 Tywyn on her moorings at Reading |
Introducing . . . Tywyn We first saw a picture of 'Tywyn' at the IWA boat show at Shobnall Fields, Burton on Trent in August and immediately recognised that she was the most suited to our purposes boat we were likely to find. We mentally took in as much as we could of her layout as she was so new to the market that the broker's sales sheet had not been prepared and we started to dream. A few weeks later we went to visit her 'in person' and fell in love on the spot. Although not perfect we knew that there was a very real chance that things could work out. After a little confusion between ourselves and the brokers we made an offer only to find out a few days later that some money we were going to use to finance the purchase was not going to reach us in time. Off to the marine mortgage companies then. |
|
Now it gets complicated, I have been self employed for many years but for all but the last eighteen months very much on a part time basis. The first company turned us down, the world ended. I was ready to strangle the next person who told me the likes of 'These things happen for a reason.' We then decided to try the other marine mortgage company, explained our situation and the fact we had already been turned down and waited. Then we got the call we needed, we had the finance, all systems go ! Now the panic begins, now it is real, no longer a dream. Clothes, the menu, supplies, bedding, pots and pans, cutlery, the route and more besides need sorting out in just three days. We had already worked out where the closures were and where we needed to be at the end of each day, but only to calculate how many days we needed. Now we needed to work out the likely overnight stops, where to get our first pump out, fresh water and diesel. We will take 15 gallons of fuel with us but want to fill up as soon as possible. Similarly we want to start with an empty toilet tank so we can start to work out how often we are going to need to find pump out points. We are sure we will last the eight or nine days of the homeward journey but like every other boater our thoughts remain permanently on the twin needs of filing the fresh water and emptying the 'not so fresh'. Luckily a good friend with a long wheelbase Landrover is mad enough to drive us from Ashbourne to Reading. There is enough space to fit us all in as well as bedding, clothes and all the other essentials for what we are treating as a nine day holiday. I'm not sure he knows what he is letting himself in for. A true case of 'curiosity killing the cat'. So the date is set. On Thursday 21st October 2004 we will set off for Reading. This date is one of the 'pure luck' things I mentioned earlier on in this collection of ramblings. Only one of the children is at school (the lads are both home educated) and Friday is an inset (teacher training) day, followed by a week of half term. The half term means that there are no planned stoppages on our route, if all goes well we will be safely in our marina berth leaving a trail of lock closures behind us as BWB start their winter maintenance program.
|
|
|
Thursday 21st The Landrover is loaded and we're off to Reading. Umpteen hours later due to various hold ups on several of the roads we need to take we finally arrive at Tywyn a little after 8pm. Much unloading of the Landrover takes place, paperwork is dealt with and we get to bed around 11ish. We all sleep well.
|
|
Friday 22nd
Heading for our first lock, 3 point turn completed.
|
I'm awake at just before 7am. Too excited to go back to sleep I put the heating on so the boat is warm for the rest of the crew then put the kettle on. A short while later I realise that we have run out of gas, so as Emily is still doing her 'Sleeping Beauty' impression in the front of the boat I do that well known boater's trick, the gunwale shuffle to the pointy end and change the gas cylinder. We get the water tank filled, fill the diesel up from the drum that was at the mooring for us, untie and set off, performing what is probably the best 3 point turn I have ever managed in a boat and head for our first lock. Much impressed by the very helpful lock keepers on the Thames as I'm more used to working (or more truthfully watching the crew work the locks whilst I steer).
|
|
The day went well despite the Thames being on yellow alert and by the end of the it we've reached Wallingford, a place I shall remember forever as having a riverside pub with a lovely set of mooring rings and a prominent 'No Mooring' sign. A quick trip to the local supermarket to top up the food, dinner gets prepared and eaten, then the fairies call us all to bed. And it's not even 9pm.
|
|
|
Saturday 23rd After a night where I'm sure I didn't sleep too well (not a happy bunny moored on rivers in yellow alert) we get up, followed a short while later by the sun which decides to join us, albeit briefly. Much pleased to find it hasn't rained overnight and lulled into a false sense of security by the warming rays of autumn sunshine we set off only to be rained on for the rest of the day. The toilet is named 'Oliver' as once it has dutifully slurped down what was in the bowl it thinks for a while before asking for 'more' by way of another short slurp and gurgle. The Thames is still doing its best to slow us down but all in all we are going well. Make it as far Osney lock before rain and lack of daylight combine to stop play for the day, tea ensues and we are all in bed before 9pm again having played that new game 'hunt the drying space'. Set the alarm for 6:30 to try and get an early start again.
|
|
Sunday 24th Up before the sun once more, which decides to make an appearance, along with blue skies. Do some serious sharp turns and make it to the South Oxford canal where after a few locks we stop for fresh water. The crew get plenty of exercise with numerous lift bridges and a good sprinkling of locks. We reach the Cherwell river section to find the flood warning marker boards at the top of the 'Warning' level, just an inch below the danger level so press on. As we moor up for the night at Heyford Wharf the up until now persistent rain turns into a deluge and Emily and I get drenched. Ten minutes later, after we have got changed the rain stops and a debate follows as to whether we try and find the local shop. Hunger and the desire to find a tin opener win so we set off, our mission made seemingly more achievable as we see someone else coming down the towpath laden with shopping bags. A short while later it is our merry party making its way down the tow path laden with carrier bags, one of which contains the fabled tin opener. Once more the fairies call us and we are all in bed by half past eight.
