Oooooooo! 11th August

Cat Junkie Mooring

Last night we were treated to a wonderful sunset. Over the last few weeks sight of the evening sky hasn’t been too good, so I’m glad we carried on moving to this mooring as there’s a bit more to see outside.

**Breakie wasn’t going to be a cooked one, but ended up being so**

The Geraghty zoom with breakfast. Subjects covered included spring chickens, under pinning, hang glider commuting and pollarding.

Boats came past for much of the day. Hire boats and plenty of Historic boats heading to Alvecote Historic Boat Gathering. It’s hard to find any information out about it on the internet, well we’ve not had much luck. We believe it will be on the Bank holiday weekend. We should be through there by then.

**Great view, sadly I didn’t fancy the walk back down the hill so missed out.**

Low on milk Mick walked over to the marina to see if they had any basic supplies. Only being asked for milk every six months or so, they don’t bother. So it was up the steep hill to find Budgens at the Texaco garage. Great views across to Bosworth Battle Centre and Stoke Golding on the Ashby Canal.

***A brief moment of bathroom floorness***

I pottered about whilst Tilly enjoyed a sausage day, a Chorizo kind of day. 9 hours had been allotted and so long as she didn’t find the ants nest and get off her t**s she was guaranteed to have a good day, just hope she doesn’t use it all up today!

I needed to get on with knitting, so other things were left until later in the day when it might get too hot for wooly things. This pair are a little behind where I hoped they’d be, but I’ll get there.

Across the way cows came for shade under the trees. A nosy at us sitting inside seemed to be on their to-do list. One cow wanted a drink, instead of moving to where the bank is lower it tried to drink from on top of the roots. A lean a touch too far whilst still being nosy meant a stumble and a quick recovery stopped it from falling in.

NB Olive, Taylors Aboard have recently posted three vlogs about the Basingstoke Canal. We don’t tend to watch vlogs but when you’ve met someone who makes them and travelled with them then it’s an interesting watch. When Josh first mentions us, he is a little bit worried that we might be ‘know it alls’, thankfully that changes. In a later episode he remembers a tale I told him wrongly, but if you were that boat you and I know the true details. There must be at least one more episode to come. If you are interested here’s a link to the first one that we are in, just wizz through the bits about vans and belts etc and get to look at the lovely canal in the sunshine.

Late afternoon we got the chairs out on the towpath. Tilly stayed close in case it was food time. When a new neighbour came past with their Dachshund we took Tilly inside. After all she’d made use of all but half an hour of her 9 hours shore leave today and she was exhausted! Good job really as the occupants of the ants nest we’d moved to avoid, they all decided to set off for a flight. It was like a plume of smoke coming up from the nest and plenty more to follow.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 weather station not working, 1 weather station to be added to the Christmas present list, 1 confirmation, 9 hours, 1 exhausted cat, 46783653268 ants, 1 sock completed, 1 quiche, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval, 1 closing ceremony.

‘A’ Team Refresher. 10th August

Ansty Visitor Moorings to Cat Junkie Mooring, Coventry Canal

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

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

**These are around every fifteen feet along the embankment**

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Visible Scars. 9th August

Barley Mow Moorings to Ansty Moorings

No need for an alarm this morning, but we were still awake early. Time to enjoy a cuppa in bed before getting up, exercising and having breakfast, Tilly was allowed an hour of shore leave then the doors were firmly shut, time to move onwards.

Through Newbold Tunnel, hardly worth turning the tunnel light on for, but we did. Then we managed to pull up outside Armada Boats, in between boats passing by. The last time Mick had stopped here it was snowing! A few days ago one of our gas bottles ran out so it’s always best to replace as soon as you can so that you don’t get caught out! It would be hard for us to get caught out as we carry three bottles, but best to replace that empty bottle.

£42 for 13kg of gas, a top up of diesel at £1.08 and two filters for the next service at £9 each. Thank you Dave Scouts for reminding us to stop here.

Three miles or so. Normally I’d have got my knitting out the back, but the current pair of socks are a touch too complicated right now, so need to be concentrated on so that I don’t get lost!

There were spaces where we’ve stopped before, but not far enough for todays cruising schedule. A hire boat had managed to get into the side under some very good shade, we’re hoping for a mooring like that in the next couple of days.

