Day 46: Getting ready.

Hello family, friends and followers.

The Black Country Living Museum is probably our second home. We come here at least three to four times a year and love every moment of it. This coming weekend, we are going to be enjoying the Historic Boat Rally at the museum and in order to do that, we have been helping to move the historic boats into the arm.

It is another chance to catch up with fok, who we will not see for a while. For many this will be the last rally this year.

Dan one of the museum horses enjoying his dinner.

One of the piggies snuffling in the mud. Not sure if this is Christmas or Boxing  Day. But so very sweet anyway.
We are expecting quite a few boats at the museum over the weekend, but the weather at the moment is definitely not looking promising. As boaters we will just enjoy ourselves anyway and we will ignore the rain and wind forecast. Apparently we may also be joined by a large contingent of motorbikes on Sunday. Someone today said there were 500 turning up. That will be a sight to see.
This morning we walked up to Aldi to do a food shop which will see us set fair for a while. I also filled the water tank and did a laundry wash whilst the generator was on this morning for an hour. We hare having to run the generator twice a day for an hour, because our batteries are dying. They have done us six years and so we are now having to think about saving for new ones come the new boating season.
Who say's living on a boat is cheap?
Come November we will be on our new mooring on the electric, so dud batteries will not matter so much, but we will need new batteries come March.
With the weekend almost here, I hope you have a good one and I will see you on the other side.

Pop back soon xx

Day 43: The time flies.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Where does the time go?
September is drawing ever closer to a close and we have had a wonderful few days. We left Windmill end and made our way to Tipton.

We were moored between two historic boats Leo and Aldgate for the Tipton Community Festival, which was brilliant, even though the weather on the Sunday tried to dampen our spirits. Saturday was heaving with people. Everyone had an amazing day, because the sun had got its hat on and it was time to chill-out and enjoy all what was on offer.
Sunday began with heavy rain at 5am with a rumble of thunder thrown in for good measure. However the firecast for heavy rain all day did not materialise, we had drizzly rain for a few hours and then it dried up thankfully.

With some of the stallholders being put off by the weather forecast, we made use of the empty gazebo's and set up a community for tea, coffee and an good old natter. The night before it had also been used as a place to have a chinese takeaway for some of the boaters.
Having enjoyed another wonderful rally, it was time to head off yesterday afternoon at 4pm. Those of us going to the Black Country Living Museum for the Historic Boat Rally, pootled around the the museum and moored up. We popped in to see a few people we know, before making it back to the boat for a spot of dinner.

We may have to move, once we know what the mooring plan is, but this will do for now.
This morning awake at 7.20am, I made us a cuppa, whilst we planned the morning. The generator has gone on, because we have very low poorly batteries. We will manage with them until we get home, but we are looking at the expense of new batteries this Winter. They have done us six years, so we cannot complain. Today I am not going to do to much. We will probably catch up with folk in the museum and see what the mooring plans are, if there are any :-).

Pop back soon xx

Day 37: Another long day.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Feeling everso slightly cream crackered as it's been a long day, so you are only getting a short posting. We woke to a bright sunny, but cool morning. Set off at 8.15am and continued up the B&F to Salford junction, we then did the entire Tame Valley canal.

This means we have now done the whole of the BCN. Walsall canal, Wednesbury Old canal, new main line, and finally Netherton branch.

We moored at Windmill End, where we had a quick chat and a cup of tea with some friends who are moored here, having been here for the Windmill End gathering. The three degrees were reunited. :-) Tomorrow will be a much shorter day. Netherton, 19.5 miles, 24 locks, 2 tunnels, 10hrs 40mins.

Pop back soon xx

Day 36. Time to say "Goodbye"

Hello family, friends and followers.

Wow what a brilliant weekend we had at The Samuel Barlow, Alvecote. it finished last night with a sing along, chatter and of course beer, but we were both on the Lime and Soda for a change, because the OH had a dodgy tum.
After some overnight rain, this morning we woke to low cloud and therefore drizzle, but it was time to say "Goodbye" to The Samuel Barlow for this year. We left the marina at 8.30am behind Sarah on Princess Anne and caught her up at Glascote Locks, where I helped lock her down and sent her on her way.

Sarah was going a different way to us, but we will see her again in a couple of weeks time.

Glascote bottom locks cottage is up for sale. I love that little cottage and hope it finds a sympathetic owner.

At 10.20am we arrived at Fazeley Junction. We turned left onto the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal for the first time in absolute ages.

We then arrived at Curdworth Locks at around 11.30am.

The Curdworth Locks are easy pretty locks. we had most of the 11 locks against us and only saw two other boats.

We moored up above the top lock at 2.10pm, for the rest of the day. Tomorrow we will be heading into Birmingham.

Pop back soon xx

Day 35: Russell Newbury Engine Rally.

