Category Archives: Food

Newdigate 12th August

Cat Junkie Mooring

Our mooring had been planned with today in mind. With the temperatures forecast to reach the 30s we wanted to stay put in the shade. No working through locks getting over heated, the only one who might be doing that would be Tilly. 8.5 hours of shore leave were awarded and off she went.

Exercises, pills, breakfast, blog writing all the usual things that happen on Oleanna in the morning. Cloud cover kept us cool for much of the morning, but when the sun came out it did get a touch hot.

Towpath shade

The chairs came out onto the towpath in the shade. What we thought was going to be an unpleasant day turned into quite a pleasant relaxed one. The knitting came out and a heel was turned before lunch.

Heel turned

As we’d come through Bedworth the other day I’d sent our friend Frank photos. Frank grew up in the area and has told us tales of playing around the coal boats at Black Bank wharf. Today he gave me a bit more information.

‘A little bit of history of the wharf it was common to find as many as 12 pairs of narrow boats awaiting loading at the wharf on a Sunday only two boats could be loading at a time, the loading was done by hand by a small gang of about 4 men, in 1937 they were paid penny 3 farthings per ton per man’. ‘Black bank was connected to the Newdigate Colliery which was 2 miles west of the Coventry Canal’

This got me looking at the side by side maps of the area at The National Library of Scotland. Several collieries were shown, but could I find Newdigate? A social club still exists, but nothing obvious. Then I spotted it Coll, a railway leading to it from Black Bank.

The line of trees across the centre was the Mineral Railway, canal on the right, colliery top left

A six inch map gave me a lot more detail. On the modern map you can see exactly where the Mineral Railway was by the obvious line of trees. Frank also pointed out that his family lived just south of where the railway crossed a road. Below is a link to the side by side map

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=15.6&lat=52.47974&lon=-1.50687&layers=6&right=ESRIWorld

Newdigate Colliery after it had closed

Newidgate Colliery was formed by Sir Francis Alexander Newdigate in 1898, two shafts were sunk known as Frank and Lilah. By 1914 underground fires had meant the mine was in serious trouble and was sold off to Newdigate Colliery Ltd. The old pit bottoms were sealed off and new ones constructed 115ft above, productivity remained low until in the 1920’s when it was decided to only mine the top section of the Warwickshire Thick coal seam, it then became profitable. In 1966 Newdigate became the first colliery to produce 7,000 tons of coal from a single coal face. In 1982 the colliery had exhausted it’s workable coal reserves so ceased production. More info can be found here.

Thank you Frank, I like looking at old maps and don’t do it often enough, but having a reason today kept me busy for a good hour.

The cows came for a paddle and drink

Tilly stayed by our chairs, tree climbing a little bit too much with her fur coat today. A boat that had moored up in the afternoon was a Carefree Cruising boat, they had two dogs on board, both on leads. We chatted as the lady walked to the marina, she’d be keeping her dogs tethered as one of them would have liked Tilly as a snack.

Temperature, HOT

When it was ding ding time Tilly quite happily retreated into the shade of Oleanna, after a mouth or two of food she became our temperature gauge. It was long cat hot!

A barbeque this evening of marinaded turkey steaks with veg and haloumi kebabs. I’d requested fewer coals today as we’d had enough to cook three times as much food at Long Buckby. But today with lack of window kindling the coals weren’t quite enough. The great kebab rest had to be abandoned and the kebabs laid on the grill, the old fashioned way to get nearer to the heat. At one point I even lifted the grill and all the food off for the coals to be given a tousle to increase the heat. This worked but sadly the turkey steaks being quite thin had dried out with the slow cooking. They were tasty but a touch dry.

Slow cooking

The only downside of this mooring is the chap on his electric bike. Yesterday he passed us several times in turbo mode, sorry did I say passed, rocketed would have been a better description! Dressed in black with a scarf over his face, was this to stop him swallowing flies or more likely worn as a disguise. This evening he went past at a considerate speed, with people on the towpath I think he had little choice. I’m relieved Tilly wasn’t out when he’s passed in rocket mode! At the other end of the cycling spectrum there is one cyclist who has been past twice now, who stops and gets off his bike to walk it past us. Very considerate.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 Carefree Cruising boat, 0.75 of a sock, 3 paws, 1 slow day, 6 inches to the mile, 1 history lesson, 1 Frank shaft, 1 long cat, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval, can somewhere get three? 0 flying ants, 2.5 turkey steaks, 4 veg kebabs, 2 slices blackberry and lemon drizzle cake.

‘A’ Team Refresher. 10th August

Ansty Visitor Moorings to Cat Junkie Mooring, Coventry Canal

No shore leave before breakfast, just exercises. No matter how much she practices she still can’t get her leg behind her head! Rubbish!! We were soon setting off a bit of dampness in the air.

I had a look for information on Ansty yesterday, Wikipedia. ‘Ansty has been cited as “the most boater-hostile village on the canals” because of the huge number of “no mooring” signs.’ Very true. Other information found was that before 1066 the main landowner was Lady Godiva and St James Church dates back to the 13th Century but in 1856 Sir George Gilbert Scott rebuilt quite a lot of the building. It’s a shame I wasn’t in the mood for walking the 1.3 miles there.

