C.L. Peache's Blog, page 31

Day 47 – Saturday 2nd September – Boat cleaning day!

Today it’s the big boat clean! The fire is in as i said yesterday and even though there are jobs to finish on it they shouldn’t cause any mess so it’s time to get rid of all the mess! So, I chuck Chris out as he’s decided to tackle prepping the bow to be painted and I set to cleaning the main area and dinette bringing everything back in which has been moved out as I didn’t want it getting covered in dust and soot. ((Did it bring back visions of when you were in the house and a couple of times pigeons came down the chimney and covered the whole of your living room in soot?)) don’t remind me of that Brackets. I’m still traumatised by the vision of the plume of soot landing over my bookcases and covering my books.

I also make the most of the summer which has returned in earnest and do a couple of loads of washing. Now the paint has dried on the stern it’s back to being my drying area which works really well. The covers cost quite a bit of money but they were worth it as we can use the space for so many things and really it’s given us two extra rooms on the boat so we can use the full 60ft length of the boat.

Dan from the boatyard who fabricated the chimney flue for us pops in to have a look at where we are with the fire and then we set to with a good old chin wag about how bloody great boating is and the expectations of some people who have work done on their boat. I think we are generally understanding of cost and time and do our research whereas some people come into the canal life and think they can get things done in the same time frame and it’s just not possible in many cases.

We also had some great news later in the day, as I’ve mentioned in an earlier blog, we were trying to sell the car, well someone contacted us from my Facebook ad, went for a look and bought the car! Result, it means that in essence the final link with land life has gone. As useful as the car has been it’s an expensive and faff we don’t need! It’s also another thing off the list to do! It’s a strange but great feeling to finally have everything sold. In some ways I don’t feel like we’ve actually started this new adventure because we’ve had places to be and things to do but hopefully on or around the 20th September we will finally be cruising with nowhere to be. We do need to think about what we are doing for winter; if we are going to stay on the cut or winter in a marina depending on where we are and how bad the winter is – we will see!

It’s very exciting to have the freedom to choose to do what we want and we often talk about how much we appreciate the life we have now. I think the most important thing you can do in life is appreciate what you have in that moment. ((Oh so profound Peachy but also very true. I bet you appreciate me coming into your life all the time don’t you??))

Until tomorrow… x
(another old picture. I’m able to upload the blogs but the signal is not up to downloading the pics just yet! Hopefully normal service should resume soon! If not i might have to resort to going to sit in a pub or coffee shop…)

Day 46 – Friday 1st September – You guessed it…

It’s Friday 8th in the real world. Sorry the blog is late again but my tinternet has been shocking and i’ve not been able to receive a good enough signal to post. Even now it’s not brilliant but here goes… i’ve used an old photo of the boat which is how it looked when we bought it as i couldn’t download one of my photos. The joys of boating

Back in time to a week ago…

Today we managed to get the stove and flue back in place and I cleaned the tiles again and we are happy we decided to keep them. Mostly on this boat we have just renewed and refreshed with only a few things removed or changed drastically, which I would highly recommend if you’re thinking of getting a boat unless you have the skills or a lot of money and patience to get someone else to do it for you!

Earlier Chris gave the stove and flue a lick of paint before we fitted it and we still need to finish some bits on it. We managed to light a fire later that night to make sure the heat could set the cement and we still need to have another fire but it a gazillion degrees with this weird heat wave we are having so no chance at the moment. Then we can give it a final coat once we have sorted out the join between the stove and the flue pipe. Then we just need to clean the outside and buy a new chimney. It never ends! But it means it will be winter ready which is really important.

Earlier whilst we wait for the paint to dry, we wandered out Langley Mill and turned right and a little further up we treated ourselves to wander around Asda! ((Wow Peachy you know how to live life!)) I know right. We also found a load of charity shops to bargain hunt in as well, so result. It really is a great area. If you need to do jobs on your boat this is the place to come. The place we are mooring is just outside the boat yard and we can stay here for 7 days, it has hard standing and you can have deliveries as well as have a car here if you needed so perfect for getting jobs done and in-between that you can watch the kingfisher – what’s not to like!