At Easenhall Lane Bridge 34 a yellow sign can just be seen instructing you to slow down, evidence of a small landslip right by the brick work. A fence with a gate in it means business, cutting off the towpath. The extra piece of fence that’s meant to stop people from getting round the edge has been pushed out of the way as they always are, the undergrowth worn away through use. The towpath is officially closed, but other people know better!

Back in early February there was a major landslip in the cutting. Tons and tons of earth (estimated at 40,000 tonnes) slid down and into the cut fully blocking the navigation until May when it was opened at certain times so that C&RT could continue working at the site. Today the canal is open, there had been two landslips, large areas of raw earth are very visible scars at the moment. I wonder how long before nature reclaims the cuttings and what else C&RT intend to do here. Some gabions line the edge of the bank, but the towpath is very muddy. We kept our speed to the minimum, the bottom of the canal hitting the base plate at one point, respect for this cutting has always been needed, but now more so. Maybe I’d not been looking for the slow down signs, or been busy doing something else, but I hadn’t noticed them.

Boats moored just before a bridge opposite a skip boat caused a bit of a log jam as a boat came the other way. Then it was our turn through the narrows, nowhere to step off the stern of Oleanna to work the bridge due to all the hire boats being at base. A chap gave the bridge a big push, it swung perfectly out of the way for us. I hopped off the bow so as to close it behind us. Beeping of a truck reversing could be heard and a crowd had gathered. On the back a short skip boat complete with greenery was being backed down to the narrows, it must have been going in here.

We’d done our cruising for the day, so looked for a mooring away from the railway. Through Grimes Bridge 26 is a length of armco, which was full, including a C&RT work boat. Volunteers packing up for the day removing equipment and going home for the weekend. There wasn’t enough armco for us, the boat in front was doing it’s best to moor up, but the sloping stone bank of the North Oxford canal means you’d be a long way out. We carried onwards, tried a bit further on, but soon gave up hoping the next moorings would have space for us.

Under the M6 the railway running right alongside. Eventually we reached Ansty, the straightened route of the canal a good few miles shorter than the original. Here there was space for us. We pulled in as far away from the road bridge as possible. A deja vu moment. A footpath goes through the hedge and two large water containers sit with the tops removed waiting to swallow up a curious cat. Oleanna was moved onwards to rings further along midway between road and water butts.

Tilly came and went and was ecstatic when the lid of the Dreamies pot came off showering the table and floor with it’s contents. We were too busy picking up from the floor to notice her sterling work on the table!

A sketch book came out. Reference collected yesterday was used for some basic ideas , photos taken and emailed off. A little project for a friend, I’ll be able to share the result with you later in the year. I got approval, so onto the next stage in the coming days.

Quesadillas this evening. I tried using a tin of beans in a spicy tomato sauce, it was a touch too runny so I added some cooked rice which helped. Just a shame the spicy tomato sauce wasn’t as spicy as I’d imagined, they lacked a bit of a kick.

0 locks, 7.9 miles, 1 gas bottle, 21.3 litres, 2 filters, quite a few straight ons, 3.5 hours shore leave, 2 big brown ski slopes, 1 slow poot, 1 swing bridge, 3rd mooring, 2 sketches, 1 thumbs up.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/AnfRXZ5mxLDrye5Y8

Post In A Boot. 8th August

Boughton Road Bridge to Barley Mow Moorings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***And me! Happy International Cats Day!!***

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

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

A Hive Of Activity. 7th August

Boughton Road Bridge

Up early and walking to the station, walking pole in hand for support. It was my turn for the dentist today and we’d decided instead of going into Bumingham we’d skirt round the city.

**Who knew spark plugs were pink? I didn’t**

I managed the 0.6 miles walk to the station reasonably well, it took longer than normal, but I was happy. Train then tram to Brindley Place. I had quite a bit of time on my hands, so instead of heading straight to the surgery I opted to see how busy the canals were.

A large screen was in Brindley Place showing the Olympics to rows of empty billowing deckchairs. Four five boats opposite Lego, others may have moved off this morning. Through Sheepcote Bridge looked a touch busier, but round Oozells street loop was empty.

