Vlog 183: Congestion Charge
Filmed at the end of June and start of July, this video captures the very few miles I did in the narrowboat between Fazeley Junction and just past Hopwas. En route I picked up food supplies from a supermarket and plumbing supplies from a DIY store. Well, it would be odd to do it the other way around.
Start point: https://goo.gl/maps/e7NQ4E9NasGdJV9eA
Fazeley Mill marina: https://goo.gl/maps/eQLbQ3d1E8U3LLLY7
Shop stop: https://goo.gl/maps/eVzxzMM274wVVRKv9
Shady place: https://goo.gl/maps/eXALZ8HoCmPcNCCa8
End point: https://goo.gl/maps/HX9TnmdTgHKaAoJ86
I’ve worked out a likely reason for the spiders festooning your front camera – they know that you are going to post the footage on the internet and are trying to turn it into a webcam.
:o)
Haha very good
We love Fazeley Mill marina! Or rather we love the two very helpful ladies there who went out of their way to help us this August when we arrived. My wife had fallen and broken her ankle at a lock a few miles of there and it was the first point at which we could call an ambulance to give them a reliable address. One of them even went back to the hospital to pick Ella up and bring her back to the boat in her own time!
On a less satisfactory note when we left the next morning to join n the Coventry canal I made a complete hash of turning right and got jammed between the two sides of the canal. I had to pole the bow round to free us and then scramble to the back to regain control and some sense of dignity.
I have always found them very friendly at Fazeley Mill too, I’m glad they were able to help. And yes, the turn out is horrible, I like to enter the marina forwards (to the fuel dock) and back out, which seems to make things more palatable.
Shiver me timbers !
Re your comments about mooring pins. From what I saw this past summer, nappy pins can be bounced out of the armco as well so as you do chains were employed or the nappy pin secured with the tail of the mooring line so it could not bounce.
That said our skipper when using pins to moor up 50 tonnes of wide beam would set the main pin and then drive a second pin through the eye at 90 degrees so any force trying to pull the main pin would have to overcome the resistances of the second pin.
After many a mile on the K & A, the GUC and the Thames I cannot recall a mooring pin set up like that moving. In fact some mornings getting ready to get underway, they were a right pain to get out.
Have you experience to share doing this?
As you can see I am up to 183 having started at the very first vlog. These are super. As we plan for 4 weeks on the Warwickshire Ring in 2021 the educational value is tremendous. Thank you so much.
Yes, on a particularly muddy bank I have been known to knock a second pin across the top of the first, to give it extra hold but I don’t think it makes a huge amount of difference since the pins are just narrow cylinders in mud; they really need a flatter “spread” to hold against being pulled but no-one seems to make ones like that.
Hello from Idaho, USA.
My husband and I have been binge-watching your vlog this past week and we love it! We started with episode #1 and we are now on #75. We laughed so hard at your April 1, 2017 newscast. Great fun!
We do a lot of shopping on Amazon, so we will be sure to follow your link.
Thanks for the entertainment and the useful information. We will give you a friendly wave on our next canal journey.
Thank you! :-)
Great video. Excellent commentary, as always. I really did enjoy seeing the spider webs on the bow cam. It reminds me how “spidy” river life can be, albeit I spent mine on a salt river, that wound its way into a large bay. Thanks also for sharing the pictures of the dogs.
Have a great summer on the cut.
Cheers Marjorie!
Hi David ,
Love watching your vlogs and find them very useful , I have one question
Which map or maps do you use , seems so many on sale.
Regards Russ
I use Nicholson’s but some people prefer Pearson’s, it’s just a matter of personal taste.
The Chimney Maker’s boat was quite interesting David. It is amazing how these Artisan’s make a living traversing the canals of England, a peaceful way of life it would appear. I have another question of a utility nature in regard to drinking water. I did see in this video when you topped off your water tank, the water point was labeled as drinking water. Are all of these water points safe for drinking? Do you employ any extra filtering in the water you use for drinking? Another wonderful video David, thanks as always ;)
I use no filtering but only drink water from the tank if I’ve boiled it (ie for tea). For general drinking water I keep a separate 5 litre container which I top up at the water points directly.
My husband has got me watching you. I enjoy it. Thank you it is relaxing. Look forward to the next one and enjoy your story telling.
Thank you (and thanks to your husband!). I’m delighted you enjoy them :-)