Christmas Cruise, Post Christmas Post

We are back in Devizes Marina after a 5-day break on Epiphany. We made it for Christmas Day – well just, as we arrived at 9.15pm! Only a short break so we would be covering some of the route of the Kennet and Avon Canal we did previously. However we never tire of repeat routes as the scenery is ever changing and there is always something we did not notice the last time. We spent 5 years repeating ourselves on the Staffs and Worcs, the Shroppie and the Trent and Mersey Canals when we had Twelfth Night so know well how it feels.

Boxing Day was a 20 minute cruise, only 20 minutes?! Ah yes, but in a good cause. Our friends were joining us for lunch and so we booked in to the Bridge Inn at Bishops Cannings. Well worth the short trip as lunch was really good and it is a very friendly pub – to be recommended. We saw others have the same idea as other boats arrived after us. We had a good day, suggested a walk on the towpath but we all were settled back on the boat by then, in the warmth, so we played Yahtzee instead.

The next few days we pottered towards Pewsey in dry weather, despite the long range forecast insisting it would be wet and windy! We explored All Cannings and found the port a cabin shop; unfortunately we left it to the afternoon before venturing out, so it was shut! All Cannings is a pretty village, lots of thatched roofs and Christmas lights. We had a look in the Church, very interesting with its chancel and sanctuary configuration. We will visit the shop another time I am sure.

So on to Pewsey, a stop at the wharf to water up, drop rubbish and empty the cassette followed by mooring up to take a wander into the village to shop. We then did a quick scoot up to the winding hole, winded and back into our mooring for the night. BJ spent the afternoon changing things in the stern cabin. He moved the fire extinguisher so we can have a shelf to put cups on, room for the mooring spikes and relocated the tiller arm storage. He put hooks in the wet locker for wet gloves etc. In the galley my cup and glass drawer now has hooks for mugs and cups and the cleaning cupboard has hooks for bags, dustpan etc. What a star he is!

There were a couple of boats on the go during the day, as the weather was reasonable and even quite sunny for a while! Although the linear moorings and winter moorings slow one up a bit it is still a pretty and relaxing trip. Anyway I am still nosy about other boats so enjoy looking at the contrasts in repair, wear and tear, care and neglect that are evident in other narrowboats. Epiphany still looks very new, naturally, but we certainly have some wear and tear on her from locks, canal sides and other “hazards”! This does not really bother us, as a narrowboat is to be used in a contact sport and not to be admired in a marina! Anyway, at the end of the day a few drinks at the Waterfront and we were ready to turn in for an early start back to Devizes.

Needless to say Friday morning dawned, wet and windy, as per usual so far for our return to the marina! I completely failed to shut Bishops Cannings chain bridge – I had managed to open it by sheer determination. So after negotiating through, battling the wind, BJ had to close it for me.

So into the marina, again wind assisted, but a creditable berthing once out of the wind and we were able to spend the afternoon relaxing – err hum, BJ was, I cleaned the floor! He deserved to relax, as he was the wettest!

Homeward bound via John Lewis for some more curtain material. I have decided that we need “bungs” in all the portholes as they help with cutting down on dripping condensation and heat loss. So 6 more “bung” covers to make! In the saloon and bedroom this will give us a choice of “bung”, “bung” and curtain or just curtain. We will also have “bungs” in the bathroom after all, not for privacy as the frosted glass is very good, but they will help keep the heat in.

For Those Who are Nosy , Like Me!

The official Epiphany web site has some new pictures! Our narrowboat is now well and truly finished! I have written some about our journeys so far, in the last 2 months, as we “settle down” on the Kennet and Avon canal.

The new pictures are of the interior in a folder of their own. They show the stern cabin, bathroom, bedroom, galley and saloon. The ideas have worked!

In the stern cabin we have two spare bunks, narrow, but we have tested them ourselves and they are very comfortable. There is absolutely no wasted space in the stern cabin, with storage under the bunks. The engine is accessible under the steps and everything is easy to get at.

The bathroom, a cross bathroom, is spacious, light and warm. The shower is full size and the loo a Thetford cassette. We also have a spare cassette stored in the stern cabin. There is a large airing cupboard over the calorifier and a small cupboard over the sink. The washing machine is under the port porthole, built in, with a drawer and tiled shelf above.

We are very pleased with the bedroom, with a folding cross bed that folds up and a fixed bit on the starboard with storage under. We have bedside chest of drawers and a small dressing table. There are over bed cupboards too behind our bendy lights.

The galley is great. Everything is in drawers with a cupboard under the sink. A freezer is tucked under the granite section of the worktop. There are cupboards between the bedroom and galley, storing cleaning materials and a pull out larder with a cupboard with fixed shelves over.

The saloon is cosy, lots of shelves for books, a built in TV, drop down table and of course our Morso stove. Abutting the starboard galley bulkhead is a cupboard that holds the printer and other computer paraphernalia.

Overall Epiphany feels light and airy because of the large portholes, houdini hatch and mirrors. When the side hatches are open in the saloon she will really be flooded with light and sunshine (we hope!). We think we have achieved a modern, contemporary feel with traditional touches here and there.

Over the next few months our website is going to be “under development” as BJ rationalises, edits and makes it more “user friendly” So please do let us know if links no longer work, but bear with us as this happens! I will continue to blog our journeys etc, which eventually will have their own section.

