May 15

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Ed Mortimer

What a week! I moseyed back to Braunston and was able to meet up with the local bell-ringers who invited me to assist with their celebrations of VE day (also coinciding with the Daventry Branch bell-ringing outing). I rang in Willoughby on the 8th, then in 6 churches in the north Cotswolds on the 9th and in Daventry, Braunston, and Byfield on the 10th. I had a great time both ringing and in chatting with many people as we met in the various towers.

I spent the first days of this week in boat maintenance (oil change, cleaning, laundry, etc.- the fun stuff!), then drove in pouring rain to Birmingham to meet my parents who have joined me for the next two weeks from Barrhead, Alberta, Canada. We left Braunston this morning after a celebration last night at the local pub. Now a year older, I was able to navigate the boat up the Braunston 6 locks, through the Braunston tunnel, and then down the Buckby locks to our mooring just south of Flore, where we’ll spend the night opposite a gorgeous large estate, with impeccably manicured lawns and trees (the British call this the garden, even though no veggies grow here). We’re off to the Northampton arm of the Grand Union Canal tomorrow, and new territory for me.

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May 6

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Ed Mortimer

The weather certainly had to catch up with me at some point… Monday, I braved the wind and showers to tour south to Polesworth, where I had a nice sheltered mooring, but had to use stakes. Two high-speed hire boats passed, both my mooring stakes pulled out and I was adrift in the center of the canal. Re-moored, this time with doubled stakes… Was able to ring on their older 8 bells, so the day ended well. Yesterday was so windy and squally rain that I felt it would really not be a good idea to attempt a flight of locks, so after just a short excursion, and crabbing down the canal sort of sideways, I moored up in the shelter of some nice hedgerows.

Today, through the Atherstone 11 locks, which wasn’t too bad despite the wind and rain (met lots of boats and only 2 locks set against me, so was quick work). Then south some more, past the junction with the Ashby Canal, and mooring again in a sheltered spot near Bedworth that I have used before. There was a pub here, now renovated into classy flats… Was going to ring here, but they had cancelled, so waited around until some teens showed up for their meeting, and it was clear there would be no ringing tonight. Still showery and gusty winds, but not like the 30 cm snow reported to me by my Alberta friends. The photos of their weather experiences are certainly more spectacular that the wind here.

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May 3

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Ed Mortimer

The Trent and Mersey Canal.

One of the older ‘first-generation’ canals, this one follows contours to avoid cuttings and embankments, which were expensive and difficult, when you consider everything was done by hand, men with pick and shovel, assisted by horses. I’ve gone up the 6 double wide locks from Shardlow to Stenson, and they are deep, heavy and really nasty when by oneself. However, there are only 6, and then they change to narrow locks that are SO much easier to work.

I spent two nights on this section: one at Weston-on-Trent, near a manor church that is beside the manor house. Castellated, it is magnificent looking, but small. Only 3 bells and only part of a set (1-3 of 5), they don’t ring there regularly. Nice view, though, and great place to moor. Saturday night, in Burton upon Trent, I was disappointed, again, by St. Paul’s. No ringing (something is cracked). Then torrential downpour until noon. Clearing skies meant an afternoon to Fradley Junction and the end of this portion of the long T&M. I turn south to enter the Coventry/Birmingham and Fazeley canal (they swap names along the way). The B&F leaves towards Birmingham some distance along, and the Coventry carries on to… Coventry! I hope to do some exploring along the way, and check out the towers as I can.

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Apr 30

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Ed Mortimer

The Erewash Canal. We proceeded to the mouth of the Soar, and then across the Trent River to Trent Lock, which is the mouth of the Erewash Canal. This canal goes northward to Eastwood and Langley mill, where it connects with two other canals, both now derelict. Wedecided to explore, and did so, with some nice contrasts in scenery. Not highly travelled, the canal sometimes suffers from being silted up and shallow, but we met a dredging team, and I had no issues, even when mooring in rural locations.  We cruised leisurely northwards, mooring in the country near Ilkeston. Then up to the terminus at the Great Northern Basin, and returning, moored in the country across the little valley from Eastwood church. The mornings were cool but clear, then clouding over a little and the wind getting brisk. Wednesday, we cruised back down the canal, through Trent junction, to the large lock at Beeston, where a canal section dodges around an unnavigable section of the large Trent River. Yesterday, we toured through Nottingham, back onto the river, and turned around in a very brisk wind. This showed clearly why narrowboats are really calm water boats: the wind sail area of the side of the boat when turning back into the wind causes the boat to list prominently, and to crab markedly to leeward. However, the turn completed, things returned to normal, and we returned to the city center, back to the canal, where Tim and Sheila met a Canadian friend and had a great visit. More city visiting today, a little shopping, as Tim and Sheila prepare for their return to Canada. I think they have had a reasonable time exploring Britain from the boating perspective.

