So near but so far!
Thought all my problems were over but just coming into Aherstone and the engine cut out in a lock and had to be pulled out. Turns out that I was out of fuel but that was because the main feed to the lift pumps had broken and a nearly full tank of diesel had emptied into the bilge! I legged it to the nearest marina which luckily was only half a mile away and just caught the owner Barry as he was shutting up shop! He promised to come and have a look at 8.00am the following day which he duly did and diagnosed the problem. I then had to pull the boat to his marina which is not as bad as it sounds as I had three volunteers as soon as I got to the nearest moored boats who pulled me all the way. We tried to source a new pipe but they are like hens teeth and the only one we found was £140 +VAT+postage and this was a Friday so would have meant another three days wasted awaiting delivery. Barry has huge experience and has built around 150 narrowboats and set about repairing the pipe with flexible hosing which not only fixed the problem but made it less prone to future failure.
Barry Hawkins - Saviour!
The next day I was underway again in a race to get to Braunstone to meet Steve and Krista - friends of mine from Cairo who had flown in from Canada. Also we were meeting Jeff and Ruth who only had a couple of days free. Thankfully the boat ran perfectly and I was able to cover the 30 miles and 12 locks in two days and get to Braunstone on time.
Jeff and Ruth came out for a rain soaked trip through Braunstone Locks and the 2000m long Braunston Tunnel and we dropped them at Norton Junction (the New Inn). Bad start when Krista flushed the toilet and left the pedal down depositing around 10 gallons of water into the hull! Luckily it was clean as I had pumped out the day before – spent all week pumping and mopping it out!
The new crew
Had a fantastic week with Steve and Krista travelled down the Nene through, Thrapston, Oundle and Wansford. Krista took 800 photos a couple of which are below.
Getting close to Peterborough, Steve was navigating and I was in the saloon when there was a great crash as Steve banged it into reverse and by the time I got back we were caught in a cross wind and I had to do a lot of revving to get us out by which time it had overheated so badly that the return hose to the header tank had blown off so the whole system had boiled dry. Managed to get it to Alwalton with repeated overheating where there is a good pub (the Cuckoo). The next day Steve and Krista got a taxi to Peterborough en route back to Canada via a rugby World Cup game at MK.
Spent two days at Alwalton trying to bleed the system and thought I had fixed it but it took 6 hours to do the 5 miles and one lock to Peterborough with the boat overheating every 15 minutes or so and no moorings - very stressful! Every time it overheated as it was windy, I had to basicaally run it aground in the reeds and you are never quite sure you will get out again. Got an engineer in (Mark Dawson) who drilled a bleed hole in the skin tank which made a big difference but still not right!
Now been stuck here in Peterborough for over two weeks! So frustrating because I could be back at my mooring in 3 or 4 days quite easily if everything was running OK. Originally I was moored on the quayside which is not ideal; no security or shore power (which you need if you are going to start taking an engine apart!). Found some good new pubs though; The Ostrich Inn in town (great landlord, Liam) and on the other side of the bridge – The Cherry Tree (great food), the Swiss Cottage (pool table) and the Coal Leavers Arms (Park St),
My mate Ru has been brilliant and came and stayed for four days. We tried everything we knew to fix the fault; filling the cooling system from the top and the bottom and repeatedly bleeding it but still it overheated after about 15 minutes of moving though sometimes it ran for as much as 3 hours on tick over – just not consistent symptoms. In the end we also fitted a new water pump but to no avail. Other friends Nev, Pete and Elaone have also been to visit and offered all sorts of support .
Cavalry to the rescue but still stuck!
Now managed to get a mooring at Jacksons boatyard in Stanground and have an engineer who will re design the heating system and fit a new head gasket if necessary. The yard has all the facilities necessary for any work and is very secure with shore power which is a great relief - more importantly a great pub, The Woolpack, is next door! Fingers crossed I should be underway again early next week :)
