Fun In Bristol, Next Instalment

A busy day for both of us - me at work and John on Epiphany. It is a 2 day week for me as I am taking some leave whilst a friend and ex colleague visits from Cornwall. It will be her first experience of a narrowboat and we plan to cruise to give her the full experience. I can't quite believe the weather forecast for this week but today was a good start!

John has started and hopes to finish touching up the paint work so that he can keep on top of any damage to the boat and it doesn't become such a big job. Oh how I love the smell of paint drifting in the swan doors as I write this! (Not). I am counteracting it with the smell of baking bread, just proving and about to go in the oven.

I promised some more instalments about Bristol Harbour Festival. There were some replica three masted "Tall Ships" - I put this in inverted commas as I think of the Kruzenshtern and the Mir as Tall Ships. I remember being awed by seeing the Sedov come into Falmouth Harbour under full sail and the discipline of the crew as they furled the sails and entered harbour standing on the rigging. A never to be forgotten sight.

One of the ones at the Festival was the Jeanie Johnston a triple masted replica of a 19th Century Irish famine ship carrying emigrants away from the Irish famine in the mid 1800s.
Remarkably she was the only ship not to lose a life through sickness or accident unlike most of the "coffin ships" of the time.

Entertainment in Millennium Square included such diverse acts as these lads.

Known as the Cosmic Sausages they were highly entertaining for both children and adults and drew a huge crowd, including us for quite a while!

Cirque Bijou managed this stage area and set up the rigging for an aerial acrobatic display whilst we watched Cosmic Sausages.

Rather him than me but I loved his hair style!

Also in this area is Explore@Bristol, this reflecting globe marks the spot!


This was an interesting sign on the stern of one of the boats or ships.

I will leave you to guess which. Can you name it? I will let you know if you were right in the next blog, sorry no prizes but you can get brownie points for leaving a comment!

Bristol Harbour Festival

What a brilliant day! Good weather, boat trip, oodles of boats and finally a drink with Maffi and Bones!

After dropping Craig at Bristol Parkway - yes, he has finally managed to get back to Lancaster, it was really good to have him on Epiphany for so long - we caught a train to Bristol Temple Meads to go to the Bristol Harbour Festival.




There was too much going on to put in one blog and we certainly took too many photos for the blog. When the new gallery is up they will all be there. However I will put up a small selection over the next day or so - a subtle hint to revisit!



We caught the ferry from near the station to near the Cascade Steps where there was live music, we listened to a group whilst we munched on "Breakfast Pancakes" - yummy!




There were some interesting boats moored on the journey. Including a concrete boat, restaurant boats and narrowboats.






The Bristol Classic Boat Club had created a real beach which was very popular with families - not the same without sea though!

We took our time wandering towards the floating harbour, stopping off at the BBC News and Sport road show to watch one of John's favourite presenters - Sophie Raworth! There was lots of entertainment laid on and we stopped frequently! We wandered right to the end of the waterfront, took the diversion around the next development and ended up opposite the SS Great Britain, built by another of Johns "heroes", Isambard Kingdom Brunel of course. (John went to Brunel University in Uxbridge more years ago than he cares to remember!)

The next instalment will be in the next blog - things to do now - lots of pics of "classic" and interesting boats to come.

Just a final word to say "thanks" to Maffi for letting us gatecrash his party and get to know him and Bones a little more - i

t was great to meet you both.

Networking On The (Canal) Network

Don't we live in a small world? The canal blog network is far flung yet in a matter of minutes we can find out who is where, what they are doing and what they plan. Yes, I know it has been said before, by many many others but it never ceases to amaze me that when we pass boats, have drop-in visitors and read comments on blogs we are recognised or acknowledged.

John has mentioned "Mr Anonymous", yesterday - I wont spoil his cunning plan! Today we had a comment from Adrian Rayson, "Frilford" on a mention I made of his articles in Canal Boat - way back in March.

Now we may "pop" down to the Caen Flight to meet up with yesterdays visitor and his crew for the flight! The thought of the flight can be daunting, however it can be done in 2 - 3 hours on a good day!

This evening we met up with some of Bath Narrowboat owners and customers. Owners very satisfied and customers excited about their builds. Yet another couple from New Zealand will be taking to the water in August when "Rangitoto" is launched, named after the volcanic island in Aukland. The other owners own "Lordswood" moored at Bradford on Avon Marina
Epiphany was launched here as are most of Bath Narrowboats builds.

