Author Archives: Pip

A Decade Of Numbers

At the end of each calendar year I do a round up of our cruising statistics. I thought it would be interesting to see how far we’ve travelled in the last ten years. One of the frequent questions we get asked by gongoozlers is How far have you come? Well there are several answers to that question, do they mean today, this year or since we pushed off ten years ago? I have quite often said that we usually cruise around a thousand miles a year, well pre-covid that was true, since we’ve been close, in 2022 we possibly did a record amount 1249 miles 6.5 furlongs.

***I’ve travelled all but 2 of those years***

So I sat down to find the blog posts that mention our end of year statistics. This should be easy I thought, using the search box, or selecting January of each year and checking through for the relevant statistics post. Our travels on Lillian was easy as I’d rounded them all up. But what had happened to our cruising in 2017 when Oleanna was new? I hunted round through our travels on the Llangollen and nowhere to be seen. I have recollections of putting into Canal Plan all our toing and froing on test runs up in Sheffield, so I must have put such things together, but it was nowhere to be seen on the blog. If anyone happens to come across it please let me know.

My only option was to sit and add up all the end of day statistics on the blog for 2017! I’m beginning to wonder if I’m somewhere on the spectrum!

Whizzing through posts did bring back some very happy memories from that year. Oleanna’s smile was young and fresh with no cratch cover for a while. Our maiden voyage from Sheffield to Crick, then onto London. Back up the country to Liverpool, then meeting with Bridget and Storm to cross the Ribble Link. Our extended stay on the Lancaster due to high levels in Savick Brook, nothing compared to those who are currently stuck there first due to the sea lock having a fault and now a breach on the canal. Then a dash down the country with the aim of reaching Derby for the Stillwater court case which was postponed. Up the Llangollen for Christmas and the New Year. It was a rather nice thing to do on a day I was feeling a touch sorry for myself with my knee.

**Hello! We really must see you both sometime soon!**

So, due to the lack of in depth data for 2017 I have put together the totals of the main statistics for our first decade afloat, which are as follows.

Total Miles 11,119 miles 7.25 furlongs

Total Locks 7021

Total Moveable Bridges 992 not sure how many are usually left open

Total Tunnels 293

Total Major Aqueducts 56

Total Engine Hours 9593.4

Total Boxes Of Wine ?

Total Number of Sausage Rolls ?

Total Boats 2

Total Cats 2

Memories 2 many to count

So our actual average annual mileage is more like 1100. I don’t think C&RT can complain that we don’t move enough!

Insect Repellent Deodorant. 23rd July

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!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/wDhZekLcD68CyJKD7

Sweet Talking The Gates. 22nd July

Milepost 52 to above Slapton Lock 30

Reluctant at first Tilly was allowed an hours shore leave whilst we had breakfast. I wonder if when we speed up our cruising again whether we’ll get complaints at not being allowed out in the mornings.

As the covers were rolled up it started to spit, we went back inside to sit it out, no point in getting damp if you don’t need to. A delay of half an hour and the world was dry again.

Seabrook Bottom Lock has the first of a series of Lock Cottages that are always pleasing to the eye. Their white walls and dates proudly stamped above their front doors, they always have to have their photos taken.

Ivinghoe Top Lock the cottage faces away from the lock a touch shy hiding behind trees. Here we met a single hander moving the old trip boat from the Aylesbury Arm down to be a new trip boat in London. It was fairly recently sold and has been somewhere for work. The onboard facilities looked really quite basic, Mick wondered if the chap moving it was staying onboard, no comfortable cushions on the seats to sleep on.

I slowly pootled Oleanna down to the second Ivinghoe Lock so that Mick could finish closing up behind me and walk down. As I rounded the bend I could see that the top gates of the lock were sat open enough to get Oleanna into the lock, I now remembered that this pair of gates would rather settle slightly open. As Mick arrived he closed up the towpath gate then started to walk round. I nearly suggested he gave a paddle a couple of clicks round to help hold the gates closed, it would have been a good idea as they both wanted to swing back open. I talked nicely to them as Mick wound a paddle up slightly to help encourage them into closing.

The gates also need a few kind words on leaving, saving Mick having to walk round. In normal times, Mick catches the bottom gates with a boat hook and encourages them to stay closed as Oleanna leaves a lock, but these are not normal times and I’m not going to adopt Mick’s methods.

