Happy cruising

We left the Wendover arm early on Wednesday morning and had problems passing the flour factory. Instead of going around the sharp corner Inca just kept going straight towards the factory. The water levels had dropped so much that the bow just dug into the bottom and would not turn. After lots of revs and a lot of manoeuvring we finally got out of the arm but it was shallow all the way out.

                                     Trying to pass the flower factory on the Wendover arm.

When we got to Cowroast (not a place to get a roast meal but a resting place for cows many years ago)we went to the marina chandlers to pick up a few bits and pieces and the guy in there said they where fed up with asking Canal and River Trust to put the pumps on as the level in the marina kept getting so low...... Maybe there are water shortages up here on Tring summit.

We then cruised for several hours and eventually stopped at Birkhamsted. We found a good mooring opposite the park and only a short distance from a Waitrose supermarket. There was also a Chinese takeaway just up the road so we thought we would give that a go. (Not bad but not that good).
 On Thursday morning it was another early start as we wanted to get a bit of a move on for a change.

                                                             A rare sight ....me doing a lock

                                                   Is that an elf sat on the lock gate ?

                                                    Passing under the M25 Motorway

                                                          A car on a narrowboat.

                                           And who do you think lives in a house like this.

                                           Chickens on a narrowboat.  Now there's an idea.

We are now moored for the weekend at south Harefield and have been spending our time doing nothing but sitting in the sun .With the temperature hitting 27 deg on Saturday and the forecast saying even hotter on Sunday we are happy here.
There also seems to be more Red Kites here. We have been watching them come down into the housing estate opposite.

                                                         Red Kite soaring overhead.

           We also had 8 of these little green Parrots roost opposite us on Saturday night.

With the sun as it is at the moment the batteries are full at 09.00 and we have so much power through the solar panels we don't know what to do with it all. Still better that way than having to run the engine for hours every day.

Happy days

 

Wendover Arm

We had only intended to spend the weekend on the Wendover arm up on the Chiltern hills but it is so peaceful here we have not left. On Saturday we had an air show in the distance over Aylesbury then on Sunday we had the helicopter's. We have never seen so many helicopters before, there were hundreds of them. It turned out that they were going from London to Silverstone for the Grand prix and taking all the rich and famous for a day out. Carolyn said she was sure she saw some famous people.

Also in the air we had Red kite's . A bird of prey that we have really enjoyed watching as it soars over the Chiltern hills.

     On Saturday we had a walk down to the reservoir that feeds water into the Wendover arm.

                                     Water being pumped into the arm from the pump station.

    On Sunday we set off to have a look at the work being carried out by The Wendover Trust.

 

Work is progressing well , but I think there are still many years of fund raising and work to complete the project.

On Monday I was told that I had to go shopping with her ladyship so it was out with the bikes and we cycled into the town of Tring . Only a small town but they had everything we needed. We did some shopping in M&S but isn't it expensive ?. so we just bought the basics in there. I did buy some home made pork scratchings in a local butchers and they were very tasty.
 On the way back I got another puncture but luckily not far from the boat. Good job I bought 2 extra puncture repair kits as we have had so many punctures and every one has been caused by Hawthorne needles.

                                   On Tuesday afternoon  Carolyn decided to do some fishing.

While Carolyn was fishing there was the continuous sound of a boat horn. Oh said she "there must be another boat coming". No Carolyn you are resting the fishing reel on the horn button..... Another dopey moment...

Solar update

We have now not ran the engine for 4 day's .On mornings where we have had sunshine the batteries are fully charged by 10.30 in the morning. And today (Tuesday) where it is overcast the panels are putting in 5.2 amps which should avoid us running it again today. Before we had the panels we used to run the engine for over 3 hours a day, so far it looks like a very good decision to have them fitted.

Happy days

 

 

Solar power

We had a very lazy Sunday and Monday,apart from a cycle ride into Tesco, Homebase and Aldi to pick up a few supplies.

But i did spend a few more hours fishing and guess what ???

                                  I caught another Carp. This one was a little smaller at 8 lbs .

Tuesday morning soon arrived and at about 09.30 Tim arrived from Onboard solar to fit our solar panels. We are having 400 watts of solar panels fitted and an mppt controller.

                                            Tim preparing the roof to take the panels.

It took Tim about 4 hours to fit the panels and controller. The results where instant. As soon as he connected to the batteries we were getting 26 amps in full sun and just over 5 amps when cloudy. We are well pleased with that.

         As you can see in the picture the panels are fully adjustable to enable them to follow the sun.

