Category: Narrowboat

Up the Aynho

Wharf area now.

The mobile signal has improved since my last visit and I can actually access the internet and do things I do normally.

Last time, it was abysmal https://www.michaeltyler.co.uk/somerton-and-9-hours-in-aynho/

Mooring at Aynho Wharf
Facing south mooring at Aynho Wharf

Boat work

The weather has improved slightly, to the point I can think about doing jobs like painting the cabin.

This has been needing some attention for years, literally. Due to the inclement nature of the UK weather, it’s very difficult to put time aside to do it as the weather may change at any time and render your planning useless.

Fortunately, I have no work at the moment and I plan to do nothing, for the moment. That is apart from do those jobs that require that you have nothing to do of which is paint is one.

I’ve done some of the preparation on the side panel. Sanded it down, primed and undercoated it. It needs it to be a) Not windy. b) Not raining c) Not going to rain, for me to be able to put on the topcoat.

Over the coming days, there’s no doubt I will achieve this.

Victron Smartsolar

On installing the Lifepo4 batteries and encountering some teething errors with the Battery Management Systems on the Fogstar‘s, I’ve found out that Lifepo‘s and Peak Wave Modulator solar controllers don’t mix.

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Pig Place – The shop is ***CLOSED***

As you can see from the above picture, torrents of water have widened, depended and scoured the edges of the mill stream in which the duck is sitting.

Well at least it was at the time of writing this (Mid April).

I read on their website that the wetness circumstances were causing them trouble. Eventually, they gave up and closed the place down.

Here’s my boat.

Bonnie at pigplace
Bonnie at Pig Place

Pigs down the river

The pigs have all gone.

As the weather improves, I expect they’ll open up again soon. Word is the pigs won’t be there. Circumstances have changed with regards to their supply chain meaning they would have to drive a lot further to slaughter. To Buckinghamshire which kind of takes away the ‘local’ aspect to the business.

What happens to the diner and shop, which used to stock some of their piggy products? Who knows.

You’ll have to watch this space. But for now, the Pig Place is closed.

Job – Over

Now I’m officially unemployed. My employment has finished. I was made redundant on Friday 11th April.

There were no alternative roles offered.

I’m going to take a holiday and think what to do next.

In the mean-time

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Peak solar – Kings Sutton in the Fields

Here. Where I am. From when the sun comes up until it descends behind the curve of the hillock to the side of me it has an unobstructed view of the panels.

It’s probably one of two places on the whole network where that happens.

It’s also very quiet. In terms of boaters. Not a lot stop here, if they do, it’s not for much longer than a couple of days.

I like that though. When you’re on a boat, one place is much the same as any other.

Kings Sutton in the Fields

Wetland paradise

Since the heavy rains over the Autumn and winter, the fields adjacent have become waterlogged. Until 3-4 weeks ago, some of them were underwater. 2 Months ago, the whole area surrounding the Cherwell was underwater.

River Cherwell flood plains

One side effect of this prolonged period of dampness has been the arrival and residency of a number of different bird species.

As I walked up around the fields and took the picture above, these birds were around on the bend of the river, in the sky or on the fields themselves.

Lapwing
Lapwing
Wigeon
Wigeon
Duck friendly
Mallard
Canada Goose
Canada Goose

There are also birds of prey. Kestrel. Although it’s more difficult to ID these without the binoculars.
Red-kites also Blackbirds/Sparrows/Crows etc.

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Potholes in Northamptonshire

Are pretty shocking. Northamptonshire county council went bust in 2021. It’s services have been suffering ever since. Perhaps one of the most noticeable of these is the state of the roads, which seem to be something of a running joke.

After going out working last Thursday, I’ve got this little bit of content illustrating exactly what I mean!

YouTube player

Shocker.

Claiming for damage caused by potholes

By the time I’d got out of the village, which was under 2 minutes, the tyre had deflated enough to be on the rim.

That’s not generally consistent with something which can be repaired.

That night, I wrote an email to the council and ordered the tyre.

I got a reply the following day.

I’ll keep you updated as to what goes on with this…

Now into Twyford wharf

After spending 3 weeks in Spiceball Park, in central Banbury, I’ve moved around 3 miles south.

I’m now at Twyford Wharf.

Mooring at Twyford Wharf
Mooring at Twyford Wharf

With the windows, the road noise is now non-existant.

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Here in Spiceball Park

Banbury. Right behind the bakery, behind a shed where they load the lorries with bread before they go off delivering around the country. It is actually Warburtons bread. It’s called the ‘fine lady’ bakery.

Can’t hear a peep from it… The new windows are assisting in this. The only thing I can really make out is the birds. Late night, the industrial lighting keeps them awake and they do a kind of premature dawn chorus. That can be a bit noisy. You get used to it. I think they realise after a bit, it’s not real dawn and shut up. Otherwise, you wouldn’t know you were right in the centre of Banbury. It’s pretty quite.

As well as looking pretty snazzy, the double glasing tint has the additional effect of not allowing the little beasties that frequent the towpath from being able to see in.

Fitting LifePo batteries to the narrowboat

Now that the trees are gone, (leaves), I can get some good solar. Whilst I’m out at work, my batteries are charging. By the time I get back, they’ve added one to two percent which I can see on the app.

Fogstar drift app

My old lead acid AGM batteries bit the dust. The winter weather tends to kill them off. A culling of the weak as it were. Over the last cold period, I was having to start the boat every other day to keep them topped up.

When it’s not the holiday period, that’s simply not practical. I’m not going to be there to run engines. I work until late, and when I get back it maybe 9 or 10pm.

So I got rid of the AGM’s and got some what’s called Lifepo4, which is a chemical acronym. Lithium Iron phosphate.

Fogstar

https://www.fogstar.co.uk

Are a company from the UK based in Redditch.

Continue reading “Here in Spiceball Park”