Summer Cruising.

Hi friends.

Thought this photograph of the horses was lovely. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours comes to mind.

We woke up to another beautiful morning. I was awake at 6am to the sound of a Moorhen and her baby near the boat. They have a nest opposite the boat and I watch them from the galley window, when I am cooking. Moorhen babies are so alien when they are little. But then grow into pretty birds. P got a walk through the woods this morning. It was glorious listening to the wind in the trees and the chitter chatter of the birds. It almost made me want to stay there and just listen. But we were making a move today and so at 9.15am, we left the mooring and made our way to the top lock, where we thought we would wait to see if a boat wanted to share the locks with us. But after three quarters of an hour and no show, we made the decision to go. On our way down the flight we did meet other boats coming up, which was a little help, but some of the gates and the paddle gear are hard, especially as I have a bad shoulder. But I am not one to complain, so I just got on with the job in hand. We stopped at the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne locks for some gas from Jules on Towcester, we got to have a brief chat before moving over to the sanitary station to fill up with water, get rid of rubbish and empty the toilet cassettes. Whilst the water tank was filling, I made us some lunch. Just as I walked out of the engine room door with lunch, the water tank was full and we were on our way again. We saw Robin and Laura on Miss Matty in passing as well, just as we came into Cosgrove. Robin was waving a Silver Plate at us. It was the same Silver plate we had won at the Little Venice Cavalcade last year, for being the best Sunday dressed boat people. This year Robin and Laura won it. Congratulations to them both. Now that we are moored up at Cosgorve we are having a coffee, with the doors and windows open to a strong cooling breeze.

Safety on boats.

Hi Folks.

Yep I am posting twice in one day. I have something on my mind and so felt the need to post.
What is on my mind you ask???

Boat safety that is what is bugging me. Not the boat safety we all have to have every few years and which we all get a certificate to prove that our boats are safe. This boat safety is what is mostly common sense and yet it seems there are some boaters, who either don't know they are taking risks with their lives or just don't care.
This morning when I took the mutt for his stroll, I noticed that the hirers on a Canal Breaks Hire Boat had their back doors padlocked from the outside. So I thought maybe they were off of the boat. At 9.30am that thought was proven wrong, because a couple stepped off of the boat to go to the Museum. They had slept on the boat with the back doors padlocked, which meant that if there had been a fire on the boat, their only escape would have been through the front doors.
What if the fire had been at the front of the boat???
They would now probably be dead.
Why did this disturb me so much?
It disturbed me, because a friend of ours died on his boat a couple of years ago, due to smoke inhalation, this was all because his back doors were locked from the outside. Which meant he had to try and fight through the smoke to get to the front of the boat. In doing so he tripped over, hit his head and died. I do not want this sort of thing to happen to any other boater.
When the couple arrived back at their boat. I asked them if they had been told to lock their back doors with a padlock at night. They said " No, they do it because the feel safer at night". I explained to them what could happen in the event of a fire and that they need a second escape route if a fire should take place. But I could see by looking at them, it fell on deaf ears. They just shugged their shoulders and went into their boat, which left me feeling a little deflatted. I did what I thought was right. I was thinking of their safety. After all how would I be feeling if overnight they had died and we were moored behind them and I had said nothing. I just hope that this evening, they may give a second thought to padlocking those back doors, because I would hate anything to happen to them. I wonder also if this is a practice the hire company uses??

Another safety issue, I have been noticing more and more, is the stern rope. Why oh why do people leave their stern rope around their feet on the back counter?
They only have to get a foot or feet caught up in the rope. This could result in the falling over, they may either hit their head or worse still fall overboard and get caught in the propellor. All ropes should be in view. You should take your stern rope off and lay it in front of you on the hatch. That way you can see it and it is to hand at all times. You should also never hang your rope on the tiller, because that can also prove dangerous. But sadly I am seeing more and more of this happening. I know if I were to say anything, I would probably be given a mouthful or ignored, because they have done it like that for years and never had an accident. But it does not mean it is right. Safety needs to be taken seriously, so please stay safe out there.

Slow as they go...

