Generator

Fun and games this morning, and I thought it was going to be a restful Sunday.

Started the generator and after a few minutes it stopped. Had this in the past which then was a blocked fuel filter. New fuel filters fitted, but lift pump wouldn't pump fuel up so out comes the manual pump, still no fuel coming through both filters, so refitted manual pump above remote filter, still no joy. Filter off again and reseated, worked this time. Decided that whilst I was in the vicinity I would bypass the small filter mounted on the engine as it is not needed (something I have discussed with BSS as the plastic bowl doesn't meet their safety standards). It also cuts down having to buy 2 types of filter when only 1 is necessary. Restarted generator and everything is hunky dory until it stops again! Changed the oil filter just in case it was blocked, but no joy, only left the cooling water. Undid the pressure cap on the top tank and topped up with water. All working fine again now. Must remember next time to check the water first!

Broken Fan Belt.

Discovered yesterday during our journey that the starter alternator fan belt had broken, replaced it this morning, without too much fuss apart from the sheared alternator bolt, but had a spare handy fortunately. Not a difficult job except there are 4 fan belts in all, and this one was the rearmost of the 4, so the other 3 had to be removed first to be able to get the new one fitted, so both the domestic alternator and the engine water pump had to be slackened to remove the 3 belts, a pain but such is life. I obviously have my strength back to be able to shear a bolt!

Keith.

Napton Junction to Bridge No.126 on the Southern Oxvrod Canal

Moored at Bridge No.126 on the Southern Oxford canal, on the summit level midway between Wormleighton and Priors Hardwick, where we will spend the Bank Holiday weekend.

Napton Hill windmill.

 

Our journey up through Napton locks was made easier with the help of the volunteer lockie who went ahead of us setting the locks in our favour.

Marston Doles top lock of the Napton flight.

  However I noticed during our journey that the ignition light was on, checked when we stopped and fortunately only a broken alternator fan belt, something to fix over the weekend.

Last night I thought my laptop had thrown a wobbly, Windows wouldn't boot up properly, but all OK this morning, wasn't looking forward to having to do a full recovery.

Keith.

Long Itchington to Napton Junction.

We are now moored Braunston side of Napton junction, locked up through Stockton locks with a nice couple, and we were in amongst the Lichfield Cruising Club, which meant we had plenty of help. We had to do Calcutt locks on our own as our companions stopped at the top of Stockton locks, but we had the last few boats of the cruising club behind us which helped. I turned right at Napton junction, but reversed back to the piling to moor up against, rather than chance there being no mooring space at Napton Bridge or the bottom of the locks. Moored up just in time as can be seen by the black cloud heading our way !

Stockton Bottom lock, only 9 more to go.

  Lichfield Cruising Club in front of us.

Our lock companions for the Stockton flight.

 

Willow Wren’s new training centre,much has changed since we last passed here in 2013.

 

One for my family, our home town

    Napton junction.

 

 

Keith.

Welsh Road Lock to Long Itchington

Once the rain stopped we set off for Long Itchington, having arrived here the sun is now shining for us :)

Bottom Buscott lock.

 

Bustcott top lock. There was a slight delay at these locks as the pound below the staircase locks was empty, apparently, but by the time we had arrived the 2 boats coming down the locks had sorted it out.

 

We have moored just West of bridge 26 good deep mooring on rings.

Keith.

Radford Semele to Welsh Road Lock

Bit chilly this morning when we set off, but warming up nicely, now moored above Welsh Road lock. Having just moored up I spotted this horse and van crossing the bridge, just about got my camera out in time!

 

  Radford lock, the start of the uphill climb.

 

Having just moored up above Welsh Road lock  I spotted this horse and van crossing the bridge, just about got my camera out in time!

Keith Lodge.

Saltisford to Radford Semele

At last we have set off for the summer, we stopped at Leamington Spa for a Chinese Buffet at out favourite restaurant, Oriental Star then continued onto Radford Semele for the night.

Cape of Good Hope at Cape top lock.

 

Bottom Cape lock.

 

Bottom Cape lock.

 

This year’s lambs.

 

Good timing!

 

Moored at Radford Semele.

Keith.

Day Trip Out with Friends.

 

Today we had a day trip out on Hadar with our friends Rebecca, Chris and their son Arrran. We went down through the Cape locks, winded at Myton backup through the locks and moored outside the Cape of Good Hope and had lunch there, and very nice it was too.