A pootle to Horton Lock. Here there are pens and huts for young cows to grow in confinement, not right. A young chap was being given instructions with a strimmer to trim all the nettles alongside the farm moorings, he had his work cut out!

Another cottage. The owners have done work to the garden, a sunken seating area overlooking a tennis court! Rather nice.

All the way we tried to spy the Whipsnade Lion on the distant hills. Definitely in need of some tlc, it’s quite mangy now.

**I’m not used to this view of Oleanna**

Some armco attracted us into the side. Mooring away from ants nests takes some time, then avoiding crab apples falling on the roof is the next concern, but we managed to find a suitable length to tie up on for lunch. It was soon decided that lunch would actually turn into the rest of the day and Tilly was allowed another four hours.

After lunch I wanted to see how I fared on a short walk. Since leaving Aylesbury I’ve only walked the length of Oleanna. The pain killers are doing a great job with my knee, no need for the walking pole inside. I was starting to feel a touch of a fraud, was this just down to my inactivity?

Tilly accompanied me for good measure and I took the pole too. First we walked back the way we’d come. On turning round the noise of an engine was getting closer, a cruiser coming along at quite a lick. No slowing down to pass Oleanna and the wake of about a foot ricochet back and forth for a good five minutes, they may as well have been an Uber boat on the Thames!

A similar distance the other way until Tilly found the pole to be of more interest than the walking. We have a new game it seems. My knee did pretty well, but it’s now starting to ache for much of the day. Time to sit down and knit, this pair will be finished way ahead of time!

4 locks, 1.9 miles, 3 cottages, 100 yards of nettles, 2 outsides, 8 lengths of the boat, 1 pole game.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9UQePKRfoystvyyj9

Hoola Hoop Dreamies. 21st July

Milepost 54 to milepost 52

Shore leave was granted, I didn’t want to smell their cooked breakfast anyway, I’d far rather find my own thanks. I did however make it back in time, 1 hour 15 to be exact, to show myself on the screen. Everyone was there, they talked about slimy slugs, squerls eating strawberries again, the big steps in Nottingpants where Toms play with hard balls not bedoingee balls and cheesy flavoured hoola hoops, they sounded like round Dreamies, interesting.

Yellow water was dealt with, Tilly’s pooh box refreshed, and rubbish taken to the bins. As I rolled up the covers the boat in front of us NB Tamarisk, Over the yarnarm, was also making ready to move off. We had a locking partner.

A group of fishermen had set themselves a match, no-one was having any luck though, no fish biting. The thatched cottage still looks very snug and hunkered down by the bridge, very appealing.

The Marsworth bottom locks were empty, Mick hopped off to set the top one as Helen and Carlene joined to work the locks, we were mob handed. NB Tamarisk used to be moored on the Bridgewater, Mike and Helen having owned her now for 18 months moved her down onto the Kennet and Avon where they spend much of the year. They are on a summer exploration cruise, possibly up to Birmingham if they have enough time before they want to return to their home waters.

Round past all the boats on the boat club moorings. We waved to the Margees house, even though Alison and Laura haven’t lived there since we’ve known them, but we still wave. Under the big railway embankment and on to Seabrook Swing Bridge. It’s very odd being on the boat at such times as it’s usually me who operates it or I’m ready with a windlass to set the next lock, but Carlene did the honours.

It turns out that Carlene used to live at Cooks Wharf on NB Mozart. Mike her brother remembers the Margees house being built. If you are reading this Alison and Laura, Carlene said to say Hello! The large grassy area alongside Seabrook Lock 35 was where Carlene and her friends used to come and socialise at weekends, her trip bringing back memories, I think Mike is doing his best to persuade her to move back onto a boat.

At our last lock I felt a touch useless. I’d normally be the one opening and closing gates, lifting paddles, setting ahead. Helen had set the lock and opened both gates, I managed to step off and hold Oleanna’s centre line whilst Mike brought their boat into the lock. But there was no-one to close our gate, paddles were about to be lifted and I had to stop everyone. I most probably could have closed the gate, but my instinct at the moment is to do no pushing and pulling of heavy things.

Time for us to find a mooring, we said our farewells and pulled in a little past some boats. This morning our side hatch had looked out at milepost 54, this afternoon it was 52. Tilly was given another four hours, coming and going. Mick sat outside to listen to the end of the test match and I watched The Courier (2020) whilst knitting away at my scrappy sock.

