It's going to get busy up north...

BW have published their restrictions due to water shortages..... in March !!

We know its been dry for a couple of years,  just another indication of the changing weather patterns we are seeing - global warming ??

BW hope that boaters understand that these measures so early in the season are seeking to preserve low reservoir stocks such that cruising through the year can be maintained for as long as possible.

The last bit.... cruising for as long as possible says it all really.  There will be a significant divide in traffic north and south, that is if we get some rain in the north and midlands. The hire companies will be hit hard and those with water and no restrictions will no doubt have a boost to their bookings.  For us at Fradley I'm sure it will mean more traffic as those private boaters who continuously cruise will head to where there are no restrictions, I can't blame them for that.

An interesting year ahead.

Southern Fradley approach

I took this and like it so I am sharing it.

It is the first sight of the five locks that make the Fradley flight. I took it last year on the 19th March. I like how it shows the starting profile of Fradley. Anyone reading the Nicholson's will be slightly wary of this flight and it audience of gongoozlers.

Pass during 11-6pm during late spring or summer and your skills and possibly patience will be tested.

Still a great place to moor a boat for its character, history and cruising routes.

Broken Squirrel

I deliberately have a KISS principal on Waterlily. Makes it easy for me to maintain an acceptable and enjoyable presence whilst on board. I am sure if and when I spend a considerable amount more time aboard then I might have a few more advanced systems in use, but for now I like simple.

The ubiquitous Squirrel sold fuel stove is fairly robust with few moving parts. However on my last visit on emptying the ash tray I noted a piece of metal I had not tried to burn.... on closer inspection the revolving bottom plate has got a broken arm. When I was getting my engine bits from Midland Chandlers I asked and was pleased they could supply off the shelf a replacement.

Pleased they had one but not so pleased to have to pay £37 for it !

Anyhow on my recent visit after the previous nights fire had gone out I replaced it quite easily and we are back up and running with a fully working fire.

2,000 mile visitor attraction and we are the main event

We were on board over the weekend, and a great time we had as well.

I got there dusk on Friday evening and watered up and warmed up the boat, ready for a special lady in my life bringing me chip shop food - lovely.

Saturday I got the genny out for Rachel to give the boat a good vac through whilst I did an oil, oil filter and fuel filter service. It went very easy and the boat started quite easily. I took the opportunity to wack in some fuel additive to prevent that diesel bug malarkey. The fuel in the filter and the filter itself looked fine....not sure if you saw Tim Spall's latest program where he has blocked filter problems, however I expect a dutch barge on the sea will churn up all the crap from the fuel tank?

In the late afternoon after a  longish siesta that included watching some Rugby we went for a walk in the woods up towards Woodend lock. It was really perfect, this is how I like Fradley, when all the Gongoozlers have gone home. Just wood smoke rising from a few boats, nature doing its last bit of pre night time calling, then over to the night creatures.

Sunday we needed to wind the boat as she is due with Justin at Aqua Narrowboats at the beginning of April. We went to the junction and Rachel did a perfect turn, not before we literally had someone stick a camera into her face as she captained the boat through the locks.   It was really intrusive... but that was how Fradley can be and Sunday was no exception.

This is the lane leading to Fradley junction, the car parks were full and so was every bit of available parking space. Lots of cameras and lots of people just 'watching'. We really are the main attraction and felt it on Sunday. Makes me smile we pay BW or CaRT to be the main event at places like Fradley !

I took the photo above as we returned from a cycle trip to Fradley coop for supplies. The Bromptons are the tool for this job for sure.

 As we had two cars I stayed on after Rachel left for home to do a bit of fishing ... I told you we had a great weekend. I fished until dusk then wended my way to my other home, (to clean off the copious amounts of bird sh!t from the Smart that it had collected whilst parked under the roosting spot of what must have been an Ostrich !)

My goodness boating can be good !

