JOURNEY’S END AFTER EPIC CRUISE
A 57ft narrowboat with both bow and stern thrusters has completed an epic journey from the Kennet & Avon Canal to the River Soar, which has taken eight months.
The Last Crusade was bought from Devizes Marina in September by Mick and Val Gray, who simply had to take it to their new mooring at Sileby on the Soar Navigation.
However, it was not that simple. The Kennet & Avon Canal did not pose a problem but by the time they reached Osney Lock on the Thames, near Oxford, the river rose rapidly and remained in flood for nearly five months.
As soon as the river level fell earlier this year the Covid-19 lockdown prevented further movement and it was May before the couple managed to make any progress.
Mick, who has travelled extensively on share boats, decided the time was right to have his own boat and The Last Crusade fitted the bill.
“I have never before known a narrowboat with both bow thrusters and stern thrusters,” said Mick, who is delighted with the simple thruster controls.
“Using the thrusters was really convenient when sharing a lock,” said
Mick. “They kept the boat up against the side of the lock chamber when another boat was coming in.”
He said the thrusters were also useful for mooring, especially in a space around the same length as the boat.
A 43hp Vetus engine powers the boat, which Mick says handles perfectly. A square stern also facilitated reversing.
“She’s finally back on her new mooring after a journey that started in September last year,” said Mick, who received special permission from the Canal & River Trust to move the boat during the lockdown restrictions. Once this was received it took two weeks to travel from the Thames to Sileby.