the Elizabeth Jane

Mon, 12 May 2014 17:39:20 +0700

Will and Christopher met up with Pete, Anna and Jess at Whilton during the May Bank Holiday. After a hearty brunch, we made our way up the locks to Long Buckby. The next day, Will and Christopher set off for Crick, and were later joined by Anna Osborne. Here's a short video of our cruise...

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Christopher, Anna, and Jess locking up the Long Buckby flight.

Looking down the Watford Locks

The side pounds at Watford

Anna Osborne at Watford

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:16:00 +0700

Liz and Christopher Osborne had a long weekend on our narrowboat Elizabeth Jane. We left High House Wharf on Friday, and over the next two days we made our way down to Cosworth. On the Sunday, we headed back up to Stoke Breune, where we stopped for the night. Sadly, Monday came, and that meant that we had to go home.

Coming up the Stoke Breune flightHarold was ever the brave dog. He has now learnt to yelp like a seal. He periodically does this when he is tied up, and can't run and sniff with his hearing disabled.

Harold the seal

Solomon's Bridge is just at the north end of Cosgrove. It was built for the then local landowner's benefit, but as records have been lost, not that much is known about it now. It is amazingly beautiful, although a lot of the detail has eroded with time (and pollution).

Solomon's Bridge at Cosgrove

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:40:42 +0700

During the May school trip, Will, Anna and I set off for Crick. Will is now able to sort out the locks on his own, and even showed Anna what to do...

Will and Anna at Watford locks
Will even had a go at driving, and was much better than he thought he would be.

Will driving

Anna kept herself amused by starting to read Marley and Me.

Anna reading Marley and Me

Of course Harold came too, and enjoyed being a boat dog.

Harold enjoyed being a boat dog, but you can't beat a good walk

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:29:33 +0700

Waiting to descend through the Watford Locks Passing another boat near Crick

Liz mans the BBQ

View of Cracks Hill.

Hatch view

Bridge on the Leicester Branch of the Grand Union Canal

I dog, I run

I watch

Sat, 7 Feb 2009 19:57:47 +0700

These photos were taken during the second cold snap in 2009.

Liz

A bollard

Almost empty

Virgin snow

At High House Wharf

Thu, 1 May 2008 19:41:00 +0700

Moored next to the Shopping Centre in Banbury May Day in Cropredy

Driver's view

We are moored up on our way back to High House Wharf

Sat, 7 Apr 2007 19:12:00 +0700

Who's a clever Mummy?
Who's a clever Mummy?Swans like prawn crackers!!!

Swan nesting

Ducks outside the hatch

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 19:10:00 +0700

Looking goodThe paint has come out with an amazing high gloss mirror finish thanks to a paint additive called Owatrol which keeps the paint wet for longer, thus allowing the brush strokes to disapate more.

To celebrate, I've spent the week re-varnishing the window frames and cleaning out the bilge!

View from High House bridge

Elizabeth Jane basks in the morning sun...

the name panel

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 18:56:00 +0700

The green paint looks sad

Wow, choosing a colour scheme is HARD!!! You end up looking at millions of other boats and once you have found something you like, you realise that they won't translate to your boat because the shape is different, or perhaps you didn't quite like the shade, and so on. Looking at colour swatches is OK, but what will the colour look like on a whole boat?

Initially I wanted to copy a colour scheme from another boat, but came to the conclusion that the colour scheme which worked well with a boat with portholes wouldn't translate onto our boat because of the deep windows not allowing sufficient border and a dark coloured centre panel highlighting the fact that the windows are not symetrically placed top and bottom.

I knew I wanted something different, so eventually I decided on Black with Salmon lines and roof.I had found a Salmon colour of the Dulux colour chart. The Masons paint was provided by Sayers in Northampton who did a brilliant job of matching the colour.

Trevor starts to apply the salmon on the name panel

The preparation took 2 weeks of working rather more than 8 hours a day, and the painting another week.

This picture shows Trevor starting to apply the salmon cover over the undercoat.

more of TrevorHere she is looking rather forlorne with the green heavily sanded back and the salmon colour starting to be applied.

The signwriting goes on

Russ did the original signwriting. In addition to narrowboats he also paints fairground rides and anything else that needs the touch of a skilled old fashioned signwriter.

The signwriting took just under 2 days to complete. And boy does it look good.

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 22:19:00 +0700

William