Michael Tyler

As June draws near, Bonnie needs to travel North.

This year, she’s going in for blacking. The last time I had this done was July 2022. Getting on for 3 years ago.

As I look at the hull, it looks kind of weedy…. The anodes, which prevent the hull from rusting are getting low, which is of more concern.

Hull blacking

Supposed to be every 2 years. I guess that’s a good timeframe.

Bonnie will be lifted out of the water, jetwashed and re-painted with bitumen paint.

They’ll put some more of these on….

It will take a week for which I won’t be allowed to stay on Bonnie due to insurance obligations.

Some boatyards do let you stay on your boat whilst it’s being blacked, although they may get you to sign an insurance disclaimer.

This time they won’t, so I will be leaving Bonnie and doing a bit of travelling around and about the country.

Weekend in Spiceball Park

Thought I’d spend Saturday and Sunday in the middle of Banbury, enjoy the bright lights.

Getting up there was more difficult

Blockage at Grant’s Lock

The first lock you reach between Twyford and Banbury is called ‘Grant’s Lock‘. It’s a deep lock. Maybe 20 ft deep. One of the features of Grant’s Lock is that it often gets debris stuck behind it’s rather tall gate.

…

Read More Read More

Or close to.

The weather is warm, the sun is shining. Spring has sprung. Birds are on the wing.

I even spotted a pair of these very close to the canal.

It’s an Egyptian goose. Initially, I asked Gemini ai what it was. I described it pretty clearly, cream brown body, dark brown wings. Brown ring around the eye. 1st answer from our trusty ai helper…. “It sounds like you might have seen a female mallard. They’re pretty common ducks, and the females have that mottled brown plumage you described. Is that a possibility?“. Obliviously not a mallard, I said, much larger than that. Have another go… “Barnacle goose” says ai. Again, a pretty dumb suggestion. A barnacle goose is black.

Ai bird identification skills 0/10. AI really hallucinating pretty hard on this one.

Like the black swan I spotted in Cropredy, initially they were kept as domestic pets on ornamental lakes, non native and non breeding. As the climate has changed, black swans and Egyptian geese have spread their wings, as it were, and taken to the UK countryside

Also heard a Cuckoo. It was in the tree behind the boat coo cooing until the crows came and chased it off.

Boat painting

With the improved weather conditions, I’ve had time to be given over to carrying out some boat renovations. Namely painting the roof.

Over the course of the last 8 years or so since it was last painting, it’s seen a little weather damage and the appearance of rust welts around the mushrooms.

…

Read More Read More