Saturday we copied half of Britain!

First my apologies for not updating my blog every day, as I had firmly intended when I started it. Due to technical problems, ie. not being able to upload photos for some reason I have been getting inreasingly frustrated with the whole thing!

Anyway, on Saturday after a beautiful day cruising we moored at Kegworth and copied half of Britain and had a BBQ. This hot weather really is good for getting the fellas to do the cooking. Needless to say the heat put paid to anything else and we crashed out from booze and heat exhaustion!!

Sunday we had a very easy day and did very little cruising, ending up at Sawley to watch the grandprix and football.

Monday another easy cruising day, very hot again, so we moored at Shardlow, which is very pretty. There is a Heritage Centre there, which I couldn't wait to go and look round. Unfortunately it is only open weekends and bank holidays. So was a bit annoyed about that, but to ease my annoyance we fell into the local canalside pub. A quick pohone call to our friends Jennie and Ian with an invite and they came to see us and we had a lovely evening and very surprisingly good 'Two for a Tenner' meals. The Clock Warehouse comes highly recommended.

We think that every day is like the 'first day of a holiday' - get there, dump the suitcases (moor up) and then go exploring, its great and we are having the most fantastic time. We don't think we ever want to go home!

Goodbye Pete and Trish

A very pleasant cruising day, locking with a hire boat (they handled it very well actually). Moored up for the night on the secure moorings at Castle Garden in Leicester. Had a lovely evening sitting on the mooring with a few drinkies and saying goodbye to two of our travelling companions, Pete and Trish, who had to turn back and head home on Friday morning.

We set off leisurely this morning, with several destinations in mind, ended up at Barrow-On-Soar. Lovely setting with pub and park, sun and people. What more could you ask for.

Unfortunately signal not good enough today for loading photo's, which I really wanted to do.

Foxton Staircase and more!!!!

Yesterday we spent a very leisurely day cruising, no locks, just cruising in the sunshine from Crick to Foxton Locks.

We got to Foxton a bit late in the day and arranged with the lock keeper to stay at the top until morning. However, one of our party went down anyway and moored at the bottom.

We all went for dinner at the pub (can't remember the name, the big one). Highly recommended even if the service was a bit dodgy (it was very hot and I think they maybe got taken by surprise how busy it may be).

This morning we were up with the larks. By 9.15am we were down the staircase and in the local shop waiting for the bread delivery.

Anyway, onwards and upwards (well downwards actually), 12 locks later, making a total of 22 locks in one day we moored and went on walkabout to check out the area. Pub found, beer sampled and back home for dinner.

A hard but uneventful day.

Was paid big, big compliment from the boat moored infront, when he came to enquire who had made our cratch cover because he thought it was very good and he needed a new one. Ken had great delight in telling him that it was home made from a wallpaper template, material purchased from Ebay and stitched up onboard the boat on a trusty old singer sewing machine (if you can make curtains you can make anything!!).

I must admit, I had difficulty getting my head back through the door onto the boat! lol

Bad food and doggy on walkabout

We are not compainers, we don't rock the boat (so to speak) but we really did feel like doing so on Sunday night at the New Inn at Buckby Wharf. We were starving hungry, ordered our food and waited, and waited and waited. After enquiring after our order it arrived, immediately, looking rather sad. Anyway, we tucked in, it was poor but we were very, very hungry. I think it had been put on the hotplate for 45 minutes till we asked where it was. Anyway, we didn't complain, but DO NOT EAT AT THIS PLACE. I woke in the night with tummy ache, need I say more.

Monday morning, looking forward to a good start up the flight at Watford and on to Crick. Oh no, one of our cruising buddies had lost his dog on a late night toilet trip. That was it, we were then hunting in earnest for the next hour or so. Bingo, news got round and then someone heard it on the radio DOG FOUND!! Sure enough it was Toby (who happens to be a bitch, but thats a long story). An hour later Toby was returned by the kind lady who had found her at 3.30 am wandering along the A5 and looking very lost. Toby wasn't sure she wanted to go back home for a start as she had been spoiled rotton since being found. (I think the finders were hoping it would be keepers).

The remainder of the day, I am pleased to say was uneventful although hard work going up the staircase locks.

I have tried up load a picture of the staircase, but, it was a no go today, poor connection I think.

On schedule, despite ourselves!!

Before we set off on our journey, we printed out a planned route of our journey using http://www.canalplan.org.uk and considering we have been taking it easy we are quite surprised to find we are bang on schedule.

Yesterday (Saturday) we came all the way up the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal and moored for the night at a convenient canalside pub for some much needed refreshment. I liked the name of the place 'The Wharf' at 'Bugbrooke'. Enquired about eating and was given the menu and told they started serving at 6.00pm. 6.00pm came we arrived and asked for a table, only to be told that they were fully booked. That is like some medieval torture!!! Back to the boat for egg and chips. Back to the pub for beer.

Today we have a superb cruising day and have moored up at Buckby Wharf.. Had some interesting company on the way up the locks, (which are big and heavy). Justin and Michelle had just picked up their brand spanking new Aqualine boat, with paintwork to rival a Rolls Royce. These being the first locks Michelle had ever done, I tried to give her some tips and encouragement, I think most of it fell on deaf ears!!!! and the paintwork should touch up ok, but they were lovely people.




This is where we are moored for tonite and just getting ready to go and have our dinner, which I am soooo ready for after all those locks.

The difference between being on holiday and being retired!!

The last time we came up the Nene to the Grand Union Canal, we had two weeks holiday. We therefore did Peterborough to Stoke Bruern in three days. But, now that we are retired we have been seven days and we have only got as far as Cogenhoe Mill!!!!!!!!!!! But what a lovely time we've had sitting out in the evenings having a few drinks with fellow boaters, life doesn't get a lot better!

Today though we hit the dreaded 'WEEDS', we have never seen it so bad it must be all the sunny weather. Just after Whiston Lock we came across a narrowboat stuck solid in the weeds. We took his stern rope and towed him out into the shipping lane and waved cherio only to see him sticking it in forward gear and going straight back in the weeds.

We should make Northampton tomorrow, but then again, maybe not!!

Progress !!!!!!!!!

Well considering where we should be, we are NOT!!!!!

All well and good being laid back, but, it does seem to hinder one slightly!!

We moored at Oundle Boat Club, 12.00 mid-day, thought we would have a quick pint and came out at 7.00 pm, I think that is what you call 'being made welcome'. Ken even missed Grand Prix which he never does.

So, today, Monday, we have had a 'getting over it day' and will be on the move again tomorrow.

Wanted to upload pictures, but the silly computer will not let us!!!! Very frustrating!

The Adventure Begins

Three fifteen on 11th June 2010 - at last we set off on our big adventure to Ripon by canal.

Our friends came and waved us off from our mooring at Peterborough Yacht Club, Elaine and Geoffrey gave two bottles of wine and choccys (yum, yum), thank you very much.

The sun came out and we had a lovely cruise to Wansford lock. We moored up and walked up into Yarwell to see old friends and have a much needed bevvy at The Angel Inn.

Walking back to the boat I had forgotten just how dark 'dark' is!! But we made it back without falling in anything wet!!

A lazy start this morning, now moored up for lunch at Elton, aiming for Oundle for drinks friends this evening.