Category Archives: Theatre Design

Fret! Breach 53. 18th June

Little Tring Bridge

We’d had intentions to move today, not far but at least across the summit pound to Cowroast. However when we woke and checked the forecast we decided that we’d rather not get totally and utterly soaked. There wasn’t even a window in the rainfall that we could see, so instead we decided to stay put for the day.

The temperature had dropped overnight, at first this was a lovely relief as it had become so muggy. Long trousers were needed followed by jumpers, in fact by the afternoon Mick had lit the stove to drive off the chill that torrential rain brings.

Mick did us a small cooked breakfast with what was to hand. The last two eggs were poached in our poach pods, a little bit of rapeseed oil in them to stop the eggs from sticking. Mushrooms, tomatoes, my last slice of Gf bread from the freezer. I also insisted on hash browns, just because Karen had asked about them the other day.

Eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes and hash brown

Hash Browns for 2

Wash a medium sized potato, don’t bother peeling it but grate it into a t-towel using the big holes on your grater. Grate about a third of a small onion (if you are called Joa you should omit the onion) into the t-towel too. Wring out as much moisture as you can. Add about a third of a beaten egg, just enough to help things stick together without getting too eggy. A good grind of salt and pepper. Mix well, then cook in a frying pan with a little rapeseed oil (other oils are available). Mick tends to make one big cake cooking it for about 7 mins on each side so that it has a good colour to it and is cooked through. Then it is my job to eat it. Yum.

Tilly was given 9.5 hours, but she wasn’t interested, I think all day she only just managed to step off the boat for a couple of minutes. But she did sit out the back under the shelter of the pram cover watching the steam rising off the canal. In Scarborough we’d call this Fret. The canal has obviously warmed up and the drop in temperature made it steam all day long. It’s the kind of steam you can put your hand out and touch.

The other day I’d had a modified idea for the Town Square for panto, today I was determined to see if it was a good idea and bring a touch more green into the opening scene. I liked the shape of the buildings and know that the build will have been priced up on the drawings I’ve already submitted, so I did my best to keep the existing shapes, changing the roof for foliage and the timber into plant stems giving them a touch more of an organic feel. Tomorrow I’ll put them in the model box with everything else to see if they work, but I’m liking the look of them so far.

Mick sat listening to the Women’s Test Match for much of the morning until rain stopped play. He should really have been out with the soft brush giving the cabin sides a good clean down. The port side will have had an extra rinse today. I suspect that the starboard side will now look even worse than it did before despite the almost continuous downpours all day.

In the C&RT update email this evening they have covered the stoppages around Selby. Tankards Bridge on the Selby Canal is still closed to boats over 7ft high, a road closure will be needed for them to mend the bridge and as yet the Council has not granted one due to work on going on the A19 nearby and the road being used as an alternative root.

Then there is Selby Swing Bridge. From the update it still looks like C&RT are seeking a road closure here too after an over weight lorry crossed the bridge doing no good to the bearings. There may be more news locally from Nigel the Lock Keeper.

With regard to the Aire and Calder breach, there wasn’t anything new in the update. However the local MP has been to the site. The second layer of piling is now complete and the area above the drain has recently had new concrete has been added where the wooden shuttering is behind Andrew Percy. Gradually over the next month tests will be done increasing the water level in the cofferdam. Fingers crossed the big hole is now fixed and there are no more set backs. He does also mention the sections of collapsed bank caused by the low water levels since the breach. C&RT have told him they are not immediately serious and will need addressing over the next year or so.

In other news, there is now the second part of Heather’s trip taking her up to Beverley on the Scholar Gypsy blog here’s a LINK

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 very wet day, 1 inch extra of water, 1 stove lit, 1 work day, 3 town houses rethought, 2 minutes shore leave taken, 0 quiche left.

The Sandwich Dive. 17th June

Seabrook Lock 35 to Little Tring Winding Hole, Wendover Arm

Back to the alarm being set at the new normal time this morning. As we had breakfast we could hear water cascading over the lock gates this meant a boat was heading down the lock above, brilliant the next two locks would be set for us.

Well that’s what we thought the last time we moored here, two years ago when we were waiting to accompany NB Tyseley up to the summit pound! Several boats beat us to the lock that day, but today no one came past. Brilliant.

I walked up to open the gates, hang on! It’s full, very full!?! Nobody had come past us, so how had that happened? Oh well, I emptied the lock and then we brought Oleanna up. Lock 36 was also full. This puzzled us as the lock had remained empty overnight, the only explanation I could think of was that the towpath grass cutters were out, two strimmers and a lawn mower. The grass had been cut on the off side of the second lock, maybe for safety the chaps fill the lock before trimming the grass. It’s not as far to fall when full.

The large expanse of grass alongside lock 36 was getting a very good trim. I thought the chap would stop once he’d gone behind the bench, then carry on down the towpath to lock 35. New cutting regimes have been put into practice along certain stretches of the canal. Some places now only the towpath, lock and bridge landings and moorings get cut, leaving stretches of wild flowers to grow to their hearts content.

Wading through long damp grass isn’t that pleasant, but surely on such a large expanse by this lock they could have cut by the lock and bench, then a wide strip for the path, leaving the rest to nature. Sadly no, it all had to be cut.

Is that the tip of the cat’s tail or just bird poo?

In the past there have been a couple of boats along here, but today just about every spot was taken. Is this down to more boats on the waterways? More boats having moved out from London over the last 18 months? Who knows but there is a marked increase.

The swing bridge swung without too much bother, then we dipped under the railway past Pitstone Wharf. Mick had collected together our rubbish on the back deck so I got ready to hop off at the next bridge to dispose of it. We quite often see photos of bins overflowing with rubbish on social media and people complaining about them.

Today we were confronted with not just a mountain of rubbish but a whole mountain range! There was more rubbish on the floor surrounding the bins than they could hold twice over! Don’t people realise that Biffa are very unlikely to empty these bins in this state. Usually this means that a C&RT employee, who could be out working on navigational things, will have to come and remove the excess rubbish. Yes these bins are situated where none boaters can add to the mountain, they most probably do, but there is no need for more to be added to the pile. A tweet with photo was sent to C&RT saying we hoped we’d find emptier bins ahead of us. Later in the day I got a reply saying the local team would deal with it, they also gave me a link to a map showing all their facilities across the network, useful if you don’t have Waterway Routes.

