Highs and Lows: the Pontcysyllte and oil leaks

I was back on board at the start of July and thought I had better do something about the oil leak that had been showing itself for a few weeks but was gradually getting worse. I asked a boatyard if they could have a look and having looked they ordered a pair of side cover gaskets. The gaskets arrived after a couple of days but more days passed and he claimed he was too busy to do the job (Ahem, he had accepted the job!). After five days I asked him if he could give me a time when he would do the job, as I was a long way from any shops and was also running short of water. Anyway he threw all his toys out of the pram, started stomping about saying "I'll do it now", stomp stomp stomp. He didn't talk to me at all and didn't even bother to run the engine to check his job. I paid up and moved on, only to find that the leak was worse than before!! I called at the next marina, much friendlier guys who had a look and we spotted that the first guy had trapped the gaskets under the covers. These guys ordered new gaskets and fitted them within two days and off I went again. Now the leak was much better but the bolts holding the covers were still leaking, two black tears rolling down from the bolts. Anyway I got chatting to another boater (they can't resist poking their heads into an open engine compartment) and he suggested PTFE tape on the bolts and, hey, it has worked.

I cruised up to Chester with an uneventful but rather nice couple of days journey. Lots of nice places to walk including a walk up to and around Beeston Castle. I like Chester with its city walls, museum and cathedral. I was hoping to go to a performance of Midsummer Nights Dream in the park but, unfortunately, it was sold out. I went a little further and visited the boat museum at Ellesmere Port. I wasn't expecting to be there very long but it actually kept me amused for three hours. Lots of information about historic boats and the previous life of the dockyard. I started back down from Chester and moored not far from the Ice Cream farm which is a theme park for little ones but it also sells 50 flavours of very delicious icecream.

On the return journey there was one lock, well known to boaters, where I struggled single handing and in fact would have been defeated but a family moored close by came to help. This monster is the Iron Lock where getting in to the lock landing is impossible as it is silted up and in a flow. However, even if I had been able to pull in and set the lock, there is no ladder in this lock so you can't get off your boat very easily to work the lock. I spoke to someone who had single handed it and she said she pulls the boat in but with the flow and a bridge in the way, it takes strength and considerable problem solving abilities. Onto the Llangollen canal which is super. Lots of good places to moor, lots of lovely people and plenty of walks. There are eight lift bridges but I managed to piggy back through most of them with another boat which had crew. I did manage two of the more difficult ones on my own plus the easy one up at Ponycysyllte, but I am getting ahead of myself. Oh, guess what, I noticed I was still topping up the oil and on investigation noticed that the fuel lift pump gasket was leaking. I am hoping that all the gaskets are of a certain age and need renewing, rather than a more deep seated engine issue. Anyway I pressed on up the Llangollen, stopping at marinas to ask about the leak. Eventually found a marina that could do it the following week so I pressed on up to Trevor, over the famous aqueduct. Stayed the night in the basin and walked over to the local beauty spot next to the River Dee. Next day I came back over the aqueduct, and enjoyed it better second time as it had been a bit windy the previous day. Back down to Ellesmere where I had my oil leak fixed. Fingers crossed that we have a less stressful next few weeks. Ellesmere is a nice little place. The mere is huge and boasts various boat experiences from a boat trip through to rowing boats and pedalos. There is also a cafe/restaurant overlooking the Mere which seemed very popular. I didn't eat there but I did get a really nice icecream from the kiosk there. There are also several smaller meres close by and I had a walk at Cole Mere while I was there.

My final tale is about my neck. I woke up one morning with a stiff and excruciatingly painful neck. I have no idea what caused it but for three days it was awful, I was even threatening myself with a visit to the doctor. On day 4 it started to improve but was still not totally better until day 8!! Once again I found boaters stepped up to the plate, with one couple helping me to move Olivia to the boat services so that I could empty my loo. Not only that but Paddy carried my loo from the boat to the emptying point. Now that is above and beyond the call of duty! (And much appreciated).

Where have the last two weeks gone

On 10th June we met up with Soozie and Dave for lunch close to where they have moorings. The next day our four boats set off for Middlewich festival. We did two long days (long for me but normal for Christine 😀) and landed up mooring above Kings Lock. On our way we came across a woman whose partner had slipped at a lock and been carted off to hospital. She came over to have a gin and tonic with us. This is a new thing that Christine has implemented since she returned from the BCN Challenge, and a very good thing it is too. When hubby returned he had his arm plastered and strapped as he had broken his elbow. We spent the next day exploring Northwich and the day after Sandbach, both places new to me and both nice, smallish towns. I bought a velvet jacket in a charity shop in Northwich that will replace the one I used to wear in the '70s! Yet another visit to a hospital! This time it was Steve who has a rescue dog which gave him a nip. The festival really starts on Thursday evening and we went to the boaters' supper and then to the Narrowboat to see Pastry Shoes. On Friday I put up bunting on Olivia.

As it was my first attempt at this I did wonder if my mop and a bit of broken fishing rod would suffice but with some baling string and insulation tape it did stay up all weekend.

