Towpath Townie » Smooth Sailing

M. S. Marine Services

TT — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:22:37 +0000

So, I told you about my chance eavesdropping experience recently where I obtained the name and number of a boaty electrician…

Well, he arrived and knew exactly what I needed – which of course he would, he’s a professional. He also recommended a Galvanic Isolator which I’d never heard of before so ran a Google search and did some reading. Now, my boat is 21 years old nearly and the hull was in superb condition. However, as I’m not going to be buying another boat EVER I thought it was a good thing to protect my home for the foreseeable future with something that’s really quite small and cheap in comparison to having a hull re-plated. It’s the small purple gizmo at the top of the photo.

My new 3-stage battery charger is the large gizmo and now my back cabin back wall looks like something from a cheap Starship Enterprise but more believable. :D

All work was carried out cleanly and on time – more-so it was extremely reasonable in respect of his hourly labour charge. In fact, his hourly rate is more than 50% cheaper than Hilperton Marina’s! I was also able to transfer funds directly to his nominated bank account rather than fart around with cash.

He’s on Facebook: M. S. Marine Services and can be called on 0771 148 7290. I have no hesitation in recommending him and will certainly be using his services in the future if I should need them.

His Good Lady Nicky also serves the waterways as a floating Hair Salon! The Floating Salon is certainly a unique experience. I remember when Lottie and I were new to all this and it was during our Helmsman Course that we first encountered their boat. they were stuck on silt by the bank and we helped them on their way.

So there we have it… I’m all back to normal :D

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Bristol & Back!

TT — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:52:06 +0000

We weren’t going to set sail until the Saturday morning but by Friday evening we were chomping at the bit, untethered our pea-green boat, and set off into the sunset. We moored for the night by the Bridge at Sainsburys in Bradford on Avon to stock up on supplies and awoke the next morning bright and early to pass through our first lock of many.

We met Dao (Will) on the way through and said hello before we continued on our way to our first swing bridge at Bathampton (or was it Bathwick?).

We stopped for food at the George and moored soon after for the night.

We moored up just before the Lock Flight down to Bath and had a wander around Sydney Gardens. Really beautiful!

Unfortunately we managed to share locks with complete noobs on the way down. The guy driving the boat had no clue whatsoever and his crew were a little embarrassed but he wouldn’t let them drive. The 5 locks down were tedious and we were glad to lose them as we entered the River Avon.

Lottie relished in opening up the throttle and we hurriedly meandered along the River at a good pace. It was really beautiful and the weirs we were so scared of really weren’t that scary after all. The River was almost unspoilt of human intervention. The odd pub with limited mooring and a few hidden marinas. For the most part it was a glorious wilderness.

I think there were 6 locks to contend with. The ferocity of the water intake was daunting as I watched Lottie contend with the strong flow in. Many of the lock gates were extremely heavy too and I needed help with one of them.

A sharp right turn, with a small sign as opposed to the large ones we’d encountered earlier, just before the last largest weir where chains hung from the bridge (to grab in case you didn’t turn in time to hang on for dear life and watch your boat go over?), and we were on the feeder canal heading toward Netham Lock. The Lock Master was a lovely old guy who was more worried about me crossing the road back to the boat than being on the River as noobs.

The journey into Bristol Harbour was exhilarating. It was so BIG! Boats of all shapes and sizes took residence all around and some serious building work had taken place quite recently by the looks of it.

The Lock Keeper at Netham had already marked on a map our destination mooring spot – right by the Harbour Master’s office outside the Cottage Inn pub. As we hadn’t eaten all day (literally) we were famished.

However, our meal was almost ruined by possibly the most annoying human being in the whole world. He didn’t shut up once and his jokes wore thin. We scoffed our food and wearily boarded the boat and fell fast asleep.

The seagulls woke me early but instead of being annoying it was fantastic. I’d opened my cabin curtains before going to bed so I could see the wonderful sight as I woke up. It was heavenly.

We paid for two nights here and enjoyed the following day walking around Bristol and taking lunch at the Piano & Pitcher (or was it Pitcher and Piano?). Anyway, the food was good and the waiter better. Phwoar!

