Category Archives: Ice Cream

An Hour For Each Year. 21st June

New Walk, York

A suggested plan for the day arrived as we had breakfast, visitors expected late morning. We gave the boat a tidy through and got dressed for the weather, hot with extra hotness and a possible walk.

Today my best friend Emma was coming to visit along with her new (to us) boyfriend Soren. they are over from Australia on a whirl wind tour catching up with friends, then heading to Denmark where Soren is from. Emma was last over in January 2020, before covid struck and it’s been the longest we’ve been apart since she emigrated down under. Our trip to York this time is purely to coincide with her being here for two days.

Walking down the back lane

A tour of Oleanna for them both, then a walk along New Walk up into Fishergate sneeking a look round the back of the house where Emma’s family lived in our teenage years. We then climbed into their hire car and headed off into the countryside, the Howardian Hills just north of York. So many pretty villages, we joked about them moving back to York and buying one of the lovely houses somewhere like Coxwold.

The pub

The car was lovely and cool, the sky progressivly getting darker and the outside temperature quite a shock on gettng out of the car. We pulled up at the Fauconberg Arms in Coxwold, a very pretty old fashioned pub, much more used to having a crackling log fire going.

Soren, Emma, Pip and Mick. Emma obviously didn’t get the blue shirt memo

Their holiday has been funded by letting out a cabin in the Blue Mountains at the back of Soren’s house. He is a guide, he takes people on adventures around the Blue Moutains, absailing and cannon exploring. Then three of four times a year he is also a guide in the Himalayas! He’s a mountaineer!!

There was so much to catch up on, I think we hardly scratched the surface! After lunch, I had to have fish and chips, we drove to Castle Howard reminising about our fathers speeding along the straight but bumpy roads, doing their best to get their sporty little cars to take off back in the 70’s.

Castle Howard

When Emma had sugested going for a walk, we didn’t quite know what to expect, especially with Soren’s job. Would we be taking on a ten mile hike up and down dale? Hence me trying to get my calf improved. But instead we ambled around the grounds of Castle Howard listening to the peacocks and enjoying the rain that fell on us in the rose garden. We joked about which wing of the house we would have each and how we’d have a pimms party every Friday night in the central hallway.

Chilled medication

Some chilled medication couldn’t be turned down. Mick a little surprised to recieve his in a tub, so Emma asked for a cone. This was added to her tub as if it was a flake! A very peculiar way of serving it.

Best friends

As there were more people to catch up with we were returned to Oleanna before they headed on to their next engagement. Big hugs were given that have to last us a few more years. There’s never enough time. The only way there is more time is to head to Australia to visit them there. We just need the SJT to employ one of our favourite cat friendly actors who would be happy to look after Tilly for a few weeks.

That’s more like it!

As we’d hardly walked anywhere and my calf was up for it, I walked around the block. Up to Scarborough Railway Bridge and back again, only a slight twinge. Hopefully I’ll be able to keep up the pace now.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 rendez vous made, 58 years of being friends, 1st meeting, 1 celebration, 1 snoop, 9 pretty villages, 1 of each, 4 for the price of 3, 4 chilled medications, 2 cone accessories, 5 years, 5 hours, 1 hour for each year.

In Search Of Shade. 20th June

Naburn Visitor Moorings to New Walk, York

Early morning Naburn

Up early for us and on the move backwards before breakfast. Time to top up the water tank, check if Kenny’s hens had laid then make a move before it got too hot, plus I had a meeting to attend at 11.

Roses fading on the gateway now

Water tank full, still no eggs. We waved NB Poppy goodbye, they are heading up to Ripon where they have permission to ascend Oxclose Lock on Monday morning to reach their home mooring. They were determined to make it to at least Linton today, a shame as a stop off in York wouldn’t have held them up that much.

A serious bow rope!

Off we set, with the aim of finding a shady mooring in towards town. We passed all the familiar sights. Someone was watering the grass just before Archbishops Palace, wonder how long they’ll be allowed to keep their grass green, he was being extremely generous with the hose pipe. No-one in the garden at the Palace, no-one swimming in the river, the sewage works particularly stinky today.

The river level was too low to see the roof of my old family home today, but the house behind it was still there. We spotted Philli heading off to work in her bright orange trousers. Under Millenium bridge about to celebrate it’s 25th anniversary. Now we looked for shade.

Ice cream boats not headed off to sell yet

New Walk has overhanging trees. For the next few days the shade would most definitely be required, mooring at Museum Gardens would be unbearable, Oleanna would become an oven. Now knowing where the chain eyes are of a wider diameter helped in our choice of mooring. Under a tree that wouldn’t waft onto the roof, perfect.

We got moored up, sent some messages, had breakfast, then I settled down ready for my zoom meeting with the production manager for panto. Lots to catch up on and discuss. I hope Gemma understood my points of view on finding a happy medium on the painting side of the show this year.

