The Ashby Canal

Friday 12th September 

Set off with Richard & Jodi nb Jakmar from Braunston after lunch. Poor Richards boat did not want to start but with a stern talking to with a Spanner all good!

Moored up at Hillmorton and had lovely dinner on our boat, whilst ther dog, Millie had a sleep on their boat.

Saturday 13th

Had an early start, 9.00 (that's early for us!) as we wanted to get to Hawksbury junction, which is always busy. Stopped at Brinklow for a lunch stop. Beautiful weather so where able to sit out and have a beer and goog grub. Then onto Hawksbury and where doing really well with half an hour or so to go, then we got stuck behind a slow boat and with 6 of us all behind him decided to stop short of the junction,again good moorings. Jodi and I walked the dog while Baz & Rich had 5 min shut eye. Poor old boys! After dinner we played a new game of cards called 'Silent Partner' I really enjoyed it but I did win, Baz not so happy nobody wanted him as their partner!

Sunday 14th

Went through Marston Junction  and stopped at Marston Jabbett for lunch. Then onto Hinckley for dinner and more cards. Two working boats where on Private moorings opposit and had fires going. Really smelt like Autumn. Managed to double book our flights with Monach on our outward journey to Tenerife for November. After several phone calls on Monday, one cancelled!  Booking on line is not always that easy to us silver surfers.

Monday  15th

Moved on, passing a fab Farm Shop at bridge 23 buying some lovely meats for the rest of the week,to Stoke Golding and found a lovely picnic table to stop and have lunch. Surprise the table was 'Reserved' for us!

However just as we started to 'tuck in' a black cloud went over, but not to be put off we just got out the brollies. Faye, your Christmas pressy came in handy,could still use 2 hands!

After lunch went for a wander up to the village lovely church, 3 Pubs and a little shop only open for 3 hours in morning and then 2 in the late afternoon as the children came out of school.

Two huge Horse Chestnut trees so we got loads of Conkers to put round the boats to stop spiders coming in, ( it does not work) but now we have my little mouse and Conkers to frighten of the creepy crawlies.

Eve turned out lovely Baz went scrumping and found some apples for me to make a blackberry and apple crumble for pud, with loads of custard!

Tuesday 16th

Went on to the end of The Ashby at Snarestone,turned and had lunch. Funny little shop selling all sorts of rubbish, gave them a couple of books I had read. Went back to Shackerstone and booked a table at The Rising Sun. We happen to hit on Tuesday Steak Night, and had a lovely meal for £7.50 per head. Bargain!

Wednesday 17th

Decided to chugg along and stop back at the lovely picnic spot at Stoke Golding and have a BBQ with the lovely burgers we had brought at The Farm Shop. 

We sat down for afternoon tea with our posh teapot, we know how to live!

Had a good game of Rummykub before the boys decided to get the BBQ lit. Lots of smoke while they both played Candy Crush. Boys and their toys.

Thursday 18th

Stopped at Burton Hastings for lunch then back to Hawksbury for cards and dinner and a lovely Shepherd Pie. The weather has been wonderful and today was the hottest we all caught the sun.

Friday 19th

It was abit of a shock to wake up to misty cloudy weather, but fortunately it did not come to much. We just got a little damp. Moored up at a little picnic spot, but the litter all around was so sad. We went for a walk into Brinklow, Barry brought another wrong lottery ticket, haven't won a thing since the increase to £2. Came back and I decided to be a Litter Picker Fairy and cleared up, 3 bag full!  Left a note in rhyme but I guess the morons who leave litter can not read.

Saturday 20th

Went onto  Newbold to pick up Richards daughter, son in law and another dog! They have a boat full!

We stopped at The Old Royal Oak for late lunch early dinner. Good grub. We could not moor up outside pub and had bad moorings but as we where only there for an hour or so put up with it. We hate being on rocky banks and pins.

The did an afternoon cruise back to Braunston where a lot of moving cars went on. We had a relaxing eve watching some TV.

Sunday 21st

Beautiful morning, I got up early and walked up to the shop in the village for supplies and milk for Baz's second cuppa.  We all had a great big cooked breakfast on our boat, before our last 3 hour chug with nb Jakmar to Napton. We got there and as we expected it was very busy we got the last mooring before the turning circle and Richard got half on behind us.

However we where lucky as while Richard and Paul walked the dogs, a boat 3 up moved off so Jodi moved and moored up. 1st for Jodi well done.  Had a meal on our boat before Paul had to head home. Then we all played Rummykub.

Monday 22nd

Said our Goodbyes to Richard, Jodi and Amy as they where going onto Fenny Compton for a paint job, and we where turning to come back to Braunston and going to use nb Jakmar moorings in the  Marina. Looking forward to having endless electric!

Tuesday 23rd

Went into Daventry to get our Boarding Passes printed as we are off to Spain for my birthday. Baz had a haircut, got our Euros, I picked up a small suitcase as carry on luggage, and a curry from Waitrose. Bus back and enjoyed a game of cards.

Days in Braunston

Sunday 7th September 

 Barry painted the blacking down one sie of boat while I went and did some Volunteer Gardening down at The Stop House garden. Enjoyed the morning meeting other volunteers and having a cuppa with everyone.

Baz finished as I got back we had a nice afternoon and roast lamb for dinner! Heather and Mick turned up so had a good chat  and meeting Monday for dinner.

Monday 8th

Decided to paint the other side of boat so turned round early at the junction before all the boats started moving. I caught up with jobs indoors and prepared a lovely chilli for eve meal. Heather and Mick came about 6ish had a lovely eve catching up with all we have been up to.

