Appendices - Trip Reports - 2005

 

Stockton to Stretton Wharf

Saturday 22nd January 2005.

I arrived sometime after ten o'clock to be part of a working party which included Fabian Hiscock, Roger Hutchinson and Dave Davies. A start was made on repairing the cratch on Brighton as well as removing the tiles and lining of Brighton's Cabin where the corner steelwork was damaged and needed replacing. Stuart Downing turned up to prepare Nuneaton for moving up to Brinklow the next day, where a dry dock had become available at short notice. "What time are you arriving tomorrow?" I was asked. Having been told that these working parties usually start at around nine, and fully expecting to be able to enjoy a nice English breakfast at the b&b I was booked into, I replied "Whatever time I'm needed". "OK, we're leaving at five o'clock". Once I'd picked myself up off the floor, and confirmed we really were starting that early, I was resigned to having a bowl of cornflakes in the middle of the night.
Graham turned up to discuss the work to be done on Brighton. He indicated that much more of the lining would have to be removed as the area of steel to be replaced was much larger than we thought. At around half past four, light was failing so we packed up for the night. After a shower and change at my b&b I turned up at the Blue Lias for the council meeting at six thirty. If I'd read the agenda properly I would have known it was supposed to start at six. Oops sorry.
Sunday 23rd January 2005.
Turned up at 5:15am, trying to think of a valid excuse as to why I was quarter of an hour late. It's ok. Nobody here yet. I'm off the hook. Got the stove going on Nuneaton and filled the kettle. The kettle was leaking like a seive so I shoved it out on the counter and went to get another one from Brighton. By the time I transferred the water into the other kettle there was barely enough for a cup of coffee and the counter had frozen like an ice rink. At 6 am, still no


one else had arrived, so I stuck my head down for a snooze on the cross bed. Couldn't get any sleep as I was now too wide awake. By this time it was light enough to take some early morning photos of the boats. Unfortunately, I hadn't realised the lens was frosted over so very few of them came out.
Eventually Stuart turned up with friend, Matt, at quarter to nine, with profuse apologies, saying something about his girlfriend being unwell during the night. He told us both to feel free to make him feel guilty for being so late. This was a request we felt obliged to honour to the best of our abilities.
After winding Nuneaton in the entrance to the Warwickshire Fly Boat Arm, we left Brighton behind us and set off past the Blue Lias. The road was in our favour and we climbed Stockton Locks in a little over an hour, to the chattering sound of ice breaking as we moved through each short pound. Calcutt locks were similarly swift and we turned left at Napton Junction, into the long pound shared by the Grand Union and Oxford Canals. The day was crisp and clear, and the sunshine, like the banter, was cheery. we filled up with diesel at Ivor Batchelor's fuel boats, Mountbatten and Jellicoe, before continuing up the Oxford Canal to refuel ourselves at the Royal Oak. Matt left us at the bottom of Hillmorton locks while Stuart and I carried on into fading light and a biting wind. We arrived at Brinklow as twilight turned to moonlight to find the Arm filled with Rose Narrowboats' hire fleet. There was just enough room to squeeze through the very low bridge with boats moored three deep on one side. At the end we tied up under a bridge and were met by Margaret who took the keys to pass on to the boatyard the following morning.
Next weekend it looks as if we're going to be blacking Nuneaton's hull while she's out of the water.
Andy Belton.

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