Thursday 31 May 2012

Water In The Diesel Tank.

Like all boaters using a diesel engine, I have heard many of the water in the tank horror stories. This problem is two fold. The first problem is - is there any water in the tank - the second is - is there diesel bug in the tank.

So the first item is - is there any water in the tank, the second conundrum is - how much. Thanks to Pete on Nb Joanie M answering the first question is easy. Pete gave me a tube of a product called Kolor Kut to try. A light smear of the gold coloured paste is applied to your dipstick and then the tank is dipped.

Where Kolor Kut comes into contact with water, the gold turns to red. In our case the light smear proved that there was some water in the tank. Between a quarter and a half an inch deep. Now the first question has been answered. I can address the second. With regard to diesel bug, I have been treating the tank from time to time with Marine 16. I recently changed the diesel filter and there was no evidence of the filter being blocked or contaminated in any way by the bug. 

On Rosie there is also in the fuel line a Wasp Filter (water and contamination trap) which I bleed from time to time. There has never been any evidence of water or other contamination in there.  I also have a normal diesel filter fitted. The filters will separate out any water from the fuel because fuel is being run through both filters many times. Excess fuel is bypassed back into the fuel tank and circulated again.

So now I have to look at what can be done to remove or reduce the water in the tank. Water often gets in the diesel tank from humidity in the air. A fuel tank that is left only partially filled. Is thereby allowing room for moisture in the warm air to condense inside the tank. So it is likely there is build-up over time with everyone's tank. So the first item is reducing contamination from water. So keeping the tank full to the top over periods  where the boat is not used is a good idea. As is treating the tank for fuel bug as a preventative rather than as a cure. 


It is generally accepted that there will always be a little water in the tank from bio-fuels that are now added to diesel. Biofuel holds a small amount of water that can over time separate out. The switch to the new low sulphur diesel means adequate filtration is now a priority.


One idea is the AquaSock, which uses a chemical that turns water into a gelatinous mass. The chemical is sewn into a porous sleeve of the AquaSocks material.

The AQ12 - Can pull out up to 12 oz, half pint or 340 ml. of water from your fuel tanks and will fit in an access hole of no smaller than 1 3/8" in diameter.

The AQ-28 - More industrial strength, can pull out up to 28 oz,  pint or 795ml  of water from your fuel tanks and will fit in an access hole of no smaller than 2 1/2" in diameter.



A similar product is the Water Eliminator a solution for removing water from fuel storage tanks, thereby reducing the potential for microbial contamination in tanks. The Water Eliminator helps to prevent service problems related to water contamination.


However, trying to pump out the bulk of the water at the bottom of the tank with a small hand bilge pump would probably be a very good starting point. So I have purchased one of these Hand Bilge Pumps.  The easier to remove water content should be cleared first. Then we can try some of the more unorthodox techniques to clear out the remnants. 




Otherwise, I will just have to live with my obsessive-compulsive urge and not act on it. That's never going to happen.


I will report back on how I go on.


Later....



The Big One (9-5)

Thursday 31st May 2012

Newark (Cow Lane Bridge)


More rain fell over night, and for a change it carried on into the morning. 

This morning in between the showers we had a Kingfisher fishing off the back of the boat. On the other side of the river a Heron demonstrated his ninja like skills by sneaking into the shallow water under the trees. 

The Herons body movements were like slow running treacle. Until a victim was spotted, when he would sink into a crouch position. Quick as a flash the beak like a stiletto would be stabbed into the water and another small fish was retrieved and tossed backwards into the mouth. Such is the way of life for a large fish eating bird.

By comparison our little Kingfisher was not as productive at fishing. I watched him dive into the water about ten times for each tiny fish caught. This was then carried off to some hidden nest to feed a clutch of hungry chicks. With a shrill long call he would announce his arrival back. Skimming just above the water surface to resume fishing once more. 

Then at 8am the nearby scrap yard started up operations. The Kingfisher and Heron soon departed for a quieter place to find breakfast. Our tranquillity was also broken by the noise. The level became an instant irritation. There are many houses located nearby. I think the noise levels must make them ideal if you are deaf. It must also be a problem for people living in the nearby Kings Marina. 

