From owner-canals@blacksheep.org Fri Jun 20 12:54:33 1997 id AA16487; Fri, 20 Jun 97 12:54:25 EDT by isbalham.ist.co.uk (8.8.4/8.8.4) with SMTP id RAA28444 for ; Fri, 20 Jun 1997 17:49:37 +0100 (BST) id RAA10423; Fri, 20 Jun 1997 17:48:55 +0100 Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 17:48:55 +0100 From: andy@ist.co.uk (Andy Greener) To: canals@blacksheep.org Subject: Headin' for Readin' on the Blue Heron - Part 1 (longish) X-Sun-Charset: US-ASCII This is the log of our journey south on Blue Heron, kindly lent to us by Stan & Judy Voets for the duration of their sojourn in the US. Jan and I are not beer drinkers so we are not constrained to mooring near to pubs to get our "fix". We have other ways of doing that :-) It's quite long so I'll post it in two parts. Apologies to those who find trip reports boring, especially those looking for pub and beer recommendations :-(. Hello to all you trip report junkies out there - it's gone a bit quiet recently, so I hope this helps keep your interest up.... -------------- June 1st Picked up our hire car in Reading and set off for Heritage Boats and the Blue Heron at about 3pm (Stan & Judy will return the hire car to Heathrow the next day on their journey home to the US) [Tip: hiring a car from a non-airport location to go to an airport is cheaper than the other way round]. We arrive about 6pm and after the usual pleasantries and chats over tea we utilise the car to drive to the top of Mow Kop nearby - what a view! Dinner is in the pub (The Rising Sun) near Heritage (excellent food, and on a Sunday evening too). June 2nd Stan and Judy leave by car at 6.30, and then it's just us, ready to go! Depart from just by Heritage Boats on the Macclesfield at 9.30. Great to be underway at last! It's very windy but bright and sunny. At Red Bull junction we're sandwiched between two hire boats - fun and games at the turn onto the Trent & Mersey! Fortunately we can go straight into Harecastle Tunnel as the last of a four boat convoy. The boats in front are going painfully slowly as we leave the sunshine behind and it is 55 minutes before we emerge again into the daylight at the southern portal. The boat in front had a bright deck light on its rear bulkhead which dazzled me for the whole passage. Grrrr. We stop at Etruria, just before the Caldon junction, for lunch - wish we had time to explore the Caldon, it's a great diversion for a few days. Just before mooring, a passer-by asks "Have you got a bath on there mate?". Did I look dirty or something? Well, I suppose it makes a change from "'Ow Do"! The wind is causing problems manouevering - horror of horrors I struck a glancing blow on a moored (and inhabited!) boat just south of the Wedgewood Factory - it turns out that there was some plastic around the prop and in dropping speed to pass the moored boats I completely lost steering with the wind hitting us broadside on. Profuse apologies to the couple on board seem to make amends - apparently they were struck earlier and were considering moving anyway - this makes me feel a little better! We moor for the night a little further on in preparation for a visit to the Wedgewood Factory shop in the morning (can't seem to kick this spending money habit!). June 3rd Set off at 10.00 after visiting the Factory shop. We pass a number of boats coming up from Stone including a single-hander with some interesting tales of low pounds in Stone the previous day. The weather is warm and sunny and the wind is a little less fierce than yesterday - glorious crusing weather! Our lazy afternoon cruising is interrupted by locks at decent intervals - the wind got stronger for a time and then died down later. Moored for the night just before Rugeley, out in the "wilds". Peaceful and quiet. June 4th Set off late and stop in Rugeley for a shopping expedition - spend longer than expected trying to find things in an unfamiliar town (the sign on the bridge says 'Town Centre 200yds'. Well it might start 200yds away but it goes on for a damn sight longer!). Weather still warm, wind almost non-existent today - ideal conditions. Getting underway again and out into the country we followed a Kingfisher for a mile or more, flying from branch to branch just ahead of us, escorting us through his territory! Then all of a sudden he spots a fish near the opposite bank and dives straight for it - the speed is incredible. There's a large splash and a moment later he's up and away with a fish. Angling as it should be performed! Maybe we acted as a "fish disturber" unknowingly. Cruised late to get through Tamworth - little boxes by the thousand, and more being built in every direction it seems. What's the attraction? June 5th Set off at 9.30 expecting it to rain - it didn't! Still warm, with high thin cloud. Atherstone locks were hard work in the sun, especially following two other boats with practically nothing coming the other way. The Lock-keeper's help at No 4 was very welcome. More Kingfishers, herons and ducks with young. Scenery not up to much around Coventry - got clear of the M6 south of Ansty before mooring for the night at 8pm. It started raining at 9.30 and didn't stop until 7am. No sign of Jeff, though someone is painting on 'Will Crooks' moored nearby (at least I assume it was Will Crooks!). June 6th Set off at 9.15 but stopped soon after for water at Stretton Wharf. The new water hose is not ideal (Stan & Judy please take note!): it rolls up flat, which means that you have to unroll the whole