Hi Friends.

We arrived at Stoke Bruerne yesterday after a non eventful cruise. Well pretty much uneventful.

The morning began as always. I lay awake listening to early boats on the move and birdsong ringing the start of yet another hot day to come.

I wonder if birds ever lose their voices???

I hope not. Because the countryside would be such a dull place without the feather choir.

So we left our overnight mooring, behind another boat who had been moored behind us overnight. The eventful part of our jaunt came as we were in tickover for over a mile, as we tried not to push the gentlemans boat a long the canal. Bless him he was going so slow, that we almost aged 5 years whilst we moved a long. He also seemed determined to sit in the centre of the canal. Eventually I think he realised he was just in our way and moved over to allow us to go by. This caused him somewhat of a problem, because as we passed him, we sucked all the water from underneath him and he was left sat on the mud. No sooner we were past, he was able to get underway again and we left him to cruise in tick over. Of course it is his right to cruise in tick over if he so wishes, but he should be mindful of others. Especially those who are working boats, going about their trade. As we past him, I said "Good Morning" and wished him a good day. I like to be polite to all.

We arrived in Stoke Bruerne and decided to eat out for lunch, we had lunch at Spice of Bruerne, which was very nice indeed. We can totally recommend it, if you like Indian food. The last time we ate there was a year ago and the food was still as good. We both had Chicken Pasanda, with Pilau Rice and a Naan bread, this was on a meal deal for £6.95 each. Of an evening this meal would have cost £11.95 each, so a real bargain. It was nice to have a cooked meal, as we have been living off of salads. Not only that I did not have to lift a finger, not even to do the washging up. Which is always a bonus.

After lunch we set up shop with the other half's rag rugs laid out on the roof of the boat for all to see. We also put out the bits and pieces we have to sell. These are things we have picked up over the winter. We sold a few bits, not bad for a first time. We also spent a fair amount of time chatting to passers-by. Some people were having a day out and others were on holiday. The main interest for some was the cat and dog. I reckon if I charge 50p for each photograph taken I would be worth a fair amount of money by now. 5pm and we closed up shop for the day and I decided to take the camera and tripod up into the woodland walk to see what was about. I spotted this Rabbit lounging in the late afternoon sunshine. Unfortunately it got scared off by a dog barking and scurried off down it burrow. There were lots of little birds about, but they were to high in the trees for me to photograph them.
It had been a great day, which ended with us watching the football, with feet up and a cuppa.

A Hard Slog.

Had a nice relaxing start to the day, after a reasonably good nights sleep.
I did the usual morning things, like walking the dog and making breakfast. We then waved goodbye to our friends Elaine and David. Having left our mooring, we thumped under the road bridge and out into the countryside. It was somewhat quieter this morning after the weekends frantic activity of boats passing us in both directions. I did not get my photograph opportunity of boats colliding in the bridge hole. Maybe another time. The jaunt was a picturesque one, with stunning views across the valley. For most of the cruise we were accompanied by the railway and trains flashing past every now and again.
We are now moored up at Bugbrooke. As we pulled into the moorings and the boat rode over something large in the water, which sent us careering back out into the channel! Thankfully the boat coming in the opposite direction was looking at what was going on and took evasive action. Whatever it is, it is big and solid and just behind the boats stern. We thanked the other boater for his patience and he went on his way as we tied up for the day. Having closed the boat up, we set off to the village shop for some supplies. I only got salad stuff because whist it is still too hot to cook, we are going to behave like rabbit's ha ha ha. Bugbrooke is a pretty little village, with honey coloured stone houses, many of them look to be very elderly. The village also has a pub, hairdressers, florists and post office. So it has been a long hard slog of 2 miles in 1hr 5mins (only joking). We are stopping here today, as there is no hurry for us to get anywhere at the moment. We have until the 24th to reach our destination, so loads of time. I think this afternoon, I will be cleaning the boat down, because having been moored under trees, we have bird poo down the sheeting and stuff on the roof. I will be out after lunch with my bucket and sponge giving the boat a wash I reckon.

Sunday Morning.... A day of rest????

Good morning friends.