We waved to the people who now own the Margees house on the bend and carried on to the two Marsworth Lower Locks. We came up the first one to see a boat entering the lock above, so we opened the gates and waited for them to descend, I walked up to lend a hand as one of the top gates just wants to stay open.

The chap up the top lifted a paddle and their boat started to descend, their engine wasn’t on and someone was reaching down into the weedhatch. The paddle was closed and we waited for the prop to have been cleared before emptying the lock.

By Bridge 130 the bins were in a much better state, so we hovered and disposed of our small mountain of rubbish before stopping at the wharf to top up the water tank and dispose of the yellow water at the elsan.

Left at the junction and we were soon at the bottom of the Marsworth flight. Volunteers were apparently on duty up the locks today, so we’d have help.

No sign of anyone until we were rising in the second lock, I could see blue t-shirts and red life jackets ahead, great they’d set the next lock for us. They waited quite sometime to do this, but eventually the gates opened.

The two chaps were chatty, worked the locks their way one offering to give me a break. I suspect he needed a break more than I did, I wonder how many locks they get to work on their average day?

With walkie talkies you would have thought they would be quite organised, but the conversations just seemed to confuse matters. Should we wait for a boat two locks behind us? One was coming down, would we meet in the next pound, at the next lock? No the lockie above would make the down hill boat wait and empty the full lock in front of him for us. There must have been a reason for this, but none we could think of.

A chap above was just starting to fill lock 44, saw us and closed the paddles, we could fill the lock for him. It turns out it was a boat we’d shared some of the Leicester Section locks with a few years ago NB Old Tom North. The volunteers left us to do the top lock on our own and shifted their assistance to the chap heading down the flight.

We’d thought of heading to Cowroast today, still ahead of schedule. But would there be any moorings free. Instead we both had the same idea, we’d turn right and go down the Wendover Arm for the night.

Blimey considering we’d come from the huge expense of the Ouse at Goole we were now finding our way along the narrow shallow channel.

A Sandwich Tern took advantage of us churning the water up.

It followed us closely, hovering by our stern. The when a glint of a possible fish appeared it swooped down to the waters surface.

I tried to film it, but it moved far too quickly and my camera had no idea what it should focus on.

Fortunately I did manage to get several photos of it just about in focus.

Boats were moored before the bridge and then at the winding hole, but the short straight length of bank was still free. Spikes were hammered into the dried out towpath and Tilly was set free to explore, although she wasn’t too enamoured. Well it was boring the last time you tied this outside up!

An afternoon of making model dressing bits. Working out how to make a wheelbarrow took some doing, a trestle table was much easier although I had to convince it to stay in one piece before I could chat to the Scarborough Chums on zoom.

Better look as though I’m enjoying myself!

In other news, there is now the first part of Heather’s trip to Hull on the Scholar Gypsy blog here’s a LINK

12 locks, 4.38 miles, 1 left, 1 right, 2 locks full, 3 walkie talkies, 1 wasted lock, 1 contract, 1 sandwich, 1 quiche, 1 muggy day, 4 light showers in the evening.

https://goo.gl/maps/7Yqezqj6Ja9whReMA

Shhhh, Quietly Does It! 16th June

Tiddenlake Footbridge 115c to Seabrook Lock 35

The weather forecast for high temperatures looked more accurate for today. The lead we’d made on our schedule had been slightly eroded so we wanted to move, also the amount of shade wasn’t that good where we had moored.

Dew on the cabin sides, also a few more ants!

The alarm was set for 05:15, yawn o’clock! Cuppas were made, covers rolled back, nappy pins removed from the armco as quietly as we could. The engine turned on at the last minute, we pushed off a little before 06:00, I had a mooring in mind which hopefully would give us some shade.

Oleanna crept slowly past the moored boats. The boatyard on the bend seems to have increased the number of boats out on the hard, whilst others sit in the water having had surveys or waiting for some tlc. One had a very rusty cabin, almost looked like it had suffered a fire yet below the gunnel the blacking was pristine and new anodes sat just above the water.

Cruising on mornings like this is wonderful. It feels like you share the world with nature, enjoying the coolness of the morning, doing our best not to break the quiet too much for those still asleep.

We rounded the bend towards Grove Lock, where the pub is the first sign that we have reached the south. The next sign was that the bottom gates were open. Ah, but hang on was that a boat going into the lock? It was! Well who’d have thought we’d find a locking partner at 6 in the morning!

Two young chaps were on a Chiltern Hire Boat, they’d left Winkwell on Monday and were due back on Friday. With the weather forecast not so good tomorrow they’d decided to start early this morning. They were both nice chaps, plenty to chat about, except one of them said he was a touch deaf, so couldn’t hear a word I was saying. They both made up for his deafness by shouting to each other, jumping around which always makes you a touch nervous at big locks, one wrong footing!

It sounded like they had moored above the lock last night, then come down to wind. They had both christened themselves by falling in, one of them twice! Mick and I kept an extra eye out for paddles not closed properly, our ascent went well.

The pound between Grove and Church Lock looked quite down, an obvious wet line suggesting this had happened fairly recently. A wide beam sat very jauntily on the bottom and as we approached Church Lock Oleanna skidded over the bottom whilst we were still quite central, thankfully the depth increased so I could step off at the stern.

Maybe not the best place to be as the lock empties

Up at lock level I could see it was full so lifted a paddle. Below at canal level Mick thought it was empty, so had brought Oleanna in towards the gates. Ah those pesky none leaky gates! So deceiving! Oleanna buffeted around below.

I was glad of assistance in closing the gates, from memory they want to swing back open. Apologies now to the residents around Church Lock as our partners on leaving turned their music up to a level that suited their sound system!

We lead the way, managing to return some idyllicness (yes I know it’s not really a word, but you hopefully get what I mean) to our morning. Slapton Lock sat empty, so was easy to set for both boats. Sounds were turned down as the hire boat came into the lock alongside Oleanna, one chap jumping off, thankfully making land, the other bobbing inside to finish making their tea.

I waited for him to return, through the side hatch and along the gunnels, their preferred route. Then the paddles could be wound up, only for him to walk back down between the boats to get the tea which had now brewed. Mick kept an eye on things in the lock, whilst I watched from above. Two mugs of tea came out, one in each hand and he walked down between the boats once again, not batting an eyelid!

