tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286907626336956452024-03-05T17:14:13.536+00:00NB GleemaidenThe voyages and adventures of Narrowboat Gleemaiden and her crew. As well as other observations and happenings gleaned from life ashore.
Here is our quote for living afloat:
'Never mind the width - feel the quality.'Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-41002058162851033542020-04-07T01:34:00.000+01:002020-04-07T01:34:44.303+01:00The Tillerpin It is interesting to reflect that I still own one of the Tillerpins commissioned for use on the vessel,<br />
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This has for sometime been installed on the windowsill of our house in Oakthorpe. Which has aptly been given the appellation of ‘Tillerpin Cottage. And this in turn has become a registered business call Tillerpin Cottage Ltd.<br />
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I have been handicapped with a disability which means I can no longer manage a boat of any size, if it requires repeatedly boarding and disembarking from a boat. This does by no means imply that I can’t make myself useful elsewhere. So I have done just that.<br />
I will therefore continue with this site and add all the material that was written for NB Mariner plus extra stories and associated business.<br />
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I intend to take advantage of new technology and incorporate video compilations as well as commentary. I will probably change quite a lot and may move to using a a website and/or video log as a replacement<br />
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Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-36394385720979642692015-08-28T15:14:00.000+01:002015-08-29T13:41:35.694+01:00Just about the end of summer - so a few additions<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #4c1130; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It would be rather good if I could transfer all the posts from 'Midlandrover' to this site, because some clown has obliterated access to it by overlaying with another site that is only concerned with a lot of advertising and such rubbish. This I can't get rid of or even view my own material.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from bedroom two/office<br />
widow - canal is adjacent to tree line.<br />
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Times;">Enough moaning, we have had a very interesting time since we now live in our house in Oakthorpe - which we have called 'Tillerpin Cottage', as previously mentioned - what I forgot to add is that one can see where the now closed section of the canal used to follow the edge of the field behind us - that is if you look over from the upper storey windows.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Times;">The community spirit is very strong in this Parish, which incorporates Oakthorp, Donisthorpe and Acresford. All are situated in the National Forest <a href="http://www.nationalforest.org/">http://www.nationalforest.org/</a> near the Ashby De la Zouche canal, which we hope will son be re-united with its original destination of course Ashby de la Zouche, a nearby historical town. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HBx-X5eIdVp1vaJL_lIkkiwMh-AvdQnQG9zrnRfVADanFUQVFa4finfZhfb7swkbh6LIBhRpb-hdfnzCLmFt-N3kUQgeV_nF04n3u5aOOLZxY80rFXdHrxJgXl5fEiJFV5tJ_rH-yxo/s1600/SDC15196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HBx-X5eIdVp1vaJL_lIkkiwMh-AvdQnQG9zrnRfVADanFUQVFa4finfZhfb7swkbh6LIBhRpb-hdfnzCLmFt-N3kUQgeV_nF04n3u5aOOLZxY80rFXdHrxJgXl5fEiJFV5tJ_rH-yxo/s200/SDC15196.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bosworth Battle re-enactment</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Times;">Nearby there are many places of historical interest, including Bosworth Field where of course that famous battle occurred during which King Richard III was killed and Henry VII took the crown and the commencement of the Tudor period which was to last 118 years - but all this and the re-enactment each year are the subject of a following post.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tOXJ6Et0o1o8dnIrcaQgd_qTfmTfsmXpBPFxiXdvykN2b_f0INZvxCj3PV7XLpWolKf4jXV27kE79VCy2uuzrWUp5clylzIl8y_JlfnhhH0pMJzsbQj3m-R8TedwVftFwGflrCdxHBY/s1600/SDC15161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tOXJ6Et0o1o8dnIrcaQgd_qTfmTfsmXpBPFxiXdvykN2b_f0INZvxCj3PV7XLpWolKf4jXV27kE79VCy2uuzrWUp5clylzIl8y_JlfnhhH0pMJzsbQj3m-R8TedwVftFwGflrCdxHBY/s200/SDC15161.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battle of Tewksbury - <br />
Bosworth field</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Times;">Meanwhile Tillerpin Cottage has acquired a fascinating piece of early (1929) - a Lister LR1 Petrol D series stationary engine. It is in perfect condition, having been lovingly restored by a chap called Kevin who (like me) hails from Kent - mind you, he lives there and having purchased her had to drive down and collect.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjRK4PKc5YE-USjr6LK9o3boduyCa2rtkdDfiirchKof2nlugq80EjVSoQDjDviXE1UG6sMxVosg19e63EzM2dFg0XkRHbvIb3HltrtalmjXJWy0ouBVSuJI0oiyqzTduEXgW1-ybq2g/s1600/SDC15147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjRK4PKc5YE-USjr6LK9o3boduyCa2rtkdDfiirchKof2nlugq80EjVSoQDjDviXE1UG6sMxVosg19e63EzM2dFg0XkRHbvIb3HltrtalmjXJWy0ouBVSuJI0oiyqzTduEXgW1-ybq2g/s320/SDC15147.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never mind, we bought a charming<br />
pole axe from this stand!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Times;">That was some drive! especially as the engine weighs well over two hundred weight plus trolley and wheels. I am going to try and upload the video entailing most of the above, but Google may balk at the file size - so here goes. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Times;">Hmmm..... it didn't work, but here is a link through which it can be viewed - watched anyway. Neither did that, though it may be found by opening Vimeo and searching for 'Lister LR1 and Garden'. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Times;">I'll pop in some ordinary photos shortly, but meanwhile must go pubwise as I have said that I would meet Trevor and Ian at the Holly Bush!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #4c1130; font-family: Times;"></span><br />Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-46621050048776946362015-08-27T15:12:00.001+01:002015-08-27T15:33:54.865+01:00A restart to an old diary of happeningsObviously I no longer own the boat after which the site has been named, but as it is still available on Google search, I thought that it would good platform for a reincarnation of our comings, goings doings etc.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjap5VTlzh25g4aq3dxYHWBuHhuvzDqTE-FQjbG_u42QOT_M-ZzZyfVz4f9w2vB6eiukoYDVJax4GYRH7xvO2RxHC1Dw-2IybZRU7D2BuQWrJZJmW9sPvZYtmVSZKBhtd3goG389DKEYiI/s1600/SDC15634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjap5VTlzh25g4aq3dxYHWBuHhuvzDqTE-FQjbG_u42QOT_M-ZzZyfVz4f9w2vB6eiukoYDVJax4GYRH7xvO2RxHC1Dw-2IybZRU7D2BuQWrJZJmW9sPvZYtmVSZKBhtd3goG389DKEYiI/s200/SDC15634.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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I also realise that little has been posted for ages, however I thought to update this would e a better idea than starting a new blog site - I intend to copy this to those that I already have in place.<br />
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The big news is that since last time I put anything together, I have had a few health issues (perhaps not surprising at my age!), however both of us are now very well and living a house called 'Tillerpin Cottage' in a lovely village called Oakthorpe (easily found by entering DE12 7RJ on Google maps or earth).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMF1cG0ZTceMSHRxHZvOvl9eLjZ0XkoW7bQPZ8ZCyN8vxe8-uRxmHbRqI7wmLo5xm_cqyHArNgFuG9_ZsbyewHqcMWQTtbVJsP2Q8qE00Ap5VhJMJ939_vBQrnd2KOqsxCwujB9fZZvg/s1600/SDC15399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMF1cG0ZTceMSHRxHZvOvl9eLjZ0XkoW7bQPZ8ZCyN8vxe8-uRxmHbRqI7wmLo5xm_cqyHArNgFuG9_ZsbyewHqcMWQTtbVJsP2Q8qE00Ap5VhJMJ939_vBQrnd2KOqsxCwujB9fZZvg/s200/SDC15399.JPG" width="200" /></a>The house has a huge garden which again we have split into sections; a lawn area with cottage garden theme, Vegetable and fruit area - again with well drained raised beds, and this time we are raising poultry - namely bantam hens with a couple of bantam rooster. I call it a micro holding as it is only half an acre.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeVZqiADYcR0iiaaH5_g3pcKQb0od9Ee5AYUUpD71P1EaLQ_JIPfLM9EENCovPQ4ryttQBjrysPIdL_NP0v7ZJ9nlEsc7zpptEbA9tHyLSYr8PtzPJPgOkx0vG8rUs5OAHTXJfnOPac4/s1600/SDC15412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeVZqiADYcR0iiaaH5_g3pcKQb0od9Ee5AYUUpD71P1EaLQ_JIPfLM9EENCovPQ4ryttQBjrysPIdL_NP0v7ZJ9nlEsc7zpptEbA9tHyLSYr8PtzPJPgOkx0vG8rUs5OAHTXJfnOPac4/s200/SDC15412.JPG" width="200" /></a>Our little (well sort of little) dog Bosun loves the place - though I wonder if he misses being CPO on the boat that he grew up with, NB Mariner. Anyway he really enjoys going for walk around the local area as we are situated in the 'National Forest' which encompasses the counties of Leicetershire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire. I'll see if I can still incorporate some pictures - but I seem to be having to rediscover the use of the blog devices.<br />
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I also have some video material to include - but that needs some explaining and might be best slotted into the next posting.Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-13157900570946167412011-10-27T13:31:00.001+01:002011-10-27T13:53:16.429+01:00A possible new continuation<div style="text-align: justify;">
This needs a little explaining - I haven't posted anything on this site since we sold the boat because we didn't feel that we ought to compromise the feelings of the purchasers by continuing under this name.</div>
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However I have come to the conclusion that this could be jolly good forum for our Bosun who is CPO of NB Mariner to have a little say about what it means to be a member of the crew. So from here on, all words are his - but of course I have to vet the photos that he would like to include, given that he is rather adolescent and prone to showing off.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupH5bGbyWuUGp_NOzoCtweoApUXt8Vz2401-BfC9XNJH6HOa-AcYrSCv5K4tUiw5iWTDGIkf0DBWwavKLOK3noEs43pNR03qUj8X2ETbWApmW7zZCNsdIAteFAWMWQlGOoDFEI6lkLL8/s1600/SDC13844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupH5bGbyWuUGp_NOzoCtweoApUXt8Vz2401-BfC9XNJH6HOa-AcYrSCv5K4tUiw5iWTDGIkf0DBWwavKLOK3noEs43pNR03qUj8X2ETbWApmW7zZCNsdIAteFAWMWQlGOoDFEI6lkLL8/s320/SDC13844.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, here is a start.</div>
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I was heading the press gang down at Stratford - we needed a few extra crew members for the locks.</div>
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Unfortunately I was restrained before I could overpower the lazy bugger. The 1st Lieutenant explained that gentlemen were exempt from the press and took me off to find more suitable sorts in a nearby tavern,</div>Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-18274025729730237162010-06-02T17:25:00.001+01:002010-06-02T17:27:36.679+01:00Late Final ExtraThis is just a final posting to let anyone who still looks at this weblog that the principal subject of the site 'Gleemaiden' has been sold and that both of us have moved into a house in Rugby.<br />
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Of course one didn't feel too much like posting bulletins while the boat was up for sale or subsequently for some months. We wish the new owners all the best and hope that they have as much enjoyment from cruising the waterways as did we. It was a sad day when we finally left her.<br />
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Meanwhile for those those who are interested in what has been happening in our lives; I have started a new weblog, which will be (hopefully) updated regularly and provide some insight into what we do and what we experience in both travels and home life,.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVFF_IEDNH7dlR8grwEIenUyBdLMJ-ozz70yVvh-Ui2_WPkboirL0NfBe1MtwBDmKUosZ3iyfJk_5JJDdOI-XTtnA2_mWSEARa3rA67IGm_l7JdChbylna1zOV0_6Pm4jn1XsEhl3hSM/s1600/SDC12120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVFF_IEDNH7dlR8grwEIenUyBdLMJ-ozz70yVvh-Ui2_WPkboirL0NfBe1MtwBDmKUosZ3iyfJk_5JJDdOI-XTtnA2_mWSEARa3rA67IGm_l7JdChbylna1zOV0_6Pm4jn1XsEhl3hSM/s200/SDC12120.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>The site is called 'midlandrover' because we we live in the Midlands, which is our base and travel around in a Land rover Discovery - which is pictured here. Also here is the <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">weblink</span> or whatever it is called.<br />
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<a href="http://www.midlandrover.com/">http://www.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">midlandrover</span>.com</a><br />
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So, thanks for your interest and hope to hear some comments etc on the new site.<br />
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Jeeves and Wooster. Of course the real Wooster would have bought a two <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">seater</span> roadster!Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-80800160433102004992010-01-18T17:51:00.008+00:002010-01-18T20:33:52.281+00:00The new year rolls onThis is going to be an interesting year. perhaps I should have written t<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKL-VPhs8ZQba3tc8DAAhKWu1WINjZlvfbTaNlmdCWMoiDbKcahZFImJWSMbv5scPubHZdgXqFkGzyUPt2ojV5PRm2UTq-l8qVTfKXQn_xqvBPjzY2aB7E4JSsd2al_tfjgWoMIMk83TM/s1600-h/SDC11921.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 233px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428155002453266658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKL-VPhs8ZQba3tc8DAAhKWu1WINjZlvfbTaNlmdCWMoiDbKcahZFImJWSMbv5scPubHZdgXqFkGzyUPt2ojV5PRm2UTq-l8qVTfKXQn_xqvBPjzY2aB7E4JSsd2al_tfjgWoMIMk83TM/s320/SDC11921.JPG" /></a>his posting before the last one, but forget the chronology, it is the content that counts - well anyway the relevance of the subject matter.<br /><br />It is now just coming up to being a year since I started this weblog, and I notice that this is posting number 52 - wow! one a week; fantastic for a lazy sod like me. I am certainly no <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Granny</span> Buttons in the scheme of things.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpI-W5bRCzxWKw0JwV38b9XlUT63qxhkG9mWDBSDVcQ2GM9jIgLHJo0KejT5FomX5r7BR-TBfrFu-8613NRss1JzpeAEuFXpoFwXqfHFy9rXJvMJTEewoTRpqdswHaP0jfhdnVTmCwdU/s1600-h/SDC11670.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 137px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 201px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428157320129662946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpI-W5bRCzxWKw0JwV38b9XlUT63qxhkG9mWDBSDVcQ2GM9jIgLHJo0KejT5FomX5r7BR-TBfrFu-8613NRss1JzpeAEuFXpoFwXqfHFy9rXJvMJTEewoTRpqdswHaP0jfhdnVTmCwdU/s320/SDC11670.JPG" /></a> So, as readers might have gathered from blogs passim, we have been dividing time between the house and the boat; with the nett result that the house has actually commanded <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">more</span> time than the boat of late. So lets start with that.<br /><br />The raised vegetable beds were completed just in time for late Autumn planting of over winter crops such as onions; garlic; <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">shallots</span>; <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">brasssicas</span></span> and a large number of asparagus crowns. We also managed to get in over forty raspberry plants; <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">three</span> gooseberry bushes and some hybrid <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">soft</span> fruit including <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">thornless</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">blackberries</span> before the frost and snow set.<br /><br />Amazingly enough, we will have to start tilling <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l5mISWvyIA4mFEcAU58DAWLgrTDfsoQtSHWMSW6tulXz7YtjB5OdikO7FhjrSSbQ3ANVLLZ7KIcV6hAe470fsLts37ikPPE1xMfVIpJD2ZCWC-CvBndzn2N-2zfTUt_CDz9RGduOuV8/s1600-h/SDC11829.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428157975167521826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l5mISWvyIA4mFEcAU58DAWLgrTDfsoQtSHWMSW6tulXz7YtjB5OdikO7FhjrSSbQ3ANVLLZ7KIcV6hAe470fsLts37ikPPE1xMfVIpJD2ZCWC-CvBndzn2N-2zfTUt_CDz9RGduOuV8/s320/SDC11829.JPG" /></a>the remaining beds and start our spring sowing next month, but we are glad we got such a head start already! I have been <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">watching</span> too many repeats of 'The Good Life' methinks, but haven't extended to goats and pigs yet. Though it seems that Jeeves now has a mind set on raising hens, fowl which did actually occupy our garden until they; were removed next door when the house was sold.<br /><br />Well with any luck, we won't have to visit the fruit and veg section of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sainsb<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU03tKKyaLZTywMKryc9sk1dmTtIblUnThlYeN0KcAcalpxlE0s5b7f0sciXq6dXcaEb0VkLP9DMPBIj36kEcqKDvhB6epx7DOdH_PqsPrDgw1dTrhSAiQn7vaKwUyHBTBX72FI_IV04/s1600-h/SDC11871.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428158938868601762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU03tKKyaLZTywMKryc9sk1dmTtIblUnThlYeN0KcAcalpxlE0s5b7f0sciXq6dXcaEb0VkLP9DMPBIj36kEcqKDvhB6epx7DOdH_PqsPrDgw1dTrhSAiQn7vaKwUyHBTBX72FI_IV04/s320/SDC11871.JPG" /></a>ury's</span></span> so often in the coming months. All in all it is rather exciting.<br /><br />Now on the last posting, I mentioned that we were invited to Derek's surprise birthday party - something that certainly could not be put on this site prior to the occasion. The whole evening was a huge success and Derek certainly did not tumble to what was happening until he turned up at the restaurant in Rugby.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Derek</span> and Sheila were at this time moored up at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Napton</span></span> and very solidly iced in, so we couldn't go back to Clarence for after dinner drink<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulI04TtTHkztPCd67B27geRzk37jE5v3rEJddGT4wD0wstnhJMPrVZaKGgkH9DFSGFvhEoUv5TQOs_SwsxPRp4ywjUTHjlRfRGsJlv_FX6ks-ewOKyYrgUHkIZANJAVQK7nEB1PPS_b0/s1600-h/SDC11880.