Days 104 to 115. To busy to post.

Hiya family, friends and followers.

How lucky are you. I do not post for days and then I post twice on one day. Having sat out the worst of the heat over the lunchtime period, we decided to set off up the Atherstone Flight at 3.15pm.

We were fortunate that there were boats coming down the flight for some of the locks. This included a boat who was being bow hauled, because of no working engine.

His bow hauling could have been easier if he had less wood and junk on the roof. He also had very thin bits of tatty rope, which he reckoned were giving him blisters. The story was, he had a new engine fitted, but it was not finished. Anyway his mate was towing him, but his mates boat was behind him hmmmmmm.

We got to the top of the locks still in the sunshine and carried on cruising to bridge 35 Mancetter Bridge, where we pulled in and moored up for the day. We had done another three hours and fifteen minutes of cruising, plus the eleven locks. Tomorrow will be an easier day with just one lock, but the temperature is going up, so we will have an early start I think.

Dinner tonight was a curry, with Naan bread and a beer, which was very much deserved. I am going kindling collecting now, in order to get ready for the Winter.

Pop back soon xxx

Days 104 to 115. To busy to post.

Hello family, friends and followers.

I have been so busy, I have not had time to post for a while, so I apologise if you have been popping in to see what I have been doing.
What I have been doing is having so much fun, which means no posting. As you know from my previous posting, we were at Braunston for the Braunston Historic Boat Rally. We were there to help out, so we spent the first few days putting up signs and sorting out where boats were going for the event.

Prunella Scales.

 Timothy West.

I was fortunate on Saturday to photograph Pru and Tim, as they helped with a a presentation. It was lovely to meet them in the flesh so to speak.

Saturday was extremely hot and I think that put people off coming out, because the numbers were down on boats and the general public. Mind you the £20 car parking charge also put folk off from attending. I was on photographic duty, whilst keith helped with the boat parade on both days of the the rally.

A good time, was had by us all at the Rally and we were looked after incredibly well by Graham and his wife Linda, who organise the moorings and the staff for the parade. It was so lovely to catch up with lots of folk we know and to meet many new people. 

Having done the rally, we left Braunston on Monday morning, having helped clear the signs away. Our destination was Glascote to collect brand new stern fenders from Phil English of Glascote Fenders. Tradline at Braunston had recommended Phil, because they could not do us any fenders until November. So Monday we got to the otherside of Hawkesbury Junction. Yesterday to Alvecote, having done the Atherstone flight. Yesterday did not begin well.

We wanted to leave at 7.30am. We set off at 7:35am, got 2ft from the bank and we picked an assortment of rubbish, including electrical wire, plug, aerial cable, a TV cable amplifier, some sort of bag which I think all the wire etc was in, a bicycle tyre and a sea searcher magnet! After an hour of removing the offending items, we eventually set off. 

We had a nice run behind Historic Boat Holland part way down the Atherstone Flight, before a couple of private boats joined in. We are moored opposite the Samuel Barlow at Alvecote, having done 16.6 miles, 11 locks, 8 hours 35 mins.

This morning another bright and sunny start. We left our overnight mooring and set off for Glascote. We winded between Bridge 71, 73 (Anchor Bridge), moored up and walked up into Glascote to pick up our new stern fenders from Phil English of Glascote Fenders. After making coffee we then retraced our course back to between Grendon Bridge and Bradley Green Bridge, below Atherstone locks. 8.2 miles no locks.

We decided to stop early because we had two boats in front of us, one of which pulled out directly in front of us, despite the fact we sounded our Klaxon to let them know we were coming past. We may move closer to the locks later on, once the heat of the day has gone.

Pop back soon xxx

Days 103 and 104. Braunston here we come.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Yesterday we left Crick, heading off through the tunnel, where there was a Bat flying around in the mouth of the tunnel. The boat in front of us must have disturbed it. Lots of boats heading to the top of Watford locks it seemed.

Arrived at the top lock at Watford and topped up with water, emptied the cassette and got rid of rubbish, so we do not have to bother at Braunston. There were five boats waiting to go down the flight and we were second in the queue. NB Destiny went off in front.

The volunteer lock keepers were on hand to see everyone through, with the greatest of ease. With the 7 locks done, we headed for Norton Junction and turned right heading for Braunston Tunnel.

We met a couple of boats in the tunnel and had a boat in front of us and one behind. But all in all it was uneventful.

We moored up at 12.20 pm, had lunch and then went for a walk to find our friends Ruth and Richard on Mountbatten and Jellicoe, who are booked in for the Braunston Rally on the 29th and 30th June.
By the time we had nattered and laughed, it was getting late, so we trudged back up the hill to the boat. With the idea that we would stay put for the Rally. But then came the news that we could breast up with Ruth and Richard for the Rally, so we would be heading off again in the morning.

Saturday boating for us is not something we usually do, but this morning we had a mooring to get too and so once the locks were opened at 9 am, we joined John and Nev on NB Destiny to descend the flight. We seem to keep meeting up with them and they were an absolute joy to share with.

There were a lot of antics going on with the boats coming up the locks, which made us all giggle.

Once we had finished the flight, we said "Goodbye" and "Thank you" to Nev and John for their wonderful company.

There are a few boats already here for the Rally and more will arrive over the next few days.

W3e moored up in front of Ruth and Richard and will breast up with them, as other boats arrive.

Pop back soon xx

Days 101 and 102. Let's turn left.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Having left the festival, we cruised to Welford Junction, where we met up with Ruth and Richard, whilst they stopped for a Bacon and Egg sandwich.

They left us at the junction and carried on to Crick. We decided to head into Welford on Wednesday morning and spent the night there, before this morning heading off again.

We said "goodbye" to Welford at 12.15 pm for this year and set off in the sunshine, although there was a nip in the air. It maybe June, but it does not feel like it yet. At Welford Junction instead of going straight on to Foxton, we turned left and headed towards Crick.

The fields are beginning to change colour. This was a field of Wheat. It is amazing to think in not to many weeks the farmers will be harvesting. I am wondering just where this year has gone already, as we begin our journey homeward.

Approaching Crick we joined the back of a convoy.

We arrived in Crick at 4.25 pm and moored up. It has been four years since we have stopped here, but nothing has changed. Tomorrow we will be off again.

Pop back soon xx

Day 100: on the move again.

Hello family, friends and followers.

What an fantastic time we have had this past few days. We spent Thursday and Friday helping set up the site for the Foxton Locks Festival.

Marques going up.

Toilets arriving.

Fun Fair and stalls were settling in over the two days. Unfortunately the weather did its best to try and scupper the festival. But we were all made of stern stuff and we got on with it. At times the place was like a bog, but the 4X4 boys helped with pulling people in and out of the site. I did a stint on the camping site on the Friday and it was wet and more wet. But I did not have anyone get stuck and everyone was in good spirits.
Saturday was the beginning of a new and wonderful period in our lives, because we had family come to see us. We have not seen them for fourteen and nineteen years, so it was very special. We also got to meet our grandson's for the first time, which was amazing. I have always dreamt of seeing my girls again and my dream came true. Becky my middle daughter and Keith's son Oliver live together and they have Oscar 6 and Orion 10 months and Stephanie my youngest daughter came with Daniel her partner. Such a wonderful weekend was had, finished off with a meal at the Foxton Locks Inn for Fathers Day. It was Keith's first proper Fathers Day in 35 years. I was sad to see them go home on Sunday afternoon, after we had such a special time together, but we are planning many more visits.

This morning we set off from Foxton after yesterday helping to take down the festival site.

We are moored up at Welford Junction now.

Pop back soon xxxx.
PS. I have not posted family photographs for privacy reasons.

Day 94: It is all happening.

Hiya family, friends and followers.

It has been a day of dry weather for a while and boats arriving.
The morning began with low cloud drizzle, but soon the skies were brighter and it actually felt warmer.
Friends Jimmy and Jenny, came past heading back to their mooring in Market Harborough, but had a bit of a wait to go down the locks, so we had a good old natter. Down at the bottom a boat had broken down, whilst trying to come up the locks, with two boats behind it, so they had to reverse them all down through the locks, so they could allow others to use the flight. Whilst we were chatting Michael on the Cheese Boat came up in front of them to take on water, before he reversed their boat into it festival position.
I had a crochet visit with Geraldine on the Cheese Boat, to teacher her a new stitch. She wanted to learn the stitches I am using for the Collie blankets. Whilst we did all things crochet, Keith and Michael were in the railway room talking trains.
Ruth and Richard Chamberlain arrived on Mountbatten and Jellicoe, winded and moored on their festival mooring.

