Update 30 May 2012

Its hard to imagine its Thursday already and I did the last post on Saturday. Mind you we have to keep asking each other what day of the week it is as they all merge into one.

Having negotiated Watford locks on the Saturday we were faced with the large double locks at Braunston and these can be a real pain if you are on your own. Luckily as I was walking the dogs on Saturday evening I started talking to the Kerry and Jan and found they were due to go the same way so we arranged to go through together which helped Sarah no end. It was incredibly hot so we decided that we would stop soon after Braunston but that was a mistake as it was too hot to enjoy even sitting on the towpath and we would of had a slight breeze if we had kept going.

The following day saw us though Hillmorton locks which were single locks but with very stiff paddle gear on the middle lock which caused a bit of sweat for Sarah but at least they were the last locks we would face for a while as the rest of the trip up the Ashby is lock free.

As we turned right onto the Coventry canal the couple in a boat coming towards us started waving frantically and I couldn't think what was wrong until I realised that it was John and Louise in Bluemoon, our old boat that we had arranged to meet during the way on the Ashby. Timing was unbelievable, no way could we have planned it, so we both tied up and adjourned to the pub for a few jars and a very enjoyable lunch after which we carried on for an hour onto the Ashby and moored for the night.

Yesterday was very relaxed as we only only moved a few miles up the Ashby but in the afternoon John and Louise caught us up (they had gone into Coventry for the evening to see Coldplay) and we showed them around our boat, met Jasper their adorable Border terrier puppy properly and introduced him to our two who were both rather standoffish. And then the rain!  A real downpour and John and Louise who were going to move on decided to say put. I waited for the rain to stop before walking the dogs but got soaked anyway as I couldn't find the footpath and ended up walking through waist high grass to get back to the canal.

Today started off dry and cooler so we decided to move on a few miles to Stoke Golding and visit the village which the guide book says has one of the finest churches in Leicestershire. It might well have but unfortunately it was locked up when we tried to get in! Sign of the times I suppose. It then started to rain so we adjourned to a pub for a glass and then came back to the boat where I did a few chores like putting cup hooks up. Bonus for today is that I have seen 2 water voles to add to yesterdays sparrow hawk.

So that's us up to date and here's a few photos from the last days.

Moored near braunston

Sunset near Braunston

Dawn (or there abouts!) the following morning

Braunston church from our mooring

Moored near nowhere in particular

Teasle trying to be a dogs dinner

Iris growing on the banks of the Ashby Canal

Typical stone built bridge on the Ashby

Near our mooring on the Ashby

Leaving comments

Its absolutely pouring down outside at the moment with thunder and lighting having accompanied the rain earlier so I'm updating the blog rather than take the dogs for a walk!

Its also been pointed out to me that not everyone can comment on the blog and I had set it up so that only registered followers could but I have now changed ti so that hopefully anyone can. It would be good if you would leave a word or two, just so that I know that its being read! You should just need to click where it says comments below and then you can write your own.

I'm posting this now just to check that the comments section appears. Full details of our last few days will follow shortly.

We're on our way!

After any number of false starts for various reasons we are at last under way for a long trip on Hoddy. The plan is to be out until the end of September and the plans at the moment are to start by going up to the Ashby canal where we are going to meet John and Louise who bought our old boat "Bluemoon". After that who knows, we will just take it as it comes.

We arrived at the marina yesterday and stocked up with provisions and set off this morning in glorious sunshine. Its the Crick boat show next weekend and I had wondered whether we would find ourselves going against the flow of boats coming to the show and in particular finding that we had to pass various boats in Crick tunnel. As it happened the tunnel was clear and when we got to the top of Watford staircase we immediately followed in two other boats so really no hold up at all.

Sarah managed the locks in spite of her broken ribs and the lock keeper was really upset when she told him about them when she started struggling with lock number 5 and he helped out on the remaining two

From there it was just a short run to Norton Junction where we had decided to spend the night. We usually moored opposite Whelton Marina but this spot was taken by two boats full of boy scouts so we motored on to the turn and have found an idyllic spot near bridge 8 with panoramic views over the valley watching cows contently graze as the sun dips down over the horizon. Magic!

Here's a couple of pics from the two days:

In the marina

Where we are at the moment, Just up from Norton Junction

Just checking on the new neigbours! In fact they didn't stay as we had the last point on this stretch where it wasn't too shallow to moor

A week in May

Following Sarah's dramatic fall down the stairs at home our plans for cruising have had to be somewhat revised but we have been up at the boat since last Thursday doing some odds and ends, including getting the satellite dish working (and that's a story in itself!) and managed to get 2 days out on the cut on Saturday and Sunday which were really gorgeous days, much the best weather of the week at the attached photos will show. You'll also see that Teazle and Tanzy have settled into life on board and are quite relaxed about things!

Saturday evening Leicester Arm GU Bridge 40

 North Kilworth Leicstershire

 The terrible twosome!

 Last night from our berth in the marina

 Today in the marina - about 10 minutes after I got back from walking the dogs!

 We go back home tomorrow for Sarah to have some physio on her neck, shoulders, back etc etc and then hope to get back to the boat next week and set off properly, probably to the Ashby canal which is free of locks, just have to hope that we find plenty of willing helpers to assist on the locks to get there as Sarah is still somewhat lacking in strength at the moment! If anyone wants to sign on as a lock monkey CV's to this address!!!