From mhoulston@argonet.co.uk Sun Apr 18 19:30:37 1999
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 14:12:39 GMT
From: Michael Houlston <mhoulston@argonet.co.uk>
Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org
To: canals@blacksheep.org
Subject: Keston (Weekend Trip Report. Longish)

Thought I would do a trip report for all those still boatless for one reason
or another.
Friday was spent rushing around shopping and packing, while the boss (Linda)
was at work, stripping more wall paper off sons bedroom wall, thinking about
cutting the grass, not thinking about cutting the grass plus a little bit of
picking things up as grandson had done a flying visit with his mum while I
was out.
I stripped the paper with one of those steamer watsits. Its like working in
a turkish bath and I end up feeling slightly damp.
Thats the problem with early retirement. People seem to think you have all
the spare time in the world.
I actually managed to fit in one small cash job sorting out a computer
problem as a favour in the morning.
Naturally its Mothers Day on Sunday so youngest son son put paid to those
earnings when he got in from school and had to go shopping.
Finally had the car all loaded and ready to go by 6.oopm.
Naturally the forecast showers arrived just as it was time to load the car
and I got a little damp again.
Two hour trip ahead to Bradford On Avon and the weather forecast was light
showers.
But first a quick stop off at daughters house to drop off copies of the
suggested menu for the wedding meals.
Daughter finally getting married in July.
Typical that she waited until I was retired before landing us with all the
expense.
Luckily no one at home so that saved a three hour discussion.
Oh well, its now started to rain bucket fulls and by 6.15 we are on our way.
Light rain did they say.
Its like a monsoon.
Was this a big mistake !!
Never mind.
Finally reach the boat, two and a half hours later.
Luckily the rain has eased off a bit and we only got slightly damp
unpacking, on with the heating and, as we had decided to treat ourselves, it
was back in the car and off to the Barge at Bradford on Avon for a meal.
The heavens open again while I was parking the car so once more a little
damp.
A lovely evening with a nice meal and a pint or two.
T-Bone steak without the bone so I was well happy.
Back to the boat and settled down.
Hurray the rain has stopped.
Up next morning (Saturday) to a wonderful sunny mild morning,
Luckily the rain had kept off during the night as the fool of a car driver
had left his window down.
I'm sure I only had two pints.
Quick trip to Budgeons for some more food for Saturday tea, I had forgotten
to buy the Tacko shells.
That took a little longer than planned as the shop had been refurbished
since our last visit so the boss had to have a 'quick' look around at what
was available.
Now the worst of the frost is over the taps at the marina are all on again
so a quick top up of the water and off we go.
A number of owners in the marina starting the annual spring clean.
We could do with a scrub down and a polish after the winter (and so could
the boat) but decide to make the most of the good weather and head out for a
trip instead.

