Saturday, 27th September, 2008
Tournedos-sur-Seine: weighed anchor 10.29
44.5 kilometres, 1 lock.
Rouen: moored 15.09
My inspection of the port engine filter in the morning showed it to be full of sticks and mud packed tightly. This plug I cleared, but when I started the engine again there was still no raw water output. Clearly I was stuck coping with one engine until I could get it sorted in Rouen.
We weighed anchor and I sucked Charlie Dee backwards out of her grounding using the starboard engine. However, as we came free I checked the raw water output from the starboard engine. It’s called learning from experience. There was raw water but in insufficient quantity for my liking. We got the anchor down pronto. The technical term is “laying one’s anchor”. We dropped it and let out lots of chain until it stopped dragging in the current. Thoughts about what to do with a boat on a fast flowing river without any engines flickered through my mind.
I went below and looked at the starboard engine filter. It was full of reed, which I cleared. Restarted the engine and ….. it worked. If there is a deity, He, She or It had my thanks. At least we still had one working engine - albeit with a gear shift cable which had been cobbled together at Peronne but was still working.
We were somewhat delayed getting into the first and only lock of the day, which with only one engine was a bit of a pain. I could only cope by circling in the river, but eventually we got in only to lose a fender and part of a toe rail, which I retrieved from the water. It was turning out to be one of those days.
The run down the river toward Rouen was uneventful and we were fortunate in our timing. We arrived just at the end of the flood tide so were able to go straight to a berth. Ten minutes later the ebb tide was pouring past the boat.
The harbour master on enquiring how long we wished to stay, was disconcerted when I mentioned Wednesday. My reckoning was if I needed help I could get that on Monday or Tuesday, with luck, and be able to get away early on Wednesday. He mentioned another boat coming in on Tuesday or Wednesday which would be coming to our spot. I offered to move if necessary, providing the tide was slack, but he went away and then returned saing we could stay until Tuesday or Wednesday “maximum”.
Sunday, 28th September, 2008
Rouen, France.
I opened the port engine raw water pump in the morning (when the engine room had had a chance to cool) and discovered a damaged impeller. Well, I could probably fix that myself, but first I needed a replacement.
Meanwhile, Anne did the tourist bit in Rouen. She visited the Joan of Arc and the great clock museums. Rouen has some very old streets with half-timbered houses. She also found an internet centre, which I visited in the evening and downloaded some of our beloved BBC podcasts. On the way I visited the site of the nearest chandler. There was a notice on the closed gate giving its opening times. It was closed every Monday. There was another special notice saying that for stock-taking purposes the chandler was going to be closed this coming Tuesday.
On my return to the marina the entrance gate was firmly locked but the next gate, for vehicular traffic, although also locked was easily scaled.
Monday, 29th September, 2008
Rouen, France.
My first priority was to visit the other chandler in Rouen. This one had no notice about when it was open, but it was firmly shut.
Anne and I visited the Fine Arts Museum ad spent about four hours there: Velasquez, Caravagio, Monet, Renoir and Sisley and some delightful Dutch interiors. We also found a painting by Lebrun, one of our favourite artists. Pity they did not have a postcard of this to add to our collection. Lunch at the gallery was tasty and reasonable.
The afternoon was spent at the Cathedral, the nave of which soared splendidly above us.
Tuesday, 30th September, 2008
Rouen, France
We woke to a misty rain which continued all day with heavier rain in the afternoon.
I went to the distant chandler and ordered a replacement impeller, (well three actually), which the helpful assistant said would be delivered by ten o’clock the next day.
We spent the rest of the day doing jobs round the boat and preparing for the coming trip across the Seine bay into Le Havre port.
In the evening the harbour master came round enquiring when we might be leaving. I explained again about the faulty engine and showed him the damaged impeller. He already knew that the local chandler had been closed since we arrived. I said we should be able to leave on Thursday. He accepted that change of plan with equanimity. Perhaps the big boat’s arrival had been delayed.
Wednesday, 1st October, 2008
Rouen, France.
The new impellers were at the chandlers. Although the angle was awkward the impeller went in more easily than I had feared and I managed to replace all six screws in the end plate without dropping any into the bilge. It was a close thing a couple of times so I lay a cloth below the work in the hope that if any did fall they would be caught. I expect had I not taken that precaution I should have dropped one. I started the engine and there was that dreadful pause when nothing happened. Presumably, the system was filling with water again. Then came that familiar and reassuring gush of raw water from the exhaust. It worked!
In the afternoon I frequented the internet centre again and called at the local chandler, whose stock I trust was all in order. I found a chart of Le Havre entrance and bought a box of red flares, red parachute flares and two orange smoke canisters.
Anne bought in supplies and set about stowing some contents ready for tomorrow’s trip.
Barrie
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