The End 10-9-10 to 28-9-10

From Friday to Mon 13^th we motored on towards Reading going through the longish tunnels at Crick and Braunston and suddenly we were  on the old familiar territory of the Oxford Canal where we spent enjoyable trips when we had our old boat Zenobia. Strangely we did in fact pass Zenobia 2 which was built to replace the one that we bought and on chatting to the skipper who I think part owns it found out it was 18 years old.  So that was how long ago it was that we bought Zenobia, wow.   We got to Banbury on 16^th Sept and while we were there we had a visit from Sue and Clive who were driving down to Oxford, to help out their son in his house, so they popped in for a coffee and chat.  We went to the cross and took photos one of which we sent to Danni for it was here that we brought her when she was little, for a holiday with Granma and Grandad.  We left Banbury on Friday at 4.30pm and moved for about an hour then moored up at a good spot on the off side and stayed until the Tuesday.  The reason for the long stay was to do some well overdue work on the boat.  We cleaned and polished her and I rubbed down the gunnel and put a new coat off black gloss on one side (had to get more paint so still one side to do).  In order to do both sides we had to move back to the tow path side as well.   While we were there we got chating to the many dog walkers that went past regularly and got quite friendly with one couple called Amanda and Brian.  She really fancied having a boat one day so we showed around.  When she left that day to “do her baking” she said she would bring us back an apple crumble.  Sure enough at about 5.00pm she turned up with an apple and blackberry pie and even brought a tin of evaporated milk to go with it as she thought we wouldn’t have any cream.  She popped back the following morning to collect her dish….thankyou Amanda it was lovely!  At Oxford on the 24^th we had a visit from Sam, tom and Harry who was coming to stay for the weekend as is was his turn on the boat.  He had a lovely time with us and we went to Oxford Castle and shopping.  In the evening once we had just moved of the Oxford Canal and on to the Thames we saw a chap fishing for Crayfish.  So we thought we could do that and with a bit a bacon tied on string and a net we caught about 7/8 and then we cooked them, they tasted like prawns.  You only eat the tails and the claw meat so there wasn’t a lot but it was good fun.  We got to Abingdon by Sunday and waited for Sam to come back and collect Harry and he brought Luke with him so it has been nice to see them all, especially Tom who has changed  quite a bit since family camp and is now running everywhere.  Moday27th we moored for the night at Goring-on-Thames and that just leaves us about 10 miles to do to get to Reading and journeys end.  On Wednesday I am getting the train back to Chester to get the car and on Friday we drive to Cornwall for a weeks holiday in Polzeath with Hilary and Mike and Lyndsay  and Chris.  Then its back to the boat for a week to help Joe with his move and then a week at Sam’s to look after Tom before we go home to Kent.  We are taking Harry with us for a few days as it’s half term and then on the Wednesday we bring him home and collect Luke for his turn.  So it will be November before we are back to normal by then I will be super fit and ready for squash as I am still jogging a bit and yesterday 27^th sept I ran for 50 mins phew!

 

Summary……

 

6 months   730 miles    494 locks   lots of £££££, lbs, wine and beer   but a great time……can’t wait to do it again

Last of the Guests 2-9-10 to 9-9-10

We set off down the River Soar and found it to be beautiful, I think probably the best yet.  We moored briefly in Loughborough, and briefly was enough,   for a quick lunch and moored for the night at Mountsorrel.   We didn’t leave to early as I have started jogging every other day and the 3^rd was a jogging day.  I am trying to sort out all the excesses and drinking that Clive forced me into before I start squash again when we get home.  We had lunch on the go and moored up at Leicester at 3.00pm on the secure moorings at Castle Park.    We had been warned that it was a good idea to moor there.  Guess what 2 boats down from us was Dragonfly and Richard & Liz whom we hadn’t seen since 11^th July.  We had intended to wonder round Leicester but we only managed an hour at about 7pm before we went back to Dragonfly for more chat and a drink or 2.  You may remember that Liz fell over a wall back in July and unfortunately she is still having problems with her left knee.  They were heading for Market Harborough planning to leave their car and boat there while she goes to a specialist in Kings Lynn. Next morning we said farewell again and went to the market which was good, very cheap and excellent quality fruit and veg.  Before we set off Liz rang us to ask if we minded waiting while they got back from leaving their car at Market Harborough so that we could do the next two days together and share the locks.  That’s what we did and so we arrived at Foxton locks on 5^th Sept to await the arrival of Lyndsay & Chris and Jim & Glenis.  Dragonfly went on their way to Market Harborough and we welcomed our guests who were staying until Thursday.  Tuesday we decided to go for a day trip to Market Harborough and back.  On Wednesday we all went up the Foxton Lock flight which consists of 2 sets of  narrow 5 lock staircases.  After that which took about 45mins we had an all day breakfast at the top and then moved on to Welford which is at the end of an arm off the Grand Union Canal.  On Thursday we all went for a walk before lunch then we said goodbye to Jim & Glenis then M went to have her hair cut which just happened to be at the end of the arm.  After that we said goodbye to Chris & Lyndsay then set off on the final stages of our voyage.  Have worked out that we have about 114 mls and 65 locks still to do.  For anyone that’s interested we will have done in total since April 730miles and 494 locks once we get to Reading…..phew!!

