Old Ship's logs for B-Hive

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What happened at the farewell party?

April 2001

Friday 20 - arrived 4pm ish - unpacked enough to sleep - repaired to the Bookbinders for food and drink
Sat-Mon 21-23 - building shelves etc. Van converted into temporary workshop with workmate inside!
Tues 24 - N's first day at floating school. Propshaft reconnected to engine.
Weds 25 - short motorised trip to boatyard next door to check engine etc - all ok. More shelving....
Thurs 26 - shelves in middle cabin fitted and varnished - BAD NEWS - surveyor for Boat MOT (BSS) needs to see ALL gas piping...
Fri 27th - large shelf in engine room - still many things in the van....
Sat 28th - Ro (daughter) + fiancee Colin dropped in on way to Uni. - many beers in local hostelry....
Sun 29th - Lazy day - Ro+Colin departed, chamber nusic concert in Holywell Music Room late afternoon
Mon 30th - Derusted and spot primed cabin roof - also bought paint.

May 2001
Tues 1st - Up at 5am for Oxford May day celebrations - then more shelf building, started repairing stbd rear door
Weds 2nd - S+N to museums
Thurs 3rd - Finished saloon shelves, started repairing port rear door
Fri 4th - 2/3rds roof undercoated    see life at the boatyard
Sat 5th - Rest of roof u/c, rear door bottoms finished, stbd side cleaned/primed etc
Sun 6th - Roof glossed/stbd side uc/rear bands uc/door top mending
Mon 7th - stbd side gloss/rear bands gloss/rear door top mended/port side cleaned/primed etc
Tues 8th - Craning day at the yard - chaos! - port side uc / read doors uc     flying boats
Weds 9th - Port side gloss/ rear doors gloss/roof furniture refixed
Thurs 10th - Rear deck+bulkhead gloss/front deck sanded/primed/uc
Fri 11th - Below gunwhales gloss port+stbd/putting things in/on boat - concert in Sheldonian pm - then Gav+Hannah+Steve from Poole for a pint!
Sat 12th - Punting in the morning - last pint/lunch in the Bookies - then cast off at 3.15 - FINE SUNNY DAY Click here for pictures
Chaos below Folly bridge - eights/fours/punts etc everywhere - missed them all! Tied up at Abingdon about 6pm
Sun13th - another fine day - moved downstream to Goring
Mon 14th - grey and cold - moved down to Medmenham  see how grey!
Tue 15th - better - moored at Windsor by 2.30 - good view of the castle. more here
Weds 16th - rainstorms. Embedded Systems show in London - other crew members visiting castle etc.
Thus 17th - wet and cold - cast off 10.50, moored below Bell Weir lock - lunch with Lee Tate
Cast off again at 3.15 - advised imminent red board status at Penton Hook lock - moored at Laleham before the flow became too great.
Fri 18th - moored all day at Laleham - flow too great
Sat 19th - decided to make a run for Hampton through the red boards - left at 1.05, moored by 4pm - fast but manageable.
Sun 20th - Hampton Court am -click here for more - out of Teddington onto tidal Thames(very placid) at 2.10 - onto canal system at Brentford by 3.10. easy to miss
Mon 21st - Adelaide dock for diesel/gas etc, then moored at Bull's Bridge for the day - near Hayes interesting craft
Tues 22nd - Cast off at 1.55 for Little Venice - close to Paddington - arrived 5.15
Weds 23rd - at moorings, concert in the Purcell room in the evening
Thurs 24th - motored back to Cowley Lock near Hayes - Ro in Brunel Uni concert in the evening.
Fri 25th - Wound, then back to Southall to use Ro's house washing machine/tumble drier! - moored for the night on Willowtree Park see more
Sat 26th - Back towards Little Venice, moored as before. Missed Gav and co. by a gnat's whisker. TWB out for the first time - rowing and motoring.
Sun 27th - Moved to a better mooring slot at Little Venice, Natural History museum in the afternoon
Mon 28th - Walked to London Zoo
Tues 29th - Ro arrived lunchtime, Covent garden/transport museum in the afternoon, Lion King in the evening
Weds 30th - At moorings -  see what Nick thinks of life on the boat
Thurs 31st - Wedding anniversary, Brawny+Iona arrived by motorbike and found a free parking space