A cute little ferry boat took us across to the other side of the Harbour and returned us later that day, next to the SS Great Britain. What a ship!

Lottie was complaining of blisters on her heels (they were bad!) so I sent her into a shop to buy some cheap flip-flops – makes sense right? Out she comes, half an hour later, with a pair of bloody Pineapple Hi-Tops~! I was livid with rage and hoped they hurt for the rest of the day

Another night in the Harbour was blissful. And another early awakening found us winding the boat around without any furious manoeuvres due to the sheer size of water available to us. We were now heading back up the feeder canal toward Netham Lock.

The few pubs along the River Avon had very limited mooring. We just managed to get in at the Jolly Sailor where we had a meal before moving on to moor for the night farther down just before the Deep lock at Bath.

The weather had been good to us all week. Sometimes too hot so when the sun went behind clouds we were glad.

We met some American holidaymakers on the Bath Flight up and they were really enjoying it.

Back at the George we ate and slept again. It’s a great pub and a lovely spot.

Another couple of stops, one including the Hop Pole Inn, before we hit home made the week perfect. Mind you, Lottie and I had a bit of a spat about her not putting the Puppy first so I had to set her straight. We’re friends again now though :)

So, another successful cruise. Still get annoyed at the number of Widebeam boats on the relatively narrow K&A – move to a bigger waterway!

Click image below to then click through all my photos.

Bristol & Back

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First Cruise 2011

TT — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 06:55:07 +0000

Lottie and I took our first cruise last week! Of 2011 that is :cheerful:

We set of a week last Saturday in the direction of Crofton passing through Hilperton where we filled up with Diesel, Seend, Semington, the Caen Hill Staircase, Devizes and finishing up just before Crofton at Pewsey. The round trip took us 9 days!

There were a total of 29 locks in a row at the Staircase and by the end of the upward journey I was not only sunburned but numb and completely shattered! :pinch:

Upon reaching the end of Caen Hill we cruised a little while longer and moored up where I fell into bed, prostrate, and snored almost immediately.

Lottie and I really had a wonderful week together. We didn’t argue too much and enjoyed each other’s company. On night 4 Marvin jumped ship and we never saw him again. We even stayed moored up for around 25 hours at that location in the hope of his return but alas, he did not. We continued back whence we came taking in all the dreamy scenery and solitude. It was heavenly.

On night 7 we were back at Devizes and dined at at Franco’s – don’t bother, it was shit!… We were awoken on the Friday morning to a hive of activity – time, 6.30am. It was the annual Devizes to Westminster canoe race. Having dabbled spectator wise for a couple of hours we booted up the boat and made headway homeward.

Back to the Caen Hill staircase again but down this time. 4 hours to get up it and 6 hours down as we were sharing with another boat who didn’t know what they were doing. I even managed a great argument with a boat we met on the way down. He didn’t like the way we exited the lock and started vocally insulting us to his partner about being noobs. I heard him, which I believe was intended, but he’d chosen the wrong fucking person. By this time we were about half way down and I was NOT in the mood! “Stop your fucking moaning” I shouted to him. We traded insults and commenced our journeys.

The last lock approached and there were a bunch of blokes fishing off the mooring straight which is not allowed due to us having to side up there to allow me off to work the lock. Fisherman “Oi, we’re fishing here”. Me “I’m on a canal, in a fucking canal boat and this is a mooring straight” “what you need is a nice hot cup of FUCK OFF”. Again, I found myself trading insults with these Neanderthals so I put the boat into full throttle forward which soaked each and every one of the fuckers :lol:

Even Lottie joined in calling them all Pikey’s which they didn’t like very much. Truth hurts :lol:

We passed through Bradford on Avon and moored about a mile farther up where we found an abandoned tree swing yeeehaaaa!

Lottie had some friends over in the evening for a get-together on the towpath and I befriended a couple of boaters. Dennis on CAT and Mike & Nicky on Steben. We had a great evening drinking and chatting. Dennis gave my electrics the once-over when I told him I couldn’t get any electric when cruising. Blow me, on our last night the electric sprang to life. All it turned out to be was a bloody switch I hadn’t switched over!

