| This Month's Totals and Average | |||
| 44.91 miles | 12 locks | 27.00 hrs | 2.11 lmph |
Adam and Wayne turned up at about 09:15, and spent most of the day fixing the worst of the problems on yesterday's list. They brought the new dining table, and fitted its storage bracket; fitted a replacement sender for the fuel gauge, and calibrated it; cured (we hope) the leak from the shower; and tackled a couple of other smaller items. We agreed that barring more emergency-type problems, the remaining items could wait till we see them again at the Crick Boat Show.
Hopefully free agents now for a little while, we started making some plans to do a bit of cruising!
Found a leak at the base of the shower, so called the builder again. He arranged for the lads to attend Wednesday. Consolidated list of outstanding problems made up and sent to Builder for perusal.
Generally spent the day cleaning.
Finally got hold of the builder (found out they had taken the whole week off). Bob was dispatched for the 240v problem, but it took almost all day to locate the fault. He also had a look at a couple of other problems while here, including checking the sender for the fuel gauge and finding it faulty! Beautiful day all day - the sort we bought the boat to enjoy.
Jackie asked if we could move "Paws" a short way up the pontoon to allow another boat in; no rush, so we said we'd do it later (since Bob was working at that point).
Turned "Paws" to allow for easier watering and electric, and re-moored at the other end of the space on the pontoon.
Slow start; weather overcast, turning to rain later in day. Dossed around, falling asleep during the afternoon. Just one of those days for doing nothing!
Took a trip into Tamworth centre. Found brilliant "gloryhole" of tool shop (Tamworth's Toolbox) - recommend if anyone in area needs a tool.
Birthday party for Margaret in the evening - great night, very relaxing; made most welcome by the other moorers at the marina.
Hired a van on Tuesday and packed the remaining stuff ready. Drove back south on Wednesday but got little else unpacked after bedding in the piggie and re-building the easychairs. Finished the unpacking Thursday morning, but the 240v socket circuit breaker decided it didn't like getting woken up again, and tripped out. Couldn't get hold of the builders (we later found they were having the whole week off for Easter holiday). Generally dossed around for remainder of day. Friday was much the same!
Headed home to pack the remainder of the things we need aboard.
Went for a walk to Ventura Park shopping centre after lunch, then tried to get some more "fixing" done.
Still can't get the TV to talk to the Sat Unit. The calibration of the fuel tank seems not to be possible, having turned the screw nearly 50 times with no change in the "little light" - we'll speak to the builders again next week!
Finally got a rough log on-line - will get more background uploaded when possible.
Slow departure this morning, but continued bound for Fazeley Junction, then turned right onto the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. Arrived at Fazeley Mill Marina just before lunchtime, to be met by "warden Jackie" who topped up our fuel (143 ltrs put in plus the 40 Bob brought at Tixall totals 183 ltrs, nearly a full tank, which suggests the tank may have been very empty at Tixall. Why, when the engine had only been run for approx 20 hours!). She showed us to our berth and got our shore-power connected. Very peaceful, with very friendly neighbours - think we're going to like it here!
| 11.11 miles | 0 locks | 5.78 hrs | 1.92 lmph |
Left the mooring about 09:00 and returned to Great Haywood Junction where we went to the Canalside Farm Shop before heading SE towards Fradley Junction. Lovely start to the day, but it clouded over during the morning and the breeze increased.
Excellent lunch at The Wolseley Arms Inn at Wolseley Bridge. We'll be back there again!
Turned right at Fradley onto Coventry Canal around 17:00, so moored up for the night just after the junction.
| 13.71 miles | 5 locks | 6.74 hrs | 2.77 lmph |
Got away for an early start after breakfast. Took "Paws" out the exit and back in the entrance for a photoshoot, then headed off to the southeast towards Great Haywood junction. Bacon butties on the move between Sandon and Weston locks.
Turned right at Great Haywood for a planned early stop at Tixall Wide and a lazy afternoon getting this log up to date. Just got to the mooring and the engine died. This was traced to lack of fuel in the tank. The builder had advised that there was a total of 60 ltrs supplied in the tank (plenty to take us to Fazeley) but the gauge wasn't calibrated and showed full. Bob came out with a further 40 ltrs - our sincere thanks. One supposition is that the supply pipe was placed a long way from the tank bottom by the steelworkers, but another is that the initial amount put in was short of the original 60 ltrs quoted to us. Either way, lesson learned!
| 8.55 miles | 3 locks | 4.82 hrs | 2.40 lmph |
Workmen back again at 08:00 to fix the flooring, lighting, cooker etc.
Took "Paws" out for our first trip - headed SE as far as Weston Lock, then winded at Ingestre Winding Hole and returned to the Marina - far enough for a first day, but great to be back afloat again.
No problems during the expedition, for which we were most grateful!
| 11.54 miles | 4 locks | 7.22 hrs | 2.15 lmph |
With no workmen to "fall over", we finished clearing the decks of all the stuff we had just dumped.
Work continues on fixing the items raised at yesterday's snagging. We start bringing our gear aboard.
First night aboard!
Work continues, but we get aboard to start checking her over.
Back to the hotel for the night.
Builder takes "Paws" for a trip round the marina as part of the commissioning checks.
Invited aboard for a look round while the workmen continue with checks - she looks great. Can't wait to get aboard and start making it feel like home.
Back to the hotel for the night.
Officially launched at 13:15.
Builder's staff continue with post-launch checks. We keep well out of the road!
Back to the hotel for the night.