What a Super Network

We had a visitor today - never met him before: tried to at Crick, but his plan to spend all the time in the Beer Tent was foiled by other people taking him places, or wanting to see him on his boat. We watched his boat being built, read about his kidnap in Saudi, and saw his boat hit the water for the first time. That was exciting as we were waiting for our boat to be finished, but could only see it every few weeks or so. If you haven't already guessed who knocked on the side of Epiphany today, then click on this link. No, I'm not going to give you any easy way by giving his name away, but he announced it was him, and came in and had a coffee and a chat. When I say "came in" I mean he sat on the front step, as he was rather wet, as his call at Devizes Marina, to buy some oil for an oil change, coincided with a deluge. We talked about new boats and places that we had both visited and the Kennet and Avon and the fact that the Caen Hill flight is closed while BW repair the gate on lock 23. He mentioned the fact that he had 3 friends coming to join him at the flight on Saturday, including a special person, whose blog and Canal World Discussion Forum posts we have followed for quite a while. Initially it had taken me quite a long while to work out his/her gender as she/he managed always to write without giving any hints about "Gender not set"! Eventually I worked it out though.

We also had an email from Derek and Dot - now famous around the world for their survival at Osney Island on the Thames during the coming flooding. Another couple we had never met except on the Net, until they came to Devizes and we met up. How friendships are made.... If you want to follow these friends of ours, you just have to look at some of the blogs listed on the right hand side of our own blog here: --->

Of course it helps to have something in common as important as our love of the canals and rivers, but you never know what you may learn about us! Just don't spread it around ;-)

As for the question you might be asking about today's visitor - it's true, he's a really nice guy. I hope we meet again before he leaves the K&A.

No more falling in?

Well, Health and Safety will be pleased with the work that started yesterday at our marina. When we first brought the boat to Devizes Marina I (John) fell (literally) for the taboo instruction from the helmsman (helmsperson?): "Quick!" I knew my legs were long enough to stretch across the gap between the boat gunnel and the pontoon; what I hadn't realised was that the wooden pontoons were as slippery as ice when they are wet. Result: I fell in for the first time in over 35 years. :-(
We wondered what our marina owners had had delivered at the beginning of the week.
Now we know: non-slip (very non-slip) replacement pontoon decking. It's made of strengthened fibreglass, I think I heard, and won't do any knees that find themselves deposited on its surface any good. But I won't slip on it.

Yesterday we found out how the job was going to be done.



First job: get rid of the old wooden decking. But it does take up a lot of space. This pile is probably from just one pontoon.

So what to do with all the other pontoons? Where to put it? Well, as most of the south of Britain knows by now, there's one thing we are not short of: water (not the drinking type, of course).

It's obvious really, isn't it? Just get your crowbars, then drop it in the water. It can be collected later - sometime anycase.

Then, bring in the new pontoon covering, and lay it on the new wooden framework. Easy really:








See?








And this evening, even the swans brought their children to inspect the work.







It's going to take a few days to finish (to say the least) but we will be very grateful when it's done. Thanks guys!

Can I Cheer Everyone UP?

I am not sure I dare put this up as so many of our boat friends are struggling with floods, closures and lack of sleep due to this. There is now a stoppage on the Kennet and Avon Canal - between Colthrop lock and Midgham lock due to a breach. Boaters are advised not to navigate from Newbury lock E to the River Thames.

However maybe our Sunday will cheer everyone up.

After the awful rain of Friday and drizzle of Saturday, Sunday dawned fine and gradually became sunnier and sunnier. So much so that after the Grand Prix we “cut loose” and took Epiphany out on to the cut. Craig was due to return to Lancaster Sunday morning but due to the floods is stranded with us! See previous blog showing Banbury station. It was great to be able to get onto the canal, enjoy the sunshine and the countryside again. We turned towards Honey Street.

There were so many boats moored, more than we have seen before.
Craig and I sat in the bows and I snapped away happily on my camera. There were some lovely reflections of the sky

and we passed some crop circles too.


