Narrowboat Alacrity

Well it looked like it was going to be a warm day so I thought that I would try out the new barbecue I bought for the last bank holiday.

Being an engineer the assembly would be a doddle…..I jest not…it was easy…you just had to sort through the copious leaflets and paperwork to find the relevant instructions in English. Well it beats MFI all the parts were present and correct and in five minutes all was assembled but in my excitement I had put the handle on upside down………….

A quick trip to the supermarket saw me return with chicken, sardines and the makings of a salad and marinade not to mention a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio.

Gas connected………..click click ckick CLICK………bugger….it won’t light……………..matches where did I put them………………………..

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Well I just wanted to share with you that NB Alacrity’s blog just had its 1001 visitor at 18:10 today.

 I know that other blogs have had more but it’s special to me.

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The Centers for Disease Control has issued a medical alert about a highly contageous, potentialy dangerous virus that is transmitted oraly, by hand and even electronically. This virus is called Weary Overload Recreational Killer (WORK) If you recieve WORK from your boss, any of your collegues, or anyone else via any means whatsoever- DO NOT TOUCH IT. This virus will wipe out your private life completley. if you should come into contact with WORK you should immediatly leave the premises.

Take two good friends to the nearest supermarket and purchase one or both of the antidotes-Work Isolating Neutraliser Extract (WINE) and Bothersome Employer Elimination Rebooter (BEER). Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been eliminated from your system.

You should immediatly forward this medical alert to five friends. if you do not have five friends, you have been infected and WORK is controlling your life………………..

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Well it’s got to be my fault…………….why you ask…..well what Idiot goes out and buys a new Weber gas barbecue because he has heard the weather is going to be great on Bank Holiday Monday.

I had been looking for a gas barbecue for some weeks now because I hate the mess and all the rigmarole of lighting the charcoal (I’m not a boy scout). By the smell our old next door neighbours used to use copious quantity’s of paraffin to get theirs going.

In all honesty I bought the thing on Thursday after looking at the weather forecast on the web which showed only Sunday as being wet…………………..well they got that wrong…………

As I sit writing this a totally bedraggled Woodpidgeon is sat on the windowsill…..wet….. I would be too if I had believed the Weathermen………………………………

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After reading the responses of Andrew Denny of Granny Buttons fame to the  ”20 Questions” feature in Canal Boat Magazine this month.

And

The suggestion from Sarah of nb Warrior in her post on 6th May

“I swore that I would answer the self same questions here, and would like to suggest that other boat bloggers do likewise“.

I decided to chip in my 10 pennerth.

The 20 Questions and Answers:-

1. What’s your favourite canal? The Grand Union and the Kennet and Avon
2. And your least-favourite? I haven’t found one yet

3. Who would be your ideal cruising companion? My wife Jo, she puts up with my “Victor Meldrew Moments” and forgives me most things.
4. What was the last book you read? Narrow Dog to Indian River by Terry Darlington.
5. What’s your favourite time of day on the waterways? Just after dawn in summer.
6. What irritates you most on the waterways? People who don’t slow down when passing moored boats, Impatient and rude boaters.
7. When would you most like to have lived? The early 1960s Music with lyrics you can understand, the new found freedom and the canals were still carrying freight.
8. When did you last fall in? I haven’t yet. But Jo has.
9. What did you want to be at 12? A scientist. I was always blowing up things including the chemistry lab windows.
10. If I didn’t have narrowboating I’d … ? Have missed out on one of the most pleasurable things in life.
11. Narrowboaters are … ? Probably the most diverse species on earth.
12. After a day’s cruising I most look forward to … A quiet mooring with a great view, a warm evening, a pint of real ale, good company and a tasty meal.
13. The waterways need … ? A government with the balls to support the treasure that’s our canal system.
14. If you met the Waterways Minister on the towpath, what would you say to him? Just because DEFRA screws up don’t penalise British Waterways support them.
15. Windows or portholes? Windows.
16. Pumpout or cassette? Pump out; I can’t stand seeing other peoples “Floaters”. (I was brought up camping with the original elsan oildrum with a seat).
17. Canals or rivers? Canals, rivers tend to have high banks so you don’t see much.
18. Where will you be when you are 70? Still boating I hope. If global warming continues there should be more than enough water.
19. What do you think is your greatest achievement in life? To have achieved what I have now and still be sane.
20. What would your superpower be? To be able to remain calm and rational in ant situation despite provocation and to be able to steer Alacrity in reverse.

