B-Hive cruising log for 2000
| Date | Crew | Details | Photos/comments |
| Sunday 23/4/00 | ASN | Arrived late at 10pm - unpacked a bit, whisky and bed | |
| Monday 24/4/00 11:15-12:45, 13:45-16:30 |
Shopping and sorting out then off to wind below Isis lock - a fair flow! Diesel at College, then up to Wolvercote for pint and playground. Off to moor at Wise Alderman. Mark F arrived for a pint + natter | New hifi installed and running | |
| Tuesday 25/4/00 9:30-12:15, 13:45-18:45 |
Wet to start, Cherwell fast but still within the banks, quarry for lunch. Moored just after Aynho. | New curtain tiebacks done Aynho boatbuilders in liquidation |
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| Wednesday 26/4/00 10:00-?, ?-15:30 |
River running fast past Aynho lock bridge - drag racing start. Still headroom at Nell bridge, on to moor above bridge 177 for lunch. Weather improving, off to moor in Banbury. S+N swimming, good folk club at The Mill | ||
| Thursday 27/4/00 12:00-13:15, 14:00-15:45 |
Market day. Water below the lock, then moored outskirts of Banbury for lunch in the sun. Moored just below Cropredy lock. Brasenose for a pint | ||
| Friday 28/4/00 9:30-?, ?- |
Behind a hotel boat pair - steady run up to moor above Claydon top for lunch. On to Fenny for PO and diesel, then on to moor at bridge 125. Walked to Priors Hardwick, pub nothing special. | Water pump cycling occasionally but no obvious leaks | |
| Saturday 29/4/00 10:30-12:15, 15:00-17:00 |
Off down to wind at the engine arm ,then back up to moor at the top. Walked down to the Folly for a pint and supplies. moored between ladder bridge and 130. Dinner on the foredeck - fine evening. | Checked all joints, no leaks. Must be the pump ageing. Fitted water pump isolation switch. | |
| Sunday 30/4/00 10:40-11:50, |
+M, Andrew, Steven, Ross, Justyn | Fine morning - moved to the Wharf. All packed up then lunch at the pub. Waiting for M and crew who arrived 3:30ish. ASN left, new crew in the Wharf for the evening! | Fenny marine for new master switch and pump service kit. |
| Monday 1/5/00 8:00-13:50, 16:30-17:00 |
Early start - stopped at Cropredy to find all the pubs shut - moved on to Banbury. Wandered around for a while, then annoying girls prompted moving on to moor just above Grant's lock. | ||
| Tuesday 2/5/00 ?-?, 13:30-18:45 |
Woken by Ross shouting "We're sinking". Lots of water inside. Rang A and arranged meeting at Twyford bridge - 2 hours of bailing later arrived Twyford - water was from the water tank, into the boat via the loo, which someone had left not quite closed ... Finished bailing out, water from Twyford bridge, then on to Aynho for bread, moored Upper Heyford | ||
| Wednesday 3/5/00 10:30-16:00 |
To Lower Heyford for a pumpout, on to the Wise Alderman. Walked into Kidlington for a pint or two, found the Balck Hiorse Karaoke - back in the evening. Mistaken for a boy band! | ||
| Thursday 4/5/00 11:30-15:30 |
Back to the yard. Ice skating in the evening. | ||
| Friday 5/5/00 | Looked round Oxford, more ice skating for Steve and Justyn in the evening | ||
| Saturday 6/5/00 | At mooring in Oxford | ||
| Sunday 7/5/00 | Packed and home | ||
| Saturday 15/7/00 9:30-? |
Reibleins and Braziers | To the Wise Alderman for refreshments, then up to Lower Heyford for dinner in the Bell | |
| Sunday 16/7/00 8:30-12:00, ?- |
To Aynho for PO and water, A joined for lunch. Then up to Cropredy in good weather. Good meal at the Red Lion | ||
| Monday 17/7/00 9:40- |
Shopping then on to moor above Napton | ||
| Tuesday 18/7/00 9:00- |
Down Napton, then on to GU, aiming for Warwick. Stopped at the Two Boats. | ||
| Wednesday 19/7/00 9:00- |
On for a PO at Kate boats, then moored. Walked up to Cape of Good Hope for dinner. | ||
| Thursday 20/7/00 | At moorings. Walked into Warwick to see the castle. | ||
| Friday 21/7/00 6:45-11:15, |
Early start to do the locks before it got too hot. Moored at the top at 11:15. Waterman for lunch. Moved on a little way. A passing local said that the house just before station bridge used to be a pub called The B-Hive. Train to get car from Oxford. | ||
| Saturday 22/7/00 10:00-18:00 |
-Braziers | Braziers left for home, through the tunnel, and onto South Stratford - moored 2 locks before Wootton Wawen | |
| Sunday 23/7/00 | Lazy start - down to Wootton to have lunch in the Navigation. Lazy afternoon exploring then siesta. PO tomorrow | ||
| Monday 24/7/00 9:30-12:00, 15:00-17:30 |
