Gongoozling gongoozlers

This afternoon we had a picnic lunch at the top of Foxton locks and spent some time gongoozler spotting

On the move again and life with BFG

We set out 15 minutes ago to moor up on the water point at Foxton top. We'd done a number of loads of laundry in the week, thanks to dear BFG and the water tank was gently gasping. So here we are, watering up.

The fun of BFG is doing other stuff while he's on. Like vacuuming. And anything really to take ones mind off the fact that he's LOUD. Very. So two laundry loads in one day is quite enough, thank you. We thought we might run BFG whilst we were on the move, but that would mean standing on top of him and Donk battling it out for attention. (no way.) So the routine so far is that we get up, Pete goes to play water and boats and Elizabeth puts on BFG after 8am (boat license rules) and gets thoroughly busy with domestics. Mind numbing distraction. But he's quiet again just after 9, so all's well. That is, unless we've still got boats too close for neighborliness in which case, he goes on for a mad lunch break of domestic frenzy. Noise aside, it is amazing to feel quite so independent of shore. Amazing. Still doesn't put us off the preference of some quiet leccy!

The side hatch view of our Foxton mooring

We set off from our gorgeous mooring late this morning. Within minutes, the rain started. Pete took the first wet tiller spell and Elizabeth took the second, passed an angling competion and brought Bella into mooring just south of Bridge 60 and just short of the top of Foxton Locks.

We were here in May and June last year for Pete to volunteer as Lock Keeper. It's what made him want to do all this full time! This year, we'll be here for him to pick the brains of a seasoned water manager and over the next week, Pete will travel this area learning reservoir management. He is SO excited!

So here we are. This is the view from the side hatch. Heaven. Or a small slice of.

Our Fabuloso lights

A word about the lights.  We used to run mostly 240v lights - the usual domestic. And it takes 11 watts of leccy to run Ivor to invert Bella's 12v to 240. And each energy saving 240v bulb of 5w would add up to three lights at total 26w. Our new lights work on 12v and are 1.5w of lovely LED brightness. So no Ivor drops 11w out of the leccy use immediately. We could light 17 LED downlighters and still not equal 3 domestic lamps.
Wow. Happy boaters!

The bottom line is significantly less diesel to run the engine to top up the batteries to give us electricity. When we were moored in Braunston for nearly all of this last week, we only ran Belladonk 2 hours all week. Previously we would have run it 3 hours each day. Each day (!). Mind you, the extra domestic battery and the new battery charging monitor have certainly added to this fuel saving! That's 2 fuel hours in six days, not 18.

And with them lit we have wonderful atmosphere all over Bella, not just a few mid level pools of light. If we could get better photos at night, we'd show you. Perhaps you'll just have to visit!

Moored up by Kicklewell Spinney, Leicestershire

What a good day! Light rain, sunshine, downpours, sunshine, thunderstorms, 19 miles, 7 locks, 2 tunnels and two downlighters installed in the dining room whilst on the move.

We got to Watford locks just before 9:30 in lovely sunshine. The photo of the green hill behind Bella's bow (and Pete lockside) is not any old hill. A closer look reveals steps, each one holding a side pond which manages  the lock water. The little cottage is at the top lock and is where Pete spent many a Saturday making tea when he was lock keeping this flight.

The other photo is inside Husbands Bosworth tunnel. We took advantage of the boat coming toward us to catch enough light to finally manage an inside tunnel shot. Magic.

As we did around 16 miles without locks, the travelling can be a bit boring. So Elizabeth did dishes with Pete at the helm, Pete dried up with Elizabeth at the tiller, Elizabeth vacuumed and dusted with Pete outside, then Elizabeth helmed again while Pete installed new lights. The next post is about those!

On to Watford flight

We woke early (well, late these days) and set out just as the tea was brewing. Here we are, travelling north on the Leicester Arm of the Grand Union Canal, just spotting Bridge 3 ahead. Today is the Watford flight, Crick tunnel and the boring Crick Summit. No matter, we're OUT.

Norton Junction for the night

It feels so GOOD to be traveling again! We set out this afternoon after Pete came home from work and after Colin (our engineer) visited the BFG for final snagging. While the BFG snagging was going on Elizabeth was happily vacuuming - on the cut! Yes BFG!

We stopped off at the water/waste point, dropped off rubbish and then started the Braunston flight of six locks. Heaven. Moving lock gates, winding paddles - oh, the muscles did enjoy being revived. We then revisited our dear Braunston tunnel airing an excellent rendition of "Bless The Lord my Soul" in harmony. No other boats and dear Josie scurried inside.

Now moored. Tomorrow the Leicester Arm. Good.