Friday 17 July 2015

Spring Summer Cruse 2015 ❸❽

Evesham to Bidford Visitor Moorings.

Date 17 July 2015

Overnight the weather was clear and cold.

Morning: Late start as the weather was a bit iffy. Soon after getting under way it improved significantly. The Robert Aickman lock was very difficult, which is in keeping as Robert Aickman who was a thorn in the side of the old British Waterways Board. Getting the lower lock gates close required three paddles open and a push with the boat to make them close.

Afternoon: We came across a narrowboat towing a widebeam that had a problem with its drive train. Soon afterwards we encountered a narrowboat coming towards us creating a huge wake. Then we met two plastics on a bend which were having a race. Both came very close to disappearing into the vegetation as they tried to avoid bouncing off 16 tons of steel. Five boats observed going in the opposite direction. It seems to be very quiet, the lull before the storm as the school holiday season is about to start.

Evening:  An evening of television with Billy Connelly. It was such a poignant moment to see Bill's health deteriorating with the onset of Parkinson's Disease.


Wildlife:

Birds: Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Blackbird, Mallard, Mute Swan, Chiffchaff, Coot, Moorhen, Grey Lag Goose, Canadian Goose, Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon,  Kestrel, Buzzard, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, House Martin and Swift the highlight being a Kite.

Butterflies: Meadow Brown, Skipper, Comma.
Dragonflies: Banded Damselfly, Common Damselfly and Four Spot Chaser.
 
Today's Total.
Miles: 9.2
Locks: 4
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 4.5
Solar Panels: 59 Ah


Accumulated Total.
Miles: 2378.9 

Locks: 1443
Swing / Lift Bridges: 338
Tunnels: 48
Pump Outs: 23
Engine Hours: 3270.5

Solar Panels: 22784 Ah

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