Thursday 9th January 2014

Happy new year to you all!

So, how was Christamas for you? I do hope you all remained healthy.

Ours was definatly a first. It was great! Strange though as no long hectic days up to the last minute.

We left Barby Moorings on Thursday 20th December and headed to Cosgrove. Arriving Sunday 23rd.

Spending the Saturday evening at Blisworth,, where we caught up with old mates. Excellent take away! 

 

The intention was to tootle down through MK between Christmas and New Year, however as it was so wet and had friends visiting we decided to stay put. A super surprise when a cyclist stopped by! 

Boxing Day and New Years Eve was spent with a lovely friend in Deanshanger. Superb! 

Thursday 2nd  we set off early to come back. The water levels were high, going through a bridge hole was a new experience for me, the flow was so strong and fast it was taking me backwards! Geoff took over and eventually we got through. Further up where the river Tove flows into the canal was another full throttle and straight ahead!! 

We started the Stoke Bruerne flight and stopped two locks from the top as it was getting dark.

Next day pressed on to Blisworth, the the Buckby flight, Braunston and back into the marina yesterday, Wednesday 8th Jan.

The owner of this marina left a voice message to say they had put another boat on our pontoon till Wednesday, so would eve use another pontoon..... We decided to stay out until our own pontoon was free.

We paid for three months which ends this month. So unless the canal is frozen we are leaving, never to return!! Instead we are doing that journey back down to Cosgrove. We have have bought a permit to moor for a month on the visitor moorings at Cosgrove. 

Then apply for another for the month of March. After that we shall cruise further afield. Leeds /York maybe. 

The Canal and River Trust have experimented this year to see if the permit for these winter moorings was popular. From what we have seen so far it's a great idea and so easy! If they continue to do this we shall certainly think seriously about it for next winter instead of a marina. 

I am not even going to mention the rain, wind and mud! We must all be sick of it. But not as bad as it is for some poor people with flood damage to their homes and business' . My heart goes goes out to them. 

Next weekend we are off to family in Ipswich. A fun time will be had by all!! 

More next month when we have returned to the MK area... 

Sunday 8th December 2013

Happy Christmas everyone! How is your preparation going? All done? I am so proud of you!!
Getting into the festive spirit by watching all the cooking programmes? Ha ha!!
In my world this is the first Christmas in several years that I have not been up to my ears in hair! I would have done all my present shopping, wrapped and delivered by the end of November in the past, not this year! So disorganised!! Having said that, we are cutting back a lot this year so not much to do......

Geoff's brother and wife came for a visit this weekend. It was lovely to see them and have a good catch up! Just went down to Braunston, turned, went into the country, moored up until this morning then got back into the marina about midday.

We are still not enjoying this marina as much as Blisworth, but as Geoff is not working nearly as much, we are going to be 'out' as much as the weather allows over the next few weeks. Starting with this coming Wednesday 11th off out till Sunday or maybe Monday 16th. However we do have another Webasto, Central heating problem, so when Sam comes out to look at it we need to be access able.

Our Christmas plans, ( weather permitting, no ice! ) are that we leave her on Thursday 19th, heading for Cosgrove, outside Milton Keynes. Stopping at Blisworth to visit some old mates! Watch out...!
We hope to get a nice mooring at Cosgrove to stay a few days. We can then walk to Karens in Deanshanger for Boxing Day. Then swap venues as she and George will come to us for New Year. In between we will tootle through MK and hopefully catch up with Corinne on Avanti!

We spent a week down in Hawkinge, Folkstone with my Dad while my sister had a week off. It was funny being in a bungalow, it doesn't rock!! Most of the time we just kept Dad company, we had a take away with my brother and his family, he also took us to the woods where he helps to raise pheasants. On the way a brunch!  That was all nice to catch up on all their latest news.
Geoff had never been to Whitsable so we took Dad on the Monday, they had oysters and I didn't!!
 I also cooked a Sunday roast, I know, that sounds strange! But our oven doesn't seem to get hot enough for roast potatoes to crisp.

Well folks that's about all my news for this month. So I will leave you, wishing all of you a very Happy Christmas and an excellent New Year! Maybe we will see one or two of you during our trip.....
Our best wishes to you all
Julie, Geoff, Darley, Mr Muppett and Archie xxxxx

Saturday 9th November

Will it ever stop raing I ask? I know we need it to float but come on...! Mud, mud glorious mud!!