I noticed that there were large square blocks of crushed cars and other materials stacked up in the scrap yard at the side of the river. Some of these had obviously over balanced and tumbled into the river. Now they are begining to poke through the surface. 

It seems incongruous that old cars are being scrapped to recycle for the metal content and are now contributing to polluting the river. All done under the watchful gaze of the British Waterways office in Newark!


I have fallen head over heels in love. I spotted her meandering along the river. What's more I know that the Memsahib would like to spend time washing and polishing my new love. Where did I put my metaphorical pipe - I'm about ready for a good long dream.


I know that she would be impractical, but all petrol heads used to hanker after a Ford GT40. As a road car, totally impractical, but as a piece of engineering beauty - second to none. So it is with Camelot X, for us impracticable. But as a piece of boat engineering beauty, that's another thing. But who cares for practicalities - when its a matter of lust!

This weeks Solar Panel Data.
Average 26.5 Ah per day  High 40Ah Low 10Ah


Daily Total

Miles: 0.0
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 0.0





Accumulated Totals
Miles: 706.9
Locks: 653
Swing / Lift Bridges: 115
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 9
Engine Hours: 2152.5


Later....

Wednesday 30 May 2012

The Big One (9-4)

Wednesaday 30th May 2012


Cromwell Lock to Newark (Cow Lane Bridge)


Another fine morning, the wisps of mist on the water give a hint of another hot day to come. The Memsahib decided at the last moment to do another load of washing before we left Cromwell. In little more than the hour the clothes were washed and dry. Today the sun also had a bit of a breeze to accompany it which helped to dry everything in no time at all.

Because we were attached to the mains, I forced the battery system into doing an equalising charge. Essentially it over charges the battery bank for a short period in time (far too short to do any damage) to bring any lazy cells up to full charge. 

The cruise up to Newark Nether Lock was uneventful and as usual we did it at little more than engine tick over speed. We moored for the rest of the day at Cow Lane Bridge. Where wet up again with Zeb the Rottweiler in the company of Cliff and Chris on Nb Tihso who are self proclaimed trainee lager louts! I remember seeing beer cider and red wine.

During the day we had a walk into Newark town centre. Newark is a very attractive place and  like most town centres the mixture of shops is very diverse. Aldi, Morrison's and Sainsbury cover the supermarkets. Charity shops are abundant and there is a twice weekly open air market in the main square.


In the early evening, there was a very heavy downpour of rain, which was then followed by several smaller showers before we went to bed.




Daily Total

Miles: 5.0
Locks: 1
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 1.6




Accumulated Totals
Miles: 706.9
Locks: 653
Swing / Lift Bridges: 115
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 9
Engine Hours: 2145.5


Later....


Tuesday 29 May 2012

Troll Threshold

This posting is for clarification.

First of all I do enjoy writing this blog, its done for my own self centred reasons. I enjoy my life on the boat, I take an interest in all things around me and I am more than capable of formulating an opinion.

I write of my boating day-to-day life and I am happy to share my opinion with anyone who cares to read. I am happy to correspond with others in an exchange of ideas or clarification. Even if your ideas are diametrically opposed to mine.

The tenure of the blog however is mine the direction and content are mine and I reserve the right to continue the blog in this way. 

I do warn however, that if you take this blog seriously, then you are on very much your own.

So if you have a genuine issue with anything I have blogged about I am prepared to explore your input. This does not mean that I will change direction or publish your concerns. It means that you get the chance to influence me.

I do enjoy reading a number of other blogs some of which I also comment upon. Usually on the other persons blog. The choice to publish my comment or ignore is entirely their choice and I respect their decision. I give more credence to fellow bloggers.

I do however have a low threshold for Internet Trolls. I am not prepared to enter into a battle of wits with an unarmed person! I tire easily of such people and I have found one very simple solution to dealing with the issue. I just ignore your emails and comments. 

So what have I discovered about Trolls.

1) The magic number is five. If I ignore your comments you seem go away after the fifth remains unanswered or unpublished.

2) In my case the magic number is one. I refer you to rule one above.


Later....