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 After looking at the weather forecast we decided to give  Crick a miss and go to the local Tring Canal Festival run by the Wendover Arm Trust. Last year the Festival had to be cancelled after the first day due to overnight storms. So we thought it best to go today.

We were very lucky having a windy but dry afternoon. The festival was very well attended with boats lining both sides of the canal.

The Wendover Arm branches off the Grand Union canal at Bulbourne Junction near the top of the Marsworth Flight of Locks.

 Archimedes & Ara

Looking towards Tringford Pumping Station

Looking towards Festival site

 Definatly not a “Figment”

For me the Falconary display was magical. These birds are masters of the sky and pure killing machines, except for the Vulture who prefered to walk and was a bit like a Dyson with wings.

Golden Eagle

American Falcon

Vulture

Please help the Wendover Arm Trust in their BLOCKAID Campaign to raise money to buy 90,000 concrete blocks to be used in the restoration of the canal section between Little Tring through to Buckland - a length of about 2 miles.

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Wow!! I wasn’t expecting a frost this morning. Looking out and seeing the early morning sun glinting off the car windscreens looked magic.

My 20 mile journey to work is mostly through country lanes which are beautiful at this time of year. Driving the lanes you have to watch out for suicidal wildlife. Most days I see Muntjac Deer,Red Deer, Hares, Pheasants and Rabbits, sometimes even a Fox.

 Wood Pigeons who are either too interested in sex or are too fat to take off and attain sufficient altitude to avoid an air strike are the main hazard but topping the list for “Roadkill” so far are Badgers and Grey Squirrels with Pigeons in third place.

Work…….well what is there to say……………..it’s allways the same after a holiday first day back just catching up……..never mind there is The Crick Boat Show to look forward too at the weekend……See you there….

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One of my favorite stretches of canal is on the Kennet and Avon from Pewsey Wharf to Honey Street

We decided to travel home from Dorset cross country and called in at the Waterfront Bar and Bistro at Pewsey Wharf for some lunch.

The Wiltshire Ham & Egg was great, but shame about the chips……………………..

Having decided to walk off the lunch I spotted Ten Bob Note, I always read their blog and love the pictures of their travels.

I only was able to say hello as I  passed, Ernie was deep in the bilges servicing the engine and gearbox (I know how annoying it can be to be stopped when doing something important) and I didn’t want to disturb him working……………..

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Well all good things must come to an end.

After a relaxed breakfast we winded above Calcutt top lock and had a leisurely cruise back to Braunston where I totally messed up reversing back onto our mooring.

I don’t know how I managed to do it, there was no wind to speak of a definite red face moment……How long have you been boating??………………but in mitigation it was a bit crowded around the loading dock with boats on brokerage………………..well that’s my excuse…….

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Well if there was anything that would persuade me to slim down a bit it would be the hell that is topping up Alacrity’s battery bank.

You need to be a weight lifter and a contortionist just to get to them, to fill them you also need eyes that swivel independently like a chameleon so you can see how much water you are adding.

Why didn’t I remember the Durite automatic battery filler I bought from The Toolbox Shop

It’s worth its weight in gold and a snip at £15.

All you do is fill with de-ionised top up water and press down into the battery filler and hey presto it fills to a preset level when you take it out the spring loaded top shuts off the water so no mess……

Well back to the batteries do I ?……..loose weight ………….well maybe?…………….A bit of redesign and woodwork ………..a definite yes!

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