What a lovely start to our trip

What a lovely week!

Well it started out that way.

We have been travelling with Pete and Sharon in their boat Venice.  We started out at Peterborough Yacht Club with a right royal send off by Barney and Val Barnes.  The wine was cracked at eleven'ish and the snacks came out.  By twelve we were on our way in bright warm sunshine.  It was the best set off we have ever had.  We decided to moor at Elton for the night. 

As we have all done the Nene many times we settled into a natural rhythm.  We only had to tow Pete and Sharon off once, when he stopped paying attention and hit a shallow bit.  Well, it couldn't all go too smoothly now could it.

Elton was beautiful and we moored next to some friendly people on NB Brass Buckle.  

Next day we cruised to Oundle.  Beautiful sunny and warm day.  Popped into Oundle and hit the pub.  Lovely afternoon had by all, followed by a few more drinks on the boat when we got back. 

We pressed on the next day and stopped at Thrapston.  The weather had changed by this time and the wind was horrendous.  That meant a day sitting it out.  I personally didn't mind as I was nursing a hangover from hell after Oundle.

With no sign of the weather changing we really put our backs into it and pressed on towards Wellingborough and then Northampton.  Cold, wet and uneventful cruising followed by some seriously early nights.

We had a farewell drink or two in the Malt  Shovel at Northampton on Saturday night and waved Pete and Sharon off early this morning.  They are eager to hit the canal and get off down to London.  We've had a lovely time with them and really do enjoy their company.

We are now settled in at Northampton until next Friday when Brenda and Mick on NB Ada Apple catch up with us ready to hit the canals and some serious cruising.

Suppose this gives me time to do all those little jobs like, cleaning windows etc. oh joy!!!

Sorry no pics haven't got to grips with pics and iPad on this blogs spot yet, bear with me.!

Eight days till we leave and counting!!

Well we are well and truly on the countdown to leaving.  We have been frantically getting the boat all spick and span and all those little jobs sorted that seem to get left year in year out.  Is been scrubbed and washed, painted and polished.  Not a square inch has been ignored.  Anyway, less of that and more of the interesting stuff.

We are going to be going rather a long way this year, over a thousand miles and 800 or 900 locks - we are gluttons!

These are the major places of interest in order on our route, starting off at Peterborough:

Northampton
Braunston
Birmingham
Wolverhampton
Llangollen
Chester
Northwich
Macclesfield
Marple
Huddersfield
Leeds
York
Lincoln
Nottingham
Leicester
Stoke Bruerne
Birkhamstead
Paddington Basin
Shepperton
Windsor
Reading
Oxford
Banbury
Braunston
Northampton
Peterborough

If anyone would like to visit us on our travels they are very welcome.  We can't always let you know where we are until we are nearly there, so it tends to be short notice, but if you can fall in with that, great.

We will be travelling Brenda and Mick on Ada Apple once again, its nice to have company.  Just want to get going now.

I'll be signing in again next week.  So don't forget to follow our blog.

Birmingham and Back - Our Short Trip 2012

 Brenda locking at Foxton

 For our 2012 trip we planned to go to Birmingham with Brenda and Mick on their narrowboat ‘Ada Apple’.  For anyone who doesn‘t know, Brenda is Ken’s sister.  This was always going to be a short trip and we planned to leave mid June and be back around the end of August.  This was also always going to be a challenging trip.  The day we set off I had my first cycle of my third round of chemotherapy.  We were going to have to return to Peterborough every three weeks for the duration of the trip for me to have my treatment.  Oh well, so be it, we will do it!

I should also tell you that sadly we no longer have our little Max.  He was such an adventurous little soul, but he adventured a little too far one day and had an argument with a car.  RIP Max.

 

RIP Max

The trips home were only the first of the problems.  We had a drought and there was not going to be enough water for us to get through to the canal system on the Northampton arm of the Grand Union canal.  The arm was only going to be open at certain times.  So we were on a tight schedule.  Then there was a chemical spill which held Brenda and Mick up at Stanground so they could not join us to set off as planned.  We waited at Peterborough Cruising Club for four days till they could join us.  It was a very lazy, laid back and frustrating wait.

Eventually they arrived on 27^th June and we set off at break neck speed up to Northampton to get up onto the canal during the open window.  We were only about a week behind our original plan.

 Drinks with friends

As we invariably do we stopped at Northampton Boat Club for the weekend.  Lucky us, our visit just happened to coincide with a party.  Met old mates and caught up on the gossip as usual.  The weather was still rather nice at this point.  However, the following day, by the time we hit the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union the heavens opened and it rained all the way up.

As I wasn’t quite as fit as I would have liked we decided that I should take the boat through the locks while Ken does all the hard work.  I was very nervous to start with, but after a few locks, I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.  Brenda was adamant that she wasn’t going to take her boat through and continued to do the locks while Mick took the boat.  She soon decided she wasn’t going to be outdone by me so took the helm of her boat and followed us through the locks.

So our trip began and continued uneventfully.  We hit the pubs and cruised leisurely for the next three days.  Then it started to rain.  We arrived at Kilby Bridge and moored up.  We couldn’t go any further.  A visit home was required and news was the Soar was flooded.  This was going to hamper our trip.

After a week and home visit done we managed to move on to Leicester.  Only to be delayed again.  Quite a few boats were moored at Leicester and it ended up like an impromptu boat rally.

 Boat Rally Leicester!!

Eventually we were able to move on.  We visited the Dudley Living Museum, which we loved.  Then onto Birmingham itself, which we absolutely loved.  We wanted to stay longer, but by this time we were on a tight schedule to get home.  Ironic!! Two reasons, the Northampton Arm was going to close and Brenda and Mick were booked to go abroad.  It really wasn’t going too well.

We did have a good time, but it is always better if you feel free to go at your own pace and not be dictated to.  So, we high tailed it back to Peterborough.  The weather was on and off as it had been throughout the trip.  We got back on 29^th August, a week before the arm was due to close.

 Loved this big fella in Birmingham

The plans for 2013 are in the making.  This will be a big trip starting on 5^th May 2013 and we plan to be back around end of August or September.  I will up-date you shortly on the route.  My plan is to blog once a week.

Apologies and an up-date

 I’d like to apologise to everyone for not finishing this blog in 2011 when I really should have done.  Several things got in the way and life thew us a curved ball.  My health didn’t seem quite right although we couldn’t put a finger on it at the time.  It was another two months before it became clear what was the matter.  Unfortunately I had to start chemotherapy for the second time.

But, back to the last thirty days of our round trip to London.

At this time we were experiencing some fantastic hot weather.  It was perfect for travelling so we decided we would head off down to Lechlade so we could say we had ‘done’ the whole of the navigable Thames.

Well, I have never come across such a wriggly river route, not to mention we had no guide book so didn’t know how far, where to stop or what facilities were available.  It turned out – not a lot!!  A very strange journey.  Unfortunately we found it neither relaxing nor picturesque.

 I tried a bit of bread making, but it didn't go to plan!!

We were pleasantly surprised by Lechlade itself with its profusion of antique shops.  The pub on the river, aptly named ‘Riverside’ does lovely food, best chips I’ve ever had.  We only stayed for a couple of nights here and looked forward to getting to Abingdon.

The plan was to moor at Abingdon for the best part of a week to wait for Brenda and Mick to catch up with us.  They had been on their own agenda but we were all meeting up to attend a surprise 50^th birthday party and then travel the rest of the way home together.  We had a brilliant party.

The weather was fantastic and Max made himself the talk of the towpath with his antics.  Mainly hiding behind a bush and jumping out to scare the passing dogs.  He also indulged himself trespassing on other people’s boats.  I’m glad to say no-one seemed to mind him being nosey.

 Max checking out the neighbours

We set off for Oxford in the blazing sun.  We couldn’t have wished for better weather.  My son Kam was meeting us in Oxford and travelling with us down to Banbury.  It was meant as a short relaxing break.  However, no sooner had we picked him up and the heavens opened for the next four days and his break turned into a washout.  It was his first proper introduction to boating – I’m sure he thought we were completely barking carrying on down through the locks to Banbury in torrential rain.

 One very brief dry spell

The sun came out at Banbury and Kam got on the bus home.  Typical!!

Our trip from Banbury all the way to Northampton boat club was disappointingly very uneventful.  The sun shone for the most part and we only stayed over night at each stop.

We stayed at Northampton boat club for the whole weekend and helped the club celebrate their 100^th anniversary.  Saw lots of old friends and caught up on the gossip.

From there we were anxious to get home.  I don’t know why but he nearer we get to home the quicker we want to get there when the time comes.  The Nene can be tiresome and when the weather changes and turns cold all of a sudden (which is what it did), home just can’t come quick enough.

 Strange colours in the sky

We arrived on our mooring at 17.30 on 31^st August 2011 after 100 days of travelling.

Thames again

One of the locks on the Caen Hill flight

At last we are back on the Thames. I must admit I really do like it, big water and lots going on. The moorings are a bit few and far between but a lot of them are perfect for Max and mousing!! He is bloody good, off the boat, mouse caught and back in the boat so quick and then I am bloody chasing after mousy. I wish he wouldn't bring us live presents!!!

The trip back to the Thames from Bath was largely uneventful. We had quite a lot of time without, TV, phone or a computer signal so felt bit out of it. When we did get a signal all sorts had happened in the world, unfortunately nothing good.

One of the more interesting stops was at a pub called 'The Barge' at Honeystreet. This area is famous for 'crop circles'. There are photos of all the local circles on the walls of the pub. It is also a meeting place for 'croppies', like train spotters but crop circles instead. Would you believe we actually sat next to some with their computers studying the latest circles.

Passed a couple of local boats from the Peterborough area. The Wee Fella, Rodgy Rodgy and one from Oundle with no name. Didn't get chance to chat which was a shame.

We also bumped into a hire boat with twelve teenagers!! What a nightmare, and it was, we locked with them, but not for long, they found a pub and stopped, lucky us!! We also bumped into the horse drawn trip boat at Hundgerford, that was quite a treat.

Glad we've got an engine, but it was nice to see how it used to be done

We moored in Reading, which was really nice. We happened to moor next to a boat called 'Lady Dawn'. We had heard of this boat as when going down the flight of 29 locks at Devizes we had heard of two boats getting stuck in lock 38 coming up the flight. Fairy liquid had been used to free the boats. It was nice to meet the lady who was at the tiller on the day, she had to laugh when I told her she was famous!!

Pixie with her owner 'the famous lady in lock 38'

This was probably Max's favourite mooring ever as he had a playmate 'Pixie' a seven month old female tortoishell kitten. They loved to hate each other!!

So back on the Thames and on our way home. We are moored and watching Formula 1, which of course is a must do!

Enjoying the hot, hot weather. So many people are enjoying the water, even swimming in the river, which I haven't seen adults doing in years.

Max eyeing up dinner!!

Mmmm not sure where these are supposed to be going???

Bristol and S.S. Great Britain

S.S. Great Britain

We have just spent the last few days in Bristol. What a really nice place it is. The weather wasn't kind to us and the wind, rain and cold did dampen our visit a little.

We wandered round the old town and found a pub with a Jazz band playing, which was quite unusual.

The hightlight was definitely a visit to see S.S. Great Britain. This ship is fantastic and has a really interesting story spanning 160 years since it was built. It is now back on the sight where it was built in a dry dock. You can walk round the ship and see what it was like to travel on her and the museum goes through all the history. It is the best visitor centre we have ever been to and well worth a visit. Very good value for money on the entrance and the cafe didn't rip us off either.

View from our mooring in Bristol Harbour

Its nice to sit and watch all the ships, boats and canoes etc in the harbour, you never get bored. There are even a few oddities like a galleon!!


We have turned around and are now heading back towards Reading and the Thames. Tonite we are back in Bath, moored in a quiet spot between locks. Well it is quiet as far as cars etc go but very lively with hire boats locking. I have a feeling we will be on the bottom of the canal if any more boats go through tonite and let any more water out!!

This could loosley be described as an oddity!!

Locks, Locks and more Locks

Since we left our mates on the other two boats at Reading we have had quite a different trip. The Kennet and Avon goes from Reading to Bristol and back, so, everyone on it is going basically there and back. This means that you get to meet people on different boats over and over again as they leapfrog you going in the same direction then turn around and come back. We have met so many people. The funny thing is you feel you have known them forever.

Locking with Mick, one of our new friends we feel like we've known 'forever'

The Kennet and Avon is famous for the 'Caen Hill' flight of locks at Devizes. There are 29 in total which have to be completed once started, this takes on average 5-6 hours. We did this flight on Sunday, we were going down. We bumped into Mick at the top of the flight who we had done some locking with a couple of days earlier so we paired up for this flight with him as it would make lighter work of it. Thank god we did, it was shattering. We tied our two boats together for some of the locks so that Ken and I could work together. We started the flight at 09.15 and finished it at 17.25, a long day. We moored, went to the pub for dinner and then sat outside the boat talking to neighbours on other boats. It was such a lovely evening.

Caen Hill Flight at Devizes

I must say we have been really blessed with the weather. The sun has shone on us almost every day. Since leavng home I thnk we have only had a week of bad weather in total. Ken is as brown as a berry.

We are getting closer to Bristol now. We have just been through Bradford-on-Avon. It is a beautiful, old and quaint village/town. However, it has to be the noisiest and busiest damn place I have ever been to. The traffic is horrible and getting across the road is impossible. But I still liked it.

We have just been to Bath. Not sure what I think of Bath atually. We went to see all the usual things like the Roman Baths and the Royal Crescent. There are a lot of shops, a little market and a lot of people. It grew on me as the day went on. The mooring was strangely a bit pongy. There are a lot of seaguls, which Max seemed to ignore really.

Bath Deep Lock - 19 Foot drop!

At the moment we are moored right out in the middle of no-where. Its a great place for Max - no bikes! We got here about tea-time and now it is nearly bed-time, so far we have seen, very strangely, three people, three dogs and three boats!!!!