Whatever happened to the days gone by, when Sunday's were a day of rest and relaxation, or was this a man's opinion??

Let's face it even back then women still had to do the cooking, cleaning and being a general dogs body. So where was the Sunday day of rest for us girlie's huh?

So yep it is a Sunday and the sun is still shining, but there is a strong breeze blowing. Great for drying washing, if I had any to dry LOL. I could not hang it out anyway today, because it would get tangled up in the branches of the trees over hanging the boat at the moment. Mind you it would make for a better decoration than the dog poo bags I saw this morning, hanging in the hedge. Arghhhhhh.

I was in bed last night by 9.30pm as I was totally cream crackered after yesterday. I slept like a log and woke up just after 6am. Having lay awake listening to the other half groaning, due to his bad back, I got up and made us a cup of the rosy lee. We eventually got up at 8.30am, having lay there listening to the wind and the boats speeding past into the blind bridge hole. The hound then got walked a long the towpath where we met a couple of fishermen, who had been there since 5am. They usually fish from 5am till 11am and get home in time for lunch. The hound loves fishing and sat transfixed by the float. He would sit and watch for fish for hours, if given the chance. He got very excited when one of the fisherman pulled up a small Roach. It was then time to wish them a good day and go on our way back to the boat. I did us a cooked breakfast, to set us up for the day, as I have a few things I want to get done. So lunch would end up late, if I was in the middle of something.

I am sat typing this and alls I can hear are horns going off, as boats try and get through the blind bridge hole without hitting someone else. Some of them maybe blowing their horns, but they fail to slow down, so I am now waiting for the crash as boats meet head on at speed. if this happens I will try and capture it on film for you all to see. I will be amazed if there is not an accident before the day is through.

Ok back again after I had to leave the computer to get some jobs done. The first of the jobs was collecting sticks from the hedgerows. I like to collect my Winter supply in the Summer when the wood is dry. Although I do sell Kindling, I will not burn it on the back stove. The hedgerow sticks are to help keep the stove in at night. I usually pile the stove up with coal, and then on top of that, I have a layer of sticks, and a layer of ash on the top, this keeps the stove in all night. Then in the morning I just riddle the bottom of the fire, open it up and woosh away it goes, catching on the sticks I made it up with. I hope to fill at least half a dozen coal sacks with dry sticks before the Autumn. More if I can manage it, but this is always determined by where we moor up. I have two sacks so far, so doing pretty well. The second of the jobs was to price up all our Summer goods for sale. This includes all sorts of bits and pieces and includes my poetry books, which I wrote a few years ago. Precious Moments I edited and supplied some poems for, as all the proceeds go to Cancer Research. 'Seasons of the Waterway's' I wrote because of my enjoying of the canals in the UK. I am yet to write another book, as I have been very busy with the coal business. Hopefully in the near future I will write something again. My dream is to write a proper book about life on the waterways, warts and all. After all if Terry Darlington can do it then so can I. But I am not about to cross the Channel or any other open sea to make the book more exciting LOL. So goodies all priced up and I am now enjoying a coffee with a biscuit. The Men's Tennis final is on and Nadal is winning at the moment. Pad is flaked out at my feet and the cat has gone off in disgust, because she is not able to go outside. The reason why is she hates the wind. I would willingly let her out, but I know full well she would come straight back in, with her ears down against the strong breeze blowing.

I am still waiting for the crash of boats. There have been plenty going by, but no crashes as yet. I am living in hope, because they are all going way to fast for my liking and the boats as well, because she keeps bouncing off of the bank, even though she is tied up firmly and is weighing 30 tonne at the moment. Right I am off now. I have to think about tonights dinner.

Boating in the sunshine.

Hi There.