The Big One (9-3)

Tuesday 29th May 2012


Cromwell Lock.


A cloudy start to the day but it has been warm overnight. We had an influx of tiny flies. However, as they were attracted to the LED lights, I was soon able to suck them up with the dust devil, before retiring for the night.

A good drying day so one for doing the washing and a day of relaxation. We moved the boats around as others left so that we could get access to the power-points. If you visit the visitor moorings here at Cromwell, note that the card readers will chew up your cards rather than return them. We used a card that had three units left on it.

The solar panels have added 37Ah into the leisure battery bank which I think is quite good as we are part shaded under trees and it has been broken cloud for most of the day. Another day where we have not needed to run the engine to maintain the battery bank.

Wildlife: Common Blue Damselfly and Banded Demoiselle. Meadow brown Butterfly. Birds included Goldfinch in good numbers. Swifts, Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins also in good numbers. 




Daily Total

Miles: 0.0
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 0.0





Accumulated Totals
Miles: 723.3
Locks: 654
Swing / Lift Bridges: 115
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 9
Engine Hours: 2152.1


Later....

Monday 28 May 2012

You are what you eat

Talking of the changing of attitudes, (were we?) I remember a time when our parents would encourage us to eat up all in front of us. First would be "Its good for you" the ploy would change to "you'll never be big and strong if you don't finish your dinner" followed by "There's a child in Africa who would love that" to the ultimate "You will sit there until you do."

There was none of this "You are what you eat" and "Five a day" malarkey. The newspapers were not full of this week its bad for you and next week a new survey will say its good for you. We were given full fat milk at school and a wagon wheel biscuit was not bite sized.

As I remember it almost everyone was skinny. There were a few kids who had a few extra pounds, some even wore a patch over one lens and if you had a purple head who cared. They were not singled out because they were different we just accepted it. We were all fit and active and it happened without a thought.

We did not feel a need to join a Gym.
We played football, rounders or did a bit of skipping to rhymes. 

We did not go to keep fit classes.
We exercised by walking to school and walking home again. We had push bikes for fast transport. 

We did not go to Weight Watchers.
Our parents would give us errands to run and there were always certain chores we had to do.


We did not sit around all day reading fitness magazines. 
We went to the swimming baths or the park for fun. 

We did not text our friends.
We walked round to their homes and had a real conversation. 

We did not sit alone in our bedrooms and play war games on a computer. The only time spent in our bedrooms was when we were asleep.


Later.....

The Big One (9-2)


Monday 28th May 2012

Torksey visitor moorings to Cromwell Lock

Another warm sunny morning, by 6am the mist was being burnt off by the sun. A perfect day to travel further up the Trent. A few housekeeping jobs to do. Rubbish disposal, check engine oil, check diesel trap for water, quick check of the various fan belts, check the coolant level in the engine. Prepare the big anchor for use if needed.

Yesterday I had my sandals on and the Sun found the gaps. So today I have a large red sore spot on each foot. I had used the suntan lotion in other exposed areas, but I tend only to cover my feet when away on holiday. Today my feet will resemble a well basted oven chicken. So we will hot foot it up the Trent

Poppy met a Mole today, she discovered it at the surface producing a mole hill in the long grass. Unfortunately she had delivered the "coup de grâcebefore the Memsahib realised and called her off. Apart from her hatred of all things Mink, (she is a self-trained Mink specialist) this is the first time she has killed any other animal. Yesterday at Saxilby she had been watching several small rabbits that would have been so easy for her to catch. I remarked to the Memsahib about there being no attempt on her part to chase them. I was feeling quite smug, I'm a bit less smug today!

I was going to top up our diesel tank before setting off. We have only used a quarter of a tank since our last refill at Boston. However, when I saw the diesel price at Torksey we decided to wait. The red diesel was more expensive than the white diesel is at our local garage. It was at a rate 26p more per litre than we had ever paid previously. One or two of the locals warned against being ripped off!


We saw Jim and Jan on Nb Inglefield as we left Torksey Lock. We only had time to say hello and then goodbye. The run up the Trent was uneventful, we ended up travelling in pairs and we took around four hours to do the whole run. One boat coming down went over the top of a sunken island and we were expecting the boat to run aground. But he somehow managed to miss it!