Once we got back and fitted the fire and stove I ended up missing an online book group with my pals! I’ve been promising to join them but keep missing them to due to either cruising, holidays, boat jobs or a terrible signal. It’s strange as when we embarked on this I thought I would have so much more time and I guess come winter that will change as there won’t be as much daylight for doing jobs. We certainly won’t have all the lights blazing inside the boat. When we used to get nagged as kids to switch the lights off I can see why. If they really want to fix the problem of how much energy people use maybe there ought to be more education about what uses what. ((Or Watt uses Watt?? I’m sure you’ve mentioned this before. When you jump off your soapbox make sure you don’t fall in again! Haha. Couldn’t resist!))

That was it for today but some really good jobs done. We are getting itchy feet ((That will be the mozi bites)) and are ready to get cruising now. It’s been brilliant here at Langley Mill and we feel really at home but we keep hearing news about the low water and possible stoppages so we’ve decided on Monday we are going to attempt to cruise. I’ve said before we need to be at Mercia Marina for Saturday and due to the news about the canal and the fact we don’t want to rush it’s time to finish these jobs for now and get gone!

Right, until tomorrow… x

Day 45 – Thursday 31st August – More boat jobs

Today was another day of jobs as I sorted out cleaning the tiles and varnished the wood above the fire as it was really dry. I also got the old Brasso out to clean up the brass ring around the top of the fire and ended up using a bit of wire wool to get off the stubborn bits. ((You know anyone following your blog for your writing have probably switched off by now)) Well, this blog is about my life in general and since I intend to create a book about these adventures this is all strictly information and pre-research carried out. ((Bloody writers, always have a bloomin answer up their sleeve. I’m going back into my data box)) Chris cracked on with the grinding and sanding of the fire to remove a lot of the pitting and the flue pipe and they have come up a treat.

It always takes so long to do anything on a boat ((You make it sound like it’s because you’re none stop grafting when in fact 85% of the time you’re actually chatting!)) It’s actually gathering information and knowledge Brackets also being friendly. The one thing about boating is everything takes three times as long to do anything because you have to allow for networking. ((Oh, the famous networking! I see now!)) It is lovely chatting to people and explaining what we are doing and how things work this boat but also getting advise from boaters who have been living this life for years.

Chris managed to get the first coat of paint on the fire and we managed to come up with an interesting way of letting it dry inside the boat as we had intermittent showers all day!

Right, that’s it for today. Not too much to report other than my legs are still achy either from slipping the other day or all the graft but if you don’t use it you lose it right!

Until tomorrow… x

Day 44 – Wednesday 30th August – Boat jobs

It’s been a wonderful day. I’ve properly enjoyed it. ((Have you finally been talked into having HRT or have you started on the rose wine??)) Nope, just a natural high. I was aching soooooooooo much last night and slept so well after it being non-stop but woke up feeling ready to get stuck into more boat jobs.

We ordered all the bits and bobs we need for the fire so there isn’t much else we can do with that at the moment so we turned our attention to painting the stern. Obviously, we had to contend with the odd shower right after we’d painted but if you waited for the perfect day it wouldn’t get done. A bit of sanding and primer and then the paint went on. Chris has spent so long looking for the perfect colour match for the Oxford Blue and finally he found that the right one from Wilko’s, so we bloomin hope they get a buyer for the company not only for the staff but it’s so typical when you find something which is perfect and then it goes out of stock or something happens! ((Me too, I mean none of us have got over good old Woolworths going!)) exactly Brackets!

Since the fire has been removed we have been going back and forth with whether we should change the tiles and in the end we decide to clean them up and keep them as they are but the wood on the ceiling is very very dry so we decide to sand and varnish that as well as painting the area where the brass ring fits at the top of the chimney. To do it properly it means taking the curtains down and moving everything but its worth it so the whole boat isn’t a mess! ((Well it certainly looked a mess!)) Yes, but at least everything wasn’t covered in dust and soot!

