WEDNESDAY 12TH AUGUST 2009
We actually set off on Tuesday, leaving our Marina and heading straight across the junction and up the Grand Union Canal, final destination Leamington Spa. Today we completed the climb up through the Stockton flight of eight locks until we reached the lovely moorings alongside The Blue Lias Inn, where we popped in for a drink and booked a table for seven persons, for lunch on the following Monday. We decided that we had proved our patronage and decided to stay moored up under the weeping willows for the night
Blue Lias is a clay like stone quarried hereabouts and used in the production of cement. It is a very white cement and was used in the construction of the Thames embankment. The pub sign shows a dinosaur, I assume that this is because many fossils from the Jurassic period have been found in the clay.
About Me
- Mac & Jacquie Court
- 70 now and our five wonderful years aboard our narrowboat Skyy seem along time ago. Jacquie, allowed me to build my replica three wheeler kit car, which was a great success. Now it's time to start on a bigger project and that is to make a good Triumph Stag even better, here goes.
Friday, 28 August 2009
Sunday, 23 August 2009
BRUSSELS TO BRAUNSTON
MONDAY 3RD TO THUSDAY 6TH AUGUST 2009
One of Jacquie’s Belgium Cousins was arriving on Monday at Birmingham airport. Wilma’s plane landed a few minutes early but I was in place at the arrival barrier and swiftly conveyed her back to SKYY and introduced her to the narrowness of our boat.
Sadly the weather on Tuesday was extremely wet so we left SKYY at the marina and drove into Daventry, I had a dental appointment to restore my smile, courtesy of a new crown, the girls did some essential shopping, when isn’t it essential? Back on SKYY we ate well, drunk lots and enjoyed the wonderful Belgium chocolates that Wilma had brought with her.
By midday Wednesday it looked like it might stop raining so I headed SKYY towards Braunston. This is our favourite place to bring short stay visitors as visually and historically it is very interesting. We sneaked into a mooring just after the entrance to marina and with the sun now warm on our backs we wandered around the village and the marina.
Much to our surprise when we turned the computer on, to check on train timetables for Wilma’s onward journey, we found that we had an excellent internet signal via our T-Mobile dongle. We still had no reception on either of our O2 and Vodafone mobiles or TV, as the canal at Braunston is much lower than the surrounding countryside it is to be expected, but I guess a new transmitter must have been installed by T-Mobile, well done.
The sun still shone on Thursday morning as we reversed back to the entrance to Braunston Marina and executed a neat about turn before heading back to Napton. We stopped before Bridge 103 to enjoy the view whilst lunching in the sunshine, but within the hour the rain returned and it was a soggy cruise to our pontoon at Wigrams.
Late in the afternoon we drove Wilma to Leamington Spa to catch the train for the rest of her UK holiday, as we waved her off she assured us that the rain had not spoilt her canal adventure and we returned to SKYY to scoff the remaining delicious chocolates.
A hullo to Peggy, who recently left an interesting comment on the blog, about gaining more confidence in boat handling, please leave another comment with an email address, so that we can discuss further.
More blog soon.
One of Jacquie’s Belgium Cousins was arriving on Monday at Birmingham airport. Wilma’s plane landed a few minutes early but I was in place at the arrival barrier and swiftly conveyed her back to SKYY and introduced her to the narrowness of our boat.
Sadly the weather on Tuesday was extremely wet so we left SKYY at the marina and drove into Daventry, I had a dental appointment to restore my smile, courtesy of a new crown, the girls did some essential shopping, when isn’t it essential? Back on SKYY we ate well, drunk lots and enjoyed the wonderful Belgium chocolates that Wilma had brought with her.
By midday Wednesday it looked like it might stop raining so I headed SKYY towards Braunston. This is our favourite place to bring short stay visitors as visually and historically it is very interesting. We sneaked into a mooring just after the entrance to marina and with the sun now warm on our backs we wandered around the village and the marina.
Much to our surprise when we turned the computer on, to check on train timetables for Wilma’s onward journey, we found that we had an excellent internet signal via our T-Mobile dongle. We still had no reception on either of our O2 and Vodafone mobiles or TV, as the canal at Braunston is much lower than the surrounding countryside it is to be expected, but I guess a new transmitter must have been installed by T-Mobile, well done.
The sun still shone on Thursday morning as we reversed back to the entrance to Braunston Marina and executed a neat about turn before heading back to Napton. We stopped before Bridge 103 to enjoy the view whilst lunching in the sunshine, but within the hour the rain returned and it was a soggy cruise to our pontoon at Wigrams.
Late in the afternoon we drove Wilma to Leamington Spa to catch the train for the rest of her UK holiday, as we waved her off she assured us that the rain had not spoilt her canal adventure and we returned to SKYY to scoff the remaining delicious chocolates.
A hullo to Peggy, who recently left an interesting comment on the blog, about gaining more confidence in boat handling, please leave another comment with an email address, so that we can discuss further.
More blog soon.