June 2001
Fri 1st - motored down to Camden for the markets etc,(Brawny bought a bike leather for a fiver - lucky swine!!) and then back to Little Venice. See Iona steering.  Brawny+Iona left for Poole about 3.30
Sat 2nd - at moorings        pictures
Sun 3rd - Science museum all day
Mon 4th - more painting/perepartion for boat MOT (BSS)
Tues 5th - S+N to British Museum, me more painting.... London Eye at 4pm - good see for yourself
Weds 6th - BSS today - except examiner got stuck on another job, so it wasn't - now Saturday. Susan and Nick escaped for the day to explore the sights of London they'd missed so far. 
Thurs 7th - Boat trip down to see Thames barrier, and Cutty Sark etc. Good day for it, fine all day.    pictures
Fri 8th - Movement! travelled up Paddington branch, moored at Willowtree park - collected name stencil from Ro's house
Sat 9th - Moved down to Bull's bridge for BSS inspection -passed no problems
navigated Slough arm just to say we had - won't do that again!
Sun 10th - travellng northwards - moored near Batchworth for the night         A totem Pole!!
Mon 11th - still travelling - moored in Cassiobury Park for most of the day, making shelves etc.
Tues 12th - travelling again - moored at Hemel Hempstead on Boxmoor - an old mooring spot of ours
Weds 13th - Shorts weather! - moored at Northchurch north of Berkhamsted
Thurs 14th - Travelled up to Cowroast. New stern fender/spikes and water. Walked to Aldbury for a pint
Motored on to end of Tring summit pound N steering some of the way   picture
Fri 15th - worked down Marsworth flight in occasional heavy showers, then after lunch on, moored below Horton Lock
- sorted out the tiller linkage by standing in the cut with spanners etc. This you must see!
Sat 16th - motored to Leighton Buzzard for Tescos. Then had to wind in appalling rain to moor on the visitor moorings - tiller much better!
Sun 17th - wound again to try for better tv/radio other side on the bridge. Went on the narrow gauge steam railway. Special Fathers Day event - Nick and Alan got to ride in a shunter engine as well as going on the steam train.
Mon 18th - Soulbury 3 for lunch, moored below bridge 102 evening. CD rack built/fitted
9.40-11.20 - moored bottom of Soulbury. CD rack finished/varnished. Email moribund - freeserve account timed out
Tues 19th - Down to Fenny Stratford - CD rack strengthened - post sent from home to MK post office Bought reclining chair in MK market and Alan carried it back a mile and a half to the boat on his shoulder. Now have to recover it!!
Weds 20th - email back with help from home - moved on, moored by Willen Park , Milton Keynes
Thurs 21st - moved dalonm to Yardley Gobion - longest day - 156 days to Christmas!
Fri 22nd - Moved up to Stoke Bruerne - did the museum, walked to Blisworth on the old horse path
Sat 23rd - Turned onto Northampton arm - narrow locks - moored Northampton quay at 5.35
Sun 24th - shopping etc - engine oil change - moved down the Nene, moored Cogenhoe, BBQ. Mark and Corinne joined for a natter later
Mon 25th - moved down the Nene - lock v hard work, moored Wellingborough
Tues 26th - carried on travelling, moored above Denford lock
Weds 27th - King's Head Wadenhoe for a lunchtime pint, moored above Ashton lock in the weir stream
Thurs 28th - moored above Elton lock for lunch, moored above Wansford Railway bridge
Fri 29th - Martin up for a meeting - at moorings all day. But had time to look at the railway station and admire the steam!!
Sat 30th - moored Peterborough embankment by 1.30 - all Nene locks done!

