Repairs Painting and the start of the cruising season

1515/0505/2012201220122012 by admin.

March 30th 2012 and we left Dukra for the ship yard to be slipped so that I could make some repairs alterations and Anti Foul the bottom of the boat.  We  arrived at the yard early afternoon and tied up on the waiting Steiger (jetty) to wait for them to take the boat before us off the slip. When this was done and it was our turn we pulled the boat into position and the trolleys were slid beneith us. Ist attempt failed because of the shape of our hull and the cradles had to be modified. Second go and we rose from the water untill about half way up the slip and the first cradle left the rails and started off to th right. All Stop! Much scratching of heads later and a jack was employed to add weight to the trolly and hold it on the rail. This worked and we were now secure. With a heave the stairs were put into place it was now 6-30 pm so we decided to call it a Day.

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A Few More Pictures Zaandam in winter Brrrr

0808/0202/2012201220122012 by admin.

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Christmas Visit a comedy of errors

1313/1212/2011201120112011 by admin.

  

Zaandam December 3rd.

It all started so well we were on time for the train and made the Airport with time to spare. The baggage was deposited into the automated system and we went through security with plenty of time for a relaxed cup of coffee. We boarded the plane on time and had a decent flight with KLM landing on time at Birmingham.

This is where the fun started! We phoned our son in law to say we were just off to get the baggage and he said he had just seen us land and would meet us in arrivals.  we stood with all the other passengers and waited, and waited, all of us watching the belt going round.Nothing! then came an announcement, will all passengers from Amsterdam please go to the desk in front of belt 14. We arrived to be told that non of the baggage had been loaded on to the Aircraft as the automate system in Amsterdam had broken down. Well you can imagine the result of this as some passengers were there for connecting flights all over the place. forms were being handed out to be filled in but no one had a pen! All of our Christmas presents were in the luggage: we were told that it could take up to 5 days so we let instructions that they be sent to our Daughters not the Hotel in case we were back in the Netherlands. So after getting to our Daughters picking up her car and booking into the Hotel it was off to buy shirts underwear etc for our stay. The luggage eventually arrived whilst we were preparing the Christmas meal so at least we were able to dish out the presents.

The Flight back was even more eventful. The Taxi was early so we set of for the Airport, on arrival we were told they could fit us on an earlier flight but that was delayed due to high winds at Schiphol  we got our boarding cards and headed for the security check in. Well this is where the trouble started Carol set off the alarm so back through she went again the alarm sounded so the wand came into use. It turned out to be hairgrips and bra strap. Meanwhile I sailed through and was collecting my hand luggage when we noticed Carols had been taken to one side. Out came the knickers in which she had wrapped a present from my Brother and sister in law. embarrassing! it turned out that they were looking for organic blocks they thaught might be cemtex that had shown on the xray  four of them, on getting down to the blocks it turns out that our new  buisness cards look like Cemtex so we were allowed on our way and the armed officers withdrew. We had now to wait for the delayed flight again and again the board went to five minutes gate open and then bounced up to ten. eventualy we were boarded and told that we were to wait on the tarmac for a slot into Amstrdam airport which had all but one runway closed. We took off after about 40 minutes and landed very bumpily 40 minutes later in very high winds

Birthday Girls! Grandaughters Bekky 18 and  Freya May 1

Blow Hard!

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Winter Base

0808/1010/2011201120112011 by admin.

 

Gues who!

Well we have arrived at our Winter   Mooring at Yacht haven Dukra in Zaandam North Holland. WE are right in the centre of town here within a few minutes of all the shops and cafés. WE will be here for the next six months and now have a wifi connection to the web so I will be able to update the blog on a more regular basis. We have had a wonderful time since leaving the UK and have travelled through Northern France, briefly through Belgium, following the Meuse which turns into the Mass river and then into the Netherlands. The weather has been at times a little mixed but on the whole has been reasonable. Everyone we have met on our travels have been friendly and keen to help, this has made the journey fly by.We ended having covered 1359 kilometers

typical French Lock

Quick lunch

Chilled Out Ships Dog

Along the Meuse

boats at Dinnant from the Citidal

Namur

Pont-a-Bar the start of 24 locks

Mars Gate Reims

Reims cathederal

typical town moorings

Tunnel

Masstreicht

Moored in Woodrichem

Now we know we are in the Netherlands

Den Bosch Cathederal

 

One for John

Traffic on the Waal

img_3463.JPG

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Update at Last July 29th Reims

2929/0707/2011201120112011 by admin.