PO then off Wilmcote. Looked round Mary Ardens cottage, then on to moor at Statford before main road | ||
| Tuesday 25/7/00 10:00-12:00 |
Down to Stratford Basin, mooring easy. Lot of people peering through windows! | ||
| Wednesday 26/7/00 | At moorings. Open air "As You Like It" in the evening. | ||
| Thursday 27/7/00 10:00 |
On to the Avon, up to head of navigation then down to moor at the George, Billington Lock on the island. | ||
| Friday 28/7/00 9:30-?, ?-20:00 |
Into Evesham for shopping. Refused PO at Evesham boats, but Bidford ok. Moored Cadbury Lock during a thunderstorm. | ||
| Saturday 29/7/00 7:45-? |
-Reibleins +ASN |
Back up to Stratford for end of voyage. ASN+Spike arrived, 1:30ish. Took Tom to Oxford to pick up car. Reibleins left about 5:30. moored opposite RSC - warnings of vandalism but no trouble. | |
| Sunday 30/7/00 | At moorings. Train to Birmingham to the IWA show at the NIA. TWB out for a row. | ||
| Monday 31/7/00 10:50-?, ?-17:30 |
Shopping, then up to head of navigation, then downstream to moor above weir Brake lock for lunch. Gentle run downstrem - moored above EHB lock. BBQ | ||
| Tuesday 1/8/00 9:50-13:05, |
Billigton lock for water and rubbish, arrived Evesham lock at 1:05 - shut 1-2, Stopped for lunch, moored on Workman Gardens. Walked around Evesham, stopped for the day. | ||
| Wednesday 2/8/00 9:20- |
Locks trickier down here - stopped at the Anchor at Wyre Piddle for
lunch - only pub on the river with moorings. Later moved down to
Eckington Wharf - had to breast up, very busy. Walked into the village for ice-cream. |
||
| Thursday 3/8/00 9:20- |
Down to Tewkesbury, moored before the lock below St Johns' bridge - £2.50. Wandered round Tewkesbury - abbey etc. Fish'n'chips for tea. Pint in teh pub by the brdieg - supposedly the oldest. | ||
| Friday 4/8/00 9:45- |
Tescos for supplies, then into the lock at 9:45, onto the Severn.at 9:55. 1900 revs all the way up to Diglis lock at 1:05 - about 5mph. Moored udner the racecourse footbridge, walked into Worcester for sight seeing. Later moved further up the racecourse for a quieter mooring. TWB out with motor | ||
| Saturday 5/8/00 9:45-12:45, 14:15- |
Very quiet until builders started cutting stone at 8am! Slower progress - more stream. Stopped at the Hamstall Inn for lunch. Up to Stourport, missed PO, moored before bridge 6. PO arranged for Sunday - will have to go back. BBQ, then pint and Ludo in the garden of the Rising Sun - Pedigree! | ||
| Sunday 6/8/00 8:30-? |
Up to wind at the railway arm (very shallow) back for PO and diesel, then back up to moor above Kidderminster lock for lunch. On for a pint (and playground) at Wolverley lock, decided to stop. Walked around the village. | ||
| Monday 7/8/00 9:30-13:00, 14:00-? |
Twisty and shallow - moored below Stewponey lock for lunch. On in the rain, right at Stourton Junction, moored below Swindon Lock for the evening and shopping. Good TV but a mobile black hole! | ||
| Tuesday 8/8/00 9:20-?, ?-16:40 |
Behind a slow smokey boat to Bratch, moored below for a pint, then walked up for look around. Up the locks after lunch, moored before Compton Lock | ||
| Wednesday 9/8/00 9:20-?, ?-17:00 |
Limekiln narrowboats for gas, up Compton then onto teh Shroppie at Autherley at about 10:15. Brewood for lunch, and a pint at the Brideg Inn. Moved on to moor at Gnosall, tiger hunting in the woods! Pint in the Navigation. | ||
| Thursday 10/8/00 9:45-12:45, 14:00-? |
Early tiger hunting, then Norbury for rubbish and shopping. moored for lunch around bridge 51 overlooking the Wrekin. Down Tyrley to moor at Market Drayton. Meal in town - very good. | Changed alternator belt - just about to snap | |
| Friday 11/8/00 10:15-13:00,13:45-17:45 |
Shopping then off towards Nantwich, moored above Audlem for lunch. Slow downwards - not many boats. Moored between bridges 90/91. TWB out for some fun - N with 2 oars for the first time. BBQ, rode into Natwich to look for shops etc. | ||
| Saturday 12/8/00 10:30-?, 14:00-17:30 |
Rear tyre punctured - so walked in to buy pump, spare inner tube and other shopping. Back up 3 of Audlem locks, for lunch/shop/pub/water. Up the rest of the locks by 3:45, moored above Adderley. | Fridge has stopped - no flame. Cleaned - now lights but flame very small | |
| Sunday 13/8/00 8:15-12:45, 14:00-18:50 |
Long morning to moor at Bridge 42 for lunch. Nice pint and a t-shirt! Moored just after bridge 9. | Fridge still not working properly, now running on 240 to check. Worked ok, so stripped gas jet and cleaned etc. Now working as it should | |
