June 2014

Hi everyone,

Today is the first day after the longest day! I refuse to believe it's all down hill from here on in! We have at last had some wonderful weather. We deserve it because it was wet, wet, wet up to a couple of weeks ago. I know we are much further north but come on, everywhere needs sun!

Since I last wrote we have travelled the Macclesfield canal, onto the Peak District canal and back down onto the T&M. We thought the Caldon canal was beautiful but the Peak District is even better! Narrow and very shallow ( even after all the rain! ) but at the end you have the Bugsworth Basin. How lovely is that! All renovated by volunteers and fund raising to achieve the results so far. It still is not finished. We stayed there a few days, giving a donation allows you to stay over the usual 48hours. Walking up into the hills and seeing the countryside from a height was lovely. The dogs loved the freedom as well I am sure. 

Karen 'popped up' for the weekend which was great. Really good to have a chance to catch up properly. Geoff cooked a BBQ for us which was just done without rain! 

If you haven't touched on this this part of our wonderful country then give it a go! It is different to Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire. Hillier, no large fields of crops, a lot more cattle and the fragrance that goes with them! The long shaggy coated ones with horns as well. It really is quite stunning. Along side the canal there is renovated mills and old working chimneys. If walls could talk! 

Many of the old mills are being converted into apartments, it's a good way of recycling! 

The other main thing we have noticed is that everyone is so much more friendly!! So folks no offence!

Even the girls on the cash out at supermarkets actually talk with you, in MK they are so standoffish! 

On the way back we stopped in Bollington for a couple of days. I had booked hair cut! It was ok though, not too scary! Except paying for it! Eek! 

We also walked up to the White Nancy. It is a memorial to commemorate the battle of Waterloo. Strange looking object! 'Bullet' shaped and painted white. A steep climb up but worth the view! 

We also stopped for two days to go and look at Little Moreton Hall. A building  built during the civil war. 

Over 500 years old and held together inside to stop it collapsing. The dogs enjoyed the walk across the cow fields to get there.... 

Since Monday we have been back on the T&M and going down heartbreak hill. It's a series of 32 locks from Hardings Wood junction to the junction onto the Middlewich canal. We will do that tomorrow. 

We were going to go onto the Llangollen canal but have changed our minds, due to others saying how crowded it is and you have to be patient queuing for locks. So we will save that for next year! 

Twice we have fleetingly seen another Beacon Boat, Windsong. Once going in the opposite direction, so a wave was all we could manage. Then back at Harding Wood junction, we had stopped to do the Tesco trot, well Geoff did, when they pulled in for a brief word and then off.... 

We are on the look out for other BB's on our journey. 

Our only time schedule is to be in Stoke Bruerne for September 13th /14th. In fact we will be at Gayton junction the weekend before, as we would like to achieve getting a mooring for the village at war weekend in Stoke Bruerne. Looking forward to dressing up! Do you think I can practice the jitter bug in the boat beforehand?! 

Also today I have had confirmation our booking for a cottage in January ( yes I know it's months away!)

has been accepted. So, it will be four walls and no rocking for a week! That's about 10-15 mins from my Dad, so we can have a good catch up. I am also hoping that my son and daughter may come and visit us. So, if you are reading this please pop it in your calander!! 10th -17th. I would really like to see you both!! 

I hope that all of our family and friends are well, enjoying the summer and maybe the tennis? I would love to hear from you and how your summer is going.... 

May 2014

Hello everyone! 

I am really frustrated with myself! Started to write this about week ago, then lost it! Cricky I was cross!

So this won't be a detailed, just a brief update on our travels.

The boat is almost a year old. Where has that time gone? This is just as we had expected life to be like.

We love it! Especially since Geoff stopped work and we have been able to travel it is idilylic. 

At present we are just north of Stoke on Trent. On the Macclesfield canal. 

During the week leading up to the bank holiday we travelled the Caldon Canal, so lovely. I think I preferred the Leek branch but the Froghall branch was fun as Geoff's brother and wife visited us but camped at the local site. The steam train ride was excellant! Fireman Sam was at the end of the line to greet everyone!! A trip to the Black Lion was a must of course! The next day we did the same trip but by boat instead. 