We went to look at all the trading boats and also an enterprising person has bought an old bus and somehow is managing to sell all items for £1 (or a pand, according to Lorraine). I got a rather nice jacket. We found a folk session going on in the Boar's Head and stayed there for the rest of the evening. This festival is called FAB (for folk and boat) and although it is FABulous with multiple sessions going on, I would claim that many are not folk. However, it gives a platform for many singer/songwriters and there was some Morris dancing on the Saturday. Obviously we were lucky with the weather if 30+ degrees is lucky. One of my favourite sessions was by Bradford street band, the Peace Artistes.

After the festival the four boats went their separate ways. I headed up through Anderton, took a side run down to Runcorn just to say I have been there and then onto Lymm where there is a historic boat day to rival Braunston. The main difference being that some of these are huge wide beams. As per usual, Olivia has a slight oil leak which I am trying to get fixed but other than that all is fine and dandy on the good ship Olivia. Apologies for lack of photos but my technology is not very compatible. Must get that sorted.

Stoke on Trent

I have just nipped in to the library in Hanley where I am allowed a free half hour :-). I arrived here on Wednesday after delays caused by incessant rain and very windy wind. What is there to do in SoT I asked myself? and then took myself off to pick up leaflets, a habit of mine, when in land where "there be dragons". I went looking for the Film Theatre at the uni so that I knew where it was, for the next night they were showing "Their Finest" and I had thus far missed all its showings elsewhere. When I arrived I discovered that there was to be a public lecture by Wayne Hemingway starting in half an hours time. This gave me just enough time to view the graduate students photography/textiles/arty stuff, and very good it was too. Wayne gave an overview of his life: where he came from, how he started out, the chances he and his wife Gerra took and where he is now (erm, wealthy and having fun with his designs). Thursday was rainy so I went to afternoon silver screen (Moonlight, not really my cup of tea, although always nice to get a free cup of tea - I didn't bother with the biscuit). Found Tesco for some supplies then back to Olivia for a quick bite to eat and out to the Film Theatre as planned. Walking home at 10pm with it still light was great. Today I booked a ticket for the New Vic in Newcastle upon Lyme as they are showing Anna of the Five Towns tonight. A local play by Arnold Bennett. I visited Emma Bridgewater's Factory as they have a Literary Festival Thursday through to Saturday and I couldn't find the programme anywhere else. Blast, last night was Alexander Armstrong! Would have liked to see him. Not sure whether I will get to any of the other authors/speakers but maybe. I have spent the last couple of hours in the Potteries Museum until I hit ceramics overload. They have other things too, the artworks are good. Anyway, I only have 10 minutes left on my internet so must go and check a couple of other things before time runs out.

I have completed my first proper week's cruising and it has been good fun despite a couple of very wet days. I started out from Tamworth after having a nice walk along the River Tame and around the castle and the park there. I moved on up to Fradley village and the next day I went to visit the National Memorial Arboretum, because I had never been there despite passing this way two or three times. It is so much bigger than I imagined and really pleasant to walk around. The central memorial is stunning. I am sure it is a peaceful place for those who have lost someone through hostilities. The next morning I met one of my single handing boater friends on her way down to Gloucester via Braunston and Hatton and the River Avon. Sounds like one to put in my schedule for another year. I am, at the moment, on canals which I have done before so I tried to stop at places I like and hence I moored at Great Haywood where I bumped into another of my single handing boater friends!! Only a short hop the next day, stopping at Weston and from there onto Stone, where I met one of the canal traders, Lorraine that I had bought a hat from at the floating market. I also just missed Phil and Jackie whom I have known since I first got the boat. They left early before I had surfaced. I have tried to walk over the 10,000 steps recommended but some days I couldn't quite make it. Looking back though I averaged 10,000 a day so that's ok then.

The National Memorial Arboretum

The National Forest Way

My old deckboards

New deckboards

One of the Tamworth pigs

Cruising 2017

I started out from Braunston a few weeks ago but I always make a slow, considered start as I work out what needs fixing or updating before the main event. I also had a couple of distractions as I met up with Heather in her beautifully newly painted boat for a short trip and a pub meal. Her boat now sports fabulous artwork by Andy Russell in the style of Steampunk iconography. I omitted to take pictures but if you see a boat emblazoned with cogs, clocks, compasses and so forth it will be Heather. The next day we picked up Tench and took her from Sutton Stop to Rugby where she was making her way down to London for this: Alarum Theatre's recreation of the Idle Womens' journey from London to Birmingham and back.

Back to odd jobs, I found I had a leaking kitchen tap and was very pleased to fix it myself using O rings, especially after two hardware shops could not figure out what was needed. The tap is from the 1980s which was probably before the shop assistants were born!! I am also about ready to install new deckboards courtesy of my son, Tom, who was able to source some Buffalo Board, cut it to size and fit a lifting ring. I will try to put up before and after photos but be assured that the old boards were well past their use by date. Anyway I am currently heading North through Nuneaton, Atherstone, Tamworth and shortly arriving somewhere around Stoke on Trent. Although I travelled this way in 2013 I have not done Heartbreak Hill since 2008 so that should be fun.

Window in situ

Olivia has a makeover

I haven't seen her in real life yet, that treat is on Saturday. Here is a taster:

The window wall will separate the bed area from the living area and is something I have planned for ages. I bought the stained glass, from Weedon Antiques Village, about five years ago!! I have to save up to replace the deckboards now as they look really scruffy.