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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.

Thursday 11 November 2021

And another problem with the heater.

November 9th

Mild ain't it. In fact we even let the stove go out last night. most unexpected for this time of year. Ian was in his usual summer attire (I did put my foot down on shorts!) and although it was mild, I was in my usual winter attire! But I did manage the cruise to the Cheshire Cat without having to wear a coat.'

It was a most pleasant journey taking roughly 3 hours. We had the Iron lock to do, a wide lock but with only a single boat usage. It's all to do with the design and how the sides have been made.  

 




 Chas Hardern boats...another hire flee that takes over 48 hour mooring. It could have something to do with that black wide beam taking up most of their moorings!


 

And this is another lock whose landing is really awful to get onto and I feared for FS's paintwork


  We may have done the journey quicker but for a long length of moored boats on the offside which slowed the pace considerably. Well over a mile and the distance could be more, and at tickover took at least 35 minutes to get past!


 Reached Cheshire Cat hostelry and surprised to see the 2-day moorings free just before the Wirral Community Trust boat. Winding first had been our plan but with a boat not far behind, decided to grab it while we could. That boat never did turn up. It must have stopped earlier so we could have winded after all.

I felt chilly. it was lunchtime and Ian said he would fire up the diesel heater. Ah, but then a problem arose. Clouds of white smoke on start up and the smell of exhaust fumes permeated throughout the boat. Lifting the engine hatch and shining a torch at the Webasto, smoke was seen coming from the hose. Oh, dear....Houston, we have a problem! So the stove had to be lit after all.

This will need investigating and a mooring well away from anyone else is the answer. We can then run the heater to see if the white smoke disappears. 

 The walk to the pharmacy for our vaccine took 25 minutes with a quick stop to look at Greenfield Lock.



 

 Gosh, we were surprised at the queue stretching all along the pavement past several shops. But it didn't take too long to reach the front, about 30 minutes and it was the Moderna vaccination used this time, not the AstraZeneca we had for the first two doses. It's all to do with better protection if another type is used. Anyway I didn't even feel the needle go in, but by the time we had walked back to FS my right arm hurt like hell. At least we both feel much saver and we are now fully jabbed up for winter.

And seen on route,


Beeston Castle



 

And wildlife,








4 comments:

Marilyn, nb Waka Huia said...

Aha, so you have had the booster now - and had a journey to get there. Good to know tht you are safer with the high number of cases occurring in the UK.
M&D xxoo
PS 6 cases reported in Stratford, Taranaki last night - first ones outside Northland, Auckland and Waikato for some time. Not happy!

Ian and Irene Jameison said...

The trouble with the Delta variant is the rate of spread. So far New Zealand has been inspirational with Jacinda keeping you all safe. Wish Boris had taken a leaf out of her book, maybe we wouldn't be in the awful situation we are in now.

Much love and stay safe Xxx

nb Bonjour said...

We had sore arms too, lasted several days. Agree with you about Boris. We also had the smoking heater problem, ours was a Mikuni. The smell was appalling and we couldn't keep it out of the cabin to even try warming up the heater to see if it cleared. Would have been dangerous even with all the doors and windows open. Dave stripped off the exhaust wrapping which was oily and nasty. He thought maybe something may have been dislodged (some work had recently been done in a boatyard) or maybe just wear and tear, but he replaced the bits and pieces where the exhaust left the heater and put new bandaging on and it was fine. Good luck
Debby x

Ian and Irene Jameison said...

Hi Debby, The exhaust hose was fine, it was the clip that held it on that was the problem. Ian's fault for not checking it properly. Once he replaced the clip no more fumes. But that smoke is a different matter. Steve, the chap who repaired the Webasto originally, will be fetching it once we get to Fradley. Xx

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