Up ahead a boat was pulling out. Should we swap partners and go ahead, or should we let the lads overtake us as they were on a mission. The lady tied up below Horton Lock, walked up to where the lock was just being emptied then came back to ask if we’d like to share. She was a single hander, so we decided to partner up with her and leave the lads behind. This was conveyed back to them, they were quite happy with the thought of maybe a twenty minute wait, time for breakfast. The deaf chap started cutting up a big mushroom with an even bigger knife whilst balancing in the side hatch.

Our world became peaceful once more, as we worked our way up with the lady on NB Angelwood, sadly we never got her name. She has been living on board for about three weeks and has had a steep learning curve. Her boat was bought in Gloucester and she’d employed a boat mover to get it to Warwick. She joined for the last day of the move and helped work her boat through Lapworth and Hatton, so a full on first ever day on a narrowboat.

The lock cottages shone out in the morning sunshine, bright blue skies behind them, all boasting their dates above the front doors. Off in the distance we looked for the white lion but as so often heading south we couldn’t see it, it was of course really quite hazy this morning. I bet when we come back it will be so obvious!

We worked our way up the next three locks with NB Angelwood then hoped we’d find a shady spot. But sure enough there was no shade so we climbed up Seabrook Bottom Lock too. Now we just had to hope that the mooring we had in mind would be free. Round the bend boats were moored, one with a rather good improvised canopy at the stern. They had pegged a sheet over the top of their whirligig, making a big parasol.

Fingers crossed our space would be free. There it was empty apart from shadows. We pulled in to stake our claim. Mick finished mooring Oleanna up as I went up to help at the lock. Our paths may cross again with NB Angelwood as we are generally heading in the same direction.

Time for breakfast, it was only 10am. Cereal wasn’t quite going to make up for such an early start so I requested some toast and peanut butter for second course.

Today the temperature did do as promised. Our shady mooring did it’s job all day apart from a couple of hours when the sun managed to align itself directly over the cut.

The afternoon was filled with work for me. Adding extra greenery to my panto model, then removing some of it. Painting a new backcloth. I’d opted for just a plain one this year, but it was leaving things a touch flat, so some colour washes to match the front cloth were applied to some water colour paper. That did the job , but then needed blending in to the floor. I just hope we can afford to have it printed along with the front cloth. I could paint it, but it would never quite match, plus it would be another thing for me to paint!

Mum and teenagers adamant to be in the lock

Mick pottered and Tilly kept herself busy outside for most of the afternoon, returning for the occasional drink. I suggested she should try out the pet cooling mat I’d bought for her a few months ago. Sadly she wasn’t taken with it, Mick thinks it’s the fabric that she’s not keen on, a bit like lying in a bed with a plastic sheet over the mattress.

7 locks, 5.1 miles, 6am start, 2 locking partners, 1 noisy boat, 1 quiet, 3 of them things, 1 lovely morning, 10am breakfast, 1 work day, 1 hot day, 2 dates in the diary, 7pm showers, 9 hours! 2 Mrs Tilly stamps.

https://goo.gl/maps/oufSaKyb1eRwm3FZ8

Chasing The Amazon Man. 15th June

Mill Lane Bridge 102 to Tiddenlake Footbridge 115C

Alarm set again today, not a too early start, just one to get us going, we pushed off about 8:40 soon arriving at the double arched bridge of Stoke Hammond Lock.

This is the proper start of the climb up to the summit pound of the Grand Union, the lock at Fenny Stratford doesn’t really count in my mind.

From here locks are accompanied by lock cottages and quite often a pumping station. Stoke Hammond has both along with a rather wonderful dog rose bush which has a white clematis growing through it.

Another mile on and we reached the Soulbury Three. We pulled in below to fill the water tank whilst waiting to see if anyone else was on the move in our direction so that we could share the locks. But nobody showed themselves. A volunteer came down and asked if we were heading up, which we were, so he set the first lock for us and helped on our ascent.

Ground paddle same side, gate paddle opposite, ground paddle opposite then gate paddle same side. This works well to keep your boat into the side if you are on your own on this stretch of the Grand Union.

We were the first boat of the day through the locks, above someone arrived and then a while later just as we finished someone pulled up below, we had a straight run up and then meandered around the bends which lead to Leighton Buzzard.

The Globe Inn was getting itself ready for lunchtime trade, looks like they’ve invested in more picnic benches since we saw Alarum perform in the garden. Back then the tables gradually sank into the earth as it was so sodden.

Up Leighton Lock where there is always a Mum with a pushchair watching. Ten boats were in at Wyvern Hire Base, they all looked like they were being turned around for the next lot of holiday makers who would arrive later in the day.

A space was available at the 2hour Tesco mooring, so we slotted in there, wrote a list and went shopping. We’d considered doing a click and collect as the collection point is just on the other side of the hedge from the moorings, but we only needed a few bits so it hadn’t been worth it.

A quick visit to Homebase for a trough for the wild strawberries which are coming on a treat. I suspect the crop from them will only add flavour to our cereal in the mornings, but that’s fine.

By now my Amazon order was out for delivery, we had lunch and hoped it would arrive at the Post Office before we had to move on, no such luck though! We pootled out of town in the hope of a shady mooring, the towpath was pretty full most of the way along, but we found one space that would do.

As we tied up I got notification that there were 8 stops before my order would be dropped off. I’d just gathered myself together to walk back into town when my phone rang. It was the delivery driver saying he was at the Post Office and he couldn’t drop the parcels off with them. But it was a Local Collect address on their website! If he couldn’t deliver them there for me to collect, what would happen?

He went back inside to try again, still they refused! By now I was already walking in towards town, I asked where his next drop off would be, not that I know Leighton Buzzard but maybe I’d be able to find him somewhere. In the end he said he’d come back to the Post Office in twenty minutes by which time I hoped I’d be standing there with my bright yellow Sainsburys bags.

Twenty minutes had been a guess on my part so I picked my speed up, I wanted my orders and didn’t want to hold the driver up too much. I got there with a couple of minutes to spare and soon a van arrived the chap pulling up next to me to hand over my orders. The boxes were huge for the contents and biffed and broken. I checked everything was there, they were then thanked the chap for being so helpful.