lot before you can use it (even though I only needed a 5yd length). I also don't like the idea of having to roll it up flat by laying it out on the towpath or the grass - this is after all, meant to be drinking water and we all know what happens on the average towpath... The tap fixings aren't very secure either and when kinking the hose to shut off the flow temporarily the increase in pressure forced the tap end off. We're only about 80 gallons down but all the messing about takes over 45 minutes. We eventually head off towards Newbold tunnel where I get stuck behind a procession of several boats, all dawdling. Eventually, the slow one moors and we get on. At Rugby we stop for provisions at the conveniently situated Tesco store. It's 1.30 by the time we set off again, intending to get to the bottom of Napton flight on the South Oxford. Not many boats on the North Oxford, but that changes on the Braunston to Napton section where they come thick (if not so fast!). It's Friday, and a number of hire boaters are obviously hurrying back to base. The rain has kept off so far, but now it comes on with a vengance - we press on regardless. The day has been very windy but remarkably warm all the same (Tee-shirt weather in a gale!). When we reach Napton the moorings are full and I make the mistake of cruising them to find a gap - not one! (I noted Laplander as we edged further up the line of boats). Nother else for it but to go up! No-one else is about so we set off. After 5 of the 7 locks it begins to pour down and we get drenched. Eventually we make it to the top in the downpour and moor up as quickly as possible just before the Engine Arm to get in out of the rain. Whilst I'm drying my hair I look out of the window and there, moored right opposite, is Wa'na'nee'chee, and I remember it's Mike's BBQ tomorrow - hope the weather improves! The back pumps are going full pelt at the top of Napton flight. Water scarce, energy (=money) abundant! ;-) Andy Greener, Upper Basildon, Pangbourne-on-Thames, UK [and temporarily on Blue Heron on the K&A] andy@gid.co.uk or andy@ist.co.uk or 0118 956 1248 From owner-canals@blacksheep.org Fri Jun 20 13:01:04 1997 id AA16517; Fri, 20 Jun 97 13:00:41 EDT by isbalham.ist.co.uk (8.8.4/8.8.4) with SMTP id RAA28458 for ; Fri, 20 Jun 1997 17:53:01 +0100 (BST) id RAA10431; Fri, 20 Jun 1997 17:52:19 +0100 Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 17:52:19 +0100 From: andy@ist.co.uk (Andy Greener) To: canals@blacksheep.org Subject: Headin' for Readin' on the Blue Heron - Part 2 (longish) X-Sun-Charset: US-ASCII Part 2: June 7th Slight lie-in as we're making good time (especially with Napton out of the way last night). Arise to see Mike Wooding opening up Wa'na'nee'chee and wish him a happy birthday (for last Tuesday as it turns out!). Unfortunately we can't stay for the BBQ as we need to get moving soon. Set off at 10.30. Cloudy but warmish - the wind is strong again today. We make good time through Marston Doles and should make Claydon before 4.30 (lock up time). A heavy shower drenches me but soon passes - cruising in thunder and lightning is a new experience. The S. Oxford summit is full - no water problems here (yet). We make Claydon top lock in plenty of time and start down. It turns out the guys behind are trying to make the winding hole at the bottom to turn round and come back up the flight before it's padlocked at 4.30, so we let them go ahead. They just made it with 5 minutes to spare. Pity there's no winding hole at the top as it would have saved at least two lockfulls of water. Further on we discover we've been following Doug Myers in Opus V without realising (he moored, and as we passed recognised Blue Heron and initially mistook us for Stan and Judy - soon put him right!). Above and below Cropredy (which is looking a little tatty these days, not helped by the large number of dilapidated boats moored south of the village) the locks come at regular intervals, and on Saturdays the new hirers from Banbury and Upper Heyford do likewise! We look to moor for the night before Banbury, away from the M40, but the intended mooring turns out to be difficult due to a very low pound (between Slat Mill Lock and Little Bourton Lock), forcing us to move onwards. Eventually we moor before Bourton Lock with another n.b. in the same predicament - a little near the railway and the M40 for my liking but ok. At 8pm a hire boat with several youngsters and a very loud ghetto-blaster on the roof comes up the lock and makes a meal of picking up the lock crew in the low pound. Glad we're not going their way! June 8th Set off just after 9, making for Aynho Wharf for lunch with visitors who are coming to meet us and cruise with us to Thrupp. It's slow going as we're already following 2 other boats - one a cruiser having difficulty in the high winds again today. In Banbury we meet the first lift bridge that needs raising, followed later in the day by a few more; most are permanently open however. There's a queue of three boats at Grants lock south of Banbury and several hire boats coming the other way. BW have been very helpful and left work-boats moored on the lock bollards both above AND below the lock! Some common sense wouldn't go amiss at times. Just out of the lock as we arrive are a party of elderly Americans who are struggling just a little bit. They have the unfortunate combination of lack of experience and lack of strength and find the high winds hard going. Our progress to