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 213px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428159679884864882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulI04TtTHkztPCd67B27geRzk37jE5v3rEJddGT4wD0wstnhJMPrVZaKGgkH9DFSGFvhEoUv5TQOs_SwsxPRp4ywjUTHjlRfRGsJlv_FX6ks-ewOKyYrgUHkIZANJAVQK7nEB1PPS_b0/s320/SDC11880.JPG" /></a>s, but we had their daughter Nicki and her partner Dave staying with us - a delightful couple. So we weren't short of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCgD9YLII6lc3i4dRCOSMIOOKFoi8rRh6mWwbKtLujBaiuOQ1vg5vbJFHWt-khkX9niaVHAsggbF4vs54m2ECpSxaGdzliQMW_AfVCBk_FIVxdpmCBHizYSSee-_fULFFDILaYuc8agE/s1600-h/SDC11915.JPG"></a>company in Rugby either.<br /><br />There are some things to be said about the ground thawing out - you get to see your lawn again; bulb shoots are peeping out of garden beds and you won't fall over walking down the pavement to the corner store. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">However</span>, it isn't February yet and we all know that last this was the coldest month.<br /><br />Perhaps we shall do a li<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVpFvNbNXbl4Cjdb1yjeJDc0C0doWtPqZ9JvTAdYD8wG_OV_CwJU4r9nHROYVzhMINUrFECXNoNnhc7eLbGkfQsyluVNi47FG7QqQd2Yfqy38bl3F69xPKxlpQpHoKZ4WmHxJZBxJExk/s1600-h/SDC11915.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 236px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428161136437453874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVpFvNbNXbl4Cjdb1yjeJDc0C0doWtPqZ9JvTAdYD8wG_OV_CwJU4r9nHROYVzhMINUrFECXNoNnhc7eLbGkfQsyluVNi47FG7QqQd2Yfqy38bl3F69xPKxlpQpHoKZ4WmHxJZBxJExk/s320/SDC11915.JPG" /></a>ttle more of this ice walking nonsense - and no, we don't use skis or wings, well anyway a wing and the prayer that we don't fall through! We know that we wouldn't drown, but how cold and wet would you be getting out of zero degree water and walking back to where you could change.<br /><br />Here also are a couple of pictures of the marina and how we bravely used <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gleemaiden</span> as an icebreaker to charge out on to the Oxford <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Canal</span> in search of fresh wat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsTvOq3SSL_TWdsbrx8cqQTyAODipkr35dlPH7vwveqn0Y_ZlmqJ51dKCFH6JEy89QONsFoqoN8Mg30zuYDD8RtW55VyxHcLDTnmu21nld4yqfHd2UleRFnmSlOHUIRHC-s-ekCJoo14/s1600-h/SDC11927.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 243px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 156px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428162136548105378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsTvOq3SSL_TWdsbrx8cqQTyAODipkr35dlPH7vwveqn0Y_ZlmqJ51dKCFH6JEy89QONsFoqoN8Mg30zuYDD8RtW55VyxHcLDTnmu21nld4yqfHd2UleRFnmSlOHUIRHC-s-ekCJoo14/s320/SDC11927.JPG" /></a>er and diesel fuel.<br /><br />Actually not true of course - because you don't spend five hundred quid on a blacking and take it down to bare metal six weeks later. Funny thing is that NB K2 went icebreaking last year, but I doubt if even she would have got through this thickness of ice.Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-89932548189558875652010-01-10T15:47:00.012+00:002010-01-11T13:06:10.485+00:00A walk on the canal<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Happy New to everybody who has been following this weblog. My apologies for not posting much news lately. No excuse of course, but not much boating either. </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected">We do of course visit the boa frequently,</span> to make sure everything is shipshape and rather importantly that water hasn't frozen in the pipes or condensed in fuel tanks, we find living in the house a little more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">convenient</span> at present.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfO670as5m_IFEt_euFtrHZOQsVlpMWo81J45ce41GoYWbSsLWpkl4NXwstnzQLjT_2rrd1-RKl6wXFeTe9YIgOa9YxYD0wWanSi_cKEyqbc6oXlwUr-3kQwJaeeXbbuVEFtQYgLdBSmA/s1600-h/SDC11889.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 283px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 217px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425142289346901154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfO670as5m_IFEt_euFtrHZOQsVlpMWo81J45ce41GoYWbSsLWpkl4NXwstnzQLjT_2rrd1-RKl6wXFeTe9YIgOa9YxYD0wWanSi_cKEyqbc6oXlwUr-3kQwJaeeXbbuVEFtQYgLdBSmA/s320/SDC11889.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Today however we felt like a bit of fresh air having been to Derek's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">birthday</span> party (more of this later in the posting) last night. Well, a trip on the boat was out and setting the fire just to sit there at the marina, drinking wine and watching telly didn't seem awfully exciting either.<br /><br />. . . . . so, off we went for a nice snowy walk down to Clifton Bridge and yes believe it or not we went for a walk not <em>along</em> the canal but <em><strong>on</strong></em> the canal! Which just goes to show how dedicated we are to exploring the waterways even when our boat is stuck in ice dock.<br /><br />So here in a few words and some pictures is how we set out to follow the footsteps of the great explorers; Sir <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ranulph</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fiennes</span>; Shackleton and Scott without even having to cross the equator.<br /><br />The first step was to see if we could free the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Framm</span> from its icy grip and the Chief Officer put her life on the line boarding <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">across</span> the dangerous pack ice,<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 407px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425156228882835186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxAI-43Xb9tSCzz_9EKudrswMCqQJ8oo8R9h8fV9E2E_w2_F3z8NwccDsm03ehkebtxjrSi9GOhXcf_2X6aDD-Q9rEKM9F-_8gB_GhM9GLKsoD3KjMfqhjgu0KoAa94uh9JR6mVTYDag/s400/SDC11892.JPG" /><br /><br />A brave attempt was made to save the stores and the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">rotavator</span> seen on deck. <em>(methinks this maybe serious case of trespass - ed)</em><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 324px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425156624580545730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83TPwdJ20JLSxbdqLDw6g3aE1tJoPJEt9kWWBslJ3ar3xchjSo7O51HEsufDYzPgShHjAA5avkyAheUBQtP3DNwtpKRfggdxdnIzl5GXSb93PGxXGeNrEwoprMjZmfwziSsArKzyYRpA/s400/SDC11893.JPG" /><br />The Terra Nova can be seen also trapped in the ice astern of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Framm</span>.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 395px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 388px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425157027322092210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZADkun80Uz6UdMcNhbLTJVXvAyxVoOn10CTw6R6SWn3Ttn3UlveoRmk7swk6wiICYiryCLuW0I19s3mwA1XCT8Oi0qlub3wtvkTPy5e8teYDvtStZiEi3rT9trUXu3yvjda9_EwFbnf0/s400/SDC11906.JPG" /><br />Undaunted, the crew set off on an intrepid trip to bridge 65 to seek help from the Norwegians who were drinking with Amundsen in the nearby Crown on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Newbold</span>.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 397px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 368px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425158431887664050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02FTLtChZL2GHG0nZt28JdjoZtDSudvzqXmfJnuMR6ePZhmSSK4iWHGu71_DtIsESumS7_i6T2ttXmL_GhPm_JyqoVmg6N66yaibbJzlK8vks8shyphenhyphenrgO3EymtwnbLckhbS4tb9ocOWok/s400/SDC11908.JPG" /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Luckily</span> we made it before the next blizzard.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 339px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425157504498874178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYed6EW2Y1PUNgumdUDq75Xidb3ySDoAP20Dt3l2Fek-mCu1L36J81GOQBwskr1i8x-NSdoNZovyq5yKEnNCW3_N2GNWVk3GTtBr1k0UHgB-ZJaq8zJsSCR6X8zMl5LqT9OgBAPwd2EU/s400/SDC11911.JPG" /><br />I'll tell you something for nothing though - and I hope that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">British</span> Waterways know; there is a hell of a lot of bridge bits and barricades, as well as other rubbish that the local <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">chavs</span> have tossed into the canal from bridge 66. The first boat that goes through after the thaw will need to have the draft of an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Oxford</span> punt if the rubbish isn't removed immediately after the thaw.<br /><br /><br />Next posting will be the party and a bit on winter vegetable gardening.Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-1105765726556308072009-11-18T12:07:00.007+00:002009-11-18T15:06:58.715+00:00After the blackingAfter a very rainy couple of days - particularly on the Saturday when the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">dry-dock</span> picture in the previous posting was taken. Sunday however turned out to be perfect and a phone call late that afternoon confirmed that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gleemaiden</span></span></span> was now Glee-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ming</span></span></span> (at least from the rubbing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">strakes</span></span></span> down), so would be ready for collection the following morning at 8.30am.<br /><br /><br />Jeeves has also asked me to include a picture of Biggles at t<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7y2IVttiPSW52WwUJCpOUh7OHTiM_yyUy-rVd9iBC6HKlvFuGm5SbwE38W8ERafYgeKBrYz5WFF41nKvHReWvXIAS6m0DLGYR0KSgWeuWgwH_S-HyykNgNBhPw5xUSmSibg3MphYSMsU/s1600/SDC11750.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405437965897076146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 271px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7y2IVttiPSW52WwUJCpOUh7OHTiM_yyUy-rVd9iBC6HKlvFuGm5SbwE38W8ERafYgeKBrYz5WFF41nKvHReWvXIAS6m0DLGYR0KSgWeuWgwH_S-HyykNgNBhPw5xUSmSibg3MphYSMsU/s320/SDC11750.JPG" border="0" /></a>he boatyard which I mentioned in the last posting - so here he is '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">soclialising</span></span>' with a dog that for once he didn't dare jump on or growl at. Actually this huge dog has a lovely nature and delights in playing with a squeaky toy shaped and looking like 'The Times' newspaper. Not all newspapers carry stories as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">sqeaky</span></span> clean as this one does!<br /><br />I don't usually do promotions on this weblog, but I can but highly commend the work done by Grantham Bridge Boat Services at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hillmorton</span></span></span> (just above the bottom lock). Here is a link which takes you to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Canalbreaks</span></span></span> - their website.<br /><a href="http://www.canalbreaks.com/">http://www.canalbreaks.com/</a><br />The phone number is the same for boat repairs and blacking as it is for their boat hire service. Anyway they did a great job and checked other <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">under</span> water items <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">such</span> as the bow-thruster tubes and rudder <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">skeg</span></span></span>.<br /><br />Readers who aren't boaters may also be interested in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Canalsbreaks</span></span></span>.com for hiring purposes - they also own and run Willow Wren which as previously mentioned was the company owned and run by Leslie Morton, who used to use the Admiral Nelson pub in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Braunston</span></span></span> as an unofficial Midlands office.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pkkaajNDh414Jqu_2snYNg_odD2QQSyyxTrw2FH-F8NXJo1fhUO_jRR2T2AFaR_GEWtOQyBAXx7vY0bI8kOLXT8ku-csESLvYYqDHEWbcHXJfRgsIu0oJj1BDWKmr96uzcOf0bnW1Oo/s1600/SDC11754.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405438765714089730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 273px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 203px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pkkaajNDh414Jqu_2snYNg_odD2QQSyyxTrw2FH-F8NXJo1fhUO_jRR2T2AFaR_GEWtOQyBAXx7vY0bI8kOLXT8ku-csESLvYYqDHEWbcHXJfRgsIu0oJj1BDWKmr96uzcOf0bnW1Oo/s320/SDC11754.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It was still a dry dock when we arrived, but slowly filling with water. Jeeves and I were amazed at the size of the rudder (all nicely blacked of course) - we hadn't seen it fully exposed since the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">launching</span>.<br /><br /><br />In the background can be seen the coffer dam that keeps the water out of the dry-dock. It works on the same principle as many of those that you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Will</span> see along the cut, usually next to a bridge hole with an accompanying crane to drop in the baulks of timber. This one though is much smaller of course - as is the lift bridge that crosses the opening.<br /><br /><br />The forecast was terrible, but there was some sunshine as we left the boatyard and more as we negotiated the bottom lock, so we decided that rather than moor at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Hillmorton</span></span>, hoping for better weather, I would take advantage of what appeared to be quite good cruising weather for the morning. I set off a sole operative again, with Jeeves taking the car and aiming to be picked up at a bridge hole not far from the marina.<br /><br /><br />All this duly took place, with Wooster at <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCcJioa2YI9CAjKMh8T8OuvrTYcCNCBpc5DEsEur8f2FpEXgYzNo-rWp4hqon5_EuwGWyiOoktYhFdguV3r-UsIqACqVaFmF_ICzUJVF7DzT8StD5zmydMMj6hDgiFsO3IBzlXFVPr-o/s1600/SDC11760.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405444260694495810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 295px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCcJioa2YI9CAjKMh8T8OuvrTYcCNCBpc5DEsEur8f2FpEXgYzNo-rWp4hqon5_EuwGWyiOoktYhFdguV3r-UsIqACqVaFmF_ICzUJVF7DzT8StD5zmydMMj6hDgiFsO3IBzlXFVPr-o/s320/SDC11760.JPG" border="0" /></a>the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">hellum</span></span> picking up Jeeves at bridge 50 next to the Barley Mow. It <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">eeemed</span> to be getting blustery as I eased the boat slowly toward the bridge - no white horses on the water though (<em>as if -ed</em>). Jeeves told me though that the conditions at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Brinklow</span> were quite, if not severely blustery.<br /><br /><br />Well! I should have opened my ears a little more because half an hour later I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">attempted</span> to swing in through bridge 39 in the usual fashion which involves a little reverse and correction for a 60' boat entering from the south.<br /><br /><br />Not so! I got her head around and went astern to head through both bridges in a nice straight line. Rubbish! a nice powered turn went horribly wrong. As soon as I dropped to forward power, the gale took hold and pushed the bows back into the cut. Worse was to follow, as being now alongside the entrance I was blown against to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">opposite</span> bank by the blast.<br /><br />After much scraping and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">swearing</span>, we got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Gleemaiden</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">amidstream</span> and south of the entrance again, out of the way of the wind tunnel.<br /><br />This time I put the bows straight into the entrance at an absurd angle and touching the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">arnco</span>. From there I was able to swing the stern around using the thrust against the rudder and by keeping the wind from pushing the bows out of the entrance once more.<br /><br /><br />Once through, with the wind coming from ahead we realised that getting into the pontoon mooring with a cross wind like this was going to involve a lot of banging - there really were white horses in the open <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">stretches</span> of the marina. So, we moored up at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">South</span> end and took her alongside the following day - also gusty, but we were lucky to have Neil and Ruth to help.Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-65358945814331753892009-11-12T16:08:00.012+00:002009-11-18T13:29:57.362+00:00BlackingLovely day for boating, all set and no wind; but forgot to take the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">television</span> aerial down didn't I? Also <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">setting</span> off single handed, realised that one has to manage ropes by one's self.<br /><br />Pulled up nicely by t<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGbGU59KxW8dfmK3zQEj4NYUSUHJq386w-bloMSoG0wMJ5Qx00yROKaLrWHKGE69atyit5NyNuOLsgsgQq_6Gy3K_p6cpUJ3GgTUqKqdqHxsbfSSq14RHKVCvY6caefkLEgx-nfugq14/s1600/SDC11746.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405072130292242482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 186px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGbGU59KxW8dfmK3zQEj4NYUSUHJq386w-bloMSoG0wMJ5Qx00yROKaLrWHKGE69atyit5NyNuOLsgsgQq_6Gy3K_p6cpUJ3GgTUqKqdqHxsbfSSq14RHKVCvY6caefkLEgx-nfugq14/s320/SDC11746.JPG" border="0" /></a>he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">arnco</span></span></span> at the end of the marina and uncoiled one of he centre ropes (not being silly and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">stepping</span> of the the boat to do this, of course). And then having <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">disassembled</span> TV mast, got <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">under</span> way again.<br /><br />Jeeves was at bridge 39 to wave me on if no traffic was offering to ram us amidships as I put the helm over to head south again. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ll2VjfndxEc7BMNIM7kqB0yesbp8RpUwFvLRSGWhgwjQg1zHpIbWZ3eHzBeKWG6tkD9KcGUFn5jqEPIzpiXa1k9O1bNi9YcLxSEEjhvkcSAPsUGmQhTIauKOPBl99E8OZGh03hz4SD8/s1600/SDC11748.