first solo trip 9/7/12

First solo trip on Evening Cloud ended in failure as I had to turn back at Wychnor due to the Trent being in flood. On a positive note my locking worked well on the single locks between Dallow Lane and Barton Turns (although conditions were favourable - low wind and rain). This has given me the confidence to try again soon - especially if my current 'between jobs' situation doesn't change. I will be annoyed if the Trent is opened again today, as the BW staff were saying Friday, however, I would be pleased for Tim and Jane on Buzzin Pub who are still waiting at Barton at the start of their holiday.
One other thing learned - I will be ok if the wife ever kicks me out!

The dove in flood

The dove - other side of the aqueduct

Canadian geese infestation in Branston - any poles about?

just thought this was funny

a nice mooring near barton turns marina

Bracket fitted to alternator 10/6/12

Wouldn't win a beauty contest but hopefully will do the job

Diamond Jubilee Weekend

Diamond Jubilee weekend - 3 day trip to Nottingham and back

New alternator was performing well until the main retaining bolt sheared yesterday afternoon - luckily I had a spare.

Day one was a trip to Trent lock and meal with the wives - 6.5 hours cruising

Day two was Trent lock to Nottingham and back to Shardlow - 11 hours cruising including half an hour to replace the bolt on the alternator

Day three was return to Findern from Shardlow - 4.5 hours cruising.

Never been so cold and wet as yesterday - the trip back up the trent was so slow due to the flow lack of power and propeller size - at one point around attenborough nature reserve we were hardly moving at full throttle due to the choppy trent.

Good band on in the Navigation shardlow last night as well to warm us up - the struts

the 'trip' in nottingham - well worth a visit and the beer is good too

tree huggers stadium

the swolen trent

the iconic british waterways building

FMC warehouse

the nottingham princess trip boat - got stuck on her for several hours once whle everyone else got arthur blissed (wedding photography job)

new alternator installed 19.5.12

New alternator - ordered on line - paid for over the phone - lucas a127 type (marinised) £55 plus £10 postage.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A127-MARINE-12v-ALTERNATOR-/300713127661?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_BoatEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item4603e62eed

when it arrived i noted that the pulley was not included in the price - the old alternator pulley was glued on with araldite so took some moving - i had to ask the office handyman to remove it for me and place it on the new alternator.
having established the wiring diagram i connected it up to the boat.
first problem was the alternator appeared to be ceased when bolted on and made the fan belt smoke.
to cut a long story short (which involved installing the alternator once more with the same result) the problem appeared to be the long mounting bolt (going thru both mounting holes), which when tightened distorted the alternator casing and made the pulley and shaft fail to turn - the answer was to mount the alternator by the front point only with a shorter bolt and leave the rear mounting point unused.
The alternator is now working fine and lateral movement acceptable despite being mounted at the pulley end only - getting 14.2 volts now - zero before, the warning light is now connected properly as well.

While in the engine bay i got a friend to tighten the stern gland (16mm nut with no locking nut) and that has improved the water ingress considerably now a small drip (was weeing out).

Happy to take the boat out again now - Jubilee long weekend looking the best bet

 

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.