Hawkesbury Junction

Decided to stay put and cycle into Coventry today. Sid needed to have a Machine Mart fix! Good towpath, if a little puddly but ok. Quicker by bike than boat!

Jenny and Sid in Coventry 

Got back to Hawkesbury but had to cycle past The Greyhound,  which we didn't!
Had discussion, tea on boat or beer in Greyhound.

In the Greyhound having a beer. And very good beer it is!

What a difference a day makes!

As forecast the rain came. All day!  And we are back to waterproofs after two days of shorts and t-shirts.

Still, we completed the journey from Rugby to Hawkesbury Junction in fairly good humour!  Sid drove snd Jenny did some house work, thus keeping dry - unlike poor Sid!

There is supposed to be a photo of poor, wet Sid here but Jenny was too wet to take it

Quite a lot of folk travelling today and we nearly had a case of boat rage at a water point! We were definately closest to the point, in fact, Jenny was all ready with rope in hand when the boat heading directly towards us started tooting his horn. After some glaring looks peace was restored thanks to the arrival of a duck family with about a dozen ducklings. Much oohing and aahing was expressed by both parties.

Lazy Sunday

We really are making slow progress. We woke to another stunning day and made the decision to go to the Family Service at All Saints which doesn't start until 11.00. This meant we could have a very lazy breakfast before strolling, to the sound of the bells ringing , up the hill to the church. As always, we were greeted warmly into this rather special building, the Cathedral of the Canals . The lively Ascension Day service was lead by the Rev Sarah Brown, who once again gave a thought provoking talk which started with a riddle, always a good opener  and some of the children were encouraged to join her to help with the visual aids. It is always so good to see the youngsters involved with the service.

We emerged from the church into the gloriius sunshine feeling uplifted and with a spring in our step which took us back to Hunters Moon via Wharf Narrowboat,  where Sid needed to buy some paint and brass restorer!

After a good lunch we set off. Then low and behold a familiar face appeared walking along the towpath. It was Richard and Megan, his dog from nb Clara Paye who we had descended the Caen flight at Devizes with last summer! We had a catch up chat as we motored and he walked on the towpath beside us. We are sure to cross paths again somewhere along the way. Small world the narrowboat world!

We only moved just out of Braunston to a pleasant mooring where we hoped to catch the afternoon and evening sun. Our mooring in Braunston had been partly under a tree!  We were also under a bird's flight path to this tree! The results of which were all over the front of Hunters Moon! Hence,  Jenny spent much of Sunday afternoon cleaning up the bird's mess. This done, she decided it was time to sit, relax and enjoy the beautiful afternoon.

Now, many of our readers may know that Jenny isn't the greatest of dog lovers! Well, what happened next does not endear her to dogs, or should it be their owners?  Jenny sits taking in the sun when suddenly a huge dog bounds up to her. Startled by being accosted by this panting dog who seemed determined to jump into the bow of the boat her first thought was to shout for help, that is "Sid!" The dog appeared lost and was bounding about and just wanted to jump on board!  Sid shut up the boat and left Jenny outside with this obviously,  young and slightly crazy dog. We expected to see it's owner appear along the towpath but the minutes ticked by and no one appeared. The dog bounded back and forth a short way along the towpath and eventually we heard someone calling. The dog did not respond. After about 10 minutes a man came up to us and claimed ownership of said dog. Apparently, the owner had last seen him chasing pheasants in a field and he thought that was what dog was still up to! We were astonished, particularly with there being so many sheep in the fields, How irresponsible,! And my afternoon had been disturbed! How thoughtless of the owner who just seemed unconcerned.  His narrowboat was moored some way back from us.

Peace restored to our mooring in the last of the evening sun

Docile four footed neighbours

You haven't got beef on that bbq have you?

Imagine our consternation when, as we were enjoying our bbq later, there was the sound of paws and panting coming along the towpath. We both jumped up, to protect our food and drinks, expecting to see our friend from earlier! Fortunately it was not and after a chat with this dog's owner, who had him well under control, we were able to resume our peaceful evening.

Sky blue pink!

Beautiful sunset!

The next morning as we were preparing to leave Jenny heard Sid talking to someone.  Guess what? It was the chap who's dog had bothered us the day before. He wanted to know if we had an inverter because his was not working and he couldn't charge his mobile. Sid kindly agreed to put it on charge for for 30 minutes which would give him enough charge to get through the day. Somehow we have a feeling we may see him again!