A good time was had by all. We hadn’t seen them since we left Suffolk to live on the canals in 2005. Arran wanted to have a canal holiday and his Dad suggested coming to see us for a trip out to see what it would be like. Arran is now looking forward to having his canal holiday even more. Of course we had lots to chat about, and not enough time, isn’t that always the way.

Keith.

Hadar on YouTube

I have just found this video of Hadar on the Aylesbury arm of the Grand Union canal.

Keith.

Radio Interview

Tuesday I had a chat with Vic Minett a radio presenter on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Radio. You can listen to the interview by clicking the picture below.  My chat starts at 42 minutes into the program.

Keith.

Bug Hotel

Today Jo and I finished the bug hotel we have been building in our garden, all we need now is for some bugs to move in!

Keith.

And Back Again

Having had a couple of nice days out back on the canal, we returned to our mooring.

We were fortunate to be able to share Cape locks with another boat, which is a rarity for us!

Jo standing by to pole the bow around at the winding hole in the arm, good thing she was there too, as having started to wind the gear wheel decided to work lose and we were stuck in forward gear so I had to stop the engine to find out what was wrong. The cable was ok, phew! and then I discovered that the retaining nut on the gear wheel had worked loose. A quick tighten up with a spanner and we were able to finish winding and return to our mooring. Quite and adventure for our first trip out.

Keith.

Radford Semele

Today we set off for our first trip out in 2 weeks short of 18 months. We moored near the new Morrison’s in Leamington Spa, and walked up into the town. We had lunch at our favourite Chinese Buffet, the Oriental Star a treat for us on our first trip out since my gall bladder problem last year. We are now moored at Radford Semele. It is so good to be back out again after such a long time on our mooring, if only for a few days.

Keith.

Racing at Warwick

Today we finally got the opportunity to use our annual membership of Warwick Racecourse. We would have stayed longer but my back doesn’t like me standing still for long periods and it was a bit chilly too, but we got a taster and watched 2 of the races.

One of the horses being led around the parade ring prior to the race.

The big screen either showed races from other courses, the odds for upcoming race or the whole race, which is handy when they are around the back end of the course and are unseen from the stands.

The first race we watched started just before the stands and finish line so this was their first time passing us on their way around the track.

Jumping the final fence before the finish.

And the winner is…………………. the one at the front!

I do like how the bookies these days have digital displays with the odds, much easier than chalk and blackboard.

The 2nd race at the final fence.

and the winner crosses the line.

Because we are annual members we were able to stand in the annual members section of the stand which is the white railed area in front of the Totepool office top right corner of the photo.

Next time we go we will take our telephoto lenses and see what results we get from them, but for this first time we just took our standard lenses. We returned back to the boat and we watched further races from there on Channel 4, much warmer.  

Keith.

Ricoh Arena.

On Friday Keith went into hospital for 24 observations and he is still in there, because with it being a weekend, there is very little done. The consultant is also waiting for the results on tests done on Friday. All’s we know is he has an infection in either his Liver or Bilary Tree, so I will update when I know more.

A few weeks ago we booked tickets with a friend to go and watch Wasps take on London Irish at the Ricoh Arena. It was to be Wasps first match in their new home. Unfortunately Keith could not make it due to him being in hospital, but he said I should still go as we had paid for the tickets. Fortunately a buyer was found for his ticket.

We set off for the Arena at 11.45 am and when we got there we parked and then walked to the stadium, which was very busy, but well organised. There were helpers along the route giving directions and advice for those who required it.

We have seen the Ricoh Arena from the Canal, but now I was standing outside of it wooo hoo.

We had a look around the fan zone whilst we waited for 9 other people to join us.

The ground filled up very quickly. There were 28,254 people there to see a fantastic game. Jake Quickenden was there singing, he sounded amazing.

The mascot did the rounds.

The first half was a quiet a fair with penalties swapping ends, with Wasps going in at half time in the lead 18-16.

No game in the two decades of Premiership rugby has been watched by more people. There were old and new Wasps fans me included, watching a heart warming match on cold winter's day in Coventry.

Andy Goode was man of the match. He set a new Premiership points record on his home patch as Wasps overpowered London Irish to make a dream start to life at the Ricoh Arena.
The Coventry-born fly-half scored 33 points, bagging a try and kicking eight penalties and two conversions in a terrific performance. London Irish in the end were over-powered by a better team, but I also think the crowd made a difference.

It was my first ever rugby match and it will not be my last.

Maria dropped me off at the hospital on our way home and I sat in with Keith for a couple of hours and told him all about the game. I felt so guilty him not being there, but we will go again I am sure.