These are around every fifteen feet along the embankment

We tried to pull in at the water point just through the bridge. Quite a strong wind pushed the bow right over the canal and Mick found it hard to get the stern in. Oleanna was doing a Suez! I had a rope coiled all ready to throw round a bollard at the bow, but I was too far away to guarantee hitting the bollard and my rope wouldn’t have been long enough to get back to me. A boat approached, they slowed right down, no option with the canal blocked. A chap walked past from the moorings, he told us the canal was filled with rocks where we were trying to get in. We gave up as a bad job and quite quickly got ourselves facing the right way again, reopening the navigation.

Didn’t there used to be a field with Showmans caravans in it, or interesting trucks? I only caught the glimpse of one truck behind the trees. Then a decorated archway, a marquee giving shelter to tables laid out most probably for a wedding. Just round the bend the car and VW camper van graveyard is extreamly overgrown, just rusting roofs visible amongst the tall grasses.

Pylontastic

Pylons fill the sky all buzzingly heading for the big electrical substation (for want of a better name for it). Then round the last bend to Hawksbury Junction. Here we pulled in for water and remembered that we should have pumped out the yellow water when the towpath was on the port side! A volunteer helped boats through the lock, more heading onto the North Oxford than the Coventry Canal.

The A team were going to get a touch of a refresher at the lock, so I was glad that the volunteer seemed to be on their lunch break. A paddle needed lifting before the gate would open. Pain killer aided pushing of beams, hands loosing their windlass callouses and Mick at the helm for his first narrow lock since Isis Lock in Oxford. We made it through without difficulty, well the lock is only 10 inches deep!

Lots of room to moor once we’d turned right, we had a pause for lunch. A lady pulled in as we were pushing off again, she’d been on the Ashby ‘it’s low up there!’ The Ashby is at the same height as this stretch of the Coventry, but it is quite a shallow canal.

We pootled along. Spot the difference since last time at Charity Dock. Don’t remember Richard Carpenter and his partner or the pink rodeo pair with the merry-go-round horse. Was the queen there last time? At the end of the run the cruisers seemed a little bit more organised, maybe the dry dock was in use and they’d been shuffled round to gain access.

Across Marston Junction, the Ashby not in our cruising plans this year. A glance at our Waterway Routes map showed us just how much canal used to stretch off to the west. The Coventry Communication Canal, Arbury Canals, Seeswood Canal amongst others. Frank do you remember these as well as the arm south of Bedworth?

New

Should we stop sooner than planned, good tree cover for a stretch, we carried on, there was somewhere better for Tilly further ahead. The new building we saw going up a couple of years ago has huge windows and a roof garden and it looks like they’ve added access to the next bridge across the canal, looking after their workforces well being.

Through Nuneaton, busy with moving boats. Someone had hired a day boat for their 60th, much raucous laughter and singing from it as it returned to base, a balloon trail left behind it. Sweetcorn was growing in the allotments alongside the canal. We don’t remember seeing signs for the local green spaces before. We also don’t remember scraping the bottom so much!

Nearly every bridge hole needed gliding through. We caught the bottom whilst being a few feet out from the towpath, I could hear drawers inside Oleanna opening. Two boats came past, both with high revs giving them only slow propulsion forwards, turning the canal a very dark brown. The level was low.

Level’s down

Soon new hirers came towards us, Springwood Haven is now an ABC hire base. We pushed on just past the marina, some moorings we have stopped at before already occupied, but up ahead with trees on both sides was the Cat Junkie Mooring. We pulled in, adjusted our position for the optimum amount of shade, thankfully avoiding a big ants nest. This will do us whilst the temperature rises.

Tilly was quickly out exploring. Trees, friendly cover, a good dusty path to roll on, perfect. So perfect she stayed out half an hour after cat curfew! It didn’t matter too much as having the doors open was handy whilst I did some cooking.

Yummo!

A quinoa quiche base was baked ready for use tomorrow, new style chicken curry sat on the stove top bubbling away and to make use of the mass of blackberries Mick keeps picking I baked a Blackberry and Lemon Drizzle Cake. The recipe suggested icing it, but I refrained as there was way enough sugar in it already. We had a try of it for pudding this evening, very tasty it was. Click on the photo for the recipe.

1 lock, 10.9 miles, 1 right, 1 straight on, 1 full water tank, 1 low canal, 1 cake, 1 curry, 1 quiche in the making, 1.5 hours shore leave, 2 taken! 1 Mrs Tilly’s stamp of approval.

Post In A Boot. 8th August

Boughton Road Bridge to Barley Mow Moorings

An earlier train to Rugby today. I got to the station in very good time, I might even have been able to catch the train before the one I’d planned, but that was running very late and still hadn’t arrived by the time my train was wending it’s way in towards Birmingham.

HS2 coming into town

HS2 has sections of viaduct now visible from the train. Four structures sit high heading to pass the old Curzon Street Station building which currently sits surrounded by fencing with dumper trucks moving shades of brown stuff around it. The tram obliged and arrived a minute after I had and whisked me to Brindley Place.

Athletics on the big screen and billowing deck chairs. Boats were departing the moorings, 2 for Farmers Bridge and one heading off towards the Soho Loop. A couple untied their boat, bow hauled it away from Sheepcote Street Bridge. They moved a boats length then stopped two bollards between themselves and the next boat. I counted paces as I passed, 16! I almost made a comment that ‘My boat wouldn’t fit in that git gap’, but refrained as I know they’d have replied that there was plenty of space elsewhere, which there was, but come late afternoon there might not be for a late arriving boat.