I am a year older, that was scary! I had some wonderful surprises. Lovely cards and presents. I thank you all for those. I was extremely touched and quite emotional. Poor Geoff! He coped with me very well!!

We have spent the weekend deciding where to go next. Although we are on our way to Macclesfield and then Manchester, we are going up so far then turning to come back and get onto the T&M again.

That does mean heartbreak hill or 36 locks but we are given to understand countryside not to be missed! We then will get onto the Shroppie. Anyway who knows, we may change our minds again yet!

During the last week we have heard of some very sad times. One poor man fell off the back of his boat in the Harecastle Tunnel and was drowned. Two boats vandalised with injuries to the owners, protecting their property. Plus places not to moor or go through unless you have too. With all that in mind we believe it's best not to invite problems but keep it in perspective. None of us would do anything if we analylised everything we did!! 

Please note I have not mentioned the rain! At one point I thought we were going to grow Webb feet and that's all I am going to say! This weekend has been dry, at last. The first week of Wimbedon is usually wet so I'm guessing we haven't seen the last of the rain. Some sun would be nice! 

That's all for now folks! Wishing you all well and thank you for reading my ramble!

Summer trip

Tuesday 1st April

Left Cosgrove behind and got to Stoke Bruene, here we teamed up with Karen and Dave and went up the first few locks, stopping just before the top two. 

Wednesday 2nd

Early start, last two locks, just in time as they were closing the top one for who knows how long for! 

Open Reach taking down a cable that was above the lock. 

Then of course the Blisworth tunnel, mooring about a mile the other side. 

Thursday 3rd

Went up to Gayton Junction, filled water tank, emptied loo, rubbish etc... Then a short spurt to the other side of the turn around bridge. Here we stopped until Monday morning. We were visiting friends from Blisworth marina. Karen and Dave had to do an emergency drive home to Portsmouth Friday to Sunday. KK came to lunch Sunday with the essential wine delivery! 

Monday 7th

Left in drizzle, aiming for the Buckby flight but when we stopped for water didn't go any further! Damp and cold. 

Emily was 6 today! How the years fly by...... We had a Skype call early in the morning before they left for the zoo. She really is quite a character! 

Tuesday 8th

And so the heavy locks of the Buckby flight! Moored before the last one and stayed overnight to get through Braunston tunnel early. We bought two planters to go on the roof! For those of you that don't already know Geoff was adamant that nothing was ever going on the roof.... One has herbs, the other peligoniums. A carefully coiled coloured rope is underneath them though!! 

Wednesday 9th

The Braunston tunnel and locks. A great run through. Not too busy after the bottom lock. Moored out in the countryside for overnight. At this point Karen and Dave decided they wanted to stay put and we wanted to go ahead. 

Thursday 10th

An early start as it was going to be a fairly long day. Headed off before 8 am, Geoff steering, the dogs and I walking. Stopped for breakfast, then on to Hillmorton. Lock keepers milling about so easy peasy!

Filling the water was not however. The pressure was so low, an hour later and we gave up. Onwards to Rugby and a few things from Tesco. Arriving at Brinklow about 4.30 pm. Time for tea and a biscuit! 

Wednesday16th 

We left Brinklow about 8am Monday 14th and have made our way almost to Atherstone. Passing through Nuneaton. Not so nice, but that happens in towns, rubbish in the canal and possible bored youths around looking for fun! 

Once we had moored up and had lunch, walked up onto the village of Hartshill. Bought some milk, stopped at a pub for a pint, then back here. 

Easter weekend we intend to stay somewhere around Atherstone. Karen may visit us one day, a little trip out! Corinne is coming Sunday to Monday. A heavier social life now than we have ever had! Also meeting up with other friends soon after, as they live in this area. They passed us on their 'new' boat at Brinklow, on their way to Alvcote marina. Busy, busy! 

All the dogs are doing fine, we think they like the lifestyle, but who knows really?! 

