#467 Now Sold

NB Saturn Oak and 24ct Gold Plated Ballpoint Twist Pen

(£2.50 from the sale of this pen will be gifted to The Shropshire Union Fly-Boat Restoration Society, the Custodians of NB Saturn)

EUROPEAN OAK - Quercus robur

Usually straight-grained, the heartwood of European Oak varies in colour from light tan to brown. Quarter-sawn pieces show attractive flame figuring. The wood is fairly hard, heavy and dense, clean but with the occasional knot. European Oak is a beautiful timber and with an oil finish, the grain will turn a deep golden brown.

This particular piece of oak (probably English rather than European) is just a little bit special though. It is one of the large bow mainframes from the Shropshire Fly Boat Saturn. The days of the fly-boats began with the success of the Bridgewater and Trent & Mersey canals in the 1770’s. Up until the heyday of the fly boats cargos had sedately plodded up the towing paths (Haling Way’s in them thar days) at three miles per hour or so but the new Fly Boats with teams of four men and two horses regularly galloped their loads of perishable goods at ten miles per hour. 

Built in 1906 for the Shropshire Union Canal Carrying Co. at Tower Wharf, Chester, Saturn was used for the fast carriage of cheese from the producing towns of Cheshire and Shropshire to the major markets such as Manchester. 

Saturn is the last horse-drawn Shropshire Union Canal Fly-boat in the World – originally built to travel non-stop, day and night. Over 100 years old, she has been fully restored to her former glory; not only to preserve her for posterity but to educate present and future generations about our waterways, narrowboats and horse-boating.

Our daughter Jess called from Poole and gave us the great news that she would be able to pop up and visit us towards the end of the month. It'd be the first time she drove up to visit us and Birmingham isn't the best place for parking. With nothing else needing doing in Birmingham we decided to head out of town to new waters for us and get as close to Stratford upon Avon canal basin as possible for her visit.

Canal cruising is a bit trickier in the depths of winter. Frozen ropes and icy back decks are enough for me after about four hours or so and there is a real danger that a couple of cold days in a row could mean the canal is frozen solid and we wouldn't be going anywhere.

32 miles and 54 locks doesn't sound an awful lot but it equates to a trip of about 28 hours. Luckily most of the canal down here is fairly deep, without too many moored boats to slow right down for and at this time of year hardly any other boats are moving so we made fantastic time. We left Cambrian wharf early Monday morning and by Wednesday we had moored up in Stratford upon Avon a little after the sun had set over the basin.

A few days later... we had spent a lovely weekend with Jess on the boat and I think Dudley had just about got used to waking up and finding two beds to have a cuddle in but all good things come to an end and another working week beckoned.

We were certainly getting used to the lovely weather in Bancroft Basin with nothing to cast a shadow over us the boat became really quite warm by mid morning, almost too hot with the fire ticking over. As well as wakening up the dark recesses of winter the sun also provided us with a much needed solar power boost. In fact by the end of February we are close to being self sufficient for power. We had run the engine for an hour and the generator for about two (a particularly dull day) in the week and a bit that we'd been moored here.

Dudley was getting used to his 'around the river' morning walk of about two and a half miles too, and we were being suckered in by Stratford Upon Avon and all the facilities. McDonalds is 50 yards away, a chippie not much further and this leads to lovely independent cafes, beamed pubs to watch the six nations rugby tournament. So many places to celebrate Debbie's birthday on Friday when her mum was due to visit. Now where shall we try first..... 

Pen #467 was made in the canal basin at Stratford upon Avon on Sunday 7th March 2016

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