Today at the dentists I saw Tom the hygienist. It’s the third or fourth time I’ve seen him. On our first meeting his rocking from foot to foot and scrumishing his hands together whilst he talked slightly worried me, now he makes me think of a Hamster waiting for a fresh toilet roll or some nice sunflower seeds to come his way.

Hello!

A peek from Liberty Place Footbridge before heading for the train. NB Waterway Routes was at home, the back doors open. I knew I’d be told off by Paul if I didn’t say hello, but it was just a touch too far to shout. Mick was slow to respond with a phone number and it was starting to rain. I waved even though I knew I’d not be seen and headed back to New Street Station before getting too wet.

It’s going to have an empty life as it was out of service!

After lunch and with Tilly home it was raining properly, but we really wanted to move. Up to the water point to fill up, dispose of yellow water and watch a chap walk across to the car park with one of those big chunky C&RT posts with mooring signs on it. He then popped it in the boot of his car. It did look like it had a rotten base and had fallen over, wonder where he took it?

Post into the boot

Not far to travel today, just another mileish to the Newbold moorings near the Barley Mow, plenty of room there. Tilly was given shore leave and we rang the pub to reserve a table. Maybe we needn’t have done so as there was no competition for seats, once Lizzie had arrived there were four punters in the pub. Maybe it was good that we had booked as they didn’t close their kitchen early.

Lizzie, Mick and Pip

A Barley Burger and two rump Steaks. Just as good as two years ago, the plates just as cold too! We had a lovely evening with Lizzie, more time to be able to chat than at her birthday party a few weeks ago. She’s promised to come out and see us somewhere as we head northwards.

And me! Happy International Cats Day!!

0 locks, 1.4 miles, 2 trains, 2 trams, 1 hamster, 0 Darth Vader, 1 wave, 1 huge loop missed, 1 slightly wobbly head, 2 pills, 3rd visit to Tescos,1 burger, 2 steaks, 6 onion rings, 1 boat free to carry on northwards, 1 boater enjoying walking again.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5SgnXSMDQSdDxd9FA

SHOUTING! 3rd August

Weedon Bec to 1 lock down from the top of Long Buckby Flight

Before breakfast Mick returned the hire car, picking up a Saturday newspaper and a few bits on his way back. I did my exercises and Tilly just ignored me, she was too busy shouting at the back door to be let out, I in turn ignored her! In fact today the amount of shouting at the back door was so much that it would have been quite nice not to have a cat! When we were cruising Tilly camped out on the top step so that we could hear her and see her when we opened the hatch for whatever reason. Well you keep deserting me and I just want you to know that I DONT like it!!!!

Mud weight being retrieved

The yellow water was pumped out ready for disposal at the next elsan and then the mud weight was pulled up from the shallow depths. it had served it’s purpose very well and had been tested this morning with numerous boats passing.

Time to make our way to Long Buckby, around three and a half miles on the flat. All the usual things to see, the crane, the glittery boat on the towpath (are they on official moorings?), familiar boats and of course the couple by the bridge and their dog. We had lunch before the locks.

As we pushed off we could see a boat already ascending the bottom lock. Then behind us a boat came into view, would we have a locking partner? Oleanna came into the lock, rope up to Mick to help pull her across to make room just as the boat behind us turned into Whilton Marina!

Looking behind

We gradually worked our way up the locks all bar two set against us, never managing to catch the boat ahead up. At the two in our favour we met downhill hire boats. The first crew, according to Mick, had been lucky not to have cilled their boat. Dad lifting paddles to fill the lock even though it was already full and the gate was open, he then didn’t realise he’d have to close it before emptying the lock. Then as he walked to lift a bottom paddle the boat was drifting backwards with no-one at the helm, Mick fortunately stopped him and explained why it was such a bad idea. Soon a young lad appeared to look after the helm, his steering skills were aided by hitting both sides of the lock as he came out, thankfully he avoided collision course with Oleanna!

Plenty to help push the gates

The next hire boat had an experienced crew and I was the one who may have set course for collision as the gates opened, I managed to gain control and actually looked like I knew what I was doing! We also picked up a very enthusiastic family who were keen to open and close gates for us, saving Mick some umphing.

With one lock left to do we decided to call it a day. If we carried on up we’d be wanting to fill with water and any shore leave that was still being shouted about would be cut shorter. So we pulled over opposite the pretty gardens and a good distance away from the road.

Click the photo for details

Some pork mince had been defrosted, we had space on the towpath to sit out, time for a barbeque. A slight experiment with the mince. I grated an apple into it added seasoning. It was quite wet so then added some gf bread crumbs, an egg and some Szechuan pepper. Made into Kofta on skewers they rested in the fridge.

Verdict was that they lacked a bit of a punch, maybe some wholegrain mustard or chilli flakes would have done the trick. None the less it was nice to be sat outside. When we’d arrived we were one of two boats, now the bank was full, including the hire boat with no idea.

See you then SHOUTY!