Very lucky people

I got to the boat straight after work last night and watered up unpacked and generally got the boat ready for Rachel's later arrival as she was working on a late. Chip shop produce was consumed and an early night taken.

This morning I was outside while Rachel was inside both maintaining the boat. I serviced the engine and did a general tidy up whilst Rachel took advantage of the genny and did a full vac inside. More food then Rugby followed by a lovely twilight walk up the canal through the woods.

I reflected that it is a good life and we are very lucky. I hope your Saturday was as nice as ours


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Location:Fradley

Engine servicing tips and advice Beta BV1505

Last three times I have had RCR service my engine. They have done a great job and we have to date we have only had one breakdown to a leaking coolant hose - running on the engine and over time the rubbing/vibration wore a pin size hole into it from which we lost coolant.

Anyhow I emailed RCR last year and they took ages to reply eventually asking what my engine was etc - all information they have I think. I did not reply as I intended to do it myself as many of you guys do. Last time RCR did it I watched the guy and it was oil, oil filter, fuel filter and air filter. He tightened up the alternator belt and did some visuals checks and that was it.

So anything I should look out for - I presume I run the engine to warm up the engine oil to get it out easier - I have a sump pump fitted so that is easier. Last time I recall he charged up the replacement oil filter before fitting it, it this essential?

When he fitted the fuel filter he has to prime the system I think there is a lever to do this to charge the filter before restarting the engine?

The alternator belt I have done before so I am ok with that. I also check the wiring and coolant runs  plus engine mounts routinely. I do not expect to have to change the gearbox oil - the check is just to remove the filler cap and ensure the oil level is ok and the oil is clear honey coloured as it went in?

One thing I need to track is the fact the coolant warning light does not come on as the oil and electricity warning lamps do on starting the boat. Its not the bulb as I have tried that - any advice as to where the sensor is so I can check it and the wiring from it?

Any advice gratefully received. I am planning to do it this weekend.

One other question.... I have no expansion bottle on the coolant. So when checking cold it is not to the top when the filler cap is removed. I have topped it up but it spits out the overflow pipe as it expands. I assume this then results in it finding its own level but how do I know what to top it up to if needed. I am tempted to fit an expansion bottle - I might talk to Midland chandlers about this when I go and get the bits.

Floating on sewerage water

Seems that a couple of rivers that feed canals are being kept alive by the out flows from sewerage works so says NBW. It's a double not nice prospect that we may soon be floating on recycle wee and if there is not enough of that not floating at all!

I'm sure it is more scaremongering from NBW but all the same the investments we make to have our boats on the canal may be limited by the places we may not be able to visit in the future.

Too nice to just go home part 2...well it is going to rain tomorrow

Same M.O. as last night really, only this time a few miles more and a few degrees colder. Tonight I went up the Via Gelia and turned off on the Bakewell road but took a detour to this place...

That's Winster a really nice village in the Peaks. It always seems unspoilt and little changed. When the time permits I think I'd like to explore this place a little more.

I then headed off for Chesterfield up over the moors, just past Beeley Moor it got down to about 6c still quite comfortable on the Pan with its great fairing and heated grips.

Straight back via the A61 topped up the fuel and wacked it back in the garage.

Too nice to just go home...

In-between emails the lovely day we have had today was calling so a rapid getaway was undertaken and I was on my Pan European motorbike heading towards the Peak District. Duffield... then Wirksworth into Cromford then the length of the Via Gelia to Newhaven. The sun had set and it was a great crimson sky so I stopped and watched.....

My Iphone does not do twilight very well but it was so nice to be out after work in the middle of the countryside.

I headed on over to Ashbourne and as it was not quite dark I located by memory the chip shop. A feeding stop preceded a slow paced return home. Fifty miles but a good way to end the day. 

Someone I knew yesterday took his own life, who why and how are not relevant, he was a motorcyclist and a family man. It is such a waste of life and he and his family who I don't know will be in my thoughts every time I go on my bike for a time to come.

Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero

Dire straits for deep drafted boats and this years cruising?

Just seen this post about Tring summit water levels - Clicky

The bit about low pounds and red amber and green cruising routes is startling.... see below

BW is shortly going to publish a map showing Red, Amber and Green areas and hopes that boaters will stick to Green routes.
Also BW will man 12 critical sites to ensure that locks are shared. The 10 till 3 openings times will also come into effect. 

We recently looked at a lovely boat but it was quite deep draughted and I could imaging it would be a real problem on low pounds. I recently saw some pics of the pound between Shadehouse and Woodend lock after it had been drained and it was clear unless the centre channel was used anything with a deep draught would struggle.

Challenging times  - one thing we all need is water !

Will we ever cruise this canal?

 

It is of course the Cromford Canal. Only two decent pics as my camera battery was out of charge! Just to the right of the bridge is the railway line and then the A6.

 

We went walking on our anniversary and enjoyed the relative solitude walking this stretch of the canal provides especially on a week day.

These two were from my Iphone, just to show

1. It was raining for part of the walk
2. The canal was still iced over in places

The weird thing was today Leia decided to go for a swim across the canal to chase what she thought was a squirrel  - she hates squirrels. She also hates the water but for some reason she went for a full blown swim - daft dog!

Anyhow we pondered if we would ever bring our boat along this scenic canal, I really hope so. We have put Whatstandwell into our Rightmove property alerts as we were quite taken with the houses at the back of the canal, plus this might be a good way of getting a house with a canal frontage..... at some point in the future !

Derbyshire peaks

I live on the doorstep of the Peak district but have not entered forth as often as I should. Anyhow today I did and completed a really nice 12 mile walk starting and finishing at Over Haddon taking in Lathkill dale.
















It really was perfect walking weather not too many other people about and some really fantastic scenery. Should do it more often. The best bit was I feel good after the walk so this bodes well for my fitness !

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Cheek of some people

This is a post on Canal world forum  clicky

Buys a boat without survey - through a broker at reduced price then sends a letter to the previous owner asking for £5,000 to put right (and in some cases improve) the boat.

Gotta admire his cheek!

Solar panel output

When I was looking to add a solar panel I did my research....There are various controllers, all take the voltage from the panels and put it into the battery and also protect the battery bank from overcharging. Some do it very simply some with more finesse.

I opted for the Sunseeker MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) It was not the cheapest but it puts more into the battery bank than the lesser PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) type - the Steca being very popular and the one the now defunct chandlers at Burton on Trent tried to sell me.

My understanding (basic) is that the MTTP works with the batteries to monitor them and try to get as much charge into them as possible compared to the PWM type that stop when they read the battery voltage as being a certain amount. I interpret it as the MTTP is like a clever battery charger. Anyhow it works and today when I visited to collect my phone I left behind the batteries were 100% on the Samrtgauge - that is 15% from last week. I also read on my research some owners with Smartgauges and PWM controllers were not getting the Smartgauge up to 100%

As noted before it is doing what we planned and this is over winter so I expect better as the sun gets higher and shines for longer. I like the frame that Ian on NB Freespirit has constructed - this seems like the real deal, might enquire on commissions for other boaters solar panels....

Anyhow the Sunseeker has a 30 day log of lots of info. I have taken just one piece of info - IMHO the most important - the amount of charge going in.... charted over the month of October

Wine

The Puglia went first then the Merlot and the Rioja is waiting for tomorrow. Wine is a good thing !



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Best laid plans......

We were due aboard this weekend for our 27th wedding anniversary on the 14th but Rachel has gone down with a bad cold so we are reviewing options at the moment. One member of the crew is certainly taking every advantage....

We had a bit of a lie-in and Leia joined in to.

I will have to visit the boat as last time aboard I left my work Blackberry aboard. Vodafone were very helpful and redirected my calls to my personal Iphone number but I need the phone for those email things that intrude into your life so badly.