In between coats of paint and sanding I manage to get the vlog sorted and schedule some blog posts. We decide to have a little walk in the afternoon and get chatting to a guy who has an amazing boat – like a boat tank. What a thoroughly nice bloke, he’s been around the water all his life working on boats such as the QE2 and I think he said he’d been in merchant navy. He was so positive about the canal life and so happy for us and our new adventure.

I also take a break from the boat jobs when we spot a kingfisher eating a fish! The fish was massive and I think it deffo had eyes bigger than its belly. I managed to get a little bit on video but they are so fast and got some amazing picture which are over on my Instagram account and i added a short to YouTube if you want to have a look.

That was about it for the day. It was another full on day of jobs but so much has been achieved.

Until tomorrow… x

Day 43 – Tuesday 29th August – It’s back in the water for The Plot and…

This is late again! One day i will catch up and have my blogs scheduled a week in advance! I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine today – Tuesday 5th Sept, it’s been a hot one that is for sure… okay, now let me take you back in time…

I cannot believe it happened! ((OH I can Peachy. I didn’t get very good odds on the fact it would be you who went in first! I did not laugh, I promise I didn’t – well not until after I knew you hadn’t sunk to the bottom of the canal)) The day started well as we were due to leave the dry dock and finally be back in the water again.  ((Oh you were back in the water alright!))

We adjusted the fenders ((The ropey bit that stick out on the bow and the stern to protect the boat when they play dodgems with other boats and the canal sides)) as the stern one was a little too close to the rudder. All good, we do a final a check over before Dan and Vikki arrive to refloat her. All went well and Chris cruised The Plot out of the dock and did a perfect reversing manoeuver so we could fill up with diesel. Then it was over to the water point to fill up.

After chatting to CRT it seems all is well on the Erewash after they had a stoppage on one of the pounds for a day. I think as the water levels are low so we are going to be brave and stay here to do jobs – this could be a stroke of genius or a bad mistake! ((I know which one I’m routing for. I mean if you want to increase your YouTube followers you’ve got to create more drama!)) Actually I think I’ve had enough drama for the day as not long after filling with water we moved the boat to the other side of the canal to moor up and as I was pulling the boat in, I slipped between a gap which I couldn’t see as the grass was overgrown and straight in I went ((I have to point out again that I laughed after I knew you were okay)) in. Luckily my Yorkshire hips ((I’m saying nothing. Might have been more your backside blocking the gap!)) stopped me from sinking right in but I did have a panic at one point when I thought I was going under as my legs had nothing but water beneath them, so I had to push up with my arms! But with Chris watching helplessly from the boat ((Oh I bet he enjoyed watching that. People would pay him for that footage)) unable to get to the side to help, I hauled myself out. Assessing the damage I only ended up going in just up to my thighs and with pulling myself out in time I still had dry pants! Lol. Oh well, it could have been a lot worse at least I didn’t hurt myself although apparently it doesn’t count as I don’t have it on film! Dan at the boatyard said he would check CCTV but so far I think I’ve gotten away with it. I do have achy legs for the following few days but other than that all good.

Finally, we moored up and I had my second shower of the day and then it was onto the washing which has been piling up. It was 2pm by the time this had all been sorted and then it was coffee time and decide if we should tackle the fire or the painting. It was supposed to be a nice day but it’s been drizzling on and off so we will see!

Chris decided ((After much nagging. Even i was glad when he got up to look)) went to look at the fire and found it was rotten so the option to paint the stern was a no go. Thankfully Dan and Vikki from the boatyard came to our rescue and with a lot of pushing, pulling and hammering they managed to get the pipe out of the stove as it was wedged in tight. Dan then took away the pipe and returned later with a new fabricated one! Talk about lucky and right place, right time!