First stop the locks at Bradford on Avon.
Heard the boss getting told off for something.
Its youngest son pointing out that you put the paddles down at the bottom
gate.
She'd not actually lifted them but was standing there thinking about what
needed doing.
Well it is a few months since she was on the boat but naturally youngest
son, at sixteen, assumes that anyone over sixteen is as thick as two planks
and needs to be told what to do in a very loud voice.
Being six foot three or four with a very deep voice that carries I think the
whole of the town probably heard him.
Luckily its a nice day and mum simply gave him a nice sunny smile.
She will get her own back before the end of the millenium.
If he's lucky he'll make it to age seventeen.
Not a lot of boats on the move so a nice peaceful trip towards Bath.
The trees are all budding but still fairly bare so you get to see more of
the country side that is normally hidden behind all the greenary.
Really wonderful early spring day with just a few walkers and cyclists on
the tow path with one or two fisherman.
Lots of primroses, daffodiles etc and plenty of crows making a lovely racket
Lots of scaffolding around the Avoncliff aquaduct.
Its being refurbished as part of the lottery funding I think.
Spotted that web post sign.
WWW.AVONCLIFF.CO.UK.
Must have quick look and see if its still valid.
Short holdup a mile further on as a works barge has come adrift at one end
and blocked the canal.
Another boat coming the other way is busy getting it back to the bank and
tied up.
Plenty of good clean country air along this section.
Must be field spraying time. Shato Numph Horse/Cow 98 me thinks.
Nearly down to Dundas and a sad sight.
A lump in the water turns out to be a dead Heron.
Its a shame as we always look forward to seeing them on the canal.
No sign of any swans nesting at the moment but there are a few of last years
young around with the last of their brown plumage still showing.
Some of the hire boats from Bath have moved up this way towards Limply Stoke
while the canal is being worked on further down.
Past Dundas early afternoon.
No sign of any Anglo Welsh hire boats, they were using Dundas as a base last
year, so no idea where they have moved to.
The dreaded cable laying boys have been along this section.
Looks as if the trench could have been leveled off a bit better.
Off towards Claverton, still with plenty of sunshine.
As reported by others the 'mushrooms' have been replaced by rings so last
years work is blending in a little better with the scenery.
A lot of the liveaboards from Bath seem to have moved up to the moorings
here for the winter.
Finally on to the last bit thats cruisable at present.
The first bridge past the winding hole is stopped off and we can see all the
diggers and bulldozers sitting down in the canal bottom.
Not much good for mooring there so we didn't get to see what the work is
actually like.
The water level is down by a good six inches at the moment and one or two
steel boats were not very happy about it finding that they had to stay right
in the middle of the cut.
One lady, moored, was asking if they had started pumping water back up at
Claverton as the level had been down for a few days.
I think she was on the bottom.
Nothing showing when we passed the pump outlet so she was getting on the
phone to see when the level would be up again.
With all the Friday night rain there should be plenty of water.            
Moored up for the night at a nice sunny spot near Claverton and settled down
with a book and a tot of Jamisons.
Just got started and the boss gives me a call.
No rest for the skipper as usual.
She was filling the water filter jug and the water pump keeps on running.
Switched off the electric to the pump and had a quick check for leaking
pipes but all seem OK.
With the electric back on I have a go at adjusting the pressure switch.
Finally stops the pump but when it does run its sounding very rough with a
high pitched whine.
It normally only sounds like that if you run out of water and it runs dry.
Not a lot I can do but we found that when the taps turned off a couple off
pumps on the foot pump cuts the motor out.
It looks as if the electric pump is not giving enough pressure to work the
pressure valve.
About every twenty minutes the pump suddenly cuts in and whoevers nearest
has to jab the foot pump.
Finally decided it was easier to leave it switched off when not needed.
I had planned on draining all the water out on my next visit so I could give
the water bag a good clean out.
Ended up doing that when we got back to the marina on Sunday and bringing
the pump home.
Me slightly damp again with water up my sleeves.
Naturally its a sealed unit so not a lot to do in the way of repairing it.
New ones about 40 pounds.
It actually seems to pump water through when its connected to a spare
battery at home, to well actually, me slighly damp again, so I'll keep it as
a spare.
Placed finger over outlet end to create pressure and it was not sounding to
good.
Sounds as if its the impellor bit thats worn after all.
With a couple of bits of hose and extra long leads it might work very well
as an emergency pump of some sort.
Anyway, back to Saturday night.
By the time it was dark most of the clouds had gone and with not many towns