Plus I need a canal fix right now.......

More blogs to follow

I use my blog list on the right as an indicator to me that one of my fellow bloggers has posted. I have noticed some are dropping off and some not at all. Some with explained reason, some not.

I followed a few links on other bloggers sites and found myself adding a quite a few more active boaty blogs. I used the simple rule of if they had blogged in February I'd add them. So welcome all to my blog roll and specifically the Ian and Irene Jameison  who are following this attempt at a part time boater blog.

Nev

Solar panels

I fitted a 135 watt solar panel in October last year....clicky here  It is doing exactly what I wanted in that on getting to the boat on Friday we had 100% on the smart-gauge. We left the boat at about 70% after the New Year so it has been trickle charging the batteries just perfectly. All we did was run the engine for some hot water, then the stove back boiler kept the water hot via the new Calorifier - it's great when a plan comes together.  We were happy to leave the boat at 85% knowing it will be 100% when we are next aboard.

At the moment it is flat on the roof held in place by 4 x taxi sign magnets (good to 70pmh !) plus a lock to the roof. We will make a folding bracket to lift it to the required 30 degrees when we need more performance from it.

We have to run the engine for an hour to get 10% (on average) into the batteries. I know that our boat uses about a litre of fuel an hour so its in real terms about a quid for every 10% so we are starting to see the return, albeit slowly, on our investment !

Flying vsit... and a plumbing job

We were aboard Waterlily on Friday night....it was really cold, minus double figures. It took a good couple of hours to get the boat warm but the Squirrel is very good and the back boiler and two rads sorted the boat out so we went to bed lovely and warm.

I did not sleep too well as the central heating pump kept kicking in and it is noisy. It needs to cycle on and off to take the excess heat from the stove. When we got the boat it was on a switch - on or off, the pipe work is 22mm copper and inclined so it should work without a pump. I fitted a pipe stat that now switches the pump and I can adjust the switching temp. I have looked at getting the pump replaced but the pumps sell for about £250 !!

I was also woken by the cold air on my face.... that is a first so it must have got cold in the boat even with the stove on tick-over. Still a really nice place to be.

I also tracked down a leak on the central heating to a valve on the vent side. I should have lagged it or realised it would get damaged even with antifreeze in the system. I think it has been weeping for a while. I had a space on board so that went on temporarily until I can do  full fix. I think it is there in case the system boils when it would vent overboard rather than back into the expansion box that is in the wardrobe.

We were forced to leave when the snow started falling. I would have liked to have stayed but we had other stuff to do so we left the boat slowly cooling down. One thing that was a positive was no leaks so far this year. The extra lagging is doing its job.

Old above new on the right....

Yes the canal was freezing, at common lock the ice was well over an inch thick and even though I broke it with my boots I still could not get the gate open, another reason not to cruise when the canals are frozen.

Everyone has a book in them....

....not me. They tried to teach me French at my grammar school when I did not understand English. So for my life to date the written word has not been sought out. The Internet, spell checkers grammar checkers and synonyms looker uppers are like manna from heaven for me.

So no book, little imagination helps but wait there is a book with my name on it in production. I have ordered a book to be made of my 2008 blog entries. If it looks and reads ok, then it will be the first of a volume that may be a legacy for my lads or maybe even their kids if they are interested.

I used Blog2Print as the tool of choice, seemed easy enough but I'll know in a few weeks when it is delivered.

Nev

Warming the boat

We have not been aboard Waterlily since the New Year....looking at the Blackberry weather reports today it was a long line of -'s topping out at -9 on Thursday night. That is fixture damaging temperature so I went over to the boat this afternoon and lit the fire and read slept while the boat warmed up. I will be aboard on and off this week keeping the temperature up to protect the boat from ice. Our neighbour reported ice breaking on her way to wind at Alrewas today. She was pumping out and watering up in case the cut froze over, a distinct possibility.

