alternator out 7.5.12

Time has come to remove the old alternator - output very low/negligible - removed today - will replace next week.
Oil change was completed a few weeks ago - the old brass pump didnt work so i borrowed an external oil extractor placing the tube through the dipstick hole - a very slow job - an hour to remove 2 litres of oil - cheap oil change tho.
Also managed a short trip to Willington and Stenson at easter - very cold sleeping in the boat - we all had hats on!
Really miss the log burner that i had on my old boat Pearl.

Trip to swarkestone 28/1/12

After my failed attempt at an oil change yesterday - the engines built in oil sump pump failing to work - looks nice (brass) but completely non functional, i decide to take the boat for its first 2012 trip to swarkestone (was going to be weston but not enough time).

Boat performed ok - no evidence of battery problems since one replaced late last summer - no need for a top up charge - i have always isolated the batteries since the flat battery issue last year.

I hope that the lack of anti freeze in the engine hasnt caused any damage - the mild winter will have helped in that respect.

One worrying part about the trip is the unsightly and frankly unacceptable traveller camp at barrow on trent complete with emaciated horses/ponies and human filth on the towpath and in the canal - see enclosed photos - why are the police and RSPCA not involved?

No evidence of hay for the horses (£4 a bale) - there is no grass left in the field.

There were even bin liners full of cans floating in the canal - i suppose the travellers need to be commended as I didnt know they used bin liners.

The media attempts to cannonise this community with reality programmes and the rent a protester defence of this lifestyle choice doesn't wash with me; this is unacceptable, lazy, cruel to animals and a health hazard 

Long horse bridge

The bridge looks fantastic, although, covered in horse poo!
The only problems appear to be a flooded track between the shardlow car park (wilne lane) and the bridge - poor drainage and track ripped up by vehicles (farmer?) and the poor signage/litter (fly tippers?).
The car park is still free, larger and has been resurfaced and would be a good starting point for walkers/cyclists with the added bonus of the two pubs nearby.  It is now possible to walk/cycle to sawley/nottingham and beyond from shardlow.

Long horse Bridge open at last

The much delayed new Long horse bridge is open at last - will pop down at the weekend to have a look and will post some pictures - this is how it used to look

Richmond on Thames

Worked in Richmond last week and had a couple of walks down the Thames path at lunchtimes.
The tide was out on both occasions and I noticed all the beached houseboats, restaurant boat and a couple of narrowboats (including a small Springer like mine).
The Richmond lock and weir was closed for maintemance, including the footbridge overhead (the weir gates are used to maintain the level of the river above Richmond to allow navigation and the gates are lowered at high tide to allow navigation without using the lock (charged at £5 a go).

A very pleasant spot for a stroll or to eat your lunch.

Green slime on the erewash - Azolla Weed

The Erewash canal is suffering from thick green slime at the moment - Azolla Weed - no sun getting through to the canal and must be a danger to the fish and other wildlife. Probably due to the lack of boat activity on this underused canal. Will have to travel up it again next year - hopefully it can keep going until the derby canal is restored to form a cruising ring

Lock on waterpoint at findern

BW today sent letters to moorers at Findern to let the Nadee restaurant use the waterpoint used for boaters. The Nadee insist that they only want the water to water their spice garden (and not provide water for their massive marquee and its regular events!).
The boaters have been protecting the supply via the use of a padlock - the restaurant having installed a high pressure pipe and fittings (a bit over the top for a bit of watering).
I don't feel that this is a good use of the impoverished, soon to be underfunded charity, with very limited resources and my fellow boaters feel that when the bills roll in the water supply will soon be cut off - due to the likely abuse of this facility.
update:
Apparently the water supply is not metered, however, as the country is facing a severe water shortage (which will close many canals next summer) it is unlikely that this situation will continue. Expect the price of a water supply to rocket as it has been doing for electric and gas as demand exceeds supply.