The new solar charge controller is reporting a total of 120ah added to the leisure battery bank since I fitted it on mid day on Friday. We have not needed to run the engine at all to top up the batteries.


Wildlife: Oystercatcher, Mallard, Shelduck, Cormorant, Greenshank, Redshank, Buzzard, Grey Lag and Canada Geese, Kestrel, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Willow tit, Long Tailed Tit, Pied, Yellow and Grey Flycatcher. Swallow, Sand Martin, Swift and House Martin.




Daily Total

Miles: 16.5
Locks: 2
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 4.4





Accumulated Totals
Miles: 723.3
Locks: 654
Swing / Lift Bridges: 115
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 9
Engine Hours: 2152.1






Later....

Sunday 27 May 2012

On Your Bike!


Swarms of cyclists could make the Regent’s Canal towpath unusable for pedestrians, a Parliamentary Committee was told on Wednesday. Islington Council Leader Catherine West was speaking to an influential committee of MPs in her role as head of transport for all the London boroughs.

Londoners are being urged to cycle and walk to work during the games to make room for an estimated 20 million extra visitors to the capital over the 17-day period of the Olympics.

Ian Shacklock, chairman of the Friends of Regent’s Canal, added his voice to the concerns. “I’ve been predicting this for the Regent’s Canal. It will be an accident waiting to happen. There’s enough conflict now at peak times. But if a visiting ambassador or VIP is thrown into the canal it would make international headlines. I hope they will have more marshals because TfL have been publicising the canal as an alternative route to the games."

Welcome to the raceway that BW have encouraged our towpaths to become. Some sections of the towpaths in our area look more like the Olympic Velodrome on weekends. Especially when combined with good weather.
I don't mind cyclists, Even when they ride on the pavements which was a no-no in my day. However now many seem to want to traverse our towpaths at high speed. In their Hi-vis Lycra they come into conflict so quickly. I wonder if and when people start to get injured and our society of litigant "no win no fee" and "where there's a blame theirs a claim"  start to target CaRT if we will see a change a change back to the foot path being for people on foot?. 


Later.....

The Big One (9-1)





Sunday 27th May 2012


Saxilby visitor mooring to Torksey visitor moorings.


Quite a few boats on the move today, its a weekend, clear blue sky and sunshine and the first decent weather of the year. Another beautiful morning and the sun really does feel hot. First job after breakfast was to take aboard water. Drop the pram cover down before we started a very leisurely trip towards Torksey. Plenty of people out walking the flood banks. Also a day for plenty of gongoozelers.

Today was a day for spotting the odd carcases floating in the water. Good sized Bream, Carp and Pike. Followed by a Sheep, Hedgehog, Hare and Deer.

Wildlife: We spotted a pair of Canadian Geese with three Goslings. Three Mallards with a total of twenty four chicks between them. There were a few neon blue damselfly about and one four spot chaser dragonfly was also spotted.

On arrival at Torksey, it was time to get set up for the Formula One race. Later we spent some time sitting in the sun before eating. I also spent some time in conversation with another boater who was also a radio amateur, we must have met in the past as we had so many friends in common.

We will be going up the Trent tomorrow with four other boats.




Daily Total
Miles: 4.9
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 2.2




Accumulated Totals
Miles: 706.8
Locks: 652
Swing / Lift Bridges: 115
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 9
Engine Hours: 2147.7


Later....



Mad Frogs and English Women

It was Bob Dylan who sang "The Times They Are A Changing" and in a way he was right. The world as we know it, is in constant flux all the time. Peoples attitudes to other their neighbours have changed. When I was a child, I knew the names of all of our neighbours and it was common for the families to congregate in the communal back yard. Freddie our next door neighbour played the accordion (maybe that's why I don't particularly like them) and on a warm summer evening everyone would gather round for a chat which later changed into a sing-song. There was a community spirit, a carry over from the war years?

