Isle of Cumbrae - off the west coast of Scotland

We're here on holiday for 2 weeks in a cottage which overlooks the Firth of Clyde.

Arrived on Saturday 16th October after calling in to our daughter's house in Largs (on the west coast about 40 minutes from Glasgow Airport) and picking up two of our granddaughters Joanne and Alice and Joanne's friend Morganne who will stay overnight with us.

The journey from Largs to Cumbrae is by ferry which takes just 11 minutes - will add a picture on next posting.

after the rain on Sunday 17th taken from the bedroom window

All sorts of boats pass up and down the river

Largs marina on the other side of the river

 passing the very nice properties of Largs

there were lots of boats out on Sunday but the weather is closing in again

looking towards Largs - 08:15 today 19th October

could be a nice day ...

the sky looks good too

Grebes playing the mating game - I tried to upload a video of them but it didn't work! will try again later

The Axiom Propeller

Monday 11th October - Early start this morning - up at 05:00 hours and George is so excited - we're having an Axiom Propeller fitted today by Mark in the Marina Workshop.

Sunrise from our berth at 06:40

moving slowly around the marina ..

.. in the mist .. 

just after 08:00

Moored up at the workshop - the duck on the tiller watching the sun rise.

Over to George now and that Axiom Propeller -

We had been having problems with our propeller.  When we were cruising at anything from 900 to 1400 revs we were getting lots of cavitation, at 1400 revs the noise was terrible and for the added revs, the boat didn't appear to be going any faster.  Also at 1400 revs the tiller was vibrating really badly and often we had to slow down to stop the vibration.  If we had to stop in an emergency, it would take the boat at least four times its length to stop, consequently, we normally failed to miss whatever it was we were trying to avoid!  If we were reversing, the stern would slew to port (it's called prop walk) consequently when we came in to moor onto a starboard mooring if I put the boat into reverse to stop, the stern would move away from the bank.  It was ok mooring to port as the reverse would pull us into the bank.  I had been reading about the development of the Axiom and the fact that Alan Watts (the designer) had been granted a patent only because the design was so radically different from the standard marine screw, which had not been changed since the late 1800s.

So we bought an Axiom Propeller! (not cheap!!)

This is Mark from Tattenhall Marina workshop taking the rudder off; we decided to do the change with the boat in the water as the marina charge £298 to take the boat out!

The prop and shaft out of the water

Difficult to believe that this plywood blank is all that is stopping the water rushing in.

This is me, totally focussed on the blank, to watch for leaks

New prop fitted, just needs a split pin through the nut

Ready to lower into the water and feed it into the shaft housing, Mark is making doubly sure that the knot is a good'n.

Bums on show for this difficult manoeuvre!

Getting the rudder ready for fitting

Almost there

Smiles of relief as the rudder is finally fixed in place it had taken about 3 1/2 hours start to finish.

We took it onto the cut for a test run and were amazed at the difference.  There was no cavitation at all; we could actually hear the engine purring away for the first time.  I took it up to 2000 rpm for a short burst,still no cavitation!  No tiller vibration.  The boat moves smoothly through the water with little or no bow wave or wash at the rear.  It also appears to move quicker for the same amount of revs (the literature says they estimate a 5-7% fuel saving and I believe this could be accurate).  There is no prop walk so when we moor, the boat pulls up straight; it also reverses in a straight line and stops easily within its own boat length even when travelling at speed, if you could call 4mph fast!  All in all we are chuffed with the performance so far; we have yet to try it in locks and Carol is looking forward to running the slalom going up Audlem Locks!!

Will keep you posted on any further occurrences as we find them on our journey.

Sunset at Tattenhall

3rd October 2010 18:45

Barbridge to Tattenhall Marina

In the afternoon of Wednesday 29/9 we upped sticks from our mooring just above Venetian Lock on the Middlewich Canal and turned left here at Barbridge Junction onto the Shropshire Union Canal, collected water and moored again for the night just beyond the water point. 

We decided to give the Barbridge Inn another try as the last time we dined here it had very recently been taken over after having been closed for some considerable time.  The food then was ok as it was this time, but the tables were atrocious, sticky and nearly black with ingrained dirt - nothing that a good scrubbing wouldn't put right and the laminated menus were also food stained and sticky - we've now decided that we wont bother again - a real shame because we've always enjoyed this pub going back over 30 years.

 The following morning we reversed back to the junction and turned right intending to stop at Beeston Castle

 the name of this boat reminded me of our grandchildren's language - especially the girls!

Turnothworld - ? a steam narrowboat

taken from Beeston Iron Lock looking at Chas Harden boats below bridge 107

We pulled in just below Beeston Castle and had some lunch - by this time it was 2pm.  We had intended to stay the night here but on realising that the forecast for tomorrow is heavy rain and high winds we decided to up-sticks and continue on to the marina arriving here just before 5.

Locks and Dogs and Fairy Villages

We upped-sticks yesterday morning to continue cruising along the Middlewich Canal.  This is a lovely stretch of water, once through Middlewich there is rolling countryside all around - a real pleasure.

 Between bridges 14 and 15 - this shop is worth a tie-up and a look around

 BW boat Churnet tied up just before the Auaduct, no sign of work being carried out here, the operator appears to have stopped for his elevenses.

 Approaching Minshall Lock with Thomas Clayton boat Spey - No88 on the left.

 Leaky gates at Minshall Lock

 obviously used to this sort of thing - that's NB Cheshire Lass next in line for the lock

 looking back from Cholmondston Lock at Venitian Marina - Cheshire Lass is still following us

 that space after the first boat looks just the right size for Rock n Roll

 Toadstools in abundance by the towpath

 a real fairly village - husband George is convinced we'd see them (the faries), (if we looked) when it goes dark!

Finished the day off with a walk to The Barbridge Inn where we met up with the couple from NB Cheshire Lass and had a good old gossip about Tattenhall Marina where they keep their boat.  After dinner was cooked eaten and tidied away we watched Mel Gibson in 'The Edge of Darkness' on dvd - not bad.

Kingfishers - Brilliant!

Took these at 07:25 this morning 28th September at Top Flash visitor moorings

on the Middlewich Canal by bridge 22.

Fantastic!!!!!!

Walking on the Middlewich Canal between bridges 22 and 23

I've spent most of today 27th Sept updating this blog as the internet signal is so good, but took a break this afternoon to get some fresh air and stretch our legs

the smaller of the flashes here with a whole flock of Canada Geese - the noise was amazing

we took a path off the canal at bridge 23 and found these horses at Pear Tree Farm; they were obviously used to people stopping as they all came up to the gate as soon as they saw us.

Hotel Boats Duke and Duchess heading towards Middlewich Junction

walking home 

 to our mooring

and the view from the galley (kitchen) window across the canal as I sit here at 18:02!

Bramble Cutting Trent and Mersey to Top Flash Middlewich Canal

As we cruised south on the Trent and Mersey canal from Bramble Cutting

 there were lots of partially submerged objects 

 these are in Croxton Flash

 where it is necessary to

 keep well within the markers.

 more weeds obscuring the view of a bend and a bridge just past Croxton Aquaduct.

 the first of the narrow locks up to Middlewich Junction

 looking back at the Anderson Hire Boats closed on Sundays

 we're now on the Middlewich Canal

 with it's lovely open countryside

 the approach to Manchester Airport taken from our mooring at bridge 22 Top Flash

I forgot to put this photo on my blog for 11th September - it's an A380 Airbus belonging to Emerates Flights. George couldn't see it's number of course, but if it was No.4 it would have been the one he'd worked on whilst out in Toulouse a few years ago.