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405070567081473554" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 296px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 207px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ll2VjfndxEc7BMNIM7kqB0yesbp8RpUwFvLRSGWhgwjQg1zHpIbWZ3eHzBeKWG6tkD9KcGUFn5jqEPIzpiXa1k9O1bNi9YcLxSEEjhvkcSAPsUGmQhTIauKOPBl99E8OZGh03hz4SD8/s320/SDC11748.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Yes!</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gleemaiden</span></span></span> is off for a blacking and will have to bare all before the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">stalwart</span> chaps at Grantham Bridge (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">also</span> Willow Wren of Les <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Morton</span> and David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Blagrove</span></span></span> fame).<br />Had I been working locks and heaving on ropes one gets quite warm in any weather; as a solo operative though on stretches with few such diversions and opportunities for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">exercise</span>, the man at the '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">hellum</span></span></span>' can really get to feel the cold.<br /><br />Anyway, I was only starting to lick the the ice away from under my fingernails and wishing that I could drift for a bit while I made a coffee-laced rum, when the mobile rang. I was passing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">under</span> Clifton bridge with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">another</span> boat coming the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">other</span> way - in fact I nearly dropped another <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">mobile phone</span></span></span> in the cut while ducking under the bridge. You also have to dodge bricks - some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">chav</span></span></span> managed to drive a car over the edge; but the canal is free of that at least.<br /><br />So; 'Clifton Bridge' <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">said</span></span> I, missing the oncoming boat by inches. The golf course will be coming up shortly.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMPnnKszNOLTIBHBjMQt313JJGo26eirlwmvOgKjrwcB1Tw1oEK9YdD9G6AMNYWZVK8xso4w6TXHFcytfyf95L2cC6wC2akM4Z8hLOi_lfjsQMNx_TIwLbUp2NMTdVZkdlu0SQzkPdFk/s1600/SDC11751.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405074726013529522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 276px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMPnnKszNOLTIBHBjMQt313JJGo26eirlwmvOgKjrwcB1Tw1oEK9YdD9G6AMNYWZVK8xso4w6TXHFcytfyf95L2cC6wC2akM4Z8hLOi_lfjsQMNx_TIwLbUp2NMTdVZkdlu0SQzkPdFk/s320/SDC11751.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ten minutes later another call tells me to look out for her and Biggles - so we slide into a nice strait mooring, not far from the bottom lock at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Hillmoton</span></span></span>.<br /><br />Here os a picture of Gleemaiden in drydock and one of Biggle scared pantless by a large German Shepherd at Grantham Bridge Boats.<br /><br />Got a brilliant e-mail from Neil and Ruth on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Nerus</span></span></span><em> (see<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBrim7ghWkulcuowM6zkkUEG7LE6APRE0tzenBWik5uGiz5rvhH0WQaKOcXB3UcnNaSvr4-avOYVTdZR-iZ1MeXYPZSloCq5xw7N9G9tAjdb1boivwExQUnsUSV3nFyInBjqr8_2L68o/s1600/Unusual+Angle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405073248853791442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 295px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBrim7ghWkulcuowM6zkkUEG7LE6APRE0tzenBWik5uGiz5rvhH0WQaKOcXB3UcnNaSvr4-avOYVTdZR-iZ1MeXYPZSloCq5xw7N9G9tAjdb1boivwExQUnsUSV3nFyInBjqr8_2L68o/s320/Unusual+Angle.jpg" border="0" /></a> blogs passim),</em>which tells of trying times that can occur when faced with a water shortage on the cut! Neil has told of some of the odd discomforts that you might experience when<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4FldXt8eztPj-L3s0lHLOFILCIRMYhUquKItO46rFz05KEK061NjWzv_OJksAOM5LQj3iH6kPwUljnbJOEA7NNRKo4IeY17Cng25DrrcGQtOtJelIfta4lyKFOo0EoH53DQ2HagaK_Y/s1600-h/SDC11741.JPG"></a> waking up in you bed at this angle - I can only say that we would have found <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ourselves</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">heavily</span></span> entangled under the gunwale with five feet of uphill <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">mattress</span></span> to negotiate before even going to the loo along a sloping <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">corridor</span></span> <em>(thanks for the detail Mr S).</em><br /><br />Now here is another think - I haven't done the pictures yet, so I'll have to go and get the camera! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Damn</span></span>! Done that now, so on to the next posting.Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-53343256402575483032009-11-10T20:56:00.012+00:002009-11-12T17:04:04.348+00:00Bonfire Night<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxq4b0D7j3oNKqkAc0xI8GL6RtJdoGtxkqExG6c59LA-sBXaRitnjmNfenVQP7MF1wfPiYu7x09orrxGSURSSa8k5FhxkS9VI48Pcvn7Mev4ttE45LkJ-ymlnAdo2GGqk_RjI9LQhiy4/s1600-h/SDC11726.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402598135215510018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxq4b0D7j3oNKqkAc0xI8GL6RtJdoGtxkqExG6c59LA-sBXaRitnjmNfenVQP7MF1wfPiYu7x09orrxGSURSSa8k5FhxkS9VI48Pcvn7Mev4ttE45LkJ-ymlnAdo2GGqk_RjI9LQhiy4/s320/SDC11726.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Look out! Its Bonfire Night!</strong><br /><br />No bonfire, but lots of . . .<br /><br />. . . well fireworks.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16shouO-KDB8LA-4dWBjikJhDAQ0tJbnWuWEbRMM6wiBBQFGklOk59swWtnOJSeNc8MmuFBlmGbDwCDBq3WCNO11ouprGC-vn-a8GJm2Ow2kKEaYDCiv0ILBWjmvE2QQZQw9gDdfCjHg/s1600-h/SDC11698.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402587275563648626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 218px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 185px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16shouO-KDB8LA-4dWBjikJhDAQ0tJbnWuWEbRMM6wiBBQFGklOk59swWtnOJSeNc8MmuFBlmGbDwCDBq3WCNO11ouprGC-vn-a8GJm2Ow2kKEaYDCiv0ILBWjmvE2QQZQw9gDdfCjHg/s320/SDC11698.JPG" border="0" /></a> This has nothing to do with boating we simply weren't there - there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest from boaters in making fire and brimstone erupt around the cut or at the marina. Anyway dogs <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">don't</span> like them <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">and </span>towpaths aren't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">really <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sui</span></span>ted to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pyrotechnic</span> displays.<br /><br />So for the first time in a number of years we had a little display in our back garden. And jolly good it was too, a bit on the light side compared with<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0PTNeLmyXHS3ZXVrremsST5k4A1rHCToNyy6rdqQYvlzDmq7OXZFRxhJes5MY6n-nB5rH9BDS3A-nX3XxZpP_ApRQYBO2bKdZ9Zo8dQElSS09Racy2HUr6wKBCvI5mMDS79EwuQcgjM/s1600-h/SDC11710.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402587640216177218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 245px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 169px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0PTNeLmyXHS3ZXVrremsST5k4A1rHCToNyy6rdqQYvlzDmq7OXZFRxhJes5MY6n-nB5rH9BDS3A-nX3XxZpP_ApRQYBO2bKdZ9Zo8dQElSS09Racy2HUr6wKBCvI5mMDS79EwuQcgjM/s320/SDC11710.JPG" border="0" /></a> the public displays, but if you really want to have some fun throwing money away in sparks, smoke and bangs, I could recommend such an evening as we had.<br /><br />Just think for the cost of only five packets of cigarettes, we had about two hours of colourful if smoky entertainment without having to worry about withdrawal <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">symptoms</span> afterwards.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f1pwAL-qAM9HN24d44yofOilabclEsbHBobqgiG3Sqv2EatBbHgI8UUeQuGpR7S5HwIojF9BeHfgQubXuLqg3Aw8FnLtX5xrzNsy6oJBGigcNVvwNWhzE4rZR1MiboGfH40VwFrNscg/s1600-h/SDC11705.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402590403435226194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 173px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_f1pwAL-qAM9HN24d44yofOilabclEsbHBobqgiG3Sqv2EatBbHgI8UUeQuGpR7S5HwIojF9BeHfgQubXuLqg3Aw8FnLtX5xrzNsy6oJBGigcNVvwNWhzE4rZR1MiboGfH40VwFrNscg/s320/SDC11705.JPG" border="0" /></a> Derek and Sheila were on assited with the celebrations and Derek was a great help with the handy match and lighted taper. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Derek</span> also had a mortar type of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">firework</span> which would have put the fear into . . . . . no never mind, needless to say that it was quite spectacular!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefOs-UtWcReRoY3NIIRFMcBYy6SPKtPJGCUXgwoLCl7LQc427a9XLVuK6Unkmed60LPoyxk-XNo0f1NRX2rYx1VzIiCAPxApyYdpnLqxxmTSWJjUUOT0C6njjb2YSI57BqHF-uB_azAs/s1600-h/SDC11715.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402592469539907778" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 243px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 184px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefOs-UtWcReRoY3NIIRFMcBYy6SPKtPJGCUXgwoLCl7LQc427a9XLVuK6Unkmed60LPoyxk-XNo0f1NRX2rYx1VzIiCAPxApyYdpnLqxxmTSWJjUUOT0C6njjb2YSI57BqHF-uB_azAs/s320/SDC11715.JPG" border="0" /></a> Minnie and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Cain</span> from next came to watch our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">shenanigans</span> before they and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">their</span> friend held quite a display of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">their</span> own - some great rockets!<br /><br /><br /><p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHG5XlEmCF1G_ugw8fAehI_UXu01KXI-lrBq7nsv_GrWpoA7IaLUMsCQxkzuM09KfEVg_46SHvlYrW2WXCZUH9XLbyltw3HKKK-pBYQTiN8c0ycR360zZEkFICFNGJSbbnEW2Lo3Tmq18/s1600-h/SDC11740.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402593442777014338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 249px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 174px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHG5XlEmCF1G_ugw8fAehI_UXu01KXI-lrBq7nsv_GrWpoA7IaLUMsCQxkzuM09KfEVg_46SHvlYrW2WXCZUH9XLbyltw3HKKK-pBYQTiN8c0ycR360zZEkFICFNGJSbbnEW2Lo3Tmq18/s320/SDC11740.JPG" border="0" /></a> And Biggles tells us that both wars are over and he is quite happy to stay in bed and ignore all the noise and kerfuffle.Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-44226890236524147522009-10-26T16:33:00.008+00:002009-10-26T19:31:46.442+00:00Biggles flies again - well sort of. . .This is a pretty silly heading for a blog post, but I thought it appropriate as the said puppy has kept us home bound and heading to the Dog's Trust or vet with his little problems.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexzR2-p-wtg36WTt8jwPQ8tCWr96Gpzsg14493OWp04HqX82LbuWVqiN02svDR4JHLUsFXXEuGNEeOMtrMeWE7Ox1n8VQgQI3LXa6CHUcTomm4ZzfvaTF2BPD3UoWvtahA2Qo7UrxMr0/s1600-h/SDC11642.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396971910841570658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 201px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexzR2-p-wtg36WTt8jwPQ8tCWr96Gpzsg14493OWp04HqX82LbuWVqiN02svDR4JHLUsFXXEuGNEeOMtrMeWE7Ox1n8VQgQI3LXa6CHUcTomm4ZzfvaTF2BPD3UoWvtahA2Qo7UrxMr0/s320/SDC11642.JPG" border="0" /></a>He has, however too much energy, even for our lengthy back garden, so he does get <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">airborne</span> even in the lounge room. The silly thing is that he needs to get out and go boating; but still other dogs and socialising is denied hm. Maybe next week. This is very frustrating for us as well, since we can't do any boating either - apart from a day trip or two.<br /><br />Last Sunday we did actually have a magnificent trip - a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvoOj-djl6o9Rtb88Q23KG1fqnq3bsZLrQrGKnb32qQXpr5haSNgmVCfMS9o5syDI6V0LhLeM8w13rAhqupNTz-YSg5bS7td02BXsSMN7TPGNMUFEcbz-Qk0-1w6o6xcN5xM_VbIQB00/s1600-h/SDC11626.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396973044053065794" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 248px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 176px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvoOj-djl6o9Rtb88Q23KG1fqnq3bsZLrQrGKnb32qQXpr5haSNgmVCfMS9o5syDI6V0LhLeM8w13rAhqupNTz-YSg5bS7td02BXsSMN7TPGNMUFEcbz-Qk0-1w6o6xcN5xM_VbIQB00/s320/SDC11626.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lbeit</span></span> a short one. down to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hillmorton</span></span></span> and back. This was made especially enjoyable for the fact that our next door neighbours joined us for the outing - and even better that they are also boaters like us who had a boat built bespoke for them and lived on it for several years.<br /><br />Adam, Barbara, Cain & Minnie made up an excellent crew for a day's outing and it was fabulous that I could be relieved of the tiller for a periods long enough to head up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">for'ad</span></span></span> and enjoy <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">boating</span> from the well deck. Though mind you, Jeeves gives me that opportunity often enough when on long cruises.<br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">tunne</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtJrl72fROL6DYcVDvs5fjlGFd6jTT4Cuc9PB2LnSMfDqD-SaJ3TSEO33yGMviLISv2jr5_9VLxwYy5sGAC1OJGDvrURo7nbFLpIaS5MMcz29AHweaDGkAJZgA9fH5jWMFizwGglKZtA/s1600-h/SDC11628.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396983437908368194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 248px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtJrl72fROL6DYcVDvs5fjlGFd6jTT4Cuc9PB2LnSMfDqD-SaJ3TSEO33yGMviLISv2jr5_9VLxwYy5sGAC1OJGDvrURo7nbFLpIaS5MMcz29AHweaDGkAJZgA9fH5jWMFizwGglKZtA/s320/SDC11628.JPG" border="0" /></a>l at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Newbold</span></span> proved to be quit a hit with Minnie; she had been anticipating our entry for some time and I'm sure that the images taken in transit show that she did. I must say that with its lighting (turned off at night of course, because of the bats who live there), make a diverting display. '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Twould</span></span> be better however if failed floodlight bulbs were replaced more often; never mind, even with about 25% gone, it is still my favourite tunnel - if not the most exciting.<br /><br />So, we turned at the winding hole just below the bottom <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8caMXEXxqRt_S2hbGIuGL46hGFpiB_ma9hm6qS-ZDOKFoQLwf3f31DTBAOwcMfmhsyUc_3ff5mrZ_YVYC97gEemZnQC76T-u4QaTT533Mk5sa4cim-QdirnC5cA-z2X5KS4kJ6f0W71A/s1600-h/SDC11630.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396984636354772658" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 261px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8caMXEXxqRt_S2hbGIuGL46hGFpiB_ma9hm6qS-ZDOKFoQLwf3f31DTBAOwcMfmhsyUc_3ff5mrZ_YVYC97gEemZnQC76T-u4QaTT533Mk5sa4cim-QdirnC5cA-z2X5KS4kJ6f0W71A/s320/SDC11630.JPG" border="0" /></a>lock in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Hillmorton</span></span></span>, to find a spot for enjoying the sunny Autumn weather and cracking with the barbecue - phew! had the wrong sort of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">barbecue</span> fuel, which created lots of smoke for those passing by on the towpath and on the cut, but settled down to a good hot charcoal after about fifteen minutes.<br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Hibachi</span> (<em>see blogs passim</em>) did a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">marv</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBdGrykaP-jNAur3iCzOj4V1GuZfUMNsJ4cuir3QwF1JB2JI-7qeIGBDzpvi-ipRkD7gYoXxfvP3dFdyuBkvDpIlwp24_VoDlDaik7WPbCaJ2OW7V7QU55jKQq-x0sd5qyxiipD7UoqU/s1600-h/SDC11632.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396985547301389970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 292px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 185px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBdGrykaP-jNAur3iCzOj4V1GuZfUMNsJ4cuir3QwF1JB2JI-7qeIGBDzpvi-ipRkD7gYoXxfvP3dFdyuBkvDpIlwp24_VoDlDaik7WPbCaJ2OW7V7QU55jKQq-x0sd5qyxiipD7UoqU/s320/SDC11632.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">elous</span> job and after a satisfying lunch, relaxing as boats went by, we readied <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ourselves</span> to leave.<br /><br />Holding on to the last to let boats past before casting off, well! Who should heave into sight just before we thought we were clear to clear away, but - yes <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Nerus</span></span></span> again! Neil quickly brought <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Nerus</span></span></span> alongside and told us they had just been to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Braunston</span></span></span>, now heading back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Brinklow</span></span></span>.<br /><br />Needless to say we let go and followed in their wake back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Brinklow</span></span></span> - a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">delightful</span> journey with little traffic.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV__nOqvfJg-FKx_5ZEQFjKoyWMdcZq2X-kioaw5S9DY7C9JnfQzdXUaYvOhcMs6SWGiamA_jPMDLlVUhVR0Y4WtWW6oLzEMsFCFff43zJpRjxzrYXBK7Po6VYQnyvE7MkPrCURc_OoH4/s1600-h/SDC11631.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396986374988682194" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 175px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV__nOqvfJg-FKx_5ZEQFjKoyWMdcZq2X-kioaw5S9DY7C9JnfQzdXUaYvOhcMs6SWGiamA_jPMDLlVUhVR0Y4WtWW6oLzEMsFCFff43zJpRjxzrYXBK7Po6VYQnyvE7MkPrCURc_OoH4/s320/SDC11631.