We only intended to access the fire but then it all went from there and by the end of the day we had a new pipe ready to fit and then to decide if we were going to change the tiles whilst the stove was out.

It was a long old day what with all that going off and it was topped off with an amazing review someone shared for Power of Nature which I’m well chuffed about!

Until tomorrow… x

P.S. ((I think Peachy waited to upload this one hoping people wouldn’t read about her mishap. But never fear I made sure it was uploaded ))

Day 42 – Monday 28th August – Trip to Newark & Boat jobs

Today we had to return the car to Newark as we thought we were going to cruise back down the Erewash tomorrow but in the end we decided to stay a few more days to do jobs on the boat as mentioned before the fire is crucial to us this year. Tomorrow will see us tackling it and I’m not sure we have bitten off more we can chew but it has to be done!

We went for lunch with Chris’s folks which was very nice before they drove us back to the Morrison’s at Eastwood as we’d ordered some stuff and used the Amazon lockers for the first time. It’s something new to get used to when you don’t have a permanent address anymore. But there has never been an easier time to be ‘addressless’ now that these facilities are available. It’s the same as having shopping delivered, you can you the WhatThreeWords option for a location, it really is so easy. We haven’t used the shopping delivery yet as so far we have been in walking or cycling distance of shops.

We do some more painting and last bits on the boat as she will be going back in the water tomorrow so it’s important we get as many jobs done as possible whilst we have easy access.

After a little walk up the canal to enjoy the lighter evenings as they are starting to draw in as autumn is coming closer, it’s another day gone. It’s strange to think it’s been 42 days since we left the marina. We’ve had targets of places to be and things to do and it won’t be until mid September when we will need to decide where our first point of call will be and onto another new stretch of water.

We are keeping our eye on the winter stoppages the Canal and River Trust publish. ((Explain Peachy!)) Oh yeah, sorry. Over the winter the CRT have a planned amount of work they do on the canals, everything from sorting out water levels, dredging, locks which needs fixing and the list goes on. So, it’s best to check where these works are going to take place else you might find yourself arriving on the canal/a lock and you cannot go through it and unable to turn boat to go back and get stuck for months. Also, we need to think about the rivers as if they are liable to flooding, again you can get stuck for months on the wrong side. ((That’s actually quite interesting Peachy. Maybe your canal book would be quite useful. Or they could just read this blog for free!))

This time next week we are hoping to cruise back down the Erewash canal. There has been a few issues with low water, but some of the boats have a bigger draft than us – that’s the amount of our boat under the water. Hopefully my vlog went live yesterday and you can see what I mean from when we were in the dry dock.

Fingers crossed we didn’t make a mistake by staying up here. To be honest though we are loving our time at Langley Mill it’s been very good to us. Especially Vikki, Dan & Tom from Langley Mill Boatyard who have been so helpful and kind we would 100% recommend you come here. These people are what canal life is all about.

Until tomorrow. xx

Here is the vlog if you fancy a watch

Day 41 – Sunday 27th August – Langley Mill dry dock

((Confess Peachy… go on…)) Erm I haven’t written anything for this day and cannot remember what happened… hold on whilst I look at my photos ((It’s a good job people only follow your blog for my witty retorts and not what you have to say or share!)) Well that didn’t help as a I only have a video of the swan! Oh yeah, I’ve remembered something…

As it’s Sunday and a day of rest, although living on a boat there is generally no such thing. ((My heart bleeds for you. Poor you!)) We had a bit of a lazy morning before a walk into Langley Mill to have a nosey around. I believe these used to be old mining villages so they have gone through many stages of prosperity in their time as work has come and gone along with the money to develop and maintain but I would say it has a great feel about it and money has been invested again as there are lots of amenities and the people are so friendly.

Across from the boatyard is a Lidl, KFC and B&Q if you turn left and then right into town there are some lovely pubs and shops as well a McDonalds and an Asda. It really does have everything you need. So, we have a mooch about and get some supplies in for a Sunday dinner and back to the boat it is.

