Thank You Sterling Electrical.

As mentioned in my previous blog I rang Sterling Electrical for some advice regarding their Alternator to Battery management system which we have fitted. The gentleman I spoke to (Peter) took note of the symptoms of the unit and suggested various tests and remedies and to take note of the results. He felt certain that if this did not produce a result the unit would be repairable.

Well after going over the electrical system with a fine tooth comb I eventually succeeded in getting the desired result with the unit now functioning correctly. The problem appears to have been a negative connection that just needed a tweak even though it appeared to be tight. Well at least that saved us £400 for a new unit or a repair bill. This is about the third or fourth time we have contacted Sterling Electrical for advice and they have always been more than happy to assist.

Socialising.

Yesterday afternoon we received a phone call enquiring if we were home, it was John and Elizabeth who were out walking for some exercise and were close by so we invited them around for coffee. A very pleasant afternoon ensued catching up on the last 9 months.

Last evening we had plans to catch the bus to Nuneaton to meet Tracey off the Euston to Liverpool train. Due to the inclement weather John very kindly offered to take us by car and en route we called into ASDA for some groceries as we were going to be feeding an extra mouth for the week-end.

Today I spent time down the engine hole adjusting the fan belts as we don’t seem to be charging the batteries as well as we have been. This hasn’t remedied the problem so I will have to check the output of the alternators which means either an alternator is on it’s way out or the Battery Management unit needs attention. If it is the latter it will probably be just as cheap to buy a new one than fix the old one. Both the alternator and the BMU are 3 years old so they may be getting passed their use by date. I will ring Sterling Electronics on Monday for their advice.

While I was doing this Dot and Tracey took themselves into Hinckley and Nuneaton for a spot of retail therapy.

We’ve seen Ratty!

0 Locks 7 Miles. Now moored at Bridge 16.

It was grand day to start off but by 11am the rain clouds were gathering. We called into Sutton Cheyney for a coffee with Paul and Rosemary aka Daisy and a good old chin wag. While there we were aware of the presence of the Police spotter helicopter hovering for quite a long while not far from the wharf, it was still there when we finally departed.

Not long after we were just plodding along when there was a plop sound in the water to our left. A quick look revealed a water vole aka “Ratty” having just exited his hole in the bank and going for a swim, fantastic. After this the rest of the cruise faded into obscurity with the main objective to reach a mooring before the rain arrived.

The boat that we pictured yesterday was still submerged as we passed by but what got me was that it was displaying a dealers plate. If the dealer is selling on behalf of the owner he is certainly not taking very good care, if any, of the boat and it will have certainly lost a lot of value now being full of water. A total refit won’t come cheap.

Anyone for an egg? Bantams in a portable chicken run on the Ashby Canal.

2027 locks, 3959.04 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006

We cruised further than planned!

0 Locks, 11.51 Miles. Now moored at Battlefield Moorings.

For no other reason than doing the washing we decided we would cruise up to Market Bosworth. Our moorings at Hinckley were good, nice and quiet and only a 10 minute walk to the bus stop so we will come back there on Friday.

Boat for Sale on dealers plates. I don't think it will sell in this condition half full of water. 

Passing Trinity Marina we spotted 3 men and a woman assembling what can only be described as a flat pack dinghy. The 2 sprung loaded sides were pulled out and held in position by 2 seats or boards. We didn’t see the completed article but later in the day they pulled into Sutton Cheney not long after we had arrived. We had made an unscheduled stop here to chat to Paul and Rosemary on Nb Hector who we have crossed paths with several times in the past. It’s nice to catch up occasionally. Rosemary informed us that the dinghy occupant was probably the Water Vole Protection Officer who does a monthly check along the canal as there are quite a lot of water voles on the Ashby Canal.

Water Vole Protection Officer assembling a porta boat to do her inspection.

All along the towpath we could see where the BW dredger had been and getting nearer to Market Bosworth it was obvious that some of the dredging’s hadn’t been on the bank very long.

  British Waterways have final got around to doing some dredging.

As we approached bridge 42 at Market Bosworth we could see reflections of 2 amber flashing lights and I thought it may have been a refuse truck servicing the apartments opposite the moorings. It turned out to be the dredger and tug dredging out the winding hole. We pulled onto the water point and when we were ready to leave the BW guys moved sufficiently for us to wind and head back to Bosworth Battlefield Moorings. We had planned on staying at Market Bosworth but the moorings were full. The BW guy on the dredger said that when they arrived there so did all the boats because it was empty yesterday. Ah well, we knew there was space available by King Richards Field, so that’s where we are now.  Rain is forecast tonight but then its supposed to fine up so we will head for Sutton Cheyney Wharf or further tomorrow.

British Waterways dredger and tug with the barge attached dredging at Market Bosworth, Ashby Canal.

2027 locks, 3952.04 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Back on the Ashby.

0 Locks 11.82 Miles. Now moored at Hinckley

Visibility was down to a couple of hundred yards this morning as we set off, first port of call was the BW yard just through bridge 31 for water and then it was non stop to the Ashby Canal.

Hartshill, Coventry Canal, 10am and it was still poor visibility.Mist slowly dissipating on the Coventry Canal.

We played cat and mouse with a Kingfisher who allowed us to get probably the closest we have ever been to one of these beautiful little birds but still not close enough for a good photo. We also flushed out a cock Pheasant who flew over our heads giving us a right ticking off for disturbing him.

Starline boats, Boot Wharf. This one's only a tiddler of about 10 ton's.

Passing through Nuneaton we noticed that the allotments have certainly made a resurgence in popularity, more and more of the unkempt plot’s now nicely cultivated and at least a dozen or so people busy tending them. A real hive of activity.

Some canal side gardens are a credit to their owners, this one seen in Nuneaton

By 11am the sun finally burnt through the mist and for a very short while it was gloriously warm but then some cloud rolled in and that was the end of that. After we had moored up for the day the sky cleared but by this time the sun was low in the sky hidden behind a hedgerow.

Marsden Junction, Ashby and Coventry Canals.

2027 locks, 3940.53 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006

Rememberance Sunday

We decided that we would just have a lie in and an easy day today.  After the fireworks last night we just felt a bit jaded.  Looking at our itinerary we have plenty of time before heading to Rugby for Christmas and our six monthly check up at the doctor so tomorrow we will head for the Ashby Canal.  After contacting fellow New Zealanders John and Elizabeth on Nb Helen Louise, we hope to catch up next week as well as maybe get a visit from daughter Tracey in London.

John, Elizabeth and Derek at Kenilworth Castle earlier this year

What a beauty.

0 Locks, 2.09 Miles. Now moored at Hartshill.

Well the weather guru’s did say that the forthcoming week’s weather would be unpredictable and how right they have been. Today is more like Spring than Autumn with a clear blue sky and not a cloud in sight. Great cruising weather although we didn’t plan on going very far, just to Hartshill where we may stay for 1 or 2 nights and then make a run for the Ashby Canal.

Making the most of the lovely day

For sale signs have recently gone up on 2 canal side properties. The 3 acre property by bridge 36 with half a dozen on line moorings is on the market for £350k, an investment with an income. The other was by the lake between bridges 35 and 34 where the sign merely states that plots are available so perhaps a farmer is selling off a bit of unproductive land. Wouldn’t be bad with end of garden moorings.

Native Gorse, but it doesn't grow here as well as it does in NZ.  We have only seen a little of it here not acres and acres of it as in the countryside at home.

2027 locks, 3928.71 miles, 76 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 54 lift bridges since Nov 2006