6 locks, 4.8 miles, 1 extreamly SHOUTY cat! 2 hours shore leave, 1 near locking partner, 4 kofta, 2 burger buns, 2 salads, 1 recipe needing amendment.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GGYDM4bmFBUqWkES8

The 47 Steps. 1st August

Weeden Bec

Another early start, but today it wouldn’t be accompanied by a sunrise, today we’d be joining the M1 to head northwards again to Scarborough. Tilly’s magic food bowl was primed with two meals, we hoped we’d be back before the second compartment opened but there was a chance we’d be late. A promise was made that it would only be one BIG sleep and not two before we’d be back inside.

With bags packed, Mick lifted the bow tyre fender and pulled Oleanna closer to the bank for me to get off, Blimey it’s s big step. Then it was time to slowly make my way down the 47 steps to the graveyard, sideways. There’s a handy village car park under one of the arches of the viaduct. Weeden Bec is handily close to the M1 so it wasn’t too long before we joined the northbound traffic.

Our plans for the rest of the summer were discussed and those leading into winter. It all depends a touch on my knee and what the outcome will be. We could make our way back to Yorkshire sooner rather than later. We have lodgers in the house for quite some time and may have more for the Christmas show, but being closer to Scarborough for appointments would make things cheaper. But that would have us hanging around, waiting! At the moment we don’t know what we’d be waiting for or how long. After discussions we decided to continue with our planned route, but to have a back up plan on hand should we need one.

The north west will be our destination. When the time comes to head back to Scarborough we decided that the only sensible route would be to return via the Trent. Currently two out of the three Pennine crossings are closed leaving only the Leeds Liverpool open, at the moment! The Trent is a quick route north even if we’d have to do a big loop to the south to get to it.

Crossing the soggy border

A comfort break at Doncaster services, then over the top of the Wolds. Ten years ago we cruised into York on NB Lillyanne, today we crossed the border into North Yorkshire in a car, both journeys apt on Yorkshire Day.

Our lodgers last week had left the house very clean and tidy, our current lodger was already at work, very busy teching ‘Brassed Off’ that has come from Keswick. The washing machine went straight on, the ironing board set up.

Finally today we were going to be getting smart meters for gas and electric. In the past we’ve been told that this wouldn’t be possible as we have two gas meters on the same account. The engineer arrived and set about his work. Electric first with a double hub, one for each side of the house, the chap hadn’t fitted one of these before. As soon as the power was back on another load of washing went in the machine, tumble dryer drying bed linen ready for ironing.

All ready for Sundays arrivals, well nearly

Mick sorted out our deposits into the compost bins and then had a hack away at the overgrown back garden, some of which was added to the compost bins to help keep the mixture right. Grass was cut, a small attempt to make the gardens look better, we really must get someone to keep them in check!

A letter had arrived with a date for my knee x-ray at Scarborough Hospital, in 5 weeks time. I’d noticed on my NHS app that there was a possibility of being able to walk into York Hospital without an appointment. A call to the GP, Scarborough Hospital then the GP again, I had the referral emailed to me. Next job was to get it printed out, a mission for the IT department with our antiquated hardware in the house.

During the afternoon a C&RT stoppage notice came in.

Network Rail has advised that the Vazon swing bridge at Keadby is not currently operational due to a malfunction.  A new part is required and this has to be manufactured. It is anticipated that this will take at least seven days and that the structure will remain in the closed (to boat traffic) position during this time. 

Blimey! Even the Trent route can have problems.

Loads of room!

This week we’d arrived by the seaside in good time, an order was placed for two Haddock and a large chips, one side of mushy peas. Whilst Mick headed off to pick it up I made use of the living room floor to do my exercises. Having loads more room meant they took a good five minutes less than on the boat. It also meant I noticed one of the tiebacks on the curtains was upside down.

A proper trip back to the house

Next time we have fish and chips we must remember we only need a regular portion of chips between us!

Bed linen ironing was finished, a bed made up, some light dusting and a long shower for each of us. A good turn around day.

Ironed

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 blue hire car, M1, M18, M62, A614, A64, 2 lawns cut, 3 sets bed linen washed and ironed, 1 bed made, 1 attempt to fast track the NHS, 3 smart meters, 2 of each, 1 cat left in charge, 1 Happy Yorkshire Day.

Where we travelled in July

Backpackers? 31st July

Stoke Bruerne to Weedon Bec Church Moorings

The alarm again, but not quite so early. We’d not be getting the sunrise views of yesterday. Dressed and cuppas made, waterproofs, life jackets and the big torch out the back. Hopefully we’d both have drunk our tea before our mugs would get topped up in Blisworth Tunnel.

Blisworth Tunnel at 7am

As we entered we both exclaimed that we couldn’t see the other end. Blisworth may be 1.7 miles long but it is straight. I think it was just our eyes getting accustomed to the lack of light as within 50 meters the pin prick of light could be seen. The advantage of going into the tunnel at early o’clock is that we were unlikely to meet anyone coming the other way, we had the tunnel to ourselves.

Big torch at the stern showing the concrete central section of the tunnel

The torrent of water that cascades from one of the air shafts wasn’t as bad as we remembered it and avoidance tactics were taken so we missed the worst of it. Other drips gave the roof a good wetting. Our big torch at the stern not only helps you to see at the helm it also means you get to see details on the brickwork and concrete sections. Why are some of the deposits orange and others creamy white?

