Above Slapton Lock to near 115A Footbridge
Jumpers this morning, Brrr! Tilly had some shore leave whilst we had breakfast, we’re so going to get it in the neck the next morning we say no! She was off and self catering before we knew it!
As we rolled the covers up ready to push off a boat approached, were they wanting the water point? Yes but only a quick top up, five minutes at most. We slowly pushed off and followed the to the tap to wait our turn.
I chatted to the chap as they topped up their tank, should they wait for us? Our tank was nearly empty and a load of washing was on the go, so despite the good water pressure I suggested they go on ahead without us, we could be an hour. Gosh this chaps deodorant or after shave was a bit pungent. Is this a new thing? Nose curling aromas in hot weather, I’ve smelt similar over the last warm days from people passing on the towpath, their aroma almost visible in the air!
The tank took quite a while to fill as expected, then we were on our way again. Solo down the first two locks of the day, quite a few boats coming towards us but none to share with. Gosh that chaps deodorant had been strong, it was loitering in the air as we went along! I made a comment to Mick about it. ‘Ah no, there were loads of house flies on the pram cover so I gave it a spray of insect repellent, maybe that’s what you can smell.’ That would explain why the smell hadn’t gone away, sorry to the chap from the boat ahead, you didn’t smell, it was us!
Grove Church Lock. The converted church over the wall, an over grown gate into the garden and on top of a trimmed tree lay a squirrel sunning itself, almost blending into the bark. Both top gate beams have had the temporary mend treatment recently. The offcuts left by the lock and sawdust still evident. Gates are supposed to last around 25 years, the date on these gates 2000. I suspect there’s an awful lot of lock gates reaching the end of their natural life after all the works that went on around the millennium. Hopefully these temporary measures will help the gates to last that little bit longer.
As we approached Grove Lock a boat was just pulling out of the marina above and another boat was coming up the lock. A yellow bag is over one of the ground paddles so it’s a slow filler at the moment.
We joined the other boat going down, having to shout over their smart speaker. Didn’t all the hanging basket brackets have narrowboats on them before? The lady suggested I exit first which I did, Oleanna wanting to veer right over in front of her boat, miles away from where I wanted to pick Mick up at the lock landing. Oh A*se! I made a right mess of it but managed to get myself back to pick Mick up and not barge right into the following boat.
We now looked for a mooring for the day, pulling in where the towpath has recently been cut. Ant nests avoided, including some yellow ones, can’t have them marching up our ropes for Tilly to roll around on!
Another two outsides day! This mornings had been pretty good, this afternoons was even better! So much better that after she’d found a rather large friend in the cut grass right by the cat walk she was brought in and grounded for the last hour of shore leave. We didn’t want a replay of the other day when she got herself too full! Such meanies, I’m going to find another boat to live on! Not all other boats do ‘Thank you for coming home’ Dreamies!
The start of a tidy, dust and clean was made as we’ll have some visitors in a few days and pacing myself is the way forward. As we sat down to eat our meal facebook reminded me of ten years ago. Ten years ago it was a very hot day, we’d handed keys to the house to an agent, packed the car with possessions and Houdini our cat and headed to Sowerby Bridge where we’d left NB Lillyanne after the Tour de France. Ten years ago today we moved on board fulltime to a life afloat. If things hadn’t gone pear shaped during the pandemic with the house we’d still be full timers. When people ask us if we live aboard now we pause and stumble a little bit before answering, ‘Well nearly!’ We are in our hearts. A glass or two of wine was allowed to celebrate our tenth anniversary.
3 locks, 3 miles, 1 full water tank, 1 deodorised pram cover! not man, 1 mess up, 1 magic pill not having quite the same effect, 2 more beams, 3 (at least) friends, 1 cat grounded, 2nd sock cast on, 10 years of life afloat, we were only going to do it for a year!
10 years wow where does the time go. 10 years since we last hired a Narrowboat .
Congrats on being full timers almost 10 years. Always love the blog a daily one even more so. But as and when is mighty fine.
Cheers..
Thanks Ade for following us for so long