Aynho is slooow. We eventually arrive at 2.30 - to late for lunch at the local pub and by the time we find a pub in Aynho still serving it's nearly 4 pm before we set off again. With extra crew the locks are a little easier though most are set against us. The water of the Cherwell is a welcome peaty deep brown, but clear, unlike the creamy opaque waters of the Upper South Oxford. It continues to be windy and rain threatens but never really materialises. Approaching Thrupp we saw two foxes on the bank ahead in full daylight - most unusual. We eventually moor at Thrupp at about 9pm, just in front of nb Freethyme. Guests and us head off for a very welcome Indian meal in Kidlington (by car - too far from the canal to walk..). June 9th Sunny, warm and not windy! I introduce myself to Dudley Freeth while we're both getting ready to set off. He's cruising 'till September - lucky so and so! The journey into Oxford is uneventful. The long term moorings just north of Oxford are interminable and, it has to be said, very tatty in places - linear slums. We stop for lunch and shopping above Isis Lock - the last mechanised lift bridge was operated for us by a passing factory worker - very kind. After lunch it's out onto the Thames at last, and heading downstream. A free reciprocal licence is obtained from the Lockkeeper at Osney Lock. According to him I can use the 15 days non-contiguously, so initially I opt for 6 days, which should give plenty of time for messing about on the river before entering the K&A at Reading, 2 days cruising downstream. It makes a pleasant change to not have to work at opening and closing lock gates! We share several locks with an eccentric, single-handed "narrowboater" who wears a top hat and cruises a boat that wouldn't look out of place in an exhibition of old garden sheds - one side is decorated with a cityscape of Birmingham and the boat has an alarming list to port. Still, he sings cheerfully in the locks and gets raised eyebrows from all the lockkeepers. Eventually we part company at Abingdon where we moor for the night directly opposite the church and the old part of the town - very picturesque setting as the sun goes down. The bells, the bells!! Actually, they weren't that intrusive, and didn't really disturb my slumber. June 10th We've really been quite lucky with the weather - sunny to start with and warm, but definitely "close". Thunderstorms predicted for later in the day. It's an easy cruise from Abingdon to Moulsford, with a stop on the way for lunch in Wallingford. Getting back onto "home" territory. The Blue Heron seems to attract lots of interest at locks and bridges - we're the subject of quite a few tourist photos. Just wait until they get back to California and realise they went all that way to photograph a boat "from" San Geronimo, CA! I'm crusing single-handed now 'cos Jan has had to get back to work to deal with a crisis. This is not so bad on the Thames so long as you don't lose your cool in front of the lockkeepers as you bring the boat under control in the wide, long locks. I am early (!) at the Beetle & Wedge so I moor downstream on a quiet stretch and take a shower while some sheep munch away happily outside (keeping an eye on those mooring ropes!). At 5.30 I pootle gently back upstream and moor up right outside the Boat House Restaurant (I arranged my mooring when I booked the table - for 16 - before I left. I understand it costs 10UKP a night otherwise!). One or two of my colleagues, plus our guest from Sun in California, arrive at 6.15 and we go upstream for a little cruise before dinner. Despite spits of rain it is a pleasant interlude (helped by a nice bottle of white wine) and I think we have a few more converts to the waterways! On returning to the B&W we find that the rest of the party have arrived and are enjoying a drink on the terrace, right where I need to moor. I have never been so careful, or so nervous, about my approach to a mooring before. Happily it is a near perfect "landing" much to their (mock) surprise! I would never have lived it down had it gone wrong. I even made sure I approached "up the current" for what it's worth at the moment - the Thames is barely flowing at all. The Langollen flows faster, seriously. The evening meal went well, espcially as I only had 10 yds to walk "home". I'm afraid I overindulged rather on a very pleasant Rioja (not to mention the 12 yr old single malt back on the boat later!). Needless to say, I was not an early riser the next day. June 11th Got up at 11.30 (bliss!) and awoke slowly with a cup of tea. Eventually left at around 12 and cruised for a couple of hours to the mooring at Pangbourne Meadow, from whence I walked the short distance home. Despite all the scenery and all the miles we've travelled on this minor oddessy the bit on my doorstep, Goring Gap on the Thames, takes some beating for sheer unspoilt splendour. On the northern bank the trees almost appear to tumble down the steep sides into the water, whilst the pastoral scenes on the flood plain to the south could be from a different age altogether. We've travelled nearly two hundred miles and passed through nearly 100 locks in 10 days - a journey that took 3 hours in the car. I know which I prefer. All that remains now is to complete the journey to Reading and get onto the Kennet & Avon next weekend. Andy Greener, Upper Basildon, Pangbourne-on-Thames, UK [and temporarily on Blue Heron on the K&A] andy@gid.co.uk or andy@ist.co.uk or 0118 956 1248