Stock Taking

It is Friday which means that we have spent the first part of this morning in the supermarket stocking up on essential items for a weekend on board. Bottled water, beer and spirits in the main.

We have also decided that it is time we started taking stock of what we are going to need to take with us on our summer trip to the Thames. It can get expensive picking up bottles of spirits ad hoc in local shops so we are planning to take some with us. A couple of bottles of Jack Daniels for me and a couple of bottles of gin for the both of us. 

Better to take too much then not enough of course. We have been stung before when I ran out of Jack Daniels and a bottle which this morning cost me £16 cost £26 for exactly the same bottle. Ouch. 

Once bitten twice shy they say and we won't make that mistake again. We have a cupboard tucked away under the bow which is a pain to get into but is ideal for storing spare bottles of spirits and crates of beer.

I think this boat might be on the heavy side for towing again!

In a Safe Place

The new fuel filters are due to be delivered today in time for the weekend. I have ordered two pairs of filters, two primary filters for the tank and two fines filters for the engine. This will mean that as well as changing the set currently in use we will have a spare set should the need arise to change them mid season. It never has done yet, but you never know when fuel problems may arise.

This time we will make sure that we put the spare set in a safe place and remember where that safe place is!

We don't need to be in the marina to change the fuel filters, which is a good job as we were planning on heading into Lincoln tomorrow evening and didn't really fancy having to head back to the marina to change the filters. So long as we can get moored close to a bin to dispose of the dirty filters straight away we will be fine changing them where ever we end up.

On the Up Again

What with all of yesterdays rain the rivers have unsurprisingly responded very quickly and are on the rise again, very quickly on the rise this time.

With the ground so sodden the water has nowhere to go and is just running off straight into the watercourses and rivers with the resulting fast increases in water levels and flows.

The level of the Fossdyke according to the EA river levels website rose very quickly yesterday but looks to have peaked and is some way short of the levels achieved this time last week. With only occasional light rain in the forecast between now and the weekend they should have the levels back down to normal again by the weekend on the Fossdyke. 

The rivers will be another story altogether and the water will just have to work it's way downstream in it's own time.

A Bit of Debris

The recent heavy rainfall and increased river flows created quite a large raft of debris in front of Stamp End Lock by the weekend. The rubbish that missed the weir gathering in front of the lock gate instead.

No amount of prodding and poking with the boat hook could convince it to move on down the weir so we have to carefully negotiate it instead and try to keep it out of the lock. Easier said then done.

Only the very end of the lock pontoon left to use.

A fair old mix of debris. Someone had already removed some larger bits to the pontoon.

Naughty-Cal edging her way around the raft. Luckily she is small enough and agile enough to do this.

Lined up got the lock entrance again.

Only one sluice in operation on Saturday but still a lot of water being moved through. Mooring on the downstream lock landing would have been difficult with the flow of water pushing beneath it.

Where Did They Go?

We awoke this morning to a rather gloomy morning and the drive back from Lincoln to Sheffield was for the most part through dense fog, which lifted just as we entered Sheffield to reveal what promises to be a bright and sunny day. A shame the same couldn't have been said for yesterday.

This morning I have ordered two pairs of new fuel filters for the boat. We could have sworn that we had a set in the spares box, but alas they could not be found anywhere on Saturday when we needed them. This is the only item left to change and then the engine will have had a full service. We will change the filters next Saturday when we next get the chance. It isn't a big job so won't take us that long and we don't need to be in the marina to do it.

Aside from the AWOL filters the rest of the engine service went really well and we enjoyed a thoroughly relaxing cruise on the Witham. So much so that we might head back down there again next weekend.

On Borrowed Time

After a lovely evening at Fiskerton Fen we have had a steady run back up river stopping at Washingborough for breakfast before continuing up through Stamp End Lock.

We are now moored in Lincoln for a few hours before heading back to the marina later.

The lack of visitors moorings is problematic of late in Brayford Pool. We have had to borrow a mooring for a few hours.

Full Service

With the big green lump serviced this morning, this afternoon it was time to check that all was working as it should. So we unhooked the shore power cable, let go the lines and set sail through Lincoln and onto Fiskerton Fen, perhaps our favourite mooring on the Witham.

There is plenty of water on the river, they are still drawing a lot off the Fossdyke. Safely moored up we have had the 20 minute walk to the Tyrwhitt Arms at Short Ferry where we are currently enjoying a few drinks.

We will head back to the boat shortly where later we have Jerk chicken breast with rice and vegetables for dinner.