Straight on to Braunston

Out the other side. A lack of boats moored before the bridge. Where have lots of boats gone? Past the wonderful old mill and northwards. Straight on at Gayton Junction, we’re heading northwards. Boat names and decorations to keep us amused.

At Bugbrook we waved across the pub garden to Unusual where our friend Lizzie works, a new building with actual windows gives some views towards the canal. In the tree lined cutting the Raymond and Nutfield crew were eating their breakfast, soon to cast off and follow us.

40 bags of coal piled up very neatly on someone’s mooring. Coal bought at this time of year comes with discounts so if you have a permanent mooring it’s worth it.

Round another bend the service mooring at Rugby Boats was available. We pulled in to top up on diesel £1.09 domestic today. I stepped off to look at the boats on brokerage, skipping across the posters for their names. NB Quaintrelle! We’d wondered what had happened to Mike and Aileen. Years ago when we were all new to boating we’d shared the Long Buckby flight then our paths crossed several more times before they headed off to explore the French waterways. Their last posts had them with two feline crew and having finished cruising the waters across the channel. Two years ago we’d seen Quaintrelle moored at Weedon. All the best to the new owners you’ve a boat that’s been places and we hope Mike and Aileen are well and have happy future plans.

Very neat potential heat

Not far now to our planned mooring for the day. There was space on Weedon Bec embankment. The moorings on the offside by the church would soon have the benefit of shade, so we pulled in there. The bank is extreamly low only about four inches higher than the water in the canal so quite a big step for my knees. Today I’ve developed a side step so that I can step around the cratch board to be able to tie the bow line, something I’ve been avoiding for the last couple of weeks. But once back on the boat today I wouldn’t be hopping on and off, I’d be staying put.

Finishing breakfast before setting off

Tilly was given a couple of hours and we sat down for a very late breakfast. Tilly did get longer, I just wanted her to come in for a drink every now and again as it was so hot. After a while Mick headed off to check on suitable parking places nearby. He found Tilly checking out the cemetery and suggested it was time she came back to the boat rather than follow him! Blimey all the way back up this outside, its very steep, so inconsiderate on a hot day!

Plenty of boats came past, our mooring lines had quite a bit of play in them, time for a spring line, but also we needed better fenders as Oleanna bumped and scraped along a submerged shelf. First the buoys were tried, they had nothing to stop them from rising up onto the bank. Then the tyres, these certainly held us out, but also wanted to pop up over the bank edge as it was so shallow. Mick had an idea, the mud weight we’d been given a few years ago might just be the thing. He tied a rope to the mud weight and then tied the tyre to the weight. The mud weight was lowered into the canal and the tyre fender sat at the right height. Brilliant, no more grinding on the submerged shelf.

Tyre fender with mud weight

Being on the off side meant we expected little footfall. A couple walked past part way through the afternoon, both with backpacks. We thought they were heading for the boat behind us. Normally there would have followed noises of boat doors being opened, but their conversation just drifted away as if they’d carried on walking past the boat. Mick saw no evidence of anyone on the boat during the remainder of the day. So either the couple were very quiet at opening doors and sat with no lights on or they had gone elsewhere. Were they Weedon Bec’s version of the Wheelie Shoppers of Nantwich?

Mick headed off to pick up a hire car, Daventry’s Enterprise has just recently moved to Weedon. I took the opportunity of having the boat to myself to do my exercises in front of the tv. From start to finish it took me 40 minutes. When my brother had knee problems recently he was only given four exercises to do, they took him ten minutes. I’m meant to do mine twice a day! Hopefully as I get better at them they will take less time.

Just checking things out

With the car picked up, Mick dug out our recent purchase of a trolley, time to take the contents from our separating toilet back to the compost bins at the house. Three trips to the car, three times up and down the embankment, he certainly got his exercise today. On his final return trip he heard quite a lot of buzzing around his head. Then a sting! He returned straight to the boat. Good job he’s not got that much hair as I could see the sting in his scalp.

Before pulling it out with tweezers I checked what to do on line. It suggested scraping the sting out with something blunt, pulling it might release more poison. I scraped and scraped, there couldn’t be any poison left in it, it didn’t want to come out, so the tweezers were needed. A clean with soap and water, followed by a small bag of frozen peas applied for ten minutes, off for ten, then back on again. An anti-histamine was also taken, it hurt, but thankfully his head didn’t swell up. Time for a more relaxed evening, listening to the very good bell ringing practice from our nearest neighbours at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church.

0 locks, 10.7 miles, 1 straight on, 91.96 litres, 1 ideal mooring, 1 annoying shelf, 1 25kg mud weighted fender, 2 backpackers, 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 hours shore leave, 1 tidy cemetery, 10 Dreamies, 3 buckets, 1 sting, 1 chicken and potato salad a bit meh! 8 bells, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval.

Late To The Shade. 29th July

Linford Manor to north of Solomon’s Bridge 65

No point in watching you, you can’t even get your leg over your head!

As I started my exercises Tilly came to supervise. I’m not doing it correctly apparently, she doesn’t understand how I’m not as flexible as she is. She soon lost interest and preferred looking out of the window. As I carried on lifting my bad leg into the air a chap walked past the window, soon followed by a lady who stopped right in front of me. She bent down and said ‘Has Daddy left you behind?’ She stood up with a small dog in her arms, the dog the only one aware of me looking out at them.