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Greville Wynne a British Businessman who was recruited to carry information from Russian Oleg Penkovsky in the 1960s. Both men are arrested, after months of interrogation Wynne is allowed a visit from his wife who reveals that the information they had passed to the British and Americans helped to de-escalate the Cuban Missile Crisis. A good film but a few too many subtitles for ease of knitting.

We finally got round to swapping over our duvet today. Summer one unpacked and the winter one stuffed back into a vaccum bag with some thick jumpers and popped back under the bed. It may be back out in a few weeks time, who knows!

4 locks, 2 miles exactly, 1 sharing boat, 1 summer weight duvet, 2 fat jumpers, 0.5 of a sock, 1 film, 2nd test match won, 1 day we’ll be moored at County Hall in Nottingham for a test match, 2 Walsall Turkey Schnitzels, 46th President not to stand again, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval for this morning’s mooring.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/tnyZhXpVLnZS9kD78

The Guano Effect. 20th July

Broughton Lock 14 to Halls Agricultural Bridge 129, Grand Union

Last night as the hatch was waterside we’d left it open with the mesh infill in it, to keep Tilly in but let some cooling air in hopefully. I’d also lifted the lid on one of the bow lockers with the hope that this would encourage cool air through the pipe which is part of the low level ventilation on Oleanna, this would come round the water tank and then in through the mesh on the treads. In the early hours I could feel a slight draft, but I’m not sure if this was coming from the port hole above our heads, the side hatch or from the treads. It was very pleasant no mater where it came from.

After breakfast Mick made a phone call, another mooring found for our medical trip to Scarborough, this was guaranteed and 2/3rds the price we’d been quoted yesterday. Tilly doesn’t need many facilities when she’s left in charge so long as she doesn’t surf the internet all day and night she won’t even need to be hooked up. With two of us heading to Scarborough a hire car would be cheaper than train fares, Mick set about sorting that out too, a van being £60 cheaper than a car, we’ll see what we end up with.

Time to move onwards and upwards. It was a couple of miles to reach the next lock, slow going even though the prop had been checked before moving off. Mick worked the locks and I took Oleanna through them. My pain killers seem to be doing a good job as I’m only getting the occasional twinge, I was however glad of a sit down between locks.

The number of dragonflies today was less than there had been in the sunshine yesterday. They still made their presence known with their clicking darting flight, many seemed to be laying eggs, maybe. Butterflies flitted about too, one taking a break on a lock gate, glad it moved off before the lock filled as the water tends to flow over the top.

There’s an ex-hire boat that we’d seen on our way down. The rail round the stern a good vantage point for a cormorant. It sat there as we passed right along side before it decided to move. We wondered how long this boat had been sat there. The stern deck splashed white with guano, eergh!

At the boat yard Carp is for sale £6k +vat and I spotted that the wooden boat high up on the bank had unusual windows. I wonder of they originally opened?

Above Puttenham Bottom Lock there is a large white tarpaulin draped over the bank, obviously helping to keep the water in the canal. What ever was holding it in place on the bottom is no longer doing the job so great care was taken to avoid catching it with the prop, Oleanna glided past.

As we approached Wilstone Lock 9 a Lock Keeper appeared round the bridge then went up to the lock to open it for us. He was there clearing reeds and bits and bobs from the lock with a keb and chatted away to Mick as Oleanna rose. We pulled in for lunch where we’d moored a few nights ago, Tilly allowed an hours exploration, well we hoped it would only be an hour.

Thankfully Tilly’s time keeping is good 30 minutes later she returned and we could carry on up the locks. The lock keeper must have started at Bridge 2 and been working his way down as all the locks had a bottom paddle raised on them. The road bridge was now open and all the scaffolding is removed.

**Mick closing Black Jacks Lock behind us**

A boat had some interesting planters hanging from their grabrail and we passed through Black Jacks Lock without incident again. Now for the staircase, upperty up back to the Grand Union.

The Lock Keeper and a lady who walked by had both made sure we knew we’d not be able to go anywhere if we turned right, the way we’d come the other day, as the Marsworth Flight was closed due to a lock gate coming apart. We turned left and found ourselves an Oleanna sized gap to pull into. Another hours shore leave for Tilly, another two outsides days.

A little bit ahead on my socks and not really wanting to weave ends in I decided to select yarn for pair 30, just so I’d have something to do in front of the TV tonight. The next pair I’d been given instructions of Any Colour, well I decided to change this a touch to Every Colour! The next pair will be what is known as a scrappy pair, helping to use up odds and ends of all sorts of yarn. I’ve selected around thirty small balls of yarn and it will be a lucky dip as I knit them up.