I really do have respect for those hardy lot living on the cut over a winter. Our mooring have zilch facilities so it's one hard slog for those who stay put. The boats are no doubt lovely and cosy - certainly ours is when the fire is in and the back boiler is feeding the central heating. It's the fetching and carrying plus the planning that must take its toll. It is a good walk just from the car park let alone pumping out and watering up.

Two boaters have told me of their ability , one semi forced, to go cruising this year, I am very envious of such freedom.

Nv

Property by the canal

Its as rare as rocking horse shit poo. We have a largish house with just two of us in it now and I have had drawn area searches on lots of places via Righmove  Nothing is coming up that remotely takes my fancy. We have a nice house and I would not move easily, but after looking for over a year now I don't think anything has come to my attention that I 'wanted'.

We have a good budget and would stretch it to get the right place. It has to be in the midlands ideally the T&M from Willington to Stone plus maybe the Caldon or Ashby. So if you know of someone selling or seen one, let me know. There may be a reward, a finders fee??

Another option is to buy the home on the canal. I have blogged about getting a bigger live-a-board boat recently. It seems an option that could put us on all three of these canals where and whenever we want. However this is not a long term retirement option -  sit watching the boats cruise on while feeding my chickens or fishing ..... dreamer or what !

The irony is I helped Andrew off Granny Buttons find a nice place in Willington. OK not on the canal but very local to it and other interesting features.

Anyhow it passes the evening ..........dreaming !

Nev

Government debt breaches one trillion what to do?

MyIntroducer.com | News | Government debt breaches one trillion

You have got to help me out on this one, I tried really hard last year to help by doing my bit and spending like a mad man.....it's hard but I did it, the motorcycle got changed, holidays were taken petrol used up as fast as I could ride my bike, and I spent on the hole in the water that I call my boat. Some have said that food was well consumed but when I look in the mirror at my naked form I see just muscle....

So I'll buckle down and try again this year, more petrol for the bike, diesel for the boat DIY (I'll pay someone for that) for the house and food for the body. Any other suggestions otherwise it'll go under the mattress and that is no good for Dave or George ?

What will you do ?

Sunday walks part II

Busy busy busy at home this weekend and finally got out for some exercise Sunday Afternoon. I have to have a canal fix so we cheekily parked at Mercia marina and walked to Stenson and back. No photos because I forgot the camera.

It was a notable walk in that I recall we only met one other couple. The wind was a challenge especially the walk back which associated with the dusky time of the day and the weather was the reason for the lack of hardy souls .

We also saw a widebeam on the move. I like seeing them on the cut, they do present an alternate view of boating with very little water at each side at some points on the cut. Rachel thinks they look ungainly, I think they look menacing, especially if approaching from a weedy narrowboat, they have the air of the bully who is not going to move off his path and looks for a reason to bump shoulders with you to start a fight....I'm sure all wide beamers would not be so rude....

It's not how long it is it's what you do with it?

I am slowly convincing myself that Waterlily is too small at 50 foot. Comet, our previous boat was a 45 footer, so we are progressing the right way. The thing is for two plus a dog it ticks all the boxes. It is when we take others  it gets a bit too cosy. It can and has been done but its not luxurious?

The thing is there are quite a few benefits of a 50 foot boat over a 60-70 foot boat. Where it can go, ease of finding moorings on the cut, license, mooring fees, insurance, maintenance, reasons not to take others aboard....?

In fact I know in my heart it is the right boat and we have spent a lot on her recently to get her how we want her. She could do with a bath and  could do with an extending bed, but that's all really. So this introspective post is all about how we should be using Waterlily rather than betraying her for length.

So on to route planning for 2012. It has to include rivers I think as I seem to have a fear of them. Totally unfounded but I have avoided them with real ability since boat ownership. We do the Trent regularly.... but it is about 400 yards between Alrewas and  Wychnor so that really is cheating. We could do the Trent from Sawley, when we walked there recently there were boats moving with little trouble and they looked right.

