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thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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 Posted -
09/01/2008
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12:36
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This now supercedes the earlier topic and is specifically aimed at all who are involved, Plus I do not like making spelling mistakes. First of all the current weather forcast for Skipton is: Saturday; showers, high 5, low 2. Sunday; showers, high 7, low 3. Not brilliant, but not like last night when for the first time ever I saw snow being driven horizontaly and illuminated by violent lighting!. With the lack of traffic on the cut at this time we may not have to empty locks before entering. A few tech, bits next. Summit - the highest section of a canal, ours is the highest of all twixt Greenberfield and Barrowford. Top of flight, section above flight, bottom of flight, that section below. This of course becomes in turn the top if you are going down. The section between locks in a flight are called pounds.. Locks have a head; top, and a tail; bottom. Each lock has six "paddles" two of these are ground paddles and are situated at either side in the canal banking above the head gates. These allow water into the lock at low level and are always opened first, some are opened with a lever and the rest with a rack and pinion, operated with a windlass NOT TO BE DROPPED INTO THE CUT, Two more paddles are one in each of the head gates and should not be opened until the water has risen above them, windlass operated, the remaing two are in each of the tail gates. These two need not concern us on this trip When using a windlass, after raising the paddle, engage the "Pawl" on the gear before doing anything else. Never let the weight of the paddle take charge. Safety is paramount, know what you are doing first. Sadly a dropped windless was the cause of multiple deaths at Gargrave a few years ago. Swing bridges, there are quite few between Silsden and Gargrave, some are often open. To open these, first cross the bridge and using a "necklace key" remove the chain device which secures the bridge beam. push the beam to bring the bridge parallel to the cut reducing the effort before helps to prevent the bridge from bouncing back into the path of the oncoming boat, hold the beam until the boat is clear, this caution also aplies to lock gate beams. Returning the bridge is the reversal of this operation. Someone on a bike can be very useful when attempting a "fast passage" but if there are other people about, take your bike over the bridge with you, its not funny when your iron is off down the towpath in the hands of a stranger. Someone on a bike can go ahead and ready the bridge or lock two is even better. I hope that this is of some help to whoever comes along and is unsure of events. But to all who come, Welcome and thank you. Keep safe and as warm and dry as is possible.
thomo
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Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 26/01/2008 : 19:16
UPDATE ON SATELLITE
We have satellite TV!
Martyn from Travelsat readily agreed to travel up from his Midlands base when he heard of our trials and tribulations. We had already done everything he would have suggested and he was extremely puzzled.
Needless to say he got a signal within 15 seconds of setting up the dish.
As I stood there open mouthed and feeling a tad embarrassed at dragging him from his bed at 6am on a Saturday, he encouraged me to have a go at doing it myself - and I too managed to get a signal. There's a knack and I now have it!
So we have a result.
Full marks to Martyn for providing a superb service. |
panbiker
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Posted - 26/01/2008 : 20:23
Any LNB adjustment done? or were we just pointing it in the wrong direction, can't see how we could have been too far out with the end stopping signals we were getting. You will have to demonstrate the knack at some time Cally. Anyway glad you are sorted.
Ian |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 26/01/2008 : 21:38
No - the LNB was as it should be.
Hard to describe the setting up procedure - will have to show you.
Basically, there are several satellites near to Astra2 which were giving us the signal strength indicator bar but unless we got the correct satellite, we wouldn't get the signal quality bar, the lock and the 0002 thing.
Rotating the dish too quickly doesn't allow the signal to bounce down and register (remember, there's a few seconds delay). Martyn showed me how to rotate the dish while 'nodding' it up and down, all in small increments, waiting a second or two each time to see whether the correct reading is obtained. I can now do this without the meter because I know roughly which direction to point it.
We are getting a great picture on the TV now - unless there's a gust of wind. Which is every 3 seconds at present. This means the picture breaks up and the sound goes - which you would expect because it's a small, lightweight dish on a swaying boat.
However, these winds are stronger than usual - I don't expect a problem under normal conditions because the boat is pretty steady.
Martyn is a really nice guy - he shared a cuppa and toast with us while Thomo was here showing us his plans for the new bathroom layout (which incidentally is a superb solution - more on this later). |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 27/01/2008 : 09:20
Glad you can watch day-time TV now. Such a comfort.........
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
moh
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Posted - 27/01/2008 : 12:19
Are you still at the marina? Sorry we have not got over yet - carpet fitter promised to come Monday or Tuesday, then Thursday or Friday, now tomorrow afternoon. It is only a small job so they don't think of the inconvenience of people waiting in. I gave him quite a rollicking when he 'phoned Saturday morning - so he will either come on time or leave us waiting again!!!
Say only a little but say it well |
Big Kev
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Posted - 27/01/2008 : 14:05
It is indeed a "knack". It just needs the "knack" to be included in the instructions that come with the dish.......