| Monday 14/8/00 8:35-13:30, 14:30-19:00 |
Autherley for milk and butter, onto Staffs and Worcs at 10. Narrow and windy- moored after Otherton lock Slow going, moored above Parkgate lock 4:30 for a look round Midland Chandlers. Off again at 5, moored after bridge 102. | Fridge ok | |
| Tuesday 15/8/00 8:20- |
Tixall wide as wide as ever! Moored on trip boat mooring then reversed up above bridge 74. Waited for a bus to Strafford - which never came. Rode the bike in, train to Oxford, bike to boatyard. Van had been craned to allow a sinking boat to be craned out! Drove back to Gt Haywood - Chandlers already there. Pub full so eat on board. End of voyage | ||
| Wednesday 16/8/00 16:00 |
Trevor, Chris, Graham Chandler, Adam and Lady (Springer) | Diesel, water and PO, first lock Colwich. Tied up at aqueduct Brindley bank. G&A caught a bucket of small fish | |
| Thursday 17/8/00 11:30- |
Rugeley for food, returned to find B-Hive and others cast adrift - spikes still tied to ropes luckily. moored for the night before Fradley | ||
| Friday 18/8/00 9:00 |
Right at Fradley, Hopwas school bridge for milk. Polesworth for the night. cheap steak and chips at the Bull's Head. Rained all day | ||
| Saturday 19/8/00 |
Drying up. Up the locks at Atherstone, moored after bridge 28. Pint at the Anchor | ||
| Sunday 20/8/00 8:30- |
PO and water at Wood bridge (Valley cruises) Nuneaton for shopping. Hawkesbury for lunch. moored for the evening past Stretton Stop. Walked into Brinklow for a pint. | ||
| Monday 21/8/00 | Misty to start, through Newbold tunnel, lunch at the Barley Mow. Moored before Hillmorton locks. | ||
| Tuesday 22/8/00 | Up the locks, then moored at Braunston. Shopping in the village, then on to moor at Napton bridge Walked to the windmill. C,G,A and dog went home. | ||
| Wednesday 23/8/00 | At moorings | ||
| Thursday 24/8/00 | PO/water/diesel the up Napton locks. Walked down to the Folly. On to moor at Fenny Compton - walked into Fenny to use phone. | ||
| Friday 25/8/00 | Walked to Wormleighton for a pint, then to Priors Hardwick for a pint. thunderstorm blew fuse in TV plug! | ||
| Saturday 26/8/00 | Wound at Fenny, back down Napton, pint at the folly, moored Napton Bridge | ||
| Sunday 3/9/00 | Ro, Col, Stu,Hels | Arrived at 2:45, shuffled cars, then A did twelve point turn at Napton bridge winding hole. Off to the Folly by 6ish for beer and pie! | |
| Monday 4/9/00 11:00-17:30 |
Up the locks and to Fenny - Ro cooked mexican chicken. 2 bottles of win and most of the beer gone already! | ||
| Tuesday 5/9/00 9:30-14:00 |
Gas, then on to Cropredy in the rain. Red Lion, then shop for provisions. Stayed for the test of the day - weather no better. Brasenose for drink in the evening. | ||
| Wednesday 6/9/00 9:00-12:00 |
Down to Banbury in bad weather (improved later) for shopping - moored Spiceball park. Rest of afternoon shopping etc - and then BBQ. | ||
| Thursday 7/9/00} 12:00 |
Market day! Off down to Aynho for PO - it all went a bit wrong when mooring (wind etc) and rammed another (new to owner) boat who was somwhat angry. Moved off after PO and water, moored just after lift bridge in the middle of nowhere. | ||
| Friday 8/9/00 9:30-?, ?-19:30 |
Drizzly miserable day - improved by lunch at The Bell Lower Heyford. Long day - moored at Kidlington. Shopping trip, then Wise Alderman for dinner. | ||
| Saturday 9/9/00 9:15-13:00 |
Nice sunny morning, back at the yard by 1. Oxford for walking round and shopping. Into town in the evening to Browns. Good food! | ||
| Sunday 10/9/00 | Last day. Glorious day - to be filled with packing! | ||
| Tuesday 24/10/00 | ASN | No cruising. Visiting people, and measuring etc for changes for year out. In the Dry Dock. Received candlesticks - 25th anniversary from Dad, made by Hils | |
| Wednesday 25/10/00 | Late up - S&N shopping trip. Dead battery sorted. Radley in the afternoon to see Mum - and pick up spindrier. | ||
| Thursday 26/10/00 | S&N into Oxford, more measuring. Spindrier tested on inverter ok, so going home for a service. | ||
| Sunday 31/12/00 to Tuesday 2/1/01 |
No cruising - present/visiting people trip. Water pump frozen - one Bartol joint sprung by freezing. New battery fitted, new televideo tested ok. Power control panel fitted in engine room - shore feed now working. Sink position in after cabin finalised. |