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!

Chaye's 5th Birthday

Friday 15th August chugged up to Thrupp. Lovely moorings there and we managed to get in along the best bit by the cottages. The Wine Boat that we briefly said hi to at the Kidlington Lock moored up 2 boats in front. We meet Andy and Diane a couple of years back at Cosgrove near Stoke. They came round to us for a beer on Friday and had an enjoyable eve.

Sat 16th we Facetimed Mick an Elly it is so good to chat to our Aussie pals,we miss Mick's colourful words and Elly's wise ones. Andy and Diane invited us onto their boat Sat night which turned into a very boozy one trying all the new and old wines they had made this year,finishing with melon liqueur. what a head we had the Sunday! We needed to move on to Heyford as we had a train to catch Monday to Eastbourne.

We made it to Heyford about 5pm and so lucky got a mooring spot 100 yards from the station.

Monday 18th caught the 12.56 to Oxford, changed for Paddington, across London and on the Eastbourne train arrived at 16.45 so not a bad journey for £29 return. Pays sometimes to be a senior!

Faye, Chayse and Zelda there to meet us. Ryan got home from work and we had a nice dinner and played Rumikub after I'd read lots to Chayse.

Tuesday went over to Worthing and had lunch at The Cricketers in Broadwater. Meet up with Nan and Grandad, Anne and John and Maria and Anita. A pre birthday do for Chayse but appart from the lovely presents Chayse was pleased to get over to the park after dinner!

Got back home and played lots of games with Chayse which she really enjoys.

Wednesday 20th had a morning shopping for Chayse's birthday present from us,settled on Operation,clothes,belts and books. Went back for lunch then back down to the seafront with Zelda for a walk along to see the remains of the Pier fire earlier in the year.

The clouds came in abit dark but the sea breeze blew them away and we had ice cream with a flake! On our way back to the car.

Again went back for a lovely roast dinner and more games with Chayse.

Thursday 21st decided to spend our morning doing abit of gardening, Baz and Faye done the digging and planting I supervised and tidied up at the end,whilst Faye got lunch.

Caught the train back to Heyford at 12 58. Not such a good journey back as the train from Paddington to Oxford was running 5 mins late and we only had 6 mins at Oxford for our connection to Heyford and as that train only goes every 4 hours we needed to make it. The guard informed us that he would make a phone call and ask the train to wait as their was several of us expecting to catch that train. However just as our train pulled in the Heyford train pulled out! However First Great Western were very apologetic and put us all in Taxis to get home.

Friday 22nd as we only managed to pick up milk and bread in M/S at Paddington we went over to Kizzies Cafe in the boatyard for breakfast,yummy. Then chugged onto Somerton and moored up Baz went in search of blackberries but not very successful.

Saturday 23rd  Filled up with fuel at Aynho Wharfe at 84p needed 111 litres. The long awaited Dr Who was on in the eve. We decided to moor just outside Banbury near Morrisons as we were in need of supplies, and we knew TV signal was not good in town centre. After 3 attempts to moor up and get a signal we got it. Much to Baz relief, I thought the episode was abit naff but what do I know!

Sunday 24th Baz went back to Morrisons to do a beer run and I went into town for some retail theropy. Baz brought the boat into town and then we moored up again as there was a spot right in town. Banbury had beautiful flowers on the bridges. 

Baz brought a couple of tee shirts and a jumper. So then we did a late afternoon chugg and moored up to Slat Mill Lock just outside Cropedy. A boat moored up behind us late in the eve and got completely stuck as it was too shallow. All hands to the deck we managed to get him off but split our boat pole.

Bank Holiday Monday  25th August and it's the wettest coolest day we have had for ages so a day on the boat having a clear up.

Friends and Family on the Thames

Tuesday 5th August set off early out from the K & A into the Thames not as warm as it has been but no rain!  Managed to get good moorings at Goring and had a wander around the pretty village. Saw the Mikron theatre boat there and had a chat will try to see them in Abingdon on Thursday.

  

Wednesday 6th off to Wallingford again where lucky with a mooring although abit high it was a lovely day and really busy there with boats in all directions. We had another boat ask to breast up did not like to say no but it made our boat dark inside. But the weather was fab so we sat out on the back with our table out and had dinner out there and played Rummikub till it got too dark to see.

Had an incident with a poor lady dog walker who had lost one of her dogs and we had seen it swim past our boat about an hour earlier. Lots of people where out looking for Bue and when I text them on Thursday the dog had been found. Hurrah.

Thursday 7th arrived in Abingdon again where lucky to get the last mooring by the bridge. Decided to go to see The Mikron theatre showing Troupers. We realised it was in The Plough in a village about 8 miles out of town so got a Taxi, had a lovely eve the performance was fab and we managed to get a lift home.

