Sunday 28 August 2011

Trip to Grantham

My how the time is flying by.  We've been so busy this week I've not had time to post until now.

We took ourselves off to Fernwoods on Monday and spent a pleasant and productive day chatting with Ken and Julia about our design thoughts.  We're glad to say most of them were OK with them and after looking around their latest creation the design is now taking firmer shape.


Chris and I like the idea of windows either side of the saloon doors at the front.  These french doors give plenty of light and open up the area into the cratch nicely.


These small cratch boxes make for a roomy area but we would like them slightly wider so we can sit on them, perhaps barn door style doors would help with that.  We like the white paint as it gives an airy feel but would be a pain to keep clean in the winter months I should think.

The saloon area is also becoming clearer and an L shape seating fits our bill.  We rather like this, though some cusions would be better

We also like this idea for the steps into the cratch with the Lockgate fire too


We want the day room to double as a second bedroom so again an L shape seat is prefered that will make up into a double bed.  We also want this room to have side doors.   These ones also have glass so light can still keep the room light when shut.


Friday 19 August 2011

New thoughts on Colour Scheme

Hi all,


Whilst on holiday we posted that we had seen a boat with a great colour scheme and that this had made us think again on our choice of colours.  The boat concerned was Magpie, in the photo below


Magpie has a simple style and the two greys complement each other perfectly.  If the exterior is anything to go by the interior must be equally as stylish (I just wish we got a peek).   

With that in mind I had a play and came up with something very similar (sorry about the image size but if you click on it you can see it full size)


As you can see I'm also using it in our header.  I hope the owners of Magpie don't mind us copying but Chris and I just fell in love with the colours.  Do you think these would wear better than the grey and black?

We are slowly getting our design together and so the other day I arranged to go pay another visit to Ken and Julia at Fernwoods.  We have arranged to visit Monday and want to put our ideas forward  and see if they would be feasable.  

Our ideas folder is taking shape now too and we have photos of the sort of things we like in it.  Whether we use them all is another matter, that will depend on the space and the design but it should give Julia an idea of the sort of thing we like.



Monday 15 August 2011

Back to earth with a bump

Well it's been over a week since we said goodbye to the Leeds Liverpool canal now and it feels a million years away.  I am back at work and it's like living in an alternate universe.  I went on holiday leaving Shell Stanlow refinery behind and returned to the same spot but now it's the Essar Stanlow Refinery.  Yes Essar took over whilst I was away.  The place and most of the people are the same but the Shell pectin is gone and all new Essar Oil signs are in their place.  Deep down I have to admit I'm glad to see it that way too.


So what did we think of the canal in general?  The part of the Leeds Liverpool we saw is like a gentle Jekyll and Hyde.  The country sections are beautiful and romantic whilst the towns imposing and industrial.  That said I would argue the LL is one very interesting canal and well worth putting on your places to visit list (though max boat length is 62feet due to lock sizes).

We only travelled just over half it's length between Silsten to the east of Skipton to Wigan top lock in the West (some 32 miles).  This includes the summit section on the canal at a height of 487meters above sea level.  It may not sound much but the views of the dales and valleys at this height are a joy to behold.  Elevated sections in the rural parts are a delight ( a must for artists and photographers) and gives the traveller a strange feeling the canal is going up or down hill as you scan the route ahead.  Canal bridges do appear lower in the distance and this only adds to the pleasure of the trip.  Being one of the oldest canals the LL is a conture canal so twists and turns, rather suddenly at times at that.  I mean tight bends too.  At times we had to almost wind the boat to get round them so please do read the Pearson's carefully when under way.   In some stretches you can travel a full day and still see where you started off a few miles away as the crow flies.
Typical view across the hills the hedge in middle is the canal itself

Rural mills still abound
One of many tight bends to catch those who do not go slow enough

 