There were a few boats moving towards us, the vegetation on the canal has encroached even more so passing was fun. We passed the Bruce Trust’s “Hannah”, another wide boat and also “Compass Rose”.
Compass Rose was fitted out as a studio for an artist and was at Crick, just behind the Bath Narrowboats stand. She was built by Barn Owl. We managed to snatch a photo of some of her owner’s art.


We passed Dave and Angie on “Angels Payment” at Honey Street. An idea struck – to save us returning during dusk; On Monday morning Dave could give one of us a lift back to the marina to pick up the car as he travelled to work at Bath Narrowboats. So we winded and moored a little way from them.

John went back to say he will hitch a lift, bring the car back and then I can go to work at the Marlborough office as per my diary.

We had a wonderful hour or so, eating the roast beef and trimmings I had cooked. John and Craig ate al fresco in the cratch. I stayed below with swan doors open. To top the meal off we had strawberries and Cornish cream – Rodda's of course, nothing but the best, available from Morrisons thankfully!

John and Craig will take the boat back to the marina (probably) unless there is still no news of trains running to Lancaster, in which case who knows where they will end up. I hope they will let me know so I can return to the boat on Monday evening!

Boats Versus Trains

It is good to see that Britain's canals are still running!


This was the scene at Banbury station yesterday. I know it is near the canal, it is no wonder that the Oxford canal is closed. The list this morning of closed canals is unprecedented for this time of year I am sure. The Grand Union, Worcs & Birmingham, Staffs & Worcs, Stratford & Avon are all affected. As are the Thames and Severn rivers. More details are on Narrowboatworld, Breaking news. So far the Kennet and Avon canal seems OK.

What Does One Do On A Rainy Saturday?

1. Get up late - have a semi Canadian breakfast - definition: eggs, bacon, fruit and fried bread, unfortunately no maple syrup or waffles on boat!
2. Watch golf
3. Encourage John to get lunch: result- salmon and cucumber sandwiches, yum!
4. Watch F1 practice: no result, bad accident, at least Lewis is OK and may race tomorrow
5. Watch golf
6. Encourage John to go out shopping so Craig and I can turn off the TV. Craig to continue using my lap top (which I have now kidnapped for 10 minutes!) to talk to his mates and do a bit of writing. Read "Life on Air" by David Attenborough
7. Watch golf, watch our neighbour nb Apollo go out for 3 weeks: lucky duck. They were going onto the Wey & Arun - maybe not now 'cos of red boards etc.
8. Get bored, sit in cratch, got to do something. Make bread, therapy and feel better!
9. Watch golf, blog and wait for the chef to do his stuff again as it is his turn to cook this evening!
10. Realise that despite the weather and perhaps because of the weather there is nothing better than living on a narrowboat
11. Watch the news, sympathise with all those evacuated, air lifted or stranded.
12. Marvel at the pictures of the boats on the Severn, Stratford on Avon, Evesham and elsewhere
13. Hope for some really decent weather for
a. boat jobs such as touching up and varnishing
b. cruising with friends the weekend after next.

Where is the prayer mat/stool?

Me And Mine

I have decided it was about time we changed our profile photo. This photo is courtesy of Derek and Dot from nb Gypsy Rover and you may have seen it on their blog too! It was taken on a damp day down at Devizes Wharf (tow path side), Kennet and Avon canal, but at least we were still smiling!

This was the scene on board yesterday evening.

"Boys and their toys" - how can I compete? On reflection one of the "toys" is my lap top!
PS. It is "empting" down, red boards in the marina!?

David Bailey I Ain't

John promised some photos of his makeshift ramp! Hopefully my attempts will give you an idea of the idea! It did shift the first time he put it together so a re build resulted in this.


A view looking Into the bows! - Very makeshift!

Looking out from the bows. The black step is our top step in the saloon. The stools are now in use (at stage 2 of their creation!) as you see with non-slip pads on top. The cushions are ordered, arriving next week.

We did have a minor panic - or rather Craig and I did, so he gave me his mobile, wallet and leather jacket "just in case" he "did a Dad" and fell into the marina. Actually it all went well and once we have a deck-board platform with adjustable legs it will get even better!