The big box was stupid, so I unpacked it on the street decanting the contents into my smaller bags, a bottle of booze a present for my brother was also checked over, still in tact. Phew!

Some highlighter pens were on my shopping list but when I reached WHSmith I discovered I’d come out without a mask. My costume designs will have to wait a while longer before I can finish them. I walked back a different way through a park where a little man sat on a very big pencil and kids splashed away in a water park. My route brought me to an old railway track which I then followed back to the canal and Oleanna.

Much of the remainder of the afternoon was taken up trying to ascertain why the Post Office had refused to take my two orders. One of overalls the other some Vermouth my brother had asked for. Using the Amazon chat facility I supposedly got passed onto a human instead of the bot. But the human wasn’t able to type English very well so I suspected they were a bot too. Then another, then another.

They seemed fixated on the alcohol I’d ordered, this was a separate order completely to the overalls. Apparently alcohol is not available with Local Collect, my point was then you shouldn’t be able to select that method of delivery. But more to the point the Post Office had also refused my other order which was far more important. They would only accept it if I worked there!

I must have been online for a good couple of hours explaining to four humans (?) that I’d chosen LOCAL COLLECT so that I could collect it at a convenient time, not have to rush into town and chase after the delivery driver. Someone tried ringing me to explain about alcohol and LOCAL COLLECT. I understood that bit and the requirement for ID on delivery so I sent them to answerphone.

Then a fifth person joined my chat. She was most certainly a human being as she was astounded that I’d been on line for so long. So was I and by now I’d had enough and was possibly turning into a troll, whiskers were starting to grow out of my chin! I thanked the last lady, I’d received an apology even though people hadn’t understood my point, but now I was going to do something else with what remained of the day.

We do our best to avoid Amazon normally but the overalls were only available through them. Have to say I will be avoiding them even more from now on, just a shame I’ll be needing more overalls!

In other news today was the day Heather Bleasdale along with another boat were making their way to the River Hull. They left Keadby at 08:00 punched the tide down the Trent. At the Apex Light it was more or less hightide, no training wall visible and no need to stick to the main channel. Here they turned right onto the Humber where the tide took them down under the Humber Bridge to Hull. The last photo she sent was of Bleasdale and Lily May tied up to a barge on the River Hull waiting for the tide to come back in to push them up to Beverley Brook. What an exciting day and what a shame we couldn’t be with them, maybe next year!

5 locks, 6.2 miles, 2 boxes wine, 1 loaf bread, 1 trough, £5.25 for a hose connector! 1 car park empty, 1 generator, 1 life raft, 2 parcels, 1 helpful driver, 1 bot, 4 human bots, 1 helpful person too late.

https://goo.gl/maps/BSsrrU3HghumHH2CA

A Little Bit Disappointing.14th June

Mill Lane Bridge 102

A day to sit in the shadows as the temperature was forecast to rise. So we just about managed a lie in, then enjoyed our Saturday newspaper with a cuppa in bed.

Tilly was given 9.5 hours which she used pretty much all of, just returning for the occasional ‘thank you for coming home’ Dreamie and to check we hadn’t moved the outside with her in it.

Mick filled the stern gland greaser and tightened the stern gland, a job to do when the engine is cold.

I set about hunting for hooded zip front overalls on the internet. Overalls tend not to have too many measurements, height, chest and sometimes waist or across the back. These of course are helpful. But when the majority of your actors have a body shape that does not conform to the average trying to find the right size can be a touch of a mine field. One of the actors would fit a Small height an shoulder wise, a Large chest wise, but a XXXL waist wise.

I worked through one brand hoping I was making the correct decisions on sizes, then found the same overalls elsewhere £5 cheaper with different sizes and measurements! In the end there was only one way to go forward, order one of every other size and get them delivered to me to be measured. This unfortunately meant signing up for Amazon Prime, a service I know a lot of people can’t live without, but it pains me not being able to support smaller companies. At least it’s a free months trial so it’s not costing me or Dark Horse anything and I have already put a reminder in the diary to cancel it before it starts to cost.

A long awaited for chat with David the Director of Chippy Panto regarding the coloured model. One or two small adjustments needed and a few extra bits of dressing are required such as a wheel barrow and a tea urn. He’s considering cutting a whole scene, one that doesn’t progress the plot and would save a lot of puppet making and UV paint.

Then it was back to putting some paint on the costume designs for #unit 21 whilst listening to the Prime Minister delaying the lifting of restrictions for four weeks. Later on the local news we realised just how far down the country we’ve come. Jo from Chippy Theatre was being interviewed with regard to the delay and how panto has been on sale for two years now. Looking at a map, we are currently level in north/southness with Chipping Norton which lies just an hours drive away to our west.

A towpath barbecue was enjoyed with an abundance of asparagus followed by salmon and veg kebabs. The day hadn’t turned out to be that hot, in fact it was a little bit disappointing in the heat department.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 stern gland greased, 1 stern gland tightened, 9.5 hours of towpath frolics, 1 speedy hire boat, 2 many measurements and not enough, 4 overalls ordered, 1 float, 9 costumes half painted, 3 highlight pens required, 1 hour chatting panto, 1 urn, 1 wheelbarrow and a few flowers, 4 more weeks, 2 London Leckenby chats, 1 Fatso windfall, 21 C Max.

Waking Up At Fenny. 13th June

Linford Wharf Winding Hole to Mill Lane Bridge 102

With temperatures set to soar over the next few days we wanted to seek out some shade to be able to sit the worst of the heat out. Living in a metal tube can be a touch uncomfortable in the heat. Our mooring at Linford was okay, but not perfect and we still wanted to make some progress today, so the alarm was set a touch earlier than of late and our first cuppas were consumed as we rolled back the covers to move.

Pushing off at 7am meant we came across a group of fishermen who’d decided to start early to avoid the boats, then we came along!

The sun was already out and warming up the morning although it was still goose bump chilly in the shade.

Milton Keynes is very green along the canal, how many poplar trees did they plant when the town was built. Mick wondered what the journey would have been like before the 1960’s development was started.