I must admit I do not think they look very good on the roof and I think they spoil the look of the boat. I mentioned this to Tim and he said " I have fitted this set up on over 300 boats and you are the first person to say that" Anyway he assures me they will grow on me, we will see.

                                                                  Tim's web site

On Wednesday morning it was an early start and we pulled pins at 07.30. We moored on the Tesco moorings at Leighton Buzzard as we wanted to stock up Inca with all the heavy items as we could wheel the shopping trolley out onto the towpath.

  Carolyn working up the locks on route to the Tring summit.After several hours and locks we finally found a mooring just past the Dunstable and District boat club near Cheddington.

As the towpath has changed sides we spent Thursday washing , polishing and touching up all the scrapes on the starboard side of Inca .It is the first time for a long time the towpath has been on this side and the dogs as well as us have to make sure we don't naturally step off on the wrong side.

On Friday we set off early again as we wanted to get to the Tring summit and we really wanted to spend the weekend on the Wendover arm. On route we filled with water and got rid of the rubbish so we are all set for a few days out in the country

It rained cats and dogs but we still enjoyed the cruise and the journey up the Marsworth flight of locks. At the top lock there is a very sharp turn on to the Wendover arm.

                                                 "It' a bit narrow up here" said Carolyn

The Wendover arm does not go to Wendover as it is still being rebuilt . It stops 5 miles short in a basin which is one of the few places to moor on the arm.

                                                      Our mooring for the weekend.

We arrived at the basin just as 2 boats were leaving so for the time being we have the basin to ourselves and with only 3 other boats on the arm it is very peaceful. We also have good satellite reception and over 20 megs of 3g. With Glastonbury , Wimbledon and the Grand prix this weekend we are not moving.

Happy days

 

 

 

 

 

carp

Lets talk fish........I know there has not been many fish caught and the ones that have been caught have been a bit on the small side..

So on Sunday after hours and hours and more hours..





                                                           This happened




                                                              Scroll down



                                                              Keep going

 

                                                           And was i happy with that.....

The biggest Carp i have ever caught , It weighed in at just over 12 lbs. I caught it with a fishing reel that is 40 years old an Abu 506 bought when i was 14 years old and a 6 foot telescopic rod bought from lidl's for £5 and 8 lb breaking strain line. It took nearly 15 minutes to land it due to the light tackle i was using, but it was great sport. It took bread on a float just 6 inch's off the bottom of the canal............Now let's see if Carolyn can beat that.

Very happy days

We have had a lovely week at Stoke Hammond and we met a great couple called Stuart and Fran off nb The Boat . We both really enjoyed their company and Carolyn especially liked their many walks with the dogs. Hope to meet up with you both again soon.

On Saturday Sharon (sister) and Philip (Her long suffering husband) brought  Mummy (Joan) and daddy (Ken)  up from Devon to see us and spend a day on Inca. Sharon and Philip went off to do some shopping in Milton Keynes so we set off on our journey from Stoke Hammond to The Globe Inn at Linslade.

                      Even though we had a few showers in the morning it didn't spoil it.

                       Joan at the helm a natural narrowboat women , She took to it like a duck to water.

                        It was then up the locks at the 3 locks pub and Joan's first lesson in locking.

                                                          "Don't let go of that rope"

                                                 She even walks across the lock gate.

                                                    Come on put your back into it.

                                                                Ken at the helm
..

                     We finally reach our destination and that will do nicely for dinner tonight.

Not long after arriving i got the fishing rod out and started fishing. "Do you know what i have never fished before" said Joan. So i passed her the rod and guess what happened next ???? Myself and Carolyn walked up to the pub to look at the menu for this evenings meal .Then Carolyn's phone rang. "Get back here quick" said Joan "i have caught a big one".  By the time we got back everyone within a hundred yards had heard her shouting and a crowd had built up around her.

                                     She caught a lovely Bream..Look at that crowd around her.

        She soon had her second fish, But she would not hold it as the first one was so slimy.At her very great young age Joan has now discovered 2 new skills she never knew she had,a boat women and a fisher women.

After Sharon and Philip arrived from their shopping trip it was time to eat so off we went to The Globe. We tried to get into the restaurant but it was fully booked.

                                                    But we had a good evening in the bar.

                                              It was then back to Inca for nightcap

      Before long it was time to say goodbye and i am sure everybody had a good day.


We will stay here for the next couple of days as we are having the solar panels fitted on Tuesday and we have satellite and Internet reception and a tesco's if we need it about a mile away. Oh yes and there is the pub as well..


Happy days