Thursday 14th June 2012
Charity Dock to Hawkesbury Junction (Sutton Stop)
The sun was out and we were limping along with a vibrating tiller and a buckled propeller. We decided that urgent repairs were needed. Rosie was quickly booked into the Charity Dock dry dock.
When the dock was empty it was obvious that the state of the propeller would require a new replacement. it just so happens that I carry a spare propeller on a just in case basis.
Pete the owner of Charity dock bent over backwards to help us. Dropping other jobs to do us a quick fix. We were up the proverbial creek without a paddle. Needless to say everything went well. The charges were very reasonable. A quarter of what we had paid last time Rosie was out of the water.
The conversation with Pete was priceless as he told me about the history of Charity dock which has been in the family for four generations. The dry dock was constructed out of the remains of an arm off the canal that went to a nearby brick yard. When the brick yard closed the arm was abandoned and a legend was born.
Charity dock is much more than a boat wharf. It actually defies description. The Memsahib had a walk round and came back singing the praises of what must be an antique engineering collectors dream. Fred Dibner would have been in his element. There is so much piled up that no sooner do you find one item you had not seen since you were a kid - than another item caught your eye.
Four hours later the job was done and we were back in business. A gentle shake down trip to Hawkesbury Junction while we tested that everything was OK. Our next change of direction will take us onto the North Oxford canal.
Wildlife: Today out journey was short bus as we passed through a wooded section we came across a pair of Jays. The birds were totally unconcerned about the boat and we had some good close up views.
This Weeks Solar Panel Data.
Average 18.4 Ah per day High 29Ah Low 06Ah
Daily Total
Miles: 2.4
Locks: 0
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 0
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 2.0
Accumulated Totals
Miles: 941.7
Locks: 695
Swing / Lift Bridges: 117
Tunnels: 6
Pump Outs: 10
Engine Hours: 2200.0
Later......
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