Back on our mooring

24.06.16
We woke to the news that we are no longer in Europe.

An uneventful quiet cruise along this familiar pretty stretch back to Fenny in sunshine but a cool wind. Pump out, fuel fill and another 2 for a tenner dinner in the Wharf as our supplies are down now. 

Back to reality tomorrow, although we haven't been free of hospital news and flat sale hold ups on this trip. 

Nice to have had the soothing greens of the countryside slipping by for this time though. As usual Ani has worked her snail pace magic and topped up our flagging batteries. 


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Napton Locks where the buffalo roam

23.06.16 

Another evening in the Folly, this time a mile walk from our mooring at bridge 110. We met another couple to talk boat stories with although they showed themselves to be a bit strange as the evening wore on. Or at least he did. He left his wife to eat on her own and went to the bar to chat to others which I thought most horrible. He knew all the words to every 60s song played over the sound system although we didn't really need to hear his renditions. Hey ho, nowt so queer as (boating) folk.

Good job we had a mile walk back as we were both stuffed with pub pie and fit to burst, it's a wonder the boat didn't sink. 

Another peaceful night, but we were woken by a duck slapping along the roof and then cars tooting on the narrow bridge, so off we went up the Napton flight aided by Bill in his CRT capacity and sporting his stylish port and starboard socks! Nice to see him again and he very kindly did the whole flight with us - even pointed out a sedge warbler to Pete. This could set off a whole new interest! Thanks, Bill. Don't lose touch. 

2 boat names made it into our list today: Nomad Rush and The Early Go. The latter passed us and Pete called 'air trafficker?' to the skipper, who replied 'yes ex-air traffic'. They would have had a longer conversation had we been mooring near to them, no doubt. Early Go is a favourite phrase in their industry and makes for an apt boat name. 

Tonight we moor by the mast, a landmark in this direction for us Fenny Comptoners and although the sun has not made an appearance it's very warm. A skylark is singing as I type and the canal is quiet. 

Tomorrow we will know if we are still members of the EU.    







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Crick and turning for home

22.06.16
Moored in Crick on Monday afternoon opposite the marina. Took a stroll into the village which is very pretty and well kept. We had a beer at The Wheatsheaf, got online to put the last few blogs on, which is now more difficult because the app Blogpress is now defunct and photos have to be uploaded in a different way which I have yet to master. As a consequence of Blogpress folding, we have also lost all our photos on our blog, going back to 2012 when we started it. Infuriating.
We bought some supplies in the co op, got back to the boat without the tea, coffee and butter we had gone for! My brain has definitely turned to mush with all the 'mum' stuff going through it. 

On Tuesday we turned for home and the sun appeared for short bursts. We had a wait for the 'one-way' single locks of the Watford flight. CRT volunteers and the lock keeper helped us through and Pete got told off for leaving the ratchet off after lowering the paddle mechanism! " the ratchet should NEVER be left off", said the volunteer with a sharp tone - something we had never considered important before - oh dear. 

Our mooring short of the Norton Junction turn was peaceful and green as is all the countryside at the moment with pink and white dog roses, cow parsley, flag irises, daisies and buttercups everywhere along the towpaths. The sun popped out again as we had a glass of wine in the bow. Peace. 

Back through the Braunston tunnel on Wednesday. Not an easy run as we were behind a dawdling boat and it is harder to steer a central path at tick-over speed. Also there were 4 boats coming in the opposite direction so we scraped our side a couple of times. Pete's undercoat now needs re-doing! Tunnel lights now seem to be LEDs a lot of the time, unlike our old tungsten bulb light, and they are very bright coming at you making it even harder to navigate. Journeying through tunnels is not a pleasant experience at the best of times and we were glad when we got through to daylight again. 

Then we locked through the double locks with a very sweet old man and his dog, Megan. He was such a boatman; knew totally what he was doing which made my manoeuvres easy. I remarked how well behaved and sensible his dog was as she hopped on and off the boat in locks and waited for him at the bottom gates to get back on board as he came through. He told me she had worked it all out for herself over time. She was as gentle and smiley as her owner. 

Another night of EU referendum debates on TV, a mass of statistics peppered with some logical arguments, all totally confusing with many still undecided and tomorrow is decision day. 






