Yesterday we drove up from home after church - Mike was leading at the Betjeman Centre but nevertheless we were able to pack the car and get away just on noon. Knowing that there could be delays in the road works (to remove a well-known bottleneck!) on Bodmin Moor, we took the alternative route through Camelford which would normally be just a little slower. We re-joined the main A30 and thought all was going well until we started to see slower cars and just ahead the blue flashing light of a police car. IT was slowing everything down to a convoy and also we realised that nothing was coming the other way.
After a period of standstill we were able to move off again and soon passed the scene of a single car accident which was, by now, being cleared away.
Although the traffic was busy, it did not result in delays until somewhat later when there was an overhead sign warning of delays after the next junction and a 40 limit was imposed. We took the offer of an alternative route from the sat nav and came back onto the M5 after about 20 minutes.
From there is was plain sailing (as it were) - we made the briefest of stops at the new(ish) service area at Gloucester. We were not especially impressed - the only shop stocked rather expensive designer goods and similar foodstuffs! So, no chance to find some of the latest books to read.
We arrived at Oxley Marine about 50 minutes later than the original schedule - not too bad in the circumstances. We immediately made contact with Orph and Phil who were most keen to show us the work which they had done.
First, a photo from when we left the boat, with the old engine in place.
Now another with the new one. Look how neat and tidy it all is. The wiring is especially neat. They also fitted a fourth leisure battery, re-siting the starter battery on the opposite side. As can be seen, the whole bay has been re-painted and the challenge now will be to keep it that way!
We unloaded the car and were given permission to stay put for the night.
This morning, Mike took the car to buy a newspaper and a couple of other items from the nearby supermarket, before going to Napton Narrowboats base at Autherley Stop Lock just a short distance away. We had arranged to leave the car there whilst we are on this trip as Oxley do not have any room.
Back at the boat, Christine was supervising the re-fuelling operation and also had been told that we should take the boat up as far as Coven, turn around and come back so that Phil could do a check on the tightness of the bolts. This we did, passing Autherley Junction and carrying on through the narrows for about an hour. After winding, on the way back we took the opportunity of a straight and deep section to push the throttle up to 200- rpm to see how it went. Really remarkably smooth. The throttle behaves somewhat differently and the gearbox engages very much less clunky than the old one.
We had to go a few minutes beyond Oxley to Aldersely Junction in order to turn to face the direction we wanted to go in when we finally escaped! Phil did his checks and looks reasonably satisfied - if ever an engineer like Phil can be completely satisfied! We have been advised that we will need to find another boatyard to do the 50 hour check which will perhaps take us just under a week to reach.
On the basis of this short run at least we are fully satisfied and pleased to be able to think that the new engine should last us a good few years, hopefully without trouble for some time to come.
The crew of Oxley - wonder which one of this lot does all the real work? In case of doubt, we really can wholeheartedly recommend Oxley for the work they do - this was the largest but we have called here in the past and been very satisfied.
Finally, finally we were able to set off on the trip proper, re-tracing our steps once again. We are planning to go back to the Trent and Mersey to continue northwards on that route with an overall mid-trip objective of reaching Nantwich on schdule for Mike to go by train down to London, initially for a meeting but then also to meet up with Adrian at Euston for the handover of Alice and Jess who are then joining us for the remainder of their school holiday.
It was a pleasant afternoon although generally little blue sky was around. A breeze kept the temperature in check as we continued through Hatherton Junction. We had just met a boat under the junction bridge and as we passed under another was coming along behind. In fact there was a steady stream, predominantly hire boats.
Whilst going down the lock at Gailey we quickly serviced the elsan and then also went through Brick Kiln Lock before finding a mooring for the night. The next section is very close to the motorway and it would be rather late once we reached somewhere quieter.
17.6 miles - 2 locks
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