A very unpleasant job

Tuesday 14th August; a short hop to Somerton Meadows

On a beautiful sunny morning there were boats on the move quite early.  Bur for us it was time for a few jobs.  First, the outside of the boat; having read Herbie’s blog Dave decided to try the T-cut and Carnauba wax treatment to recover the shine.  He only did a small bit this morning, but the result was highly satisfactory.

Then the canal went quiet.  Should we grab the opportunity to go down Somerton Deep lock while it was quiet?  Too late – along came a boat, so the horrible job awaiting us could be put off no longer – find and destroy the source of the nasty niffs from the shower.  Out came most of the contents of my wardrobe, under which the pump lives, then the inspection lamp was strung up.  Dave removed the lid of the shower pump – he had cleaned it out two days ago but the smell was still lurking.  It must have been coming from the hose leading from the shower to the pump.  Oh dear.  Meg it’s your fault! stop shedding hair!  Of course, it doesn’t take much dog hair to slow the water flow and trap soap scum, which of course turns black and vile.  I did the bicarb/vinegar/kettle of hot water trick, and with judicious use of the sink plunger and more hot water it was finally cleared.  Dave got the unpleasant job of sponging out the filthy water from the sump into a bucket – access is very tight.  But it worked – it must be the first time the pipe had been cleaned since the boat was built.

We had coffee, then a boat came from the direction of the lock so we were off.  A boat was about to come in below – hirers on their second day, and the crew was very nervous at such a deep lock.  So after help with the method from me, and then some help with the heavy gates from another boater they were on their way and so were we.  Dave was pleased to see an addition to the bottom gate;

a sloping plate of steel to help the bow fender slip off the gate so the bow does not get hung up as the water level drops.

There was plenty of space on the meadows and we chose a good spot for lunch.  The cattle were nowhere to be seen, though evidence of their recent presence was visible here and there.  They must have been in the next field along – the grass is still not growing well so the farmer was delivering extra feed, digging into their winter reserves, no doubt.

We don’t want to get to Oxford yet, so decided to stay here.  Between us we finished T-cutting and waxing and polishing the starboard side of the boat and the stern doors, and very lovely it looks too.  Check out that shine – and thanks Neil for the tip!

The afternoon was very peaceful – quiet enough to hear the wind whispering through the trees along the river on the far side of the field, then to feel the breeze that had stirred them, and as it picked up to hear the trees along the canal gently taking up the sound.

I made a cake while Dave finished titivating the counter with Red-ox paint, then it was time for Meg to have a run round the field.  It has been very quiet boat-wise – nothing for hours, though the two that eventually passed met each other right by us!  There were only 4 other boats on the meadows, and two of those were empty.  The cows have not returned, but I made sure there was nothing chewable in reach, just in case. 

There was a beautiful sunset later, with the crescent moon gradually turning orange as it sank through the apricot clouds.  I didn’t take a photo – my camera is not up to that kind of delicate colouring.

1½ miles, 1 lock, 1 open swing bridge – though we saw it lowered early this morning when the farmer crossed to check on the sheep.