After breakfast we went for a little bit of a walk. Last time we moored here I think the park was still being worked on so I wanted to see how the interconnected ponds looked now, reinstated to how they had been designed many moons ago.

Linford Alms Houses and pond

A circular pond tumbles down into a second one towards the canal, making a pretty picture with the Alms Houses behind.

We had a look at the information boards. Linforde is mentioned in the Doomsday Book and it’s thought there was first a settlement here in the C10th. In the C16th Richard Napier lived here, he was a renowned physician who based his treatments and their timings on astrological readings. I wanted to know what ‘pigeon slippers’ were, well they were just that slippers made from pigeons, one of Napiers treatments! More here on Richard Napiers treatments. In 1800 the canal cut right through the pastoral landscape of the manor which dated from the previous century. When the railway arrived the peace was shattered but both forms of transport aided the village to grow.

Sadly any further walking wasn’t possible for me so we headed back to the boat where locals were suggesting to the boat behind us that fishing and barbeques were not allowed on the manor land. No signs saying so, at least our barbeque last night had been on the concrete edging, so no scorch marks on the grass.

This has been a building site for at least ten years

We pushed off, the boat behind us moving into our space so they could stay longer and be out of the way of the community boat tomorrow morning. Pootling along we passed the house that is constantly being built, piling and some excavation alongside the canal and I think some stone work on the main building is new.

The Wolverton mural always requires a photo or two. Hot air balloons like the Olympic torch. There was a space on the moorings round the corner, we pulled in a few extra items of shopping required to keep us going. Mick head off with a shopping list and thankfully remembered to add a bag of onions to items that would make food preparation over the next few hot days more bearable.

Onwards, we need to keep up our pace northwards. Over the Iron Trunk Aqueduct and towards Cosgrove Lock, here a boat waited for our arrival so that we could share. They’d had a worrying phone call this morning which meant they needed to move today, on a bit of mission we let them lead the way out of the lock as we were wanting to top up with water which would take some time.

Cows flicking their ears at the flies

With fresh water filled and yellow water disposed of we moved on. Todays mooring should have been Adam’s mooring with the view through the hedge, but that wouldn’t give us any shade. I remembered tall hedging just after Solomon’s Bridge but that was already filled with boats that were wonderfully cool. We pootled on trying a few places, but the bottom was too close to the top. We only had as far as the next bridge before the towpath changed sides and we’d have to moor on the sunny side of the canal. Another attempt got us quite close, this would have to do. I’d not be trying to get to shore so as long as Mick could manage, Tilly was guaranteed to be able to jump the gap, which she did without any calculations required.

Surely you could have tied it up better!

Two salmon steaks had been defrosted, no room for a barbeque today so I pan fried them with some red pepper and garlic, one of my favourites. Ends were woven in on the latest two pairs of socks before an early night as tomorrow we want to beat the heat up the Stoke Bruerne flight.

Apples reddening in the sunshine

1 lock, 5.6 miles, 1 bag potatoes, 2 red peppers, 1 bunch spring onions, 1 full water tank, 1 hot hot day, 2 hours of Tilly time, 2 hot for a stamp, 30 pairs of socks finished.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/m4dwyqdj5XmwQeEWA

A Flat Day. 28th July

Fenny Stratford to Linford Manor 48hr Mooring

Time for knee exercises. This morning I decided to have a go on the bed before it was put away for the day as the majority of stretches are done lying down. Most worked, although I wonder whether a firmer surface would be better as they seemed a lot easier this morning than when I’d done them in front of the sofa. One however required using the bed diagonally as other wise my foot was trapped under the gunnel. They take time, the time I usually spend writing the blog! I’m currently chasing the blogs tail and am a few days behind. Just need to sort a new routine.

Ready and waiting for zoom

As I stretched away half an hour Mick got to work in the galley with breakfast. We’d not quite finished when the Geraghty zoom started. Subjects, 2024 Olympics, The Last Supper, Strawberry eating Squirrels for the third time, swarf, and Romanians falling off things.

Tim on Sola Gratia heading off as Mick crosses the lock gates

As we were about to get ourselves sorted to move off NB Sola Gratia’s engine was started up, their pram hood lowered and they pushed off. Perfectly timed as a boat was just coming out of the lock. Next it was our turn, we pushed off and got ourselves ready to wave.

Simply must wave

Back in 2014 the end house opposite the moorings had a very well kept garden and sat behind the French windows two people waved at us as we came past. Such an enthusiastic wave we obviously reciprocated. Ever since whenever we pass we wave with the hope of getting one back in return. The garden isn’t quite so immaculate as it was and who knows if the same people live there, I hope they do, a medical looking table/trolley sits by the French window obscuring our view. From a few feet into the darkness we could just see an enthusiastic wave back and maybe even a thumbs up! I so hope other people wave to them to help brighten up everyone’s day.

Heel turned now onto the home straight

I got my knitting out to carry on whilst we cruised along on the flat. The trip to Scarborough and visitors for a day meant despite starting this pair of socks early, I would need to do a sprint to get them finished before the end of today.