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pub in Nottingham built into the cliff face, with rooms that have rough stone walls like caves

Pat&Kerry2302

vintage pub in Nottingham city center where we enjoyed traditional pub fare

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Apr 26

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Ed Mortimer

We spent last night at the deep lock at Kegworth. This charming village has an old but very large church, mostly unchanged from the 14th century. Certainly, there are cosmetic changes, and some restoration work, but the church hasn’t been added to since being built. Very interesting. I rang there for services, but only on the back 6 of their 8 as there were only six ringers present. We enjoyed a Sunday carvery lunch, then onto the Soar River again as we made our way through the junction with the Trent River. The looming cooling towers of a massive power station certainly dominate the landscape. We crossed the wide Trent, and entered the Erewash Canal at Trent Lock. This is also a wide canal, but VERY low bridges have offered me a chance to replace my aging chimney. We will spend the night moored along the towpath in as quiet an area as possible (this canal is quite urban, but not dirty). Frost overnight, but sunshine and light winds, so cruising is still wonderful. T&S201

Soar River at Kegworth

Soar River at Kegworth

Erewash Canal: former industrial structures now used again for modern purposes

Erewash Canal: former industrial structures now used again for modern purposes

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Apr 25

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Ed Mortimer

Glorious spring weather has made this trip magic so far. We’ve cruised north on the Grand Union canal, and down the 10 staircase locks at Foxton. Then a detour into Market Harborough, where Tim and Sheila worked out (finally) how to operate swing bridges. A great walk about in the town, a few provisions, and then back to boating.

We toured north again, and Tim and Sheila got a good workout with the wide locks, heavy paddles, and big gates. The locks are also spread-out, so a good couple of days of jogging between them. We moored overnight in Wistow, just opposite an old medieval town site (not much to see of that, but a pretty church tucked into the edge of the meadow). Very pastoral and peaceful. Then on to Leicester, where we are moored on the pontoon in the center of the city. A real contrast to yesterday! Rowers, their coxwains bellowing commands, greeted us this morning. Last night, the Friday revellers in this university town, provided background ‘music’. We’ll be glad to move on, back to the peace of the

mouth of a tunnel. Nervous yet?

mouth of a tunnel. Nervous yet?

River Soar. Tim was able to drive through Husbands-Bosworth tunnel, while Sheila steered through Saddington tunnel. Both are developing great boat-handling skills. (means (I can just sit back

gorgeous view out the moth of Saddington tunnel

gorgeous view out the moth of Saddington tunnel

spring: the hedgerows in bloom. Breezes make the petals fall like snow...

spring: the hedgerows in bloom. Breezes make the petals fall like snow…

and enjoy the ride…)

peace...

peace…

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Apr 21

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Ed Mortimer

On the move again. Sunday, Tim and Sheila joined me from Alberta, Canada. We drove from Manchester airport through the peak district, through the towns of Buxton and Matlock, seeing some great scenery along the way. a good introduction to spectacular Britain, I think.

Yesterday, we enjoyed one of the nicest days so far this spring, and drove to Warwick, visiting the castle and the town.

two miscreants I found at the castle

two miscreants I found at the castle

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Warwick Castle from the Avon river

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one of the birds on display at the raptor show, Warwick Castle

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tomb of Catherine (Daughter of Roger Mortimer), wife of the Earl of Warwick (our sometime aunt…), and the Earl

We visited the castle, touring all round and watching the trebuchet demonstration, the birds of prey, and listening to a fascinating description of the history of the castle. The day was so gorgeous, one couldn’t have had a better opportunity.

We then went to the town, visiting the church where Katherine is buried. This long-distant relative was the wife of the Earl of Warwick. No telling who you are related to!

We then returned to Braunston in preparation for the big departure today. Off east, up the Braunston locks (heavy!) and then the crooked Braunston tunnel. Then to Watford junction and north on the Leicester Branch of the Grand Union Canal. While I have done this before, it is great to have new people on this great canal section.

Sheila did some driving, they learned about staircase locks, went through the Crick tunnel, and then mooring for the evening in a gorgeous, quiet section of the canal I’ve moored at before, near Yelvertoft. An amazing ending to a perfect day on the canals.

Spring on the Leicester Branch of the Grand union Canal

Spring on the Leicester Branch of the Grand union Canal

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Sheila nervously,but competently steering the boat. Ed is relaxed and confident!

 

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April 15

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Ed Mortimer

Wow! spring is arriving, the leaves are emerging, and I am about to start serious boating again.

