Stafford to Penkridge

We woke early this morning and double checked everything was ready for our re-launch. The winch guys arrived at around 8:30 and started getting organised putting out their signs, getting the cables organised, getting hi vis on and having a cup of tea. We were second in, so we watched as Horace was lowered down the slip way and floating again, the cables were then tied to LJs cradle and down she went.

That's Horace back floating

Here comes LJ

And she's floating again

Empty hardstanding, not for long though there were two boats waiting to go up

I am very impressed with Stafford Boat Club, it is very well run and they really do go out of their way to help.

Back on the canal looking towards the covered dock with the slipway beside it

The hardstanding is just behind the tress

It was very chilly this morning with a bit of breeze which made it bitterly cold, once back floating James had the task of reversing past all the boats moored in the arm, then we were on our way.

We needed to get through Penkridge and up Filance Lock today as it has a winter closure on it starting tomorrow. When we got to Penkridge Lock it started to rain but we continued on, then through Filance and that was it.

Our first lock was just round the corner

It's mushroom time of year

The road is very close to the canal here

And slowly past a fishing match

Round the corner and some more, that's the M6 bridge we've just gone under

Keeping an eye on passing boats, just before Penkridge Lock

And the last lock of the day in the rain

As it was around lunchtime we went off to the Star Inn in Penkridge itself, James had read somewhere they did reasonably priced food there. As it was Sunday they were serving roasts which at £5.50 we both went for that and very good it was too, all home prepared and cooked and really really nice, would definitely recommend a visit.

Yummy - this made it all worthwhile

After picking up a few bits in Sainsbury's we headed back to LJ and are now cosy for the evening in front of the fire.

5 miles and 6 locks
TOTAL 682 miles and 621 locks

Blacking - Day 7

The final day so just a few finishing off and pottering bits, the front fender was re-attached and final touch up bits of red and blacking where it meets the blue. The rear dodger was cleaned and put back into place and the weed hatch re-sealed.

Just a last bit of tidying up in the morning then we are back in the water.

LJ as a duck sees her

Blacking - Day 6

No photos today, I forgot to take any and when I suddenly remembered it was a bit too dark. Anyway it looks pretty well the same - blue boat with black bottom sat in the same place on the hard standing. 

Today the second coat went on the tunnel bands and the front yellow nose and blue gloss below the gunnels on the hatch side. James sorted out the front button fender, earlier in the year the chain from the centre of it broke and we made it though most of the year being held on with rope as a temporary repair. It's really not that easy trying to get to the front fender when the boat's in the water. 

Poor Dudley is getting very bored of it all now.

Blacking - Day 5

Very quick today, as it's more of the same.

The third and final coat of blacking went on so plenty of time to cure before going back into the water. The tunnel bands had a first coat and the front yellow bit too. We also managed to get one side of the blue done as well, before it got too dark.

Blacking - Day 4

Well I thought I was getting out of a bit of work today - we needed a couple of bits from a DIY shop and B&Q is the closest at just under two miles, I was just saying to James I would go first thing in the morning when we had a message through from Pippa, a friend of ours, who happened to be moored up in Stafford but had her car with her and was off to the shops, did we want picking up and going with her! How could I refuse that offer, so at 10am this morning off I went, thinking that had got me out of work. 

We also had Mark come to look at our wobbly tiller, I was surprised at how basic the tiller works - for some reason I thought there would be bearings and the like but actually it's just the rudder attached to a long pole through a hole in the back of the boat where the tiller arm is attached there is a collar in the hole which had worn so he replaced that and also the cup which holds the whole thing was slightly worn so he sorted that too. Now the tiller feels more stable but not too stiff to move. It should hopefully make steering a little less jolty.

When I got back from my shopping spree James had done the first blue gloss coat, then we were both on to work with the second coat of blacking.

Blacking - Day 3

The day started with washing off the Fertan and letting that dry. Then is was the first coat of Keelblack. James did one side and me the other and we were done in one and three quarter hours. It is not much thicker than water and very easy to apply with rollers. When it goes on it's a very dark brown which then dries to a matt black. You are able to re-coat once it's touch dry but as we have plenty of time were not doing the second coat until tomorrow.

The other thing done today was undercoat over the red oxide primer for the gloss.

It stayed dry again today but no sun unlike yesterday so it was feeling a little chilly but not too bad. 

James getting a head start

What a transformation

First coat finished

Getting the undercoat on next, ready for the gloss

Dudley supervising

Blacking - Day 2

Well not much to report today, we have mainly been watching paint dry!!

After a busy and tiring day yesterday we had an easy day today. James put the Fertan on the other side and made sure all bare metal bits were covered. I did a quick sand down of the tunnel bands, and put Red Oxide primer on the bare metal bits to be glossed. Then the sun came out and we watched it all dry.

Blacking - Day 1

We popped up to the club house at Stafford Boat Club last night, well it would have been rude not too, there were only a few people there, but it gave us the opportunity of meeting some of the members, including John who takes care of all the bookings for the slip way and also Frank who was on duty this morning to haul LJ out.

There were two boats ready to go back in and we were the first of two to come out. As we were moored in the arm we just had to wait for the second boat to pass us then it was our turn to go up.

Heading for the slipway 

Up she comes

As soon as we were up the pressure washer was checked then the hard work started. James started the washing whilst I removed the front and rear buttons, then it was onto scraping. We had a quick lunch stop and got the rest of the scraping finished this afternoon.

And she's up and in place

James getting to work with the pressure washer

We are trying out Keelblack this time instead of the usual thick bitumen so all the bare steel and any rust patches need to be treated with Fertan first, James got it on one side today as well. Feeling pleased as we are slightly ahead of our schedule.