At the Lionhearts Cruising Club all was calm, no space for NB Tyseley today, but I’m sure some will be made in a couple of weeks as Mikron’s A Dog’s Tale is due to be performed there on the 26th June. A couple of years ago we managed to see one of their shows here, then we worked up the Marsworth Flight with them, but sadly this year we are about 10 days ahead of their boat tour. This years Tour Map

Up ahead a red balloon hung in the sky, another beautiful morning to be up there, as a jet left it’s vapour trail behind it. Slow and fast all in one frame.

Long long lines of moored boats kept our speed down, we’re sure there are more than last time, but that’s just what we said then too!

There is always something new to spot as you travel through MK. A repurposed shopping trolley made into a dragonfly. There are plenty of damselflies but we’ve not seen any dragonflies yet. A frog sat and watched the world go by from a bench.

These two boats had found a good spot, guaranteed shade for the day, compared to the visitor moorings at Campbell Park in full sun and almost empty.

Building work still fills the area around Campbell Park Marina, the buildings being higher than the norm around MK. Some new pontoons have been put in on the offside, they are chained off currently.

We passed a couple of Herons sitting high up in trees, the branches didn’t look strong enough to take their weight.

Mum and Dad were showing off their youngsters. It always feels a privilege to see the little ones hitching a ride on a back. Today two were riding high whilst a third was clinging on. Then one of them gloated at the others ‘I’m the king of the castle!’

Coming into Fenny Stratford we wondered if the old couple would wave from their house. Two years ago the garden didn’t look as immaculate and no wave came in our direction. Today the garden looked similar, but a window was open. We waved and a slightly younger looking lady sat in a chair by the window picked up a hanky and waved back. Maybe the house has new owners and she has taken on the responsibility to wave to every boat that comes past.

We considered stopping in shade here, but it wouldn’t last long. On to the lock.

About to start our ascent to the summit pound of the GU

We’d maybe only seen a couple of boats moving so far this morning, now all of a sudden everyone had woken up. Two boats headed down the lock, then it was our turn, no need to swing the bridge that normally sits over the lock.

Behind we could see a Wyvern Hire boat arriving so we waited for them. In the meantime two boats had arrived at the services to fill and empty, very quickly followed by another two hire boats. The boat we shared the lock with were out for the weekend to surprise a friend on his birthday, now they were heading back to Leighton Buzzard.

Last week there had been a notice from C&RT regarding low levels either side of the Soulbury Three Locks as investigative works had necessitated the draining of the locks, then the back pump had failed. Mick had asked a question on a facebook group and reply had come from someone who volunteers at the locks, the pump was mended, levels still a bit low but no-one had had any problems with the bottom being too close to the top. Once we’d seen the amount of hire boats out and about we knew the problem wasn’t too bad.

Now time to try to find some shade. We pulled into a shady spot a touch before Mill End Bridge 98 at just gone 10:15, this would do for now.

Tilly got to explore whilst Mick checked the sausages had defrosted. It’s been a little while since we had a cooked breakfast, so today we made up for it, very nice it was too.

By the time we’d finished the sun was starting to heat up the cabin sides. Would there be somewhere further on more shady? We studied google satellite images and compared them to the moorings marked on Waterway Routes. But there was no knowing if the moorings would be free or not, after all we’d passed so many places overfilled with boats this morning.

A reckie was required so I walked up to bridge 102 to see what I could see. A group of boats had bunting on their roofs, what was this? The second one gave me more of a clue, NB Jubilee, it was a BCF gathering. It looked like everyone was down in the park so nobody by the boats to say hello to.

Notes were taken of shade and trees on the offside which would come into play later in the day, then I rang Mick, he’d push off and come to find me. We pulled up on a slightly jaunty angle, but there was shade.

A while later the only other boat on the stretch pulled off so we decided to see if there was more depth where they’d been, the shade looked more dense too. Tilly back on board we pulled back and found the depth only marginally better.

Three outsides in one day! This third one looked a touch similar to the second one, but it was still good, lots of field friends to find.

During the afternoon I got on with costume sketches for #unit21. For the photo shoot in a few weeks we’ll only be needing so much of everyone’s costume, but I’d like to get the designs done. I pulled out Justsketchme again to help with poses and got everyone drawn up and ready to be coloured in. A good afternoons work

1 lock, 8.61 miles, 7am start, 3 hitching a ride, 2 trees under strain, 2 many boats all at once, 1.5 sausages each, 3 moorings, 3 outsides, 6 hours, 9 costumes, 1 test match lost.

https://goo.gl/maps/hENEaZXVctPa3CVg6

Too Many Visitors! Breach 52. 10th June

Norton Junction to The Wharf, Bugbrooke to Evans Bridge 42

Well Shefali said it was going to be cloudy today. I for one was quite looking forward to not having to put sun cream on and having a day off from turning into a lobster. But as we woke there was still an amount of sunshine necessitating the application of cream.

Peeking through the bridge at the junction

A couple of boats came past over breakfast heading towards the junction, maybe they were early through the tunnel, but which way would they be going?

As we got ready to push off another boat from behind did the same, we hung onto our ropes and let them pass as they were just a little bit ahead of us. Would we have a partner for the Long Buckby flight? Or would they turn up the Leicester Section? Seven years ago to the day we came out from the Leicester Section on NB Lillyanne accompanied by NB Blackbird and turned towards Braunston at the start of our life afloat.

We followed the boat down towards the flight where another boat was tied up above the locks at the services. We pulled in at the water point and let the two boats ahead team up, assisted by a couple of volunteers. Never seen volunteers here before.

We dealt with yellow water, fresh water and rubbish then pulled up towards the locks, the volunteers setting the lock for us. Someone came up to tell them that a pound in the flight was very low, possibly too low to navigate. Oleanna descended on her own as no other boat showed itself, I walked on down to set the lock ahead.

The pounds between the top four locks of the flight are quite long, certainly not close enough to walk on to set the next lock then walk back to open and close gates. Even though the bottom gates are very heavy I quite like these locks. Some graffiti brought smiles to us as we passed. We were back in our routine of going down hill, each of us knowing which job to do or leave for the other one.

Boats managing to get through the low pound

The volunteers walked down to check the level in the low pound ahead of us, although I think they had been beaten to it by a full time Lockie. At Lock 10 the bottom gates were open and soon a chap in blue arrived. We closed the bottom gates, leaving a paddle up on one gate then he lifted a paddle at the other end, sending water down. All we could do was wait and watch as the boats ahead of us made it into the next lock and then onwards.