Ten volunteers were busy weeding and digging around the wooden bee sculpture, a hive of activity!

Then up to the dentists to sit and wait for my check up. I had a couple of things for Colin, they were checked over made note of, but no action required. Then he told me that he was moving to the West Country, family things, this would be my last appointment with him. Oh blimey, I’ve just got my trust back with dentists after a very long period of avoiding them at all costs, now I’m going to have to build up a relationship with someone else. I wish him well, family life seems to take over when you reach a certain age.

**That octagonal building’s coming along**

My hygiene appointment had been booked for Saturday, the nearest the could give me ten days ago, but a cancellation was available tomorrow morning. I checked I’d not be spending huge amounts on train fares and accepted it, this would give us two more days cruising rather than sitting around Rugby.

**Bit hard when your dentist is leaving**

Back to New Street. I’d actually managed to get in and out of the station this time without getting lost, quite important as I didn’t want to use too many steps. Ozzy still towers over the station, looked like a touch of theatrical oil might help with his mechanical knee.

The train back was followed by trying to sus out the buses. But there was only one within half an hour that would leave me with a big walk back to the canal anyway, so I opted to take it steady and walked.

Whilst I was in Bumingham Mick had been busy. Our house insurance runs out soon. Having lodgers the last few years has slightly complicated our policy and each year there have been different things we have had to abide by. For the first few years one night out of sixty one of us had to sleep in the house. Then we were made aware last year that we couldn’t have three lodgers at a time. This only comes up occasionally, but would be handy if we could accommodate a third person as there are three bedrooms. Mick tried last year to resolve this and ended up getting a quote from a broker, an extra £600! We opted to stay with just two. Today he found the right person to talk to at LV, the policy is £200 more, but it includes plumbing and drain insurance which we have elsewhere for £200!

**More painkillers and another drug to counter act the side effects**

He’d also been to Tescos to collect the click and collect order and a prescription of more pain killers for me. Just need a prescription for him and then we’ll be all drugged up and ready to go.

0 locks, 0 miles, 2nd visit to Tescos, 2 trains, 2 trams, 7000+ steps, 1 pole for support, £6, 10 volunteers, £600 insurance, 3 lodger possibility, 84 more pills, 1 tiresome towpath.

It’s Still Busy. 6th August

Near Moors Bridge 72 to Boughton Road Bridge 59

As we had breakfast this morning my GP surgery called. They prefer you to contact them via the website rather than phoning. Last week I had sent them a message asking if I would be able to attend the walk in xray clinic in York, They had called to tell me I could, I confirmed that I already had, the lady said well we now both know that you can do this. So hopefully in future it may save some people a five week wait.

A slightly damp start to the day, waterproofs required just in case things got wetter, thankfully they didn’t. Not far to the top of Hillmorton Locks. A boat was just exiting the top lock and it looked like Nick Wolfe on Aldgate had everything in control. Mick popped us straight into the open lock, Louis and John were the volunteers on duty today.

A boat was just pulling up below and a hire boats crew were running along the towpath to the lock alongside us overtaking the waiting boat. A lady came up and apologised to Mick for not having left the gate of the lock below open for us, no problem we hadn’t arrived when they were leaving it. She helped with the lock allowing Mick to walk down, he stopped to chat to the chap waiting below.

**NB Holderness just going into the lock**

As the bottom gates opened it was going to be a bit of a squeeze past their bow, gently I came out nudging the bow over when I could to avoid contact. Thankfully Oleanna’s B team didn’t make contact with the boat below as it turned out to be Tony from NB Holderness. Thank you for asking about my knee. Shame I didn’t know it was Helen at the lock, but without peoples boats as reference it’s often the way.

As I departed the middle of the three locks it was obvious a boat would be coming towards me, their crew having just arrived at the lock. Thankfully neither boat was in each others way going round the bend, another boat was just coming through the bridge so I had to tread water. The area where the orchids grow at the bottom lock seems to be getting bigger. Sadly today the flowers were already dead, but you could see how many there had been. Another boat arrived to come up, Hillmorton, busy as ever. I wonder if it will be the busiest lock on the network this year after the landslip to the north cut the route in two for quite some time?