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
BIKE FOR SALE
Not strictly blogging, but I thought that I would take advantage of this medium to advertise my motorbike for sale. Since taking to the boat Jacquie, my wonderful wife, tell me that I can't have a boat two bikes and a wife so my big Beemer has to go.
It is a 2002 K1200 RS SE complete with BMW side boxes and tank bag and a Givi top box. It has done 54,000 miles and has been fully serviced and maintained by BMW at South London Motorcycles. It also has Auto Com fitted for rider to pillion conversation.
In April of this year I had new front disc, pads and battery fitted and a new MOT, but is currently SORN registered, apart from that it is ready to go.
It has carried me faithfully all around Europe and I shall be sad to say goodbye. It is up here in the Midlands raring to go and offers in excess of £2,500 would do the deal.
If anyone interested, please leave a comment and a email address or phone number so I can contact to discuss further.
Sunday, 2 August 2009
BACK TO BASE
TUESDAY 21ST JULY 2009
It rained all the way back to Wigrams Turn Marina. Brian, bless him, had full waterproofs and stayed on deck with me all the way, whilst the girls kept us provided with coffee and sandwiches. I thought it was letting up as we approached the turn, but as we entered the Marina the wind and the rain got turned up several notches, the rain was horizontal making our approach to our pontoon interesting, but we avoided bumping anybody and by the time we were tied up the weather started to improve.
Before Marilyn and Brian left us a couple of ducks brought over their latest brood of chicks, which just had to be fed and photographed, we have become a bit blasé but Marilyn was entranced with these little animated bundles of fluff.
No sooner than M & B had left than I whizzed off in the car to collect Ashley, Jacquie’s son, He was working for a couple of days at a nearby University and SKYY would provide a useful base until the end of the week.
That’s it blog wise until the next time we head out and apologises for the delay in writing and posting this epistle.
It rained all the way back to Wigrams Turn Marina. Brian, bless him, had full waterproofs and stayed on deck with me all the way, whilst the girls kept us provided with coffee and sandwiches. I thought it was letting up as we approached the turn, but as we entered the Marina the wind and the rain got turned up several notches, the rain was horizontal making our approach to our pontoon interesting, but we avoided bumping anybody and by the time we were tied up the weather started to improve.
Before Marilyn and Brian left us a couple of ducks brought over their latest brood of chicks, which just had to be fed and photographed, we have become a bit blasé but Marilyn was entranced with these little animated bundles of fluff.
No sooner than M & B had left than I whizzed off in the car to collect Ashley, Jacquie’s son, He was working for a couple of days at a nearby University and SKYY would provide a useful base until the end of the week.
That’s it blog wise until the next time we head out and apologises for the delay in writing and posting this epistle.
BULLED OVER
MONDAY 20TH JULY 2009
The rain had gone away by the time we surfaced and we continued a short way along the Oxford Canal, over the little aqueduct that takes the canal over the embryonic River Avon before we turned and headed back, with the village of Willoughby as our destination.
There was hardly any traffic in contrast to the weekend and we slid through the Hillmorton locks on our own. We stopped at Willoughby Wharf, had lunch on the stern and then set of on foot for the village. The footpath saved us from trudging along the road, but just as we came to the last style our way was blocked by a small herd of cattle. No problem says Brian and I until we realised there were calves in the herd and the latest advice is to avoid cows and calves, however they got up and wandered off a little way and then the bull got up and boy was he a bull?? No question of it, but Marilyn, a country girl at heart, said that they were Banded Galloways and a gentle breed, he also wandered off and then posed for photos whilst we scrambled over the style.
The village was pleasant with a traditional pond from which mother duck brought her teenage children to meet us. The church was sadly locked and the Rose Inn was closed, but by the time we had finished wandering around it was six o’clock and the Rose Inn had opened her doors and refreshed we set off back to SKYY and dinner.
The rain had gone away by the time we surfaced and we continued a short way along the Oxford Canal, over the little aqueduct that takes the canal over the embryonic River Avon before we turned and headed back, with the village of Willoughby as our destination.
There was hardly any traffic in contrast to the weekend and we slid through the Hillmorton locks on our own. We stopped at Willoughby Wharf, had lunch on the stern and then set of on foot for the village. The footpath saved us from trudging along the road, but just as we came to the last style our way was blocked by a small herd of cattle. No problem says Brian and I until we realised there were calves in the herd and the latest advice is to avoid cows and calves, however they got up and wandered off a little way and then the bull got up and boy was he a bull?? No question of it, but Marilyn, a country girl at heart, said that they were Banded Galloways and a gentle breed, he also wandered off and then posed for photos whilst we scrambled over the style.
The village was pleasant with a traditional pond from which mother duck brought her teenage children to meet us. The church was sadly locked and the Rose Inn was closed, but by the time we had finished wandering around it was six o’clock and the Rose Inn had opened her doors and refreshed we set off back to SKYY and dinner.
BOWLED OUT
SUNDAY 19TH JULY 2009
The weather was still OK, but rain was threatening whilst we moved on through the three locks at Hillmorton, these are unusual in that that they are single locks, but paired, in other words two single locks side by side, simultaneously allowing one boat to ascend and another to descend, saving a lot of time on this busy Sunday.
