Kildare - More a trip report than a working Party Update, but read to the end.

Well she's now back at the Museum.

The launch was successful on Tuesday and hopefully a video will be able on the website as soon as I can make it available to Malcolm.

Thursday at 9 am a crew of: Nick Haynes, Brian Empsall, Tony Tibbins and Richard Burke met at the museum, this was to ensure that cars were available for the trip back. We then drove down to Dadford's where Bob Crompton was already waiting.

Arrangements had been made for the Tug Bittell to tow us from the top of the Stourbridge flight back to the Museum, so Bob set off to help them down the Delph locks.

Kildare cast-off at 9:50, the first three locks were completed backwards as the winding hole is above lock 10. A local walking on the tow path did greet us with a "your famous you are, there was a picture of the boat being launched in yesterday's paper". Unfortunately not the times, just the local Wolverhampton Express and Star. but it's good to see the Museum publicising our effort.

Dave Stott timed it well and joined us just as we had finished winding.

No problems up the remainder of the flight, we arrived at the top at 11:50. No sign of Bittell so we carried on bow hauling.

Within 5 mins we met Bittell so we thought our problems were over.

Unfortunately not true. Bittell was suffering the horrors of the BCN, with continual problems of a fowled prop. At one such stop we were joined by new member David Henighan.

Then Kildare's rudder unshipped, I was steering at the time and I contend I was at least 6 feet from the tow path, so must have been a lump in the bottom.

Eventually we completed the 1.5 miles and arrived at the bottom of Delph Locks at about 1pm. Decided that a short break for lunch at the 'Brewery' was called for, back at 2.15 pm.

As the 'new' boy David Henighan was invited to be initiated into the art of bow hauling and proceeded to bow haul to the top of the flight.

Minute now ran into minute, so I'm not sure what time we arrived at the top, but as we had no problems or delays it can't have been any later that 3.30pm.

But no other major delays 10 miles and 4 locks later, we went back via Netherton Tunnel and Brades Locks, we arrived back at the Museum at 8pm.

We did have a 30 min delay  at the entrance to the narrows at Tipton Junction, where a couple of local young persons had acquired a flat from near the museum and taken it for a joy ride. We finally pursued them they should let us take it back and towed the rudderless flat behind Kildare.

9pm saw Kildare reunited with President moored at the new Boat Dock.

So now the interior work can commence. Full work parties Friday/Saturday this week and Thursday/Friday/Saturday next week. A work list will be posted in Brook Street is people are able to attend at any other time. A formal Committee meeting has been called on Saturday 29th and after assessing the re-fit progress, at this time we will confirm the Boating Programme for the remainder of the year. Just a warning that the trip to the National at Beale is still not a certainty.

Please contact Bob Crompton on 07779 157165 or Nick Haynes on 07710 981397 if you can make any of those days.

Hopefully the Beale trip will be confirmed but we are still no crewed to full levels. Richard Thomas has asked me to say that the following places are still open.

BCLM to Banbury - 14th-19th August - Captain Nick Haynes - 1 crew member required. Early start, so be at the museum Sunday evening. Banbury to Beale - 19th- 25th August - Captain Bob Crompton - 1 crew member required. At the National over the Bank Holiday Weekend. - Captain Neil Ratcliffe - Can you spare one, two or (best of all) three days to come and help crew President and the Sales Stand?  Accommodation will be on the newly-fitted, luxurious Kildare.  (currently sleeping for up to 4 more)

Please contact Richard Thomas on 07801 144007,  if you can find time to crew.

Here's the end of todays lesson, the next one will be after Saturday 29th with hopefully good news.

Nick Haynes