The Journey -
Rosy's Back!!!

The last e-mail went out on 5th July.  Many apologies for the delay in getting this one out, due in part to Rosy not going anywhere, me being away on another boat, a general attack of severe idleness and computery problems.  The latter, first.

The computer has taken to going on strike.  It works OK for a bit, then, typically, the pointer starts to respond jerkily to the touch-pad (the computer is a laptop) soon to be followed by the whole screen freezing.  I tried booting up merely to the DOS prompt, but the computer still froze after a while.  The freezing occurs very much more quickly in hot weather, but still happens when the air temperature is low.  If anyone has ideas as to what may be causing this, I'd be grateful for e-mails.  Hardware?  Or is there a virus that can cause this?

Life here in the Port de Plaisance at Montchanin continues.  We have regular barbecues to try to get the folk on the boats together, and, of recent days, the weather has turned a bit chilly.

Friends Dick and Jeanie arrived and stayed for a couple of weeks.  During the first few days we went through the trauma of taking the Kelvin engine out of Rosy.  As followers of these witterings will know, there is nothing severely wrong with the Kelvin - it is a beautiful, slow revving machine, that hand-starts without complaint each morning.  It is ideal for the UK canals, and has done the Thames tideway in the past.  BUT the rivers over here flow swiftly, and the Kelvin has not been able to push us along fast enough.  However, should anyone be interested in buying a wonderful piece of history, the Kelvin is for sale in UK.  Contact Dick Goble at jean@steele77.freeserve.co.uk.

Lifting the heavy Kelvin out through the side doors of Rosy was somewhat alarming, as the crane was mounted on a peniche.  So as the crane took the weight, it tilted over depositing the engine back on Rosy's floor, and as the engine lifted off Rosy's floor, Rosy rose in the water as the weight was taken off her.  An interesting study in applied mechanics, except I found it hard to concentrate as there was a tear in my eye as the Kelvin finally lifted off.

Out of interest, on dismantling the exhaust system, Dick found that the flexible part of the pipe had a throat that was of a much lesser bore than that recommended by Kelvin, and it could well be this that was constricting her ability to rev freely.

Dick and Jeanie brought the new lump with them - a Perkins 3HD46 which will be fitted - soon.

Once the engine was out we felt the need to do something, so went for a cruise in the narrow boat Falcon.  She belongs to David Long, and is used as a holiday boat by his family - four or five families actually.  His son had left her at Roanne, and David really wanted her at Montchanin, so Dick, Jeanie and I had a lovely cruise for four or five days.  Some folk shun the Canal to Roanne, as it's a dead end, but it is a delightful cruise, with some glorious views across the valley of the Loire, and the excitement of some deep, deep locks.

A small problemette at Paray le Monial.  As we left after an overnight stop, I thought that Fanny the Wooflet was in the cabin with Dick 'n' Jeanie, whilst Dick 'n' Jeanie thought that she was up top with me.  Unfortunately she'd nipped into the barge next door for a free cuddle.  Apparently, she went dotty when she heard Falcon chug past the window, and flew round in ever decreasing circles.  The next lock was only half a mile away, and the barge skipper brought her along in his arms.  It was a bit odd to see her there, in his arms, rather than on the boat.  Then, of course the recriminations.  Her point of view seems to be that we tried to maroon her in a strange place.  Our view is/was that she tried to jump ship!  Still, we're all together again now, and all is forgiven (if not forgotten!).  This incident rather overshadowed our stay in Paray le Monial, the other highlight of which was the sighting of a hummingbird hawk moth.  Paray was very busy with pilgrims - it was at Paray that the 'Sacred Heart' movement started, and the basilica is much visited by followers of this cult, and by others who come to see the basilica which was built in the same style as the (since destroyed) old abbey at Cluny.

Falcon's engine is the same as Rosy's new one, and it certainly pushed Falcon along very nicely - so I have high hopes that all will be well.

When Dick and Jeanie finally left, I started tweaking the new engine - improving its appearance (it was sprayed all over with a matt blue paint) and adjusting the position of the fasteners on the jubilee clip so that they are get-at-able when the engine is installed.

I got rather frustrated with another moorer here.  They have a house in Spain and a boat, though even before they got the boat she said that she didn't like boating, but they got one anyway to give it a try.  This proved that she really didn't like boats or boating.  Anyway, here is a couple with things that many, many folk aspire to - but can only dream about - to wit, a house in Spain and a boat.  And they are wholly dissatisfied with life.  The boat is a strongly built motor sailer, for sale at about £20,000.  The house is on an 'urbanisation' somewhere in Spain.  Would YOU buy a house in something called an 'urbanisation'?  I wouldn't dream of buying a house in anything called anything like an 'urbanisation'!!  I'd guess that it would be full of Brits and other foreigners without a Spaniard in sight, and possibly with a building masquerading as an English pub in the middle of it.  Not my scene at all.

Er ... that's it!!

Toodle pip!!

Bill

P.S. dated Saturday 9th August

I've been having both computery problems and spam problems.  I have a spam zapper which is proving quite effective BUT I lost some proper e-mails last night, some of which were in response to "Rosy's Back".  If you have e-mailed me since 31st July, please be kind enough to re-send your e-mail.  Apologies and thanks.