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The remarkable thing being; and I am sure there will be flak from this, but pictorial evidence seems to confirm that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Nerus</span> has an admiral on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">quaterdeck</span> here and a figurehead at the what was one called the beak of the bows. Of course we boaters all call this space as the well deck and cratch!<br /><br />Arrival at the port of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Brinklow</span></span> was rather good too - we might as well have been in convoy, sliding in through bridges 39 & 40 line astern <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">behind</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Nerus</span></span> and berthing minutes behind her.Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-6661357117308154472009-10-13T13:15:00.004+01:002009-10-13T14:36:47.608+01:00A new crew member<div><div><div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Glemaiden</span></span> now has a new crew member who answers <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbFkedILyk2isVZaF8SxoVDMU_sCX2kB0E7x6ovIixZuJq7ZEhBxjXGO7DppxIA8prsLygRDO_UTL6rb4s6EDcC6NjqjGXfh0qBgxjImVIuZjeRuYr_3bkpT1JMBH2SfOv6kEW6llj_U/s1600-h/SDC11600.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392061205057733122" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 169px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbFkedILyk2isVZaF8SxoVDMU_sCX2kB0E7x6ovIixZuJq7ZEhBxjXGO7DppxIA8prsLygRDO_UTL6rb4s6EDcC6NjqjGXfh0qBgxjImVIuZjeRuYr_3bkpT1JMBH2SfOv6kEW6llj_U/s320/SDC11600.JPG" border="0" /></a>to the name of Biggles. The trouble is that he is still a puppy and hasn't had all his shots yet - so he is not even allowed to say hello to Poppy (the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Staffie</span></span> next door) or even go for a walk in the street.<br /><br />To put it bluntly, midshipman <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bigglesworth</span></span> has not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">yet</span> been aboard to see his new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bert</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMj3724LWrKSraGn9Og-vDNQeavKTfq7fx1f-nKMvk9TFde8aMRShdOvhdt238CKIzIAHgndGCns-wQgF-gdSeCY-qavz8NkUJ-YxGDmeK8-q8IxEKFr77mOFvMS1UWIi8PDaXzGm2SgQ/s1600-h/SDC11571.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392069421357387554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMj3724LWrKSraGn9Og-vDNQeavKTfq7fx1f-nKMvk9TFde8aMRShdOvhdt238CKIzIAHgndGCns-wQgF-gdSeCY-qavz8NkUJ-YxGDmeK8-q8IxEKFr77mOFvMS1UWIi8PDaXzGm2SgQ/s320/SDC11571.JPG" border="0" /></a>h yet. After tomorrow, when the last shot is fired (into his neck again, no doubt), he will be able to socialise with other freshwater tars at the marina.<br /><br />Meanwhile heaps has been happening at the Cambridge Street house, but that will be covered in another posting.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>Meanwhile at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Brinklow</span>, as those who follow the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">other</span> sites associated with this smashing inland lake, there have been a lot of comings and goings, but most importantly; last <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Saturday</span> was the annual <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">barbeque</span>.</div><div></div><br /><div>The event was a resounding success and I think that congratulations are due to all those who helped organise it - particularly the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGQPNfsgjYwDhAq8CGFlRBjefbgMNDiEKe7F7IDjkBvmm7O2-O2VKzefgDYh6b8tygw1naN81ebQ1lorovHoP22kXKu9rxXoMHg_EmPGVbCyWI-fdJpN_qK0LOymccT4V2hyUWDpleWs/s1600-h/SDC11586.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392075153188127650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 269px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGQPNfsgjYwDhAq8CGFlRBjefbgMNDiEKe7F7IDjkBvmm7O2-O2VKzefgDYh6b8tygw1naN81ebQ1lorovHoP22kXKu9rxXoMHg_EmPGVbCyWI-fdJpN_qK0LOymccT4V2hyUWDpleWs/s320/SDC11586.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">harbour masters</span>; Andy; John; Derek and Eric. The last mentioned of course who made the night so fabulous <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">repertoire</span> - incredible stamina has Eric! So evidently did some of the revellers. I was told that the event didn't fold until about 0:345! And I know it was at least 0:300 when I hit the hammock - after a coffee on board Clarence.</div><div></div><br /><div>Anyway it was <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghODvIIV-V_urs4_rMkSMkpBN0fvf7PW5bYi3X7IUH_4CmO4waastJkBxLQ5AEpO6NQ9m1qM-8QtneVX5mlp51GukAV7cc6i8TR1vV3gnRD6e7Ue923rnWvXO5MXzHM3uRNKj7FFwDhQk/s1600-h/SDC11579.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392076918948522066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 263px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghODvIIV-V_urs4_rMkSMkpBN0fvf7PW5bYi3X7IUH_4CmO4waastJkBxLQ5AEpO6NQ9m1qM-8QtneVX5mlp51GukAV7cc6i8TR1vV3gnRD6e7Ue923rnWvXO5MXzHM3uRNKj7FFwDhQk/s320/SDC11579.JPG" border="0" /></a>another smashing tribute to the community spirit of those that have boats moored at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Brinklow</span> Marina.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Oh and here is a shot of Lyra and Andy at the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">barbecue</span> - we can't wait to introduce Biggles to Lyra and others at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Brinklow</span>. On the night of the barbecue we was still confined to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">quaters</span>, needing further <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">vaccination</span> shots and then having caught kennel cough. Anyway, it won't be long before he makes new friends.</div><br />Next posting will be mostly Cambridge Street stuff and a bit about me having a fight with a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">rotavator.</span><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-86614045388645464732009-09-14T17:26:00.004+01:002009-09-14T18:20:54.745+01:00Autumnal colours<div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMtXyAzLVxBSTz0V2pr8c44hYkDvYhlg0RUD8NVAw0S2y3XMUxUbtkDlQXCFZmh8lu_mjhfaIZSDSwvPZszUVtTv502B9-NovpwUTY_kCijjj2n8-y5dZhEZvnLcUz3v2t23JmlKH9E0/s1600-h/SDC11503.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381372662855351698" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 253px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMtXyAzLVxBSTz0V2pr8c44hYkDvYhlg0RUD8NVAw0S2y3XMUxUbtkDlQXCFZmh8lu_mjhfaIZSDSwvPZszUVtTv502B9-NovpwUTY_kCijjj2n8-y5dZhEZvnLcUz3v2t23JmlKH9E0/s320/SDC11503.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Ah yes! the swallows are swooping and sweeping by the boat, catching what they can as they skim the water between our side hatch and the grassy bank belonging to the meadow accross the canal.<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Good Lord, how time flies: the last post was in Summer and now it is Autumn, you can s<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeJ7wef3fnWGijRMxFW0t0essPCioiW7BEChE_WGhP2LIom6fVeTonQYvN0hAraJnmrnil5-DWljWLlesREwwesK0MZ0QYfwRp9XAfecMUnKVrPLpa1TGxPfRUPRk88hNXuxJNn09voU/s1600-h/SDC11511.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381365887326763890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeJ7wef3fnWGijRMxFW0t0essPCioiW7BEChE_WGhP2LIom6fVeTonQYvN0hAraJnmrnil5-DWljWLlesREwwesK0MZ0QYfwRp9XAfecMUnKVrPLpa1TGxPfRUPRk88hNXuxJNn09voU/s320/SDC11511.JPG" border="0" /></a>ee the subtle changes in the foliage reaching over the North Oxford at All Oak Wood.<br /><br />What <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wonderful</span> cruising weather! And of course we haven't made hay while the sun shines (although the farmers around here certainly have been doing so). Just the odd <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">seize</span> the moment and take her out on to the cut for an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">idyllic</span> evening.<br /></div><div>Now the reason for all this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">landlubbardliness</span></span> is that there has been a lot of work to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCpn1Hjq12VX8cf7wwMnhgaQihgoyilSNzv1l4tods59zEeXexrpHM_RXDL8DYaQ_G3LqSKsrhKm5coWVSyGj-jJGeHD7LqXJGcVqyMBHEO0QXbho_-tm-jbPuSCb-qfyQ8dDbyrBdmc/s1600-h/SDC11523.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381368129196160610" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 204px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCpn1Hjq12VX8cf7wwMnhgaQihgoyilSNzv1l4tods59zEeXexrpHM_RXDL8DYaQ_G3LqSKsrhKm5coWVSyGj-jJGeHD7LqXJGcVqyMBHEO0QXbho_-tm-jbPuSCb-qfyQ8dDbyrBdmc/s320/SDC11523.JPG" border="0" /></a>be done in Cambridge Street. To say nothing of the furniture being delivered after four years of being sequestered in storage. Lots of interesting dramas involved with that - but best left to the next post.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GayeN5bMj97GGsf02kR5PFrxcpHPGyrUFA_bvakEXWaWPYdLwx0d7aonu3YzggC46qO7MyOdzjiWIbxZHSkS2qaj0hwRPHFe2UH055c0hgXCD5mCaRytIc3laHZnHLQ4pFwiZxODJdE/s1600-h/SDC11538.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381371469568690290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GayeN5bMj97GGsf02kR5PFrxcpHPGyrUFA_bvakEXWaWPYdLwx0d7aonu3YzggC46qO7MyOdzjiWIbxZHSkS2qaj0hwRPHFe2UH055c0hgXCD5mCaRytIc3laHZnHLQ4pFwiZxODJdE/s320/SDC11538.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div><br />Our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">good</span> friend and neighbour Steve E wrote that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gleemaiden</span></span> looked all alone and neglected when he took K2 for a run; but how is this for a deserted pontoon? Everyone seems to have made the best of this Indian Summer - including ourselves!</div></div></div></div></div>Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-64680581856822837532009-08-18T12:09:00.005+01:002009-08-18T13:46:00.255+01:00Gardening leaveHaving arrived back at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Brinklow</span> and seen off our friend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizz3CAVlWtFQA8TtKHq7IF1RZYHZyth4rs7du9qnU4Qe5XXSDsRoaTciDHPB009iDWEEyKCuX5teO8KyXHsENpoEv8txmOOxfOTCck02LFax_twHTNKqbu3wcXU9iEoX9XgGCTUXVEaE/s1600-h/SDC11467.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371275828202819410" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 246px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizz3CAVlWtFQA8TtKHq7IF1RZYHZyth4rs7du9qnU4Qe5XXSDsRoaTciDHPB009iDWEEyKCuX5teO8KyXHsENpoEv8txmOOxfOTCck02LFax_twHTNKqbu3wcXU9iEoX9XgGCTUXVEaE/s320/SDC11467.JPG" border="0" /></a>s, we were settling into a life of lakeside drinks and relaxation, when I got a phone call from Michael, a friend who lives in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Arundel</span>. He wondered if he would be able to visit the following day.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Initially</span> we thought no, too short notice after our Ashby trip, but on second thoughts why not? So the following day Michael met us at the house and we trundled off to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">boat</span> for dinner. An opportunity that we are glad that we didn't miss, the weather was glorious, and so we took her out to moor on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Oxford</span> next to All Oak woods for the night, winding at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Brinklow</span> arm and returning the following day, as Michael had to be in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Torquay</span> the following day for an appointment. A short visit but a good one.<br /><br />The following picture is a sight that you won't see very o<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdO9mwhafOhZHDsnIstRLxMUwTkrTN8thLaXHANOXuul6wDo-GGnF6JN0xW35Sl8qwmQC1cRPvLMpvwnSjTsDkIHb4kXhS2dwDT5bCTpbsctBC9Y_ImvkZMPbcj5_gAC9LTo8MR5pXlRE/s1600-h/SDC11470.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371276486063184498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 289px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdO9mwhafOhZHDsnIstRLxMUwTkrTN8thLaXHANOXuul6wDo-GGnF6JN0xW35Sl8qwmQC1cRPvLMpvwnSjTsDkIHb4kXhS2dwDT5bCTpbsctBC9Y_ImvkZMPbcj5_gAC9LTo8MR5pXlRE/s320/SDC11470.JPG" border="0" /></a>ften. I have been sent ashore on gardening leave!<br /><br />Well actually we are both rather busy about the house lately painting and generally doing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">face lift</span> renovations for when our furniture arrives from storage. Jeeves has become a master painter, and Wooster the master gardener.<br /><br />The garden <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXfNImYllAcnvqDjQYotSt6tANpDtQ-uynnZOJQp20ORhZPl65qum7vefcfUEkgc51S_yp9RdMymLDdRYhFlrZ75WCVdTOmgMRGvofL167Ynd4ejbQCeW6VZrwR_8cvTb4PIoLjHAkJE/s1600-h/SDC11471.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371277413632345986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 276px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXfNImYllAcnvqDjQYotSt6tANpDtQ-uynnZOJQp20ORhZPl65qum7vefcfUEkgc51S_yp9RdMymLDdRYhFlrZ75WCVdTOmgMRGvofL167Ynd4ejbQCeW6VZrwR_8cvTb4PIoLjHAkJE/s320/SDC11471.JPG" border="0" /></a>might be rather narrow, but it is very long - a little bit like an allotment strip from the shed to the back wall. So I am landscaping it as such (borrowed a book on the subject from the library). Although it is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">little</span> late in the year for growing much now, but I can put in all the paths and create the raised beds for the next growing season.<br /><br />It is jolly hard work though forking over all that soil and pulling out a couple of years worth of weeds - dug up a lot of potatoes though.<br /><br />Some people might have heard or heard about a monologue that I rather unthinkingly treated those at our table and those around us on the subject of cats when we were dining at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Narrowboat</span> Inn on the Grand Union not far from Stoke <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Bruene</span>!! I will say no more about that tirade. (<em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">shurely</span> had</em> <em>too much wine - ed</em>).<br /><br />Anyway when we got the house here in Rugby, I found to my horror that the garden was completely <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">overrun</span> with verminous cats. Worse than the cats themselves, was that smelly cat poo was being deposited everywhere; on the lawn and in the garden beds - what a smell!<br /><br />Jeeves however has saved the day. She was leafing though a gardening magazine when she saw advertised a gadget called '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Catwatch</span>', which had recommendations from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">RSPB</span>. So we got onto their website and after reading all the blurb about how <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">these</span> things work, we ordered one.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaDRMlW84g8Yt-WxrjB1ebG2C4MMa1R0zkBtNsJutcgq17yLC0Y_EeaiwPKNBab3J9RyyQPj7pmgJNrxaFiVP7TnV2gI_h4KvdK6I30aFUaCzkXLvmE5-9qvDC0c0v5DLLHDw6bWR20Q/s1600-h/SDC11473.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371275195304226514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 187px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaDRMlW84g8Yt-WxrjB1ebG2C4MMa1R0zkBtNsJutcgq17yLC0Y_EeaiwPKNBab3J9RyyQPj7pmgJNrxaFiVP7TnV2gI_h4KvdK6I30aFUaCzkXLvmE5-9qvDC0c0v5DLLHDw6bWR20Q/s320/SDC11473.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The thing is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">absolute</span> magic, as it senses a cat walking in front of its eye, Zap!! We watched enthralled as several of the neighbour's cats sauntered <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">around </span>the corner and disappeared with a bang and a puff of blue smoke. . . . . Not really, it does work on an infrared sensor, but lets off an ultrasonic <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">squawk</span> that only cats don't like. We haven't seen a moggy or smelt their poo since.<br /><br />Now the vexing thing is, what will the dog have to chase when we get one??Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-62977393071981025912009-08-17T16:38:00.008+01:002009-08-19T09:39:18.518+01:00Carry on up the AshbySteve from K2 told me that the Ashby canal is rather <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">shallo</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2FavuXK3FCym51bUcLDIxbGNMP6ygnFQJ98WZGM6naoBCiZGRw4x7lx1s4GVU6VqdAB6dKDPUoQvtYizv4lFXrJ6WcOT2AmcbQ7DvtKJayCXALqsdU0kgE8cw5vxHv5qxcBz5mHih3A/s1600-h/SDC11454.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370974760293127010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 264px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 202px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2FavuXK3FCym51bUcLDIxbGNMP6ygnFQJ98WZGM6naoBCiZGRw4x7lx1s4GVU6VqdAB6dKDPUoQvtYizv4lFXrJ6WcOT2AmcbQ7DvtKJayCXALqsdU0kgE8cw5vxHv5qxcBz5mHih3A/s320/SDC11454.JPG" border="0" /></a>w - he is right, it is and also very narrow in many places. The excuse for not posting an article about this cruise is lamentable though. We lost the connection for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">downloading</span> pictures from the camera - Jeeves found it today (though I dare say that I didn't know where to look for it as I didn't put it there. . <em>that is enough blaming others, ed</em>).<br /><br />Now, moving on, we had friends from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Brenchley</span></span> in Kent coming up to visit and wanted them to see some of the lovely <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Warwickshire</span></span> countryside from the perspective of canal boating. I thought that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Foxton</span></span> mi<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZnEBjPAVsvNHWr2ykOh5EN1801x_vBz1bRcgKrzItrOdc84t7atPPKfak1BBobvY4opIuEi-zlkTA8FelYbJUOeeQKG8UcObxl3KzcYcM3GlmsjxEYj24FGXbPeuLyoBl8WrX7_pEmU/s1600-h/SDC11451.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370972847962748530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZnEBjPAVsvNHWr2ykOh5EN1801x_vBz1bRcgKrzItrOdc84t7atPPKfak1BBobvY4opIuEi-zlkTA8FelYbJUOeeQKG8UcObxl3KzcYcM3GlmsjxEYj24FGXbPeuLyoBl8WrX7_pEmU/s320/SDC11451.