International Rescue meets Wind in the Willows

What a glorious week of sunshine we have had. The shorts have been out every day, must be a new world record.

Following a great Sunday afternoon watching Andy Murray win Wimbledon the day was slightly blighted by the boat moored next to us berating me for switching the engine on for an hour at 5.30pm to heat the water - he accused me of being a “live aboard” which obviously to him was the most derogatory description he could come up with. So to appease him instead of having the engine on for an hour we left it for 2 and just before we were going to switch it off he upped sticks and moved on.

Monday saw us move on to just below Claydon lock. A really peaceful spot except for the fact that after we had been moored for about 15 minutes there was a huge bang and we realised there was a gas gun just the other side of the hedge. That decided us to move on the next morning. I took the dogs for a long walk in the early evening and it was still hot and I’d been following a footpath which according to the map linked back up with the canal not far from the boat. The only slight problem was that the last field beside the canal was full of young steers and there was no way to avoid crossing it unless I retraced my steps for the whole 3 miles. So with T & T on very short leads we proceeded across the field but of course there had to be one very inquisitive bullock and I had to use my best bullfighter technique to keep him at bay.

The following day we had a short move to Cropredy, moored about 11.00am and had a wander around this delightful village and then a couple of pints in the Red Lion (Here comes the International Rescue bit). A glorious hot afternoon and a couple of pints at lunchtime can mean only one thing - a nice zizz in the shade, or in this case on the boat. I was well in the land of nod when Lady Penelope (aka Sarah) screams out -or at least it seemed to me a scream - “Oh my god, there’s a dog in the canal”  I hastened out on deck to see on the opposite side of the canal 3 Jack Russells, 2 running up and down a landing stage and one in the canal wearing a buster collar. There appeared to be no one with them so we quickly untied the boat started the engine and swung the stern over towards the opposite bank. Lady Penelope managed to get the boat hook around the dogs collar and I hauled it on board much to the disgust of our two who were watching with interest on the rear deck. I then got the boat into the landing stage and Sarah deposited the dog back on shore although by this time another of the dogs had fallen in but luckily managed to extricate itself. We never did find out where they had come from as they ran off soon after.

Wednesday saw us having  a long day travelling (for us) through Banbury and then mooring up just before Aynho Wharf having come through a few locks.

Thursday and idyllic mooring at Somerton, unusually with no hedge next to the towpath so great views and a large field for the dogs to run in. The last lock before mooring was Somerton deep lock which at 12’ is about the deepest single lock on the system, which in turn means that the gates are that much larger and heavier and I had thought that I might be faced with having to climb from the boat to the lockside to help Sarah but just as the lock was about full another boat arrived so that solved the problem.

Friday took us to Lower Hayford and part 2 of International Rescue. We had moored up about 200 metres before a steel lift bridge which is apparently very heavy and were chatting to the owners of the boat next to us when a lady walking her dog arrived and asked about the bridge as she was coming up through it later in the day and her husband was disabled and she was unsure how she would cope. Both the other boat owner and myself offered to go down and deal with the bridge for her and after lunch we thought we heard her dog barking so I wandered down to help but it turned out to be a single hander who was in need of assistance so I helped him through and walked back to the boat to find that the boat moored 2 down from us was blocking the canal. The bow rope was still attached but the stern rope had come adrift and the boat was now at 45 degrees across the cut. We knocked on the boat but it was not occupied. There were no ropes on  the boat that we could get hold of to pull it back so we ended up with me on the gunnel holding the grab rail of the boat and the chap in the boat next to ours pulling my other arm to get the boat back in. As his wife said its unusual to see two men holding hands quite so blatantly! The chap who lived on it arrived later that evening and was obviously a bit puzzled by the new mooring arrangement. The lady who we had planned to help in fact found another volunteer so we stood IR down for the day.

And so on to the Wind in the Willows. I was sitting out on the towpath Saturday morning and glanced up to see “Mole” gliding silently down the cut in his clinker built dingy. I grabbed the camera and he was delighted to be photographed and pulled in for a chat. He had owned a narrow boat many years ago and covered most of the system but when he got too old for that (he must have been well into his eighties if not older!) he bought this dingy, had it adapted slightly and put an electrically driven outboard on it so he can glide silently around the canals. It apparently has a wheel under the bow so that he can easily get it out of the water and into the back of his car. A real pleasure to meet and talk to.

We are now on this mooring for the third day as it is well shaded and COOL! I think we will probably move on tomorrow but with this heat - not complaining mind you, we have now had more hot days in the last week than we had the whole of last summer - its very tempting to stay put. The only downside is that we have no communication with the outside world, if that is a downside. For the first time since I bought it at the beginning of last year I can’t get a signal on my mobile broadband mifi, nothing either on my Vodafone mobile, although that’s not unusual, and very intermittent reception on Sarah’s i-phone and, as we are under trees, no TV signal - Hello is the world still out there?? Quite idyllic!! Hence the reason for the late posting of this instalment.

Stag Party time

Banbury

A diamond shaped lock to allow large quantity of water through a shllow lock when a deep lock follows

One of many lift bridges on the Oxford, luckily most are left open

12' deep narrow lock

"Keep your eyes open Tansy, there's bound to be a rabbit out there somewhere"

"Mole"

We're off at last!

Our original idea when arriving home last year was to be away on Hoddy this year from the beginning of April until the end of October. Well, things have not gone exactly to plan. Earlier this year Sarah learned that she needed both her eyes operated on for cataracts and glaucoma and as it was thought it should be done as soon as practicable we put on hold going away. The ops were done in June and appear to have been a great success, she can now see without glasses for long distance work which is great for driving and on the boat and only needs glasses for her knitting and reading etc.

We had managed to get a couple of short breaks in before the ops and so the boat was ready to go as soon as we were and we came up to her last Monday, 1st July, provisioned up and set off Tuesday morning. We have 5 weeks for this trip as Sarah does have to be back early August for a check up so the plan is to go down to Oxford and then up the Thames to Lechlade but whether we get that far remains to be seen.

The first day was really just to get us out of the marina and we stopped at Watford just a mile from the top of the locks and shortly after leaving Crick tunnel. Its a lovely spot but rather marred by the noise of the M1 which is just over the hill.

The second day took us down the Watford and Braunston flights and we planned to moor at Braunston to a) visit the super butcher in the village and b) to have a meal at the Boathouse pub. As we hunted for a mooring at Braunston it was apparent that there were still a lot of boats there from the previous weekends historic boat rally and the only place we could moor was actually at the pub. Its supposed only to allow 4 hours of mooring during the summer but we asked if we could stay overnight and they had no problem with that as long as we ate there - no hardship.

The weather until now was reminding us of last year, we had a torrential downpour on Tuesday night which woke us up at about 4am and it was not very exciting for the rest of the day. The following day started cloudy but warmed up and we meandered down to Napton on the Hill and moored there for the night and stayed the following day by which time the weather was actually hot and I could sit out on the towpath and - horror of horrors - I actually got my shorts out to wear! They didn't see the light of day last year so this was a treat, apart probably for the people seeing me in them. The only disappointment was that due to our location and the trees nearby we couldn't get TV coverage to watch Andy Murray's semi final but instead made do with it on radio whilst sitting under the shade of the trees with a glass in hand, one must sometimes make sacrifices.

Saturday, hot again, wow this must be the longest period of good weather for over a year. Typically of course we were faced with the Napton flight of 9 locks so it was going to be hot work for the lock monkey (Sarah) The previous evening when I had walked the dogs up passed the locks I discovered that one of the pounds was totally empty and there were a number of marooned boats with crew backtracking up the flight to let some water through. They were successful as by the time we started to ascend the levels the following morning, although a little low, were more than adequate.

The flight itself was quite busy but we had no holdups of any consequence and along the summit I was amazed at the lack of traffic. In about 2 hours we only had one boat pass us. We moored up at about 2pm between bridges 129 and 130 where we decided to spend a couple of nights. Almost too hot to sit outside as we have no shade from trees here. As Sunday was forecast to be even hotter we decided to rise early this morning and take the dogs for a walk before breakfast so we were out by just after 7am and walked up to Wormleighton village which I'd walked to last year but which Sarah had not seen. A round walk of about 4 miles and we were back at the boat before 9am thankfully as the heat was already pretty high - never happy are we with the weather in this country? Back to a fry up though which was a real treat and into shorts for the third day running, must be some sort of record.

Anyway at present its 1pm Sunday, we are in the shade of the boat and will waste the afternoon watching the tennis. After the brilliant result yesterday in the rugby will this be another?

David

Sunset at Napton on the Hill

A neighour whilst moored at Napton - much to T & T's disgust

A little extra help with the lock gates

Early morning walk to Wormleighton

Back in the marina

So we made it back to the marina yesterday having had a pleasant last couple of weeks. When we left Warwick the intention had been to come directly back to the marina but the weather was at last looking as though it was improving so we took a bit of a detour and turned south on to the Oxford canal and went down to Napton and on to Fenny Compton. The south Oxford canal is very rural and meanders tremendously (I think it may have been a side line for Slartibartfast after his success with the Norwegian Fiord's- see Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy for explanation!)

We stayed a night at Napton on the way out and two nights on the way back; a very pleasant mooring and delightful village not to mention the very characterful pub "The Folly" with exceptional helpings of food - think Desperate Dan size pies.

We had arranged to meet Ben and Jenny (our son and Daughter in law) for the final leg back from Braunston to Yelvertoft so moored at Braunston on  Friday. We collected the anchor we had ordered ready for next years trip which will include some river work and then had a meal at The Boathouse with B & J ready to set off the next day to the marina. Saturday dawned a beautiful crisp Autumn day and we soon decided that we should enjoy it to the full so moored up above Watford staircase locks rather than go all the way home. It was one of the few occasions through out the summer where we have been able to sit out on the towpath and proved a great way to end our trip.

Sunday dawned grey but dry in the morning so we set off fairly early to get back to the marina and made it by 11.30 about an hour before the rain commenced so good timing for once. We then had lunch in the marina and I took B & J  back to their car in Braunston. I was amazed to find that our car started on the first turn of the key having been standing outside all this time - at least the first turn after I remembered that I had to have my foot on the brake to let the ignition work. It then took a while to find the light switch but I found I could still remember how to drive!

So ends our first summer on the cut. We plan to spend the rest of this week (weather permitting) tiding up the boat - its inevitable with narrow boating that you sustain scratches and marks below the gunnel's going through locks etc - and then back to Bungay.

We are already planing next year with the Kennet and Avon being the starting point and a visit to Bath.

See you all soon.

Gatehouse from 1613 at Wormleighton

Napton on the Hill

Napton church

Methinks I took a wrong turn somewhere!

Napton on the Hill

A super break in Warwick

The weather was really kind to us at last and we have just had a super 5 night break in Warwick moored on the Saltisford Arm which takes you to within a 15 minute walk of the town centre.

On our first day there we had a general walk around the town and went to see if the castle was worth a visit. When we saw the entry fee we weren't quite so sure at £22.80 per head. It was a bit cheaper for us oldies but even so we were considering whether to bother when a couple came up to us and gave us a spare voucher they had for half price entry - we must have looked needy - so although we couldn't also take advantage of the OAP rate we did think a look would be worthwhile, so the following day we had a look around. Its fascinating how much of it is left - Bungay eat your heart out- but it has been modernised in the main areas being what I would describe as more stately home than castle and also its very "theme park" like, guys demonstrating shooting bows and arrows, a tower for "Princes and Princess ages 3 - 8" etc. Worth half price entry but I don't think I would go again.

In our walk around the town Sarah found a quilting shop and whist browsing in it discovered that they had a workshop of some description on the Saturday so she signed up for that and had a great time whilst I wandered around town taking a few photographs.

At the weekend it was the Saltisford Arm Canal Trusts open days and so they had  a number of stalls there and that was an interesting diversion.

We then left this morning Monday to be met by a return to our normal weather - rain and wind - and started to wend our way back to Yelvertoft.

This evening we received notification from BW/CRT that the flight of locks at Watford had been closed today until further notice for emergency repairs and that they were having to drain the canal so whether we will be able to get back when we expected we don't known. Watch this space.

Misty morning on Warwick racecourse

Time for a holiday

 I know I have only been posting once a week (and sometimes less) but I have now had my knuckles wrapped for not keeping the blog up to date twice so thought I'd try to do better. Funnily enough both parties chiding me have had police connections so perhaps I'd better do as I'm told!

We have completed our journey to Warwick and arrived here today (Wednesday) around lunchtime. We have had a great couple of days coming down the Grand Union and through all the locks and have met some great boaters.

Yesterday we came down 15 Stockton locks with NB Lysander, Cathy, Nigel and their daughter Helen. It was great to have the help especially as Helen was a very fit young lady who was running between locks to get them set up for us. It was also quite a coincidence as Cathy and Nigel had recently purchased their boat, an Aqualine (the same make as our old boat) from New and Used Boat Co (where we bought ours) and are mooring it at Blisworth (where our old boat was moored). We said goodbye to them after these 15 locks as they were travelling on but caught up with them again at the moorings outside Tesco today and then again when they had stopped for water at the Cape of Good Hope - (not that one!)

They were then going to attack the Hatton flight so we wished them well and we are now moored on the Saltisford Arm in Warwick. This arm has been restored by volunteers over the last 25 years and is now run by a trust. We are about 10 minutes walk from the centre of Warwick so plan to spend 5 or 6 nights here to explore the town and stay for the weekend celebrations they have planned. A bit of a holiday before we set off back to our home marina.

At last - some good weather

Today (Monday) has been the most beautiful day, sunny not too hot but hot enough to sit out on the towpath, and the last couple of days have been good too.

We are now on the Grand Union canal on our way to Warwick. Last week we spent wandering down towards Braunston as we were meeting up again with John and Louise for a meal there over the weekend. Nothing of great import happened during the week other than the day we came up the lock flight (11 locks) at Atherstone it poured so hard that we were both soaked even through our waterproofs.

We arrived at Braunston late morning on Saturday and went and did some shopping for the boat and ordered an anchor which we will need next year when we finally find our way on to some rivers. We also spoilt ourselves by sitting by a lock eating ice creams and watching others struggle with the lock gates at Braunston locks.

That evening John and Louise arrived on their way back towards their base on the Trent and Mersey and we had another fun meal with them and then on the Sunday morning set off down the south Oxford on our way to Warwick. Its the first time we had been on this stretch of the Oxford and it has a very different feel to it and lovely views of rolling Northamptonshire countryside. I really think Northamptonshire is a very underrated county, its just a shame that it is crisscrossed by so many major roads and railway lines.

We set off this morning with the intention of doing half of the locks on the way to Warwick which would have been 12 but we met another couple to share the locks with (who also happened to be Border owners) and as they were breaking their journey after the first three to take on water and a pump out and as the temperature was rising we decided to call it a day after 3 locks and adjourn to the pub for a swift half instead.

Tomorrow is forecast to be warm but not sunny so we might well try to get through all remaining 20 locks but we'll see.

Only one photo this week - seems I have been a bit remiss on that front.

Braunston Church about 10.30pm after returning from our meal. The line across the photo is a vapour trail

Time flies

Its amazing to think its only 5 weeks now and we will be back home and its 2 weeks since I last posted so here's a potted summary of the last 14 days or so.

As I mentioned in the last post we went as planned down the other arm of the Caldon towards Froghall. We spent the first night at Cheddleton where there is an old flint works, in fact two together, both water powered although unfortunately they only open at the weekends but some good picture opportunities. The following day we moved on to see if we could go down to Froghall but the weather was so atrocious and the pub we had wanted to stop at for lunch had no available moorings so in disgust we turned round and went back to Cheddleton. Its a shame because the pub at Consall Forge is supposed to be very rustic - spit and sawdust and the steam railway station there is very well preserved - a point of interest being the waiting room which is cantilevered over the canal.  We had thought also about taking the train to Froghall but the day we were there was a special "Pepper Pig" day and we didn't really fancy sharing the train with loads of screaming kids - and I don't think T & T would have appreciated it either. One way and another the Caldon was proving a real pain!

We then retraced our steps back to Stoke and the Trent and Mersey without too much of significance happening and made our way towards Stone through yet another drenching. Not only was it wet but cold too and I ended up in anorak, woolly hat and gloves and we put the heating on in the boat for the evening. This was after hearing that the following day was promising temperatures in the 30's for East Anglia. Huh! Hope you all enjoyed roasting!

Stone is a pleasant town and we set off the next day for a few days R & R on Tixall Wide, an area at the start of the Staff and Worcestershire canal which we passed through earlier in our journey but didn't stop. We were lucky to find a mooring there and spent 3 nights with what we regarded as good weather. I managed to get the chair out and sit on the towpath on one day and we only had the occasional thunderstorm to contend with.

From there we continued our journey down the Trent and Mersey and on to Fradley Junction and down the Coventry canal. Friday night we stopped at Whittington and then on a couple of miles on Saturday to meet friends John and Louise (nb Bluemoon) for lunch and a couple of jars. The day had not been forcast to be good weather wise but as we spent a good part of it in the pub it wasn't a problem but we did actually miss the worst of the weather anyway.

Sunday saw us come on to Alvecote where there is an historic narrowboat gathering and we moored there at lunchtime for a look around. Its great to see so many old boats in such good condition. Its just a shame that the owners don't bother to dress the part. We were going to spend the night there but when the band started we decided it might be a good idea to move on so came another mile or so and will spend a couple of nights here whilst the bank holiday traffic goes by.

Bank holiday Monday and the skies are overcast and the odd drop of rain falling. We went this morning to look around the Pooley Field Centre but there was very little of interest there, not really sure what it was meant to be displaying although we had thought it was going to be about the mining history of the area.

Cheddleston Mill

Joules brewery building Stone (no longer a brewery unfortunately)

Stern lookouts!

Sunset on Tixall Wide

The old gatehouse Tixall

Historic Narrowboats Alvecote