No Problem at Rothersthorpe

It was a trip on the train this morning to reach Northampton for a short walk down to the River Nene where No Problem was just arriving.

After spending summer on the rivers they were returning to the canal system for the winter and I was to help them work the 17 locks of the Rothersthorpe flight on the Northampton Branch of the Grand Union Canal.

There was just time for a little (or was it a lot of) shopping before leaving Northampton.

The first few locks near the town had anti vandal devices fitted.  I’ve seen many variations before but these are the first I’ve seen fitted with a Yale key rather than a handcuff key.  I assume it makes them harder for the vandals to gat around.

With Sue and Vic taking turns steering and working the locks and with help from Anne (from Moore2Life) and from me, we managed the flight in reasonable time.

I left them at Gayton Junction, shortly after the top lock to walk to Milton Malsor for a bus to Northampton and to return home by train. Sue had already written her blog by the time I had returned home.

Posted on Monday, September 28, 2009 at 22:56        Comments (0)
Category(s): Blog Readers , Bloggers , Northampton Branch

Hatton with Harnser

When we met Brian and Diana on Harnser very briefly last night we established we were both planning to descend Hatton Locks today and, being broad locks, we could share the work.

First I delivered another batch of our DVDs to the Canal Shop with time for a quick chat with Neil, then we were off.  I walked through the separate footpath tunnel at Shrewley, to check it out for filming tomorrow and soon we were at the top of Hatton Locks.

Chatting happily together we were down the flight in 2 hours 25 minutes, and we would have been a little quicker if we hadn’t caught up slow moving boats near the bottom.  Having a 5th crew member makes a lot of difference with one able to go ahead and set the next lock each time.

At the bottom we went into the Saltisford Arm for a pump out and found this moorhen sitting on 5 eggs and happily watching us right alongside.  It even stood up so I could see the eggs.

We’re moored just outside the Saltisford Arm, which was already full with breasted up boats when we got there.  Tomorrow we will be heading back up the Hatton flight as we film for one of our DVDs.

Posted on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 20:50        Comments (0)
Category(s): Bloggers , Grand Union Canal

Too much water

With severe weather warnings issued for heavy rain the prospects weren’t good for today.  Sure enough the rain was heavy all night and still heavy this morning.

The forecast is for heavy rain for 4 or 5 days (and probably more) so there was no prospect of continuing our filming by waiting a day or two.

So, on with the waterproofs and off we head back to Sherborne Wharf in the rain and we’ll have to come back again later to complete the filming.

Unlike my last visit to Hatton Locks when there was a shortage of water while the locks were drained for maintenance, there was a surplus now.

Lots of water flowing over the bywashes which use the former single locks left when the wide locks were installed in a modernisation scheme.  Sometimes it just flowed in torrents over the gates as if it was winter rains we’d had.

We’re moored at Kingswood Junction ready to head up the Lapworth flight to reach our home mooring at Sherborne Wharf tomorrow or Monday.

Posted on Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 16:43        Comments (0)
Category(s): Grand Union Canal , Warwickshire Ring

Surprise Sunshine

With rain forecast for today we set off from Napton Junction intending to progress as far as we could until rain stopped play.

Much to our surprise it was great weather so we not only made it down all 23 broad locks, to the lowest pound of our journey, but up two locks at the other end.

There’s a 2 lock staircase at Bascote where the bottom lock was leaking so badly I wondered if the boats would get over the cill from the top lock.

Look at the water mark on the walls in the first photo and you’ll see it has gone down 6 inches (15 cm) in the time it has taken the boats to move half way from the top lock.

At Budbrooke Junction we turned very sharp left into the Saltisford Arm.  We’ve never been down there before so we weren’t sure what to expect.

It started with a large “Welcome” sign on the bridge, then an arm with boats moored along both sides and a handily placed winding hole.

We received the warmest welcome we’ve received anywhere from the Saltisford Canal Trust who occupy the Arm.  They have visitor moorings, a day hire boat, a canal shop an much more.

We winded and moored the boat, visited the supermarket and were all ready for tackling Hatton tomorrow if the weather permits - but the forecast is for heavy rain

We’re moored on the Saltisford Arm aiming for Hatton tomorrow, and possibly Knowle - or staying put if the weather is really awful.

Posted on Friday, June 5, 2009 at 21:48        Comments (0)
Category(s): Grand Union Canal , Warwickshire Ring

Bloggers Surprise

We continued south today, climbing the three paired locks at Hillmorton.  The locks were numbered from 2 to 7 which surprised me at first, until I remembered the stop lock at Hawkesbury Junction which must be number 1.

Then onwards again to reach Braunston Turn where we meet the Grand Union Canal from London to join the combined stretch to Napton Junction.  Are we travelling South on the Oxford Canal or North on the Grand Union Canal?

There were lots of boats on the combined stretch and I was inside checking the maps to see how far we were going to get today when I glanced out of the front.

Passing us already was Derwent6, crewed by bloggers Del and Al. Not remembering their names on the spur of the moment I stuck my head quickly out of the front of the boat and shouted “Hello, fellow bloggers”.  Del looked very surprised for a moment but quickly checked the name of our boat and greeted us too.

He grabbed his camera and took a shot of us disappearing in the distance.  I did likewise, and was able to retrieve one from our Bowcam showing them approaching.

I hope we get to exchange more than a few words next time we meet.

