Delayed start from Foxes Gate

We moved out of Braunston late on Monday after the welding on Caxton and moored up at Foxes Gate. Here there is plenty of room and Joe could finish the gas locker with filler and paint.  We had planned to move off towards Long Itchington at 09.00 on Thursday but when Joe took the dogs out first thing we found the Gosty Hill, the fuel boat, had moored up behind us.. too good a opportunity to waste of course so we delayed our start and had Ian fuel Caxton and Matilda Rose as well as buying 10 bags of coal for each boat.

below, Ian and Joe putting world to rights...

And we are off......at last.

Gas locker changes

In the photo above you can see where Joe as changed the fixings for the gas locker top/seat.  The gas locker height is to be increased by 5.25 inches not the 2.75inches I originally posted.

 Barry (welder) has measured and cut the steel and is welding it in place - room is limited so I was banned from suspending myself above the deck to get the 'action shots' - "bog off" was the term I think....

Locker extension in place and awaiting the finishing touches from Joe, filler and paint.

In anticipation....

We are moored at Braunston this weekend awaiting a slot on Monday afternnoon with David Thomas, he who did the stretch on Caxton in February, as he is going to modify our gas locker a little to allow us to use 13kg bottles of gas rather than the 6kg bottles we currently use.  The cost of a 13kg bottle is only a little more than a 6kg bottle yet we get more than twice the gas!  To stay the right side of the boat safety standards we need to have the height of the gas locker extended by 2.75inches and welded properly to secure the bottles, hence another visit to Dave...bless him.

Bloggersphere

L-R   Graham of Nb Matilda Rose, Pip of Nb Windsong, Me and Joe of Nb Caxton, Derek of Nb Gypsy Rover, Roger of Nb Windsong and Jill of Nb Matilda Rose - Photo taken by Dot of Nb Gypsy Rover.

We all go together last night to enjoy a meal in The Old Plough at Braunston and to catch with each other.  The power of the blog demonstrated yet again; but for the blogs we would not know each other and here we are have a lovely, if somewhat noisy evening,  as if we had known each other for years and years! Great night...until next time folks!

And here is Dot hiding behind a camera

Enjoying our time at Weedon

Our winter plans have been slightly tweaked because we have found someone who is able to make the changes we want in Caxton's galley.  We will be diverting onto the North Stratford canal and lingering around Hockley Heath while the changes are made before we then toddle off to Stourport Basin - some clever manoeuvring around the stoppage problem is called for I can tell you...
In the meantime we have been enjoying our stay at Weedon these past few days - lots of lovely walks, a good village with provisions and pubs and a water supply at hand.

Boat proud, £'s foolish...

Whilst we were are Gayton Junction after our trip up the Northampton arm, we watered, we filled with diesel, we dumped rubbish and we emptied cassettes - I also took advantage of the water supply and walked along the gunnels cleaning the gutter on Caxton's roof while hosing away the leaves and accumulated dust.  I noticed half way through this exercise that my trousers were a bit wet - read, soaked - and I also noticed that there was a 'puddle' in my jacket pocket.  The problem was that also in my jacket pocket with this 'puddle' was my camera...  So no photo's for a wee while.

Side hatch revamp

We decided that the plain ash liners for the side hatch doors needed a bit more....COLOUR.  We decided that the new look needed to be in keeping with the rest of Caxton's decoration so we identified a section of design on the rear doors and set about recreating that design on the side doors.   Joe did the basics, the red and cream and scumble but the sign painting had to be done by a professional so we enlisted the help of Jon at Bill Fen Marina and here are the results.... 

Jon at work.