Hello to all

It has been sometime since I updated the Blog and the reason for this is the cost of connecting to the internet. Once we have arrived in the Netherlands we will take out a contract with a service provider or use Wi Fi at the marina if they have it and then I will be able to put up some Pictures as well. However we left  Teddington on June 14^th destination Dunkirque with a Pilot and did not stop until 20 hours later we arrived in the outer harbour. The trip was uneventful with only a small swell and very little traffic in the channel. Our route took us straight out of the estuary and directly across in a straight line to Dunkirque after a few days we joined the canal system having bought a VNF licence for 30 days our first trip was to Burgues a delightful town at the end of its own canal. It is well worth a visit from here we went back to Dunkirque and on to Watten mooring in the port l’ Emitage this proved to be very susceptible to passing Commercial traffic causing an inrush of water which then leaves just as fast. Care must be taken if mooring here otherwise you could find yourself adrift. We have visited Armentieres  a short trip into Belgium for fuel at Barge Neptuna,Warneton,Lille,Harnes’, Bason Run on the Canal St d Quintan and we are now in Reims where we will stay for a couple of days before heading off through the Ardiens and on through Belgium and the Netherlands to overwinter near to Amsterdam.

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To Dunkirque and Beyond

3131/0505/2011201120112011 by admin.

Hi since my last Blog things have taken a change of Direction. As you know we were going up the Kennet and Avon Canal to Bristol and on up the Severn to Sharpness and Gloucester but the story of the Alternator that would not charge has changed all this. By the time the problem was identified (bear in mind it has only taken 19 months ) which was that the alternator that charges the engine starter batteries was telling the Domestic bank alternator that it did not need to charge anything as the battery was full. The solution was simple cut the wire conecting the two and insert a relay now all is fine and the Domestic alternator works . Dont ask why it has taken so long to find this out!!. Anyway as I have said by the time this was done there was not enough water in the K&A for us and the River Severn is on restricted Locking with water shortages. We then met up with Fred and Tony on Bertilac who said we are going to Dunkirque and the Benelux countries why not come with us. This was just over two weeks ago ! It has been manic we have had to open a bank account in Malta so that we have a Euro Account arrange a Pilot change the Insurance to cover the trip apply for an EIN a European Identification Number that was another £45 obtain spares as the Pilot wanted at least 5 spare fuel filters for the crossing , we have had a duel fuel filter fitted bought extra Charts and made a dash down the Thames to Kingston as we are due to start out Tomorow 1st June. Passage plans have had to be done the boat packed up and secured for sea and the List goes on . I will endevour to take as many pictures of the crossing as I can and will post them as soon as we get an oportunity. For those of you reading this that we converse with by email bear with us as it will cost us £10 a Day to connect to the web to deal with our mail so we will restrict this to at the most once a week to make the most of the cost. I am going to try and connect via Wi Fi where at all possible and will use the oportunity to update you all when we get the chance.

Bertilac the Dutch Barge we will be crossing with

Dragon Boat in Henley

Nuns having a water fight I kid you not

Alternative Transport on the river

Rock Stars Recording Studio near Hampton Court

French Brothers River Steamer

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Were Out

2525/0404/2011201120112011 by admin.

Well! We finaly managed to get out of the Marina though not with everything fully functional. we now find having got a working battery moniter that the alternator for the domestic battery bank does not work! It is cutting out after about  a minute so we are having to use the generator to charge the batteries even after a full days cruising. So we are again waiting for an engineer.

We spent the first weekend in Pangbourne so that we could replenish Meat supplies. and took the first few pics.

Turtles on the Thames

Fed Up Heron

Drying out after a dip

In Marlow now and a lesson in how not to overload your boat.

