Voyages of Gabriel: Circus Field to Aylesbury town basin

The boating season starts!

Highlights for this winter included some cold carol singing outside More+, our church’s coffee shop, and Christmas lunch with Therese Coffey at James’ sisters house.

Carol singing

Christmas lunch with a cabinet minister

Hazel had a foot operation, resulting in buying a wheelchair for her. After a few weeks, she was able to walk unaided, but she is not as agile as she used to be, particularly going down stairs. The other foot is scheduled for October. She is also having a course of treatment from a chiropractor for a painful shoulder sustained last year while trying to steer the boat in muddy shallow water.

Wheelchair use at Claydon House with Amanda

We had our boat back at the beginning of April. Roger and Jo had needed somewhere to stay while they were refitting their boat. We were in our apartment, so Gabriel was empty, and we were happy to offer them space on board for about three months. They had a lot to do on their boat, and in the end, they moved back without finishing everything, but at least their boat was habitable.

We both had some painting to do. Gabriel’s bow deck in particular, and also the stern deck had started to rust, so some sanding and wire brush work was necessary, followed by some rust converter. Then some grey decking paint which had non-slip granules in, which were difficult to spread evenly. It was all done in between rain showers.

Painting on Gabriel

Meanwhile, Hazel painted two trays with canal art, as gifts for Kairos and Spirit.

We also led the worship in our church on our final Sunday 23^rd April, so we had practising to do. Monday 24^th was packing day.

Tue 25^th April ACS to Aylesbury

We had the final packing to do, including all the food from the fridge and freezer. When we lived on board there was no need to pack. We just unhitched and moved. Now we have to make lists and transport bags full of clothes, laptops, etc. It is just as well that we live close by, as we usually forget something.

Hazel had another chiro appointment, then there was a bit more packing, and a bite for lunch before we set off.

It was a lovely day for our first days cruising.

There was no-one to open the lift bridge for us, so Hazel steered through, while James pulled on the rope to lift the bridge. We managed to get through without hitting the sides, so that was a good start.

Through the lift bridge

Bound for town

The first challenge was a fishing competition with about a dozen guys concentrating hard on their floats in front of them. Tickover speed required.

Fishing competition

The first lock (No 15) was empty, so it needed filling. It usually requires a key to operate, and James had forgotten to take his key with him, but thankfully the previous person had not set the locking mechanism. On the Aylesbury Arm, there are no footbridges across the locks, or walkways on the gates, so unless there are two people to work the locks, you have to walk round each time to open the second gate.

The first lock

We cruised slowly past the Tesco moorings to the second and final lock, where someone had left a small floating pontoon on the lock bollards. It has been there for a few weeks, now, and it makes it awkward to set down or pick up crew.

Pontoon on the lock bollards

Entering lock 16

After this final lock, we felt that the prop was not doing all it could, so we paused under the road bridge while James visited the weed hatch. He removed two long flexible bare branches which were consigned to the undergrowth nearby.

First visit to the weed hatch

High Bridge

Arriving in the town basin, we found a pontoon reserved for us, alongside a boat called Thistle and Rose. On the adjacent pontoon we saw Spirit and Kairos. Chris and Sally were there, and Roger and Jo returned to their boat later, after working at More+.

Moored on the pontoon

The lady from Thistle and Rose dropped her expensive sun glasses into the water. She had been wearing them on her head. James lent them our magnet, but they were unsuccessful in their search. Perhaps the glasses were of non-magnetic material, or they had drifted sideways as they sank.

James met Liz from the Little Trip Boat, and thanked her for the comments she had made on one of James’s Facebook posts. Some people had been very derisory about Beacon, and James felt that if he had replied, the conversation would have escalated and spiralled. Liz had been able to say things as a third party without comeback.

The six of us all went to Thailicious for an excellent evening meal.

2 locks,1 mile, 1 lift bridge. Dep 1320, arr 1415.

Wed 26^th April Aylesbury

We started with breakfast on Spirit, where Hazel presented the other two teams with their painted trays.

Canal art trays for Spirit and Kairos

After sharing porridge, sausages and toast, we prayed together for particular concerns, and for the outreach.

The day was spent shopping for essentials (including bunting). Chris helped to bring Beacon down with Ian.

Coronation decorations in Aylesbury

Aylesbury Town mooring basin

We put up the bunting we had bought

We met Anne White in Waitrose, and she went onto Beacon for tea with Sally and another lady. Jack turned up, and he came on Gabriel for a cuppa.

Visit from Jack

Somewhat confusing

In the evening we all ended up on board Spirit for a pasta meal prepared by Sally. Then Chris took Sally and Hazel for knit and natter at ACS, while he went to chat with Chris Theobald. James also had a lift so he could take a few things back to the apartment, and collect a few forgotten items. James then drove our car back and managed to park in an unnoticed parking area where there seem to be no restrictions. Chris brought Hazel and Sally back when they had finished nattering.

Waitrose lost its itro

No boating today

Thu 27^th April Aylesbury

Bacon baps for all on board Gabriel this morning, before dispersing for various reasons. Chris had an online gas safety exam which he passed. Roger and Jo went to London to meet a visitor from USA, while work was continuing on their boat, as their bed was being fitted.

We went by car for the last of Hazel’s chiropractor appointments for her shoulder. We returned via Lidl and Tesco. James dropped Hazel off near the boat with the shopping before returning to our apartment to leave the car. James then took a bus back to town. After a long wait for a bus he concluded he should have walked instead.

Andrew turned up to help with the outreach, and had a cuppa on Beacon.

Rain started at about 3pm, which put a stop to any further activities.