Costs

Just a few words on running costs..
Here we are a year on and our records indicate that Caxton uses 1.456 litres of diesel per engine hour. Included in this would be the running of the Hurricane central heating boiler as it is served by the same diesel tank. We have averaged 3.25 engine hours per day at an average fuel cost of 73p per litre so our diesel costs are in the region of £3.55 per day, circa £1300 per year. When I compare that to the cost of running a car and heating and lighting a home what a difference.. Of course there is coal on top of that and that is in the region of two bags per week when we are running the fire 24 hours per day, supplemented by wood of course.

Diesel Delivery

We were awaiting a visit from Alton the working boat that sells diesel and coal and fenders etc. Joe had given them a ring to say that both Caxton and Matilda Rose needed theire services and they had told us to expect them between one and four on Sunday Afternoon. At three o'clock we saw Alton nose into the basin here at Bugsworth - spot on..

A Dales Diary..

Yesterday Jill and I took advantage of access-to-wheels and took up Graham's offer of a lift to Dove Dale in the Peak District. Arriving at just after noon at Beresford Dale we were going to walk the length of Beresford, Wolfescote, Mill and Dove dale and meet our lift some three hours later at the bottom of Dove Dale. Above, the R. Beresford at the very start of our walk: A notice saying Keep out of the river, no fishing, no paddling, no access (GO AWAY you scum)! So I took a photo out of bloody mindedness before turning away and heading in the opposite direction.

Here we go...

Fletcher and Floyd are in doggy heaven, look at all this water to play in. Mudlark aka Muttley makes a valient effort to join in but he doesn't do 'swimming'..

Squeeze stiles in the dry stone wall are no problem for Baxter or Mudlark or for that matter, Fletcher. Floyd is a different case however. It seems that my beloved little man is a dog with special needs, not quite a full picnic in the intelligence stakes. Every stile saw three dogs squeeze through or leap over leaving Floyd bewildered and whimpering the other side... the Dog's an idiot!

By the time we reached the start of Dove Dale (above) the rain had started and the tops of the dales were now in the cloud.

Above bedraggled Jill and Baxter.

A bedraggled Me...

Checking out the Dove Holes (caves) en route.

Above, a drain from a mine?

Now almost at journey's end, the stepping stones across the R Dove. I walked across these, followed by my two dogs - Jill wimped out and walked to the bridge. Who would have looked silly if they had fallen in though?

End of walk, the final bridge.. 7miles. Wet, cold and very pleased with ourselves! What a wonderful place!

Walk to Bugsworth

Yesterday morning I had the job of transferring Graham's car (tank) to Bugsworth Basin our next 'port of call' and then walking back to meet the two boats as they made their way along to Bugsworth. We were last here in mid August and I expected to see quite a few winter moorers here at the basin but no, almost deserted. The advantage of covering the same ground is that you have a idea where it is good to moor etc. and the best Bugsworth moorings were vacant and beckoning us in.

As you can see from the photo's, the morning walk was in weak winter sunshine, a nip in the air ensured a brisk walk to keep oneself warm. There were hardly any boats about but plenty of local dog walkers and hikers on the move.

Above, looking out across the Goyt Valley towards New Mills and beyond. Today we are planning a trip to the Blue John mines at Castleton and over the next few days we plan to walk some of the scenic Derbyshire dales, Monsal and Dove and Millers maybe.

Road Trips

We have the use of a car over the next few weeks and although the 'mindset' is now very much disassociated with any form of car travel I must admit to rather enjoying getting behind the wheel again. I thoroughly enjoy driving and today it was a trip to Streethay near Lichfield sone 65 miles each way - unless you rely on satnav and it becomes 88 miles and a tollroad? Those in the boating know probably realise what is at Streethay that might have stimulated a trip there and they would be right. We met with Ray Bowern of Streethay Wharf to discuss possible amendmnets to Caxton's length etc. We are currently looking at either a Caxton mark two or a Caxton realignment. Over the next month we should be able to make a decision about what we are going to do.

A rainbow over Streethay Wharf...

Buzz saws and things

Last week whilst out walking I stumbled across a place that sold chainsaws and log-splitters and 30 different types of axe. I went in and found a saw horse that could be used to support the logs that we forage for in the winter and here it is pressed into service this afternoon.

A couple of hours of cutting and splitting and each boat had seven baskets of logs prepared and ready to be stored. Free winter fuel. We had just about exhausted the first of this winters supply, those logs we had gathered from the Mersey estuary when we were on the River Weaver. This is the second lot so far this autumn and should last about a month.

A packet of pork scratchings please...

Just a quick update while I wait for the last race of the F1 to start. Above are the four dogs playing in their own personal water-park yesterday - 'orrible mutts! Jill and I had gone out for a walk with the dogs who'd suggested that we might like to find The Sportsman in Strines village. Apparently the canines fancied a packet or two of pork scratchings which left us humans having to have a pint of real ale - just to be sociable so to speak.

Here is Caxton on her current mooring and as I type the boat is being buffeted by VERY strong winds. Just as well we are staying put - not many others about today either.