Swim for it!

Down to Windsor for Easter to find an easter bunny running wild. Lovely weather very hot we will leave on Tuesday to try and meet up with the engineer before guests next week end.

Steam yacht Alaska

Three Men in a boat

Eaton Collage Quad

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Getting ready to Sail.

0303/0404/2011201120112011 by admin.

As you will see from the latest pictures We have been a little busy of late. This is why I have been remiss at updating the blog. I have made a set of steps that hang from the side to make it easier to board when we moor alongside places such as Kingston upon Thames where the hard is at water level. After the man over board demonstration at the Dutch Barge Association Rally where I took part I have been pondering on the ability to recover someone who may be unconscious or otherwise debilitated. The solution I have come up with is to make a small add on modification to the Gin Pole I made for raising the mast so that I can use it over the side as a crane to winch a casualty to side deck height for recovery. We have now a rescue sling three rescue ladders of various types as well as all the normal life-rings and throw lines etc. Although we have jack-stays so persons working on deck can clip on so hopefully I will never have to use the crane/winch in anger.

I have started to make the boat sea ready by fitting cargo netting to keep my tools and spares stored in the lazonet( back of the boat) in place and I am waiting for some fixings to go into the floor of the Saloon into which I can screw strong eyes so that we can ratchet secure the loose furniture for sea.

We are waiting for two engineers to come before we leave the Marina The first who should be with us Monday to wire in the extra navigation, battery management and communications systems which will integrate with our existing gear making the Radar more efficient at plotting other traffic, and the other by the end of the week to fit new twin fuel filter/water separator’s in stead of the single one I have at the moment. This is a safety feature as when you go to sea sediment can be stirred up in the tanks which can lead to engine failure this I do not want. The result will be that I will always have one filter in service and one spare ready to be swichen in if needed.

Cargo netting

New improoved Deck Coating

New Heading Sensor and Mast

Detail of footing for MOB recovery system

Gin Pole/ MOB crane recovery system

New Nav and Communication gear

Step for Carol!

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London Boat Show and other things

2727/0101/2011201120112011 by admin.

Hi all

A short note to let everyone now we are still around.

We went to the boat show by trainin January with two friends Dave and Keith and of course I managed to spend some money on a few more essential boys toys. (Honestly we did need them!) for navigation ergo: a Heading sensor which will make the Radar fully functional, a second VHF radio with hailer function and ATIS, needed abroad, a Navtex gives updated navigational information and Weather shipping forecast, NMEA 2000 network loom, a rescue strop essential if your unconscious and some Pilot almanacs.I have fitted all the gear but I am going to have a marine electrition wire in the critical stuff. I have also done more work on the boat as we discovered that the Nav lights fitted by the builder were rated for vessels up to 20 meters and we are over 20! although we would get away with it in UK waters they would not do for the continent. So having bought the new legal lights I found I would have to have light shades to be able to fit them. More cost! I had some fabricated in Stainless Steel  by a company in Marlow and they are now fitted and wired up. I removed the old lights and replaced them with waterproof deck plugs for connection saving drilling more holes in the steel structure. Everything worked first time. I must admit they are much better than the old lights and will increase the range that we will be visible. We also had a problem when traveling with the mast down with the masthead light, on the Rivers that is all the time. So I used the old masthead light made a bracket and fixed it to the flag staff I use on the mast when it is lowered so we now have a functioning masthead light at night when the mast is down.

WE shall be visiting the Midlands in February so will time our visit so we can go to the Birmingham Boat show. Happy Cruising.

The  Boat Marina at the Show

How about a Runabout?

With its own Garage

A Branson Barge ?

New Legal! Nav Light and Shade

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The Interuption of Filming Take That.

0202/0101/2011201120112011 by admin.

Our Claim to Faim 

Whilst we were cruising this summer we went through the filming of the take that video at Stains so I have put the link below, They stopped for us to pass and we had all five members of  Takethat blowing kisses at Carol.

The bit we interrupted was as they passed under Stains bridge with the chequered flag. http://www.takethat.com/news/2010/10/the-flood-full-video

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