For the last two days we’ve seen so many Clifton Cruiser hire boats coming and going from base. Other hire bases we’ve seen have been full of boats, so it was a surprise to see only three boats moored up where you normally have to squeeze past them breasted up. A lot of hire companies are offering big discounts at the moment. I had a look at the Hoseasons website for Clifton Cruisers, they were the only boats not discounted on the list.

We now trundled round to find a space near to the Station, but also not too far away from Tescos. There were a couple of rings available at the end of the moorings close to Boughton Bridge. Not quite as close to the station as further back but there would be the option of a bus from nearby. We pulled in, willow trees overhanging on the opposite bank, tip toed around so much dog c*ap. The chap in the boat in front offered to take a line, very nice of him, maybe it would have been nicer if he’d offered to move back the 18 empty paces behind him. His answer was they weren’t stopping long, just to go shopping! Mick hammered a spike in and we asked if they could let us know when they were about to push off. They kindly did a couple of hours later, we pulled right up to the next boat, leaving enough room for another boat behind us.

Now moved up we steadily walked to Tescos, a constant stream of boats looking for moorings. Today we’d get ourselves partly stocked up and then do a click and collect for tomorrow for other items and all those things we keep forgetting about, which hopefully during the afternoon and evening we’d remember.

On return Tilly was allowed out, she also played hopscotch with the woofer pooh. A double mesh fence prevented her from getting very far, so this outside was exhausted quite quickly.

3 locks, 3.1 miles, 1 straight, 1 blogger, 18 pace git gap, 2 boxes discounted wine, 1.5 hours shore leave, 1 exciting email conversation, 2 gravitationally defiant pairs of trousers, 1 sad gits meal, 1 more in the freezer.

https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m17!1m12!1m3!1d1682.9130505491762!2d-1.251998076349296!3d52.38790482264508!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m2!1m1!2zNTLCsDIzJzE2LjUiTiAxwrAxNScwMi4xIlc!5e1!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1723039140755!5m2!1sen!2suk

Dreamie Deficit! 5th August

Near Bridge 88 to near Moores Bridge 72

Boats boats boats! So many moving boats this morning, maybe this is where everyone is. It’s always busy in these parts as there are so many marinas and not many locks. Clifton Cruisers also seem to be doing a good trade compared to most hire bases, we’ll see how many boats they have in when we pass their base.

With supplies surprisingly low for breakfast Mick cooked us up some eggs and mushrooms on toast instead of the normal porridge oats. We need to do quite a stock up of basic things when we reach Rugby. Tilly took up residency within the airing rack which at times gets positioned on the sofa for ease of getting past, well it’s not much of a climbing frame when it’s on the sofa, but I may as well make use of it, plus there’s nothing better than freshly laundered socks and pants to sit on!

Time to move off ourselves. We managed to pull out without having to wait for too many boats to come past, but soon found the boat in front was slow. A boat soon showed itself behind us, we all kept to a reasonable distance and headed northwards.

Some stretches of the North Oxford were straightened to cut journey times and the bridges were kept wide, Widebeams are allowed to cruise up to Dunchurch Pools Marina if they have booked passage, an email to warn narrower boats is sent out so you can stay put as the canal wasn’t really built for widebeams. Past Dunchurch Pools the bridges are that bit narrower.

I scanned in on the pump at the marina, it could have said £1.01 a litre, but I couldn’t be certain. We’ve heard that it’s a good price, maybe it’s better than Rugby Boats now.

We followed on behind the slow boat. All the way down Barby straight, a good idea to keep your speed down, especially when passing a breasted up pair, they didn’t need to alter their speed as they’d be going at tick over all the way.

A chicken has joined the witch and skeleton on the wishing well and the tree house has been totally taken over by the tree. A lovely vintage car now sits on manicured grass, it’s been a while since the vintage ambulance was last seen surrounded by long grass. The new house at the end is still being built. Electric cables hang from the ceilings and areas of exterior wall still need cladding, will they be wood or render?

Coming round the bend by Wharf Farm the boat ahead met a rather faster moving boat, they made contact and then spent time sorting themselves out. The mound of rubbish by the boat yard, is it getting bigger, it’s certainly an eye sore.