Lets Hear it for a Traditional Christmas

Happy Christmas readers!

We still haven't done our cards! But hope to catch the 2nd class post this week. We are landlubbers at the moment but hope to be on Epiphany over the Christmas holiday.

I was musing on how Christmas has lost its way. The weather is more like early Autumn, the wild animals and birds are really confused. Some of the spring plants are shooting and down here in Cornwall we have the Capital of the County celebrating a "Winter Festival". Yes political (over) correctness has reached Truro! On all main roads into the city we are welcomed with "Winter Festival Park and Ride" signs. How sad, we should celebrate our heritage. Whether we have a Christian belief or not it is what has shaped our country. Perhaps we need to look back to see what is going wrong with our communities and learn from history, not try to obliterate it?

Enough rant - We both sincerely hope that you will enjoy a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year. Remember the reason for the celebration and be thankful for all we have.

My next post will probably be from Epiphany, providing BJ can get my mobile to work as a modem (his does already of course!).

Christmas will be over and we will be moving into Epiphany! Absolutely no prizes to those of you who know the Church calendar and recognise the pun.

End of Cruise - Time to Relax and Enjoy

Sunday 10th December

We are back at the marina, a very pleasant cruise back for most of the day. A bit wet at the end and now its back to the rain and winds again! All in all it has been a great few days, new places, new people and new things learnt about Epiphany and how she acts, reacts and performs.

The carols at Pewsey became rather a “busman’s holiday” for BJ! Unfortunately, the advertised Peter Atwell had double booked and was unable to come at the last minute. Someone, (own up if it was you!) remembered that the SOW hatted guy was a Vicar, a Rev on a boat! BJ was only too pleased to help and took the mike to lead the singing, and generally do “Vicary” things! Two carol sheets between the crowd meant everyone's memory was tested, but all were in good voice. We had a good time and only hope that everyone else enjoyed themselves too; many thanks to all those who arranged it, the band and also the cooks – delicious. The rest of the evening went with a swing in the bar and we really enjoyed meeting fellow narrow boaters and certainly hope to see them all again.

PS Are there any Cornish out there in Narrowboat Land? Over the years we have seen quite a few Cornish flags and St Pirans flags flying on boats. Boats called Curnow, Kernow, Tywardreath, and lots more. Let us know, leave a message, get in touch. We may be able to have our own little Gods Wonderful County links across the cut!

Devizes To Crofton Top Lock, Returning

Friday 8th December

Some more blog as I have time on my hands for a bit. We are moored at Pewsey Wharf for the night. There is a Carol Concert with a band and Peter Atwell (Boaters Christian Fellowship) at 7.00. We will probably eat in the café afterwards as chicken curry is on the menu! We met Peter, not that he will remember at all, at Dundas aqueduct when we hired Silver Dove from Anglo Welsh, about 5 years ago. We had to start from there instead of Bristol as the river was in flood and we were really pleased as we were upgraded from a 4 berth to a 6/7 berth boat with, wait for it, a microwave!

We fell in love with the K&A then I think, as it was a wonderful trip with our good friends. Silver Dove is still in use down at Sydney Wharf, where the Anglo Welsh hire fleet is run by Bath Narrowboats. We had a nose on her when we were down there in November and had no real memory of the interior, just that microwave. I do like my porridge made in a microwave in the morning, must be my Scottish quarter blood!

So this is Christmas – song title there I think! This will be my first taste of carols this year, just about right and not too early. It seems the shops have already finished Christmas, as it is sale time apparently. Have a good one, keep things simple and enjoy.

Wind, Rain and Christmas Carols on a December Cruise

Cruise: Devizes – Crofton Top Lock (R)

Tuesday 5th December

We have a few days to explore the K&A canal further. The weather forecast looked blustery, wet but not cold. However there seemed only one or two boats on the move. Google alert had notified BJ that a blog had mentioned “Narrowboats”; on following the link he discovered that “Moore 2 Life” was at Devizes having a new boiler put in. So we popped over and spoke to Chas at the Marina. John had seen that Sue had bought a new boat from Devizes – “No Problem 2”. Fortuitously I opened Allington Swing Bridge just as she approached and the usual greetings of “hope to see you later” took place!

So lots of firsts with Epiphany: Our first blustery night when we thought everything would take off from the roof and the sat dish fell over with a bang. Our first torrential rain storm and really muddy steerers step; our first loss of a fender at Wooten Rivers, and a futile attempt to rescue it. Duck “poo” on the roof from an adventurous friend; Bruce tunnel, interesting but short, but at least we were able to test the headlight and BJ approves of the stern light as he is able to see the stern too. We winded in what felt like a force 50-gale and lashing rain at Crofton Top Lock, nice bit of helmsman ship! We are beginning to get the hang of playing with the sat dish each time we moor and finding out about the vagaries of mobile Internet and phone signals along the K&A.

However, more importantly, we are both agreed that Epiphany is the best thing we have ever done, she is really what we wanted and really ours. We love being on her and out in all weathers and it is great to begin to meet fellow boaters on this lovely stretch of waterway, for once I agree with a Tory MP. Thank you Michael Ancram for giving the Kennet and Avon Canal some publicity in parliament this week – keep up the good work all you “Save Our Waterways” folk.