An unexpected trip

15-October was the South East Waterways Partnership AGM.  BBC Look East were in attendance but it was decided that the filming they wished to undertake would be better done elsewhere and Stoke Bruerne, with a cameo appearance by Sculptor, was in order.

We took Sculptor back to the lock waiting area and then up to the winding hole where David B turned her and then back to her moorings (which is why she is facing towards the lock now).  The BBC have promised us the final cut before they go home - they are editing the filming in then car park and I'll post it here when I can.

15 tons of coal and 2 tons of water (ballast!)

Sculptor approaching Braunston
bottom lock with only 2 tons of
water ballast by the back end boards

Sculptor sitting comfortably on her
mooring with her 15 tons of coal and
2 tons of water ballast

The intrepid three (Steve, Rob and Kathryn) met at Lock 19 this morning and waited whilst Julia and Richard (Towcester, Lactodorum and Bideford) loaded Sculptor and then brought her back to Stoke Bruerne in the pouring rain.  She's now sitting comfortably alongside her usual moorings with a lot less dryside.

The fore-end is now at the right height to finish the repaint which we will be undertaken just as soon as the weather allows!

An update to thank Steve Dean for fixing the new fore-end bilge pump.  When we were loading the coal Richard (of Jules and Richard) moved a piece of wood which neatly took the head off the outlet of the new pump - a complete accident.  Steve took it home and expertly repaired it and it now is 'better than new'!  At the moment we don't need it as Sculptor is down by the stern (every so slightly) but if she ends up lying slightly down by the head we will need it.

New cloths are scheduled for this weekend.

The first time since 1988

Alex, Steve and Ryan
loading Sculptor

Sculptor was partially loaded this afternoon - the job will be finished on Monday.  It's the first time she has been loaded since 1988 and even though she only has a small amount of her planned load on at the moment she looks so much more 'business-like'.

This afternoon, Rob, Steve and Kathryn took the shutts up and cleaned out underneath them in preparation for the coal to be loaded - we won't be able to get at the shutts for a while.

The image to the left shows Alex, Steve and Ryan loading Sculptor from Bideford with Southern Cross in the background (alongside Charlie).

Images from this afternoon are here.

Volunteer hours 15 (total 547 to date).