Sunshine and more strong winds

The sun continued to shine and it was  very hot for a couple of days before being plunged back into overcast skies and challenging winds.

We continued our journey through Hilmorton Locks in the cool of the morning and made steady progress under clear blue skies towards Braunston, which was gradually filling up with vintage working boats for  their historic boat festival, which hadn't taken place since before the pandemic. Some beautufully restored and maintained boats were already on display.

It was getting really hot so our search on coming out of Braunston was for some shade, which we found at Bridge 99, where we spent a lovely cool afternoon and evening and managed yet another bbq.

What a change the next day when we had to don our jackets against a strong, cold northerly wind as we travelled towards Napton. We stopped for an early lunch and a warm up at the moorings at the bottom of the Napton flight. We had just untied our mooring lines and were heading off to ascend the 9 locks when a head appeared from the bow of the boat in front of us! A familiar looked at Jenny and simultaneously we both cried hello. It was Jane and Ian on Esio Trot. They had just come down the locks and were in the process of mooring so we did a quick bit of manoeuvring and retied our lines and after giving them some time to sort themselves out and have their lunch we gathered for a lovely afternoon of catching up and sharing boating stories interspersed with heavy rain showers! British weather!

Strong winds stayed with us the next day when we did eventually ascend the Napton flight in record time! Every lock, on a very quiet flight, was in our favour. 

We tied up for the day at an empty Ariel mooring - where has everyone gone?

Sunshine, wind and showers  took us into Fenny Marina, where we were due to meet 'old' friends, Dave and Val together with dear old Dylan and their new 6 month old puppy, Barley, who were staying at Moreton-in-Marsh in their motorhome, and were driving over to see us on Sunday.

Always good to see friends after so long, summer 2019 being our previous get together. We walked to the Wharf for Sunday lunch and unlike our last visit there we were very impressed. Good ale and excellent roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and plentiful, well cooked veg. There was a pleasant buzz around the place as well. We will return! Once again much chat and catching up. The perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

The strong wind continues to blow across the marina! But at least the sun is shining.

Longest Day

 Sunshine, clear blue skies and hot, the perfect longest day. Lovely evening on the towpath at the foot of Hilmorton Locks. 

More of the same forecast tomorrow.

Weird weather!

The Ashby Canal is a delight, especially when the temperature rises as it did for us. We made our way up to Sutton Cheney in clear blue skies and gentle winds. The canal was quiet and no problems with moorings. Our first evening was tranquil and the perfect setting for our bbq, enjoyed on these beautiful, long mid summer evenings. A visit to our favourite farm shop was on the agenda the next day followed by an 'end of day' mooring at Sutton Wharf, a bit different from the previous evening. We picked up the last 'official' mooring outside the cafe, which prooved to be perfect. A couple of boats arrived after us, one moored in the bushes and the other moored on the water point - naughty but understandable!

We started our return trip in bright,  hot, sunshine with a lovely gentle breeze, which abated during the early afternoon until two very hot and weary boaters needed to find some shade, which we did just south of Hinkley.  We spent a pleasant afternoon and evening sitting on the shady towpath along with several other narrowboats. Narrowboats get very hot inside so folk were still sitting outside long after darkness started to fall.  Just as June boating should be - at last!

However, this is Britain and the next morning the temperature had dropped and the rain had moved in! So warm jackets and waterproofs were donned for our trip back to Hawkesbury Junction. Jenny did some housework whilst Sid manned the helm ans we were glad to get moored up, fire lit and hunkered down for a wet and cold Saturday afternoon. 

We enjoyed a trip down to the Coventry Basin on an overcast but dry Sunday morning. As we entered the basin it was lovely to feel a buzz of activity. The cafes were busy and there was an outsude yoga class taking place.  Such a change from previous visits.

We had only planned a day trip to visit Halfords and top up a few provisions as well as a hard to find Woman's Weekly!

Back to Hawkesbury Junction under overcast skies followed by a delicious roast lamb dinner on board ( Sid's favourite and it is Father's Day) together with great Yorkshire Puddings.

Out on the water

Sorry not to have updated the blog for a week but we have been enjoying ourselves out on the water,  chugging along the South Oxford, the North Oxford,  the Coventry and now Ashby Canal. We left Fenny in mild, cloudy and very windy conditions and after a short first day we ventured down the two Marsden Doles Locks to see how Jenny's ankle faired. All ok so after lunch we continued down the Napton flight in challenging winds, taking it very carefully and slowly. By the time we reached bottom lock the ankle was causing some pain and was very swollen. However,  we now only have the three Hilmorton Locks to face in several days time.