Well it is here at Barby. Pot holes and ruts full of water in between the mud. The dogs get filthy. It's a major operation to walk them and wash the mud off. We have bought a short piece of hose to attach to the tap with as spray on the end. 

Unlike Blisworth to get to the towpath is quite a long walk on a very busy lane, with no path. I have decided not to do it on my own with three dogs to get off the road. The construction lorries don't help! 

So I take them round a couple of fields, it's boring from my point of view. But I throw a ball on a rope for the boys and they love it!! 

We have bought a OS map of the area so when Geoff stops work, which won't be long, we can try some longer walks. 

Today we have come out the marina, Whoopie! Went down to Braunston, turned and came back about 20mins., then moored till tomorrow. We both love being out on the canal. Even the rain has stopped and the sun is trying to shine!

There are three alpacas keeping the grass down on the island. The dogs gave them quite a side ways look to start with but ignore them now. They have to be kept on leads anyway of course. 

Thursday November 21st we are all going to visit Dad. Jacqui is going away for a few days so we are going to keep Dad company. It will be interesting to see how all the dogs get on, but I am sure after the initial excitement they will settle. 

Well that's about all my news, not much happening at the moment! Take care all of you and stay dry!!

Julie 'n crew

Well, good morning everyone,

I do hope you are all safe and no damage from the storm. It was not as bad here as they predicted but further South has been worse I think.
We lowered the satellite overnight, just in case, I laid in bed listening to the rain in the early morning and when Geoff let the dogs out for an early wee he loosened the ropes as we were a little to one side.
Being in between locks, the water level changes, especially overnight with no activity. There has been several boats going through this morning though, half term so fairly busy!

This is just a quick update on our journey so far. The plan had been to go from Blisworth marina to Barby marina, then Tuesday back to Braunston to go into dry dock on Wednesday. The propeller is to be changed. However we made a snap decision and changed our minds yesterday.

Saturday we left in drizzle but by the time we got to the Buckby flight it had stopped. With two Gayton hire boats in front of us that had not worked a lock before we knew it would be a slow process. The boat that came in with us was NB Mollie M with Maffi and his crew, Mortimer Bones and Alex. During the flight we learnt that there was a boaters gathering at the New Inn at the top of the flight. With this in mind and knowing there would be lots of boats moored up around the Norton Junction area we decided to stop before the last lock. That was a good call....!

Sunday we left early through the last lock and down to the Braunston tunnel, through without meeting anyone! Whoopie!
Came down the Braunston locks with a nice family on a weekend break. Just before the last lock there was a slight confusion, mainly due to the wind taking boats where they didn't really want to go!!
We pulled over to keep out of the way and realised the dry dock was in front and to the right, before the last lock. This is where we made the snap decision to stay here till after the prop change.

We have television and internet but almost no phone signal. But that's not too bad. Geoff and the dogs found the office and told them we were here. We will walk up to the village either later or tomorrow.
Just at the moment it looks like rain again...

That's about it for now so will write more when there is something to say!

September 24th 2013

Hello everyone, it seems autumn is upon us. Last week it was so cold so quickly! Today, now I am sitting outside at a bench on a grass bank. Indian summer? 

At last we have some dates in place. Saturday 26th October we leave Blisworth Marina to go to Barby near Rugby. In so many ways I will be quite sad, I have started to make some friends here and enjoy our walks, there is several different directions to go. However it's is expensive! The next marina is almost half the price. 

 We will get there on Sunday 27th. Geoff is going to go to work on the Monday as we have to take Willow Too back down to Braunston on Wednesday 30th, just for a new propeller, it not a big job, but easier out of the water, so going into dry dock for a few hours. He will do his Wednesday gardens on Monday that week.

Last weekend we went out just for an overnight adventure! Of course we couldn't go far but it was nice to get out. We will probably do the same this weekend. 

I have been blackberrying and made jam, also crab apple jelly and chutney. Yesterday made sloe vodka and gin! Apparently it needs to be kept for a year, so sometime before I know if its good or not!

We have tested the wood burner and its great! The first couple of times it took ages to get going but not a problem since. Cooked my first casserole on the top!

