Thursday 30th August 2007
Location: Marston Jabbett, Leicestershire
Today: 9 miles, 0 locks. Total distance: 498 miles. Total locks: 381
Mild, overcast. Reasonable t-mobile GPRS reception here.
Stayed on at Stoke Golding yesterday. Defrosted the fridge and freezer. Fridge has been playing up over recent months, not getting cold enough and displaying error messages on the front panel LED. Checked the voltage at the fridge motor and it was low at around 11.5V with the batteries at around 12.8V. Changed the wiring to the fridge so that it is now heavy gauge wire all the way from the battery as it had been wired with some light gauge wire in places. Voltage at fridge motor now around 12.5V. Hopefully the additional voltage should stop the error messages and the defrosting should help the efficiency. A replacement 12V fridge is over £400!!!
Changed the engine oil and the gearbox oil. The engine now has 1200 miles on the clock which is not a lot really for a 5 year old boat.
Bought 4 bags of coal and 130 litres of diesel of a passing work boat yesterday after noon (nb Gosty Hill operated by Ian and Alison). Both the diesel at 50p per litre and the Taybright coal at £6.65 were reasonably priced and we like to support the working boats to help keep them in business.
Went out for a meal last night to the Dog and Hedgehog in Dadlington. It’s a lovely pub although it is geared much more towards being a restaurant. The food was reasonable although expensive for what it was. Another pub that we will pass by in the future.
Left Stoke Golding this morning after walking the dogs up to the village for the papers and some odds and ends.
Headed down the Ashby and moored up just before the junction with the Coventry. Passed steam boat President towing Kildare and also Adamant. There has been a lot of boats heading up the Ashby as there is a festival being held at Congerston on Saturday and Sunday.
Steam powered nb President towing butty Kildare
Steam powered Adamant
Archie sitting on Mabel
Material Copyright © 2007 Ernie Williams
This page last modified on:
8 February, 2008 9:08 AM