Past familiar sights, the bridge that kept us south during winter 2015, lots of familiar boats, a friendly heron taking advantage of a good perch. Before one bridge there was a breasted up pair that had come past earlier, they were breasted up to another narrowboat. Turns out they were there to mend someone’s cratch cover, plenty of space to get past them. Red Lion Cruising club where we’d watched a Mikron show a few years ago. There was space at Campbell Park if we’d wanted it, but we were hoping of a much better mooring.

Under a couple of bridges, there on the offside was a space we’d been hoping for, Linford Manor. The first space has notices saying that it is reserved for Electra the community boat, but that is only on Tuesdays. The second space is still a 48 hour mooring we pulled in there, shame not to have the view across the park, but instead we had some shade. Tilly was given a few hours shore leave and we settled in.

Glad they’ve left a bit of it untidy

With our shopping I got a chicken, too hot to roast it so it was jointed, the majority heading for the freezer. I diced up one breast ready for some kebabs, marinaded it for a couple of hours before threading it onto skewers. Veg and haloumi kebabs were also prepared. The kebab rest would be used to it’s full capacity today.

Kebabs are us

Another boat arrived and moored behind us. Tilly and one of their dogs had a slight altercation through the side hatch. But we all soon settled down to cook our food outside. What a lovely evening.

0 locks, 6.6 miles, 9 exercises, 1 diagonal, 1 smelly stretchy band, 1 stool, 1 Tilly getting in the way, Well she doesn’t know how to do cat yoga! 14 rows left, 48hour garden mooring, 2 chicken kebabs, 4 veg and haloumi kebabs, 2 sniffy woofers, 2 bowls of chilled medication, 2 hot for a stamp.

It’s Five O’clock Somewhere, or Thank You Edna. 27th July

Burnt Oak Bridge to Fenny Stratford 1 day moorings

A bit of a rush around this morning as our visitors were on their way, walking towards us from the Soulbury 3. Mick had just about sorted the covers out when they arrived. Time for a cuppa and enough time to bake some biscuits for later.

The last time we caught up with Mike and Chris was at the very end of 2019. They valiantly joined us to work up Hatton and Lapworth over a couple of days in the cold. Mike was a couple of years above me at college, we became good friends during our time in Croydon.

At the top

We pootled up to the top of Soulbury. Here Mick and Chris headed off with windlasses to set the lock. A boat was just coming up and there were two volunteers on hand to assist also. Chris and Mike are very keen to work locks so Mick took on a more supervisory role.

Plenty of crew today

There was a lot of news to catch up on. Health matters. Aging mothers and a passed Aunt. Chris three years ago had moved out from London to near Newport Pagnall so they were very handy for today.

Mike and Pip

The locks whizzed by. At the bottom Chris headed off to move their car to Stoke Hammond Lock leaving us to cruise there, he’d be there way before us, or so we thought!

Don’t get them started on Douglas Adams!

A widebeam It’s Five O’clock Somewhere was on the water point, we’d seen it earlier as we’d had a cuppa before setting off. On we pootled, conversation never halting, Douglas Adams and Monty Python quotes a plenty.

As we’d set off later than planned we decided to pull up just short of Stoke Hammond for a sandwich. Chris had arrived before us, but then was told it was a private road and if he stayed where he was parked someone would block him in on purpose! So he had to move elsewhere, he was given directions to a bridge behind us. Once he’d parked up he joined the towpath. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere came past, logically to Chris, the widebeam was ahead of us so he started to walk. When the side of the pub came into view he realised his mistake, he’d walked back to where he’d started! Poor fella, his step count would more than make up for mine for the day.

Not the sight Chris wanted to see

Lunch and then down Stoke Hammond. The flowers are still as good as ever above the lock. With gates closed Chris set off again to walk back to the car, so glad we don’t have to do car shuffles. Just as we were about to set off again I realised we were a windlass short. There had been three at the top of Soulbury, Chris had one and Mick had one. We halted and had a check round, there it was in the grass.

Mick supervising Mike

Christmas exchanges between Mike and myself had consisted of suggestions that we would meet up when we next came through MK, which is what has happened. I jokingly had said that they could come and assist at Fenny Stratford Lock as it was such hard work! With only an 11″ height difference and a swing bridge it is very easy.

An extreamly rare photo of us both in role reversal
Chris and Pip

We passed It’s Five O’clock Somewhere moored up for the day, safely out of confusions way. Chris of course had made it to the lock far quicker than us. A boat having come up the lock had pulled in on the services leaving the lock and swing bridge wide open. Straight into the lock. With only one paddle at the bottom end working I was determined to work the lock, leaving the boys to close gates I wound the paddle up. What a nice feeling, it’ll be the only one I do for a while sadly.

Fenny Stratford Lock

On the 1 day mooring ahead was one boat with a space behind it. That boat was familiar and once we’d moored up Mick knocked on the roof of NB Sola Gratia. Tim and Tracey were at home with both Loki and Ozzie their woofers. Our boats have passed each other in the last few years but the last time we had a chat we had just followed them up to Titford Pumphouse in early 2020 and they were just heading off to pick up Ozzie.

A meal sat outside The Red Lion was nearly thwarted when we were told the chef had gone home for the day, Saturday 6pm! We made use of their shore based facilities before regrouping to decide what to do. By which time the kitchen was open again!

Their scampi was gluten free, a rare treat. A shame their chips were overly salted. Micks Gammon looked to be the best out of everyones meal. Mike insisted on paying, his treat, well a treat from his Aunt Edna who is sadly no longer with us. Apparently she is very generous since she’s passed away.