We’re moored at Napton Junction, hoping to get down most of the broad locks on the Grand Union tomorrow, then up Hatton on Saturday.  Any visitors to help with the broad locks will be most welcome to share the work.

Posted on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 21:36        Comments (2)
Category(s): Bloggers , Grand Union Canal , Northern Oxford , Oxford , Warwickshire Ring

Canalway Cavalcade

Bank holiday Monday was our first trip to the Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice on the Grand Union Canal in London , near Paddington.

The weather was dull and overcast with occasional light showers, and not conducive to encouraging visitors to come out.  The free entrance certainly could not have been putting anybody off attending.

Despite all that I was surprised at how few people there were around the site.

Lots of bunting on the boats and a few boaters around, but not many visitors.

Just look at the shots of the stands below.  One with attentive stallholders waiting for customers but nobody even walking past - and I didn’t wait specially to catch a moment with nobody there.

At the bottom right the passers by aren’t even looking at the stand and the stallholder isn’t even trying to engage with the passers by.  Hopefully it was better on other days when the sun shined.

Posted on Monday, May 4, 2009 at 17:31        Comments (7)
Category(s): Grand Union Canal

Where has the water gone at Hatton Locks

I was travelling near the Hatton Locks of the Birmingham leg of the Grand Union Canal yesterday and paused to take some photographs.

One of the pounds had been drained while winter maintenance work was undertaken at the locks.  It shows the profile of the canal bed clearly when the water is missing.

The Hatton flight was built with narrow locks which were replaced by broad locks in a 1930s improvement scheme.

That allowed boats to use the locks faster, particularly when the unpowered butty could come into the lock alongside the motor boat and they could pass through each lock in one go.

The remains of the narrow locks can be seen alongside the broad locks in most cases.

If you look at the close up of the broad lock then you can see the paddle exposed, which is normally hidden well under water.  It’s only when the pounds are drained that you can see and photograph these.

Also visible is the vertical slot where stop planks can be inserted to allow just the lock to be drained.  Their use allows just the lock to be drained quickly but restricts the working area and might be done for emergency work in the summer.

In the winter its usually easier to drain the whole pound which gives a larger working area and, as the locks are closed anyway nobody is disadvantaged by draining the pound - and that can be checked for problems at the same time.

Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 12:40        Comments (0)
Category(s): Grand Union Canal

Gypsy Rover

Last Friday was a busy day.  After helping Sue and Vic down the Rothersthorpe flight and buying a few essentials at Braunston I had a little time to spare before heading to Birmingham and North Wales.

I knew from their blog that Derek and Dot weren’t far away so a quick phone call confirmed their position and off I went to find them.

Dot soon had the kettle on and I was made very welcome, despite the short notice of my arrival.

I was sorry to hear about the problems with their central heating - and about the leak from the pump which still needs even more attention.

You won’t be able to tell from the photos but their accent soon gives away they are from New Zealand.  Touring the country by canals seems an excellent way to see England.

They’re also heading for the Rothersthorpe flight and have probably completed it by the time you read this.  I hope they enjoy their summer.

Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 18:57        Comments (0)
Category(s): Grand Union Canal

Rothersthorpe

Vic and Sue on No Problem, were heading down the Rothersthorpe flight of locks on the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union last Friday.  Pacing themselves for the seventeen or so locks to take them to the River Nene for the summer.

They’d hardly started when Vic came under the bridge to be faced by someone aiming a camera at him.  Vic watched Lucy hurtling down the towpath to greet me and he knew it wouldn’t be such hard work after all.

Part way down the flight I discovered this old lady sitting on the old lock beam at the side of the canal.

There was just time to admire their new headlight - with a big bulb Sue won’t mind the tunnels as it won’t go dark inside.

Following down the flight was Chas and Ann on Moore2Life and there was time to help them with a few locks too.

Posted on Monday, April 21, 2008 at 20:32        Comments (1)
Category(s): No Problem , Northampton Branch

Rothershorpe Flight

Today was a complete break from the planned meeting in London which was cancelled at the last moment allowing me to swap my planned day off from Friday to Thursday.

Today I was up just as early as a working day but this time I was heading via Birmingham to Northampton.  Then a bus ride to Milton Malsor and a short walk across the fields to the canal.  This was the day that No Problem and Moore2Life were descending the Rothersthorpe flight from the Grand Union Canal to the River Nene.

They had done the first few locks before I got there and John Sinclair was already helping them but an extra pair of hands is always helpful. 

The weather was the best so far this year and I really enjoyed the day.  We moored the boats together for a picnic lunch.

And today was Sue’s birthday so I was able to wish her a happy birthday in person.

It was lovely to be able to chat to Chas and Anne on Moore2Life and to see Vic and Lucy again.  Lucy’s behaviour is wonderful as she trots along the towpath keeping pace with the boat and looking after herself.  She never rides on the boat when there is a towpath.  Then she amazed everyone at the last lock on the Grand Union Canal when she got on the boat and sat down without any commands being issued.  As there is no towpath on the River Nene she has to ride on the boat and we can only assume she remembered this from last year when No Problem made the same journey.

I left them at Northampton to make my way back to the station to catch the trains home.  Thank you Sue, Vic, Chas, Anne, Lucy and Molly for a lovely day.

Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 at 14:50        Comments (0)
Category(s): No Problem , Northampton Branch