Tuesday 2nd October 2012

Tuesday 2nd October.

So, my experiment with the batteries was thus:
On going to bed last night I switched off the inverter AND the galley 12V sockets. This meant that the fridge was off overnight. I have noticed that the motor on the fridge runs most of the time even though the dial is set to only 1. The Smart Gauge read 75 when we went to bed. In the morning it read 74, so not much loss there. I turned the galley sockets back on and got up to make cups of tea. about 25 minutes later I checked the gauge and it read 58 so that is quite a big drop.
We had breakfast then when I started the engine the gauge read 45 so another big drop. All the time the fridge was on, maybe this is the cause of our battery problems.
About a mile after setting off we were at the bottom of the Adderly flight of 5 locks.The first lock was empty so we went straight in. The 2nd lock was also empty in our favour. Before the first lock was full Pip went off to open the gates of the 2nd lock leaving me to exit the lock on my own. Just as Pip was walking up to the bottom gates of the next lock there was the tell tale click click click sound of paddles being raised. Someone was stealing our lock from us! We didn't complain and they did have the grace to apologise to Pip claiming they hadn't seen us. I quietly said to Pip "Well, that's because they didn't look!" Anyway it didn't hold us up much. We met another 2 boats further up the flight which lightened our gate opening and shutting load.
After the top lock Pip went off to make the cups of tea which were served with home made biscuits. We then pootled along to Market Drayton which was our destination for the week.
We had an appointment with our boat builders Stillwater Narrowboats to talk about our new boat. They have just moved into new premises in what used to be known as Ted's Boatyard. We spent a very pleasant 2 and a half hours with Kevin and Richard discussing our new boat and it's layout and looking round their latest boat which is due for launch and delivery on Saturday. It looks very bright and shiny and very similar in layout to the one we have planned. I.E reverse layout with galley at the back, then a pullman dinette, then the lounge, bathroom and finally the bedroom at the front. They have given us a contract for us to read and sign. All very legal and scary!

Stillwater Narrowboats new premises 

On leaving they gave us a new 250 amp fuse for the bow thruster on WD which I fitted. However it blew on the first attempt at using it.
We went to visit the chandlery next door to buy a chimney but they didn't have one. They also didn't have any fire bricks to replace the broken ones on WD. So they didn't do much business! They did advise us quite strongly not to use the stove until it has been fixed. 
We filled with water then winded and moored up again to take a trip to Asda for provisions. It was 6PM by the time we got back but we wanted to be away from Market Drayton so we set off northbound back in the direction we had come from this morning.
We are now moored up just above the Addersley flight about 18 inches out from the edge as the Shropshire Union Ledge is preventing us getting any closer.
Sausage and mash for tea then watch Great British Bake Off.

Summary:
8 miles, 5 locks (one stolen), 1 boat builder, 1 peed off heron and 0 chimneys.