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Big Kev
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Posted - 28/01/2008 : 12:17
http://buy.maplin.co.uk/Free_UK_Delivery/Universal_Solar_
Powered_NiCd_Battery_Charger_10438/Universal_Solar_
Powered_NiCd_Battery_Charger_10438.htm
Hi H, not sure if the link will work but I've found a solar battery charger for less than a tenner......
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 28/01/2008 : 14:21
Interesting. While on Maplins I looked for a 4-battery version and found this:
www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=L09BK&DOY=28m1
(Can't seem to make it a clicky like I used to be able to before the site improvements)
Only £6.99 - how come it's cheaper, I wonder?
In another note, today we bit the bullet.
We needed to fill the water and empty the poo tanks, which meant setting off towards Silentnight, turning the boat round, heading back to the marina, mooring up there, having a brew while the necessary pipes did their job, setting off towards Soddem, negotiating the twisty little bridge past the Anchor, turning the boat round, heading back to our spot, mooring up again.
WE DID IT ALL ON OUR OWN. Well, almost - the guys at the marina are so helpful and friendly and they gave us a hand mooring up there, but the rest was all done by ourselves - for the first time! Elaine did all the steering and made a fantastic job of it - only a couple of bumps here and there. Oh, and we almost squashed Barry's plastic boat but hey - it bounced back in one piece...
I was at the bow in case she needed help to see where we were going, but it became plain that she was doing fine without my input, so I swept and tidied the deck instead. (Well, a gal's gotta do something useful!)
We learned lots more about the whole process and it's still a bit daunting, but we're sure in a few months we'll be more relaxed - like learning to drive a car, I guess.
Edited by - Callunna on 28/01/2008 2:25:01 PM |
Big Kev
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Posted - 28/01/2008 : 15:04
quote:
Callunna wrote:
Interesting. While on Maplins I looked for a 4-battery version and found this:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=L09BK&DOY=28m1
(Can't seem to make it a clicky like I used to be able to before the site improvements)
Only £6.99 - how come it's cheaper, I wonder?
In another note, today we bit the bullet.
We needed to fill the water and empty the poo tanks, which meant setting off towards Silentnight, turning the boat round, heading back to the marina, mooring up there, having a brew while the necessary pipes did their job, setting off towards Soddem, negotiating the twisty little bridge past the Anchor, turning the boat round, heading back to our spot, mooring up again.
WE DID IT ALL ON OUR OWN. Well, almost - the guys at the marina are so helpful and friendly and they gave us a hand mooring up there, but the rest was all done by ourselves - for the first time! Elaine did all the steering and made a fantastic job of it - only a couple of bumps here and there. Oh, and we almost squashed Barry's plastic boat but hey - it bounced back in one piece...
I was at the bow in case she needed help to see where we were going, but it became plain that she was doing fine without my input, so I swept and tidied the deck instead. (Well, a gal's gotta do something useful!)
We learned lots more about the whole process and it's still a bit daunting, but we're sure in a few months we'll be more relaxed - like learning to drive a car, I guess.
Edited by - Callunna on 28/01/2008 2:25:01 PMExcellent, you'll soon be up and down the canal like a couple of pro's (possibly not the best terminology to use but you know what I mean)...........
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 28/01/2008 : 16:43
"up and down the canal like a couple of pro's"
Darn! I gave my red PVC mini skirt and thigh length boots to the charity shop when we were downsizing  |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 28/01/2008 : 17:33
It's OK H. I'll lend you mine whenever you need them...... Glad to hear you are getting brave. Like anything else, you'll soon get into the hang of it.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Travis
Regular Member
91 Posts
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Posted - 28/01/2008 : 17:38
My congrats to you both...now...was it your... hmm.. "maiden" sail?
Tell Elaine I told her it was easy peasy.
Well done, Andy.
Deeds not words. |
Big Kev
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Posted - 29/01/2008 : 09:55
quote:
Callunna wrote:
"up and down the canal like a couple of pro's"
Darn! I gave my red PVC mini skirt and thigh length boots to the charity shop when we were downsizing
I wondered who they used to belong to.........
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
moh
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Posted - 29/01/2008 : 11:33
quote:
moh wrote:
Are you still at the marina? Sorry we have not got over yet - carpet fitter promised to come Monday or Tuesday, then Thursday or Friday, now tomorrow afternoon. It is only a small job so they don't think of the inconvenience of people waiting in. I gave him quite a rollicking when he 'phoned Saturday morning - so he will either come on time or leave us waiting again!!!Guess what - he did not turn up again!!!!
Say only a little but say it well |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 29/01/2008 : 14:19
Called in to see H today. Snug as a bug in a rug.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
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FRABJOUS DAY, the homecoming.
