Tuesday 28 July 2015

Happy Birthday Mo!

Another bright, sunny but windy morning.  We were up early as we had to be at the boatyard by 8.00am – we were moored just opposite so got there at 7.45am!  They tested the diesel and said it wasn’t too bad but there was a trace of some water and rust in the tank so we decided  to go ahead with having the “fuel polished” – not sure why they call it polishing?? In preparation for our trip up the Bristol Chanel (a requirement apparently).

We finished at the boatyard at about 3.00pm and filled up with diesel as the fuel barge was going by at that time and were on our way by 3.30pm shared Buckley lock with a day hire boat so they did most of the work so we let them through the next swing bridge.

Lucy asked me when she was here the other week how many locks we had now been through so while we were in the boatyard killing time I worked it out.  Here are a few statistics for you.

After we arrived in Roydon at the end of April we did one trip up the River Stort and Two down the River Lee then began the journey which brought us here to Semington so as at last night, 31 July, we have been through another 184 locks and chugged a further 188 miles so in total since 2 April we have been through 316 locks and have navigated 355 miles of rivers and canals and now have 1013.5 cruising hours on the clock.

Fairly uneventful chug today – still beautiful countryside but we can see why some people say that the Kennet & Avon is full of River Rats – we passed several moored up.  We are heading for bridge number 171 which is a couple of miles short of Bradford on Avon where there is a supermarket as we are out of food.

Chugged past Iothanthe moored up and waved to Steve! 

Moored up at 7ish and found Sainsbury’s – there is also a Chinese takeaway and Fish & Chip Shop next door – Steve said “Great I really fancy Chinese”.....but  they are closed on a Tuesday so Fish & Chips it is!  It’s much cheaper here than it used to be in Barnet – shames Sainsbury’s isn’t too!

Another great name for a boat!

Having the fuel polished - get out of the way Steve - let's see what's going on.

The machine sucks the diesel out of one side of the tank passes it through a filter and puts it back in the other side - we repeat this process for 3.5 hours until all the rubbish is flushed out.

Some of the rusty bits from the bottom of the tank!

One for the girls - diet coke break - I'm talking about the one on the left - refuelling!

It's great that they bring the petrol station to us isn't it!  Why is it that all these good looking young men are growing big beards these days?

Goodbye Semington.

Bradford on Avon here we come.

Another Aqueduct - over a railway this time - shame I can't get high enough to take a good photo!

River Rat Steptoe!

Seems to have lost the front of their car!