Too hot to work...

The weekend 22nd/23rd May was extremely hot. I was trying to paint part of the top of the boat, the area normally covered by the hatch. I found rust patches and decided to clean them up and paint the area. The paint was virtually drying on the brush as I was applying it. Coupled with the fact that the pussy willow trees were disseminating their seed - it was like a snowstorm. The little seed thingys were sticking to the paint. It was a painting nightmare so I gave up. It was too hot to do much gardening - the bankside greenery was growing so well that it would not be long before we would not be able to see out of the windows. I trimmed some of the branches of the overhanging pussy willow so I could get my aerials up without them getting tangled, then had to settle down with a cool beer.
It was a case of build some form of sunshade and enjoy the relaxation.

I like the new LEDs!

Having read of the advantages of LED modules to replace the halogen lighting in the 'lounge', I decided to purchase three LED replacement MR11 units from a young lady pirate who advertises such items for sale.
Replacing the units themselves was easy, just remove the old ones and plug in the new and test them. I must say, the 'warm white' modules were at least as bright as our previously fitted 20W modules and at 2.4W each they represent a considerable saving on the leisure battery.
Time to look at replacing the fluorescent tubed modules methinks...

What a lovely weekend!

Friday morning (17th April) was a beautiful day and the promise was for it to stay good over the weekend. I was feeling a bit rough, having been a little over-stressed during the week. Judy & Alison did not take much persuasion to come to Constance for the weekend.
We arrived Friday afternoon and went down to the watering hole to off-load all the stuff from the car. We also had 16 gallons of diesel in cans.
After all of this was done we move down one lock and stopped alongside the towpath for the night. On Saturday morning I walked the short distance back to Great Bedwyn to get bread and cakes. After breakfast, we moved slowly on towards Froxfield, enjoying the beautiful sunshine and peace.
We decided to stop just between Froxfield bottom lock and the winding hole. We turned, found some sunshine and stopped. We had lunch and Judy and I walked into Hungerford, leaving Alison to do her homework and revision.
For our evening meal we went to the Pelican Inn on the A4 at Froxfield. We enjoyed it very much!
Sunday morning we leisurely made our way back towards Great Bedwyn, avoiding, as much as we could, upsetting the many fishermen along the towpath.

Easter Weekend away

We managed to get to Devizes over the Easter weekend. On Maundy Thursday evening we went to Constance and got ourselves ready for an early Friday morning departure. On Good Friday, nice and early,I collected loads of Hot Cross Buns and some bread from the bakery and we set off. The weather was not very promising being dull and drizzly.

By the time we got to Crofton Bottom Lock it was raining heavily and the main thrust of the 'Devizes to Westminster Kayak Race' kayakers were upon us. We pulled in and stopped for a couple of hours and watched muddy, drenched kayakers portaging their kayaks over the closely spaced locks. The towpath was, by now, a mud bath.

After lunch the weather improved slightly so we went on up the Crofton Flight, through the Bruce Tunnel and down to the start of theLong Pound at Wootton Rivers, where we stopped for the night. I went up to the Royal Oak pub for a pint.

Constance approaching Pewsey Wharf.

Easter Saturday started with better weather and we made good progress along the Long Pound arriving at Devizes mid afternoon, by which time it was drizzling. We went into Devizes and bought what shopping we needed. In the evening we went out for a meal.

Easter Sunday Judy & Alison went to church in Devizes whilst I visited the K&A museum. In the aftrnoon we started our journey back to Pewsey arriving about 4pm.

This is the decorated west face of the lady's Bridge, built in 1808 and decorated as part of the appeasement of the then landowner, Lady Sussanah Wroughton, who reluctantly allowed the canal to pass through her land.

Easter Monday saw us return to our mooring at Great Bedwyn,, having climbed from Wooton rivers to the top, passed along by Burbage Wharf and through the Bruce Tunnel.

Whilst we pass through the 510yd Bruce tunnel through the hill at the south end of the Savernake Forest, the railway crosses from our right bank to our left bank.

Tuesday was a leisurely day, sat at our mooring, enjoying the sunshine and feeding the various wildfowl. We were visited by several Mallard ducks & drakes and these two Canada geese.

They were not frightened to come right up to us to be fed.

Easter preparations

Winter painting of the cratch and other inside jobs now completed it is time to tidy up. We hope to go to Devizes and back over the Easter weekend. All the things are back in the cratch, all the paint and tools put away. The engine has been tested, as has hot water and batteries.
Further to my previous post: I was by no means the only boat to have been broken into. Neighbours report the same as I have - it seems that the only thing to have been taken is food. nothing else touched.

A strange occurrence...

I had a text today, from British Waterways Moorings Department telling me that my boat appears to have been broken into and that they have informed the Police. On phoning the Police, they confirm that more than one boat at Great Bedwyn has been broken into and mine was one of them. They had already sent a CSI (sounds like a tv program) and would I be able to visit the boat and check for damage and missing items.
Needless to say, I was on my way...
I arrived at the boat and confirmed that the front doors of the cabin had indeed been forced open and there was some minor damage done to the woodwork around a door bolt. The security chain was off and dangling. The rear doors were still padlocked as normal.
On the journey I imagined the worst, as one does. What could have been 'nicked'? What items of value are kept on board?
With trepidation I entered the boat by unlocking the rear entrance. Everything was as it should be I spent about half an hour gently working my way through the boat. I could find there to be nothing missing. Nobody had even slept on the bed!
So, it would appear that someone had broken in and taken nothing. Hopefully that means that I got away with that one! Phew!
I secured the front doors by another means, then locked them, locked the back doors and came home, feeling relieved.
Strange things happen, don't they!

The painting jobs continue

The weather has improved a little and is now warmer during the day. I have been doing some more painting. The panel where the instruments and controls are positioned was a sort of grey colour and had suffered from continual traffic. It is now Buttermilk gloss. This has made it appear lighter, brighter and warmer. When the sun catches the paintwork it sends a lovely glow into the galley area.

Owing to pressure of work, it will be another couple of weeks before I can continue with any more painting.

The cratch deck paint should be hard by then. I did not realise how long it takes for paint to cure! So, all the cratch stuff is still in the cabin.

I will have one more visit before Easter, to tidy up, then we will re-attempt our fateful journey from between Christmas and New Year. By Easter we should not be troubled by thick ice - we hope!

Devizes here we come...