July 2001
Sun 1st - at moorings - organised Stanground for 11am Tuesday
Mon 2nd - at moorings - S+N swimming in open air Lido - jazz concert pm
Tues 3rd - Moored Whittlesey by 12.40m, stayed rest of day - more swimming!
Wed 4th Very slow/weedy progress, March at lunchtime, Outwell by evening  Click to see the Middle Level for yourself
Thurs 5th Nick finished his London Project - hooray!! Read his poem
Out of Salters's Lode, up the tidal Ouse and in through Denver Sluice. Moored above sluice by 11.30. Walked to Denver windmill in afternoon. (Alan tried to turn the wrong way down the Ouse - I think he wanted to go to sea!! - Susan )   Pictures
Fri 6th - moved up to Ely, moored at the Quay
Sat 7th visited Cathedral/Glass museum/Oliver Cromwell's house Weather changed - quite a relief!!
Sun 8th S+N cathedral service+ swimming + brass band playing on the grass next door + very pleasant!
First engine problem - rubber heat exchanger end failed - need a new one from somewhere .. May be here a couple of days.
Mon 9th - local hire boat base uses same engine - parts from stock! - it helps to choose
a common engine. Mended by lunchtime, decided to wait until Tuesday before Cambridge run.   See how we spent our time.
Tues 10th - Pushed across to marina for diesel and gas. Off towards Cambridge at 9.45 - moored below Jesus lock 2.45, very windy, 3 spikes out Pictures
Weds 11th added another spike - 2 at the stern! Open top bus tour/Folk museum/Organ Recital pm - Marie Claire-Alain
Thurs 12th Chauffered Punt/Laundry afternoon - a local laundrette is always good/Meal out at Bella Pasta - v good (also housed in old mill building which makes it even nicer!! -Susan) Punting  More pictures
Friday 13th Motored downstream in intermittent very heavy showers, moored outside the 5 Miles from Anywhere pub for a lunchtime pint
Carried on,  TURNED LEFT moored Stretham Engine - which is on the Old West River
Sat 14th Motored on via Hermitage Lock and the tidal bit ( you lock UP to the tidal bit!!), eventually moored at St Ives  Pictures
Sun 15th Moved to Huntingdon for lunch, then stayed rest of the day listening to a brass band, and painting starboard name!  See for yourself
Mon 16th Keen today - started at 9.25 - stopped at 5.30, having travelled to within 3 locks of Bedford
Tues 17th moved on and moored at Bedford, on park. Tesco shopping and RAIN!!!!!
Weds 18th Was intending to lock onto upper river - i.e. as far as you can go, but last footbridge very low, and warned that more water
was coming down - might get stuck in Bedford, so turned round. A shame not to get to the end...
Motored back down to Great Barford - stopped for pub lunch, then heavy rain most of the way to St Neots
Thurs 19th early start - moored below Huntingdon bridge for lunch, then on to The Waits, St Ives
Fri 20th SUNNY!!! Much water about, Brownshill lock gates under water BOTH ends! Had to take flowers off the roof for Hermitage Lock - headroom
down to 1.8m - best we can do is 1.7, so we were getting close... Moored Ely
Sat 21st Dry At moorings in Ely. Did museum etc.
Sun 22nd sunny - stopped at marina for diesel/gas, then on to Hilgay on the River Wissey - which was very high. Recreation ground next to river was actually a paddling pool. Had to help a cruiser under the bridge by being extra crew - about 15 of us I think. - made it just.  Pretty wet Hilgay
Mon 23rd sunny Engine overheat 5 minutes after start - lack of coolant. Water pump leaking gently.
Up to Wissington lakes then back to Hilgay for lunch. Painted port side name, ordered water pump for delivery to March Post office
Tues 24th sunny Though Denver sluice, back onto the levels. Moored Nordelph - BBQ !
Weds 25th Slowish trip down to March - Water pump at PO - fitted in the afternnon - no leaks now!
Thurs 26th - hot 10.10-2.40 - moored Whittlesey. Tried to reach Ramsey from Floods Ferry - first bridge too low - just turned round!   See for yourself
Booked Stanground lock for 11am
Fri 27th - hot Arrived Stanground to find booking was not on the list - got through anyway Moored Peterborough
Sat 28th - hot - at moorings. Travelled on the Nene valley steam railway
Sun 29th - hot - moved upstream to Ferry Meadows Country Park - pleasant moorings     Pictures
Mon 30th - not so hot - moved upstream  moored at Elton
Tues 31st - cloudy and a bit cooler...S managed to leave keys behind at Warmington lock - didn't find out until Prio lock!
Was just about to TWB back, whcn a friendly cruiser appeared with them! Moored outside the Kings Head, Wadenhoe. Good meal in same place