The mornings are starting to have that autumnal feel so it’s only right we start the prep for the winter. It makes us feel like proper boaters that we are getting ready for our first winter ‘on the cut’ as they call it. We have one winter under our belt but we were in a marina so had the luxury of a hook-up to electric so could have the little heater on low all night during the really chilly weeks. Now we will be off grid and relying on our solar which is obviously less in the winter and our diesel heater and our little Boatman fire so it’s very important this is ready.

Right, I think that’s it for today. ((Wait, I’ve just woken up. What did you say?? Oh yeah clearly i missed nothing!))

Until tomorrow. x

Day 40 – Saturday 26th August – Boat jobs & the best fish and chips!

My blog is a bit later than usual as i haven’t had chance to upload this. It’s been non stop boat jobs since we arrived at Langley Mill as we make use of the dry dock and the hard standing mooring next to it.
Back in time to last saturday…

It’s a changeable weather day as we decide to make the most of being in the dry dock to get the rest on the stern bottom painted ((I don’t think that’s the official term for it Peachy – think you will find it is the tunnel bands you’ve already mentioned)) and Chris gets to work on sorting a couple of the buoy holder thingys which hold the buoys on the side of the boat as they have obviously been hit hard at some point and broken. Vikki noticed they were loose when she was doing the blacking so a great time to get those fixed.

I managed to get a few coats of paint on in between the funny august showers and we also had a wander into Langley Mill and later we took advantage of having the car and cruised to the peak district. On route we stopped in Crich and had the best fish and chips ever! It’s called Cardale fish bar – OMG you have to go. Just amazing!

As we head back to the boatyard I just missed getting an amazing picture of a kingfisher on the bank eating a fish and earlier I’m missed a heron diving in the water getting a fish – I really need to get faster with my phone! ((Never fear Peachy – you managed to get him another day!)) I know, woohoo. Head to my YouTube short or Instagram for the picture – amazing! So lucky I was looking at that moment!

It’s been a lovely day of faffing and chatting but also managed to get my latest Youtube vlog sorted which has been difficult due to the connection. Next job is to look at something to make the signal stronger. I’m not really sure how I’m going to write novels, blog and vlog as well as cruise. ((Wait whilst I play the Guinness book of records tiniest violin again!)) I’m not complaining Brackets, I bloody love this life but there are still only so many hours in the day. Unless I stop blogging… ((Wait, erm. Yes, good idea get a new router or something. Great plan))

Tomorrow we area going to tackle the chimney. Having chatted to Dan Vikki from the boatyard it seems it’s quite normal to have to paint the chimney a couple of times a year as long as it’s in good order and no holes. As the mornings are already starting to get a bit cooler we decided perhaps we should crack on and give the restoration a go. We also need to clean the brass ring on the ceiling. We would like to renew the tiles underneath the fire but we will see how we get on as we only have 2 more days here and then have a couple of weeks before we have to get back down the Erewash and to Mercia Marina – which isn’t that far but we wanted to take a little bit longer going back down the Erewash as I’ve spotted a few places I want to visit. Although we chatted to someone today who said one of the locks has been closed due to low water so we will see!

Until tomorrow x
((P.S. Peachy has made her New Zealand book 99p for a short time. Please do buy it else i will have to listen to her moaning about her lack of sales and i’m sure you’ll agree, she moans enough! It’s actually a good read… click here . thanks people. As usual i have to do Peachy’s work for her!))

Day 39 – Friday 25th August – Langley Mill Boatyard Dry Dock!

It’s up early today and we have a recky around the boat and marvel at how fab it looks. It’s also one of those situations where you make one area look nice and so the rest looks terrible so we decide to tackle the painting of the stern.

Vikky from the boatyard called them the tunnel bands I believe… they are basically there so another boat can see by the stripes and therefore know which way your boat is going if you meet in a tunnel which makes sense. I had a look into this and most people agreed this was the case but if you know of any other reason I would love to know.  We decided these definitely needed painting and since the fenders had been taken off it made sense to do them now. For a better look check out the YouTube vlog which will probably be out this Sunday or next Sunday for the boat blacking episode.

