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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.

Sunday 16 August 2020

Meeting of new acquaintances and fellow bloggers

 A Skype with my brother in Oz this morning saw us leaving much later than normal. Mid-morning then before we got underway and I'm pleased to report we had a stress free cruise to Hawkesbury Junction. 

Old Oaks Wood

With canoeists heading toward us

Look at the amount of rubbish left in this popular spot

Last time we came through this cutting trees were being felled. Today we noticed a pontoon walkway  placed to act as the towpath.  Looks like that small landslide had effectively cut off the path.





 

 We met a lovely couple on their boat Anna Clair just as we came around a right hand bend. As the boats passed each other a greeting came from the chap to say he read this blog. Thank you again, it was a pleasure to meet you both although but briefly.

There is a long line of offside residential mooring just after bridge 26  (Colehurst Farm). Now that we use Paul's Waterway Routes GPS maps to see our progress in real time, the cruising speed could also be monitored. So on FS our revs have to be no higher than 900rpm for us to do the required speed of 2mph (3.22 kilometres per hour). It would save a lot of angry moorers shouting abuse if everyone knew what their revs should be.  As I got toward the end of the moorings another boat started along the length heading in my direction. Now I know this was totally a lack of concentration on my part but I moved over a tad too much toward one of the moored boats and ended up just nudging the side! I was full of remorse and couldn't apologise to the owner enough. I must thank him for being so gracious and saying these things happen.

As we arrived at Hawkesbury junction we spied a boat we hadn't seen in a long time. Nb Indigo Dream.The last time we saw Sue and Richard was in Aug 2013 when we met up with several other bloggers for a breakfast gathering. To view the post click HERE

Should have got a photo of their boat but didn't (shame on me), Indigo Dream looks as good as new, amazing considering where she has travelled. Check out the blog by clicking on the boat name. It was lovely to catch up after all that time and to say hello to their Greyhound shipmates.

No wildlife...again! But I did see a field with piebald mares and foals

 
 

2 comments:

Paul (from Waterway Routes) said...

You need to be careful about the depth and width of the canal when using revs to gauge your speed. 900 revs on a shallow, narrow and twisting canal could give you 2mph but the same revs might give you 4mph on the wide, deep and straight sections of the BCN Main Line - and might give you 6mph going downstream on a river (or the Llangollen Canal).

I suggest you rely on live speed indication on your phone rather than revs.

Ian and Irene Jameison said...

Hi Paul, To some extent I agree with you but this observation was taken over several days and different conditions. Anything slightly above 900 took us to about 2.6-7. and at 1000 nearly 3mph.

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