It's lovely seeing the ducklings about now and the lambs of course. The countryside is breaking out of winter into summer quickly now. All fresh, bright and colourful. 

Wishing you all a Happy Easter weekend, let's cross our fingers for the weather to hold....! 

Julie, Geoff, Darley, Muppet and Archie    

End of March 2014

Hello everyone!

Where does the time go? Our time here at Cosgrove has flown. We have to leave here next week. 

At least spring has sprung and there are some beautiful days. Yesterday was not so good, rain again! 

It would be nice to have reasonable weather to start our trip next week, but who knows?!

We aim to go to the Peak District, via Rugby, Tamworth, Stoke on Trent.... The Caldon Canal is a must apparently! 

The first part of our journey some friends are joining us so that will be fun to have company. Especially with all those locks! I did them on my own four times in the few months and they are a killer! We are dropping in on some boating friends at Blisworth, spending a couple of days there....

The exact schedule has not been decided because it doesn't matter. We do think we will come back here at the end of October for the winter though. Everyone is so friendly, plus it's convenient for many reasons. Our Doctors surgery, Dentist, Vet etc... And our friends of course!

Meanwhile we have to sell some stuff again! We are getting good at that though, if we can down size from a four bedroom house and garage, then we can down size a bit more! The land rover with its contents is for sale. However one lovely friend is storing some of the equipment in her garage. 

With a bit of luck the land rover will go quickly but if not, Gordon is looking after it until it does sell. 

A then we will buy a small van in the autumn to get about in. 

The diesel and coal topped up. Dog food ordered. A big supermarket shop to do at the weekend and our repeat prescriptions to collect from the surgery. Then it's ready to go! 

I will write a diary throughout the trip so you can follow us on the journey. Wishing you all a great summer, let's hope it's a sunny one!!

Cosgrove Moorings

Hello all!

How wonderful it is to see that forgotten shinny yellow thing up in the sky! A beautiful afternoon.

Crossing fingers the worst of the wet and windy weather is over. It won't be of course forgotten by others in the country, waiting for homes to dry out, insurances to respond and the work to be done. Builders, plumbers, electricians and decorators will be working hard over the next few months. 

We have been here at Cosgrove since about the 2nd / 3rd of Febuary, managed to get here in between the storms and avoid the river Tove at its worst. The river under the aqueduct was of course flooded and a has only just gone down enough to walk all the way round the quarry. 

The dogs love running through the flooded fields though, however three muddy dogs back on board is not so good! Thankfully the tap is not far away and with the help of my short hose with 'gun' at least they are clean! Thank heavens for the engine room with coir matting. 

Enough of that!

We have bought a permit from the Canal and River Trust to stay here until the end of March. It is so much better than Barby Moorings that we were in at Rugby. The mud there must have got worse since we left and it was horrendous then.

The beauty of here is it's in the country but not far from all of our friends and things like our Doctors, Vets etc... We all have appointments with all of these over the next few weeks. Preparing for our next venture starting in April. We are heading north to Yorkshire we hope. 

There have had a couple more teething problems. Today a man has come to take one of the batteries away, it wasn't  charging. A new one is on and it's made an immediate difference. When they have tested it we will be told if it was a duff battery or something we have done to damage it, in which case we will have to pay for the new one. Cross fingers it's duff!! 

We have also had a small water leak coming through and it's stained the tongue and groove. None of these things are serious, just irritating. 

It's half term for a lot of you. It gets very busy down this towpath when the suns out! Kids on bikes in pushchairs and being pulled along by parents saying you will walk!! 

Who's enjoyed the Winter Olympics? We have both been following it more than ever before! Whow! The girls have done well, haven't they?! Curling tomorrow! Daren't watch!!

The snow boarding and skiing has been fantastic. Some of the ice skating too, the little 15year old Russian girl is wonderful. 

I have rekindled my knitting skills! And at present doing a tapestry. What next?? ! 

Geoff has just discovered Candy Crush! So I may well be a CC widow soon! 

I hope you are all well and looking forward to spring....

That's all for now folks! 

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