I think I owe it to Waterlily to give the old girl some deep water to play in, just as long as she does not let me down.

Going back to the title and putting off route planning for another blog post, one thing I am aware of there it little out there to tempt me. There are loads of boats on brokerage, but non have all what I want. I have been looking in some detail and viewed a couple of boats. The last one was and still is very close as it had a really good fit out, crap external but ticks all the boxes apart from one..... the internal engine room and boatman's cabin. but it does have a good fit out and would cope much better for 4 rather than 2 maybe .........

I used to be indecisive, but I'm not sure now !!!

Nev

Another great year...2011 in pictures

Checking back at what I was blogging about this time last year, I read with much joy our previous year. So I am repeating this just so in these dark winter nights I can reflect on what we did and where we went to give some reassurances there is a whole range of things to do when the nights get longer and the sun a bit warmer.

January 

 We started the year as we ended the last year - on board. There is my brass lantern, a Christmas present

 My Christmas present to myself, a bike sat nav, sign of intention !

 This is it installed on my 700 Honda Deauville

First test was a trip out to blow away the cobwebs, somewhere at a greasy spoon near Mansfield with a couple of lads from the Deauville owners club.

I ended the month visiting Waterlily to sort out the tiller bearings, it should of been done when we had her painted but got missed. There was also a lot of cold weather about as you may recall in the early part of the month.

February

Good start to our cruising plans - a smooth operating tiller arm. Shame about the nipple

We always try an be on our boat on our anniversary  (14th February) and this year was no different with a few days aboard moored past Woodend lock, really peaceful. We had a few walks, one being passed the Ownashare base near Kings Bromley

 

Leia did some relaxing at home with the telly !

Finished the month with a ride out to a heritage train yard somewhere near Chesterfield with the Deauville owners club

March

It was towards the middle of the month we had a stop over on Waterlily. This is a moonlight shot looking down our moortings from Hunts lock.

Leia got relaxed on the bed !

March

The middle of the month saw me on my own on the boat as Rachel was in Wales with her father. On a walk up to Woodend lock I collected the discarded full poo bags left fro A.N. Idiot to collect  - seen right on the new bench at Shadehouse lock.

Just a little video of our walk. Leia was spooked by the guns going off, or it could have been crow scarers?
I also replaced the batteries on Waterlily  - I recon the old ones were a mixture of ages going back five years.

We finished the month celebrating the loss of the leaning silver birch poo platform. No more bird poo on the boat and fuel I have subsequently been burning aboard Waterlily over Christmas

April

The start of the good weather....... and I went all over the place !!

I traded in my 700 Deauville.....

.....for a 1300 Pan European. Ever the optimist. It's a big heavy bike but Ihave always wanted one and thought sod it you are a long time dead so got it. Bloody brilliant is all I can say.

We went on our first cruise of the year.... to the Ashby Canal

Proof we made it (we were short last time) this is Shakerstone tunnel. The Ashby is a great canal

We found and rehomed this little fella... he now lives on Ghosty Hill the coal boat

Returning we saw our first fully owner boat  - Comet, still very much in use as a livaboard just near Fazely junction.

We had to move the boat at 10pm on one mooring when there was a large fire above us and the boat got covered in soot...Grrrrrrr

 

The day after we got back from the Ashby (16th April) I was on my bike around Derbyshire and up to Squires Cafe in Yorkshire. Here is Gary Bob Alan & Jane. Good friends met from the Deauville forum who now ride, FJR, Pan, FJR (bikers will know)

I even did some DIY on the flat roof and painted the facias I recall it was very very hot and just the middle of April.

The 24th saw us back on the boat and we took a nice walk around Alrewas, one on the list for next house location !