I’ve spent the last month concentrating on ringing: sounds goofy to those who haven’t experienced the challenges of change ringing bells, but I have enjoyed both the challenges of ringing itself, and the friendship of those who I have got to know along the way. The process I’ve gone thorough involves learning ‘methods’ (the name for a specific pattern of changing the order of ringing the bells). I’m still beginning, but I am making progress. I rang the Bob Doubles method, with an ‘inside bell’, mostly without too much prompting, on Monday, and Tuesday, rang a ‘quarter peal’ which is 1060 changes in a row, without stopping, to the same ‘Bob Doubles’ method, ringing the treble or smallest bell. In bell ringing, that is a little like running a quarter marathon: 48 minutes of ringing without pause or break. It was successful (I didn’t crash and burn!), and thanks to my friends and supporters, especially Sally, Geoff, Carole and Peter, as well as Brian and Margaret.

It is spring, and the lambs are frisky in the field next to my current mooring.

spring is really here!

spring is really here!

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Mar 16

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Ed Mortimer

A week of ‘ironworker’ experience has resulted from my volunteering to assist with the refurbishment of the Daventry bells. They had contracted with Taylor’s of Loughborough to refurbish all the clappers, and examine each of the bells for issues. I helped remove all the pulley boxes, used to guide the ropes, and the chutes used as rope guides. Re-installing began with lugging the now-refurbished clappers to the top of the tower, and the same for the pulley boxes (now dunked in smelly wood preservative).

Some 30 trips up and down the tower has led me to understand that I have muscles never before understood!

We repacked bearings and lifted the tenor (975 kg plus fittings) to replace a bearing that had disintegrated. Re-installation of the rope pulleys and guides, and constructing 2 new ones, plus a complete cleaning of the bell-frame, had refurbished the bells for the next 30 or so years. All this on iron frames some 5m or so above the floor. (the bells are there too, and they can’t be leaned upon as they swing…). Lots of cleaning of the dirt and dropping of various animals, deposited since the last event some significant number of years ago…

The whole ring of 10 bells was ready for ringing this Sunday, and they sounded and worked better. Yeah!

This week, I get back to actually ringing bells rather than working on them, and this morning, I rang inside Bob Doubles, and this afternoon treble for Reverse Canterbury. All very intimidating, but I feel as if I am making small progress. I cannot thank the people around here enough for helping me along in learning this complex but enticing skill.

Boating is much less challenging as I remain in the marina for the next few weeks, awaiting spring, and visitors before setting off.

Bell #9 with clapper removed

Bell #9 with clapper removed

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the bells from above

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treble and #2 behind the #3 on the right and the #4 in the foreground. Note that there is no wheel on the #3- still to be installed

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the tenor in the background with the wheel of the #9 in the foreground

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the ‘workspace’ looking towards the #3 and #4 on the left, the #5 and #6 in the background on the right and the wheels of tenor and #9in the foreground

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the gudgeon of the tenor (shaft that supports the bells as it turns in the bearing). Bearing removed for replacement. Bell lifted to allow work to proceed!

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rather bedraggled worker on the bell frame by the tenor bell: bearing replaced and working!

 

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Feb 24

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Ed Mortimer

Wow! 33,000km of travel in 9 weeks, and I am just about done with long excursions for a while. Time to get back on the canals and move slowly.

I am back in Britain, moored in Braunston Marina, in Britain, for the remainder of the stoppage season (until the end of March, approximately). The boat is fine and I’ve warmed up and dried out somewhat.

I had a wonderful time with friends and family in Canada (Vancouver and area, and Alberta). I also had the opportunity to spend 3 weeks with my daughter, exploring the west coast of Mexico- first by ship to Baja California, and to Puerto Vallarta. Then back by air to Puerto Vallarta where we were to spend 5 days, then meet friends near Mexico City. That fell through, so 10 days in PV with lots to do and see. We did an adventure tour in the mountains (zip-lines, rappelling (abseilling for Brits), and large water slides. Lots of fun, though the mule ride to the top I could pass on, preferring to hike myself. We also saw an Aztec ceremony, and went snokelling in a National Marine Park. A wonderful time with a great travel partner.

Now back in Braunston, I am trying to help with a couple of bell restoration projects (I am the unskilled apprentice), and getting lots of ringing in. I have been challenged to lean my first change method, and to ring a quarter peal before I set off in the boat, so I will need lots of practice. It has been good, though, to meet up again with a great group of friends here.

If anyone is planning to visit me on the boat this season, please get in touch sooner rather than later, as I do want to plan the travel routes somewhat.

Thanks to all for following along, even through the posting droughts. Take care.

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