Mick, Mike, Pip and Chris

Time to wish our crew for the day farewell, hopefully we’ll see then far sooner than another four years. Now we know they are half based in MK we’ll try to time our visits to the area at weekends so we can meet up. Shame we’ll be doing Stoke Bruerne during the week!

Another one for good measure

5 locks, 5.3 miles, 10,000 plus steps for Chris, 3 windlasses, 5pm 2 many times, 1 college friend, 1 brilliant beard, 1 genetic mutation, 1 wobbly Mike, 3 photographers, 1 hours shore leave, 0 chef, 1 chef, 10grams of salt (at least), 1 doggie boat, 2 woofers, 1 lovely day.

Appointments. 24th 25th July

115A Footbridge to Wyvern Shipping Hire Base

Not far to cruise today, over a mile but not much further. Yesterday we’d chosen our mooring well, not much further on boats were moored just about all the way into Leighton Buzzard. A hire boat came towards us, we slowed and pulled into a handy gap to let them come past. Then we pulled back out to carry on past all the moored boats. Mick had spotted a boat following us a distance away, next thing we knew they were right up our stern, they certainly weren’t going slowly past the moored boats. Another gap, we pulled in and let them pass. ‘Where’s the best place to moor for Leighton Buzzard?’ they asked. ‘Anywhere you can fit in’ was our answer, ‘there’s also some moorings just after the bridge and a shopping mooring by Tesco’. They shot off ahead, we carried on in our respectful way.

There was a space left outside Tescos, we didn’t need it as we had somewhere else planned for the next couple of nights. Up ahead the breasted up hire boats of Wyvern Shipping, their blue cabin sides with red grabrails stretched out ahead. We pulled in on their service mooring and went into the office to say hello.

Hire fleet

We were instructed to pull back just beyond the winding hole, normally a youth boat moors here, but we’d just passed it going out for a couple of nights so we could have their mooring. Mooring fee paid in cash we were given instructions of where we could park a van. What a nice mooring with a grassy area alongside and a handy tap. Tilly thought it looked good, but there’d be no shore leave here!

Toy selection time

Mick headed off to pick up the van, once we’d had lunch and overnight bags were packed we were on our way. Magic food bowl left out in case we were delayed on our return tomorrow.

Through Woburn

What a laborious drive to Scarborough! It took forever!! The satnav suggested we should head north on the A1 as there were problems on the M1, once we’d committed ourselves the radio suggested the M1 was now clear. Oh well! I checked the last order for collecting fish and chips in Scarborough, our eta 10 minutes too late.

Pizza instead

Some supplies were picked up before we headed to the house. Annie and Alyce already entertaining the audiences at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Dracula. Pizzas with extra toppings and a bottle of wine. It’s funny being at the house when other people are living there, we don’t feel that we can sit in either living room so tend to stay in the kitchen so as not to intrude in their space. We were long in bed before anyone came home from work.

Thursday morning we both sneaked a shower and tidied the spare bedroom before having breakfast. Time for a quick catch up with Annie before we had to be on our way for appointments.

Mick dropped me off at my doctors an appointment with a Physio, Mick headed to the dentist. I always have difficulty in relaxing in such situations but today that was what was needed as the chap manipulated my leg and knee. He listened for grinding, twisted me, we even had what felt like a little dance. Maybe I shouldn’t have had a pain killer this morning as it had numbed much of what he was after. I answered questions, what did I do for work. I’m not sure he understood about narrowboating and working locks, but painting scenery was easier. I left my appointment having been referred for an xray and a long list of exercises to do twice a day, instructions emailed to me.

Mick picked me up and we headed back to the house, enough time to cut the grass. I had a rootle around through my work room. One item I’d need for my physio exercises was a foam roller. Some cardboard tube from a carpet and an off cut of foam from the giant mug I made a while back would do for that. Just needed to find a resistance band, the chemist didn’t do one, but Sports Direct did.

Up to the theatre for a treat lunch at Eat Me! Well we’d missed out on fish and chips so we could have one of the best burgers about with a good view out of the curved window above the SJT canopy. As normal we bumped into people we knew, all getting ready for the afternoons matinee so only enough time to say hello.

Next appointment at Mick’s doctors. The van was positioned so I had another good view, this time over looking the south bay from the Esplanade. A Sikh family posed for numerous photos with the harbour and castle in the back ground, they were loving it. Mick was back very quickly, before his appointment. It had been cancelled! Rightly so as it wasn’t with anyone who could adjust his prescription, good job we’d been coming to Scarborough for other things too and a shame nobody had bothered to tell him! A new appointment was made for when we’re back next.

Our return was on the M1 which felt just as slow as our journey north. Tilly was pleased to see us and a touch surprised, she’d obviously not listened when I said we’d only be away for one BIG sleep.

A rather nice mooring

0 locks, 1.3 miles by boat, 435 miles by road, 1 physio, 1 dentist, 1 hygienist, 0 nurse, 0 doctor, 2 pizzas, 2 burgers, 0.25 of a sock, 1 more lodger shoe horned in, 1 referral, 2 returning hire boats, 1 very fat knee, 10 minute paw ball game.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YHSjKWyE5mGuwsq86