There are also some other jobs to tackle as some of the fixtures the buoys tie to have broken. Again, another good job to get done whilst it’s in the dry dock. That was pretty much it today really in terms of jobs on the boat. I did give the boat a full clean as a friend is about to pop over ((YOU have friends?? What like actual real ones?? I’m not often shocked…)) Rude, i thought i would get through one short blog without you making an appearance!

I’ve added a picture of the boat pre blacking and out of the water! eekkk!

Until tomorrow… x

((P.S. In blog time space continiummumum. Which i’m shortening to BTSC it’s the 1st of September in real time so pinch punch first of the month and no return Peachy!))

Day 38 – Thursday 24th August – Boat blacking

Continuing from yesterday… the next lock was Eastwood lock which I can remember nothing about ((Of course you carn’t Peachy. It’s not as if anyone actually expects these blogs to be informative!))  I will attempt to give a better account on my way back! We finally arrived to Langley Mill Lock and as luck would have Dan from the boatyard had come back from his hols so we had a natter about what to do get into the dry dock and off they went to Lidl whilst we nervously prepared ourselves to go into the dock.

It was a bit of a faff to turn the boat due to the size and the weed but with help from another boater we soon got it turned and stern into the dry dock. We weren’t supposed to be ‘waterless’ until Thursday morning but as we’d arrived in good time Dan and Vikki decided to crack on and get it done tonight. It was weird seeing the water drain away and also be on steady footing! It’s like reverse sea legs as you move down the boat to compensate for it moving but it’s not actually moving!

It’s about 7pm by the time we sit down to have some food after starting at 7.30am this morning we are ready for a rest. We were so pleased to have made it to the end of Erewash. After everything we had heard it was a relief to arrive and what a stunning canal it is!

Now to Thursday…

It’s up early and off to Newark again today. It’s a boiling hot day but I dress incorrectly but at least I have my top the right way round which makes a change from the whole day I spent with my top inside out which Chris only noticed at the end of the day! Honestly, I despair of myself nowadays. ((yes, but you provide such entertainment for people Peachy))

Luckily Chris managed to get the car last night as Tom one of the guys from the boatyard was heading that was so very kindly gave him a lift so it we just had to set off when we were ready. When we arrived back from Newark the jet washing had been done and Vikki was already well on with painting the first coat – which looked amazing! Thankfully everything looked good and there were no issues we need to deal with she’d also cleaned the fenders ((The coiled ropes at the bow and the stern to stop them bashing into stuff and destroying the boat))

There was a rather strong smell on the boat as you would expect when the boat has been covered in Bitumen but it soon clears as the boat dries. It’s very weird living in a dry dock in a boatyard! It’s one after another of new experiences in this boating world and bloody brilliant.

An interview I had with a magazine in India is launched today which is quite exciting – here is the link – click here to read. It really feels like everything is coming together. just have to keep working hard! ((Famous last words Peachy. Although I hope it does as it means I get more screen time))

Until tomorrow. x

Miles/Distance: 5 miles
Locks: 8
Tunnels: 0
Swing Bridges: 0
Facilities…
Toilets: Great Northern Basin/Langley Mill there is a toilet
Elsan: Yes. Well maintained
Bins: No – apparently there used to be bons but CRT removed them! Not very useful but there are bins available in some of the businesses nearby which strickly speaking you cannot use but the odd bit here and there whose gonna know if you don’t tell them! We used the bins in the boatyard when we were booked in.
Showers: No
Waterpoint: Yes. Beware! It’s got the power of Niagara falls after a rainy day! Wow, it has some pressure.
General: Great area. Shame it doesn’t have any bins as the other place is at Trent Lock. They really could do a little more to encourage people to cruise the Erewash by offering all the facilities they can. Yes this canal is a challenge but well worth it.