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!