The odd bottle of home brew beer or illicit spirit would appear (long before Reginald Maudling legalised home brewing) and I enjoyed being able to stay up later than usual. Later, the sleepy kids would be gathered up and sent to bed, the contents of the songs would change and everyone would join in and laugh at ditties like "My Brother Sylvest, has a row of 40 medal on his chest" and other such risqué offerings. What our parents did not realise was that we learned the words to the songs as we fell asleep in our beds.

Contrast that with today and most people would not know the names of their neighbours. It would be a rare occasion that they would meet as a group. Maybe meeting only on special occasions for an organised street party such as the Diamond Jubilee. I saw an article on the news which said that compared to the previous queens jubilee only a tiny proportion of streets would be closed this time due to so few requests being made. it seems "The Times They Are A Changing"

When I was growing up, most families seemed to own either a cat or a dog. I was lucky in that we had both and we also had a budgie. I soon realised that - mess around with the cat and you got a scratch - mess around with the dog and you got a lick. The budgie was always out of bounds and was only allowed out of his cage whenever the cat had been ousted. Owning and caring for a pet has been a lifelong experience and many cats and dogs have passed through our hands. Though a caged bird always seemed cruel. I could never feel comfortable keeping any animal in a cage. We had self taught the lesson about compassion for animals at an early age. 

Today we have two dogs. If we are out and about then many older people will come and say - I have not seen one of those (Wire Haired Fox Terrier) since we had one when I was a kid. Yesterday, when we were out with the dogs. I was waiting with them outside Morrisons in Lincoln. Mags had gone inside to shop. Me and the dogs were being very patient about being abandoned. A few oldies came and had a word about the dogs. Abbey has a thing about what we refer to as "little people" any children who are around she just stares at. She is fascinated by them. However, anyone older than 10 she can take or leave. 

As we walking away from the supermarket, we chanced to meet a mother with a child in a pram. When we were passing each other and about ten feet apart. Abbey who was on her lead all the time, stopped and stared in her usual way at the child. The mother recoiled in horror. Her face contorted and seemingly about to shout and scream. We just walked on by, taking no notice. Leaving the mother to comforted her unconcerned child. Thereby teaching the child that animals are to be frightened of, forever. To be honest, I would be more frightened of the mother. So another well balanced child will enter the world with a parent induced phobia. I think I know who never had a pet as a child!

Contrast this with when we were moored up at the Pywipe Inn, the dogs were on their long leads and tethered to a stake. Some children with their parents came to have a look at them. Abbey was in her element, being petted by all those "Little People." Poppy was soon off the leash and running around with a small group of kids, until they got bored of the game. They went on to do other things and Poppy went back on the lead. A few parents gathered round to tell us they used to have one of those sorts of dogs when they were a kid. Quite a few of the parents said they had a dog at home. It came as no surprise.


But the changes don't stop there. As an adult you can't just engage a child in conversation. Parents warn of the dangers of strangers, but I was brought up as a child in an atmosphere where everyone was mucking in together. Its a difficult change for us oldies to accept and you have to bite your tongue. Our parents were never paranoid to the point of issuing such dire warnings. So our values were set, in a childhood that was free of cares and fears. 

Nowadays the group of people who are of most risk to children are the children's own parents. How do you warn children about that. Maybe all the dire warnings given about adults, teach our children that that is the normal behaviour pattern for when they in their turn become adults.

I feel so lucky to have lived through my lifetime. I have seen many changes for the worse. But I always tried to be a progressive parent who gave a well balanced view and taught where possible only about the good experiences in life. I enjoyed my children's childhood. There were Fairies and there was a Father Christmas and a cuddle was a natural part of life. People were to be respected and not feared and granddad and grandma were the font of all knowledge.

When I was growing up, the snow always seemed to be much deeper. Tennis was played with wooden bats over an empty washing line and skipping and juggling balls was the domain of girls. Each day seemed to be warm and sunny. Outside was the only place to be, last one in the yard was the goalie and you could find a frog under any tussock of grass. yes, "The Times They Are A Changing."


Later.....


Saturday 26 May 2012

The Big One (8-7)


Saturday 26th May 2012 

Skellingthorpe Road Bridge to Saxilby Visitor Moorings.