August 2001
Weds 1st - dry, some sun. Motored am and pm, moored Irthlingborough bank. Walked into town for supplies
Thurs 2nd - grey, some light rain!! A short day - only 2 1/2 hours - moored Wellingborough embankment.
Fri 3rd - not raining! Motored on, moored above Cogenhoe lock Heavy rain, so stopped for the day!
Sat 4th - moved to Northampton Quay, and then to new moorings by B&Q after lunch
Galley worktop replacement to be done here - first piece of worktop bought/cut
Visited by Mark & Corinne in the evening
Sun 5th - dry All new worktops cut and fitted
Mon 6th - cloudbursts and sun! Final fitting/edging adjusting etc All finished except edging
Tues 7th - sun/rain/wind - Back down the Nene for last free pumpout - then up Northampton arm - moored Bugbroke at 5ish
Weds 8th - dry at first ...stopped at Stowe Hill for diesel/gas/mooring pin/chinamans hat. Occasional heavy showers
Turned onto the Leicester branch of the GU
Thurs 9th - dry Up Watford flight slowly then carried on, moored Yelvertoft - as rain started!
Fri 10th - dry Fresh eggs at local smallholding. Lots of miles, no locks - moored just before bridge 59 - good view and quiet - just before Foxton flight
Sat 11th - intermittent drizzle.At moorings Front doors repanelled/rear engine mtgs changed/Other rear seat built/Bees painted around stbd hive
Sun 12th - rain! Down Foxton flight - Moored Mkt Harborough
Mon 13th - dry, some sun Walked into town for supplies, back to Foxton - pub for food tonite!
Readjusted engine mtgs again....settling down I hope.
Tues 14th - dry again Ivor Batchelor appeared 9am - bought 4*25kg of Homefire. Moored Kilby by 4.30. More bee painting, also TWB name
Chimney black painting done
Weds 15th - v hot Short morning , moored Blaby Bridge in the shade for a rest
Bought sosegs/beefbb for BBQ Moored Aylestone Mill lock for BBQ - too many noisy kids causing trouble - climbing on the boat etc.
Moved again - captured one child at Aylestone - got rid of hinm on a boat going the other way! Moored one lock up from Leicester centre
Thurs 16th - rain overnight 9.30-10.00 - moored pontoons Leicester centre
Sometime between 10.30 and 11.10 someone jemmied the front doors and took the video camera and laptop.
Luckily no damage or other loss - still a nuisance Police called and arrived eventually at ?2ish - still waiting for SoCO - 8.30pm
Fri 17th - dry Awoke after a restless night - S+N went to see Shrek at local Multiplex, A rebuilt front doors - SoCo arrived about 9am - no help
More police later - about 11am - with burglary pack ! Moored below Belgrave lock - went to National Space Centre
then moored on the park above bridge 12
Sat 18th motored down to Sileby - for PO etc - then on to water etc and moor at Barrow on Soar
Sun 19th S to launderette - met someone with a table top washing machine to sell!
Tom/Sandra/Odette dropped in on the way from York to Poole Bought washing machine - ok after service
Mon 20th - dry Moved to Loughborough for shopping and a pint ( Pedigree!), then moored above Ratcliffe lock - dredging in progress
Tues 21st - dry/sunny 10.30 by the time we exited the lock - mud barge got stuck aground at exit of lock - took a while to free it!
1.15 moored outside Sainsbury's, Nottingham. Walked round town etc. Bought new bow fender from travelling fender maker - fitted by 8.30pm
Weds 22nd - dry At moorings - Robin Hood experience/Caves of Nottingham Bought replacement video camera - last one in Comet
Thurs 23rd - hot Moved down onto the Trent, and downstream towards Newark. Stopped at Gunthorpe at lunchtime (1.10) and stayed there the rest of the day. Video stopped recording sound ... sad really!
Fri 24th - grey start, brighter later Moved on and moored in new marina at Newark - new pontoons/water/elec/pumpout etc All BW.
Sat 25th - hot - At moorings
Sun 26th Hot At Moorings
Mon 27th Hot Washing/fixed bow door strike plate/touched up dark blue port side
Fireworks/brass band etc. in the evening
Tues Hot again!Down to Cromwell Lock, down the tidal Trent - no problems - not used to following charts though!
Moored outside Torksey lock waiting for enough water to get in - then through Torksey lock, moored.
Weds 29th - still warm and dry .Moved down, moored outside Pyewipe Inn for a pint.
Moved down to Lincoln
Thurs 30th Still dry Moving on toward Boston - moored Tattershall. Reset engine mountings again!
Fri 31st - sunny am Arrived Boston 11.50. Removed engine thermostat - now running much cooler. Need 72 degree one really - not easily available.
Walked around Boston - decided against Maud Foster drain - nowhere to moor or turn...