13 locks, 4.8 miles, 2 outsides, 2 hours, 1 hour taken, 1 hour on account, 1 left, 0 right, 1 guitar playing neighbour, 1 Paul Weller, pair 30 cast on, 6 colours, 54 miles to Braunston.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3zfxTXpgjw1QjA7m8

Ronnie, Tinkerbell And The Queen. 19th July

Aylesbury Basin to above Broughton Lock 14

A big pill after breakfast, hopefully the effect of it would kick in by the time I’d written the blog as there was someone I wanted to say hello to.

Sat in front of Aylesbury Waterfront Theatre is Fletcher, Norman Stanley Fletcher, well Ronnie Baker in his costume from Porridge. He sits hands in his armpits looking up towards the theatre, as if he’s about to say something to Mr Barrowcliffe.

Ronnie first performed professionally in 1948 at the old County Theatre in Market Square Aylesbury, good on the person who gave him his first job.

Around the entrance to the theatre has been painted for Christmas. Peter Pan a good guess for their panto, but it’s actually The Further Adventures of Peter Pan. It’s a shame Tinkerbell looks a little bit chubby cheeked.

With walking pole at hand and the pain killer starting to kick in Mick and I had a wander around Waitrose looking for yellow labels and enough provisions to keep us going for a few days. This I simply wouldn’t have been able to do a couple of days ago.

Mick had topped us up with water whilst we had breakfast linking our hoses together from a tap by the gate to the pontoons. Some bins had been mentioned by another boater so Mick went off to find them, check they were official C&RT bins (they were), noted their location and disposed of our rubbish.

As the temperature was set to rise to around 30C today we really didn’t want to be sitting in bright sunshine, Tilly for one would be complaining about it, ALL the time! We’d spotted somewhere on our way down that, if there was space for us, would be a nice shady mooring. It would have been nice to venture further afield in Aylesbury than we’d been before but that wasn’t to be this time.

We pushed off and slowly made our way back up the canal. Depth and weed slowing our progress. The first lock had both it’s bottom gates open waiting for us, plus a paddle up. I stayed at the helm and Mick did the honours with windlass and gates.

Blimey it was getting hot, blue skies, we were thankful for the shady trees for some of the way. We passed a downhill boat that we remembered from a couple of days ago, hopefully they’d come from where we wanted to be. Another two locks uphill and we reached the line of moored boats. A fisherman sat in shade, then a couple of boats in dappled sunshine. A space, would the shade last the rest of the day? We pulled in, it certainly looked like we’d not be baking all afternoon.

Tilly was given 4 hours shore leave, we sat down for lunch, she came and went for a while, then went for quite some time. Here had self catering potential.

Mick listened to the cricket and I filled out a request for a doctors appointment with my surgery in Scarborough. The things the practitioner had said to me yesterday were all put on the form, I needed to make a good case. I clicked the button to submit it. On recent form from the surgery I didn’t expect to hear back for a few days, however within 5 minutes my phone rang! The doctor wanted me to see a Physio (expected first line of action), could I make an appointment this afternoon? Blimey!!! I was being offered an appointment within 45 minutes of submitting my request! Obviously this was impossible. I was offered the next available appointment which I snapped up when it coincided with appointments that Mick has back in Scarborough.

Now we just need to sort logistics. A phone call to one marina to see if we could leave Tilly in charge there. He was so ambiguous, could we call back next week, not sure if there was space, we decided we’d try elsewhere instead.

The shady towpath called us both outside for the rest of the afternoon. Tilly came and joined us. Sitting on the top of the pram cover a good spot when in shade. Climbing the big tree next to us also good, apart from when coming down and trying to use some dead ivy which gave way under her paws. A nice quiet afternoon of cricket and finishing off sock pair 29.

3 locks, 1.4 miles, 1 big pill, 0 co-codamol, 1 Ronnie, 1 Tinkerbell, 1 queen of the pram cover, 1 hot day in the shade.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/pjDk26DWVi7eXL9e8

A Butty In Wycombe. 18th July

Aylesbury Basin

A new boat sneaked in next to us last night. I’d heard what I thought might be an engine, but they were very quiet about mooring up. Still one space free.

