Friday 2 November 2007

Mid summer autumn

1 lock, and 2 miles . Now moored at Uxbridge

Another fantastic autumn day. Is this the summer we lost somewhere? As we were not going very far today it was a leisurely start . The island of rubbish we picked up on our bow yesterday was still floating nearby so I got the pole hook and pulled it all out onto the bank. In total it was quite heavy so it was no wonder it slowed the boat down.

While we were organising ourselves at the Cowley lock the boat that had been moored ahead of us arrived so it was an easy locking with 2 boats. We eventually found a mooring opposite Uxbridge Boat Centre which we visited after lunch. After a good browse around the chandlery we walked out with a new bilge pump, the old one died, a new water pump, a bit of insurance just in case, a brass tiller elbow, light/fan to fit in the kitchen vent and some other bits & pieces. The boat yard must have thought it was xmas come early as the bill was over £300.

So for the next couple of days we will hang around here and fit some of the bits we purchased.

Recently when we passed through Apsley Mills we found that the locks on the facilities block in the BWML marina had been changed from the standard BW key and we were unable to use the facilities as we had done earlier in the year. The warden told us it was a request from the marina residents. Now we have found that the same scenario has happened at the BWML Packet Boat marina at Peachey Cowley. Only the toilet is open to passing boaters and yet the sign on the wall shows all facilities available. However there is an official notice from BW on an A4 size laminated sheet of paper on the various doors stating that as of June 2007 the showers and laundry were for marina residents only. Is this a bid by BW to force everybody into their marina's or create an elitist culture group?

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Unusual sky coloring tonight couldn't resist taking a photograph or two.

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808 locks, 1125.5 miles, 33 Tunnels, 39 swing bridges and 19 lift bridges since Nov 2006

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