First night mooring

Another night 

And another 

Sid's friends

Night night!

The wind has gone at last! Hooray!

We kept our days short and enjoyed some lovely quiet moorings on our journey to Hawkesbury Junction where we enjoyed a gorgeous drop of Abbots Ale at the Greyhound - our first for a while. 

The atmosphere seems to change when turning onto the delightful Ashby Canal. The sun is shining and we are due to have short lived heatwave for the next couple of days. 

More strange goings on!

 Whilst having breakfast on Tuesday morning Sid glanced at our radio controlled clock and to his amazement this is what greeted him - time had flown it's nearly Christmas!

Sid began to remove the remains of the old exhaust pipe whilst waiting for both the delivery of the new exhaust and also the service kit for the old heater.

Luckily, the FedX package containing the new exhaust from Midland Chandlery arrived about 11.00. Sadly, Sid was having a real problem getting the skin fitting off the hull. He drilled and drilled and drilled some more and managed part of it but couldn't get the last screw out and had to drill it out.

Jenny kept up a steady supply of tea and sympathy.

After many hours of blood sweat and nearly tears the job was finished and the heater was working. Well done Sid, not bad for a young 75 year old.

Going in

A bit further

Lower!

And lower!

I'm in!

Not easy working in here!

Video of Sid extrcating himself to follow!

Not surprisingly Sid was not quite so spritely on Wednesday or Thursday!

We had a convivial afternoon on Wednesday  having a cuppa and a chat with friends, Christine and Ron on their boat nb Eezy Life at Calcutt Marina.

On our way back to Fenny we thought we would be very brave and have a beer and a bite to eat at the Wharf Inn, something we used to do quite often but haven't done since before Covid.  This once thriving and lively pub is now soulless. The beer was ok but the kitchen was closed,  very disappointing. We had one drink and then returned to HM for salmon and British asparagus and a nice glass of chilled white wine.

Sid was definitely feeling the effects of his efforts the day before and Jenny's ankle is getting better each day, if still rather stiff and swollen but we are both looking forward to getting out of the marina on Thursday to start cruising - very slowly and carefully!

 

 

Funny Old Thing this boating life!

It's very strange that after 10 years on our lovely narrowboat with just general maintenance, keeping her looking clean and tidy, a little facelift here and there, both inside and out, and the odd little hiccup, we have suddenly hit a patch when there seems to be one problem after another.

Our plan on arriving for this particular trip was to finish the polishing and continue to replace the window rubbers . Then, when Jenny's ankle was a bit better to venture out and see how we manage with a change of roles. As it turns out on Saturday morning our eberspacher diesel water heater stopped working. As it happens, we have a spare heater on board ( no surprise to anyone who knows Sid) so he set about removing the old heater ( to be taken home and serviced). That prooved harder than he thought - the exhaust was stuck - then he discovered the exhaust was seriously perished and would need replacing! 

The Midland Chandlers website indicated that they had said part but on contacting their Braunston shop we discovered it is only available to order - 7 days to collect from the store or within 48hrs delivered, at a price! We need the exhaust so we ordered it to be delivered to Fenny.

So, since we are stuck here and since Jenny is supposed to be elevating her leg we spent the rest of the Jubilee Weekend enjoying the concert and the amazing Pageant in front of a cosy fire to ward off the damp and cold weather. Very lazy and most unlike us to be doing nothing. 

Back on board

Our minds keep casting back to 10 years ago when, during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, we were on our maiden voyage on Hunters Moon, bedecked with soggy  bunting!

Well, here we are 10 years on, Platinum Jubilee celebrations taking place across the country and once again it is raining. So, on our arrival at Fenny Marina we decorated HM internally- maybe the sun will shine tomorrow. 

Cheers you Majesty!

70 years and counting.

We were planning to spend the rest of June cruising but unfortunately Jenny had a little accident and badly sprained her ankle, no break luckily, but very swollen and painful so we are not sure how far we will get. 

A weekend of polishing for Sid, if it stops raining, and Jenny will keep her leg elivated as much as possible - at least we don't have two flights of stairs to negotiate!

We will then venture out and see where we get to. We'll attempt to keep the blog up to date!