Tuesday 9th

Went down to water up then to the Marina entrance and turned coming back to moor on the 14 day spot overlooking the fields and Braunston church. Went to nb Smile and Wave for dinner Mick had cooked a fab Lasagne, (nearly as good as mine!) went into Daventry in the afternoon going to the Libuary for some printing. Had a Greggs lunch ummm!

Wednesday10th

Said our goodbyes to nb Smile and Wave, I am sure we will meet up again sometime. Lovely day so went for a walk right round Braunston stopping at the Gongozals for tea and cake. Chatted lots to different boaters.

Thursday 11th

Went into Daventry for the day as Richard and Jodi coming up Friday so need to get in supplies at Tesco. Did overdo it a bit and came back well loaded.

Barry had some strange throbbing in his hand and legs in the eve got abit concerned but think he is ok!

Friday 12 September

Meeting up with Richard and Jodi midday to go up The Ashby Canal.

Poppies

Thursday 4th Sept 

Moved the boat up to the junction as our 48hours was up by the Marina. Needed to get water etc and it seemed like everyone else had the same idea. So we had to wait patiently, not something that Baz is good at! Anyway eventually moored up about 12 30 and I popped up to the village and had a haircut. Went for a walk in the afternoon.

Friday 5th Sept

Our 44th Wedding Anniversary!

We had decided to go to The Tower of London to see the poppies that are being placed all around the moat of the Tower. 

Got the bus to Rugby and the train to Euston,then the tube across to Tower bridge. They are truly amazing and it's a very moving experience to think each poppy represents a human life and they are only half way to completing filling the moat.

We had fish and chips at Traitors Gate and sat and enjoyed the view of Tower bridge. To our surprise the bridge began to open and a tall ship went through. Another 1st, never seen the bridge opening.

We wandered some more then headed back home getting back about 6.30. Lovely day.

Saturday 6th Sept

Caught the bus into Rugby and had a nose round the Market, the did a shop at Sainsbugs.

Back on boat cleaned all my brass up. Hoping to catch up with Smile and Wave at some point this weekend.

Peter from Ohio

Tuesday 26th August

Went through Cropredy, meet some Canadians coming through lock who where not paying attention and got stuck on the cill coming down. On exiting the lock they had lost their steering and crashed into the waiting boat behind us. Just shows how quick accidents can happen. Moored up at Top Lock

Wednesday 27th

Stopped up at Fenny Compton, and. Bob measured up for a new Cratch frame. Will have a new cover made in the winter months by Kinver. Mick did you Cratch have windows or zip sides? Caught up with Cath then moved onto Wormleigh overlooking farmland. Blew up really windy.

Thursday 28th 

Went down Napton  Locks the tempory repair is still holding  and will be replaced in the winter closures. Moored up just in time before a cloud burst. Then popped into the little shop and brought ours Xmas cards can you believe! Lovely eve went for a walk and picked some blackberries.

Friday 29th

Made our way into Braunston, wanted to moor up on the Oxford with a view, but just could not get over,so went round the corner and only space was opposite The Boathouse, no TV signal Urggg . Went along to the Marina and booked ourselves in for the winter months seeing a few  familia faces. Popped to the little shop for milk and bread. Came back and sorted out our holiday to Spain to see friends.

Saturday 30th

Reversed back to the spot on the corner of the junction, good TV thank God, Dr Who on tonight! 

Caught the bus into Rugby to get our train tickets for Birmingham Airport. Stopped at Sainsbugs for supplies on the way back as. Kate,Molly and Connie where coming for a sleep over to brake the journey up coming back from Faye's. They all arrived and had a lovely eve story telling and playing games.

Sunday 1st September

Went for a walk up to Bottom Lock for a nice cream. I went back with Kate to look after the girls on Monday as both Kate and Jon had to work. 

Got to Kate's and cooked a fab roast beef dinner then early night for all!

Monday 2nd

Had a busy day with the girls playing games, tidying then cooking a big Lasagne for dinner. They where a joy to look after. Caught the train back to Rugby at 4 pm and Peter had already arrived at the boat, he is my cousin from Ohio, USA,  kept him entertained . Decided to go to The Plough for our dinner,it was ok not that good.

Back to the boat and chatted for ages going to bed about midnight.

Tuesday 3rd

Molly our 2nd granddaughter started school. How exciting

Took Peter up Bruanston Locks, through the tunnel turned at Norton junction and moored up between locks 2/3.  Peter did some steering and seem to enjoy it until another boat came towards us then back to the Captain! Stopped for lunch at Norton and went for a walk and a pint at The New Inn. A working boat pulled up delivering coal, the lady on the boat was handling the bags like a bag of feathers. Certainly not someone to mess with.

Got stuck behind a really slow smelly boat coming back through tunnel,but Baz kept his cool !!! Sat in the sun on a lovely September eve having a glass of the red stuff whilst roast chicken was in the oven. Baz tried the TV again no joy and with Peters imput decided we had a wiring problem not the Ariel.

 

 Wednesday 3rd

Woke up and found the boat on the tilt. The pound was low so Baz had to go and let some water down, along with help from the boat behind we managed to get off the bottom. Said our Goodbyes to Peter around 10ish, We hope he enjoyed his narrow boat experience, certainly a story round the Pub when he gets back to the States. So today we have had a tidy and clean whilst Baz has re wired the Ariel, no joins and all seems much better. fingers crossed!