Hello family, friends and followers.

THANK YOU for the Anniversary best wishes. It is very much appreciated.

Having enjoyed our meal at the Samuel Barlow, we decided to stay on for the Russell Newbury Engine Rally. We had been moored out on the towpath, but had a bad night's sleep with the goods trains being on the move so close to the boat for most of the night, so we untied and moored along Brighton the Narrowboat Trust butty, but as boats arrived for the rally, we realised we were becoming a target for winding boats, so moved past the marina and to a nice quiet mooring. I then got a message from the marina owner, to say we could moor in the marina by the pub to improve the view. So on Friday morning, we pootled down to Glascote to go food shopping at Aldi, winded and made our way back to a mooring in the marina. It was so very kind of the owner to allow us in and into such a wonderful spot. Throughout the day more boats with Russell Newbury engines arrived, some who were people we knew and had not seen for ages, which meant we would be doing a lot of catching up.
The weekend has been filled with beer, chatter and laughter.

Last night we were treated to a fantastic and vibrant sunset. The view from the balcony was stunning. Rhe RN group had a buffet meal, which we did not take part in, but we did do the raffle, which we did not win anything in and we listened to some of the wonderful music played by the talented RN group.
Today, it has been another day of chatting, laughing and drinking, beer and tea. We had a lovely time onboard Uranus with Meg, Paul, Viv, Paul and Sarah. Meg and Paul supplied the tea and coffee and I supplied a Victoria Sandwich, which I baked on Saturday morning. Tonight we will be joining the gang again for one last hurrah, before we all go ou seperate ways. Our journey will take us into Birmingham again, so watch this space for updates.

Pop back soon. xxx

Day 31: Happy Anniversary.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Well where did that time go. Yes today is our Crystal Wedding Anniversary. Fifteen has just flown by, but then they do say "Time flies when you are having fun" and we have most definitely been having fun. Infact we are still on our honeymoon.
It was most definitely an eventuful day.

We left Hawkesbury Junction early doors and sped our way to the top of Atherstone. The weather was not cold, but it was cloudy and we did encounter light drizzle at times. We arrived at the top of Atherstone Locks at midday and were met with three other boats in front of us, so we knew it was going to be a slow descent to the bottom of the eleven locks and that proved to be the case.

There as a boat towing another boat and bow hauling it into and out of locks first. Then a single hander, who I helped down the locks. We aloso had boats behind us as well. It took us over three hours to do a flight of locks which normally takes us half that. Anyway we did have some laughs along the way.

We eventually arrived at Alvecote and moored up. For our Anniversary meal we went to The Samuel Barlow and had a fabulous meal and a couple of pints. That was the best way to finish the day.

pop back soon xxx

Day 30: A long Day.

Hello family, friends and followers.

I must be feeling my age, because I was in bed last night just after 9.15pm. I was feeling so tired and not myself, so decided the best place was bed. I did have a good nights sleep, but woke up this morning with a dodgy right knee. This is the knee which was damaged in a moped accident and the knee which I had the cartlidge removed. I am hoping it will settle down over the next couple of days.
Despite the dodgy knee, we were up and on our way at 8am.

We were down the Braunston Locks in just over an hour, even though they were all against us but the final lock, where the volunteers were on duty.

Just before Rugby we met up with Del and Al on Derwent 6. It has been an absolute age, since we saw them last, so it was so wonderful to say a quick "Hello" and swap cruising details.

We had been making such good progress and then we arrived at Hillmorton Locks to find ourselves in a queue. Three of the locks were out of action due to a cill failure and one of the working locks was dodgy due to the walking plank being very loose. I was told by one of the C&RT men that they are having issues in getting spare parts, so it does not bode to well for what remains of the season. It took over an hour and half to do three locks.

We decided to get through Hawkesbury Junction before stopping for the day. We are moored at Hawkesbury visitor moorings on the Coventry canal, 23.9 miles, 10 locks, 1 tunnel, 10 hours 15 mins. A long old day, with thrill and spills, bumps and scratches.

Pop back soon xxx

Day 29:. Briliant weekend and moving on.

Hello family, friends and followers.

An excellent weekend was had by all at The Village at War. The weather on Saturday was dry, cool, with the occasional sunny spell. The crowds were bigger on Sunday and the sun came out.

Both days were buzzing with people. It was so lovely to see the effort folk had gone too to look amazing.

Having not been to the event for six years, we really did enjoy seeing everyone again, including the wonderful Lola Lamour, who has the most amazing voice.

If you ever get the chance to see Lola, then do go because she is incredible. The weekend was a huge success and we will definitely be going again next year.

It is amazing who turns up at these events. All of the re-enacters were fantastic. There was nothing we did not enjoy about the whole weekend. I even managed to find a tanktop at one of the many vintage stalls at the event. There was everything there to dress for the 1930' and 1940's.