ELECTRICITY I whooped… fell into bed around 10.30pm with my phone on charge once more. To sum up, I did approximately 10 swing bridges and 65 locks in 8 days. :sleeping:

Can’t wait to do it all over again in July.

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It’s Been Exactly Three Months!

TT — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:25:39 +0000

I cannot believe we’ve already been on board for 3 months! How quickly has that passed!

As a human being I reserve the right to change my mind and am doing so in respect of my curtain maker. I appreciate that I said no mention or links were appropriate due to the service I’d received but on her return visit to hang the final windows she surprised me with some cushions free of charge for being so patient.

Whilst I penultimately reserve the right to review service I’ve received, in a fair and honest way, I ultimately reserve the right to change my mind.

Her work is of a very high standard. The late arrival of my order was down to a lack of staff due to illness. Above all that she was a very pleasant lady and I liked her. My free cushions weren’t just thrown together, they were beautiful and with feather pads no less!

You’ve redeemed yourself Bay Tree Interiors :)

If I used this company again I’d be sure to draw up a contractual time-scale with caveats if not adhered to. However, I’m small fry, a single patron. And bottom line is that I’m more than happy with my provision.

I’ve made friends in the Marina and am pleased. Everyone I’ve met so far has been lovely, helpful and sincere. My fire-making is unquestionably conquered! Tonight I’m sat here in my knickers with the bow doors open and two windows wide open too. Not having a heat control knob is the only irritation. Something one can live with.

I know next year what fuel I’ll be burning though, and it wont be COAL! Honestly! What a mess. Black dust everywhere! I shall be converting to wood briquettes :)

I’ve sourced a Northern supplier and will buy in bulk to gain the best price. I may well gather others to see if they want in to reduce our costs. After all, wood is the new coal! Long, clean and greener burning.

Apart from Phylis still trying to rattle my cage everything is peachy. Whatever it is that’s making her angry she needs to get it sorted; it’s eating her up!

Until the next time, rock gently, speak honestly and above all, be happy :)

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Where Does Time Fly?

TT — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:29:28 +0000

5th day on board and it was certainly crisp. There was ice pooled on the top of the cratch cover that we’ve been leaving open as it’s easier to get in and out without fussing with the flaps LOL.

So, gone are my hopes of lay-in’s as I still wake up at 6am. Hurriedly popped on my fluffy wrap and skipped to the front of the boat to undertake the fire-starter task. On with instant light-the-bag log haha. Instant fire, warmed up and roaring by the time I woke Lottie up for school. A steamy hot shower and a massive cup of tea later we were hitting the road.

I welcomed my first visitor today who came laden with Moet YIPEEE… Thanks Kev, much appreciated and I’m enjoying it right now. We took lunch at the Beef and Barge before coming back to the boat for coffee and a chat.

I welcomed my boat builder Bryan at around 10am so he could finish Lottie’s bedroom door. It looks amazing and Lottie was bowled over upon her return from school. She insisted that I included a photo of her privacy shield so I have. Not that I needed much coercion as you know :D

However, before coming back to the boat, we stopped of in Bradford on Avon Town to have a ramble and especially to pay a visit to Baytree Interiors for new curtains. The Proprietor will visit us early January to measure up; the fabric we’ve chosen is gorgeous! I’ll show you when they’re done!

The Town itself is so pretty. Tightly packed narrow streets with barely room for single file pedestrians. Quaint shops selling everything from antiques to cheap shite.

The bridge over the River Avon is stunning… an excellent example of period stone-masonry.

Our last stop was at The Bridge tea-ro0ms. Another stunning example of (Jacobean?) architecture that’s nearly 400 years old. Young school girls in period costumes served us in a quiet and conservative manner. At least my bag looked good to all the snobby patrons who were sipping Earl Gray when we arrived in our shabby jeans :D

I’m not working at the moment but I’m amazed at just how quickly my days are passing! Spend most of the day poking the fire… more so for the novelty of being able to make fire to keep us warm LOL :D

So, there you have it. Another tale from the Towpath Townies :)

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