Mick headed into town to try to find me a very thin blue pen. Black ones are easy to come by at 0.05mm, but blue is more problematical. This is to outline parts of my model and a more standard 0.5mm pen would end up being a touch too wide for what I want once blown up by 25 times. He didn;t have any luck so I’ve ordered one which we can pick up at the house on the next turn around.

Terry’s

I painted up numerous roses on my portals. Jus when I thought I’d nearly finished I remembered there was another piece of scenery with more of them on it. Hopefully I’ve got them all painted now!

Time to check my calf out. I’ve been doing no brisk walking, and very little walking over the last few days, hoping that the rest would help. A parcel had arrived at a locker for me so an ideal opportunity to see if the rest had worked.

Lovely clock face

I took it easy at first, then increased my speed a touch. Down the riverbank over Millenium Bridge and onto Bishopthorpe Road. Onwards to a new Co-op amongst the new apartments that have been built up around the old Terry’s Chocolate Works. My parcel was there, but more importantly I was now not that far away from the art deco factory with it’s clock tower. I don’t think I’ve ever been quite so close, so it was worth a nosy around.

The chocolate works

The development seems nice and airy, retaining some of the original buildings. A restaurant/cafe/bar/deli sits close to the clock tower, gents sat out in white shirts and dicky bow ties. I wouldn’t stop for a drink. Long avenues all seem to lead up to the clock. When I was a kid, during winter months I could just make out the shape of the tower from my bedroom window. Back along a stretch of the riverbank I’ve never walked before.

Calf verdict, much improved only a slight suggestion that if I’d pushed it more then I’d have hobbled. So complete rest seems to be what I should do when it happens again.

What?!?

Back at Oleanna I opened up my parcel. What on earth?! Beauty Equipment?! I opened up the box, phew, it was an airbrush. They must sell more to the beauty market than to artists. Here’s hoping it can cope with acrylic paints, and not just acrylic nail varnish!

0 locks, 4.9 miles, 1 full water tank, 0 eggs still, 0 house, 1 shady mooring, 37 roses, 0 pen, 1 beauty accessory, 1 walk, 2.01 miles, 31 brisk minutes, 1 disappointed cat.

https://what3words.com/milk.launch.power

A Third Reason. 30th April

Naburn Lock to New Walk, York

Tilly was given shore leave, she could have most of the day if she wanted it. We settled down and enjoyed poached eggs, tomatoes and mushrooms on toast, oh and some black pudding sneaked in there too, yummy.

Sunny Naburn

Then a phone call made us reconsider our existing plan for the next few days. Mick needed to be at the house, I needed to be at York Hospital for an appointment and now there was another appointment which if I could attend it would be a good thing. We’d planned on staying in Naburn until our booked passage back to Selby. Yesterday I’d taken photos of the bus timetable, only every two hours. If we headed back into York however, we’d both be able to walk to the station and hospital making things much easier. Decision made, we’d be heading back into York.

Next pair finished

We emptied the yellow water into our container and Mick walked it to the elsan hoping to catch the Lock Keeper to check on times for our departure in a few days time. The number of boats that had arrived in the last hour suggested Kenny might be busy penning them all down and sure enough he was.

A second trip to the services proved better timed. Our locking would be at 12:45. Mick also enquired about passage from York to Barmby Lock where you gain access to the River Derwent and the Pocklington Canal. When he’d asked about this in Selby, Nigel had said levels were low, but hopefully by the time we wanted to head that way they would be improved. Kenny however said the Pocklington was now closed until October! Someone had left a paddle up and drained the canal and with little water available to top it up…. well!

Time about to tick away in the breeze

We may need to replan our summer. That is the second waterway we’d hoped to cruise this year closed until October. We need to confer with Graeme and Vicky, if we can get hold of them.

Tilly was encouraged home. It’s good this outside, can we keep it for a while? Sorry!

We untied and pushed off, heading back upstream. We’re getting to know these five or so miles very well! A Kingfisher decided to escort us after we’d passed Bishopthorpe Palace, staying until I’d got a reasonable photo of it.

Hello

Where should we moor? We’d only just pulled away from Museum Gardens and the mooring there has very little shade for the increasing temperatures. Or should we pull in on the rings by Millennium Bridge where the Chilled Medication boat moors during the day, there was lots of spare room there. With the sun out the medication would be flying out of the boat, hardly a good place for Tilly to get shore leave. So a touch further on where there was currently shade, also the rings in the bank were big enough to pass our ropes straight through, so not too much hassle mooring.

I had a slow walk around the block, but my cold meant I fell far short of minutes and steps today. I called into Alligator to see if they had any millet flour, but sadly they didn’t. The lady tried her best to sell me other gf flours or even some bread, but all I wanted was some millet flour to try out some recipes for myself.

Lines in the sky

Mick headed off late afternoon to Scarborough. He caught the train he used to catch when he worked in York 11 years ago, in case any of the regulars were still traveling, but no-one was familiar. Tilly and I had a quiet evening, the boat cooling down after the high temperatures today, I got on with blowing my nose and knitting whilst Tilly got on with her cat naps.

News on the Strawberry Island Cruising Club flotilla to London. All boats have arrived in London, but a fire at Maida Tunnel has split the flotilla in two. Some have remained in Little Venice where Cavalcade is this coming weekend, whilst others are on the Eco Moorings nearer Kings Cross. Here’s hoping the tunnel reopens on Friday so they can all make Cavalcade.

0 locks, 4.9 miles, 1 more river and canal closed this summer, 1 shady mooring, 1 wee tank empty, 2 outsides for Tilly, 1 train, 25 minutes late, 1.98 miles walked, 22 minutes briskly, 1 pair of socks ready for hand delivery, 1 pair of socks finally designed, well 1 more alteration from heel up, 9pm generator stopped, 10pm generator started up but on the move.

https://what3words.com/flesh.crass.moss

Still There. 22nd April

Naburn Lock to New Walk, River Ouse

Anyone who has ever visited York by boat will be aware of how bad the boaters facilities are in the city. So before we left Naburn we wanted to have a full water tank. After breakfast we got ready to reverse to the water point, but we’d just been beaten to it by the boat behind us. We pulled back anyway, they weren’t using the water point and our two hoses would reach our bow. They pulled off soon after we arrived so we tucked up closer to the tap.

Sun shining

Mick rang York Marina in Naburn this morning to see if they could accommodate us for a few days, this would make plan 6C work for us. However unless we were willing to sign up for a full year they weren’t interested, our three days not enough. Time to work out plan 7A. I walked over the lock island to check on the pontoon there, 48 hours and empty today, but would it be when we want it to be?!

Interesting windows

Tank full and a booking to return to Selby made we were ready for the off, and thankfully the sun was shining.

The river is far more interesting lots of moored boats to look at. A pontoon we’d not seen before which is reserved for York Marina despite being quite a distance away. The River Bus has various stops along the way to pick up campers and take them into York.

Sailing away the day

Then the slightly more shanty town moorings, steep walkways to interesting boats, some of which archaeologists would have a field day on their roofs. A small cruiser with sails was slowly making it’s way upstream, we passed as did a day boat.

Archbishops Palace Bishopthorpe

Archbishops Palace. The opposite bank was what at the age of six, was a long walk from our house, but a good landmark for turning around plus the dogs used to like swimming there.

The A64 bypass bridge. Fulford Hall on the bend. Is that where the bench seat was that my Dad Fatso used to walk Bramble his dog to? The undergrowth and possibly a fence blocking the view. Would that be the case a little further on?

There she is! The pan tiles belong to next door.

The willow trees are starting to get thick with leaves would there still be that gap in them that lines up with the grid on our map? It’s been five years since these sight lines were checked and the river then was that bit higher. We slowed as we approached the grid line. The big house just visible, then the roof of the house behind. Then the trees parted for a very good view of my family home, the house that Fatso built, the house where I was born. We know the new owner has done some building work and replaced the wood cladding to the front of the house, this used to be dark marrying in with the trees surrounding it. The new cladding thankfully isn’t as bright as it was in photos we’ve seen, it has silvered, a different wood from that it was clad with in the early 60s. But she is still there, the glimpse from the river the same.

Might have to visit if they still go to near Millennium Bridge

Now past the York Motor Club Moorings, would they be able to accommodate us? We suspected not. The University Rowing Club Moorings, I’ve still not quite finished off a pair of socks that need to be delivered here, the hope of being able to moor alongside obviously not possible, so a visit by land will need to be arranged. The Chilled Medication boats were followed by Millennium Bridge.

Millennium Bridge

We now started to look for somewhere to moor up, a little bit further would suit our needs best, but with some solar a bonus. Chain swags line the river wall, would we be able to moor to those. We slowed and had a go as day boats came past, a trip boat winding up stream of us, at least they know their horn signals. Thin rope was used to tie through the eyes that hold the chain, an old soft shackle from our centre line was used too. There’s a ledge just catching Oleanna’s base plate, so we deployed the Shroppie Tyre fenders. Brilliant, we are moored somewhere Tilly can have some shore leave too. Maybe York will be York to her and not Yurk!!!

This used to be Thomas C Godfrey’s a Blackwell’s Bookshop

After lunch I set off with the intention of finding some Almond flour, finer than ground almonds and a touch harder to find. This gave me a reason to have a good walk around the city, spotting favourite old places including the old bookshop I used to sell maps in, currently selling things made by local artists.

I went here there and nearly everywhere. The obligatory visit to Barnitts. Today I wanted new rope for the stove door and some glue. Barnitts never disappoints, there is always a selection. Just how many shoe laces and flasks could anyone want!

Lady Peckett’s Yard

I was also on the hunt for views of York to paint. I’d like to do a painting for my brothers holiday let in York. Not of the usual views. I love the Snickleways, maybe Lady Peckett’s Yard? We’ll see what else I find in the next few days.

Lendal Bridge

Back at the boat our quiet evening was disturbed by the rowers from the University, they seem to start and end their training where we are moored. The boats are not too bad despite their wake, but their coach is very VERY LOUD!!!

Blossom blossom everywhere

In flotilla news all boats are back on the move continuing towards London. However tonight we’ve seen that there is a stoppage at Denham Deep Lock on the Grand Union Canal and the lock gates are padlocked shut! This stoppage stands between lots of boats and Cavalcade! Here’s hoping its not a lengthy fix. Petition link.

0 locks, 5.1 miles, 1 full water tank, 1 roof line, 1 new mooring to try out, 500grams almond flour, 2m stove rope, 1 bottle glue, 5.2 miles, 47 minutes briskly, 7 possible paintings, 1 man shouting 2 loudly!

https://what3words.com/valve.trap.line

Lifting. 23rd March

Site of Smallhedge Swing Bridge to before St Oswalds, Kirk Sandall, Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigations

On the day we were loading the van in Scarborough we heard the first Woodpecker giving itself a headache. Back in the house this signalled the start of Spring to us. This morning from somewhere in the hedgerow we got to hear our first ChiffChaff of the year. Here on the boat this signals the start of Spring. Just a shame the sun didn’t make an appearance!

Tilly was given shore leave whilst we had mushrooms and poached egg on toast for breakfast. A full cooked breakfast will be a very rare treat for us this year. Sausages and bacon to be kept at arms length, although I have purchased some chicken cumberland sausages which are sitting in the freezer. Not tried these yet, so we’ll see.

Our nearest neighbours

The Geraghty zoom is still going strong five years a week or so since we started it at the beginning of the pandemic. All five siblings were present today, nieces and nephews are too busy doing other things, but we do get updates regarding grandchildren and trips abroad that they make. Todays topics included, Grandma put downs (social services not required!), Revenue Control officers, Richard II and distant relatives, and lifts this coming week.

Tilly came home part way through the zoom with a friend expecting to be let in through the side hatch, this of course was not granted. Herfjoke newieds a secihgond stabmlihymp of apprbjbjgchoval She said something but no-one knew what she was saying as her mouth was full!

The new Rugid tablet, waterproof and able to show both Waterway Routes and Victron VRM which shows battery, solar etc statuses.

Another day of not going too far, we pushed off, I caught a ride to the first lift bridge, otherwise it would have been a very long way round walking back to the lock to get on the official towpath side. I hopped off at the bridge landing and waited to cross the road, cars zoomed past and over the bridge, all far to quick for my liking.

Lifting

Key of power in the control panel. I listened hard, let a few cars cross the bridge before I couldn’t hear anymore. Turned the key and pressed the lift button. The lights flashed and the barriers were just starting to come down when I heard a car zipping along out of view, no obvious slowing down, just more acceleration! I took my finger off the button and stopped the barriers just above where contact would be made, What a Prat! As he sped off I was able to continue pressing the button and lift the bridge.

Don Doors open

Two more bridges along the New Junction, I walked between them. One a lift bridge the other a swing, vehicles obliged and stopped. I then got back on board for us to go under the Don Doors crossing the River Don.

Looking back to Bramwith Junction

Bramwith Junction, one of our favourite moorings around here was occupied, the narrowboat taking advantage of views to both sides of the canal and a clear sky to top up on solar. We weren’t going to stop here today, instead we carried straight on to Barnby Dun, pulling in at the services. The offcuts of cardboard box were put in the bin then we were ready to continue on our way.

Waiting for a gap in traffic at Barnby Dun takes some patience as it’s such a busy road. It took a while for no vehicles to be in view, I turned the key and pressed the button. The driver of the first car to pull up on my side of the bridge sat and stared straight at me, as if that would make me stop the process and let them through!

Instructions

I now elected to walk to where we planned on mooring, just short of Kirk Sandall. All the chilled medication vans have gone from the house by the bridge, now there is a Morris 1000 and a selection of other cars. I caught Mick up as he was stepping off Oleanna hoping to tie up. Not quite into the side at the bow, we wondered if we’d bash whatever it was under the water. We needn’t have been concerned as today we didn’t see one boat moving.

Tilly was given the rules and some extra guidance, beware of the bicycles and woofers. I kept my eyes peeled and there they were bicycles, TWO of them. I ran away and gave up on this outside after two minutes! No point in even asking to go out until they’ve moved it again.

Lunch followed by a need to top up my walking for the day. Our mooring was right next to a footpath that runs into the woods and up to The Glass Park. Years ago we walked some of the paths round here, but I don’t think we got up to the playing field as I did today. Up ahead of us on the canal used to be Pilkington Glass, Pilks to the locals, the pipe bridge still exists. There is a rather good blog post here, hopefully I’ll get chance to read it fully and more about Doncaster in the next few days.

I like the figures on the top

I walked through the park and down past the station, turning onto Pilkington Road to head back to the canal. A new housing estate that has grown up around St Oswald’s Church, Kirk Sandall is called Silica Court. The church is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust and is rarely open, we however managed a visit years ago, so if you are interested here’s a link to the post from that day. The rather wonderful old barn has been converted into living accommodation, so the church no longer stands by itself.

With 60 minutes brisk walking under my belt I decided that not reaching 10,000 steps today didn’t matter. The last few items were stowed away on board. Coats, hats, gloves, drill sander put under the dinette seats. There was now room to breath. Time to sort out the mess I’d made on my latest pair of socks last night as I fell asleep in front of the TV mid row, my fingers continuing to knit without guidance!

0 locks, 4.7 miles, 4 bridges, 19 held up, 1 straight on, 2 outsides, 1 really really good, the other 1 pants, 3.86miles walked, 60 minutes briskly, 1 sock sorted, 1 van load of stuff fully stowed.

https://what3words.com/basket.relatives.refreshed

End Of The Line. 22nd August

72A to Ingestre 48hr mooring Trent and Mersey still

Great Haywood

Waterproofs just in case for a walk to the Post Office this morning. Thank goodness we had them as it was just spitting on our arrival, then between there and the Farm Shop the heavens opened. Soggy legs!

Too much to choose from

We didn’t really need anything, but maybe some nice sausages, I suggested four, Mick suggested six, he’d not realised that they were quite so huge and would be over £1 each! A huge cauliflower, some treat cheeses, gluten free oak cake mix and a pork pie for Mick. We refrained from picking up a punnet of strawberries (£3) and a tub of chilled medication, the freezer would need rebuilding around a big tub.

The treat items

Thankfully the rain was stopping so our walk back along the towpath was a dry one. The sign post at the junction with the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal was hit by lightening last week, the large splinters of wood that had been shot off it are now tied back on with tape, I suspect some glue was used too. Plenty of room on the moorings above the lock and still lots of room below where we were.

We decided on an early lunch, hoping that others would stop for lunch as we set off, therefore we’d miss queues. A kingfisher darted back and forth behind Oleanna, too quick for a photo from inside and if I’d gone outside it would likely not have returned, it’s high pitched call making sure we’d get to see the streek of electric blue.

A boat was just coming down the lock ahead as we were rolling up the covers, but the lock had been reset by the time we got close. Another boat had arrived above so Mick had help with the bottom gates and then he could hop on board, the moorings now filled up.

Which way are you going?

Blimey the junction was busy, my photo doesn’t show half of what was happening. A boat was pulling onto the water point to join another. A boat was heading straight on up the T&M, possibly having just turned out from the Staff and Worcester. Another came towards us from the T&M as one more was appearing from under Haywood Bridge wanting to turn up the T&M. We were wanting to pull into the services so waved the last boat onwards. One of the boats on the services were just pulling off so we grabbed the opportunity and pulled in to fill up and empty.

That won’t chill much

Chores done we could continue on our planned route, up the T&M.

Plenty left to pick

Passing the polytunnels of the Farm Shop we could see they still had plenty of strawberries and elsewhere pumpkins were starting to expand, I wonder how much they sell for?!

Three boats ahead

Arriving a Hoo Mill Lock we tagged onto the end of the queue, our plan for everyone to be having lunch hadn’t paid off, we were forth! Mick managed to pull is in to the side and hopped off with a rope, I got my knitting out!

A boat came out, enquiries for where there might be a mooring, they could try by the entrance to the marina only one boat on the armco there when we passed. In went the first boat from the queue. Out it came, in it went. Blimey what a list! Back out and another attempt, finally getting past the open gates. Was there something submerged in the lock to have caused them to list?

A few blackberries were picked, I left the rose for someone else

The next boats turn, they didn’t have a problem getting into the lock, the first boat must have had its fenders down! Hopefully they hadn’t lost any that could cause a gate to jam. The boat in front of us moved up, the chap at the helm tried to flick a rope over a wooden post, it didn’t work, he stayed treading water. Finally we could move up and be on a bollard, Mick went up to help with the boat in front, the crew as handy with a windlass as the chap with his rope skills.

Hoo Mill Lock

Our turn, no-one waiting behind or above, just us, the end of the line.

We’d planned to cover at least one more lock today, but the wait below the lock had eaten away an hour, maybe we should find a mooring sooner rather than later. Waterway Routes had various moorings marked, several we’ve used in the past. When half of the 48hr mooring before Ingestre Bridge was free we opted to pull in for the day, a more concerted effort required tomorrow.

Two hours Tilly! It wasn’t me who pushed the post over! Maybe it was that man in Rugby!!

It wasn’t ME!!

The internet was checked, photos uploaded nearly instantly. I could finish off blog posts.

To warm the boat we had some of the sausages from the farm shop, roasted with the remaining root veg we’d bought for our Sunday roast. Four of the sausages were the equivalent to six normal supermarket bangers, so I saved two for a breakfast. The sausages were nice, the veg could have done with a touch longer sadly, but it was still nice.

Before we got settled in front of the TV Mick went round and checked that everything on the roof was secured. With Storm Lillian on her way we’d not want to be kept awake with things rattling on the roof or flying off. Job done, the windows would need closing too before we turned off the light.

2 locks, 2.1 miles, 1 straight on, 4 soggy legs, 6 sausages, 2 treat cheeses, 2 pairs of socks on their way, 6 boats at the junction, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, 1 clean pooh box, 0 rubbish, 1 doorless fridge, 8 bottles of warm wine, 4th in line, 1 hour wait, 4 instead of 6, 1 wet windy night ahead.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6pCArLHXoufasdGY9

How Much Of A Half Would You Like? 21st August

Before Iron bridge 72A to after Iron Bridge 72A

Mick walked up towards Haywood Lock to see if there were any spaces available for us to move up. The internet coverage where we were moored was poor, therefore annoying! He’d checked on a map and we seemed to be sat in a little hole, further along the signal should improve.

A space behind one boat and another in front, but this was under a leaning oak tree. With gusts of wind this mooring wouldn’t be so good. We needed to act quickly before the first mooring was snatched up, so as I finished my exercises Mick pushed us off. Have to say doing lunges whilst Oleanna was moving was very wobbly! However I was ready to help moor up, as close as we could to the boat in front which just so happened to be NB Winding Down, our old shareboat.

Breakfasted, we got ourselves ready for a day out, just as a breasted up pair of Jules Fuels boats was pulling out, we decided to move up and not be that annoying boat a touch too close to a bridge hole. As we moved I spied people onboard Winding Down, we had to at least say hello. Just as well we did as it was Paul and Aileen Jordon one of the last few original syndicate members. We last bumped into them in Braunston a couple of years ago before WD moved base to Aston Marina.

Hello Winding Down

It was great to have a chat and reminisce, only one other original owner left, Roger. They had two of their grandchildren with them and more were expected shortly for a picnic before the youngsters were heading home.

On Essex Bridge

Time for us to have a day out!

The plaster of this ceiling was carved by the artist laying on his back and took 2 years. Hope he got paid well

Back in June 2015 we spent several days at Shugborough, then ran by Staffordshire County Council and the National Trust. We’d had a tour of the house at break neck speed back then, little could be remembered so we decided to visit again, dust off the cobwebs on our National Trust cards. In 2016 the management of the Hall was handed back to the National Trust, so today we could get in for free.

The Red Drawing Room

There were plenty of people about, lots for kids to do in the park. At the front door of the house we showed our cards and were let in to walk around the house at our own pace. As with most NT properties the house has been laid out with the story of it’s occupants, here it is the Anson brothers who travelled the world. Also as with many NT properties we didn’t get to find out much about the actual house. Plenty of information boards about the brothers, a huge map with interesting facts about their voyages and how they started off with 1900 crew, arriving back in England with just 188! But I’m interested in the house too, I’ll have to look it up.

Map of travels

Once we’d looked round the ground floor, walked through the red drawing room and the library with disguised door and taken note of how quickly Elizabeth and Betty had grown we then could climb the back staircase to look round the rooms upstairs where Lord Patrick Lichfield had lived and taken many a photograph. This is the part of the house we remembered most, the kitchen, the deep deep baths, the photographs. Here you’re not allowed to take any yourself.

One room which had been Patricks bedroom had photographs he’d taken. Another couple walked round ahead of us. She said ‘That looks like him. That looks like Sophia Loren’ He said, ‘No it won’t be’. I wondered who he’d think were in the royal family photographs when they came to them, and yes that was actually Mick Jagger!

The Library

Time for lunch, we hunted out the cafe. Chock-a-block, but we’d timed our arrival very well as just about everyone was finishing. Jacket potatoes were finished for the day but we could have potato wedges instead with a filling on top of our choice, a little bit of a strange combination. Sat next to us was a family, the teenage daughter had just gone to get them pudding. Three scones and a huge slab of carrot cake with a good layer of cream cheese frosting. She said how she’d not been able to decide on a scone or the cake, Mum offered to go halves with her, half a scone for half the cake. ‘How much of that half would you like?’ came back the answer from the daughter!

Not the same as a jacket potato

Back in 2015 there were carriages to look at. The house kitchens were in working order with a cook baking scones and ginger biscuits. Sadly today these areas are closed, I think the collections have been moved elsewhere as they belonged the Staffordshire County Museum. Such a shame, but at least we’d seen them last time.

Time for some chilled medication, we joined the queue and selected our flavours, Devilishly Chocolate and Rolo, basically the same ice cream but one with mini rolos and a swirl of caramel added. As the medication level had been topped up we walked round to the formal gardens at the back of the house. Past the Chinese House built in 1747, crossing the red bridge and onto the island to look at the Cat Monument. Why does that cat have a moustache?

Chocolate flavoured medication

The monument (c.1750) possibly commemorates a cat which travelled around the world with Admiral Anson on the ‘Centurion’. Or that it was built as a memorial to Kouli-Khan, a Persian cat kept by Thomas Anson. He also kept a heard of Corsican Goats which feature around the base of the monument.

Moustache!

We then returned to Oleanna, enough walking for today and time to let Tilly out. She wasn’t that enamoured with it this afternoon, even if we had a chatty parrot for a neighbour. Well you’d told me I wasn’t allowed to talk to it!

0 locks, 0 miles, 2 bridges crossed, 1 Georgian Mansion walked round, 1 formal garden, 2 years, 1 ceiling back to front, 35 Weetabix, 1,313,843 pieces of 8, 2 brothers, 0 carriages, 0 puppets, 2 far to go to the farm, 1 odd cat, that’s not me!

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Signals Clinging On 30th July

Above Soloman’s Bridge to Stoke Bruerne Visitor Moorings

Sometimes it’s really worth getting up early

An early alarm. We wanted to be up Stoke Bruerne locks before the sun was heating everything. A cuppa was made then Mick pushed us off, no time for exercises this morning! Well I suppose I could have done them as we cruised along on the flat, but that would have meant missing out on the sun rising and I wasn’t going to do that.

Gorgeous

Already above the horizon as we pushed off it was beautiful. Just the right amount of clouds to add to the picture.

Hello!

A wave to NB Briar Rose as we passed Thrupp Wharf. Adam’s mooring was a touch further and it was available, this had been our scheduled stop for yesterday. Currently in the shade, but the sun would soon be streaming over the hedge and stay heating it up until sunset, we’d chosen last nights mooring well.

Slowly past any moored boats. Windows, doors open to let the cool air inside, they didn’t want waking by us. Scum appeared on the canal surface. It got thicker the further we went. By Kingfisher Marina it was really bad, then within a hundred yards it vanished and the canal was back to it’s sludgy brown self.

Sheep clambered to reach the tastiest morsels, a fence now holding it’s inhabitants safe away from the waters edge, one year we had to mount a rescue for a lamb who’d discovered that it couldn’t swim very well.

Four boats sat below the flight. Was anyone stirring? Might we have a locking partner? We crept past, no sign of any life.

Clinging on

Mick went to set the bottom lock, only a foot of water to empty. As I passed the bottom gates I could see a crayfish clinging to the side of the gate. Almost certainly a Signal Crayfish an invasive species. It looked like it had lost one of it’s big claws, after a minute or so it fell back into the lock beneath the water.

Opposite gate paddle lifted

We worked our way up the bottom five locks, most with just a small amount of water requiring emptying before the lock was set. Dog walkers were starting to appear, a chap opened his car doors, a pot of flowers on the bonnet. No need for jumpers now, the world was starting to warm up.

Sold £379,000 click photo for details

Mick hopped back on board so that I could have a sit down before the top two locks. The next lock was full but was soon emptied and as Oleanna rose I glanced ahead, a volunteer popping his head round the bridge above. We’d been spotted, then the top lock started to empty. Was there a boat coming down? Or was it being dropped for us?

Curious

A hire boat appeared, Dad at the helm, Mum and a little girl in a Captain’s hat accompanied a volunteer walking down. The top lock would have been their first lock of their trip, for us it would be our 543rd of the year.

A volunteer stayed to help us, Mick and the chap chatted away. Another boat arrived above ready to take our place in the lock. Now we needed to find some shade, ahead a tree lined cutting, we hoped to find some good cover for the rest of the day.

Two hire boats looked like they’d got a good stretch, up ahead another patch looked good. We pulled in in front of another boat tied up and sat down for our breakfast at 10am, the days cruising complete.

Tilly was given 8 hours shore leave with the request to return for water at regular intervals. She was kept busy in the friendly cover for quite some time.

A good shady spot

The sun moved over, starting to catch us. The boat behind pushed off, a more comprehensive patch of shade just behind where it had been moored. Luckily Tilly came home just as we were wanting to pull back into the new patch of shade. This lasted us for the remainder of the day. Our days mission complete. Locks climbed before it got too hot and to keep the boat as cool as possible.

We’ve cruised through Stoke Bruerne several times now, but never visited the museum, it’s either been closed or we’ve had visitors. So with walking pole we took our time walking back to the museum. It being an old wharf building there was no step free access, but so long as time was taken and I could sit down periodically it would be fine.

The museum is laid out over two floors. Various objects sit in cases. One corner suggests a blacksmiths forge. A boatman’s cabin can be leered inside of. Details about Blisworth Tunnel. Smells of the tunnel and horses! All quite child friendly.