As we had breakfast the sun rose above the buildings surrounding the basin, with temperatures set to actually go high today we hoped Oleanna wouldn’t get too hot. Tomorrow it’s meant to get hotter, we considered moving to the bank by the service block where trees might give us some shade, but that can wait for tomorrow if needs be.

Buses were checked and more importantly the location of bus stops, the nearer the better. Just behind the University building was a bus stop that would serve our needs with two buses heading to High Wycombe. The X9 came first and my £2 fare gave a tour of Stoke Mandeville, Prince’s Risborough, lots of thatched cottages, tall hollyhocks and the rolling Chiltern Hills.

At High Wycombe bus station we waited for another bus, only one stop taking us to the hospital and the Urgent Treatment Centre. Form filled out, confirmation of which knee my problem was with. A ten minute wait and I was triaged and sent back to wait my turn. The waiting room not too busy, but there were people turning up who had appointments so we had no idea how long the wait might be.

Mick decided to head off to find us something other than crisps or chocolate for lunch whilst I sat and waited. Time to catch up on boating blogs, I also tried to hunt down a newish one I’d come across a few days ago, Narrowboat Umbrellas, I think. But I wasn’t successful. Mick returned after a visit to Tescos back near the bus station with a sandwich each. What a nice day out with lunch, chicken and bacon for me whilst the waiting room chairs got harder and more clammy as the time went on.

**dzzzerp, dzzzerp, phwip, frrt, dzzerp**

That chap needed seeing well before me, chest pains. Another with a nebulizer sat in a wheel chair. Our main entertainment the sound effects coming from a bottled drink machine. Was this the noise it actually made? Or was there a sound card inside to make it sound like a 1980s Dr Who robotic entity?

My name was called. A lovely practitioner sat me down, glanced at my knee. ‘You’ll need an MRI scan for that and we don’t do them here, I’m really sorry.‘ She gave my knee a little prod. After walking further today than the last few days my knee had obliged and swollen up. I needed to see my GP who would more than likely refer me first for physio and if that didn’t work then I’d be referred for an MRI followed by …. I explained that my GP was 210 miles away, hence me sitting in front of her today. She could give me pain killers to help get me walking again, but sadly that was all she could do.

**High Wycombe known for it’s chair making looked lovely**

My prescription was zapped off to a chemists in Aylesbury and we headed to find a bus stop for our return 2.5 hours after arriving. Thank goodness it hadn’t been as long as our wait in A&E a few months ago for Mick which was 8 hours! Unfortunately there was no returning bus for ages so we walked slowly back to the bus station. Mick checked in charity shops as we went for a walking stick, no luck. But then we passed a Blacks. £9 later I had a trekking stick which made walking a touch easier on my knee.

A quicker bus journey back to Aylesbury. Our entertainment for the journey was supplied by a lady who suddenly asked peoples opinions on an HS2 bridge we’d just gone under. She then claimed that she had been a journalist for ITV news and could have been a news reader. The person whom her questioning eyes had fallen on then claimed to be foreign and not able to speak English. Well the journalist could speak 7 languages and proceeded to say Bus in all seven of them. She decided that the person was Italian and sprouted forth words such as Bambino, ciao, bellissima, then something that I didn’t catch but she kindly translated for all to hear ‘That’s a block of Cheddar cheese’!

Back to Oleanna, thankfully she’d not got too hot during the day and one side was now in the shade so we could open windows and hatches to freshen her up.

Mick collected my prescription. Some strong Co-codamol and Naproxen which last longer than Ibuprofen. I’m not used to getting prescriptions and expected to have all instructions written on the labels. 60 Co-codamol! 28 of the other, I thought she’d only said to take those for 10 days, or had she? Two co-codamol were taken early evening. Blimey they were far stronger than the ones I’ve been taking for migraines! My knee stopped hurting as I walked, but I’ll try one tablet next time as I felt a little bit out of this world on two.

**The best medication is served chilled**

I tried filling in an on line request for a doctors appointment but had missed the daily deadline, that will now have to wait for tomorrow. Discussions on what to do. We could sit still in Aylesbury, it would be nice to look a bit further afield than we did ten years ago. Today we’d been past two National Trust properties. But unless I was about to be rendered pain free we wouldn’t be visiting such places. Tomorrow after some shopping we’ll seek out some shade and then continue back up to the Grand Union and continue northwards slowly.