By mid-afternoon a lot of the trade boats for the weekend were moored up on our side of bridge 60. Others who are moored on the other side of the bridge will be arriving tomorrow. At 2.30 pm, we went and waited for our Tesco delivery. He arrived at 3.15 pm, which was well within his time remit. Such a lovely man, who was telling us about his daughter getting married this Saturday and how much the wedding was costing. He showed us a photograph of her wedding dress. It is an Indian wedding and the dress is amazing in Red and Gold. My eyes watered with the cost of it and the wedding, but he is one very proud father and we wished him well for the special day before he left us.
You may have noticed that it is raining in the photograph and that is because come late afternoon the rain began to fall again, but hey ho we are all happy and that is the main thing.
Tomorrow we will be off volunteering. We are helping to set the site up. it is looking fair to middling for the weather tomorrow.

Pop back soon xx

Days 92 and 93: Waiting.

Hiya family, friends and followers.

Over the next few days I may be a little boring with my posts, or I may not post at all, because we are sat on a mooring waiting to help with the putting up of the festival site. The worry is the rain will cause issues, but we will be keeping our fingers tightly crossed in more ways than one, that the weather improves and the festival goes ahead. As of yet all is going forward, because the boat names were put out, so everyone knows where they are mooring for the weekend. Today we have moved forward by about three foot, to allow for the harbourmasters boat to fit in. We must not upset the harbourmaster :-), who is a lovely chap.
Anyway this past couple of days have been spent catching up with folk we know. Yesterday we spent a couple of hours with Geraldine and Michael on the Cheese Boat. It has been at least 4 years since we saw them last, so you can imagine how much we had to catch up on.  Then Ray and Caroline arrived on Tranquil Days. They moor in the Arm over the Winter, so we last saw them in March, but there was still things to talk about. During the afternoon, we enjoyed cake and a cuppa in the Foxton Locks Museum as they celebrated their 50th Birthday. All in all a quiet relaxing day amongst friends.
Last night was stormy to say the least. We had lots of the wet stuff, which we definitely need and the wind was blowing a hooley all night. We did not rock and roll much, because we were moored up securely and we were also not under any trees to worry about, but I still had a disturbed sleep. I went off alright, but then woke up listening to the Sheep in the field next to us going ballistic. I was thinking all sorts of things, like perhaps there was Sheep napping going on or they had escaped. I think it was more the fact they did not enjoy the heavy rain or wind, because the field still had Sheep in it this morning. But these days you just never know. Anyway after a disturbed night, we were up at 8 am and the rain was still falling. The wind was still strong, but I wanted to get a laundry wash done, so I filled up my granny trolley and wandered down to the laundrette and did a wash. I was first down there, so did not have long to wait. I got myself a cuppa and sat in the dry, whilst the washing did its thing. The walk back up the locks was done in the dry. Once back on the boat the washing was hung up in the back cabin and engine room. During the afternoon, we had visitors to see the railway. Keith is always very proud to show off his creation to friends.
As Tuesday draws to a close, I am on to blanket number Fourteen for the Collies. With the weather still all over the place, I may get it finished by the end of the week, although we do have to get out and help with the festival site on Thursday and Friday.
Four more days to go.
If I do not post, I am busy.

Pop back soon xxx

Days 90 and 91: Flaming June.

Hello family, friends and followers.

Yesterday Saturday day 90 was somewhat of a washout for most of the day. I lit the stove and concentrated on my crochet and cooking until late afternoon, when the sun did actually put in an appearance. The rain was so welcome for us, but not for the Market Harborough Carnival, because due to the weather it was cancelled, which was incredibly sad for all concerned. The wind was blowing a hooley at times, so we could understand their decision. Apparently on the carnival field they lost three tents, so could not carry on. Anyway they decided to have a bit of a do on the Sunday instead, but no procession through the town. With the heavy rain during the morning, we discovered our Bullseye was leaking, so I covered it over with a plastic Roses box for now. I need to remove the sealant, and renew it all, but can only do that once we get home. With the sun coming out, we donned our coats and went for a walk down the locks. I get cabin fever if I am stuck inside for to long. I like to be doing something and outside. It was so lovely, we met up with Terry who used to be a lock keeper at Watford Locks, but is now retired. We had a good old chinwag with him and did a lot of catching up. Once back home, we spent the evening snuggled up on the boat.
This morning (Sunday), the sun was out and the wind was calm, so I got on with polishing the side of the boat, I had not had a chance to get done. We then we for a stroll to see who was about and to stretch our legs. I also got the chance to go out with my camera.
The weather for the next three days is apparently wet, so this afternoon we moved to junction of the inclined plane arm and winded, reversed back to top up with water, then took up our designated mooring for the Foxton Locks Festival, lock side of Bridge 60 100 yds no locks. Now looking forward to volunteering with the setting up for the festival.

Pop back soon xxx