Saturday 7th May - Our 11th Wedding Anniversary

A very warm and muggy day for a short journey into Braunston,  where, although very busy, we did manage to find a mooring, after doing our chores in the morning. So, we now have a full tank of water, all the rubbish has been disposed of and the toilet cassettes are empty and sweet smelling!! Sorry, maybe too much information!

Braunston across the fields, of sheep!

Mother duck and her huge family 

Gongoozlers abound in and around the busy junction at Braunston where there is always something for them to gawp at. Boats of all sizes negotiating the locks, turning in the winding hole and passing back and forth looking for moorings. There is also a boat from which the owners make and sell glass jewellery, moored along the towpath today. Some of their wares looked beautiful but we didn't make a purchase!

No bbq tonight as we are having a meal and a beer or two in the Boathouse to celebrate our anniversary.

Thunderstorms are forecast for this evening but hopefully we will dodge them.

Having had a very slow start to our journey I suspect we will start to clock up some more meaningful miles over the next few days. But then again we may just continue to do just short hops! We will see!

Fields of yellow

Meandering through Warwickshire

Another beautiful spring day dawned and Hunters Moon gracefully glided through the calm waters of the Oxford Canal with fields of yellow on either side and the sound of lambs bleating to attract the attention of their ever vigilant mums. The sight of field after field of sheep and lambs makes me wonder why we import New Zealand lamb and also why we have to pay such a high price for British lamb- which in our opinion is far superior to the imported stuff.

The birds busy feeding their young and singing in the tree tops is a delight. Haven't heard a cuckoo yet.

Interesting crochet art on the lock gates 

The countryside is turning greener by the day but the poor old ash trees are struggling and are often the only brown trees along the way.

Poorly ash trees along the towpath

Our progress is slow but sure and we are enjoying another lovely mooring, where we intend to have another bbq very soon after decsending the Napton Locks earlier and stocking up with buffalo burgers from the Folly shop.

Hunters Moon entering Bottom Lock, Napton

The next day was just a short hop to yet another of our favourite moorings in this area. It took us through field after field of sheep and lambs and yet again we are left to wonder why we don't see more British lamb in our shops and where does all our lamb go? To France?

From our mooring we had a lovely walk, in the glorious warm sunshine, to Braunston. Sid needed a Midland Chandlery fix and we both felt we deserved a beer - purely to pick up any emails etc - having not set foot in a pub since the start of our voyage.
Another bbq on yet another lovely evening brought our day to a close.

Stunning sunset!

The first day of our travels

After weeks of anxiety and uncertainty we are on Hunters Moon and raring to go.

Farewell Fenny

Beautiful, warm, spring sunshine encouraged us to 'set sail' late in the afternoon in order to get to one of our favourite 'local' moorings. The birdsong was magical and a huge bumble bee kept us company as we enjoyed our first bbq of the season sitting outside on the towpath.

It never ceases to amaze us how we seem to attract the oddballs on the waterways and once again, on this tranquil mooring, we were approached by a chap, complete with hi - viz jacket,pith helmet and little jack russell, Sophie, to have a chat! Having heard his life story, where he lived, about his two 'late' wives, where he had been moored, his motor home and where he was heading, which is the Lancaster Canal via  the Ribble he bids us good evening and returned to his boat, Harry. Somehow we know we will see him again on our travels.

The sun is setting and it has grown cooler but we have a stunning sunset to close a most pleasant day 1.

The start of our 2016 season on the inland waterways

Here we are again on our adventures.

An April weekend shakedown cruise.

We were lucky enough to have a short shakedown cruise with fellow narrowboat friends, Sara and Pete. Just a little trip down through Claydon Locks. We felt the 5 locks were enough to help us remember how to work a lock. It must have been taxing because we then stayed a couple of nights on the very pleasant and very quiet moorings just south of the locks before venturing up the same 5 locks on our Sunday morning return!

Sara and Pete and Annimishka

The four of us gathered on Hunters Moon on Friday evening for a Burrows chicken casserole and a few drinks or three! ! Although very cold and frosty outside the boat was toasty and warm.

 

Hunters Moon and Anni moored on the Oxford Canal                          


We had a most enjoyable towpath walk on Saturday morning to Cropredy where, guess what, we had more beer at the Brasnose Inn together with a much needed lunch before strolling back to our mooring. A relaxing afternoon followed before further beer and wine were consumed over a very pleasant pasta bolognese, this time courtesy of Sara and Pete.

Hunters Moon squeezing in to Claydon Bottom Lock

Well done Sid for the start of the season!

A great start to our cruising season. Good company, good food, cold but bright weather and the boats behaved well as did the crews!