0 locks, 0 miles, 3 buses, 1 trekkers pole, 2 sad sandwiches, 2.5 hours wait, 1 lovely lady, 88 pills! 1 extreamly bored cat, 0 doctors appointment, 1 pot of chilled medication for the freezer.

Weed Wading. 17th July

Wilstone Visitor Moorings to Aylesbury Basin

No morning shore leave for Tilly today, there’d also be no shore leave at lunchtime as we wanted to reach the end of the canal, we couldn’t risk someone getting a touch too busy for our human plans!

Down the first lock, Mick with windlass in hand and me at the tiller. The locks are now spread out more so picking Mick up meant I’d be able to sit down between locks. At the second lock Mick hopped off to open the gate the lock already full for us. Just as he was about to cross the top gate to open it a chap appeared from below and started to wind the bottom paddle up. ‘HEY!’ It’s quicker to shout on Oleanna rather than open up the rear hatch to bip the horn and risk Tilly eagerly waiting for some shore leave. Once Mick realised what was happening he also shouted to the chap. On quiet waterways this happens, as you get into a routine and with not many boats you can forget to look. The chap was apologetic and wound his paddle down.

He wasn’t keen on the canal, ‘too much hard work!’ We wondered where he’d not been. We thought about it between locks. The bottom gates are such that stepping across gates isn’t possible as the only walkway is on top of the gates and some handrails get in the way, so unless you walk over your boats roof you have to walk all the way round to open and close gates.

**Ahhh! Apart from the c*ck and balls!**

We wondered why the canal had been built with the majority of it’s top gate beams on the off side. This means you have to cross the gate to open it, most narrow locks on the system are operated from the towpath side unless there is a serious lack of room. If anyone knows, please tell us. My hunt for more information came up with that the canal was originally planned to head to Abingdon on the Thames, but the route west of Aylesbury had so much opposition from landowners that it was never built. What a ring that would have been.

When first opened in 1814 the canal was busy, timber and building materials were transported into Aylesbury and agricultural produce went out. The Aylesbury Condensed Milk Company was established by Bridge 17 in 1870. The canals commercial use went on into the 1950’s. In the mid 1960’s the canal was threatened with closure due to neglect, The Aylesbury Canal Society was formed to encourage the use of the canal and assure it’s future.

A Tern joined us, swooping and turning over head, it’s shadow flitting about announcing it’s arrival. They fascinate me, I must remember how to turn the multi frame function on on my camera for such moments.

Reeds encroach the canal, hopefully we’d not come across another boat. Except we did! Thankfully he pulled to one side before a few trees would have made it impossible to pass. Old wooden boats sat on the bank, those still in the water were being pumped out at regular intervals.

There was space to moor up above Broughton Lock 14, so a pause for lunch was had before we carried onwards to the basin.

At Circus Fields Basin, run by the Aylesbury Canal Society, you can moor for free for 7 days, but we wanted to reach the end so carried on past. You can tell the majority of boats stop and don’t carry on as by the next bridge the weed increased. Down Osier Bed Lock 15 there was even more weed. A pause in Hills and Partridge Lock 16 to clear the prop was necessary, I tried to also clear the weed that had come into the lock with us.

**The start of the 14 day moorings with seriously over hanging trees**

Mick battled on wading through the weed towards the basin, now the weed lessened. We pulled in to use the elsan for our yellow water, then reversed back onto one of the pontoons. A chat with Over the Yarnarm a trading boat was had as we tied up and they made ready to push off having been here for 7 days.

It was now time for me to sit down, my knee despite not working locks or walking much still a problem. I answered the questions on the NHS 111, see a GP or visit an Urgent Treatment Centre was the advice. Looks like we may be doing that tomorrow.

8 locks, 5.1 miles, 1 pause for lunch, 1 bord cat, 1 empty wee tank, 2 sad git pies from Waitrose, 2 trips down the weed hatch.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XXd8D3tWAhUtJBof7

Beware Of Black Jack. 16th July

Tring Reservoirs to Wilstone Visitor Moorings, Aylesbury Arm

Tilly was allowed some shore leave whilst we had breakfast, we reckoned she’d not venture far as the grassy bank alongside Oleanna had plenty to keep her occupied. After an hour or so she came in for some Dreamies and the doors were closed behind her, time to make a move.