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ght</span> be fun, but sensible Jeeves said 'no' people don't want to do locks tunnels and staircase flights on their first and second day out, so the Ashby it was.<br /><br />What smashing weather again! Clive and Delia arrived on the Friday evening after a nightmare of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">motorway</span> tailbacks that had them taking nearly eight hours to do a three hour trip!<br /><br />Anyway, we set off the next morning in the (correctly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">forecasted</span></span>) lovely late summer sunshine, taking on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">diesel</span> at Rose boats. Chap filling it said there must be only vapour left, but given that we took on 120 litres and hold 250, the fact that I could still see a reflection of my eye in the fuel hole would suggest that she was still slightly over half full.<br /><br />Got to Sutton Stop early afternoon and went up to the greyhound for a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">couple</span> of pints before making the right turn into the Coventry canal. The odd thing here was that there was a decrepit looking boat moored up at the locking bollards adjacent to the Greyhound. The p***es or 'pond life' as Andy E. would call them were having an on board and towpath get together which included full use of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">BW</span></span> facilities, a lot of beer and even a fire burning away on board.<br /><br />The oddest thing was that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">BW</span></span> staff just sat on folding chairs outside the hut on the other side of the lock pound watching - you try mooring up there for a couple of nights and having a party. . . . .I don't<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCHfoRP909Dp7oRFwLwvsWMe4jqtDGL1OeQLjBhpVX1jMWSJ7qHrCPzAHRXk3o0AdGHFSn9pGRFdMmSe3n28y6dJEUBV-Kb4omnMdbLfAy_bqC22yBLrczdVdsYgLAWuiIXKcQAqy4lI/s1600-h/SDC11450.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370984864561858450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 183px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCHfoRP909Dp7oRFwLwvsWMe4jqtDGL1OeQLjBhpVX1jMWSJ7qHrCPzAHRXk3o0AdGHFSn9pGRFdMmSe3n28y6dJEUBV-Kb4omnMdbLfAy_bqC22yBLrczdVdsYgLAWuiIXKcQAqy4lI/s320/SDC11450.JPG" border="0" /></a> think so somehow, probably something to do with having a licence, insurance, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">BSC</span></span>, residential and mooring address and being easy to contact by e-mail.<br /><br />Anyway, enough of that, Clive and Delia brought their delightful dog, Misty with them for the trip. She is one of the best behaved dogs we have ever had on board, took to boating like a duck to water.<br /><br />The junction where the Ashby leaves the Coventry canal, is set at a very acute angle when turning right when travelling north and after passing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">under</span> the bridge, you have to negotiate what was once a stop lock, but now a very narrow entry to the canal.<br /><br />It is fr<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWLmd1xl8PadIaYSAvXo9XLNT2RN6CADehAab1kHi5Y46rBh6YEBls1dvLvMOqXFjFhahdIhe85zWoPqcW8GM5yBlM56eihzz2OG2PTw0KDB3En2kRK9qQYUZ8s4E_t8jXiq2LYvih9Y/s1600-h/SDC11455.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370985621119764194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWLmd1xl8PadIaYSAvXo9XLNT2RN6CADehAab1kHi5Y46rBh6YEBls1dvLvMOqXFjFhahdIhe85zWoPqcW8GM5yBlM56eihzz2OG2PTw0KDB3En2kRK9qQYUZ8s4E_t8jXiq2LYvih9Y/s320/SDC11455.JPG" border="0" /></a>om here on that you realise what a rural <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">countryside</span> this canal traverses (well, winds through mostly), as I mentioned before, the canal is not only shallow, but very narrow, with overgrown towpath side and reeds and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">bulrushes</span> muddying any definition of a bank or indication of where water becomes dry land.<br /><br />We decided that our overnight stop would be at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Hinkley</span></span>, where there are pubs, shops and Trinity Marina on the canal - really the only town as such that actually borders the Ashby canal.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9YGZ8syTkmxqXNJDPP2gXt2cDXD57ZFnT8ShpRWk0HQx3jpe-OrKMUNnSA_FY31EcOL7gmZ5DboTYbdWW8qicBzXcmviaUSHJQ_kfRumdFN_cThntPyPapuUumxSFhoIUAq9D6rVscc/s1600-h/SDC11456.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370986091348054914" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9YGZ8syTkmxqXNJDPP2gXt2cDXD57ZFnT8ShpRWk0HQx3jpe-OrKMUNnSA_FY31EcOL7gmZ5DboTYbdWW8qicBzXcmviaUSHJQ_kfRumdFN_cThntPyPapuUumxSFhoIUAq9D6rVscc/s320/SDC11456.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We didn't have much joy at all in obtaining a mooring in fact until we got to the large complex adjacent to the Trinity marina. Also encountered very rude and pushy boater when trying to moor up before this point. There was one spot left for a sixty footer just adjacent to bridge 17, and the chap moored in front of us was most informative, telling us that neither he nor anyone else bothered paying the £5 visitor mooring fee, so neither did we.<br /><br />I wonder if that would work on at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Llangollen</span></span>?<br /><br />The next day, Clive and Delia did a recce on the Trinity Marina - we were told by our helpful neighbour the night before that it was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">alright</span> to wind there (as marina residents they should know). Clive said there was heaps of room, so off we went on the return bit.<br /><br />With no wind and millpond conditions the Ashby really did live up to it's reputation as an idyllic and rural canal.<br /><br />Passing other boats at bridge holes and when the canal was narrow enough without having permanently moored boat on the canal side were the only problems faced.<br /><br />The idea was to go back through Sutton stop and moor up at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Ansty</span> for the night having a barbecue. Then returning down the Oxford and maybe going past <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Brinklow</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Newbold</span> or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Hillmorton</span>, before returning.<br /><br />As we app<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtewT_3sEDG2gZKr9GrhiuzH2EHczGtDdBXeIWYzy65xi-Vpw3Hi264ecGKImHaTjMhibwdeAiS0Tt5msEGEgSQHQsVj1tAa0hJba3ZWzmsGVRd5ELgnvNsJa3w1AxJH7bfaCjXZPZjRs/s1600-h/SDC11459.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370987545155379506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 196px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtewT_3sEDG2gZKr9GrhiuzH2EHczGtDdBXeIWYzy65xi-Vpw3Hi264ecGKImHaTjMhibwdeAiS0Tt5msEGEgSQHQsVj1tAa0hJba3ZWzmsGVRd5ELgnvNsJa3w1AxJH7bfaCjXZPZjRs/s320/SDC11459.JPG" border="0" /></a>roached Sutton Stop and the chimney of the old <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">engine</span> house hove into view, we saw an excellent mooring spot (Just as I had nearly passed it, of course). So, full astern and helm over, stopping broadside to the boat in from of the space. As we slowly came astern, and edged in closer, Jeeves accosted some young men walking their dog. They were delighted to catch the centre <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">rope</span> and pulled <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">heartilly</span> until <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Gleemaiden</span> came alongside with the minimum of fuss. If you ever read this guys, thank you very much!<br /><br />Yes we did have a barbecue on board that night - and I don't think the smoke and cooking smells impressed the wife of the boat owner behind us, but he was friendly enough. A good night was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">had</span> by all of us really.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyjqwP8Yno_T-7iwQD-ZF4JsH5RO3ldlsauikcx7hE6IUpzUE_GhU1OpVtht3O-dJvbz6TGdNIx1yIVT76O8BW-CrHH1ZfD-Vv3gz8oDoy3CXCBowurOD-jadu9HiGtGPZJN8fHg0HUY/s1600-h/SDC11462.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370973887529903762" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 202px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyjqwP8Yno_T-7iwQD-ZF4JsH5RO3ldlsauikcx7hE6IUpzUE_GhU1OpVtht3O-dJvbz6TGdNIx1yIVT76O8BW-CrHH1ZfD-Vv3gz8oDoy3CXCBowurOD-jadu9HiGtGPZJN8fHg0HUY/s320/SDC11462.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Weather the following day, nasty low cloud and ensuing rain. Have to move on though, so on go the water proof jackets and Breton cap. A pretty <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">uneventfull</span> and rather misty trip back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Brinklow</span>, although the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Oford</span> was crowded with traffic coming toward us - nearly hit one twerp, but missed by inches!<br /><br />It was during this part of the voyage that Clive got the hang of being <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">steerer</span>, in fact so much so that he kept insisting that I needed a break quite frequently! I did and enjoyed the breaks, though would have done so more so if I could have lounged around on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">forrard</span> deck drinking coffee!<br /><br />Shortly before the long straight which ends at Rose <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Narrowboats</span>, Jeeves said:<br /><br />'That looks like '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Nerus</span>' coming toward us'<br /><br />'Rubbish!' I replied, straining my eyes through the misty drizzle.<br /><br />'It is,' She cried as we drew closer, going at <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">tick over</span> past all the moored boats on this section.<br /><br />Sure enough, it was! As we passed, we made lots of hellos<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4JNw1sJiSq5X2jIhrCZ3QivChC_GFTIwADM__PcB3diVgm_LWJ02EBkfWDeFoiycNnx_cglqeIgp9fxmXh0_MBNkxpwnmFzemsm07Ge2SKC5XTCXSObUIoTBxzvfAFQBl7IYBcHDOkU/s1600-h/SDC11464.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370987951821099586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 201px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4JNw1sJiSq5X2jIhrCZ3QivChC_GFTIwADM__PcB3diVgm_LWJ02EBkfWDeFoiycNnx_cglqeIgp9fxmXh0_MBNkxpwnmFzemsm07Ge2SKC5XTCXSObUIoTBxzvfAFQBl7IYBcHDOkU/s320/SDC11464.JPG" border="0" /></a> to Ruth and Neil, tried for conversation, but couldn't stop because <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Nerus</span> was being followed by another boat on this busy Monday canal.<br /><br />Got back to the Marina in plenty of time to fill up with water sort all post cruising issues and enjoy a lovely meal at the White Lion in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Pailton</span>, before Clive and Delia decided that an evening start for home might obviate any morning traffic hassles - hope they will come for another <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">cruise</span>. Next time it will be locks and tunnels!Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-77195603278011408962009-08-05T15:33:00.006+01:002009-08-05T17:09:03.190+01:00A short cruiseWell, not really, we took the boat all of about 500 yards to the pump out point and back again yesterday, and yes I know that I promised at the beginning that I would not write of such banalities, but what can you say - I know that die-hard cruisers go out in all weathers, but perhaps we are not of that ilk.<br /><br />There have been many other distractions as well, with the finalising of our house <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">purchase</span> in Rugby (the course of which did <strong><em>not</em></strong> go well, but after a stressful time concluded <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">satisfactorily</span>). What followed of course was a lot of tidying up, moving in of stored items of furniture and belongings etc. There is an incredible amount of paperwork, changing of address etc involved with this.<br /><br />I am glad to say though, that mail situation is much better now that we have moved from a post office box to a street address - I did rather enjoy having a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">BT</span> line to the boat though (a bit of a luxury for when we were alongside). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">BT</span> didn't think much of it though, and I could never get a broadband connection there for some obscure reason. I continued to and still use the 3G+ system.<br /><br />This latter has its ups and downs for example, a short time ago, I hung my dongle out of the window only to have Tally, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Shila</span> and Bandit lick the thing soggy, before I could get it back in through the dinette(!) window.<br /><br />The subject of retrieving stored items reminds me of another adventure, where we went up to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Belper</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Derbyshire</span> to fetch items that were kindly stored by David and Doreen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Cashmore</span> (NB <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Beaurepaire</span> - see blogs passim). Of course there was far too much to pile into the hatchback <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Megane</span>, so David lent us his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">LD</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Discovery</span> to transport everything back in one go.<br /><br />It isn't that I haven't driven Land Rovers before (I've owned three of them), but my gammy foot was playing up and wearing sandals instead of proper shoes - heaven forbid, I might have been wearing flip-flops! S0, the first ten miles of the trip were a nightmare of missing the clutch, hitting the brake pedal with the wrong foot and then having the said sandals catching on the floor. All this was also rather <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">painful</span>, so once in fifth gear and trundling down the M1 at 80, I decided to rid myself of the port side sandal and chucked over to Jeeves in what would have been an admiral Rugby pass. After this things improved markedly and subsequent visits to the house, garden centres etc went very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">smoothly</span>.<br /><br />Even to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">extent</span> that Jeeves no longer has a prejudice against 4 x 4s (well <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Landrovers</span> anyway), and wants one. . . . as do I. You see from this that to win over the heart of a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">gentleman's</span> gentl - no, lady, is the capacity of the vehicle to transport goods purchased in garden centres. In this example it was a tree and . (<em>I think you've gone far enough with this subject - ed</em>).<br /><br />Pictures? Well, there aren't any this week apart from this<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CytQhE5TGkznmplYxzriunnknAgBrUTYVMRZGCU2jbBhebVGff-cduLWfzVYcfZZKZTAdBrsOIglGvLC98aZR3eNMY9CoLGH3khwDBljv6haB7G_9XYGxOLP_Y8qQyEx4ezLNkUInjY/s1600-h/SDC11423.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366498615770909010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CytQhE5TGkznmplYxzriunnknAgBrUTYVMRZGCU2jbBhebVGff-cduLWfzVYcfZZKZTAdBrsOIglGvLC98aZR3eNMY9CoLGH3khwDBljv6haB7G_9XYGxOLP_Y8qQyEx4ezLNkUInjY/s320/SDC11423.JPG" border="0" /></a> one of Jeeves and a view of the back garden. Nobody really wants to see a picture of the pump out procedure do they? I do have one on file, of course.<br /><br />Again, the Met has forecast good weather for the coming four or five days, which is smashing news and will be capital if, for once they get it right, because our f<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">riends</span> Clive and Delia Taylor are arriving on Friday and we are looking forward to some excellent boating. Now, which way shall we head???Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-74962745665474298112009-07-17T13:31:00.012+01:002009-07-17T15:46:33.477+01:00A normal week<div>The weather has been a bit odd lately, but I suppose everybody has noticed this phenomena - a good opportunity for an old fashioned moan, but not much fun for cruising.</div><div></div><br /><div>As it happens, we have had a good excuse for not cruising this last couple of weeks having been in the process of finalising the purchase of a house in Rugby - not much point in leaving money in the bank to pay a dividend of 0.5% interest. Also we feel that it is about time we were re-acquainted with our goods and chattels that are still in storage. Jeeves particularly misses the figurines and other <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">collectibles</span> </div><div></div><br /><div>As well as this, I have been scolded for not including <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">som</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4OfNA9NwwMaaJT9eLjNWTrpkklWVuvzLgUJYoc_nqISVxGDkdk4xEB28v79WYm4fXpEevyjg6VgI9My1VtcGES8HEu0e_RQfLqJA8xI7TfQ3MNysOWznAxI5wnR6hK9uqbEuQWMAeXE/s1600-h/SDC11242.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359431700739318162" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 246px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 187px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4OfNA9NwwMaaJT9eLjNWTrpkklWVuvzLgUJYoc_nqISVxGDkdk4xEB28v79WYm4fXpEevyjg6VgI9My1VtcGES8HEu0e_RQfLqJA8xI7TfQ3MNysOWznAxI5wnR6hK9uqbEuQWMAeXE/s320/SDC11242.JPG" border="0" /></a>e of the other amusing incidents that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">occurred</span> while we were in Stoke <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Bruene</span>. With particular regard <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">to</span> this poor <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">squirrel</span> that was taking a constitutional along the towpath near the tunnel when we turned up.</div><div></div><br /><div></div>Unfortunately, it wasn't aware that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Blisworth</span> Tunnel doesn't extend to a towpath and became trapped between us, the canal and a high concrete wall on the right of the path.