close by the view of the stars was stunning.
Getting a little damp after an hour ouside, even with the Jamisons to keep
me warm and damp inside, so back in and settle down with a good book before
bedtime.
Woke up about 3.00 feeling a bit cold.
Boss has turned heating off.
Moans from me and I turn heating back on. Moans from her about the light.
The problem with our heating system is the control panel is close to her
head.
The very faint green light that comes on when the heating switches on can
hardly be seen during the day.
Naturally at night, in the dark, its like a green lazer beam and wakes her
up.
Must get round to fitting a dark bit of plastic over it this year.
Woke to a lovely sunny morning and we are all up for a nice fry up for
breakfast.
Being mothers day mother gets the cards passed on from the kids at home and
youngest son passes over his card and very large box of chocolates.
He might just live to see seventeen after all. Thats assuming he can stop
being bossy for the rest of the day.
The trees opposite us have some squirrils just sitting sunning themselves.
Naturally the camera was left at home.
A few more boats on the move today and a lot more walkers and cyclists.
Finally head back towards the marina wishing we were not heading home at the
end of the day.
Back past Avoncliff, the work barge was still moored OK and a lot more boats
passed.
Seemed to be a lot of people ahead.
Blast, its a fishing competion.
Must have passed about 50 of them all sat like little gnomes.
Not catching much apparently.
Round the bend, having stopped the fishing for a few minutes.
Here comes the trip boat, and another four boats at five minute intervals.
That will make the fishmen very happy.
Up through the lock at Bradford on Avon.
They have been improving the bank just below the lock so there is now a
reasonable bank to tie alongside while waiting for the lock complete with
some nice mushrooms.
Probably spares from Claverton.
A new lawned section that looks as if it will be used for tables in the
summer for gongoozlers from the cafe.
Its getting to be quite a pretty spot.
The locking went well with no 'orders' from youngest.
He's actually very good and mum loves him lots.
Decided to have a cup of coffee before packing the car so took the time to
wonder around the marina and have a look at a steel boat thats been doing
nothing for as long as we've been at the marina.
Someone was on about buying it last year as they wanted a bigger boat to
live aboard. That fell through though as they had to go overseas.
Its in a right messy state outside and a real shame. It looks like a 50 plus
footer, might even be seventy ,Trad style , possably Josher, that had been
puchased as a self fit out then had not a lot done to it.
Looking in you can see assorted part fitting of bits. Theres even a double
bed mattress sitting on the floor.
Kitchen, part fitted, at the bow with what looks like a pot belly stove in
place.
Seems to be dry enough inside.
We would like a bigger boat at some time, with  permanent double bed, but
I'm not sure if I want one that big.
If it was for sale I'd have plenty of spare time to work on it but it would
need a fair amount doing before it was even ready to cruise.
Its not been licenced as far as I could tell so the CofC is very unlikely.
With the new regs it might be a case of ripping the entire lot out thats
already been done and starting over again.
I'd prefer the kitchen in the middle somewhere anyway.
Oh well, perhaps if we win the lottery it can be one of those dream projects
that have been discussed lately.
Mind you, unless the owner was selling it real cheap you'd probably be
better getting one of the new sailaways that at least are up to standard for
engine/electric/gas fitting, with the paperwork to prove it.
Anyone any idea what it might cost to fit out a 50+ footer these days.
Plus a lot of effort getting the outside paintwork put right.
Even one of the hinges on the gas locker has rusted out and snapped along
the weld.
Looks like someone else had pulled it up to have a peek after it had rusted
solid.       

So thats it folks.
Monday morning back at home, Linda's at work, and I'm just typing this
between finishing wallpaper stripping, all done now, filling washing machine
and tumble drier and as its such a nice sunny day heading off out to finally
cut the grass.
Plus I have orders from daughter to make sure the the gate is painted and
back on, and the bushes on both sides well trimmed, so there is no chance of
her wedding dress snagging on anything as she heads for the church.
On second thoughts I'll never have time to fit out a boat.
Oh well, roll on NEXT summer.

Mind you, if the weather is going to stay like this its good washing and
polishing weather so I might just be able to sort of sneek off sometime
Wednesday for a couple of days.
After all, the weddings not 'till the end of July, and there might just be
enough money left in the bank for a tin of polish.
Son can live without wall paper for a few days.
Us roughy toughy boaters have to get our priorities right after all.
Might even take another look at that forlorn boat thats in need of some
tender loving care.

Just don't tell the boss until I'm gone.

Mike
 

-- 
Mike Houlston. Wilderness Beaver "KESTON"
Canals are more fun than working !!.
mhoulston@argonet.co.uk