About Us

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In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Monday 19 August 2013

Gongoozlers at Camden Market.....even at 8.30 am.




Would you Adam and Eve it!!! The 'gap' yesterday also just happened to be the outlet for the back pumping to replenish the water supplies in the pound! We had no idea that the iron covers on the towpath hid the pump but within an hour of us being there, the pump started up and we had the constant sound of running water next to the boat. Normally I find this very relaxing but as it gurgled and whooshed constantly on the hull and under the boat, it got a bit draining. It didn't stop us from getting asleep though, although both of us had to get up several times in the night to visit the littlest room in the boat!

Have cropped the photo to show you what I mean.


Now a quick update on our water cooling problem. Ian did an oil change and found water droplets as the last of the oil was draining out. This now convinces him more then ever that the head casket is the problem. He suspects that as we traveled at higher revs then normal on the river when Mr speedy was in front of us, there must have been more pressure on the cylinders which caused air to get into the skin tank. Having filled the header tank with another 1/4 ltr of water, and now back on the canals doing a normal 1200 revs, he thinks it will last until November when he can change the head gasket back at Langley Mill.

So for today's news.... not much to tell really. Loads of rubbish strewn around all along the lower canal, shocking and disgusting, and by Kentish Town lock the water was so clear you can see literally hundreds of cans lying at the bottom. It was at one of these locks that a piece of glass penetrated the sole of my sandal and went into my foot! Blood every where and I hobbled over to the bathroom sink to soak my foot in diluted savlon. Couldn't even stick a plaster over my wound so now have a silly bandage surrounding my foot.  We had the usual gongoozlers at Hampstead Road lock some of which emerged from a tent and others watching us from sleeping bags by the lock. One girl was lying prostate on the towpath wearing only her skirt and bra! Quite concerned me at first until she moved and knocked over a can of something alcoholic!!! C&RT were also present doing something with the left hand lock. Shame really as this was the one lock we would have liked to use. Balance beams on this lock are normal height, not so on the right. You need to be a midget to push against those balance beams!!!






A few gongoozlers watching. There were loads more at the market.

No need to add anything. Picture tells the story
For once we could have had a mooring in Little Venice. In fact we did pull in, tie up and then looked at the time. It was only 11. 20am and we felt it a bit soon to stop. So off we went again, got to Sainsbury mooring, did a bit of shopping and finally stopped by 1pm at Kensal Green amongst the rows of permanent moorers.

Might have poor reception one day.

Looking toward Islington Tunnel from City Road lock

This annoyed both of us. C&RT on the lock landing at St Pancras lock. If the lock had been against us Ian would have had to climb over the barge. Is it one rule for for them and another for us?
Actually saw some zoo residents when we went past. Still to early for them to hide from the public.


Add caption


Two young swans practicing there take off at Little Venice
Kensal Green

Last nights sunset

And finally:-







2 comments:

KevinTOO said...

Many, many years ago I remember picking loads of blackberries from the off-side at Kensal Green cemetary, gorgeous they were with the custard we bought from Mr Sainsbury's LOL

A sweet memory of my last trip down that way :)

Ian and Irene Jameison said...

We moored opposite the cemetery but you could hardly see it for the amount of tree and hedge growth. This year the blackberries seem huge and I'm keeping Ian supplied with apple and blackberry crumble.
Xxx

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