Beacon Boats had their first 'gathering'. September 7th, only 4 of the 17 boats built where able to get there, but all the owners went except two I believe. It was a smashing evening, buffet food and lots of talk about boats and exchanging experiences. It was great to put faces to all the boat names including the build for 2015! That is nameless as yet though. 

While we were out last weekend who should almost, but not quite 'bump' into us? Windsong!! Very nearly back to their marina from the trip up to Barrow deep lock and the gathering! It was a quick catch up over the stern!!

Then Sunday morning a boat we came down the Buckby flight with some weeks ago stopped and we had coffee and catch up. So as you can see we do a lot of chatting!! 

Well that's about all my news for now, 

Oh by the way, if any of you would like to know, Willow Too's review will be in Novembers issue of Canal Boat magazine. Probably in the newsagents mid October.

Our best wishes to you all

Julie, Geoff 'n crew!

Sunday 18th August

Hello! 

It's me again, about one month on. What a wonderful summer! I don't think any of us should grumble about the summer of 2013!! Although I am sure growers would have preferred more rain. 

The canal water level is quite low, some canals suffer more than others. The GU is not too bad but some areas it's a task to get into the side. What does make me so cross is that almost every day the Northampton Arm has to drain water down through it from the GU, to replace the water lost from either leaking lock gates, idiots that open the paddles or even worse, adults from foreign country's draining the water, putting nets across the canal to catch the larger fish! And they don't put them back....

Any water then goes onto the Nene and eventually out to sea!! Why?! What a waste!!

Most mornings I walk the dogs down the Northampton Arm, it's a good quiet long walk and almost very time I see Canal and River Trust men working water down. It's a daily job for them. It's so sad that this is happening. I suppose its funds to replace the leaking lock gates. But the mindless idiots need a good smack!

Anyway, I will stop going on about that!! 

Charlotte, my 17 year old granddaughter came for a long weekend. We took her down through the Blisworth tunnel, Stoke Bruerne locks, turned at the Navigation Pub, Cosgrove. Then back of course. We did it slowly over four days as I had some sort of tummy bug and did not feel great. It was lovely to see her, she is growing up fast! 

Last weekend we went to the Blisworth Festival, Diane, Gordon and Karen came. The weather was not bad so the Festival must have been a success.

This weekend we are out for four days, partly because The Beast is having a major operation and won't be ready until Wednesday evening. So, we are heading up to Norton Junction, turning then back. Although today we are moored up and watching the athletics while the showers pass. 

Archie has had a small abscess on the outside of his paw, I have battled with salt water but ended up at the Vets. Antibiotics injection, tablets hibiscrub to clean it and the best bit.... A lamp shade on his head! Can you imagine it.... Archie, bull in a china shop, in a lamp shade on a narrow boat! God help the back of our legs!

Next weekend Bank holiday! Then it's back to school, Christmas cards on the shelves and Autumn around the corner!! 

That's all for now folks, more next month.... Our best wishes to you all.

July 18th Settling in....

Well, we have been here thee weeks now and settling into life on board. We both love it! It's like being on a permanent holiday! 

I am not sure about the dogs, I think they love it,  they should do! But when we are in the marina they have to be in the boat or on leads. Quite understandable, but they don't think it's fair!! But I take them out at regular intervals throughout the day so life is not too bad for them! In this hot weather swimming in the canal is their favourite pass time.

Last weekend we did not go far, but up towards Bugbrooke. It was just nice to get away from the gravel paths and to let the dogs out. We sat and read a lot of the time, so peaceful. Some would say boring but not for us.

This coming weekend we will no doubt go the same way but not stop in the same places. We will go through the Blisworth tunnel and towards MK soon but want to do that when we have more than three days to make it worth while. The Northampton Arm is opposite of course but that's 17 locks close together, not always safe moorings at the end, to turn around and do the 17 back! Not in a weekend it's too tiring!! 

We are gradually moving things around and organising ourselves better than we were to begin with.

I could still do with turning out a cupboard or two but its been too hot to fight with that! I shall save that challenge for when the weather is not so good.

More from us another time! 

Thank you to all our friends who have come to visit and those that will! 

Geoff, Julie, 'n Crew!

The view from our back door!