lady Capel's Lock. Fortunately we have acquired a few extra fenders over the last year or two and so were able to prevent damage to Gecko.
*Section 8 of the BW regulations gives them power to remove and dispose of boats for a variety of reasons including license arrears.
We arrived in Bridgewater Basin near Croxley yesterday afternoon and breasted up alongside a WIP boat as the crane was occupied with a tiny tug called Tiny.
Around 8pm we were surprised by voices on our water side! A peek through the curtains and we found a 14ft wide dumb barge with crane trying to come alongside. It appeared to be the one that had passed us at The Grove, heading north. But now it had a cargo - a plastic boat due for *Section 8 destruction although there was not much more destruction to do to it. We previously saw this craft sunk just below Lady Capel's Lock. Fortunately we have acquired a few extra fenders over the last year or two and so were able to prevent damage to Gecko.*Section 8 of the BW regulations gives them power to remove and dispose of boats for a variety of reasons including license arrears.
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Apsley Ever After
The old site of Bridgewater Boats is now being redeveloped but the house next door is still inhabited.
The bridge by The Boat PH has been given a face-lift and a sign in case you have made a wrong turn and think you are on the K&A
Boating still appears popular in Apsley although some people tend to take the corners a little fast.
The old site of Bridgewater Boats is now being redeveloped but the house next door is still inhabited.
The bridge by The Boat PH has been given a face-lift and a sign in case you have made a wrong turn and think you are on the K&A
Boating still appears popular in Apsley although some people tend to take the corners a little fast.
Monday, 21 March 2011
Give them an Inch...
When we arrived at Marsworth yesterday afternoon we found Too Sassy already there. No sign of Paul, however. He arrived later carrying boxes. He and Sue have sold their house in Kings Langley and are buying one in Spain so lots of things to move around.
We also met Martin from Tegu but without Tegu! He has sold it and bought an even smaller boat - Rascal. We always felt an affinity with Tegu as it is a S.American gecko.
A lovely bright morning to climb the seven Marsworth locks up to the Tring Summit and then descend another seven to Berko.
We were surprised not to find Pengelanty somewhere amongst the Marsworth locks but passed her moored south of Cowroast.
On the descent to Berko we had trouble opening the top gates due to the level of water. At one lock She Who Must be Obeyed called in the assistance of a passing man.
Some of the gates down here have been refurbished and even have modesty panels below the balance beams.
Its good to see that the anglers are still being looked after. Although there are no nice platforms to fish from as on the Aylesbury arm they are only banned from fishing on four inches of the main line.
When we arrived at Marsworth yesterday afternoon we found Too Sassy already there. No sign of Paul, however. He arrived later carrying boxes. He and Sue have sold their house in Kings Langley and are buying one in Spain so lots of things to move around.
We also met Martin from Tegu but without Tegu! He has sold it and bought an even smaller boat - Rascal. We always felt an affinity with Tegu as it is a S.American gecko.
A lovely bright morning to climb the seven Marsworth locks up to the Tring Summit and then descend another seven to Berko.
We were surprised not to find Pengelanty somewhere amongst the Marsworth locks but passed her moored south of Cowroast.
On the descent to Berko we had trouble opening the top gates due to the level of water. At one lock She Who Must be Obeyed called in the assistance of a passing man.
Some of the gates down here have been refurbished and even have modesty panels below the balance beams.
Its good to see that the anglers are still being looked after. Although there are no nice platforms to fish from as on the Aylesbury arm they are only banned from fishing on four inches of the main line.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
A Cut Hair Cut
After five months in Aylesbury basin we set off at 9am today and negotiated the six miles and 16 locks up the arm to Marsworth, where it joins the Grand Union main line.
The Aylesbury Canal Society is very strict in enforcing the canal regulations so I had to have my hair cut before leaving.
Not having driven the boat since last year it takes a little while to get back in the swing
Here we are weaving around Xillion Rose and Autumn Venture
At several locks BW have installed these fishing points with dinky little black and white seats. One would usually expect a landing to tether the boat whilst preparing the lock but these are only 30ft long and are apparently for the use of anglers.
As a special treat we had dinner at the Anglers' Retreat which was very good. We both had the steak pie which arrived with proper pastry (not the inflated stuff) and nine different vegetables. I think Home-made actually means what it says at this pub. The White Swan appears to have closed down which is no loss to us as we never used it anyway, preferring the more homely atmosphere at The Anglers. (and the superior food)
After five months in Aylesbury basin we set off at 9am today and negotiated the six miles and 16 locks up the arm to Marsworth, where it joins the Grand Union main line.
 |
| Barber Ann at work |
The Aylesbury Canal Society is very strict in enforcing the canal regulations so I had to have my hair cut before leaving.
Not having driven the boat since last year it takes a little while to get back in the swing
Here we are weaving around Xillion Rose and Autumn Venture
At several locks BW have installed these fishing points with dinky little black and white seats. One would usually expect a landing to tether the boat whilst preparing the lock but these are only 30ft long and are apparently for the use of anglers.
As a special treat we had dinner at the Anglers' Retreat which was very good. We both had the steak pie which arrived with proper pastry (not the inflated stuff) and nine different vegetables. I think Home-made actually means what it says at this pub. The White Swan appears to have closed down which is no loss to us as we never used it anyway, preferring the more homely atmosphere at The Anglers. (and the superior food)
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