This morning it was time to leave Stoke Bruerne.

We were fortunate to share the Buckby Locks with Tom on Corolla. We breasted the boats up. Keith steered the boats and Tim and I worked the locks. We had a great time and were flying up the locks, until the last couple when we caught up with two hire boats sharing the locks. At Norton Junction we said "Cheerio" to Tim as he headed onto the Leicester Line and we carried on to Braunston Tunnel.

We had thought we may go down the Braunston Locks, but with boats queuing at the top lock, we decided to moor up for the night and will set off in the morning.

Pop back soon xx

Day 23: All ready now.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Last night we enjoyed a super sunset and the sound of the trains which ran late. I was in bed by 9.45pm and no sooner my head hit the pillow I was off into the world of nod and dreams. I am a one for having very odd dreams, which I can usually remember. One such dream was from last night or early hours of this morning. A new railway track had been laid and before they could lay the aggregate, they had a tradition to uphold and that was the whole section had to have apple sauce laid down first. (Bare with me). A steam train was all ready for the off and in front of it a huge pile of apple sauce was piled high on the track. The steam train had to get up a head of steam and with its plough front had to push the apple sauce along the track right to the end. (I know daft). The train got up a head of steam and plough head long into the sauce, sending it running along the track, but when it got to the last 50 metres it ran out. Now it was bad luck not to complete the newly laid section, so everyone there was given a spade and told to collect any apple sauce which had run over the track and pile it in front of the engine, which they did so. The engine then ploughed the remainder of the apple sauce to the end of the line. Once this was done, the aggregate could then be laid on top. See I told you I had odd dreams.
Once up we set off just after 8 am to Gayton Junction, where we stopped to empty the toilet cassette and get rid of rubbish.

We saw boats of all shapes and sizes. When we last did this stretch Six years ago, there was not a widebeam in sight. Now there are quite a few, including this shipping container.

We arrived at Blisworth.

An old flour mill, 1879, now converted into luxury apartments but used over the period 1900 to c.1985 as a warehouse, a Second World War food storage building, a wine-bottling factory and a spice and herb processing and packaging factory.

Into and out of Blisworth Tunnel. One of the longest tunnels on the system.

Whilst Keith winded the boat, I went and found out where we would be mooring for the coming weekend. Our name was on a post and the mooring had been measure out, so we knew exactly where we had to be.

This will be our home for the next few days, as we wait for The Village at War weekend.
After a nice afternoon natter to folk, we went to one of our favourite Indian Restaurants for a meal. The Spice of Bruerne does one of the best Pasandas I have ever tasted and I can tell you tonight's meal was excellent. The last time we were down this way on the boat was 6 years ago and the food was as good tonight, as it was back then, which say's a lot these days. Great food, service and company.

Pop back soon xxx

Day 22: Time to move on.

Hello family, friends and followers.

After leaving Hillmorton on Friday morning, we stopped briefly in Rugby, so I could do a quick food shop in Tesco. We then ploughed on to Braunston, where we spent a wonderful weekend and enjoyed the fun of the Braunston Turn, which I am renaming the Bow Thruster Turn, because that is all I seemed to hear. It was better entertainment than watching TV. There was crashes, bashes and toot toots.

After a fabulous weekend, we said "Cheerio" to Braunston after topping up with water and emptying the toilet cassette. We were fortunate to share the locks with another boat and the couple were so lovely. The lady and I had such a good laugh, which may surprise you when I tell you she retired a couple of years ago and immediately got told she has a life limiting disorder, which runs in her family. But she is not letting it get her down and is making the most of each moment. We laughed so much at life and what it has thrown our way and how we must grab life with both hands and run with it no matter what. She was an absolute delight and her grasp on life should be bottled. We said "Cheerio" to them after the top lock at Braunston and wished her well with enjoying life. They were heading up the Leicester Line to their mooring.

We headed for Braunston Tunnel first and they held back a little, so they did not have to deal with our noisy engine.

We did the Buckby flight on our own, which was fine. There were boats coming up, which was great because it cut down my work load. On the second to last lock, we met this lovely elderly gentleman with his parrot named Polly. He takes her everywhere and loves photographing her in different places, so we allowed him to put her and her cage on the roof of our boat and then he took her photo. He was tell me that he also takes her to the beach, but never leaves her for more than four hours at a time. Last year she flew off for two days, but did come back to her cage and so now he has had her wings clipped a little, so she cannot fly to far away. 

You really do meet some absolutely wonderful folk some days.

We moored up for the evening near Budbrooke Downs. We have horses and a railway line opposite us, and all is well in our world.

We had a stowaway. This beautiful Red Underwing Moth decided to come for a ride. I put it outside and it did not even say "Thank You".

Pop back soon xxx