Our 16 and a half year old boat

22nd May Monday

On Saturday, after travelling to Braunston, picking up some supplies and continuing through the tunnel, we moored on the Leicester Arm, opposite Weltonfield Marina. The sun came out but it was still chilly. Again as the forecast was dry, we stayed put for the day on Sunday and painted. Pete completed half of the roof, I refreshed the inside of the side hatch and painted out more designs. On attempting to repair a blister in the paintwork on one of our side doors, we found the steel had a hole in it due to the bottom of the wooden lining having completely rotted. I guess we shouldn't be surprised after 17 years. The boat is in remarkable condition and we have known for a while that the wooden lining of these doors remains sodden - largely because our weather isn't sufficiently warm enough to leave them open for long periods of time. We decided to repair the hole with plastic padding for now and order 2 new doors. We will make sure we seal the bottom of them a little better next time. 

This mooring was very pleasant next to fields and only a short distance from the M1, but you'd never know it. Dog walkers, bike riders and walkers all trundling past in the Sunday sunshine, some stopping to chat. BBQ, then hatches battened for cosying in.

Beer spillage and towpath tales

19th May
Yesterday was sunny and warm, which meant we could start our journey. The stretch from our mooring to Marston Doles and Napton locks never fails to cheer us, it's winding route through the greened-up countryside with fields of sheep and lambs and the canal lined with frothy cow parsley is England at it's best. 

We moored just before the bottom lock and went straight to The Folly pub for refreshment. My pint of ginger beer shandy decided to aquaplane down the sloping table and land in my lap. Not a pleasant feeling and a strange coincidence as my onboard drink the night before had ended up on my shoes and the floor. Both of these glasses had been full! I must learn to keep an eye on wandering drinks in the future. 

There is always some gossip or intrigue going on. On our mooring on our first night, police were darting up and down the towpath anxiously looking for a woman in red. They found her, but frustratingly, we never learned why she was missing in the first place. Our neighbour told Pete of the death of another boater they both knew and Pete, surprised, double checked which character it was: the one with the dog? The next day whilst he was painting the boat roof, the deceased chap walked past with his dog and gave a cheery hello, which understandably spooked Pete considerably - he did manage to hold back a shocked "I thought you'd died" thankfully, but definitely thought he'd seen a ghost. It remains a mystery which boatman has actually died. 

Back on board

17th May 2017

Once more on board for a trip to the May Bank Holiday Crick Boat Show.

We arrived in a strong wind as so often is the case, grey skies with a little sunshine and as we are in no hurry, stayed put on our mooring to do a little maintenance and pretty Ani up for the party. Tuesday was spent shopping for fairy lights, flowers and food for us. Then decision was made to stay put today too as it has rained incessantly and heavily since the early hours, such an irony when we have just had such a dry April. We will be level with the bank at this rate. Still it has allowed some much needed cleaning and clearing out of old nonsense from drawers and cupboards. Pete has scrubbed the back canopy, solar panels and roof and prepared the latter for a coat of paint - he hasn't needed to rinse anything! I have blacked the stove and painted out my faded side hatch panel designs which have been there for 16 or so years! Have yet to decide what to replace them with.
The rain continues to hammer down. 

As before I cannot add photos on here and can't remember how I did it before, so this will be an unillustrated blog until I get home again.