An early start, though we did get a wake up call from a boat passing at 3am! As we passed Burton Waters there were a couple of boats moored on the near side. Just before we reached the first boat, a second one waved at us and then pulled out in front of us and we had to slow down. He dawdled along the cut, so we prepared to pass when we reached the winding hole. At which point he then chose to do a wind with his boat. He was awarded the flying single finger of fate!

At Saxilby, we moored up next to Jeanette and Pete on Nb Joanie M, who are heading like us for the Trent. We are keeping a weather eye out for Jim and Jan in Nb Inglefield who we understand are coming up to Torksey from Keadby today.


The weather was wonderful and we had a leisurely day, me watching the Formula One pole position shoot-out. The Memsahib was catching up on her reading and topping up her tan. 

We are now booked to go from Torksey up to Newark on the River Trent.


Tonight is Eurovision song contest night - Grannies from Russia and a Granddad from the UK... Time for the pub then!


Daily Total
Miles: 3.9
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 1.1




Accumulated Totals
Miles: 701.9
Locks: 652
Swing / Lift Bridges: 115
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 9
Engine Hours: 2145.5

Man reported covered in blood staggering near canal



Police and paramedics were called out to reports of a man covered in blood and staggering close to a canal. Police officers and ambulance crews rushed to the Aire and Calder canal near Stanley Ferry in Wakefield, West Yorks. However, the found the reportedly injured man was in fact an actor.

Police were responding to a call from a member of the public about an incident close to the canal at around 7.45pm. Officers from Normanton attended the canal between Stanley Ferry and Eastmoor in company with ambulance to reports of a male covered in blood staggering around.

Film makers were filming a Zombie movie with some very realistic make-up on show. The incident happened as around 30 actors and extras were made up as zombies on the last day of a five-day shoot. The zombies were walking across a bridge over the canal. The zombies do look good. They are very old school. They are rotting, covered in bites, blood and mud and do look scary.

PC Tim Saxon said: "We got called to a report of a male covered in blood staggering around. We had to investigate what it was and take it on its own merit as it could have been anything. We were worried about finding the person as quickly as possible while looking after our own safety. We had to walk through fields and didn't know what it was we would find. Then suddenly we saw nine zombies and a film crew and they had some very realistic make-up."

Later

Three Men In A Boat!


The story of three young men in a boat fix! I am sure that it would make a good plot for a book! Might need an additional character like a dog!

Yesterday at the Pywipe Inn was smile day, as three young fellows were trying to fix a problem with an outboard motor on a little yellow speedboat. The problem was, no one had any idea about what they were doing. When the motor did start (just the once) it was instantly stalled by ramming into gear at high RPM. The engine refused to run again. 

At the time that the motor started, the boat happened to be rocking from side to side - as they do. So the fellows thought that rocking the boat would help the situation. So one fellow stands at the back constantly rocking from side to side. He almost tumbles into the water several times! Another one is taking instructions on what to do over the phone. While the other one is hammering the starter on full choke. There is a strong smell of petrol around the boat. The battery soon goes flat.


One of the boys had to have some first aid treatment from the Memsahib for a foot injured on a rust spring that poked through the seat. With his foot smeared in Savalon and with a double thickness of sticking plaster he was patched up and returned to the fray!

Down the river comes a knight in shining armour, well a shiny little blue boat with outboard. After the Knight has had a beer, they try and breast up the two boats to return to whence they came. After going round in circles for a while. I advised them to try a tow on a long line between the boats. Line astern, one behind the other.  Man in boat at the front set off, however he is so busy watching the boat behind that he enters trees hanging over the opposite bankside. Followed shortly by the boat under tow. After some pushing and shoving the boats both finally emerge just in time to ram the bank. 

After several more tries at ramming the bank and some further topiary they successfully manage to chug slowly up river and away into the distance.


Yes, it was a smile day. The Memsahib then says "Did you get any pictures?" Damn I says, its too late now!

Later....


Friday 25 May 2012

The Big One (8-6)

Friday 25th May 2012

Lincoln Moorings to Skellingthorpe Road Bridge (The Pywipe Inn)

Another bright sunny morning, a bit of last moment shopping in Maplins and Morrisons and then we were on our way. Even taken at our leisure the trip was very short - less than an hour. We wanted a quieter mooring and Lincoln was a no-go for a restful night.