The son has come, you won't get left behind

Yes, our son is coming on board for a few days, so finding time for writing a blog may not be so easy - but we'll try. It's John taking over this time - mainly to keep up our 100 Top Boating Sites rating. It's the competitive male thing. (Understandably) Fiona gets fed up with my daily reporting of our visitor count - so if you want to keep the marital boat calm, all you have to do is visit the blog every day ;-) "All we are saying is give peace a chance"!

Having said we have a visitor coming on board, that is dependant on my design of ramp & platform. I finished the prototype design in wood yesterday, which should do the job this weekend, but long term we are looking, with Bath Narrowboats, at a deck-board platform, with adjustable legs. I'll try to remember to take a picture of the prototype this afternoon. Basically our two ladder ramps, pictured here:

will be joined together to make a ramp onto a platform stood on the bow gunnel and the mooring pontoon. (P.S. The ladder "planks" are not the most attractive part of the picture - now can you see one and a bit in shot?) My, how we have cluttered the roof since this picture!

We're not sure if we will be going out on the cut this weekend - depends on the weather mainly; but if we do it will be towards Pewsey as Craig will be catching the train back from there.

Well, I must do my chores. As the new website will say when it gets online: "follow the star!"

My Travels Today In The Sun

Back by popular demand! I have only missed 3 days! Sunday was predicted to be wet, wet, wet! They were wrong - it was muggy, overcast and we only had a couple of showers. We have given up on weather forecasts as they seem to be about 0% accurate!

John suggested we resort to seaweed, pine cones or even a very revolutionary idea - get up in the morning and look out one of the portholes or the cratch window! Have you clicked on our web cam yet? That is the view south south east so we cannot check the weather coming from the West from there!

I had a work visit to Great Bedwyn today. I was given instructions as I said I didn't know it very well. Silly me as I drove in I realised that the pub landmarks I was given were very familiar! It is right on the Kennet and Avon canal - we moored there in June. See June 6th blog - Listings, pasties and Cornish Engines, explored the village and noted the pubs.The station is right by the canal. When we were there we only found the post office with a small selection of groceries. Today I drove past a village store we hadn't spotted on the High Street, the road out to Marlborough! There were a few narrowboats moored opposite the station.

Driving home to Devizes I took the "back roads" which mainly follow the canal. I saw signs to Crofton, crossed the canal on bridge 97 and then went away from the canal. (I could have gone via Crofton, as a road follows the canal to bridge 101, just below Sam Farmer Lock (58)). Burbage village is a way from Burbage wharf and my route bypassed the village. I also passed signs to Wottoon Rivers

As I neared Pewsey the canal is closer. My route did not take me to the wharf, but once I turned away from Pewsey I was travelling towards it again, crossing it at Wilcot over Wilcot Bridge (117). At Alton Barnes near Honey Street, the road continues parallel with canal which is mainly out of sight. It is fabulous countryside and the sun on the rolling hills was wonderful and really uplifting. I passed signs to All Cannings, a footpath to Stanton bridge (125), Woodway bridge (129).

As I approached Horton I spotted Dave, one of the Bath Narrowboat guys parking his car to go home to "Angels Payment" moored at bridge 132 Horton Chain Bridge. I tooted, he waved!
The road crosses the canal again at bridge 134 - to be taken slowly otherwise the car takes off. Here is the Bridge Inn, recommended for its food and friendliness. We call it our canal local as it is about a 20 minute cruise away. How is this for a well stocked bar?


So my next encounter with the canal was "Epiphany", moored in the marina!

Dogs And Cats

Well it was dry when we woke and the sun began to shine. The car park on the Wharf opposite us began to fill up and the gongoozlers were out! The moorings were full again and during the morning narrowboats were breasted up whilst owners and hirers went shopping in Tescos, Sainsburys or even Morrisons – all of which are in walking distance of the Wharf.

Andy and Sarah arrived for coffee – leaving their 5 rescue greyhounds in the motor home in the car park.
They were very kind and said they liked Epiphany very much, remarking that seeing her in the “flesh” was very different from the photos on the web! As usual with narrowboat owners we chatted about canals and boats! It was great to get to know them a bit this weekend and we hope we will meet again – definitely on the web and maybe on the cut one day.

The afternoon stayed fine so I was able to try out our stools in the bows and they are just right. I enjoyed myself reading and blogging (in Word, ready to go up when we return to the marina later). Other interesting things also happen on the Wharf. To the right is the sanitary station - I bet they don't let on their photos were taken by the Elsan point!