<br /><div></div><div><br /><div>Eventually, it t<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uMUhjguPA1bllj8eL5rtOaQH4qokgRqA5_4f5xPSRi-JT1z8agJlLJnqrmgJ9e2Az1miKS5Byj40pdbyvWd6ma00eS49mhCZT_Ii6jzPpPxbxveZ9z-_0Uw1wnLVhEyvXhlA6SJmbQw/s1600-h/SDC11243.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359432263107973762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 244px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 175px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uMUhjguPA1bllj8eL5rtOaQH4qokgRqA5_4f5xPSRi-JT1z8agJlLJnqrmgJ9e2Az1miKS5Byj40pdbyvWd6ma00eS49mhCZT_Ii6jzPpPxbxveZ9z-_0Uw1wnLVhEyvXhlA6SJmbQw/s320/SDC11243.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ook</span> the only option, and started up the tunnel wall, which it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">proceeded</span> to climb - the wall actually slopes slightly back at an angle from the canal.</div><div></div><br /><div>It paused to read the plaque and continued on its way up. The over the arch and up again until it reached the coping at the top. The mountaineering skills <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">required</span> for this overhand needed pitons and ropes, which the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">squirrel</span> didn't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">possess</span>. It tried though and fell off just below the coping edge! </div><br /><div>In the next split second I wondered if <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">squirrels</span> could swim, but I wasn't to find out - remember the slope? Well after a fall of about ten feet, the little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">creature</span> managed to scrabble a hold on some rough stones just above the yawning mouth of the tunnel. It then though better of rock climbing and scrambled across to the other side of the tunnel rampart and disappeared into the woods - I hope it had some nuts buried o that side, though if I were the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">squirrel</span>, a stiff drink would have been more more welcome.</div><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4PnOVsI29akqMniA3-XtK4k5wrziqvSCz8WFVMTUQECuj1_ziFmPCA96aPBSR6xkzEC2nrRNwF7ffvdMN1UrJWdUJ4cO9R8lyVw6tugedKOYr2cFYE7Nc_Y4Uc-C8TRQTsd_n7Vycdk/s1600-h/SDC11241.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359428883865006786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4PnOVsI29akqMniA3-XtK4k5wrziqvSCz8WFVMTUQECuj1_ziFmPCA96aPBSR6xkzEC2nrRNwF7ffvdMN1UrJWdUJ4cO9R8lyVw6tugedKOYr2cFYE7Nc_Y4Uc-C8TRQTsd_n7Vycdk/s320/SDC11241.JPG" border="0" /></a> Other creatures seemed to be making the most of their surroundings as <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">well,</span> like this moorhen, which seemed to have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">commandeered</span> a button as an interesting food source. <div></div><br /><div>Then there were Neil and Ruth who joined us at 'The Boat' for a nice cool drink that we didn't deserve nearly as much as the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">squirrel</span>!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYQ67Bs6oEHhopssuDseUxlSFIYmTVOMeGuxqg8oWfj9wOiDu7FN7DpsVX_0wgXeaLxqDIRcTVs7i5C03ATv_2JtoT763r9DuPu8183mhMeHTuroRx5AKlfEQR3ieh9Y63CEg0mlGn0Q/s1600-h/SDC11218.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359429710682773986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 171px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYQ67Bs6oEHhopssuDseUxlSFIYmTVOMeGuxqg8oWfj9wOiDu7FN7DpsVX_0wgXeaLxqDIRcTVs7i5C03ATv_2JtoT763r9DuPu8183mhMeHTuroRx5AKlfEQR3ieh9Y63CEg0mlGn0Q/s320/SDC11218.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Later that evening, we backed up several boat lengths (who says that you can't go astern in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">narrowboat</span>?) and winded near the tunnel for an early start the next morning. We wanted to get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">th</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYJhAfR12bp_yVBJ4QIoxbkciSMMCBbQpyTQ2gRX-cFo42bXPY8P3UehSaSEE0-5HgHufsTIXw0EFzixLB-ndkJCRJO5ya75v2LibWRto3YTScjbV6jyHIk0NzpXuh02CtsbuetRc5zI/s1600-h/SDC11217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359429295843853378" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 238px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 153px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYJhAfR12bp_yVBJ4QIoxbkciSMMCBbQpyTQ2gRX-cFo42bXPY8P3UehSaSEE0-5HgHufsTIXw0EFzixLB-ndkJCRJO5ya75v2LibWRto3YTScjbV6jyHIk0NzpXuh02CtsbuetRc5zI/s320/SDC11217.JPG" border="0" /></a>rough the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Blisworth</span> tunnel before any boats were coming the other <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">way</span> and didn't wish to wake up all the other moored boats at the crack of dawn. </div><div> </div><div>The following day we <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAheN0eQx-ea2FTmIEf3WAy7bbdFSxb3fCeftRwK4NdqIWT8TQpkwTWasxuwHkaAFbp-IdCrD_p34kG5rKPzi5y7CQodFqN6VEjIIY2vT_-qAJpGxDkYCKnYbRnN7uI0wiU54GPZCqWM/s1600-h/SDC11272.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359428387170147794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 166px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAheN0eQx-ea2FTmIEf3WAy7bbdFSxb3fCeftRwK4NdqIWT8TQpkwTWasxuwHkaAFbp-IdCrD_p34kG5rKPzi5y7CQodFqN6VEjIIY2vT_-qAJpGxDkYCKnYbRnN7uI0wiU54GPZCqWM/s320/SDC11272.JPG" border="0" /></a>made it to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Braunston</span> (through both tunnels without incident this time). And who should we meet there, but Andy and Lyra, who were also out and about enjoying the fantastic weather.</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>Having made up time (doctor's appointment in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Brinklow</span> pending), we spent a day at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Braunston</span>, also meeting Richard and Sue who own NB Frog who keep their boat at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Brinklow</span> as well. </div><div> </div><div>There was also reported to be some folk and jazz music on a the Admiral Nelson, but it turned out to be only recorded stuff, so w<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RioTZ0CHJG73X6p4nNJ2TgPUAPUbnMgtsCnXtK_ZjvYIBAAZM-3twTUbgoEbbIhYfHgYZ8vNpumP0DBGPuo5i-mauaZpynINJSZPJ5eK2UUiL1gadCcOnJEwt77vWuwKh5juFV7mppQ/s1600-h/SDC11266.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359439500389491506" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 263px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 187px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RioTZ0CHJG73X6p4nNJ2TgPUAPUbnMgtsCnXtK_ZjvYIBAAZM-3twTUbgoEbbIhYfHgYZ8vNpumP0DBGPuo5i-mauaZpynINJSZPJ5eK2UUiL1gadCcOnJEwt77vWuwKh5juFV7mppQ/s320/SDC11266.JPG" border="0" /></a>e left that out.</div><div></div><br /><div>There was a heck o a lot of traffic through Braunston that day - including Neil and Ruth on Nerus, who as they passed us in the late afternoon, said that they were mooring just the other side of Braunston for the night.</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>So, our mooring opposite the Old Mill looked less attractive (especially after some horrid music started at about nine o'clock). We therefore untied and meandered up the Oxford until we found Nerus tucked into the bank in an idylic rural setting.</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>A bottle of wine with good freinds and up the next morning for our return to Brinklow.</div><div></div><br /><div>(<em>that is enough about Stoke Bruene, and try to make the deadline in future - ed).</em></div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div>Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-43671135728249643842009-07-14T16:19:00.007+01:002009-07-15T19:03:19.770+01:00Enter Warwick Castle<div><div>Right, well here we are at Warwick Castle. And it is not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">narrowboating</span></span></span>, but at least a lot more up to date. There has been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">little</span> of the cruising since Stoke <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bruene</span></span></span> as we have been in the throes of finalising a house purchase in Rugby.<br /><br />You wouldn't believe how busy the castle <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTlqcTBbLPqsR3gMhnDnoTKf0UoMjw0yoVnhtUFScB5vlUCfCVhrjRosmVWnT6jdxDSof1EQqNWhZ963uuMipR-gR-9F4cqh4YxzySYvmQPVyMvu1apBqE7C3uPkHPMLNm5aqkJUrXOQ/s1600-h/SDC11293.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358729279679326498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 282px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTlqcTBbLPqsR3gMhnDnoTKf0UoMjw0yoVnhtUFScB5vlUCfCVhrjRosmVWnT6jdxDSof1EQqNWhZ963uuMipR-gR-9F4cqh4YxzySYvmQPVyMvu1apBqE7C3uPkHPMLNm5aqkJUrXOQ/s320/SDC11293.JPG" border="0" /></a>was for a Monday (and not even school holidays yet) but, heaps of horrid noisy brats everywhere - mind you, I suppose they were enjoying themselves as I did on similar excursions when in my youth. Also a lot of foreigners from all parts of the globe, I hadn't realised that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Warwick</span> was such a tourist attraction - Rugby certainly isn't despite the recalcitrant and probably <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">un</span></span></span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">intellectual</span> student of this famous <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">institution</span> who got bored and ran away with the ball in 1823. O for that matter; the poet Robert Brooks; the inventor Frank Whittle.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHD17FFPhUlvLMcI42rJ-sBDbfYa9ql9dTuy6wUUeXPEyjfLHdP0IGx4YRHXnLIVdPSb2VsFQ21SZDv5llm1Ij5vPlIJaT9ZUzykUDYSV4JxkcUJJxZo9JsWQYG-TxMwmpm2cz7mZR_8/s1600-h/SDC11296.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358729650039831282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 296px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 220px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHD17FFPhUlvLMcI42rJ-sBDbfYa9ql9dTuy6wUUeXPEyjfLHdP0IGx4YRHXnLIVdPSb2VsFQ21SZDv5llm1Ij5vPlIJaT9ZUzykUDYSV4JxkcUJJxZo9JsWQYG-TxMwmpm2cz7mZR_8/s320/SDC11296.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />These can't really compete for the attention deficient nature of today's child, who will only settle for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">falconry</span>; jousting larks, the drama of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Trebichet</span></span></span> and the King making exhibition which is in fact a remarkable juxtaposition of artifacts from the era; Madame <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tussaud</span></span></span> figures and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">reproductions</span> of all the goods and sundries that complement a rounded atmosphere o<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcFmOZ6BjBGUTB8j6skW8oPKYnGi6twC_a725UzLBx03RY89_JucgCP0lZo4BZQk8tG1VhQlc-Cnr3UpbuTPmMnqaF8at9UMq8RtnTJKsVqlFqLhB4Wxjm3EpcSG8GK12EmpXFc-8zVw/s1600-h/SDC11309.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358729977914154930" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 232px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 264px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcFmOZ6BjBGUTB8j6skW8oPKYnGi6twC_a725UzLBx03RY89_JucgCP0lZo4BZQk8tG1VhQlc-Cnr3UpbuTPmMnqaF8at9UMq8RtnTJKsVqlFqLhB4Wxjm3EpcSG8GK12EmpXFc-8zVw/s320/SDC11309.JPG" border="0" /></a>f the time. Even one of the horses had an tail that twitched electronically, and there was a horrible 'authentic' smell to the scene.<br /><br />Even the children commented on this (not favourably ether - TV and Video games haven't yet extended themselves to providing olfactory stimulation to visual and aural violence). Pointedly, they weren't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">enamoured</span> of it, and I wonder what the smell of blood and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">faeces</span></span></span> would do to improve their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Hollywood</span></span> and video killing games for them. Would they gain some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">sense</span> of m<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUDhlZ4m8BLD5jvemD_pYhEU61mBpaWbkuDbhvlSgWKboDjnnsDotk-drZsKeFKN1IwMKMV_NyWE8qF2hyphenhyphenjVLOcS91kiLgBLkHc9EXtIngbntVtNrYmrb8yOWagU_e3gClQPa1RSsX24/s1600-h/SDC11318.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358730490256619938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 290px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUDhlZ4m8BLD5jvemD_pYhEU61mBpaWbkuDbhvlSgWKboDjnnsDotk-drZsKeFKN1IwMKMV_NyWE8qF2hyphenhyphenjVLOcS91kiLgBLkHc9EXtIngbntVtNrYmrb8yOWagU_e3gClQPa1RSsX24/s320/SDC11318.JPG" border="0" /></a>oral rectitude? Maybe, perhaps not, but one suspects that sales would certainly decline for any number of reasons. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Most</span> people; even brats like a clean, sterile and odourless world these days and only revel in violence and sex when it is at clinical arms length so to speak - seen and heard but not touched and smelled, let alone coped with in any sort of reality.<br /><br />Enough of that, let us return to the raptors. The Castle staff seem to be gifted entertain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH2mvfGoiMoFoaDS8FYjasC7Hd7Ucl2357wT0ksv2mDhFW5JZdmhx-Cpn3FjQRe-hMok8WroMTOcCVI_8CpqcMzq0W8nLYQ-IeUf0ucPn09qeStjzgFs0N6k3R8J_k7FW-KciUeIKLTw/s1600-h/SDC11321.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358731339593188306" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 261px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 201px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH2mvfGoiMoFoaDS8FYjasC7Hd7Ucl2357wT0ksv2mDhFW5JZdmhx-Cpn3FjQRe-hMok8WroMTOcCVI_8CpqcMzq0W8nLYQ-IeUf0ucPn09qeStjzgFs0N6k3R8J_k7FW-KciUeIKLTw/s320/SDC11321.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ers</span></span> - well they behave as though they are anyway. The birds are entertainers, not vocal, but even unwittingly, they certainly are. Eagles all; Bald headed (lots of feather though <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">sur</span></span> la pate); White Tailed Sea Eagle (huge); a juvenile from the bald headed pair (who is learning to fly properly); and another <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">who's</span> taxonomy I forget.<br /><br />They flew, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">hovered</span>, and glided <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">their</span> way around the castle <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">precincts</span>, seemingly at the command of the falconer, and were <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">rewarded</span> for their efforts by pieces of meat, before <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">dutifully</span> swooping off to land on the waiting arm of an assistant falconer.<br /><br />Jeeves and I were quite enthralled. The pictures above are mostly Jeeves effort - pretty difficult really, given that these birds zooming around.<br /><br />There was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">si</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChFrY-UvVDdb-ex2uLUWjkf3JnAP30yIUVVjfpenj3Iv56_ywFpwqMxRz3-8DgfIz5Vk9JAiGE-xnUZSIDcOkgj-no1WizULmfDPNrzOZtXZwPcrnvw16IW88iXYVB1DFBi-jis5OVGo/s1600-h/SDC11331.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358739842931641538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 197px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChFrY-UvVDdb-ex2uLUWjkf3JnAP30yIUVVjfpenj3Iv56_ywFpwqMxRz3-8DgfIz5Vk9JAiGE-xnUZSIDcOkgj-no1WizULmfDPNrzOZtXZwPcrnvw16IW88iXYVB1DFBi-jis5OVGo/s320/SDC11331.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">gn</span> at the small entrance to the battlements that suggested that people with weak hearts or infirm limbs should not venture any <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">further</span>. Some mention of 400 and something stairs. Looking up, I wondered where these stairs led to heaven? The battlements and castle wall were only about the height of a three storey house.<br /><br />Well! there was no turning back, onward and upward we went - then Guy's tower loomed ahead of us. There is no turning back; this part of the tour is only one way.<br /><br />Phew! Made it to the top without heart attack and not too much shortness of breath. What a view! Look, I might be turning into a grumpy old man, but why does some idiot have to be posing for a photograph, at the top exit of a zillion stairs? But sure enough they were. And there were screeching and jumping kids as well - at least they had made the effort, but anyway, I had to be a little assertive to use a battlement for photography purposes.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWbubLLyjT4vwi3UGOTGf4AB5LPQ-w64FzUAQaM74Nwkw69ODq2-n0pqg430qkjbatnw293QU1o823_ktifu3htczvRfWn4FJyfqoimHutk-VhwGu23G0y-c-IxAJ90D7F-H-yNytpVE/s1600-h/SDC11364.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358741710455158898" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 194px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWbubLLyjT4vwi3UGOTGf4AB5LPQ-w64FzUAQaM74Nwkw69ODq2-n0pqg430qkjbatnw293QU1o823_ktifu3htczvRfWn4FJyfqoimHutk-VhwGu23G0y-c-IxAJ90D7F-H-yNytpVE/s320/SDC11364.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Down we went again, but not too far, we had more battlements and turrets to traverse, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">replete</span> with more <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">spectacular</span> views. Durham <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Cathedral</span> has very spectacular views, afforded to the intrepid spiral stair climber as well, but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">all</span> in all it is much more pleasant at the top of the tower. As well as being a tenth of the price for the exertion.<br /><br />Never mind, lots more to see (and you'd better, having paid forty quid for it). We head along, up and down; finally to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Kingmakers</span></span> exhibition. Of which I have spoken. Absolutely smashing, but impossible to enjoy properly for all the tourists posing among the exhibitions having their photographs taken in beguiling embraces with the waxen inhabitants, along with scores of jostling schoolchildren <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">squawking</span> and larking about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">with</span> the exhibits (thoughtfully nailed down).