The return trip

Well, an amazingly windy day today. Luckily the sun shone the whole time but steering the boat proved to be a challenge. 

Back through Crick Tunnel and we almost got through without meeting another boat. However, just as we were about to exit into the daylight, an oncoming boat decided to enter. If he'd waited a couple of minutes we wouldn't have had to crawl past each other and he wouldn't have crunched into the tunnel wall. Hey ho! 

The building straight ahead used to be a lovely café but it has now become the base for Smithwood Narrowboats. It's good to see the site being used and not left to fall into disrepair. 

Doesn't Crick Marina look good on a sunny day. 

A little further along the canal there was a fox having a drink from the side. By the time we got the phone out for a picture it had run off along the edge of the field. Again it came down to the water's edge but again we couldn't get a shot. 

You can't see them too well but there was a mass of peggles (cowslips) on the towpath. We're growing them at home but they are taking time to get established. 

Well we motored for about four hours today which gave the boat a good run. Back to the marina tomorrow to see if they can sort out the problems with the shower.

Keep your fingers crossed!

Moored in the same place as we did on our first night out. Still windy and still sunny.

A look at the M1

Tuesday 21st 

Immediately after setting off is Crick Tunnel. The tunnel is only 1528 yds long and takes about 15 minutes to get through. 

This is the lighter end of the tunnel, otherwise it's pitch black the whole time. Believe it or not but the tunnel is wide enough for boats to pass each other, lucky for us as we passed two other boats on our way through. 

That's it, safely out the other side. 

Great to see mother duck with about 10 babies. They were all flitting about and wouldn't stop still for a proper photo! 

We carried on to the top of the Watford flight but turned round just before the canal went under the M1. Didn't want to be contaminated by so called civilisation. 

Moored for the night in a quiet place.

All still with nothing but the sound of sheep and a low hum of traffic in the distance. 

Sausages in cider for supper, one of our favourites. 

Pickle and Pie

Another lovely start to the day but a chilly breeze. 

The captain gave me a choice today. Either I had a shower or she would keelhaul me. So, a shower it was. Ha, ha, I thought, if I adjust the water heater to a lower temperature I can have a hot shower without the thermostat shutting everything down. How wrong can you be!? Whoomph, and hot water came through. In I jumped and the gas cut out. Well, as the captain said afterwards "cold showers are meant to be good for you." 

We set off towards Crick, passing through Yelvetoft on the way.

We've stopped here many times in the past but not today. Crick was calling and we wanted to get there in time for lunch. 

We made it, just in time for lunch at the Pickle and Pie at 23. 

Afterwards a visit to the Co-op to top up supplies and then back to the boat. 

The canal bridge at Crick has this odd looking pipe in the centre. I'm sure that someone told me that it used to be used for watering canal boats. I don't know if that's true or not but it makes a good tale. 

Anyway, back to the boat in time for a cuppa and a snooze. 

What a shower

A nice bright start to the day and a bit of warm weather for a change. A treat of eggs and bacon for breakfast whilst listening to Lectio 365, our daily 10 minutes of prayer and reflection. 

After that, just time for a shower before setting off. 

Noises off from the captain that the water had stopped coming through. Seems that the water was too hot and the thermostatic tap had shut off the hot feed. But it wasn't letting any cold water through to cool it down. OK, let's empty the water out of the shower tray and find out what's going on! Except that the pump wouldn't work! Ggrrr, what next? Forget it all, let's just set off! 

Past quite a few fields of rape around here. 

Looks like there has also been some pleaching going on here. Live hedges cut through and made into a living border to the field. 

The clouds have been amazing today.

Moored near Elkington and went for a walk while the sun was still shining.

Crossed the canal for a walk around Fieldside Covert. 

A small woodland area with many old and new trees. 

And a view back to the canal where you can just about see Polgara. 

The green boat to the right of the picture. 

Following that, back to the boat for a Sunday Roast. 

And the shower? Back to the professionals to sort that out! 

Good News 2026

 Yes, the good news is that we are back on the boat and under way. 

Last year was a complete disaster as far as boating was concerned. Low water levels meant that both Foxton and Watford locks were closed and we found ourselves stuck in the middle with nowhere much to go. 

To cheer ourselves up we went instead on the River Douro in Portugal where there was too much water and we couldn't get under all the bridges! 

In October we had another cruise, this time on the Danube. Because the Portugal trip was spoiled by the high water levels we were offered a very good discount for the second trip. Both boats were somewhat larger than Polgara, the bar was definitely more generous and the food, well, their chefs were far better than ours. 

Now onto this year! 

We had planned to take 6 months off with an extra long trip up to Llangollen - what should happen but the canal breach near Whitchurch. Well, we're still taking 6 months away from local commitments but the time has taken on a different look from that originally planned. As soon as we mooted the idea of time away, what should happen but events started cropping up that we didn't want to miss. So, we are now looking at blocks of canal time interspersed with social and family events. 

We have been on Polgara for a few days now, tidying up after a very damp winter. Window surrounds have been sanded and treated with Danish Oil, dripping connection under the sink has been investigated, leaking window has been bodged, we've stocked up on coal and food and, at last, we are out on the cut. 

We haven't come far, only about 1½ miles from the marina. But we are under way. 

And doesn't it look good! 

Monday - a day in Crick

We had a good sleep in today and decided that we would have breakfast, leave the washing up and set off while it wasn't raining. 

Good job we did because just before Crick tunnel the rain started. Into the tunnel and it was drier in there than outside. It's usually the other way around. 

We moored just before the bridge in Crick, by which time it was a steady downpour. So what did we do to cheer ourselves up? We set off to visit Pickle & Pie. 

Still smiling and well prepared for the wet weather. 

And here we are. 

And for our foodie fans, look what we had. 

Needless to say that it was yummie. 

After that, back to the boat, batten the … you know the drill by now, and an afternoon catching up with accounts and other stuff that always gets put off until later. (Including the washing up!)

Rain very heavy and constant. More than a month's worth in two days. Glad it wasn't like this during the rest of the holiday. 

Sunday - 13 locks, another day of rest

We had thought of going to church in the cathedral of the canals (Braunston church) but there was no service scheduled this week. So we got all togged up ready to tackle the locks.

The sky is overcast but it's not raining yet. 

I do have one confession to make. I said that last night we battened down the hatches but what I forgot to do was take the chimney down and put the cap on the flue. Consequently, when I started the engine, black sooty rain water came flying out everywhere. Anyone remember the Black & White Minstrel Show? Well, it was almost a rerun of that but, luckily, I managed to avoid most of the spray back. 

We were lucky to team up with another boat in the second lock having come through the first on our own and in no time at all we reached the top. Partly this was due to many hire boats coming down the flight with crews willing to close gates, etc.

The house at the top lock has been done up recently and looks very smart. 

Through the tunnel, which I still don't like, and then on to Watford flight.

Usually it's a case of 3 boats up and 3 boats down but, today, there were 5 boats at the bottom and none at the top. The lock keeper told us all to 'Go for it.' 

Near the top the, just as I swopped with the captain so that she would steer the boat and I would work the paddles and gates, the lock keeper appeared and said that he would give me a hand. Guess who was not amused! He said that they had had a fun afternoon because water was being let down from up top because of all the rain that they'd had. Good for the system but with a flight of 5 locks he had to manage the flow so that pounds and gates did not overflow. Glad he knew what he was doing. 

After that we stopped just around the corner (away from the noise of the M1), battened down the hatched again, including taking down the chimney, etc., and enjoyed a good old Sunday roast chicken.