When we arrived at the Pywipe inn I started to catch up on a few other little jobs. I changed the MPPS controller on the solar panels as the old controller was proving to be a bit unpredictable. The new controller has a digital readout and monitors the battery volts, the charging current and the current flowing out of the batteries.

The controller has lots of data that it stores in its memory, which is nirvana for a gadget freak like me. According to the solar controller, within a couple of hours the solar panels had given a charge of 12ah into the batteries. The discharge current  had been measured 3.1 Ah in the same period (the fridge was the only appliance attached to the 12v system) The gadget freak is in heaven.

For our afternoon entertainment we watched several pairs of the Red Arrows practising their manoeuvres. In readiness for my special day which is almost here now. (more on this later) With the occasional coloured smoke loop-the-loop's thrown in and some close formation barrel rolls, the pilots were busy honing their skills. 

Cruising the Fossdyke and the River Witham is good for any aircraft enthusiast. In addition to the Red Arrows are the AWACS. (Airborne Warning and Control System) The Boeing E-3 Sentry provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, and is used by the United States Air Force (USAF), NATO, Royal Air Force (RAF), French Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Force. The E-3 is distinguished by the distinctive rotating radar dome above the main aircraft fuselage.





Later....


Daily Total
Miles: 1.7
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 2.3





Accumulated Totals
Miles: 737 .8
Locks: 654
Swing / Lift Bridges: 116
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 9
Engine Hours: 2144.4


Meldrew Moment

In another of my Victor Meldrew moment's, I can't believe it.

Cameron's answer to everything is the "Big Society" which like Cameron has finally lost the plot. In a moment of complete madness the Downing Street Toff''s have come up with "£100 vouchers for parents to have lessons in how to bring up their children." The vouchers are to be made available through a popular high-street outlet. So you can all dash off down to Boots the Chemist and claim your vouchers now.







Location: Ascot Guide Price: £10,062 per week. 
Agent: Knight Frank, 01344 299399, knightfrank.com


You can hire this houseboat during the Olympics, although it may be cheaper to make your own gold medals. There are four bedrooms, each with underfloor heating, and an upper deck with picture windows and panoramic views of the Thames. If you forsake the joys of Stratford, you could just laze on the split-level sundecks or sit in the Jacuzzi on the upper level. You just know that some twonk is going to rent this....









A Booze Cruise with a difference. Pub landlord Andrew Southerden has really pushed the boat out for the Queen's Jubilee - by turning his pub into a ship. The pub has become HMS Coach & Horses complete with funnels, life rafts, illuminated portholes and a bow. The pub will be officially "launched" on June 3, the same day as hundreds of ships are due to take part in a pageant on the River Thames in London. Hundreds of hours have been spent by local residents to transform the outside of the pub to look like a ship. Meanwhile the HMS Coach & Horses will be hosting a Regatta Street Party with live music, a best-built boat competition and a nautical fancy dress contest.




It's not often that I think we can learn something from our eastern European neighbours but today is the day!  People in the village were being driven mad by a boyracer, have devised the perfect revenge - they hoisted his car to the top of a huge willow tree.






The roadhog - who doesn't even have a driving licence - had driven villagers mad for months on end driving his souped-up white Ford Escort. But when the 24-year-old went to take it for another spine-tingling spin one morning, he found it parked in its very unusual space.


And the prank by residents of Lubczyna in Poland has worked wonders on Zbigniew Filo - he has promised to tone down his wild driving style. A police spokesman said: "We received a call from a man saying his car was stuck in a tree, and that his neighbours had put it there. After inspecting the site we instructed him to remove it from the tree," she added.


Locals have refused to say who carried out the prank, but have revealed that one villager's mobile crane was borrowed for the night. A neighbour said: "Whoever, or whatever it was, it’s probably a good thing as he was a dangerous driver and could have killed someone. Perhaps he’ll think twice about his hair-raising driving and about getting a licence or who knows where his next car might end up?" Pasty faced Filo said: "I get the message, but I think it was a bit harsh."