|
|
Monday 25th The day starts well enough and a check on the highly sophisticated fuel monitoring system (a piece of garden cane I dip into the filler cap and mark notches on) shows that each day on the river we got through four fingers widths of fuel and yesterday's day on the canal used a mere one thumb's width. Despite being decidedly windy it was a good day with a pleasantly warming sunshine on our backs. Banbury is a bit of a revelation, the shopping centre, Castle Quays has free moorings a matter of yards away, we pay homage to the great god Somerfield and top up the food department. We continue on our merry little way and finally come to a stop at Cropredy after an exciting (for me at least) sighting of 'Jannock' a boat I hope belongs to a couple I have only ever known by e-mail. Sadly they aren't on board so I leave a businesses card and will e-mail them when I get back to my PC. We wash the side of Tywyn nearest the bank and find that she shines. A reward is called for so off to the Red Lion for chips and a little drink and then I get soundly beaten at pool by Emily who by all accounts has never played before. Fortunately a pub quiz is due to take place in the pool room so I am saved from another thrashing. Wobble off back down the tow path and off to see the fairies by half past nine.
|
|
Tuesday 26th An interesting night, half of which I am sure was spent trying to hold a sensible conversation with a sleep talking Robert who unbeknown to us had rolled off his bed. Sally went to see what the fuss was only to discover a giant green caterpillar (Robert in his sleeping bag) on the floor between the two single beds. Got going to the sound of the Cropredy church clock striking eight. The sun shone, there was the merest hint of a breeze and all was well with the world. Saw numerous kingfishers but yet to get a decent photograph of one. Made exceptionally good progress through the morning's quota of locks and decided to use the gained time treating Oliver to a pump out, replacing the empty gas bottle and buying a 'Sea Searcher' magnet for the lads to play with. Also have to admit to be the one who bought the Brasso and now after much application of elbow grease the roof hatch can now be operated with one hand. The day was further improved by seeing 'Draco', the owners of which are active participants in the UK Waterways news rooms. Sent Emily off to hand them a business card with a view to making contact when we get back to the farm. Moored for the night a few miles past Napton bottom lock, kids all went to try the new magnet and came back at dinner time with an ancient mooring spike by way of a catch.
|
|
Wednesday 27th The day started cold and blustery and stayed like it. Made a brief journey along the Grand Union before joining the North Oxford, heading for Hawkesbury. Saw bullfinches, travelled through stunning scenery and whilst we filled up with water the lads went magnetic fishing, coming back with an old hook and a deck fitting key for Oliver. Did our first tunnel of this cruise, bought some glue to stick the sound insulation pad back to the deck (been slowly peeling off) and finally moored up just before Ansty as the sky decided it was fed up holding all of the water in its clouds so dumped it on us instead. Spent the evening playing games then settled down for the night in the care of the full moon.
|
|
Thursday 28th
And the moon looked over us all night
|
Woken up by one of my favourite noises, the sound of heavy rain on the roof, made even more enjoyable by the fact that it wasn't time to get up and it was warm and cosy in bed. By the time we had made the morning brew and got dressed the rain had decided to have a bit of a rest . Went out to see if the day had arrived and was greeted by the full moon who had looked over us all night. A short while later the sun joined us and we set off with the merest of breezes into a most beautiful morning. The sun shone, the birds were singing and all was right with the world. Got to Hawkesbury junction and headed up the Coventry canal and finally called it a day just north of Polesworth. The weather broke with tradition and waited until we were moored and eating dinner before doing the daily deluge.
|
|
Friday 29th In an attempt to get back to our home mooring by tonight we are up and moving before dawn. Despite heavy rain through the night it turns into another fine day and we make steady progress. Our 'Spot the Canaltime' game bursts into overdrive as we find their nest (Alvecote marina) and our list more than trebles. Canaltime users continue to provide us with a source of merriment as we see a positive stream of them as the day moves on and based on their behaviour when they see us we decide that the collective noun for them is a 'panic'. We end up deciding that we aren't going to make the mooring and end up mooring at Barton Turns. We decide to investigate the local pub for a last night dinner but as we enter we are attacked by a wall of smoke so solid that it is only rivalled by the wall of silence the locals manage. We leave them to each other's company, return to the boat and raid the kitchen. The lads go magnetic fishing once more and discover that the 5m length of rope I have spliced onto the Sea Searcher isn't quite long enough to reach the bottom of the canal at the tail end of a lock. They discover this after launching it with a mighty heave, only to have the other end of the rope pulled out of their hands by a now rapidly descending magnet which by all accounts 'made a big splash somewhere over there.' Invented a new game. . . hunt the magnet. Took a steel windlass, tied our spare mooring rope securely to it then went magnetic fishing in reverse, hunting for a sunken magnet with a steel object. After a few decent splashes a distinct 'clunk' is heard and we gingerly raise the windlass to find the magnet.
|
|
Saturday 30th
Tywyn, now renamed 'Wych Way' on a cruise.
|
Now we know that we are on the last leg the need, let alone desire to get up early has deserted us so we rot in bed until a slovenly 8am. The day doesn't seem to know whether to be bright and sunny or dark and rainy so settles for murky grey. All of today's journey is either close to or parallel to the A38 and is punctuated by calls of "I recognise that place" from various crew members. Our journey ends at 1:30pm, we unload what will fit in the boot of the car and shortly afterwards we are in the car travelling at breakneck speeds of up to 50mph on our way back to home. All we have to do now is fit the contents of the 4 bed farm house we have been renting into 61ft 10 of narrowboat . . . . For our next trick we plan to nail jelly to the ceiling. Watch this space.
|