**The Goat Boat. Click the photo for details**

Volunteers could be seen arriving to work the flight this morning, a single hander helped down through the lock behind us, but that’s as far as they ventured. As we got ready to push off I could see someone lifting paddles and setting the lock, maybe we’d have a locking partner for the last lock on the flight. As soon as we’d pushed off the lady walked along the towpath, she was obviously the advanced crew. When she caught us up at the bottom lock we were informed of there being two boats coming down, we were on our own.

Mick was wielding the windlass again today and I stayed at the helm. Trying to give my knee as much rest as possible whilst still moving.

**Mick closing the bottom gate on the Marsworth flight**

A left at Marsworth Junction, here we’d not be able to share as the Aylesbury Arm is narrow. We’ve not been down here since early 2015, so it was time Oleanna and Tilly ventured down the arm. The top two locks are a staircase, one locks bottom gates are the next locks top gates. Mick set them, top lock full, bottom empty, then we dropped down from one chamber to the other. No bridges over the bottom of the locks so a walk round required to cross over the top gates each time.

The next pound was high, it had just had two locks worth of water added to it from the staircase. The Aylesbury Arm doesn’t have bywashes, instead the locks fill themselves ahead of you. The top gate is lower then the bottom gates so excess water in the pound flows over the top and fills up the lock, we’d remembered this from last time. At lock 3 the water was at least a foot higher than the top gate, I kept Oleanna away from the incoming water so as not to get a wet stern.

Black Jack’s lock 4. Pretty with it’s lock cottage alongside it but back in 2015 it left a scar on NB Lillyanne and has affected our cruising preparation ever since. During the winter stoppages at the end of 2014 this lock had been given brand new gates. The handrails on the top gate had been attached, the brackets with a nice design but the bottom part pointy. As we’d come up the lock a gust of wind pushed Lillian against the open gate and as Mick brought her out of the lock the pointy bracket chiselled it’s way along her gunnel and ripped the cratch cover. Ever since we have always avoided having the cratch cover down when cruising unless we know we’re entering a very leaky lock and the deflection of water is important.

Today the lock gate has had extra timber added to it, the chiseled point has been moved along too, keeping it well away from anyone’s paintwork or covers, the date plate now slightly green and slimey. Down we dropped, no problem.

Well until I came to leave the lock, Oleanna wasn’t moving as she would normally, a blast of reverse to clear the prop. Only the next pound was filled with weed, so more wrapped it’s way round the prop. Progress was exceedingly slow, blasts of reverse not helping much, I seem to remember there being weed before. Oleanna limped into the next lock, Mick took off his jumper and lifted the weed hatch. My bad knee and lack of long arms means the weed hatch is a blue job, a handful of weed extricated we could carry on.

Showers came and went. How far should we go today? A couple on a walk stopped to watch, ‘It’s very narrow, will your boat fit?’ One of those questions like ‘Does your cat come back when you let her out?’ ‘No never, we have to get a new cat every day!’

A road bridge was being closed to traffic, blocks being moved into position by a fork lift, scaffolding holding the structure up over the canal. Not much further to reach Wilstone Footbridge and the moorings there. Would there be enough room for us, yes loads! Tilly was allowed out, not convinced at first but when the woofers gave her some time things improved, not worthy of a Mrs Tilly stamp but the best she’s likely to get for a few days.

I filled out questions on NHS111 online regarding my knee. I was referred to my GP or an Urgent Treatment Centre. Our current location suggested Hemel Hempstead, further on High Wycombe. Obviously seeing my GP would be good, but distance and the likelihood of getting an appointment I could make not so easy. The jury is still out.

Today is Lizzie’s actual birthday and after a fraught morning with rain water she got round to opening some cards, ours being one of them. I can now show you what I was painting last week. Lizzie grew up along the Basingstoke Canal, teenage years spent driving a tug during the renovation of the canal. I’d had my spies trying to find out exactly where this had been. Fleet, Farnborough area. Sadly I didn’t have many photos worthy of painting in that area. So instead I chose one of the lock on the St John’s flight, Lock 8.

9 locks, 2 a staircase, 1.4 miles, 1 left, 0 rips in covers, 1 chisel bracket protected, 1 boat up the flight, 2 many woofers, 1 lost ball, 1 sock finished, 2nd one started, 1 birthday card, 8 Oxford sausages tonight with wedges.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yL8Q6wyGFD7S6hJS6

Lunch Break. 15th July

Cowroast Marina to Tring Reservoirs, Marsworth

Car returned, water filled, Tilly’s pooh box had a refresh, more loads of washing and drying done, we did manage to break into our £5 credit, but have left a generous amount for the next visiting boat. Push back was a little late, after midday and it took a little bit of time to get out from our mooring and wind to face the entrance/exit back out onto the Grand Union to do a right to head north.