We’d considered carrying on to find a mooring near Tescos in Rugby, but the going had been so slow we abandoned it. Pulling in where The Wasp (NB Lilliyanne and NB Blackbird) had moored ten years ago below the railway embankment. It’s not as noisy as you’d imagine and proved to be a good place for Tilly as fairly soon after we arrived her catch was confiscated!

Time to look up some reference for the next pair of socks, a touch of colourwork required for these. I worked out a pattern then selected the yarn, pair 32 ready for casting on, just the rib at the top of pair 31 to finish. There’s still 7 pairs of socks up for grabs, ideal Christmas presents in aid of a great charity, just saying! And talking of Christmas, today we’ve had our first enquiry for digs from someone in the Christmas show. If we end up with two people wanting digs then we shall stay on the boat till the new year, better have a look at the winter stoppages!

Tilly came and went, Well I was looking for something! She came and went so much that the Dreamie pot became empty. Just what am I going to come home for now! Don’t worry a new pack of Beef Dreamies was opened and someone stuck their face in the pot straight away. Fresh Dreamies, that extra crunch!

***How can the Dreamie pot be empty!?!***

0 locks, 5.6 miles, 1 very slow boat, 2 near misses, 1 direct hit, 4 hours shore leave, 4 shades, 1 background, 1 prescription alteration requested, 1 Mrs Tilly stamp of approval, 1 vanishing bird.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/RNNmoTpwp7yWo4DD6

Barry, Karen and Sexy Eyes. 4th August

1 lock down from the top of Buckby Flight to past Bridge 88, North Oxford Canal

The Geraghty zoom didn’t go as well as normal. Despite good upload speeds and the internet otherwise seemingly fine, all of Mick’s siblings kept freezing, we reciprocated at their end. The IT department had a go at sorting it out, but failed. We still caught bits of the conversation though, insulation and Bumble Bees, Cherry Pickers Finger and the Chinese falling off things. We ended up leaving early as there was little point in us remaining.

Up the last lock of the Buckby flight, everyone else had moved off long ago, at least we’d missed the rush.

As Oleanna rose the last few feet Barry Manilow was singing his heart out along the cut. Once he’d stopped for a breather Karen Carpenter started up, followed by Dr Hook. None of the boats on the moorings looked like they had their doors or windows open, so it must have been SO loud inside. As we filled with water and delt with the yellow water it kept my toes tapping.

Up to Norton Junction. A quiet horn could be heard, we were far enough back for a boat to turn, then nothing. A dog walker had been taking her time along the towpath, I think she’d prompted the boat coming from the Leicester Section to sound their horn again, by now we were just out of their view but at the junction, we sounded our horn in reply and carried on knowing we’d clear the junction and be out of their way quickly.

The scenic view moorings were quite busy, but there would have been space for one this morning? Approaching the tunnel we passed at least three boats having just come through from Braunston, the question was, how many would we meet in there?

A view straight through to the other end, this meant we’d get past the wiggly bit before we met anyone. If fact we’d reached the far end just as a boat approached turning it’s light on. Behind we were being followed, a locking partner, however it was time for our lunch. Tilly approved of our mooring through the window, that was as close as she was going to get!

Mick looked up from his lunch. ‘Did you lock The Shed and upstairs upstairs at the house? I didn’t!’ Neither had I. New lodgers due today, one of whom we’ve known for decades and would trust, the other a very brand new actress. I’m sure she’d be fine, but you never know. A lodger earlier in the year had asked why the doors were locked and we’d rather be asked that question. A quick think, who could we ask to pop round within the hour and give the house a quick check as Darren was meant to have left this morning. A message sent to Sue who’s Aunt used to own our house and she lives pretty close, instructions given on how to get in.

We moved up to the lock, a boat appeared behind us. Sue had gained access, I’d warned her that a bed might not have been made up, I’d also had the feeling that Darren might have just left things not as he’d found them. This feeling turned out to be correct. Sue made up the bed, hoovered round, emptied bins, what a star. Then a message came through. ‘There’s a lot of used towels in the bathroom’. I usually do a last minute check round the house before we leave, but due to my knee I’d not wanted to go back up the stairs and had assumed Mick would have dealt with them, a bit like the keys! Oh heck what rubbish landlords leaving their own towels about the place! Sue was still about when our first lodger arrived, jobs just about done, we owe someone a big drink when we next see her. If we hadn’t had the chap in last week as a favour to the theatre, we’d have at least left the bed made, bins emptied, but the towels might still have been there. Mental note made for next turn around, Must do better!