<br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Trebichet</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhDoPF5sTyfKeZFx2FJnoYEHcY4NH8lmXZUCAFHuSXH_v_er6RiZicI0y0qFyzENmNzEp51HIAaf1EjZr4whYyEJFwg0d1RMbVd5DsMKecMyeXLHhQjezsmJAGMvzxBh7twRcR94mJP4/s1600-h/SDC11346.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358740521814371954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhDoPF5sTyfKeZFx2FJnoYEHcY4NH8lmXZUCAFHuSXH_v_er6RiZicI0y0qFyzENmNzEp51HIAaf1EjZr4whYyEJFwg0d1RMbVd5DsMKecMyeXLHhQjezsmJAGMvzxBh7twRcR94mJP4/s320/SDC11346.JPG" border="0" /></a></span>, slings a huge stone about four hundred yards. A remarkable medieval invention. So, it was no surprise that this piece of entertainment also drew a large <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">crowned</span>, presided over by a theatrical MC, who was attached to a radio microphone. The banter would suggest that he had some sort of military background - anyway, I've never seen one of these in action, and it was quite spectacular.<br /><br /><br />Probably the most interesting from our view<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1OkDIahwqxqAtcVYgJz5WNk4WJWapetWs1bmQSSXQK4q_U90555AlKr_CtaPtBZM7e64qA8wUtpB5Pgej-Ze5SuIiuJa_cDUqJflG8pFCwEbVGFX6kZITTBRnN0kR4rHCObZW5Ioghs/s1600-h/SDC11367.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358748676772627330" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1OkDIahwqxqAtcVYgJz5WNk4WJWapetWs1bmQSSXQK4q_U90555AlKr_CtaPtBZM7e64qA8wUtpB5Pgej-Ze5SuIiuJa_cDUqJflG8pFCwEbVGFX6kZITTBRnN0kR4rHCObZW5Ioghs/s320/SDC11367.JPG" border="0" /></a> was the 'Royal Party Weekend' exhibition. Some very helpful staff were also on hand to explain and expand on the exhibits at hand. Fascinating for example was a sideboard crafted and carved in the 19th century from timber that was hewn, sawn and carved from an oak tree that grew<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAwUW6MuntIqwzWef-uOhvs0Yea54ZZETJmdtSHRejz8SrJGpVGqHhwgiLuAZg6rjuk4LIRinmFigke9MrerYSjpJIHT-_oeSAgfi9Ba7N9ADebKNju6q1Jyw-zuMDuJx3pNKA1LO_Nw/s1600-h/SDC11367.JPG"></a> from and acorn planted by Queen Elisabeth in the 16th century on the estate of Warwick Castle.<br /><br />In this part of the castle there are numerous rooms, medieval and Victorian, but I will not render this posting too tedious, given that most of you readers have a healthy interest in narrowboats.</div></div>Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-82725396547821620852009-07-12T18:19:00.005+01:002009-07-15T16:53:30.616+01:00Stoke Bruene Pt 5I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">didn</span>'t think that you could get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sunburnt</span> in the Midlands; but you can. A heatwave <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Summer</span> has been forecast, it seems that we were getting a taste of that on the Grand <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Union</span> I can only say that I don't want it to get any hotter than this (it hasn't of course, and we have had some welcome rain since then).<br /><br />There was a discussion about cats at the <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Narrowboat</span> </em>pub which I have been told to leave out and never repeat.<br /><br />The next day saw us heading toward <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Blissworth</span> Tunnel; another cracking day and passing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Gayton</span> Junction we were tempted to turn left and head up the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Nothampton</span>. The cool darkness of the tunnel beckoned tho<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7poPZw8JYyOiE102Npza5j3P8kFUQPIgemoK8SdzkHBapH-djrclme0XpopdKhnHExYOZB9WCWD7K4EwJ9crHuh3cDI37oZ8lOzM8Tt2oJVRQyEIiPgYR9JnQJeSmXsxfyZ9Y8mqWQW8/s1600-h/SDC11205.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358032337086674866" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7poPZw8JYyOiE102Npza5j3P8kFUQPIgemoK8SdzkHBapH-djrclme0XpopdKhnHExYOZB9WCWD7K4EwJ9crHuh3cDI37oZ8lOzM8Tt2oJVRQyEIiPgYR9JnQJeSmXsxfyZ9Y8mqWQW8/s320/SDC11205.JPG" border="0" /></a>ugh.<br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">silliness</span> then started to creep in.<br /><br />The first bit was my fault; I was reading the board adjacent t0 the entrance and forgot that I was also making a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">slight</span> starboard turn into the sty<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">gian</span> gloom of the tunnel.<br /><br />Bang!! I sideswiped the railing on the port <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">quarter</span>. Crunch!! the stern scraped the starboard side. Then steady as she goes, but No!! to much port and then too much <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">starboard</span>.<br /><br />Jeeves took over the helm - much better eyesight than mine, and she seemed <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">to</span> adjust to the darkness better. So there I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">was</span> holding the torch to give some close reference to wall proximity, when Jeeves shouts:<br /><br />'For God's sake Wooster, I've lost her -quick!!'<br /><br />'What??' Came the inane answer.<br /><br />'You'll have to take over. . Now!!'<br /><br />The torch clattered to the deck and somehow I managed to stumble onto the counter and grab the helm. Too late!<br /><br />We <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">wanged</span> into the right hand side of the tunnel and heeled over heading for the left side. Somehow,<em> </em>managed to get her back into mid-stream again and with increased revs, we continued to cruise through the third longest tunnel in the country. My eyesight had finally adjusted.<br /><br />Passing boats in the tunnel was an interesting experience - but imaging the poor steerer on the boat pictured, when the flash went <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrpvB6kSEMfnanrvYHacerbkmvIMjAK5vfQii76o8JaA3dFA4ZqP7nZ_ZdbmYDdOBVOLc5b_BpsFnXshRYih_0elsdwhjw00e6J4A0KglQUEmkiHmf1mSaVF9PWjW02NkFYAXsWeOanQ/s1600-h/SDC11208.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358034197865803522" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 273px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrpvB6kSEMfnanrvYHacerbkmvIMjAK5vfQii76o8JaA3dFA4ZqP7nZ_ZdbmYDdOBVOLc5b_BpsFnXshRYih_0elsdwhjw00e6J4A0KglQUEmkiHmf1mSaVF9PWjW02NkFYAXsWeOanQ/s320/SDC11208.JPG" border="0" /></a>off. We do apologise to whoever that was, but. . . . . Jeeves gets enthusuastic with the camera sometimes.<br /><br />More later plus pictures - have to make a phone call. (<em>that was a bloody long phone call -ed</em>.)Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-89952034714442895572009-07-11T16:51:00.005+01:002009-07-15T16:48:44.981+01:00Stoke bruen Pt 4After <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">mooring</span> up near Norton Junction for the night, we set off a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCripO_wM6VnjjeOo0w3H2k-qAYqH9bVjuHd1MGWgWwZxXmLapv4TRZ7cuSReD7CitHtyZdv7KAf_-pmsx4b3DjS8fYLjEa59z1syPuu1NsITCTILg_bSSzimTW_x8LW0PfyUYWl05vk/s1600-h/SDC11135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357623815763090978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCripO_wM6VnjjeOo0w3H2k-qAYqH9bVjuHd1MGWgWwZxXmLapv4TRZ7cuSReD7CitHtyZdv7KAf_-pmsx4b3DjS8fYLjEa59z1syPuu1NsITCTILg_bSSzimTW_x8LW0PfyUYWl05vk/s320/SDC11135.JPG" border="0" /></a>t a respectable hour the next morning to tackle the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Buckby</span></span> locks. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Blimey</span> but wasn't the weather getting hot! Neil and I were breaking out in a sweat just watching our crew winding away at the lock paddles and pushing the gates (we did manage to assist in the gate pushing bit as the locks were descending).<br /><br />Also passed two of the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMY963pZTks48Q6HlHoZErxEgkpr97w0QKDyr82sK0x6KhyphenhyphenpZ0z7cHjhLrvvzV-6SwVQ3K79kC-IsmVQILsecNm3C0ah7IpC79pWf05EXxcw4LH9X46lWKwSoaSnhyphenhyphen_Osv0gLtegjf65o/s1600-h/SDC11175.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357239779293209506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 257px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 196px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMY963pZTks48Q6HlHoZErxEgkpr97w0QKDyr82sK0x6KhyphenhyphenpZ0z7cHjhLrvvzV-6SwVQ3K79kC-IsmVQILsecNm3C0ah7IpC79pWf05EXxcw4LH9X46lWKwSoaSnhyphenhyphen_Osv0gLtegjf65o/s320/SDC11175.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">narrowboat</span></span> icons of the system - steamboat President and her butty <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kildare</span></span> (named after a famous America GP, I was told).<br /><br />Very thirsty work in the hot sun and therefore had a welcome break at Wilton Marina for lunch and a bit of shopping in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">chandlery</span></span>. It is amazing to see the waterfall cascading over the bottom lock when a boats are entering the lock. Nobody had a sensible reason for this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">phenomena</span>, but I suspect that the lock gate is just a little too low for the water flow from the pound above.<br /><br />Didn't go a hell of a lot further that day, but moored up just short of Bridge 26 where there is a handy water point and beyond the bridge, a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">beautiful</span> and very well appointed pub called the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Narrowboat</span></span>.<br /><br />Having <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">reste</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpLnJlBA1pGENAcMtTSj72pzfbW23dTU4lYpxPPlXPJwXmyp2yLetIX9aDuSnkNwS6OO6W9lcl9wmZ96DjHL0-KWrC-3upBOCE1k9jgKsZ__GZnLaHzoN7btuoURw_SUzxTqGHnFVyLk/s1600-h/SDC11174.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357622977275380290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 179px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpLnJlBA1pGENAcMtTSj72pzfbW23dTU4lYpxPPlXPJwXmyp2yLetIX9aDuSnkNwS6OO6W9lcl9wmZ96DjHL0-KWrC-3upBOCE1k9jgKsZ__GZnLaHzoN7btuoURw_SUzxTqGHnFVyLk/s320/SDC11174.JPG" border="0" /></a>d and sorted the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">necessary</span> to freshen ourselves up we headed to the said pub for dinner. Not exactly a reasonable price to pay for pub fare, but excellent quality and the view was superlative - <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">overlooking</span> the canal and surrounding countryside.<br /><br />Just before we sat down to eat, the haunting sound of a steam whistle <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">sounded</span> and I thing most of the patrons sitting outside in the garden were canny enough to recognise an approaching steam - it was not likely to be a steam train on a canal; so we all waited with baited breath and were rewarded by the sight of <em>President</em> sweeping <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">around</span> the bend in the canal, towing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Kildare</span> on a 70 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">snubber</span>.<br /><br />There was a lot of waving and cheering from the garden of the <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Narrowboat</span></em>, genially returned by the crews of both President and <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Kildare</span></em>. Also accompanied by many more shrill blasts on the whistle. One may be a little cynical, but could they possibly have anticipated an audience at the <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Narrowboart</span></em>? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Anywary</span> It was a magic canal moment at any event.Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-59745490700000715422009-07-10T16:11:00.003+01:002009-07-10T17:05:09.776+01:00Stoke Bruene Pt 3<div><div><div><div>I should add that we both fell in love with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">narrowboating</span></span> back in 1997 when we were holidaying around the country by car. Seeing the canal at Oxford, we decided to follow part of its course to Birmingham. It must be over forty years since I read <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">LTC</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Rolt's</span></span> '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Narrowboat</span></span>', but the names of the towns were firmly wedged in my memory. So<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2X0k4I9rkyNxLQGuIgOVmjj6X1FeHRbeVm6BfFyYRFOHkrv9i2tqwHe4D0f_4YiDeZuRxF1eJ32enWWoBf3I0wWGZOkJFsXok2HAQBoIpPY_ZJ-7Joo_bir1ZZcwPiv8VrVUTlaq3E0/s1600-h/SDC11135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356858351212801970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 294px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2X0k4I9rkyNxLQGuIgOVmjj6X1FeHRbeVm6BfFyYRFOHkrv9i2tqwHe4D0f_4YiDeZuRxF1eJ32enWWoBf3I0wWGZOkJFsXok2HAQBoIpPY_ZJ-7Joo_bir1ZZcwPiv8VrVUTlaq3E0/s320/SDC11135.JPG" border="0" /></a> there we were sitting at a table in the beer garden of the Admiral Nelson, watching the boats locking up and down through lock no. 3 that we thought 'wouldn't that be a great way to get <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">around</span> the countryside'. Well it is; and with a little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">deja</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">vu</span></span>, we locked up through the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Braunston</span></span> Six and came face to face with the yawning mouth of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Braunston</span></span> Tunnel.<br /><br />Now this is not the first tunnel that we have been through, but apart from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Newbold</span></span>, is the first that we have to negotiate two way traffic. Personally I like the slam of the garage door behind you in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Harecastle</span></span> or the friendly green lights of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Foulridge</span></span>, realising that there is not going to be a boat coming the other way. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKRI1DDnIC7AVSkSPrGg_NeyC9erV5e2OEuABDlWrM_798xR5jnp79EK3imbaA_2GyEcfgOpVU_lLo0l3p6TgmeFaPXoJ9ma70j3xriiIm7ZFLf4Zxx2pNXBK9Vn23fJ6nBSrxzjAj6c/s1600-h/SDC11145.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6omrLGuVRWHBAnMOzypgq8E2zXSuh6hdsYzoaIvXVHMBbMru92_-DLMcm1c4RH5HGF9PSjfQ7bQ0bG4SPqY2wbufycBFUUgiMLxkCRk7wyD-nZug1aJ-31DAv-GnBXHLHMjY5JaC3L4/s1600-h/SDC11140.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356860800835386146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6omrLGuVRWHBAnMOzypgq8E2zXSuh6hdsYzoaIvXVHMBbMru92_-DLMcm1c4RH5HGF9PSjfQ7bQ0bG4SPqY2wbufycBFUUgiMLxkCRk7wyD-nZug1aJ-31DAv-GnBXHLHMjY5JaC3L4/s320/SDC11140.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It is interesting to see how much the bank has collapsed at the entrance to the tunnel, but there is still plenty of room to slip into the darkness without bumping the sides.<br /><br />Ha! but not for long! Whichever god granted me my eyesight must have suffered from gross moral turpitude; given that I can see enough to make life wonderful, but not enough to negotiate a 60ft boat in suddenly changing light conditions. To put it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">mildly</span>, with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Nerus</span></span> following, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">whanged</span></span> into the side about 100 yards in. Jeeves was furious and took over the tiller until we were near the end. Thank god for that!<br /><br />At least we didn't<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqjvPhoEcMuIrAb2BPTMDyneRlP3Wms-9wM-TcE5s8CkQnEoncXgL8JhIVSN8QljgY_oI2NbBPAzMh5WgHjrQEwWomDyJGFhx5zUOCtN1i_8Lu30UKVliH7dod9u-_WWUgPJHDfrMhbw/s1600-h/SDC11167.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356861883490225506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 271px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqjvPhoEcMuIrAb2BPTMDyneRlP3Wms-9wM-TcE5s8CkQnEoncXgL8JhIVSN8QljgY_oI2NbBPAzMh5WgHjrQEwWomDyJGFhx5zUOCtN1i_8Lu30UKVliH7dod9u-_WWUgPJHDfrMhbw/s320/SDC11167.JPG" border="0" /></a> have to pass any boats that day - more on this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">subject</span> later.<br /><br />After the tunnel, we made another early stop so that the stalwart lock-wheelers were ready for the Bucky flight the next day. And Whew! Apart from the passage through the tunnel, it was getting to be awfully tropic.</div><br />Looking back at the exit of the tunnel, one wonders how effective the ventilation shafts are - well they are pretty good for dropping a curtain of water on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">steerer</span> anyway.<br /><div></div><div> </div></div></div></div>Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-61199426852275129422009-07-10T14:07:00.006+01:002009-07-10T16:11:01.590+01:00Stoke Bruene Pt 2It was Neil and Ruth's suggestion that Stoke <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bruene</span></span> would make a good destination for a shortish cruise and we jumped at the chance to tag along. So, on a bright Saturday morning we mad<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5rvmUkze7ZtrW6lXSFwvYh8O9zooN50aSJcnAYsBty4z0WajUw3XKkXC2R-N3HWJ-qFOFW0GmJIVnHcNAf0qau-QWUev3r4Gd1CYObbKX2LWCv0gBFpxuiFibPFxwaDim2Jf3R9ALSQ/s1600-h/SDC11116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356844324393030626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 247px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5rvmUkze7ZtrW6lXSFwvYh8O9zooN50aSJcnAYsBty4z0WajUw3XKkXC2R-N3HWJ-qFOFW0GmJIVnHcNAf0qau-QWUev3r4Gd1CYObbKX2LWCv0gBFpxuiFibPFxwaDim2Jf3R9ALSQ/s320/SDC11116.JPG" border="0" /></a>e a left hand turn from the marina and headed off toward <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Braunston</span></span> fully aware that the Working Boat Festival was still in full swing. We had already visited this event prior to the occasion (<em>see blogs passim</em>), now we were going a week after the definitive weekend!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenBV1lo3U1qgQnGnqJ4XrppllB-TObD3cDS4ZA924cKQnUzSNy0z86SVo2j-O8Cr1a0ISZosXZ7lin7tGuj-rpFybu3Ts9vIDzpgtsHHkjg-qZiywxE46O4kF0zSch-uXHBKfQVVgaZw/s1600-h/SDC11113.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356831982716633746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 191px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenBV1lo3U1qgQnGnqJ4XrppllB-TObD3cDS4ZA924cKQnUzSNy0z86SVo2j-O8Cr1a0ISZosXZ7lin7tGuj-rpFybu3Ts9vIDzpgtsHHkjg-qZiywxE46O4kF0zSch-uXHBKfQVVgaZw/s320/SDC11113.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The weather proved to be splendid and Jeeves was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">resplendent</span> with parasol in one hand and the helm held 'steady as you go'.<br /><br />Needless to say, we had no intention of trying to moor up in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Braunston</span></span>, so decided to stop when the spire hove into sight over at bridge 87, but seeing a lot of boats moored up even before we got that far, decided to pull over way before that. There wasn't any particular hurry and being right out in the country is lovely on a hot summer's evening.<br /><br />Working boats there were aplenty, the next morning as they thumped past us during breakfast (<em>actually before that, you lazy bastards -ed</em>). And off we set, prepared for the canal equivalent of a motorway tailback. It wasn't though and with a bit of care and patience, our entry into the town was completely stress free.<br /><br />We did have the pleasure of<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGG2iKz15-jxUsdDWf7oVvqv-ZIZ2Sxvoka0X7a27EbtvtnfF06gSbbjxEl2LPtn7nxxfjURB7yST2ANnj2oLDg0LeYfK-GqbsxhKzP3hf_BwvziI6JM2MAGGeChy6BIQqRFg_bwHu7E/s1600-h/SDC11111.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356842184743394242" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 264px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 191px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGG2iKz15-jxUsdDWf7oVvqv-ZIZ2Sxvoka0X7a27EbtvtnfF06gSbbjxEl2LPtn7nxxfjURB7yST2ANnj2oLDg0LeYfK-GqbsxhKzP3hf_BwvziI6JM2MAGGeChy6BIQqRFg_bwHu7E/s320/SDC11111.JPG" border="0" /></a> seeing some wonderful working boats - motors and butties and some under way, with the butty following silently in the wake of the motor. Personally, I am quite ambivalent when it comes to the love of old boats (by this I mean owning and living on one). Both of us would be over the moon to have a Russell <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Newbury</span></span>, Lister or Gardner pushing us along the cut, but on the other hand, how could we do without all the mod cons like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Travelpower</span></span> generator, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">fridge</span>/freezer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNlgyvENMh9JpeNof7v_iMhnjfrc0BObDr2ueGoZI8YMUhOBTJ71a6BhpMjeyDdoMXVcoZ7Vwksc_EM546MS_B3hdXPkVHhRvO0rwxkQyCWwKixNQFVDMf21_kXdT9dqIfRxNIp_-Vek/s1600-h/SDC11119.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356843142595443154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 186px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNlgyvENMh9JpeNof7v_iMhnjfrc0BObDr2ueGoZI8YMUhOBTJ71a6BhpMjeyDdoMXVcoZ7Vwksc_EM546MS_B3hdXPkVHhRvO0rwxkQyCWwKixNQFVDMf21_kXdT9dqIfRxNIp_-Vek/s320/SDC11119.JPG" border="0" /></a> and (oh so sad) the dishwasher? Anyhow, it is great to look and dream.<br /><br /><br />As it happened, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Braunston</span> was indeed busy, but turned out to be a breeze. We arrived at the bottom lock with no bumps or bangs and lots of 'hellos' to boaters <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2ujJY8LC0BfVG3VQg-3HpJ3XdPGHKkC7iLTLdQPUP2LUAhyphenhyphenEhpi31zalMEjCWSA5R8cYU0Ul__yq6g0l00VAXqRxHujmYCOFSiwp9Lr6J3FCNp9WIFIDHh1IDcohNSVXqMMXQAghMuQ/s1600-h/SDC11130.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356847259091685570" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 245px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 172px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2ujJY8LC0BfVG3VQg-3HpJ3XdPGHKkC7iLTLdQPUP2LUAhyphenhyphenEhpi31zalMEjCWSA5R8cYU0Ul__yq6g0l00VAXqRxHujmYCOFSiwp9Lr6J3FCNp9WIFIDHh1IDcohNSVXqMMXQAghMuQ/s320/SDC11130.JPG" border="0" /></a>and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">gongoozlers</span> alike, where Neil found that there seemed to be an unofficial winding hole! At first we thought we would have to turn <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">around</span> and go back, but all was sorted and we followed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Nerus</span> into the lock. I really wonder if you could wind here, it would prove to be quite handy!Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-58514854214569066422009-07-09T19:10:00.013+01:002009-07-15T16:50:03.511+01:00Ante Stoke BrueneQuite a bit was going on at Brinklow before we set off for the <em><strong>epic voyage</strong></em> to Stoke Bruene:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgGT_8Fd0RvGoVPnw7zUwNvpdWEnWmDS8ogHFuH4Tl64k1uWOmhS5nG8cB6KDDkAgx-S2TvUsGZI6ju2CcYKsHKuIci5ZiKPdLPL07EeI4sRD_IpmG7fHFOlQDJboysvz_nz3awGQpcs/s1600-h/SDC11075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356826120996803138" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 262px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 203px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgGT_8Fd0RvGoVPnw7zUwNvpdWEnWmDS8ogHFuH4Tl64k1uWOmhS5nG8cB6KDDkAgx-S2TvUsGZI6ju2CcYKsHKuIci5ZiKPdLPL07EeI4sRD_IpmG7fHFOlQDJboysvz_nz3awGQpcs/s320/SDC11075.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Firstly; there is pond life again.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDMqwCD6VH8YTyOPCuYGnCoE_L6Req5nzpgidtfsOGY3u2VL489XaFVVsgFRRyIuczXJJmkOnGBKEgqNhZxxHqkGn7JvVoGpXz80yc8It1_r_RmEz_NrijcLs8ToGXZm5BE_aoI8cU2s/s1600-h/SDC11082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356534421707884786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 220px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDMqwCD6VH8YTyOPCuYGnCoE_L6Req5nzpgidtfsOGY3u2VL489XaFVVsgFRRyIuczXJJmkOnGBKEgqNhZxxHqkGn7JvVoGpXz80yc8It1_r_RmEz_NrijcLs8ToGXZm5BE_aoI8cU2s/s320/SDC11082.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Then there is hard work. . . . . . .<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGE6edFLuKQLogFWlblF6arAzzmTlbSniwEkI3EFVUMEQRRljA3f_894T_dnb1-h7ChMd7FUFjRnrZeYDnb37xlmNsYdMrN-1pMl4h-8tWVyZjx3FB6DE1M0pJ7ZGf9pdPqfX4LIWZCk/s1600-h/SDC11089.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356529755981916130" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 220px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 321px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGE6edFLuKQLogFWlblF6arAzzmTlbSniwEkI3EFVUMEQRRljA3f_894T_dnb1-h7ChMd7FUFjRnrZeYDnb37xlmNsYdMrN-1pMl4h-8tWVyZjx3FB6DE1M0pJ7ZGf9pdPqfX4LIWZCk/s320/SDC11089.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This poor Typist was very tired having spent so much time with her busy master. Being ng a 'Girl Friday' she had brought the tea and biscuits. Seen here Tally is relaxing with afternoon tea on Gleemaiden before atttemding her massage appointment.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwNdyal7aAwWQBtfzwl9qrI2DC8PE83ji88colwZhEM4qa8qeKUX7lMKaDaHLtHxH9_vrhDGA9vB-8hkm5-iKtePBWu0pq7PWVrvTD32bh2DXVmGyW71ACknM-PA5W9C0YXnr3ODgMU4/s1600-h/SDC11093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356535156632630818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 322px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwNdyal7aAwWQBtfzwl9qrI2DC8PE83ji88colwZhEM4qa8qeKUX7lMKaDaHLtHxH9_vrhDGA9vB-8hkm5-iKtePBWu0pq7PWVrvTD32bh2DXVmGyW71ACknM-PA5W9C0YXnr3ODgMU4/s320/SDC11093.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />And then the pre cruise to Warwick to<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF26EeBq7szocF0suuHvriGH7X9x05FPH-BEziPjuCA2K4j-ep9ul1aI0VVNRL9sfda2JBODyLRMcBim6zRGtXV4fiKxHi8ZYL3b9V83lxlPFILvm0NCN8BvpJTiVdJdNMKU2dZ26tTek/s1600-h/SDC11082.JPG"></a> assess the damage passing narrowboats could inflict: Jeeves asseses the castle and other unspoilt parts.<br /><br />Right that is enough for the moment.Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-8743462395375648662009-07-09T18:16:00.004+01:002009-07-15T16:51:16.628+01:00Two tunnels and an historic village Part 1The historic town of Stoke <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bruene</span> is known to all who travel the inland waterways of this country, so there is little to add, apart from our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">observations</span> during the journey and whilst visiting Stoke itself. We also visited <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Towcester</span> (now there are a good deal of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pseudonyms</span> and puns to be had with this one - indeed I popped up there. [<em>No more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">towcester</span> jokes -browned off]</em>). I was of course in my element in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Towcester</span>, sandwiched between beautiful black and white buildings one <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">minute,</span> then springing forth through the narrow <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">apertures</span> behind chrome street facades, visited <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Waitrose</span> and bought necessities such as butter; marmite and that sort of thing.<br /><br />Well this is a long way from where we set out so I think it is time for a different posting. I do also apologise for the complete lack of pictures or recent postings. The 3G+ signal here <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisw6NLE0FZ-q5ZKfl2CJZQnawOYWD4bllXu-UhP8WA-IGPHAQ3aGlhs_yBqEeTu9yRlY8oYYOjBZo6w2exrHQ1t8DVi3Pts3zbaqA4u0sqcYmTbf-d1LqBMWbAcLhvaHeDxikiqmCwIE/s1600-h/Richard+at+Stoke+Bruene.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356522532347842386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisw6NLE0FZ-q5ZKfl2CJZQnawOYWD4bllXu-UhP8WA-IGPHAQ3aGlhs_yBqEeTu9yRlY8oYYOjBZo6w2exrHQ1t8DVi3Pts3zbaqA4u0sqcYmTbf-d1LqBMWbAcLhvaHeDxikiqmCwIE/s320/Richard+at+Stoke+Bruene.JPG" border="0" /></a>is abysmal Anyay, I will try again in a couple of hours.<br /><br />Sounds from the saloon would suggest that the Ashes are on - think I'll watch for a bit. Try and upload some pictures later.<br /><br />Ah well! thanks to Neil and Ruth from Nerus, here is one picture that I have manage to upload - so now I am going to continue with the rest of the diary of the journey. Cheers!!Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228690762633695645.post-5107513556703158732009-06-23T10:50:00.009+01:002009-06-23T12:03:41.948+01:00Notes from a small village<div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Haven't been any where in particular for a few days - boating that is, apart from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Braunston</span> on <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Blow It</span>'</em>. But I think that I am getting fitter through some of the activities that we undertake. Campanology for example.</div><div></div><br /><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bellring</span> per <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">se</span> is probably exercise enough - <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3G4WtkgDJlRW-Vv2_905lzS19ofN1sx_yXPNYTwG_REg5g6H8X905gWNgmd_vpOPlkmscjleBOS0yNwrk-NHLeZyp_LjdDGvTyfS47F6cbyR8klC22SBKX4S9J5ullSBE9fhiRwEA1wQ/s1600-h/SDC11069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350463894232129458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 217px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3G4WtkgDJlRW-Vv2_905lzS19ofN1sx_yXPNYTwG_REg5g6H8X905gWNgmd_vpOPlkmscjleBOS0yNwrk-NHLeZyp_LjdDGvTyfS47F6cbyR8klC22SBKX4S9J5ullSBE9fhiRwEA1wQ/s320/SDC11069.JPG" border="0" /></a>especially if you ring at a couple of churches every week and throw in a service or two, but winding the clock at St <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">John's</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Brinklow</span> is a definite work-out.</div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div>The instrument for winding the mechanism is sort of a cross between a lock paddle windlass and the starting handle for one of those vintage cars that didn't have starter motors (or they did, but the battery was flat). The end of this handle is fitted over the winding spindle, (which is a bit like that on your mantle mantle time piece, only huge), and wound anticlockwise <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">until</span> the respective <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">wei</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5XNcP1sVRbpuhvRwivZFuPofQgSJwJ7hDvblcy3DGuImp4BUHHpFk9ki_oLoQSgCHEuQ27dHZKDXHYYufX83ERsG3090TOjHBifnFlwnAIRWRGT7nNNvjiViPhBUH_hamlbjiq7E1jg/s1600-h/SDC10389+-+Copy+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350464838197102466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 228px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5XNcP1sVRbpuhvRwivZFuPofQgSJwJ7hDvblcy3DGuImp4BUHHpFk9ki_oLoQSgCHEuQ27dHZKDXHYYufX83ERsG3090TOjHBifnFlwnAIRWRGT7nNNvjiViPhBUH_hamlbjiq7E1jg/s320/SDC10389+-+Copy+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ghts</span> (there are two of them) climb slowly from the floor level of the ringing chamber to the height of the pulleys where they provide the motive power for the clock mechanism over the next seven days before <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">reaching</span> floor level again.<br /></div><div>The small one is a doddle and can be wound using one arm - but the heavy one is a beast! I'll say one thing - the clock is pretty accurate for an old timer (<em>enough clock jokes, ed</em>). And hopefully when the mechanism is moved to make way for the new bell installation, the whole thing is going to be fitted with an electric motor to wind up the weights (or will it be given a spring).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01b8osHgot2cy6BWMkhkwoGoVLpKVWy2lJisyd4nWVMQeLG8ybXYsC-U6ltglgRpO-5VQTDrkTO_VYXz58jDelg2qdkYOrP_Jg43f26J7MQR9nbKSw1U7mzl_x-tKlp666ZXolULX9OY/s1600-h/SDC11067.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350473456514478210" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01b8osHgot2cy6BWMkhkwoGoVLpKVWy2lJisyd4nWVMQeLG8ybXYsC-U6ltglgRpO-5VQTDrkTO_VYXz58jDelg2qdkYOrP_Jg43f26J7MQR9nbKSw1U7mzl_x-tKlp666ZXolULX9OY/s200/SDC11067.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Jeeves and Aunt Agatha attended the Pagan festival at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Combe</span> Abbey Woods mentioned before and took a couple of photos of the manor house and lake. I am told that the Solstice bit went very well indeed with wholesome food; a breaking of bread and passing of wine (<em>sounds rather fishy to me - geddit? ed)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tHw6GVBo7-im9U_d9hq0B8auKDfnZizPqtDAZ2SrcKLyyvASE95Wan1qjAffqzShjzQCFRssIveVCbB3STmVJ9SKO0HG3VZUJuArzkaL9c1n14FtTALgf98tMzoQG4TUTZK41I2nbK0/s1600-h/SDC11068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350473940442992674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tHw6GVBo7-im9U_d9hq0B8auKDfnZizPqtDAZ2SrcKLyyvASE95Wan1qjAffqzShjzQCFRssIveVCbB3STmVJ9SKO0HG3VZUJuArzkaL9c1n14FtTALgf98tMzoQG4TUTZK41I2nbK0/s200/SDC11068.JPG" border="0" /></a></em>. </div><div></div><div>One of the photographs from the pond of those elusive blue damsel flies actually came o<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq29ui6QcjWwMCOHGDc4CJEOwvdhuhbtwSMzHY11MosKRD1_xps2-Vao2WKs7OydQWzNqHqDigpQky9tyk4zqAJRuzcnbAtbt15viz4wC-GWHFQWiu2RaeOIjxnvgAHskImVRrkoRzEw/s1600-h/SDC10998.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350475163285811586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 129px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq29ui6QcjWwMCOHGDc4CJEOwvdhuhbtwSMzHY11MosKRD1_xps2-Vao2WKs7OydQWzNqHqDigpQky9tyk4zqAJRuzcnbAtbt15viz4wC-GWHFQWiu2RaeOIjxnvgAHskImVRrkoRzEw/s200/SDC10998.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ut</span>. The image also shows a couple of other dragonflies in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">vicinity</span> - Jeeves is pleased, but I should imagine that clicking on the picture on this blog will be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">necessary</span> for those like me who are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">occularly</span> challenged.</div><div></div><br /><div>The mating <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">pai</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkW4ORBMK4GOaPyp3RGhzc6wTQ-mwAbtdIu5S5ql2ul4Pa7e8yGOeTvHIZJ6Vkk5VAKZ4owI1-kkDXL69bq9iIf0zmf_yr4F-oP-aD-HOoIlKq1zXQFvUiY5HRpTl11FhU61YVvF7jd-I/s1600-h/SDC11026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350475688203750450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkW4ORBMK4GOaPyp3RGhzc6wTQ-mwAbtdIu5S5ql2ul4Pa7e8yGOeTvHIZJ6Vkk5VAKZ4owI1-kkDXL69bq9iIf0zmf_yr4F-oP-aD-HOoIlKq1zXQFvUiY5HRpTl11FhU61YVvF7jd-I/s200/SDC11026.JPG" border="0" /></a>r of swans finally turned up with their cygnet, so she hadn't left him after all. I am surprised that there is only one cygnet as this would appear to be fine breeding ground, and I can't think of any predators that would be prowling around the marina.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxky4mKuQ4eUlTWEqNGRoPGO9xMxBBDnDyRdP0Olo3WuHuRB5Y5PPqEHKA88SFqqLOqhEMAtPZGICllbri29qwx2dps9Bo1ie2EJhgr5tu0YeA_HuG9bNPRWHb9iSedzfe-RYme3M46E/s1600-h/SDC11020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350472415949823026" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 277px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 202px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxky4mKuQ4eUlTWEqNGRoPGO9xMxBBDnDyRdP0Olo3WuHuRB5Y5PPqEHKA88SFqqLOqhEMAtPZGICllbri29qwx2dps9Bo1ie2EJhgr5tu0YeA_HuG9bNPRWHb9iSedzfe-RYme3M46E/s400/SDC11020.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div>I have been wanting to jump into bed with a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Staffordshire</span> lass for years. . . . . . . . . . . . </div><div></div><br /><div>But imagine my surprise when a four legged one jumped into bed with me - and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">proceeded</span> to sit on me!</div><div></div><div></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Richard Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625174158070799noreply@blogger.com0