Long lines of boats to pass. Then into the summit cutting. Big puddles on the towpath would require wellies to pass through and the brambles were still all in flower, sun doesn’t get into the cutting much.

**Outside number 1, just for lunch though**

It started to rain and we wanted a break before arriving at the top of the Marsworth flight so we pulled in. If the Wendover Arm was navigable to the winding hole we’d have headed there for some much needed shore leave for Tilly, but stop planks mean a long reverse when you come to leave at the moment, so we opted for the cutting. Tilly checked the lay of the land, TREES! Friendly cover! Can I ? Can I??? We consulted with each other, ‘An hour Tilly, it’s only a lunch break’. If she got busy it wouldn’t be the end of the world if we stayed put for the day, it would just be quite dark.

She did get busy for about an hour and a half, so when she returned the doors were closed so we could carry on. As we pushed off a boat could be seen approaching. Would we have a locking partner? I hoped so.

More boats were moored towards Bulbourne, three in the winding hole! The breasted up pair would be very popular of you were wanting to turn a 70fter!

**Wonder how long the white tiles will stay so bright**

The building works at the old workshop/yard have now been completed, plenty of garden furniture about the place. The row of new houses at the rear have a monobrow look to them, but on the hole it all looks rather nice.

**No-one following and no volunteers sadly**

As I hobbled up to fill the lock a dog walker came past, ‘They’re all empty apart from one!’ The lock took a while to fill, all the time we watched over our shoulder to see if we’d have a locking partner, but no one arrived, we’d be on our own.

Normally here I’d set a lock, open it and Mick would bring Oleanna in closing the gate behind him, then he’d lift a paddle to start emptying it whilst I walked on ahead to lift a paddle at the next lock down, returning to open and close gates for him. This was not going to be possible today, it was to be one lock at a time due to my knee.

Mick closed the offside paddle for me and then we progressed down to the next lock. I took the walk slowly, but when crossing the gates to lift the offside paddle a twinge that’s been developing in the calf on my bad leg decided to escalate itself into a seriously big OW! No choice now I’d have to be at the helm. Actually I should have been there from the start of the flight, but I’m stupidly stubborn like that.

Mick took over with the windlass and we worked one lock at a time down hill, a different view from onboard. Rain showers came and went, the locks gradually filling themselves as we worked our way down. There are several lock beams that have had the temporary fix done to them, wonder if they will be replaced during winter this year?

Quite a few boats were moored alongside the lakes, there was a big gap, white signs on posts putting people off mooring. I zoomed in, a fishing day on the 20th we could pull in. So we tucked ourselves in behind the Toblerhome boat (one of my favourites). Mick spent a while trying to find somewhere not too stonelike to hammer the spikes into and Tilly was given an hour and a quarter shore leave.

The bank was good, good friendly cover. A pounce within two minutes. A few too many woofer walkers, the roof was handy at times. A touch of self catering was achieved, when I returned for some ‘Thank you for coming home’ Dreamies Tom closed the door, I’d apparently had enough and he didn’t ‘want to have to wash the floor like She had the other day!’

A rainy night. The TV volume required turning up a LOT. Rain bounced in through the mushroom vents and a trickle of water appeared down the inside of the stove flue, it’s not done that since it was moored up in Goole for winter. The first episode of The Jetty was watched, we had to pause it so as to identify which lock Jenna Coleman lived alongside. Lob Mill Lock 16 on the Rochdale where we were accompanied by two cocky ducklings earlier this year.

6 locks, 3.6 miles, 1 car returned, 1 wind, 1 right, 1 full water tank, 1 clean pooh box, 2 outsides, 2 more DofE groups, 1 very troublesome leg, 1 solution required, 1 sock nearly finished, 1 very HEAVY rain STORM! 2 Mrs Tilly stamps of approval, 0 thumbs required, the internet is quite pants though!

After a request from Mike on NB Duxllandyn we shall be keeping the thumbs up for TV signal. There will also be, if I remember, an ‘i‘ to indicate how good the internet is at each mooring. Upright, good. Side ways, slow. Upside down, rubbish or none existent (we’re unlikely to be stopping here in future!). These of course are valid for our set up with our aerial and router on the EE network. Other networks may differ in signal.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna