#356

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Cross Cut Ash and Chrome Ballpoint Twist Pen

EUROPEAN ASH - Fraxinus excelsior

Creamy white to a light tan in colour, European Ash is a tough, straight-grained and flexible timber with a coarse but even texture. It works well with both hand and machine tools, and stains, saws and finishes well. It can have olive coloured streaks running through the boards. With an oil finish, it can turn golden brown

We had a lovely evening in the New Inn (and later back on the boat) at the top of Buckby Locks with friends but the next day the Buckby flight beckoned. The flight (properly called the Whilton Lock Flight) is not that long being only seven in number and they are well spaced out through pretty countryside, but a few of them are really tough. Big heavy balance beams on sticking gates can make the going very tough.

It didn't take long to get through them and we had timed our run to coincide with boaters leaving the visitor moorings at the bottom. There is only a few hundred yards of suitable mooring before you are well and truly sandwiched between the railway the other side of Whilton Marina and the busy M1.

We had a relaxing couple of days catching up on chores, bumping into boaters (not literally) that we hadn't seen for ages and even managed a stroll around the marina to see what boats were on offer for sale. Back on the boat it was time to take advantage of the lovely sunshine charging the batteries via the solar array and get some turning done.

Pen #356  was turned on the 3rd August 2015 at the bottom of Whilton Locks.