Dominic from Rugby Canal Boat Sales popped out of his office to say ‘hullo’ as we approached the locks, he was instrumental and helpful in our purchase of SKYY as at that time he was with ABNB at Crick. It was nice that he remembered SKYY and us and he told us he was about to move to Stowe Hill at Weedon where he would be able to offer all the usual boat services, diesel, pumpout etc. as well as boat sale, we wished him success.
We sneaked our 57 ft. SKYY into a 56 ft. mooring space between two other boats whose owners were pleased that it wasn’t a hire boat trying to do this as they were entertained by the antics of hire boat skippers in this restricted stretch just before bridge 58. This is very handy mooring for the Tesco store and the girls set off for essential supplies, but got wet on their return. Sadly the rain poured for the rest of the day, putting pay to our plans to go Ten Pin Bowling at the nearby entertainment area, but the DVD film of Ian McEwan’s Atonement kept us entertained for the evening.
The weather was still OK, but rain was threatening whilst we moved on through the three locks at Hillmorton, these are unusual in that that they are single locks, but paired, in other words two single locks side by side, simultaneously allowing one boat to ascend and another to descend, saving a lot of time on this busy Sunday.
Dominic from Rugby Canal Boat Sales popped out of his office to say ‘hullo’ as we approached the locks, he was instrumental and helpful in our purchase of SKYY as at that time he was with ABNB at Crick. It was nice that he remembered SKYY and us and he told us he was about to move to Stowe Hill at Weedon where he would be able to offer all the usual boat services, diesel, pumpout etc. as well as boat sale, we wished him success.
We sneaked our 57 ft. SKYY into a 56 ft. mooring space between two other boats whose owners were pleased that it wasn’t a hire boat trying to do this as they were entertained by the antics of hire boat skippers in this restricted stretch just before bridge 58. This is very handy mooring for the Tesco store and the girls set off for essential supplies, but got wet on their return. Sadly the rain poured for the rest of the day, putting pay to our plans to go Ten Pin Bowling at the nearby entertainment area, but the DVD film of Ian McEwan’s Atonement kept us entertained for the evening.
SHIP MATES
SATURDAY 18TH JULY 2009
Marilyn and Brian had arrived Friday evening and were staying on board for four days; they were old hands having spent a couple of weekends with us last year. We delayed our departure from the marina until all of the Black Prince hire boats had returned and were safely tied up, but one of them escaped early and we followed it out of the marina on way to Braunston. By the first bend they lost it and were hard up on the wrong side of the cut, which gave us the opportunity to pass them and impart some hopefully helpful advice.
We tied up just before Braunston Junction in time to help the hire boat we had passed earlier to moor and apparently they were grateful for the advice given. We walked up through the delightful village before dropping down to the locks and having a lunch time drink at the Admiral Nelson.
Marilyn and Brian had arrived Friday evening and were staying on board for four days; they were old hands having spent a couple of weekends with us last year. We delayed our departure from the marina until all of the Black Prince hire boats had returned and were safely tied up, but one of them escaped early and we followed it out of the marina on way to Braunston. By the first bend they lost it and were hard up on the wrong side of the cut, which gave us the opportunity to pass them and impart some hopefully helpful advice.
We tied up just before Braunston Junction in time to help the hire boat we had passed earlier to moor and apparently they were grateful for the advice given. We walked up through the delightful village before dropping down to the locks and having a lunch time drink at the Admiral Nelson.
We have been through Braunston many times but we saw it afresh through the eyes of Marilyn and Brian, it being the weekend the place was buzzing and giving plenty of photo opportunities and it is M & B’ photos I have used here.
Whilst we relaxed in the sunshine on SKYY another hire boat came stomping towards us with a mighty bow wave, it had only just left its base at Braunston bottom locks so had hardly had time to get up such a speed, my polite suggestion that all would be easier if they slowed down, was timely as the helmsman lost it and was heading towards the stern of a moored plastic boat which he only avoided by ramming the bank a few feet short of the boat. Already our decision not to be out permanently cruising during the holiday period was vindicated.
As the weather was good despite the forecast we decided to move on towards Rugby, stopping in a lovely spot between bridges 80 and 81 supposedly adjacent to a Young Offenders Institution and just short of the M45 motorway, but neither spoilt the peacefulness of the location.
Whilst we relaxed in the sunshine on SKYY another hire boat came stomping towards us with a mighty bow wave, it had only just left its base at Braunston bottom locks so had hardly had time to get up such a speed, my polite suggestion that all would be easier if they slowed down, was timely as the helmsman lost it and was heading towards the stern of a moored plastic boat which he only avoided by ramming the bank a few feet short of the boat. Already our decision not to be out permanently cruising during the holiday period was vindicated.
As the weather was good despite the forecast we decided to move on towards Rugby, stopping in a lovely spot between bridges 80 and 81 supposedly adjacent to a Young Offenders Institution and just short of the M45 motorway, but neither spoilt the peacefulness of the location.
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