On the boat in front of us there was a gorgeous cat, just like Smokey 2nd, a cat we had years ago.

I am quite jealous and tried to entice it onto Epiphany but no luck! (Good job as I think the owners might not like me catnapping it) Maybe one day we will have one too, here’s hoping as I do miss not having a cat (or two?)

A Good Day And Great Evening

Gloomy and overcast this morning, which developed into mizzle and then the odd heavy shower. So we definitely made the right decision we think. John has re started his family tree research – it is on a website and he plans to have it on the revamped Epiphany website which is well under way now.

It is amazing how many relatives we have discovered through this and I have found some cousins I never knew I had over in Australia. They lived within striking distance of my Uncle who emigrated when I was 11 and his family and they did not know of each other existence either. We put them in touch and when my sister went over a few years ago there was a family reunion! Sadly my Uncle has since died. We also discovered that one of Craig’s friends at Uni was his third cousin! Small world.

The Kennet and Avon Canal is getting busier and Friday morning the Wharf was full, some boats moved off mid morning but by the afternoon other narrowboats had taken their place. "Clarrie" is one of our neighbours in the marina, we met Laurie last weekend.


I still marvel at the variety of styles and tastes, state of repair and age of narrowboats on the cut. The Wharf is a good place to see the variety as they moor up prior to descending the Caen locks.

We had a great evening at the Three Magpies at Sells Green – Sarah and Andy joined us just as Richard Clarke and John B from Sydney Wharf end of Bath Narrowboats arrived. The pub was busy as there was to be live music at half nine. We planned to eat and leave before. Our meals took quite a time to arrive and we were just finishing as the live music started. I am afraid it made us leave rather quickly as we were right by the speakers. Despite that it was a laugh and we really enjoyed the evening.

Sarah and Andy were invited down to the BN workshop to see the two boats in build on Saturday and then we suggested they might like to visit us on Epiphany. As we left the pub the rain began again and it rained on and off all night. Saturday was supposed to be sunny – we will see!

Market Day In Devizes

Thursday is Market Day in Devizes and as we fancied a weekend out of the Marina John brought the narrowboat down the canal to Devizes Wharf. So I went to work in the morning from the marina and returned to the Wharf, where it is possible to park the car on the tow path side. We could not make our minds up as to whether to go down the Caen flight and on to Sells Green on Friday. We planed to go to Beer o’ clock with the Bath Narrowboats guys and also to meet up with Sarah and Andy from “Arcadia” who are camping down there in the camp site alongside the canal, just by the Three Magpies pub.

Looking at the weather forecasts there were so many opinions as to whether it would be wet we decided to stay on the Wharf and drive down! The wharf to Sells Green is 29 locks and about 3 miles – a 6-hour trip providing there are no queues for locks or other hold ups. It would be an up and back trip and really calls for nice weather we think!

Vandals in Banbury?

What happened yesterday in Banbury? Have a look at this video to see...
Vandals in Banbury? Wheel out the ASBOs....

For an explanation see this Report

Look Now - Or Miss Out

If you would like to have a look at sunny Devizes Marina have a look at our webcam set up on our cratch table looking outwards.
We are experimenting and of course it is only possible whilst we have broadband in the marina. So catch it while you can :-)

Boat Jobs - Getting There

Summer is still with us in Wiltshire! Despite the forecast we only had one shower today and at times it has been hot and sunny.

After a hard day concentrating at work, it's so nice to come home, switch off and deal with boaty things! John has been busy too, 2 wash loads, finishing off the sealant around the shower (I re-grouted it as the movement of the boat had cracked it. - One drawback of tiling as we expected. Still it doesn't take long to repair.

He has also finished varnishing the stools. Here is one of them.


Stages 2 & 3 to come. i.e. non-slip treads and cushions. They are just the right height for sitting and looking out - more comfortable than the gunnels. With one of the lower boxes taken off they will be an ideal step. Two together at the lower height will help with the wheelchair.

Natural Beauty

Rain has its compensations and can bring beauty with it!


Looking the other way over the car park in the marina.

Sunday Activities For Slees

It was worth watching the F1 GP even if Lewis came third. He is an amazing driver and has a lot of years ahead of him to win the British Grand Prix. He really has to watch the Ferraris though!

