La Licorne's new home

Yes it's all set once we collect La Licorne from Sileby Mill Boatyard and bring her south via the River Soar, Trent & Mersey canal, Oxford Canal, Coventry Canal and the Grand Union Canal this quiet marina near Yardley Gobion will be her new home. Alex at Sileby is fitting a new Vitron inverter, repainting the engine compartment and preparing the rear panels for sign-writing and that should all be done by the bank holiday weekend.

Bow

Visited Tradline Ropes & Fenders today to buy two fenders, ropes and clips. They are such nice people, a great firm to do business with, try them at www.tradline.co.uk

Also found the cafe boat near the Braunston Marina, a great place to stop for a fry up.

Thinking about a cratch and screen on the bow.

Training and then moving!

By the end of Saturday both of us were well and truly cream crackered. Our training day with Willow Wren Training in Rugby started at 8.45 and finished at 6pm. The course included almost every aspect of using a narrowboat and our trainer, Steve, was excellent. We sailed along the North Oxford Canal through Hillmorton locks and back again to their mooring in Rugby Wharf, using winding holes to turn and the restricted section to practice reversing. We each handled locks upstream and downstream, plus trying springing off and mooring and of course the man overboard proceedure. By the end of the day we were awarded our RYA inland waterways helmsman certificate.

Tomorrow we take La Licorne from Barrow on Soar to Sileby Mill boatyard. Just hope the training sank in!

A thank you to ABNB

An old narrowboat buyer from Fenny
Looked and looked but could not find any
But a quick trip to Crick
Meant ABNB did the trick
The right boat was there among many

You could try www.abnb.co.uk 

La Licorne takes to the waves

Everything seems to be in place for the purchase of La Licorne on Thursday 19th April. The written report from the surveyor has been received and is fine. Contracts have been exchanged. We have found and arranged a mooring at Kingfisher Marina, Yardley Gobion ; a lovely secure pontoon mooring just north of Milton Keynes and only 14 minutes drive from home.

Insurance is arranged and I have to ring BW to finalise the licence for Canal & River since she is already licensed for Rivers and they know the boat safety certificate is current. The Small Ships Register application has been submitted and should be with me soon.

Early next week we move her to Sileby Mill Boatyard who are going to fit an inverter, repaint the bilge in the engine compartment and repaint the rear panel. Then while La Licorne is in their paint shed LetterKnight is going to paint the new boat name and home port together a small picture, wait for this on the website! Picture coming soon. When La Licorne was out of the water for the survey we took the opportunity to have her blacked with two coats so that should last for at least four years.

In early May we start the journey home to Fenny Stratford via the River Trent and Fradley Junction. But this Saturday we both take the RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman Course and hopefully pass the exam at Willow Wren Training in Rugby. The weather forecast is heavy rain such joy!

Another excuse to Splice the Mainbrace.