Friday 14 November 2014

Work continues in the bathroom

The central heating is now all connected up and ready to test. The shelving in the bathroom is coming along slowly. It is the painting that takes forever...


The shelves and the extra space will be far more useful than the old sink was. Out with the paint brush and get to work!

Lower Heyford to Thrupp

Now that the new cratch cover, dodger and tonneau have been fitted it is time to move on from Lower Heyford. I would not like to overstay my welcome in any area. Passing under the road bridge, the water point was occupied...
As I was going to Thrupp for the loos it didn't matter

Dr Bones was not at home today

The ignominious fate of Caravan Lift Bridge 215 - abandoned in a field!

Enslow Wharf

Just on the yellow - should be OK

The Cherwell comes in from the right

And leaves on the left at Shipton Weir Lock

Another of the big diamond shaped locks

Exiting the lock
And so it was on down to Thrupp for loo emptying and water. The water fill seemed to be painfully slow, but with loos emptied, water filled I needed to find a mooring for the night. There were spaces along the street in Thrupp for 48 hours. Just as I moored it started to rain.
The next day I walked off in search of a 14 day mooring. The only one I could find was back at Shipton-on-Cherwell, so it was back under the Thrupp Lift Bridge...

Something new!

The cratch cover on Constance was fitted in the early part of 2000 and has suffered from the ravages of time. The main deterioration has been due to light. The material has become hardened a little, the green has faded and it has all become a little tatty around the edges. Whilst sharing a lock transit somewhere back in the summer the front gate on my side opened a little more as I exited the lock and the balance beam ripped a long tear in the already aged material.
Gaffer tape (what else?) was used to effect a temporary repair!
We looked back through the records and found that the cratch cover was made by Sparks Marine Trimmers of Aylesbury. We contacted Vernon and he came to Lower Heyford to measure up. We decided at that time to have a dodger and tonneau cover made.
The job has now been done and I must say that we are absolutely delighted.


All now a beautiful green, nicely pliable and with larger transparent windows! Just need to get on with the paint-work...