CRUISING WITHOUT A BRUISING

SUNDAY 29TH MARCH 2009

The weather for the previous days had been wet and very windy and we just hunkered down and relaxed, but this morning was calm and blue. A table for lunch was booked at the nearby Bridge Pub and we set off to give Joy a little taster of cruising. It was lovely to be out on this balmy spring day and surprisingly there were very few boats out and about, the hire season not starting until Easter. The last time we came this way we collected a tyre around our propeller, but all went well this time and we returned to our pontoon with our fresh paint intact.

Joy’s response to her stay and trip was “I could get used to this”. It was definitely time to put her ashore and wave goodbye at the railway station before she decided to move on permanently.

AN ANIVERSARY

SATURDAY 28TH MARCH 2009

Today, one year ago was the day we vacated our home to move permanently on board. The year has flown, but it has certainly given us the time to enjoy time, whether it has been cruising the canals, driving around Europe and catching up with so many good friends and relatives or just spending time at the marina and living life, almost like normal land based folk. SKYY has now really become home to us and sometimes when I refer to the roof storage box, I say “I’m going to put it in the loft” and the engine room has becomes the cellar. I will soon be parking the boat up instead of mooring it.

THE JOY OF FRIENDS

FRIDAY 27TH MARCH 2009

A final tidy of SKYY before Jacquie headed off to Leamington Spa to collect long time friend, Joy from the railway station. Joy, like most other friends and family who have visited us, had no preconceptions of what our life afloat was like, but as soon as she had got used to the floor moving about when one of us moved about, she was amazed at the feeling of space and the tranquility and all the ‘mod-cons’.

THE BLACK BOTTOM

MONDAY 23RD TO THURSDAY 26TH MARCH 2009

The weather wasn’t as balmy as last week, but I was determined to black as much of the bottom of SKYY above the waterline as possible. Firstly I used a stiff broom to brush away as much as possible of the weed growth and muck, above and below the water line. With the water tank nearly empty, an empty gas bottle and no coal stored in the front lockers the bow was quite high and using a foam roller I was able to apply the bitumen right down to the waterline. Sometimes the roller touched the water, but it didn’t affect the application of the bitumen, any water picked up just beaded on the surface and dried up without leaving any marks.

I poled the boat from my pontoon over to an empty space on the opposite pontoon, allowing me to do both sides. After a new propane cylinder was installed, the water tank filled and three bags of coal loaded on, the new bitumen extended below the waterline and until we take the boat out onto the cut and through the first lock the shiny black hull will look very smart.

I also took the opportunity to repaint below the gunnels and the rubbing strakes and re-varnish the front cratch boards and now SKYY is almost ready to go, it only remains to get the ingrained paint off my hands, I really should wear latex gloves instead of using white spirit to get the paint off as it makes my hands so rough!!!

SMUG GIT'S HELPFUL HINTS

SUNDAY 15TH MARCH 2009

Again a lovely morning prompted us to walk into the village of Stockton. A round trip, leaving the canal a bridge 21 and cutting the corner across a field to reach the village. We returned along Station Road, arriving back at the canal at bridge 20. Only two pubs in Stockton and not as pretty as Long Itchington, so not on our hit list of places we might choose to live in when our boating adventure comes to an end.

After Brunch in the sunshine on the stern, we cruised leisurely, back through the three double locks at Calcutt. We had learnt previously that when going up on your own in double locks, if you only open the top paddle on the same side of the boat, the incoming water pushes the boat neatly back onto the lock side. We felt obliged to impart this knowledge to a helpful couple who were waiting to come down and were keen to open both paddles as fast as they could. We prefer a slower but more controlled ascent. The other couple were thankful for the advice, or maybe they were just humoring the smug old git.

K & J took their leave of us in the evening with the promise that ‘they will be back’.

A BIRTHDAY CRUISE

SATURDAY 14TH MARCH 2009

Today was bright and beautiful, just right for a birthday, Jacquie’s birthday to be precise and after chocolate brownies and champagne in bed, it was smoke salmon, bagels and scrambled eggs for breakfast.

A short cruise was planned up the Grand Union just to the start of the Stockton Locks. It was straight ahead out of Wigrams Turn Marina and under the bridge and we were on our way. Kim & Jacquie decided to walk the towpath, to compensate the breakfast and they waited for us at a convenient mooring space just before The Boat pub were we intended to have dinner.

Long Itchington was a mile and a half away and as the sun was still doing it’s business and the girls were still up for some more walking, we strolled to this delightful village. Apparently, Queen Elizabeth the 1st stayed overnight in the substantial timber frame house, that is now empty and for sale, but we were not tempted. We were however tempted by the six pubs that the village boasts and The Buck & Bell, fulfilled our need for a lunch time drink. In fact the evening menu and the ambiance made us take the decision to book a table for dinner.

A well deserved lunch on Skyy and a snooze and then all tarted up, we headed back to the Buck & Bell, but by taxi this time. A large party was in progress but the attentive mein host, who looked like a better looking Alan Sugar, found us a quieter table and the food did not disappoint, except the one desert and four spoons was disappointing, but was immediately knocked of the bill.

UNLUCKY FOR SOME BUT NOT FOR US

FRIDAY 13TH MARCH 2009
The time between my last blog and now, has been spent foisting ourselves on various friends and now it’s approaching pay back time. Our calendar for the next few months is full with planned visits from friends and family as we head out after Easter down the Oxford Canal and weather permitting, onto the Thames.

The first to visit, even before we cast off is the return of our so-called Chocolate Chums, Kim and John. They were last with us, late September, early October, when we were up on the Trent and Mersey. As usual they arrive bearing gifts of chocolate and booze and as the weather was a bit wet we sat tight in the marina enjoying their company and gifts.