To make up for it Roger Federer won Wimbledon - brilliantly. Jamie Murray is in the mixed doubles final and the way he and his partner are playing - who knows.

I am roasting a stuffed shoulder of lamb and my tummy is rumbling at the smell - Sunday evening roasts are one of John's favourite meals! Me too, and I do cook a "mean" roast!

John finished varnishing the stools today - photo when they are assembled and you can see the before and after. They look good! Cushion hunt is still on but we have a couple of leads. This firm advertising on Ebay will do us a personalised, made to measure cushion. Personalised with a star motif of course! We are waiting for one more quote and then will make up our minds.

I cleaned out the porthole rims and cleaned the portholes in and out. There was a lot of sand in the rims from the build but now they are clean so any condensation will run away efficiently through the drip hole.

We went down to Devizes Wharf between all this activity to a Songs of Praise, run by all the churches in Devizes (there are so many in the town!). It was OK as these events go but nobody looked as if they were really enjoying themselves! Whilst there I spotted a boat called "Cressy" - familiar name eh! Couldn't get a photo though, as it moved before I had a chance. Shame. It is safe to say that she did not look like the original "Cressy" at all!

They came from Welton Hythe, on the Grand Union, Leicester Section. This is owned by Weltonfield Narrowboats. Strangely our neighbours in the Marina "Apollo" have just had their ex hire boat from Weltonfield repainted and new windows put in. She looks very smart and certainly not an ex hire boat. Weltonfield no longer have a hire fleet and concentrate on boat building and moorings.

Hooray - Murray won - pride is restored!

I Have A Date

It is tomorrow (Sunday), 12 noon, or I could be as late as 1pm. Guess who with?

In fact if you are patriotic, like cars, enjoy racing and a tense 2 hours, you should have a date too! At exactly the same time (unless you are reading this from across the pond or elsewhere in the world). Maybe you are at Silverstone - you lucky so and so!

Here is my date! To find out more about him follow this link


OK, it is only a date with a TV programme but one not to missed as the F1 wonder boy is on Pole. Good luck Lewis! You can do it!

A Good Job Started - To Be Finished

We are all waiting for some dry weather, aren't we? Silly Question! We have two options for this weekend, (my weekend starts on a Friday morning!) one for dry weather and one for wet.
Dry option - work on the outside of Epiphany - touching up, polishing, staining the stools.
Wet option - after discussion with John I discover we do not have a plan for this! Wrong again!

There is a story behind the stools. We have been tossing around ideas for seating in the cratch. It has to be multi purpose, moveable and comfy. We want to use it as storage and as a step to help get Craig's wheelchair into the cratch and then down onto the next level before the bow cockpit floor. The seating has to be movable as we like having the cockpit as clear as possible. The idea eventually was to have 2 stools, box shape storage which could then be stored under the cratch table. As seen here under construction in Bath Narrowboats workshop

So we then had to find them or make them. We looked at various garden furniture - no good. The we went to look at a wood yard and thought that boxes made out of decking would do. Then on a visit to our local DIY store yesterday we found the solution.


The top box has a lift up lid and the lower boxes are open and the stack makes just the right height we require. With some coloured varnish and a loose cushion on they will be ideal. We will probably use them to store recycling and maybe some other bits and pieces we have in the cratch.

So it was a good job that this afternoon was dry. John put the first coat of the coloured varnish on the stools. I did some grouting in the shower, polished the starboard side and the cream line we have on the roof. I also washed the outside of the portholes. Tomorrow we continue with the same - WP!

P.S. (from John) Anyone know where we can get some firm foam cushions (covered in navy) 40 x 30 x 4 cm?

What John Did And Why

Whilst we were moored at the Black Horse John performed a really good trick.
Could he get in here? He is a "big lad".


He climbed into the engine hole


He climbed out of the engine hole


This is what he was looking for!

"It dropped off my belt"

In fact he is always looking for the tape measure as we size up changes, additions and placement of "extras" on Epiphany. It is our second generation tape as we left one behind somewhere so had to really "splash out" in money terms for a new one :-)

If you are interested in seeing more of our engine have a look at the gallery of the build on our web site. Pre installation,
Aquadrive and mounts fitted. The engine hole empty and full