Later....

Its a Cats Cradle

The Cats Cradle is a children's game played with a indeterminant length of string. This is a little bit like the indeterminant number of committees being formed to manage the Inland Waterways under the auspices of CaRT. If you fail at playing Cats Cradle you end up with a tangle of knotted string. I have the same feeling about the CaRT committees

One thing I have learned in life is - the fastest way to make something crash and burn, is to involve lots of people each bringing with them a different agenda.

Now, I keep reading about a CaRT committee for this and a CaRT committee for that and another for the other. My internal warning bells are already ringing. Yes, I know that on face value the committee membership could be wide ranging and diverse. Whilst at first this might seem to be a good thing, it can also hold some avoidable pitfalls.

The first question is how the membership was established. As far as I can see, it must have been by invitation. But by who were they invited? So already we have the bias of someone else's opinion on who the make-up of the committee is going to be. What was the selection criteria, how was it established and who then chose the participants?

So the next question is what are the various committees remit and who decided what the remit should be. I am intensely interested in exploring various options, ideas, thoughts, and opinions. Systematically weighing alternatives in order to make the most efficient and effective decision. 

But what if the questions are shallow, undemanding and avoid anything that might make the focus bland and uninteresting. What if we are not sure of its purpose or what the process is. What if it is a Rubber-Stamp Committee that assumes that no one would question their take. Or god forbid a Fully Automatic Committee that always asks the same questions, no matter what issue is before them. Then comes up with the same answer time after time.

This will only foster the external Bitterly Realistic Committee, who like me are hopelessly optimistic. They will seek to expose every weakness and question any claims of success. 

The camel is alleged to be an animal that was designed by a committee!

Later....

Thursday 24 May 2012

The Big One (8-5)

Thursday 24th May 2012

Lincoln

A warm night and the sun was quick to burn off the early morning haze.

Today was planned to include a trip back home to get some paperwork signed off and to pick up some parcels. So I went by rail from Lincoln to Sheffield. On arrival I was feeling quite warm after a brisk walk to the Station. The train was waiting in the platform though most people going on this journey were stood around in the shade on the platform.

I walked onto the train and found that the heating was running flat out and the Guard/ticket inspector was unable to turn the heating off. So our journey was to be by steam! Now I understood why everyone was on stood in the shade on the platform. I picked a seat away from the sunny side of the carriage. As did almost everyone else who boarded the train as we prepared to set off.

Passengers joining the train later, only had the option of sitting on the sunny side. Their discomfort was palpable. Every one of the small windows in the carriage was open and a breeze was mitigating some of the heat. However, each time we stopped the heat soon climbed again.

A group of disgruntled, hot and sweaty passengers alighted in Sheffield. I left the train and walked across town and continued my journey by super tram, which was by comparison a cool and comfortable better option to continuing by train to Meadowhall.

I called in at the marina to catch up on the news and gossip. The sanitary station sluice facilities at the marina had been broken. So some people had taken to emptying their black-water down the normal toilets. This had the effect of backing up and blocking that side of the system as well.

Then I borrowed a car to make the journey home. Picked up the wanted bits and pieces and had a word with some of the neighbours at home. After catching up on the local news at home it was back to the marina. I borrowed a fold up bicycle to try on the boat. I returned by super tram to Sheffield. Cycled to the railway station and joined the train back to Lincoln. It was different rolling stock and the heating was off - so I enjoyed the return trip.

In Lincoln, I cycled from the station to the moorings. The warm sunshine continued but the breeze was cooling.  It was good to be back home aboard Rosie. The visitor moorings in Lincoln are very noisy being located in the student accommodation area of town. Why do our young people feel the need to scream and shout so much at night.


I have a theory, it is to do with the level of the sound in the student pubs. Conversations are conducted by shouting at each other and continue to be conducted in the same way after leaving.


Tomorrow, we will continue our voyage to quieter locations.


Daily Total
Miles: 0.0
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 0.





Accumulated Totals
Miles: 736 .1
Locks: 654
Swing / Lift Bridges: 116
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 9
Engine Hours: 2142.1