I had the camera and tripod out yesterday evening, hoping to take a photo of the Blackbird, who was giving is such a beautiful tune, but no sooner I had set the camera up, he was off. Oh well never mind. Whilst standing watching the world go by the local PCSO came strolling by and asked if I had seen any youngsters, which I had not. It seems they had been throwing bricks off of Braunston Tunnel. This sort of action could of course kill someone, and so the PCSO was hoping to find out who they were. If I get hold of the little darlings, they will know what it feels like to have bricks thrown at them.
As the evening drew to a close we had a beautiful sunset, over the top lock at Braunston. Unfortunately this photograph does not do it justice. It was as though the sky was on fire. I am a huge fan of sunsets. After an early start we are now moored at High House, having done 9 miles, 7 locks, in 5hrs 50mins. We are moored near where our friends David and Elaine on NB Patience moor.
My morning began at 6.15am with the alarm on my phone going off to "Hey Sexy Lady". One things certain at 6.15am in the morning, I do not feel sexy. I did however have a great nights sleep though. So at 7.30am we had an early cruise through Braunston Tunnel. I love doing tunnels, especially when we pass other boats. The sound of our engine must scare others to death as we pass them hahaha.
When we came out of the other side of the tunnel, Elaine and David were moored up with a gearbox issue. We pulled in just in front of them and realised that the ground was moving. On closer inspection we saw dozens of tiny Froglets all making for the woods and the damp ground. They must have got out of the water some how and were now trying to make it to the woods and the under growth. They were so very sweet. It was a matter of us watching where we put our feet, as we did not want to shorten any of their lives.
Tje other half helped David sort out the issue with the gearbox and we were both soon on our way. Buckby Locks really do not get any easier, but with some boats coming up, it did save a bit of the work. I cannot understand why so many boaters are so miserable. The GOB's were out again today and they seemed to be doing Buckby Locks. Now I know that the locks are not easy, but there is no need to be so miserable, especially when someone is trying to be helpful. I do wonder if being helpful is such a good idea.
Being a Saturday and sunny, there were lots of boats, which included the hire fleet from Gayton Junction. One such hire boat came past us, with its occupants dressed as Pirates. What got my attention even more though was the lady sitting on the back counter with her legs hanging over the edge, and her feet in the water. I shouted to her to get her feet out of the water and her legs in. This was a serious accident waiting to happen and yet she seemed totally oblivious to the dangers. Hopefully with us having pointing the danger out, she will not do that again on her boating holiday.
So here we are at High House and the only mooring available was under trees with low hanging branches. Having moored up, we got the loppers out and did a bit of gardening. The trees have now had a hair cut. I wonder if BW will pay me for doing their job. At least we will not hear the branches rubbing on the roof all night. With jobs and lunch done, we walked round and had a cold drink with Elaine and David and are now back onboard Hadar watching the football on a pretty good signal. Argentina are going home one thinks, as they are 3-0 done with about 5 mins to go.
We will probably stay here until Monday and then make a move.

Back to Braunston.

Good morning.

When I say good. It was more like morning all, because no sooner had we left our overnight mooring, the rain began to fall. So I had to don my waterproofs quick smart. Not that rain particularly bothers me much. When the weather is warm, a drop of rain is really quite refreshing.

Yesterday I spent most of the morning moping out the front locker. There was an inch of water in there and I wanted it out. I then moved some coal around in the hold, to get things a little tidier. After lunch I got the camera and tripod out to try and take some photographs of a Kestral which kept hovering near the boat, but would'nt you just know it, no sooner the camera was on display, the Kestral stopped coming by. But I did take some photos of a Brambling and a Yellow Hammer.

We are back at Braunston top lock again, 5.75 miles, 3hrs, with our friends David and Elaine on NB Patience. Yesterday afternoon David and Elaine moored behind us, which was fabulous, because it had been about year since we had seen them. Last year at this time we were cruising down to Stratford-Upon-Avon with them and a good time was most definitely had by us all. We spent yesterday afternoon catching up on all their news and of course telling them all ours. So this morning we thought we may as well travel up through the locks with them. We set off with them at 7.30am, after my alarm went off at 6am announcing it was time to crawl out of bed, after a disturbed night once more. I wish I could switch the dream button off sometimes. 7.30am on the dot we were all set to go. Engines fired up and tillers in place. Elaine and David went ahead and got to the bottom lock at Braunston, where a gentleman was waiting to go up, because he was using the dry dock. There were two boats coming down and we soon discovered they had taken the gentlemans lock. He was single handed and had set the lock and opened the gate. By the time he got back to his boat, the people on the boats above had closed the gate and started filling it with water.