26th and I was on the bike for a day to Barmouth via the Pontyc.....you know aqueduct. Great roads for a bike

I ended the month with a run up to Scotland to visit our good friends John and Carrie. Up on the 29th and back on the 30th as I had something planned for May......

May

May day Sunday is a gathering of the Deauville owners club and they have a run out.... this time we ended up at the Cheddleton railway, well worth a visit.

Then later that week I was told by BW they had broken my window cutting grass !!

On the 8th I was in Bridlington for the day. I started off for a cooked breakfast as Clay Cross and ended up having ice cream on the harbour wall.

I don't seem to have any photo's but we did take Waterlily to Willington to have the window replaced , I think I single handed down and we brought her back just before we went to......

......Scotland on the bike (John always gives me beer ) . This time I took Rachel as we were going over to...... 

.......Ireland once again with the Deauville ow=ners. We had four great days over there with a real good group of people. Great rides great company great bike.

We spent another day with John and Carrie in Scotland before returning on the Tuesday, I think it was the 31st May. Busy month.

June

On the way back from Scotland, in Scotch corner services as I recall I got a call from Mandy and a text from Chris both boaters on Hunts telling me BW had broken another window....!!!!! We only dropped it off on the Wednesday and they bust another on the Friday!

It gave us an excuse to get an overnight and an early start on the 4th June to wind Waterlily at the junction and take her back to Mercia for another window replacement. This was taken just after 6am.

On the 9th (Rachel's Birthday) we had a day in the Peak District walking the newly opened Monsal Dale railway tunnels coming back by the river vally, it was a fantastic day.

July

Early July I went to some local lakes off the boat to catch the carp(s) that alluded me when on the two week trip of which a considerable effort was undertaken at various locations

Mid July it was the bike to Stone and surrounding areas in the wet, can't get enough of this bike

The end of the month saw me tripping to the Humber bridge for Pan style entertainment

August

We had a great weekend on the bike meeting up in Leeds on the Friday evening for a trip around north Yorkshire on the Saturday and a run around Derbyshire on the Sunday. We met up with more bikes at CMC in Chesterfield where I took the pic of an FS1E (fizzy) my first bike. Ended up at the pork pie pub near Waterhouses

My birthday in the middle of the month saw the arrival of my captains chair (it does not live there now) and a stay aboard

We then did a charity motorcycle ride to Skegness  - air ambulance  There was well over 150 bikes quite impressive

The end of the month was a planning visit to the boat to replace the calorifier

September

Scotland again .......

Went to Dunoon this time with a couple of other bikes.  Great great biking roads and great company. just a long weekend and plenty of miles.

Next weekend we were back on the boat again for an overnighter.

Middle of the month we were in Cormwall (in the car because of hurricane something or other) fantastic hotel great scenary

We came back and added a couple of days on the boat to fit the calorifier  and a trip to Alrewas arboretum on the pedal bikes

Finished the month on the bike again back into Wales for a canal fix, can you guess?

October

Final bit of boating improvements was the addition of a solar panel and controller 

This is Barmouth in October !!

Then back on the baat towards the end of October with some nice walking ...picnicking in late October,  can't complain can we?

November

I was on the boat myself as Rachel was working a weekend in early November and helped a fellow bloggers boat beat the stoppages... Chertsey

While aboard I sorted out the rolls from the tree that came down in April.... half burnt already

In the middle of the month we had a short break and went to Stenson and back. I think I overdosed on wood smoke  - lovely

At the end of the month we (I) went looking at other boats.... I am still tempted by this one so am not giving more details.

My goldfish of 17 years died in November, he deserves his place on the internet, RIP little fish (his name as his mate big fish dies about three years earlier)

December

Another overnighter for me with Rachel joining me as she was working. This is the Hunts stoppage

This is how we ended 2011 and brought in 2012, aboard Waterlily enjoying all that is good about boating.

All in all a great year, lots done, some lows that balance out the positives but as I have said on a few occasions its one life live it.......