The lockie walked back and forth, checking the troublesome pounds level and then that of the one above. After quite a wait he was happy for me to close the bottom paddle and fill the lock and be on our way.

Now on the flat we made our way with the noise from the M1 for accompaniment.

The towpaths were having a hair cut. A duck smoked a woodbine. We passed three Tilly boats. Batman and Robin rested their superhero bones and a koala peeked out from a welldeck.

At Weedon we noticed the nice metal windows on the back of a building for the first time. Have these always been here, but just covered in ivy and masked by trees. One window has been replaced, I quite like the difference.

All the visitor moorings on the embankment were empty again, not even Heather Bleasdale was leaning out of her window to say hello.

The diesel point at Rugby Boats was free so we pulled in to top up the tank, at 79.9p a litre this was far better than it would have been in Nuneaton. Tilly sat in the window and kept a very close eye on the dog. Sitting out of the water was NB Cream Cracker, we are pretty sure that seven and a bit years ago this was the first boat we looked at. She is currently under offer and presumably out of the water for a survey.

Onwards past a spillway where C&RT chaps were installing a dam. It looks like work has been done to one end of the spillway and they were about to start at the other end. Not sure if one chap was assisting in holding a scaff bar in place or had just come for a chat.

We soon arrived in Bugbrooke our stopping place for the night, a late lunch was followed by a sweep through and tidy up as we were expecting a visitor. Our friend Lizzie works for Unusual who are based just by the West Coast Main Line here in Bugbrooke.

It was decided that we’d have a cheeky drink at the pub, so as soon as Tilly came home we locked the doors and headed over the bridge to find an outdoor table. After a couple of hours and a bottle of wine we were just about caught up on everyone’s news. Lovely to see Lizzie again, plans are being formed for a bit of a get together sometime later in the summer.

Back on Oleanna we were about to start cooking when Mick noticed that we had quite a few visitors. Somewhere on the bank there was an ants nest, most of the occupants were now having a great time on Oleanna! They marched in through the side hatch ready to explore further!

Despite a couple of glasses of wine we decided to move on getting away before news got back to the nest and more visitors might arrive. Being alongside the railway it took us a couple of miles before the track got to a distance we thought we could cope with, a handy M appeared on our map so we pulled in. The sheep behind the sideways trees filled the gaps between the trains going by. After sweeping down the outside of the cabin we finally sat down to eat at 8:50, Tescos Indian with homemade gluten free nan breads.

7 locks, 10.75 miles, 1 low pound, 3 coming up, 2 super heros, 1 stiff paddle, 4 train tickets, 2 nights hotel, 1 clean (inside) boat, 1 toy box opened up, 6 toys selected, 2 hours catching up, 1 bottle Pinot, 45636768235246 ants! 2 mains for £5, 2 homemade fluffy nans, 1 koala!

https://goo.gl/maps/twaUiefEjwNpQT6k7

https://goo.gl/maps/VbkLfC79QxA4XnHP8

Breach Update from C&RT today

The Aire & Calder breach repairs remain on track and the navigation due for opening by mid-August. During w/c 5 July a phased re-watering will commence, levels will be increased gradually and monitored by our engineers. The cofferdams will remain in place until the phased rewatering is complete.

We continue to do everything possible to get the navigation and towpath back open as soon as possible for everyone to enjoy.

Please see separate notices regarding arrangements to book passage through Pollington Lock and Sykehouse Lock.

Buttercups And Daisy. 9th June

Dunchurch Pools Marina to Norton Junction, Grand Union Canal

Three miles to Braunston Turn and with each bridge and bend I kept my eyes open, waiting for the first glimpse of the Banger spire. As we came under Bridge 85 there it was just peeking above the hedges. As we got closer and closer the view improved.

Buttercups, cows and sheep now graze the ridge and furrow fields.

Tufts of wool clung onto the barbs on the off side, I wonder if I’d be able to collect enough of it for a hat?

Our hope was to be able to pull in outside Midland Chandlers at Braunston Turn if there was space to buy a few things, nothing urgently needed. The water point just before was occupied, so we couldn’t stop there, then there were two boats tied up outside the chandlers. Oh well, we might order what we want and get it sent somewhere, as I say nothing urgent.

A short distance on Mick spotted that the boat coming towards us was NB Kamili, stood at the stern were Andy and Irene, friends of ours from Crick. We missed each other a couple of years ago on the Thames when the level came up and before that we didn’t quite coincide for a New Years meal at the Red Lion.

Only chance for a very brief chat as our bows passed each other. Their summer will see them cruising to Stratford and onto the River Avon, I’m a little bit jealous, but then so was Irene with our trip.

The Gongoozers Rest was busy, seats on the towpath, their clientele enjoying the mornings sunshine along with a mug of tea and a bacon butty. We tried our best to peer through the hedge to see if we could spot NB Blackbird but it wasn’t that easy.

The bottom lock of the Braunston flight was full, I could see a boat waiting below the next lock, were they waiting for a boat to come down? I waited a little while, no water seemed to be coming down, so I set the lock for Oleanna. There was nobody coming from behind to join us, so I just hoped the boat ahead would wait for us, did they understand my wave?

The chap walked towards us, this meant one of two things. Either there was a problem up ahead or he quite liked a walk to tell us that they were waiting to share the locks. Thankfully he liked the walk and we teamed up with NB Red Kite for the remaining five locks.

We met two boats coming down, but the flight was really quite quiet. The bottom off side gate at Lock 4 really didn’t want to close fully. We emptied the lock before it got too full, despite it emptying at the same time and gave the gate a waggle, then closed the gates the otherway round. This improved things but it took quite a lot of umph to get the top gates open due to the leak.

Lock 5 was having repairs done to the gate surrounding brickwork. New bricks added and large sections replaced, you had to be careful where you put your feet. Mick mentioned about the gate at Lock 4 to one of the chaps who said he’d have a look, hopefully he’d have a long keb to clear what might be getting in the way.

The top lock cottage looking very smart today

We were soon at the top and waving goodbye to NB Red Kite, sorry we didn’t get your names, but the lady had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. Hope they enjoy the Leicester Ring.