September 2001

Sat 1st At moorings Boston       Click for pictures
Sun 2nd At moorings Boston
Mon 3rd Spike to vets to have abcess removed - back by 3ish. Then moved to Chapel Hill. He looks really silly with no hair on his bum!
Tues 4th - weather grey/windy. Walked down to Kyme eau to have a look. Moved on, stopped Bardney for lunch, moored Washingborough
in the evening - just outside Lincoln.
Weds 5th - rain. Moved into Lincoln. Did cathedral/castle etc. Moved on to the Pyewipe Inn for pub evening food!   More pictures
Thurs 6th - dry. Not wide enough to wind outside PyeWipe - only 60ft, so wound at next marina entrance - back to Brayford Pool for pumpout
Then Saxilby for lunch, onto Torksey
Fri 7th - grey/windy Out of Torksey lock at 11, Cromwell at 2.15 - then on to King's marina by 4.20 - wind freshening
Moored on visitors space - power etc.
Sat 8th and Sun 9th at moorings, King's marina, Newark Pictures here too
Mon 10th Move up the Trent, moored above Stoke Bardolph lock for the night   The Trent in pictures (when I wasn't too busy!!)
Tues 11th Moved up to Nottingham moored by museum - which no longer exists - however, may have found a folding
bike for the boat - seeing it tomorrow. Then moored outside Sainsburys
Weds 12th At moorings - S+N to castle+museums. Old trip to Jerusalem for lunch. Decided to buy bike - pick up 10am tomorrow  Nottingham in view
Thurs 13th Collected bike - rides ok. Moved closer to B&Q and cinema, B&Q for aluminium angle to finish engine room steps,
Cinema for Cats and Dogs. Then moved closer to Beeston lock
Fri 14th - fine day again Moved onto the Erewash, moored above Trent Lock for a lunchtime pint
Good beer/food at the Steamboat inn Then moved up to Sandiacre
Sat 15th Started towards Langley Mill, got caught up by Mick and Carol Gold - major people in the Erewash restoration -
stopped at Cotmanhay for a pint(2) at lunchtime, arrived Langley Mill around 4ish Moored in private basin - start of Nottingham canal - by invitation!!
Sun 16th - another fine sunny day At moorings - went to DH Lawrence museum etc Rainstorm at 6ish See the Erewash for yourself
Mon 17th - grey/breezy Left basin - broke swingbridge operating pole! Moved on downstream, moored Sandiacre pm.
Tues 18th grey/windy. Went to butchers, then moved to Trent lock. Cut kindling, went for a walk through the fields
Weds 19th - very windy Watered, up the rest of the Trent, moored at Shardlow at 12.15  
Thurs 20th Stencils for name picked up for Post Office. Moved to Willington
Fri 21st Short trip to Horninglow. Cleaned boat for gathering Boaters entertainment at Royal Oak pm (guitar vocalist) Didn't do beer festival ;-(
Sat 22nd - fine day Many visitors looking at boats. N+I did bass museum pm. Boaters entertainment at Royal Oak pm (general entertainer)
Didn't do beer festival (again!)    Pictures
Sun 23rd Tom+Sandra also Mark+Corrine for visit - lunch in the Navigation - good/cheap but basic pub.   More piccies
Mon 24th Shopping, then moored above Alrewas Lock. Alternator has lost a diode - still working, but not very well...
Tues 25th Fradley BW yard for water and rubbish, Fan belt destroyed and unshipped raw water belt also - last fan belt used!
12.40-1.30 - moored above Fradley top lock Walked down to the Swan for a pint - then put B-Hive name on stbd small panel - looks good     have a look
Weds 26th - misty in the morning see for yourself Moved to Rugeley - bought new red/yellow Humbrol, and spare fan belt, then on to Great Haywood
Thurs 27th - wet! Moved to Stone    cooking Christmas Pud as we went
Fri 28th - sunny all day! Moved to bridge 104 - painted port side name - long lunch hour Moved to Stoke opposite cemetery, below Stoke 3                                                     Views of T&M
Touched in name where stencils pulled ;-(
Sat 29th - dry. Up the Caldon to Bridge 8 Walked into Hanley to meet R at bus station - on time!
Then continued up the Caldon (v shallow) Moored above Stockton locks - very pleasant
Sun 30th - windy/ wet at times. Continued up Caldon, wound at Cheddleton, moored - lunch in the Red Lion
Walked around the flint mill - undershot wheel still working - BIG COGS! Back down to moor below Stockton locks. The Caldon in pictures.

October 2001

Mon 1st - grey, but stayed dry. Moved down to bridge 10 - walked up to bus station to see R off, then moved around to bridge 6 - view across the valley
Theatre in the evening - Return to the Forbidden Planet - brilliant! Do go and see it if you get the chance.
Tues 2nd - dry. Down to the junction for water/rubbish/elsan, then outside China Gardens for pint+food. Then moved to moor by Westport Lake
Weds 3rd - still dry! Harecastle low but ok - took some things off the roof. HarecastleTunnel Moored by bridge 86 for lunch and putting things back on the roof!   Moved on to Congleton wharf - got very stuck on some obstructions - seems to be a wall under water about 1 foot out from the bank!
Walked into town for shopping.
Thurs 4th - amazingly still dry! Moved off, up Bosley flight, stopped for lunch, Then on to moor just before Macclesfield, Sutton Aquaduct
Fri 5th Dry.  Moved to Bollington, moored outside the Adelphi mill.Walked up to White Nancy and then along Kerridge in bright sunshine!  and mud!!
Mikron at the Arts Centre in the evening - rained on the way back! Another good show - four handed. Bollington Arts Centre obviously a hive of activity.
Sat 6th - grey early, but brightened up. Bought coal off a  coal boat, then on to High Lane for lunch
Then onto the Peak Forest canal, towards Whaley Bridge - snapped gearbox control cable, so forward/reverse by stick through the deckboards!
Luckily, I had a spare one! - which fitted!
Sun 7th - sunny. Walked up to Buxworth basin - pint+food in the pub - still sunny, but going downhill...
Heavy rain/ strong winds in the evening.
Mon 8th dry Moved to Marple Walked into town for shopping. Then moved onto Higher Poynton
Tues 9th Moved to Macclesfield. Susan walked into town for Tescos Bought new flossie tubes and spare control cable at boatyard
Moved on to Sutton aqueduct moorings
Weds 10th Moved to Bosley flight, moored below top lock for lunch. Then moved to bottom of flight. Rain later...
Thurs 11th - fine sunny day. Stayed at moorings - stbd large panel lettering done.    The Macc in pictures
Fri 12th - another fine sunny day! Moved down to Scholars Green, for PO/Gas/Diesel. Then walked to Little Moreton Hall -
moated Tudor house, unchanged since 1600ish.
Sat 13th - still fine. Moved off the Macclesfield back onto Trent and Mersey. Moored part way down Heartbreak Hill for lunch, then Hassalls Green           see the Pink Church
Sun 14th - grey but dry Moved down the rest of Heartbreak, moored Middlewich
Mon 15th - grey, some heavy showers. Shopping in the morning, also brass rail for drying racks
Moved onto the Middlewich branch, stopped for lunch when it rained. Moved onto to Barbridge in the afternoon
Tues 16th dry. Up Hurlestone flight, moored before bridge 22 in the rain! Moved on after lunch, rain intermittent - some heavy showers. Moored between first two Wrenbury lift bridges
Weds 17th - mostly dry At moorings, lettering finished on rear panels!
Thurs 18th - dry and sunny at times Moored  Willeymoor lock for a pint at the pub, then on to Grindley Brook for water, then moored in Whitchurch arm
Last time we were here this was a field - it's been restored!   Whitchurch
Fri 19th - dry am, rain pm Walked into Whitchurch town for supplies, then moored in the middle of Whixall Moss.
Sat 20th - rain. Moored far side of Ellesmere tunnel for lunch, after complete loss of engine coolant - end cap fell of heat exchanger!
Then moved on to moor between bridges 16 and 17
Sun 21st  Moved to north end of Chirk tunnel, Walked into village for supplies
Then moored oppposite Chirk marina, after going in for PO and gas - not a nice entrance !!   Chirk
Mon 22nd - sunny. Moved up to Froncysllte....just before the BIG aqueduct
Cleaned/polished brass etc Walked down to the Dee and across aqueduct to Trevor.
Tues 23rd - mostly sunny. At moorings - Fosters arrived 2.30pm. Loo operating shaft broke - wouldn't it just!!  Pontcysyllte and the Fosters
Weds 24th - still mostly dry. Went across aqueduct, bought loo spares at anglo-welsh, back to Chirk Marina for pub
Then back to Fron - Fosters departed.Across aqueduct, moored in Trevor basin - aground in bridgehole...
Thurs 25th - dry am. Loo repaired. Moved to Llangollen - not as shallow as it used to be...Heavy rain by 5pm Llangollen
Fri 26th - raining...at moorings. Walked up to Horsehoe falls am, Doctor Who experience pm
Sat 27th - sunny Moved back to Fron, pint + sarnies at the Aqueduct. Then moved to Chirk Bank  Impressive views
Sun 28th Clocks back, at moorings. Walked to Chirk Castle for spooky day pm - good fun Castle
Mon 29th - sunny am moved off toward Frankton Junction - moored between bridges 2 and 1.
Into Frankton top at 2.30, moored Queen's Head - end of navigable section.
Tues 30th - were going to go back up to mainline, but invited to Halloween party, so walked down to Maesbury Marsh, and stayed put Who're you calling pumpkin face?
Weds 31st - fine but blowy Up through Frankton, moored Ellesmere arm at lunchtime  The meres of Shropshire

November 2001

Thurs 1st dry Motored on, moored in the middle of nowhere before Whitchurch
Fri 2nd dry Moved down to Grindley Brook, moored at bottom of flight - loads of free logs (oak) on towpath
Sat 3rd Moved to Wrenbury - Stayed for fireworks/bonfire in the evening.
Sun 4th Moved off the Llangollen canal, moored on Nantwich embankment
Mon 5th At moorings. Confirmed rudder job for weds, no moorings available at xmas at Nantwich boat centre
Tues 6th Along the Middlewich arm, moored at King's Lock boatyard
Weds 7th Slipway day at Mike Sivewright's yard. Out at 8.45, back in the water all done by 12.00 Top/bottom bearings and welding on rudder boat on a rope pictures
Thurs 8th Cold overnight At moorings - washing day
Fri 9th Still cold but clear Moved back along the Middlewich branch, moored on Nantwich bank in the dark!
Sat 10th At moorings Shopping etc Messiah in the evening.
Sun 11th S+N to church+swimming am. Moved back to Barbridge on the afternoon
Mon 12th - raining Reset engine mountings am. Moved towards Chester, moored before Bunbury locks
Tues 13th - fine/dry/cold Carried on towards Chester
Weds 14th Moved into Chester, convenient for Tescos and Iceland! Noisy-ish, but seemed safe enough
Thurs 15th Moved down through the last locks to Tower Wharf on the 48 hour moorings - BW man said not to worry about staying longer!
Less road noise, but many pedestrians - obviously a common walking area.
Fri 16th At moorings - did the wall walk - good fun lots to see Watched the river Dee weir disappear as the tide came in! see for yourself
Sat 17th At moorings - shopping etc
Sun 18th S+N to service at cathedral, then shopping, then moved to Christleton
Mon 19th Moved to moor below Beeston Castle - that's for tomorrow when the weather's better
Tues 20th  Up Beeston castle - very good view, Shady Oak for lunch.
Weds 21st Washing day! Moved down Chas Hardern's boatyard for diesel/coal/gas, then back to previous mooring.
Thurs 22nd Moved to Christleton, then to outside Tescos, Chester
Fri 23rd Moved down to Tower Wharf, 24 hour side! R+M arrived at 8.25pm - home made pizzas
Sat 24th At moorings M+N swimming afternoon - S+R shopping. Meal at Bella Pasta pm  Birthdays
Sun 25th At moorings Bowling at 12.30-good fun Roast dinner with Champagne! A+R+M to Alexander's club pm - Welsh folk/rock
Mon 26th At moorings M on coach at 9.40 R on coach at 12.15
Tues 27th Moved back up to Tescos, then to Christleton
Weds 28th Moved to Beeston - opposite Chas Hardern Market, pub for lunch, Steak for tea - A's 50th birthday     - with balloons!
Thurs 29th Moved to Barbridge for lunch, then moored past Minshull lock  Bunbury
Fri 30th Moved down to Middlewich

December 2001

Sat 1st Moved to Anderton. Cold and v wet most of the way! Lift still progressing
Sun 2nd At moorings - looked at lift etc Rebuilt starter cables - all ends now soldered Built first alarm control board - now needs installing.
Mon 3rd Moored before Dutton stoplock - missed 12pm tunnel passage through Preston Brook tunnel - caught the 1pm slot.
Then moved to Higher Walton
Tues 4th Carried on - no locks on the Bridgewater canal for a long way! - eventually stopped at Worsley where the canal systems all started
Weds 5th Stripped and rebuilt starter motor - now much better - sticky brushes etc.Moved to Astley Green in gale force winds...bridge holes were difficult  Bridgewater Canal
Thurs 6th Moved to Wigan - walked to Wigan heritage centre - good... This is as far north as we can go..  Christmas lights
Fri 7th - grey, wet later. Early start - 8.50 Reversed to Moss bridge - 50 minutes! - just room to wind, then forwards again! moored Worsely mid-afternoon
Sat 8th Fine day. Started early again (8.50) Cruised all day, short lunch stop, moored at Moore in the gloaming!
Sun 9th A three tunnel day - two of which are single boat width and crooked, with no signalling system. Luckily we met no-one! Moored Anderton
Mon 10th Moved to Middlewich, did some shopping, then started up the Middlewich branch (again!)
Tues 11th Canal frozen - it had been a cold night! Icebreaking till past Minshull, looked at mooring places for christmas layover, moored Nantwich bank  Brrrr
Weds 12th At moorings Alan to Oxford to retrieve van - no problems, started easily after 7 months!
Thurs 13th. Packing...Up the canal, wound, then had starter supply cable round the propshaft - tipped battery over, broke solenoid on starter. Jury-rigged wiring, restarted, back to water up, pack van.
Fri 14th Finished packing van, moved boat to xmas moorings - 5 spikes for safety. Drove back to Poole, starting about 12.
15th-31st in Poole