Locks are few on this stretch, but were there are locks they are grouped 6 to 7 in a short distance.  All are reasonably maintained and are wide enough to take two narrow or one wide beam boat.  Be aware though some gates leak badly and so be prepared to get wet.  In some, close windows as little jets of water cascade out of the lock walls when descending as Chris's mum, Mary, found out after getting a shower whilst sitting in the saloon during the descent of one lock.  She was more annoyed her Daily Express crossword got wet than the fact she got wet herself.
Ground paddles are varied and most are like these
The reason for the ground paddles.  Gate paddles are the louvers

If you open this first you get VERY wet!
Good job the engine bay sump pump cut in automatically
Upper pound and three lower locks

Beautifully tended lock area with helpful lock keeper too.

As one travels through the smaller towns one is greeted with Coronation street styled housing with sloping roofs in row upon row as they line the hills.  One can be forgiven for being a little disappointed that the Hovis lad does not come wobbling down the hill on his bike as in the old advert.
Cue music, daaa dah dah dadadaa


In stark contrast the larger towns of Burnley and Blackburn, whilst not as picturesque, do encapsulate the traveller in a time warp of the industrial revolution, and give an indication why Britain became such a rich and powerful nation, sadly many for the canal side mills are now idle and most derelict but none the less one can still enjoy the impressive architecture and wonder at the work done within.  There are even signs that some mills are being restored into working order thanks to Lottery and National trust funding.  Should be well worth a visit when they do eventually re-open.
A crumbling wall is all that is left of this mill
Novel reuse for a mill.  A shopping arcade at J12 of the M65

Top floor was workers homes, downstairs was the workshop



Useful graffiti for a change

A sad sight for such an impressive building, the Imperial Mill
We have to say Chris and I thoroughly enjoyed the Leeds Liverpool and we are glad we took the opportunity to do it even if we can never take AmyJo there. 

Chris operates one of many swing bridges between Skipton and Silsten
Jump.  I promise I won't catch you :-)

Yours truly.  Umm looks like  a visit to weight watchers is overdue!

Waiting for the lights at Foulridge tunnel

Alan, learning the ropes, as it were.  I know, sorry :-)

Oh dear bro, we've been caught out, bottle in hand.
Working out the varied types of lock paddles So close to the bridge the gates had no beams

Last night on the cut


Friday 5 August 2011

Skipton to Silsten - last day

One thing you can rely on is the information in the Pearsons on where to eat.  Last night we tried Bizzy Lizzie's after reading about it.  We can guarantee the Pearsons author has under estimated this establishment.  We had some for the best fish and chips we have had in a long time and good value for money too.  Not to be missed if you are passing this way.  After all that we had to walk around the town to work of the meal!





Sadly today is our last full day aboard Isla's Drum for we reluctantly hand her back at 9am tomorrow.  So we decided to make the most of today and were not disappointed.  This last stretch of the canal (for us anyway) was even more beautiful and the sun shone for us all day giving us stunning vistas as we cruised along.
 Above, the Polish airman memorial dedicated to the Polish crew of a Wellington bomber returning home after a raid when an engine fell off the aircraft causing it to crash killing all the crew.

Alan enjoying the leafy views whilst at the helm


Some of the lovely gardens as we approached Silsten

Swing bridges galore on this stretch (11 in all today)



Manicured houses as we leave Silsten before winding and returning for the night


How's that for a garden ornament, real fir too!

Our birth for tonight and quiet urban bliss
So now in a delightful residential area of Silsten we've moored for our last night aboard.  Catherine has taken over 1800 photographs and we'll start an online album as it Chronicles pretty much all the route we took.

Isla's Drum has just had it's final inspection, not by the hire company, but a passing black cat that decided to befriend everyone on board.  It stayed a while coming inside and enjoying the fuss then, without any notice, left us to it and walked off.

And so the end of our trip is here but we'll continue to post as we get nearer to nbAmyJo's build.
The motley crew from left to right - Catherine, Yours Truly, Chris, Alan and Mary