 Friday 8th August Sue and Kay arrived about 2 pm long journey as traffic was bad. Went for a walk round town through the Abbey ruins then went for a cuppa in Thromwing Buns. Then back to the boat for dinner and a game of cards. Such good fun having the girls here.

Saturday 9th August cruised up the Thames to Oxford. A little breezy but no rain yet! Moored by The Folly Bridge, unfortunately we where right by the bench where the regular town drinkers sat. Reasonably harmless we where told,but at midnight one of the guys had come back fallen asleep on the bench then fell off! We called the police and by the time they came the street drinker had disappeared ! ! We had a lovely afternoon around town having tea at The Vaults at St Mary's Church. Kay managed to find a smashing dress for her nieces wedding. Played Uno and 7's for money! In the eve.

Sunday10th I went into town with the girls got a wander. Baz. Stayed on Boat,happy to have some peace and quiet! Girls went home about 4ish after late lunch.

Monday 11th August we went to the station to meet Kate and the girls unfortunately the train was two hours late. Had a wander back to boat, I enjoyed time with Molly and Connie whilst Kate and Baz went in town for a drink. Played Careers and Baz won. 

Tuesday went into town for a wander, Kate loved the old buildings, but with heavy showers on and off went into Pub for lunch. 

When we came out sun was out so back to boat for tea. Connie did not settle in the eve,but eventually went off to sleep. Played Go and I won.

Wednesday 13th decided to go to the castle before catching the 1.30 train,had fun going in the stocks and trying on the battle ware in the shop.

Said our goodbyes to Kate, Molly and Connie sad to see them go,went to the Pub for our dinner as I could not be bothered to cook! Came back after shopping at Sainsbugs and had a little nap! Then had a grand tidy.

Thursday 14th August left the Thames and got up to Kidlington after filling up with water and emptying out!  We painted the roof of the boat here last year. Had a nice chugg and missed all the showers although a lot of thunder around. Strang to be back on the single locks again seems so small! But spied a Kingfisher tonight catching a fish,whooh.

Hungerford to Reading

YTuesday 29th left Hungerford intending to stop at Kintbury,we have not manage to get BBC to watch the Commonwealth Games which is a little frustrating! So we stopped at Kintbury and again no BBC so we decided to chugg on to Newbury.

We got there 4ish and where lucky to get the last spot before top lock under the trees lovely.

Wednesday 30th just moved our boat up a couple of spots and went round the town. Baz brought some new shoes,Crocs again, and I found a nice top in Trespass sale. Had a coffee in square and watched the sports centre youngsters promoting short tennis. Great fun. Back to boat for lunch,then had an early eve pint at The Hatchett in town, Faye phoned to tell us about Eastbourne Pier.

Thursday 31st moved on to Thatcham nb Robert asked to moor up alongside then the boat behind moved so we walked him up to the vacant spot. Then 10 mins or so another boat asked to 'breast up' this time it was the Canal Christain Minister hardly going to say no! They where very pleasent good job I am a good Christian lass!

Friday 1st August needed to get some hours done as we knew Saturdays weather forecast was not good. Started out ok got to Woolhampton and 2 boasts pulled out in front of us. Not hire boats so did not hand about. We where pleased of their help at Aldermaston as the Big Road Lock is really heavy and we had an Electric Swing Road bridge to go through so all went together. Then we got to. Tyle Mill another electric swing bridge which had broken and had to operated by RCT only every 3 hours so had to wait till 3 pm. We all decided to fill the gap between lock and bridge and lock so would be first out!  Then all had a cuppa.

Got to Sheffield Lock at Theale and after mooring up and chatting to Alan our travelling companion and Dog -James, and another couple who where just walking their little dog Toby we all went up the Pub.

Sat 2nd the BBC got it right and we had some heavy down pours, but it cleared by the eve and we had a lovely walk round Hopshall Lake before dinner. pudding was freshly picked blackberries and apple crumble.

Sunday 3rd headed off to Reading hoping for moorings round the Loop by the Gaol and old Abbey ruins. We where lucky and had a wander around town having a beer at Iguanas in the Oracle. it's like being abroad with everyone sitting out in bars enjoying the weather.

Monday 4th had my hair cut in town and got train tickets to go and see Chayse for her birthday on 18th for a couple of days. John Lewis have a fab store in town but nothing we need Urggg!

Going out tonight for a curry having a break from my galley 

Reading is much nicer than I expected and the moorings are very safe and quiet. Apart from the geese!

Off on The Thames tomorrow.