Laura-Jo

Laura-Jo is our new-build, Euroships designed, 20mx4m, aft cabin Luxemotor Dutch Barge. She was launched in November 2008 and has since cruised the River Severn, Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, River Avon, Kennett & Avon Canal and River Thames. The crew consists of me (Dave) my wife Lyn and our two cats Molly and Dolly. Dolly is also known as the Sheriff (see http://www.thefenrir.co.uk/Our%20Blog/Our%20Blog.html).



I'm the one with the moustache (above and below)

We've not changed much in 37 years!!

On our cruise we've been accompanied by family and friends who have each enhanced our love of the boating life. Everyone that steps aboard Laura-Jo is transported from everyday life into the relaxing, friendly world of boating. It's a different world on the water!

You'll see from these photos that some of our crews have been slightly mad, others think they're film stars but all have been great fun to have aboard.

Cool crew! Renee taking it easy on the K & A cruise

1st Mate and his Dad (Jack & Matt)

My parents (Ron & Margaret) getting into the romance of life afloat

Cousins Pete and Anne think they're on the Titanic. Fortunately they sobered up and Laura-Jo didn't sink.

Happy smiley faces. This is what boating does for you. Geoff and Teressa on our relaxing cruise through London after working their socks off on the Caen Hill Flight.

 

Cousin Terry and I looking pretty cool, moored outside Hampton Court, and enjoying a scoop or two.

We're now (November 2010) moored near Chertsey, on the Thames, where we've been since October last year. The original intention was only to visit the Thames, returning to our home mooring at Upton-Upon-Severn, Worcestershire. But due to Laura-Jo sustaining serious damage when we came through the Kennett & Avon Canal we don't feel inclined to make the return trip. It's unfortunate that the K&A, which links the Thames to the West Country, is so poorly maintained because it is a beautiful canal and could be a major attraction. Our ultimate destination is Europe and the K&A was our shortcut, but no longer. Once in Europe our route back will be around Lands End.

Here are some pictures of Laura-Jo being built, launched(Nov 2008), our home mooring and the cruise to our current mooring.

Steel work nearly complete after almost 2 years.

She just about squeezed out of the workshop and trundled nervously across the potholed yard to the waters edge.

A 200 tonne crane is about to lift our future home into the River Severn. Lets hope it doesn't leak!!

Laura-Jo approaches the point of no return as once in the water it's unlikely that the crane could lift her out again!

She floats !!!The launching ceremony in full swing. The cast (L to R) me, Bryan (the builder) daughters Jo and Laura (hence Laura-Jo) and my wife Lyn, who is about to crack the Champagne on the bow.

Laura-Jo moored on our finished mooring. The mooring took a lot of work before it looked like this. It also nearly cost me my thumb thanks to Matt my son-in law who slipped with a drill whilst I was holding a piece of timber for him. He said it was an accident----------mmmmmmmmm!

Below are some pictures of our mooring being developed and the annual flood.

Renee and Jack (our grandchildren) were a great help.

Theres lots to think about and Jack's certainly got the supervisory stance. Matt 'the thumb breaker' is far right!! The river is normally about 40ft below the lawn area

All that hard work and its under water. As you can see the rise in the water level isn't just a few feet!! It's happens every year and it's only lasting effect is an EXTRA fertile lawn, which grows too fast but is very lush and green.

All the hardwork was worthwhile as its a beautiful spot!

The Cruise Begins

Heading down the River Severn approaching the new Severn crossing. I've sailed in some mighty tidal races but the Severn really is something special as you'd expect as it has the second highest tidal range on earth.

Approaching Clifton Suspension Bridge as we head for Bristol

Regatta in Bristol

Now on the K&A we head through Bath. The wheelhouse is down where it will stay for the duration of the K&A trip, so we were hoping for dry weather. Unfortunately the planned 2 week trip actually took 8 and it rained most of the time.

After running aground numerous times we finally arrive at the Caen Hill Flight of locks, which are really impressive. The lock keeper was a great guy, very helpful! The K&A is incredible if only it was adequately maintained.

Here's Matt doing BWs work for them. There was a tree across the canal that only narrowboats could get around (you can just see our bow). So he did his Tarzan impersonation and hacked away until we could get through. Sometimes he's quite handy to have about although he can be dangerous!

We dragged the bottom the entire length of the K&A inspite of our barge being built smaller than dimensions given to us (in writing) by BW. When we finally reached the Thames it was like we were ice skating, slipping along with ease, revs down, fuel consumption down and stearage at last.

We've cruised parts of the Thames from Reading and out through the Barrier. It's a bit bouncy through London because of the Clippers but its fantastic boating. The following pictures don't need captions.

IT'S NOW October 2019, almost 10 years since my last entries on this blog. We are alive, well, older and still loving life aboard Laura-Jo. We've seen record low and high temperatures, incredible floods and low water levels in the intervening years but (touch wood) all systems have coped and are still going strong. We've done some cruising on the Thames but moorings are scarce for a 20m barge. Despite paying ever increasing EA licence fees, little is done to reduce the numbers of riverbank squatters taking up the best, most convenient berths.

Here are a few photos of life aboard over the past 10 years.

 

On average the visitor moorings on the non-tidal Thames are reasonable

although often difficult to find for a 20m barge. Here (above) we are entering St Katherines

Dock, which is far from cheap. However sailing under Tower Bridge and

entering St Kats is an experience worth paying a bit extra for.

 

A gentle cruise near Chertsey.
 

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