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Late start Sunday

19.06.16
We always sleep well in the bed cabin as it is very dark with only 2 tiny portholes, but this morning we really exceeded ourselves, waking at 9.50 to find Thursday's Child already gone - so missing our last farewell. 

6 boats passed going in our direction so we knew once again it was going to be a busy flight of locks before the 2042yard tunnel. We have had the privilege of a sneak preview of a lot of the historic boats making their ways to Braunston - beautiful old carriers with chuffing engines and bright signage. We locked through the Braunston locks with a very nice couple and their 2 very well behaved west highland terriers who have their bed on the roof under a cleverly rigged umbrella to keep them cool. This boater and our friends we met yesterday both have puzzling problems with their boat electrics and both are questioning whether to continue boating. Like cars, boats are great when they are running well, but such a worry when not.

Tonight we moored opposite Weltonfield boatyard, having turned onto the Leicester section of the Grand Union. And it rained again! 

Braunston

18.06.16
On to Braunston. Today we realised that the historic boat parade was scheduled for next weekend, this could be the reason for the amount of boats moving towards Braunston. 

As we turned right at Braunston turn, a head popped out of a moored boat to say hello. Friends we had made at Stratford boat festival last year were staying here. We moored a little further on, had a cup of tea with them and arranged to walk up to the Admiral  Nelson pub later. We had a walk into pretty Braunston village for supplies, particularly a visit to the butchers. We then went to Midland Chandlers where we bumped into Bill and Sue again. It would seem that all boaters bumble about in chandleries usually with a small need in mind and end up gawping at new cookers, sinks and interesting and probably unnecessary trinkets. All 4 of us resisted temptation however, even of the collapsible kettles, and came away empty handed - us deciding that the telescopic TV aerial post could wait a little longer. 

We had a brisk walk up to the pub later and a good time with Bill and Sue, who are thinking of selling their boat which is a shame. Mikron Theatre were performing by the lock outside the pub - we have seen their boat before but never them performing. It looked interesting but we were too busy chatting to watch the play and had missed the first half anyway. 

A torchlit walk back to the boats, passing a Fellowes Morton boatman painting his tunnel flashes in the dark!? He must be running out of time to spruce the boat before next weekend's parade.  

Busy waterways

17.06.16
We had to hold out at an odd angle between moored boats at the top of the Napton flight, this a first in all the times we have done this stretch. It is extremely busy with summer traffic, all seeming to be going in our direction so that queues for locks are inevitable. The elderly gentleman tidying his roof plants on the moored boat  next to where we joined the queue invited us to "hold alongside if you wish" which was charmingly polite, contrasting with the gypsy boat which then pushed on past, its owner apparently completely unaware we were waiting. I alerted him to this and he acknowledged us, then found a mooring further towards the lock gates as someone vacated the waterpoint. He and his little dog honoured the queue however and we went ahead of him. He and the other man could not have been more opposite characters but equally courteous and respecting of the unwritten rules of the waterways. 

We only did 3 locks today. Moored up and walked down to The Folly, a favourite pub, where we had a drink in the garden sunshine. A gentle collie amused us with his stick game, dropping it and lying in wait for you to throw it, watching very carefully, eyes to you, then the stick. If you dared to put your hand towards it, it was snatched up. The only way of getting it from him was to kick it away first. It wasn't until we watched him play this with several people that we realised the first people we had seen him with were not his owners. We later found out he is the farmer's dog and is obviously part of the pub and towpath life. (We saw him again the following day up to the same game with a young boy by the lock.)

Again we thought the sunshine would last long enough to sit on the  bank for a while, but were wrong as the rain fell once we were back on board. 

Thwarted evening cruise

16.06.16

Having escaped the upsets of my mum's hospitalisation we climbed on board Ani at 3pm in warm sunshine. After loading supplies and tidying, we set off to the pub in warm sunshine, had our first beer in the pub garden in warm sunshine, ate an early supper, walked back to the boat in warm sunshine, started the engine, set off cruising in warm sunshine, not taking heed of the colour of the sky. Turned the boat around to head for Napton as the first huge raindrops fell. Moored back on our mooring in pelting rain and thunder and got soaked! So much for a warm evening cruise! 
TV on instead and wet clothes hung up to dry. Good to be away from it all anyway. 
Better luck tomorrow.