Monday 15th to Sunday 21st June 2009
From the peace and quiet of Somerton’s meadows, if you forget about the cow problems, we cruised to just above Kings Sutton Lock.
While I studied the deckhead for a few minutes V disappeared down the towpath and came back with two icecreams, a perfect end to a warm pollen blighted day. Hayfever has erupted with a vengeance and I could use some rain to clear the air. Hardly made my wish when thick black clouds headed our way from Banbury bringing thunder and lightning.
It wasn’t long before the show started and as we dived for cover from the rain and hail the sky around us lit up with spectacular flashes accompanied by deafening big bass drums.
Seconds before the rain arrived the crew from the boat behind us were shouting their approval with “Oooohs” and “Aaahhhs” as the sky lit up, before they too ran for cover. Brilliant.
Tuesday was dry which made things a lot easier for a shopping expedition to Morrisons at Banbury. Further on we were surprised to see nb.Shindig on her way back south after her Bristol to Sharpness adventure, there hardly seems enough time to do the circuit since we saw them on the K&A. Well done you guys.
Our moorings below Slat Mill lock saw the shears in action again, the weeds along the bank were over ninety feet tall. I cut more than we needed because a little bird told us Sarah-Kate was coming in to land. And so she did, with Mike and Jo who we’d said goodbye to at least once before, but it was lovely to see them again and lovely to empty their drinks cupboard once more.
Bourton Lock, I think it was, is in a state and I almost wept for the overgrown garden. High with grass and weeds you’d have a job to see the former beauty of this place. A notice on the house says it’s in new hands and being worked on but with so much to do the garden must fend for itself. It would be a shame if the owners didn’t swing a bill-hook now and again and an even greater shame if no one picks the fruit bushes next to the lock.
Wednesday we were away early but immediately fell into a queue for locks. Cropredy was choked with boats and not the place to hang around when everyone’s going silly on the water.
We pulled over far short of our intended bridge 124 because the clouds started dropping wet stuff and, anyway, we’d had enough for one day.
I panicked at one stage during the day when I noticed the green lamp on the engine monitor panel was off. As V steered I peered into the darkness below decks and found all fan belts whirring around as usual, the start battery was charging and when I stopped and started the engine all worked as expected so I assumed the lamp had given up the ghost. Sure enough my diagnosis was correct though I have to say I’ve never known one to blow on a boat or a car before.
Just to be thoroughly modern I replaced the filament with an LED.
On Thursday we pottered off to the top of Napton Locks and fell in behind the slowest boat in the world.
We stopped half way down for a brew, something we never do but it did no good because half an hour wasn’t enough to put a single lock between us. V tried helping them through but they wouldn’t have it any other way so we smiled and wandered down in twice the time it normally takes. We were so slow that Sarah-Kate, even after stopping at Claydon’s Bygones Museum, caught up with us.
By the way we didn’t appreciate how extensive and fascinating this museum is, looking at Jo’s photos has given me a real need visit next time we go down the Oxford Canal.
Opening hours are 10.30 to 4.30 Wednesday to Sunday, April to October (phone 01295 690258). It’s only £2.50 admission with concessions for the terribly old and the terribly young like me.
We were pleased to see that BW had planted poppies on the lock landings to cheer us up. And very nice they are too.
I have to say I do like the bollard humour on the Oxford Canal. Perhaps BW could raise money by offering sponsorship of the lock bollards. By that I mean we could show our appreciation by sponsoring bollards that are in the right place.
The day ended between bridges 102 and 103 on the GU between Wiggies Turn and Braunston and finished with us eating our last supper with Mike and Jo. I say last supper because tomorrow we turn right and they turn left.
Friday was farewell Sarah-Kate and how do you do Moore 2 Life. Chas and Ann were moored (Moored – get it?) just round the corner so we stopped for a cuppa and a natter. After admiring the new cupboards and getting some exercise trying to take a stick off Molly, we said our goodbyes for the time being and wandered off to Braunston.
Rumours are confirmed, the old working boats, or ‘projects’ as one called itself, have gone. No burnt out shell or sunken boats on the run up to Braunston because CRS are doing a spring clean. When was the last time you saw the canal bank along here? It’s the end of an era.
Uhh-ooh, notices up outside Braunston Marina, we’re not welcome this week. Boat-fest next weekend says we’d better not stop. Not only that but the loo dump was choked again so we shall have to take our ‘stuff’ elsewhere.
I later read in Willawaw’s blog that Mark was in town on the same day but how we didn’t bump into each other I just don’t know.
Some good news – The Admiral Nelson is open again on the Braunston Flight. It was sad to see the shutters up earlier this year and notices posted in town saying regretfully the business wasn’t there to keep it open but it looks like someone is giving it another try.
Isn’t Braunston tunnel busy on Fridays? We passed four going t’other way, the first one stopped dead as we reached him which is usually fatal. I spent my time watching the other side, keeping the gunnels an inch off the wall so when he bounced off us I knew that he had wandered across to the middle of the tunnel. Boing he went and crash went something else as his starboard side whalloped the wall. He muttered something about us not helping things by going too fast but at little more than tick-over it’s the slowest I dare go. Does anyone else come to a dead stop in the tunnel in the hope that nothing will happen?
Hanging a left at Norton Junction we spotted a great big shiny boat. Ahhh, it’s Derwent 6 taking a nap. Nope, they’re obviously taking a walk because we couldn’t raise Del and Al with the horn.
Catch up with you guys somewhere I’m sure. And we still haven’t done the guided tour.
Watford locks has its own special welcome for us, it’s where we started to feel at home back in January 2006 when we braved snow and ice to get Balmaha onto familiar waters. We don’t care how long it takes going up the flight, there’s always a smile here and often time for a chat. Further on, mooring opposite the sheep and within earshot of the M1 (where isn’t?), we shut down for the night.
Saturday’s plan was to clear Crick and settle down for a couple of days. Tunnel traffic was all going our way, which was nice, and after a thorough soaking we emerged to find the place buzzing with boats. No spaces meant we hoved-to where we shouldn’t and while V did the Co-op run I prepared to argue for mooring opposite the new marina entrance. Signage is ambiguous anyway so one has an excuse for the little time it takes to get bread and milk from up the road.
Aiming for just short of the Welford Arm we pottered along in half decent weather. One fella poked his head out of his side hatch and commented on our engine, saying “Your engine is quieter than my fridge”. It’s nice to know the hospital silencer is still doing its job.
Looks like the rumours of a marina at Yelvertoft have substance. There’s a scar across the fields and a mountain of topsoil that says something’s going on. Just before the old BW dredging dump there are notices telling us to keep out as I presume they don’t want us playing on their machines, spoilsports.
Emerging from bridge 27 we spotted vacant moorings right next to the wooden seat. I shouted “full ahead” to ensure we got there first and then “full astern”, followed by “finished with engines” as we secured to rings while our bow wave cut loose and disappeared up the cut without us.
I was just putting my feet up when V reported a non flushing cassette loo. Not being able to find my ‘urgent and important’ jobs list I decided to tackle it without delay. Lying on my back in the corridor with my arm up inside the gubbins I pressed the wrong thing and got deluged by water from the bowl. When will I learn, always take the fuse out before messing with water solenoids.
It works again and I put it down to an infestation of limescale and I mentally booked a complete overhaul sometime in 2012. That should keep my mind off the Olympics.
Our (my) joy was complete as the barbeque worked its magic again on the stern deck. You can’t beat sausages and skewered pork I always say, washed down with something red, white or brown and fizzy.
It’s lovely being back on the Leicester Line, there’s nothing particularly special about the water, its brown like other canals but it is quieter than the main lines from the south or those from the west, especially in winter. The blue shirts up here are the best in the country, always friendly and ready to help, unlike all but one we met on the K&A.
Sunday brought out the usual marina traffic, they potter up the cut for lunch then potter back at closing time. Added to these are boats from up north because the River Soar is open and of course there are the hire boats doing the Leicester Ring. But we are getting treats with seeing working boats making their way to Braunston for the ‘show’ next weekend.
Here’s one that came through earlier.
Father’s Day didn’t pass without a call from the kids and as it’s a sunny day we shall cook on the barbeque and open a special bottle that came my way recently. Being an orphan I have to put up with getting gifts and receiving lavish attention, it didn’t used to be easy for me but I have recently found the grace to do it well.
It’s a special day for Mike on Sarah-Kate, his birthday – again. Not quite the oldest man on earth but he is doing quite well with his bus pass collection. Happy Birthday Mike.