**Bread and chilled medication shop at the bottom Braunston lock**

Our locking partners were a couple from Tasmania over to see family and spend a week relaxing on a hire boat, they do it every couple of years. I felt a touch bad constantly checking my phone and talking towels for much of the flight. Plenty of boats coming up and at least one behind us, quite hot on our heels where the locks only have ground paddles.

We’d considered stopping for a loaf of bread, word from the up hill boats that there was no room in Braunston. Mick bobbed into the shop at the bottom lock, a treat loaf of bread bought we’d no longer need to stop. Midland Chandlers is closed on a Sunday so no filters could be bought.

We counted at least five spaces as we came through Braunston. Hardly full, apart from in front of the pub. The bridge into the marina was having work done to it, big areas of white paint missing and hessian covering the top stones. Onwards past Braunston Turn, straight onto the North Oxford, still more spaces.

Once through bridge 88 we spied a length of armco and pulled in. Tilly was allowed an hour and a half by which time we were surrounded by more boats. Our nearest neighbours a Dutch family saying that Braunston was full. Here was now, maybe we’d just timed our cruising well today.

6 locks, 5.6 miles, 3 golden oldies, 1 full water tank, 1 empty wee tank, £3+ for a loaf of bread, 4 towels left out, 2 keys, 2 new lodgers, 1 disappointing lodger, 1 super star of a Stage Manager, 1 tunnel, 0 boats passed, 2 mysterons, 90 minutes.

SHOUTING! 3rd August

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fast Tracking Slowly. 2nd August

Weedon Bec

A very brief hello, nice to meet you with Darren this weeks lodger. It’s been a busy week for him and will continue to be as they open tonight, then have two shows tomorrow. Just hope he makes time to change his bed linen before meeting up with family on Sunday.

A few final things to do about the house, some weeding on the paths to the front doors. Bags packed, empty pooh buckets back in the car. Time to get on with other things. Around the corner we dropped a pair of sockathon socks off, the youngest toes to have some of my socks so far.

Then to Mick’s doctors for the appointment he should have had last week. A change in his prescription which will require a follow up blood test in two weeks. Hopefully that can be done as a day trip by train and he can do that at the hospital to save having a fixed appointment. Picking up his prescription meant a wait of a few minutes, time to buy a sandwich each.

By now it was obvious we’d not be back at Weedon Bec in time to return the car today, a phone call and £50 lighter we had the car for another day.

Leaving Scarborough was slow, we have to remind ourselves of summer traffic to and from the coast. Next stop, the tip to dispose of engine oil. Then Mick managed to keep going straight past the bottom of Staxton Hill, our more usual route back to Oleanna, and headed to York. Our satnav suggested serious congestion on the A64 so we opted for one of Mick’s old scenic routes from his telephone engineer times in York.

**I refrained from buying holiday clothing at the hospital**

The X-ray department was found at York Hospital, an hour waiting time suggested. Mick headed off to fill the car with petrol avoiding having to pay for parking. I was moved to a different waiting area where it seemed I was surrounded by people from Scarborough. Bronwyn called me over, three x-rays done of my left knee. She would cancel my appointment for five weeks time in Scarborough and I should hear about the results within two weeks. My waiting time and x-rays had taken 80 minutes, it had definitely been worth fast tracking myself. Maybe Mick could have his blood test done in York? A question to be asked of his GP.

Out of York through Fulford where I grew up. We paused at the Designer Outlet to stock up on my smelly tea from Whittards. Then back to the M1 and heading southwards, slow going at times. We bobbed into the small Tescos at Weedon for something to eat tonight and were back on the boat before 8pm.

A very productive trip.

0 locks, 0 miles, 1 rushing lodger, 1 pint of milk left this time! 2 more sandwiches, 1 new prescription, 3 x-rays, 80 minutes instead of five weeks, £50 for an extra day, 4 packets of tea, 1/3rd off, 1 blood test, 1 warm bored cat.

Narrowboat Oleanna

Travels of Narrowboat Oleanna