They went ahead to the tunnel. Time to turn on the cabin lights, get the life jackets and big torch out. We followed, not quite sure how far ahead they were. A light pointed towards us from the far end of the tunnel.

Quick calculations were done. There is a kink in the tunnel between 500m and 400m from the eastern portal. The tunnel is 1873m long. If the boat we could see had entered the tunnel when we did then we should meet them in the middle, well away from the big kink. This was the case, just after the halfway mark our bows passed each other.

Another light! Where would we meet them? Calculations. Oh it was likely to be at the kink. Mick slowed us down and then when the kink was very obvious to us we stopped as the boat coming towards us was just on the other side of it. We reversed to give them more space. As they clung to their side of the tunnel it meant their bow ended up right in front of Oleanna, we reversed a touch more both of us willing them to swing round before impact. The boats did touch as did the tunnel sides, but at least it was only minor.

One more boat to pass and then we could motor on through to the end.

The newish piling before Norton Junction was where we were aiming for today. It’s a popular stretch, but we’d timed our arrival well, a gap our size just opposite the view. The edge was a touch overgrown, which became obvious as we pulled up, here there is a spring making the towpath a touch squelchy. With our bedroom away from the constant trickle of water we’d not have a problem sleeping so we tied up, let Tilly out and enjoyed the view.

An afternoon of research for me, whilst Mick sat out on the towpath listening to Tim Spector regarding the new covid variant. We’ve been logging in with the covid app for well over a year now, changing our location everyday as we move.

Once work was done for the day, a load of washing was just about dry on the whirligig, Tilly returned quite excited as it was nearly time for dingding. She was so excited that she missed her footing on the gunnel and ended up with two wet back legs! Silly Tilly. The grass made me do it!

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been heading up hill, ever since we left Trent Falls, with the exception of coming back down Torksey Lock. In that time we’ve cruised 182 miles and risen through 54 locks. Tomorrow we start going down again.

6 locks, 7.42 miles, 1 straight on, 1 tunnel, 2 mysterons, 1 damp spot with our name on it, 0.3 of a wet cat, 2 hours work, 2 space buns, 11pm still light in the sky.

https://goo.gl/maps/1KrrjnqpP6juNgJK6

Everyone’s Moving. 8th June

Hungerfield Bridge to Dunchurch Pools Towpath

Yet another lovely day with blue skies as far as they could reach, a red hot air balloon gently rose over the trees opposite our mooring, what a wonderful day for a flight, although I’m not sure you’d find me up there in a basket!

The old route shown by the dashed grey lines

A couple of boats had already gone past us this morning, heading towards Hawkesbury Junction so there was hope that we might get a mooring at Rugby. We pushed off and made our way along the straighter route of the Oxford Canal, numerous twists and turns, huge loops were bypassed in the 1820’s speeding up the travel time along the route. Some parts of the old loops remain and have been converted into Marinas, big arched bridges crossing the entrances.

Through Newbold Tunnel, plenty of boats coming towards us. Our tunnel light, not having been used this year (in fact not since going through Foulridge Tunnel), needed adjusting to favour the starboard side.

Across the Aqueducts that signal Rugby is below. Coming through Masters Bridge 58 we were pleasantly surprised to find that end of the moorings empty. We bagged the end mooring closest to the bridge collected together our shopping bags and walked down to Tescos.

Not one delivery van in the loading bay when we arrived. The number of pickers picking shopping for others, there was almost one in every isle! We did a reasonably big shop to keep us going and thought about getting a click and collect sorted for when we get to Leighton Buzzard. As we left the store every space in the loading bay was full with a van, all being restocked for the next set of deliveries.

A big push and we were over at the water point, this tap having much better pressure than the one at Hillmorton. Onwards to find a shady spot for lunch before we got to the locks.

It really is busy down here. So many moving boats, yet it seems that everyone is doing what we are and that is moving. As yet we’ve not really had a problem getting a mooring, now watch as I’ve most probably jinxed us!

Clifton Cruisers was easily passable most of their hire fleet out and about. Their café seemed to be popular with a good sized outside area. Houlton Bridge, is a new bridge linking the new town being built on this side of Rugby. It’s not an architectural masterpiece but I do like that they have cast it’s name into the concrete.

Along the moorings below Hillmorton Locks there were two interesting boats. Instead of standard windows the steel work had shapes cut out with glass behind. I quite liked the look of them, but Mick pointed out that the glass inside would be a bugger to clean. I have a feeling they were workshop boats, possibly a blacksmith.

Someone has created a willow niche dedicated to the NHS, it is starting to sprout so obviously the withies have taken root. Rather a nice living tribute.

A boat was just coming out of one of the bottom paired locks, the other already empty it just needed opening up. We rose as a boat came into the lock next to us, the lady having a bit of difficulty raising the paddles. On to the next pair.

We swapped with a boat that had just come down and started our ascent whilst another boat entered the other lock and started to empty it. Below the boat following us pulled up right in front of the gates waiting for it to be emptied, quite presumptuous, no wonder the down hill boat blasted it’s horn at them!

At the top lock we were assisted by a fellow from a boat moored just past the lock landing. He was spending his day helping boats up and down a chair sitting between the two locks so that he could sun himself as he waited.

Up ahead the new town of Houlton is taking shape. Houses a little away from the canal are already up, enough space between them to roll a wheelie bin. More foundations close to the canal were waiting for the next phase of construction.

The moorings along Barby Straight are something that makes me a touch jealous, a lovely garden to sit out in. The Tinman looks after one and someone has created a modesty screen with painted pallets. It is always slow going along here, passing the moored boats and when others are coming towards you too, it’s even slower.

4pm was fast approaching, we’d not far to go to reach our chosen mooring spot by Dunchurch Pools Marina but I had a zoom meeting, I just hoped that us moving wouldn’t cause problems with internet signal. Amy and I managed to connect and a few minutes later Mick pulled us in to a space for the night. I had to excuse myself from the meeting to let Tilly out, otherwise she’d have taken over totally!

Discussions on costume designs, what would be needed for the photo shoot in a few weeks time and we touched on the set design too. I could just sort the costumes for the photo shoot now, but as I’m in charge of the budget I also want to have an idea on everything else that is needed. Time to do some research into music festivals and neon hairdos. Quite different to panto!

