This week so far

 Monday 

We set off through the tunnel and stopped at the services in Crick for rubbish disposal and all the rest. Took on water and refreshed everything that needed refreshing. 

It's now the bullrush time of year. They look lovely when they first appear. 

We carried on past Yelvertoft and stopped again just before our favourite place. 

Tuesday 

A real bonus day today.

We tend to call this a Battle of Britain sky. In all the old wartime films you'd see Kenneth Moore, as Douglas Bader, flying off in his Spitfire up into the clouds. 

But today it was sunny all day and we had a pleasant cruise along to the Welford Junction. 

Wednesday 

A change in the weather again, a cold, wet start to the day. We had breakfast and as soon as the rain cleared away we upped anchor and set off back to the marina. 

Once again we reversed onto the pontoon which, to me, seemed easier than coming in forwards. Coming in forwards there's little control over where the bow of the boat ends up. At least going backwards I can push the back of the boat in the right direction and hope the front end follows in the right place. 

We popped into South Kilworth to the butchers and then onto Aldi and Morrisons in Lutterworth with lunch at E & R Tearooms. 

Back to the boat to cook a quiche in preparation for visitors at the weekend. 

Supper of sausages in cider. 

Saturday and Sunday

 On Saturday we watched the heavy rain in the morning but set off for Crick in the afternoon after it stopped. 

After mooring it started to rain again and, as before, after it stopped we walked into the Co-op for supplies, especially milk. 

No pics as we've covered this stretch of canal many times before. 

Sunday proved to be a late start for us since we wanted to go to church which was at 11:15. It was a communion service with lunch to follow. 

It was an enjoyable service but we didn't stay for lunch since rain was forecast and we needed to get through the tunnel, turn the boat at the head of Watford locks and moor up for the night. 

Well, we did all that, through the tunnel, turned the boat, found a very nice mooring and, as you can see, not a raindrop in sight. Plenty of sheep but no rain. We could have stayed for lunch after all. 

Never mind, roast chicken in the evening and a brief glimpse of a red moon just before we went to bed. 

What's been happening? Part II

 Wednesday 

It rained first thing in the morning but after that it was sunny all day. 

We decided to set off for Welford in the afternoon and had a pleasant trip up the Welford Arm. 

When we arrived at the lock there were newbies coming down. Together with boaters who had followed us up from the junction we talked them through how to operate a lock and manoeuvre a boat without hitting anyone else. 

Later in the afternoon we had a walk to the River Avon. On our walk we crossed paths with a family of Guinea Fowl. 

We then returned to a supper of Barnsley lamb chops which were scrummy. (From the butchers in South Kilworth.) 

We sat out until after 6 and I know the saying about red sky at night but this sky looked rather angry. Storms are forecast for tomorrow. 

Thursday 

The promised storm in the morning while I sorted around in my paint store under the bench seat. 

We had a light lunch at the Wharf, yes, we can do light lunches when necessary, and set off after to our favourite spot. 

It was a lovely sunny afternoon but at 8pm another heavy storm with plenty of sheet lightning. Quite a light show and all for free. 

Friday 

A sunny start to the day and we set off for Yelvertoft. There are only a few moorings at Yelvertoft but we managed to tuck in at the very end. 

It looks empty now but that's because the boat ahead of us has moved off. 

We walked into Yelvertoft but the village shop closed in 2019, Squisito Butchers and Provisions was closed for the day and the church was locked. We're running low on milk but, although creamy, we have plenty of oat milk, so we'll get by. 

Spent time watching storm clouds just miss us until, right on time, a short downpour got us. 

Looking forward to supper of Hake, wedges, tomatoes, onions and lemon. 

What's been happening?

 Saturday 22nd 

Do you know, the pantry on Polgara is always hungry. So Saturday morning we drove into Lutterworth to visit Messrs Morrisons and Aldi to stock up on food. 

In the afternoon we went to the Marston Steam and Vintage Show. 

The main attraction for me was the traction engines. Some big and some small. 

There was a good old fashioned fair complete with a merry go round. 

Plenty of tractors. 

And a working bailer which was certainly labour intensive. 

After that, back to the boat and supper. 

Sunday 

Pottered around in the morning and then took the boat round to the Welford Junction. Time for a bit of TLC on the outside of the boat. 

If you look closely at the front of the boat you'll see the captain who is just about to inspect all the scrapes and scratches on the sides where we have made contact with locks, moorings, other boats, etc. 

Monday and Tuesday 

Spent both days sanding down the paintwork, applying rust converter and then black topcoat. 

To get at both sides this involved backing down to the junction, turning round and then reversing back to the mooring. Not an easy task as our boat doesn't take kindly to going in a straight line in reverse. And another boater didn't like the fact that we were going backwards at about 1mph and he had places to get to and couldn't I get out of the way. But we did it. 

The captain, amongst other things, varnished the steps down into the cabin. 

Don't they look smart. 

And, talking of smart... 

A nice scratch free side (until tomorrow!). 

Thursday and Friday

 We've had a couple of great days with David and Jacob, friends from home. They stayed at the Wheatsheaf in Crick and met us at the marina each day. 

On Thursday we had a leisurely afternoon sail up to Welford, had a good look round at the lime kilns and the reservoir, followed by supper at the Wharf. 

After that, back to the marina. 

On Friday we had a longer trip up to Foxton Locks. 

This, of course, involved going through Husbands Bosworth Tunnel and six miles of travel on the canal. 

Something new since we last visited, a sculpture trail. 

We walked all round the locks and ended up at Bridge 61 for lunch. 

Two happy sailors 😄

Another statue that I've not seen before. 

After lunch we set off back to the marina and David drove the boat most of the way, even through the tunnel. 

Back in the marina

 Well, we're back on the boat and are turning our attention to one or two jobs that need attention. 

The captain has been cleaning up all the things that need cleaning up, we've topped up with water and I've, at last, got round to blacking the stove. 

It's not a difficult job, just a tad messy. 

With encouragement from the captain I also painted the wall alongside the fireplace. 

On Thursday we've got visitors for the day, so, a general tidy up, getting rid of leaves and dirt from all the outside places where leaves and dirt hide themselves. 

Back home

 

Sunday 9th August 

What better way to start the day than breakfast outside on the bank. 

We had a very lazy morning listening to morning worship and applying Capt Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure to a couple of the windows. In the good old days, when it used to rain, whenever water dripped through the window I would rub vaseline along the top to stop this happening. I would then forget all about it until the vaseline washed away and the dripping started once more. The Creeping Crack Cure should put an end to all that. 🤞

Hot News 

We've looked at the weather forecast and on Wednesday and Thursday the Midlands will in all likelihood be experiencing another mini heatwave. Now, we love boating but not in 31-34°C. So we have decided to go home for a week, catch up on the laundry, have a bath and sort out one or two other bits and bobs. 

For the moment we are signing off and hope to be back next Tuesday or Wednesday.