Elaine asked them "Did you bother to look to see if anyone was coming up"

The reply from one woman was "Well there was no one here with a windlass, so we thought it was our lock".

Elaine said "The reason for that is because the man is single handed and had gone back to get his boat. You should always check to see if anyone is coming, before you turn around a lock".

The woman then said " Would you please say sorry to the gentleman for us".

Elaine said "Your going past him, you say sorry yourself, after all you took his lock".

With that both parties walked in different directions. The dry dock was by now also being filled to allow a boat out and a boat in, so the pound above the locks was extremely low, made worse by the stealing of the lock. Tim from the dry dock went up and let some water down as we were entering it and all seemed well. But would'nt you just know it. We got out of the Admiral Nelson Lock, and a pair of boats were coming down yayyyy. So they left the gates for us and us for them. On the towpath was a boat moored, which was not allowed as BW had asked the gentleman not to moor there, when the Rally was on over the weekend, but he was there and no sooner he saw us coming he said. "Your pinching my lock". We were'nt because he was still moored up on pins, no tiller in place or engine started. Both Elaine and I knew he was trying to pull a fast one, so just went on our way. As it turned out there was a single boat coming up behind us, and so he joined them. Some people are just so arghhhhhhhh. I have a new name for them all GOB's (Grumpy Old Boater's). Maybe they get out of the wrong side of the bed, I don't know. The locks were done and we are now moored up on the 48 hour moorings for the night. No sooner we had stopped the rain stopped and the sun came out. Elaine reckons everytime they do the Braunston Locks, it always rains, so we are blaming her for the wet start to the day. We do need the rain though, otherwise there are going to be stoppages on the system due to water shortages.

Would'nt it be fantastic if there was a weather switch. You switch it on at night for the rain and switch it off in the morning for the sunshine. That would be just perfect.

I have managed to get a half decent TV signal for the tennis later on. Andy Murray is playing, so want to see how he gets on against Rafael "Rafa" Nadal. I dare we will also be watching the football as well. After an eventful morning with the GOB's. I plan on having a quiet afternoon.

Butty Dreams.

Good morning.

It is another fabulous morning weather wise. The sun is trying to come out and there is a breeze blowing, which should keep the heat down to a dull roar.

I had a night of dreaming. It felt like I was dreaming all night, but of course that was not the case.

What was I dreaming about you ask?

Photograph of BETELGEUSE, Vienna and Kestral.

I was dreaming about a butty. No not a jam butty. This is a butty, which goes with a motor. The other half has got it into his head that he wants one to go with our motor. We did look at one a few months ago. Cygnus was up for sale at Warwickshire Flyboats for £22,500, but for us it came to early. She was however a lovely butty, I fell in love with her. I have since heard that she has been sold and now has a nice new steel bottom. Her wooden bottom has been replaced. I look forward to seeing her out on the cut soon. So yep I dreamt about a butty last night and it was a rather strange dream. We had been told this butty BETELGEUSE was up for sale and so we went and looked at it. Remember this is just a dream. We actually passed BETELGEUSE yesterday, so that is probably way she was in my head. So back to the dream, from the outside it looked like any other butty, but on the inside it was a Tardis. The owners had stripped out all the original features and changed it into a nightmare. There was no back cabin with stove. It had been replaced with loads and loads of tiny cupboards and a gas stove. It was so impractical that I was so upset at what they had done to her. We then looked around the outside and she was such a mess. Her planking was all hanging off and she had been bodged up with bits of old wood and plastic. I walked away from her with a sad heart. I woke up feeling so sad.

Thankfully I know that BETELGEUSE is in good condition and owned by Pete Boyce, who is actually in the process of rebuilding NB Lucy. You may like to get involved with helping to raise funds to rebuild Lucy?

As far as I know BETELGEUSE is not up for sale. It was all in a dream I had last night.

Isn't it funny the sort of dreams we have. Why do we dream the things we do???