3 locks, 10.4 miles, 1 tunnel, 0 mysterons, 2 boxes wine, 1 new pair trousers, 1 full water tank, 1 yellow water container emptied, 1 hot day, 2 pink arms, 4pm meeting, 9 but 7 actors, 2 days prep, 1 hotel to book.

https://goo.gl/maps/dSarXfALYpV7TQFD6

Pushing Through Frank Country. 7th June

Springwood Haven to Hungerfield Bridge 35, Oxford Canal

Up and ready to lend a hand with NB Burghley Girl if needed this morning. Bob was down in the engine bay tinkering, ready to move across the canal. Last night his plan had been to pull their boat along to be level with the online service mooring at the marina, then give her a great big push, hoping that she’d make it across the cut on push power alone. But this morning Bob decided to start the engine up to get them across the way.

So Mick held the centre line as they got ready, then gave the bow a small push as the engine was started. Across the way they went, around about five minutes of engine power before it cut out due to lack of fuel. They made it across and whilst tying up Burghley Girls engine started to chug slower and slower, dark puffs coming from the exhaust until the fuel was totally exhausted.

Springwood Haven has recently been bought by ABC Boat Hire, next year expect to see more hire boats around. So there was no engineer on site who might be able to help, but they certainly sold diesel and a delivery was waiting for staff to arrive.

We waved Bob, Sue and Amy goodbye, wishing them luck. Once filled up they pulled back away from the services to get the engine going, their aim to day was to push on as far as they could towards their home mooring before turning the engine off.

Today I needed to get some work done. A script needed reading for #unit 21 a Dark Horse Theatre Production that will be mounted next year but will require costumes very soon for some images that will be used to promote the production. So as we tootled along I read making notes, Nuneaton isn’t that inspiring anyway!

We considered pulling in at Star Line Boats for a top up of diesel, but a day boat was tied up on the service mooring, just as well really as the domestic rate was 90p a litre! We’d last a while longer thank you!

Gardens have added interest, narrow sheds and skeletons fishing along with Easter Island heads.

At Marston Junction where the Ashby meets the Coventry Canal work was on going. New piling going in with a very big rubber buffer to help protect the bank whilst helping numerous boats to retain their paintwork! As we passed, so did another boat heading northwards as one was coming out from the Ashby.

Charity Dock is still chocka block with things to look at, although the mannequins seem to be fewer than in previous visits. The Morris Minor still sits high up on top of the scrap and The Stig has been given some shade, pour chap has lost a hand.

Now we were seriously in Frank Country! Our friend Frank grew up around Coventry, his Dad actually being sent away from the city. We passed where Franks sister used to go to school. The house by Bulkington Bridge was for sale the last time we were here and the grey walls down to the canal have seen much better days, the garden also doesn’t seem to be a priority to the current owners.

The Newdegate Arm now overgrown followed, this is where the mineral rail used to end and when Frank was a young lad he used to play here.

We paused for a lunch break and also to make use of the towpath being on the portside so that we could empty the yellow water tank before the Oxford Canal made it that bit harder. As we ate a green boat came past, NB Burghley Girl. Bob must have got her going quite quickly after we left. We waved knowing that they would be pushing on for as long as they could today so our paths were very unlikely to cross again.

How come the grass has always just been cut near Hawkesbury Junction?

There was plenty of space to moor as we approached Hawkesbury Junction which was a surprise. But as we got towards the hand brake turn to the stop lock the number of boats increased. One boat dropping the foot to join the Coventry, another two behind, then one boat waiting to go up the foot onto the Oxford.

Not knowing which way the boat was going to go coming down the lock Mick held back before the narrows to keep out of their way. They came out, faced towards Oleanna and then reversed back to the moorings, the Greyhound Pub next on their agenda for the day.

Mick turned towards the lock to await our turn which wasn’t long and almost hands free for me as there were so many crews ready to help.

I now retired down below to get on with some work. This tends to be the case when we’re along this stretch as there are a couple of hours cruising when crew are a touch redundant. Whilst Mick navigated us along the new straighter version of the Oxford Canal I looked back at emails regarding the show.

Last year there had been hope that #unit 21 would happen this last February, so Amy and I had already had various conversations and ideas about it. She has been living with the show for some time, I on the other hand had put it away as I didn’t have a contract . Sifting back through emails I discovered that the script I’d read this morning wasn’t the latest version! So another reading was required with lots of note taking.

I’d just finished the script and popped back up as the little swing bridge at Rose Narrowboats came into view, perfect timing. I hopped off when the canal narrowed and swung the bridge open, closing it straight after us as someone was wanting to cross. A hire boat had just pulled out heading towards Rugby, meeting another boat coming out of the cutting, our progress was going to be quite slow!

Slow is good along the next cutting. Here the banks have eroded and slipped several times.

Gabions have been placed along the towpath to help keep things where they should be, but the slippage above appears to be pushing them as well.

Coming up to All Oaks Wood the moorings looked full and had a constant stream of boats coming towards us. The hire boat pulled in behind the moored boats and waved us on, we could face the masses coming the other way instead!

Boats just kept coming and coming, waiting for them all to pass would only mean more arriving. So we pulled out and slowly moved our way along, the hire boat following on behind.

Inside the wood we could see that an area had recently been cleared of trees. Was this to make way for HS2? Nothing showed up on our map so we don’t know what that is all about. Just round the next bend there was plenty of space, well so long as you can get into the side! Having moored here now several times we knew where to aim for and succeeded first time.

Tilly got to have a bit of towpath time but the friendly cover and sideways trees seemed to be a touch too dense for her to burrow her way through to the field behind. I finished off my working day by watching a film, 1984.

In 1984 I sold a lot of copies of the book as I was a book seller then, but I’ve never read it or seen the film. I did know sufficiently enough about certain scenes to warn Mick that he’d maybe prefer to be elsewhere before John Hurt got to see what was awaiting him in room 101! Some very useful references to aid my design. I’m now ready for a zoom meeting about the show tomorrow.

1 lock, 16.09 miles, 1 swing bridge, 1 handbrake turn, 4 waiting boats, 2 different scripts, 1984, 4 or 5, 2 longtails, 3 git gaps, 1 designer ready.

https://goo.gl/maps/ELrAGh36CmVMbCka8

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna