From owner-canals@blacksheep.org Thu Sep 11 04:00:07 1997 id AA00884; Thu, 11 Sep 97 03:59:42 EDT for canals-nonews@blacksheep.org (canals@blacksheep.org) To: canals@blacksheep.org Date: 11 Sep 1997 07:26:12 GMT From: "jbaldwin" Subject: Iver to Debdale I'm a new subscriber and a new owner and this is our first trip Thursday 28 August 1997 After being shown around Poppy by Mr. & Mrs. M filled with water and diesel (66ltrs @ 30p per ltr) we finally left Iver at 14:20 for our journey to Debdale Wharf. Joined the GU Mainline some 30 minutes later and proceeded northwards. Stopped for the night at bridge 180 about 7.5 miles and four locks at 18:00. The handling of Poppy was a lot easier than any hire boat we have had in the past and presumably it should get better with more experience. Weather for the first afternoon was fair. Friday 29 August 1997 Got underway at 09:10 had coffee on the move and stopped at Tesco 11:25 just before Batchworth Lock to stock up vital supplies. Lots of boats awaiting to tie up at Tescos so moved off at 12:25 to the other side of Batchworth Lock where we stopped for lunch at 13:00. Got going again at 14:00 and continued until 17:50 when we stopped for the night at Hunton Bridge (162). The weather today was nice and sunny and we accomplished 15 locks and 9.5 miles. Went to the Dog and Partridge after dinner for a drink quitea nice pub for locals not tourists. Saturday 30 August 1997 Neil and Helen joined us this morning so after coffee we got going at 10:30 weather not special many showers luckily Neil could hold up the umbrella for me. Stopped to take on water when discovered that the toilet was overflowing managed to stop it before it entered the cabin area and was able to pump it out ok.. Made a Sainsbury stop at 13:00 and did some more shopping and had lunch here as there was no pressure for the moorings. Got going again at 14:00 and headed for a pump out station in the company of Damarkand with whom we would share many locks over the next couple of days. Stopped at the boatyard at Winkwell where it was discovered the pump out outlet was blocked, the boat yard tried but was unable to clear the blockage so we pumped out from the toilet bowl. This incident took a lot of time about one hour and a half before we could continue. Stopped this evening in Berkhamsted at 18:45 just above lock 53 in the sun. Neil and Helen had to rush off as there were already late for meeting their friends. Eat off the boat this evening tried for Chinese but fully booked, found a Greek Lebanese restaurant our first experience and thoroughly enjoyed it. Sunday 31 August 1997 Went to get the Sunday paper and found out about the death of Diana which was something of a shock. Eventually got started at 09:30 but found we had to-do the locks alone so we stopped at lock 49 for coffee in the hope of picking up another boat to share the workload. Luck is with us we managed to pick up Damarkand again to share the locks through to lock 46. 13:00 took on some more water with spots of rain to keep us company, moved off the water moorings and had lunch. 14:00 sun shining as we moved off after lunch picked up another partner for the Bulbourne flight, not so lucky this time it was a small alu boat going through their first lock. The wife (presumed) found it hard work and the grease worried her decided to ditch them as soon as possible as she made it hard work being unable to wind the paddles up because of the grease . So stopped early at 16:35 just beyond bridge 130 at Marsworth for the night. Neil and Helen drove over to join us for a drink in the Red Lion very quiet just two other people in the pub I suspect the bad news of this morning kept a lot of people in. Monday 1 September 1997 Early start today 08:10 windy but fine morning wind sometimes gives problems with steering especially at low revs. Teamed up with Damarkand again after the first 3 locks which was nice after yesterday afternoons tribulations. Stayed together until Linslade and Tescos where we managed to take the last moorings at 13:00. This was the last pairing with Damarkand as they took off before our siesta had finished at 14:30. Managed to pick up another pair this afternoon but the boat name escapes me. The day has been fine and we finished at 17:10 just beyond bridge 102. Tuesday 2 September 1997 Started at 08:30 this morning and it is fine and sunny. Stopped for water at Fenny Stratford Lock 12:00 and moved off to Bridge 74 for lunch and phone calls at 12:15. Got going again at 13:20 picked up a group of youngsters for the Stoke Bruerne flight seemed to be well into drink so progress was slow. Managed to find one of the last moorings so left the tunnel until tomorrow thank goodness stopped at 18:10. Went for a drink after dinner and called Kev to give him our ETA at Debdale. Wednesday 3 September 1997 Started at 08:40 followed a whole group of boats through Blisworth not too foggy though. Weather is awful today high wind and rain stopped at Weedon for lunch at 12:00 pub by the canal was good for food conversation in the pub was about the funeral and how all the roads near by were being no waited by the police already (quite close to Althrop). Not a town to shop in we could only find antique shops. Got started again at 14:00 rain continues not pleasant at all stopped at Whilton Marina to get the loo handle fixed by the caravan dealer who are the main agents for Thetford toilets. Very helpful dealers who fixed the toilet handle which included taking the whole bowl off and up to their workshops this took about hour and half. Took off again to finish the flight up to Norton but gave up 17:45 after doing 5 locks on our own and bedded down for the night. Thursday 4 September 1997 Started at 08:45 nice and sunny what a change did the final 2 locks and stopped for water and coffee before heading up the Leicester Section. Did the Crick flight don't need partners anymore. Stopped in Crick and had lunch in the pub at 13:15 did some shopping in the local coop but they had no salty butter the first time I have come across this in the UK. The local PO on the way into the village is better I think not so many goods but you could certainly get salted butter. Got going at 14:30 and finally stopped after Husbands Bosworth tunnel at 18:10 bridge 46, this canal starts to get boring no ducks because of the mink. Walked into town for a drink and to call Kev confirming our arrival at Debdale would be on time. Friday 5 September 1997 Last morning got off to a good start at 07:45 to make sure we get through Foxton without delay but there was no problem helpful lockkeeper did half the work for us the whole flight took 1 hour. We finally tied up at Debdale Wharf at 10:45 and Kev turned up 20 mins later Tuesday 9 September Had blocked toilet looked at and pumped out by Debdale could be still have an obstruction will have to check it over the winter months. Filled up with fuel 61 ltrs @ 25p that's better. Cleaned some brass whilst there and sorted out the front lockers.