We’re On The Way Home 22-8-10 to 2-9-10

We set off in good time on Sunday 22^nd to ensure we got to the lock by 9am and arrived in Leeds at 1.30pm.  After lunch we left the Leeds Liverpool and went back on to the River Aire heading for Keadby our entry point to the River Trent.  On the way we passed John & Gale on George and spent a couple of hours caching up with them before mooring for the night at Castleford at 8.00pm, so a long day of just over 12 hours.  Monday we booked our passage through the lock at Keadby on to the Trent but have to be ready to go at 6.am on Wednesday morning so we go upstream with the tide….silly these rivers aren’t they!  We ended up doing another long day, mooring at Bramwith Lock on the Stainford & Keadby Canal which is part of the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation mooring at 8.30pm having done 22 1/4 mls, stopping for lunch and rain and then dinner and rain.  Tuesday we did the final leg of 15 mls in the pouring rain but arrived at Keadby at 3pm in the sunshine.  Wed 25^th we were out on the River Trent by 6.30am, following another boat Katynka with Ian and Diane.  They had done this route before and had a chart so knew where all the sand banks were so we kept quite close.  They did not go very fast though as I was keen to nip along and take advantage of the strong flow while it lasted.  Still we got to Torksey at 10 .30 which was the first place that we could stop.  We had decided that we had time to pop down the Fossdyke Navigation which later becomes the River Witham and ends up in Boston.  We only went to Saxilby where we had arranged to meet up with Lady G again.  The following day we took a bus to Lincoln and had lunch and a look round and managed to take in a roof tour of the cathedral which was very interesting.  Friday 27th we went back to Torksey and out onto the Trent again and motored down to Newark where we are staying for the bank holiday weekend before we move on.  In the evening we went to a jazz evening in a local pub.  Sat we lazed in Newark and in the evening we were invited out to drinks on board Mirage, a wide beam dutch barge, with David and Mary.  We had a guided tour as well and it was very smart.  On Sunday as the weather was not brilliant I decided to change the oil in the engine and did one or two other maintenance bits.  Mon 31^st after lunch we had live music in the park opposite the castle then Clive and I went to a beer festival and then in the evening had a picnic whilst watching 3 brass band in the park and fireworks afterwards.  Tues and Wed saw us finishing our journey on the Trent and an impromptu BBQ just by the final lock as it was our last evening with Sue & Clive.

On Thursday we went our separate ways, them to the Trent & Mersey heading for Coventry and us down the River Soar towards Leicester well on the way to our final destination of Reading.

More of August 19-8-10 to 21-8-10

We failed on the Bingley 5 Rise on Wednesday as BWB had just started only allowing boats to through in pairs and to save water even more it was up in the morning and down in the afternoon.  We arrived at 2.30pm and were told we could go down if another boat came along.  But there wasn’t one so Amy & tim had to go back to their cottage without doing the locks.  On Thursday morning I had a mobile mechanic come to look at the engine because yesterday morning soon after setting off  it suddenly seemed to lose power.  It kept going ok but I didn’t want any problems when we went on to the River Trent.  It turned out to be a combination off  dirty fuel filter and air filter and some water in the fuel.  He changed both and ran off the water and it was then fine and smoother I thought.  We went down the locks with Lottie in the afternoon ok and moored for the night at Saltaire.  This whole place had been built by Titus Salt a wealthy mill owner back in 1800 & …. To improve the working conditions of his staff and included everything that they needed, like schools, shops, houses etc. but no pubs as he was strictly tee total.  I was amused to find a restaurant ( serving alcohol) called ‘don’t tell Titus’.  On Friday Amy & Tim joined us again having packed and left their cottage but the time they had and then gone shopping in the Salt Mill we didn’t leave until 3ish and were too late for the next set of locks which closed before we got there so poor old Jago still didn’t get to do any locks.  We had heard by this time from one of the lock keepers that the last 6miles to Leeds of the Leed Liverpool canal was closed because of low water levels in 2 of the pounds, and that it might be open again by Sunday as they were sending water down. We said farewell to Amy & Tim and waited till the morning for the locks to open.  While we were waiting I took the opportunity to fit the new impellor, so now the generator was working again.   Also waiting at the lock was another couple Phil and Shirley who had borrowed their daughters boats for 3 days and the head gasket had gone so they were stuck.  We offered to tow them to Rodley where they moor, so we pulled him into 5 locks and towed him about 5 miles which was a first for us.  We lazed for the rest of the day as we could not go any further.  Luckily a BW man came along and informed us that if we got to the next lock by 9am then we could go on through to Leeds.  This was good news to Bev & John an Australian couple in Matilda who had been waiting there since Wednesday, so our timing was quite good really.  In the evening Phil & Shirley insisted on taking us out for an Indian….lovely.