A spider belt

Two things we didn’t know before we visited. 1 That the boat women made Spider Belts for the men, worn for Sunday best. 2 That the tunnel was cleaned periodically to clear the soot from the walls, a very dirty job. There was also a cross section of the Grand Union, interesting as it showed Foxton Summit pound to be higher than Tring, the Welford Arm even higher.

Cross section of the Grand Union Canal

There are also three examples of roses, as in Roses and Castles done by three different people. William Hodgson (left), worked as an artist for Anderton Boat Company in Stoke. He was shown how to paint at the Northwich School of Art and also painted theatre backdrops. He included racehorses, swans and sunsets in his paintings and his roses were considered to look the most realistic. Have to say his style was my favourite. Frank Nurser (middle) worked at Braunston at the Nurser Brothers boatyard. His roses started with a large petal to which smaller ones were added around it. He also painted fairytale castles. His style is possible the most common you’ll see today. Then Fred Winnet (right), he worked as a painter for the Clayton Company at Oldbury. His style very painterly and the least like flowers of the three.

Some chilled medication was enjoyed in the shade of some trees outside before we slowly returned to Oleanna to let Tilly back out.

Blueberry Cookie, not as good as it could have been, also not in focus

The rest of the afternoon was taken up with yarn auditions for sock pair 31 and taking a digs list booking for our house next year! Is it too early to be starting to plan what we’ll be doing in the Spring yet?

7 locks, 6.1 miles, 05:15 alarm, 2 jumpers, 1 amazing sky, 1km of scummy scum, 8 HOURS! 1 cool boat, 1st visit, 1 Mr Ben, 2 many stupid comments, 0 chairs on the top floor, 2 magnum medications, 3 pairs socks wrapped and ready to go, 8 weeks!

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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.

Aylesbury Basin

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.

High Wycombe Bus Station

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.

Trekking Pole

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.

Early Start, Early Finish. 25th June

Footbridge 207A to Hanwell Moorings

YAWN!!! The alarm clock went off at 5am. Today our aim was to get moving before breakfast and work our way up Clitheroe’s and Osterley Locks, then up the Hanwell flight, hoping there would be a space in the longer Three Bridges pound to moor for the rest of the day , all before it got a touch too hot. Cuppas were made, mine in an insulated mug to drink between locks.

5am with the first flight due overhead any moment

The covers were rolled up and we pushed off, just starting the engine before the land was let go so as to wake as few people as possible. We pootled up to the first lock Clitheroe’s, not far away. All empty, so we could go straight in. I started to fill the lock only for Mick to raise a hand. I lowered the paddle, there was a big branch jammed between the bottom gates, it needed removing.

Clitheroe’s Lock

Once cleared, I lifted the paddles and set things in motion again. A couple walking their dogs crossed over the lock chatting as they went. All good with the world on a beautiful sunny morning. Well it was until a few moments later. All of a sudden I got the feeling that a migraine was about to kick in, a blank spot in my vision a tell tale sign.

Once Oleanna was out of the lock and me on board I headed to the drugs cupboard to find suitable pills. This took some time as the box I was looking for was anonymous, it’s hard enough for me to read at this point of a migraine anyway, scanning the shelves with a blank spot in my vision! Pills found, Mick was asked to check they were what I thought before I took any.

Osterley Lock

At Osterley Lock I walked round to operate the paddles, up and over the footbridge rather than across the gates. Once we were up the discission was made to pull in and moor up for the day. The first length of bank near to the bottom of the Hanwell flight we saw we pulled into.

The outside was even trying to get inside out of the hot!

I knew something was up. They’d tied an outside up and then She said I had 12 hours! All before my morning Dingding biscuits!!! Was this a sausage day?

Tilly made use of the cool morning air. I had a snooze, then got up for breakfast. Tilly by the looks of it had done some self catering by the amount of cobwebs on her head. More snoozing whilst Mick went off to check his old flat was still there by The Fox.

Handy white sheets

The temperature rose and we gradually lost what shade we’d started off with. I dug out one of the white sheets we’d bought on the Great Ouse, today it was just hung inside the side hatch to keep the sun out. We all retired in doors for a very lazy warm day.

A fascinating hair do Tilly

Mick chatted to a boat that had been in Teddington Lock with us yesterday, they were setting off up the locks, did we want to join them? Then the other three boats came past at varying times of the day, all a touch warm I suspect. We just stayed in doors.

Late afternoon Tilly ventured out again but not for too long. I managed some knitting but not much else.

Last of the on board chilled medication

Tomorrow we’ll need to do our best on another hot day to catch ourselves up.

2 locks, 1.6 miles, 5am start, 5am first flight, 1 blind spot, 1 early early stop, 4 extra strong pills, 7am start across the way, 12 hours, only 3 taken, 2 hot for cats, 0.75 of a sock knitted, 2 warm to knit at times.

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