March - in like a lion!

 Here we are again, back on Polgara. 

We've actually been on the boat for four days. When we arrived on Monday it was in the early afternoon, the sun was shining as we offloaded the car and set everything in order. Tuesday, and it was cold enough for brass monkeys to be on the warpath. A quick car trip along to Rugby Boats for four bags of coal and a stop at The Olde Sun in Nether Heyford for homemade Cottage Pie and Crumble, all in front of a roaring fire. Comfort food at its best. Oh, and, of course, a pint of something to help it along. Back to the boat and a light supper of avocado and prawns. 

Wednesday and it was a case of do we set off or do we stay in the marina for another night. The explorer spirit won out in the end and off we went. Quite a speedy trip down to Stoke Bruerne with very few boats actually moving on the cut. The only major delay we had was at the second lock where a team of C&RT workmen were repairing one of the gates. Not that we minded as we were ready for our lunch. Just as we started getting everything together, you've guessed it, work finished and they were ready to go down through the lock. Not wishing to miss out on a bit of help, we joined them and stopped a few yards further on in our regular mooring spot. Lunch was served just as it started to snow. SNOW! That wasn't in the forecast - well not in my forecast. So, you've guessed it again, we stopped for the night. We are, after all, fair weather sailors. Supper was one of our (new) favourites, Greek Fish Dish. You bung it all in the oven, wedge potatoes, onions, tomatoes and fish (not all at the same time but at regular intervals) and voila, a delicious supper. We should have added garlic and mixed herbs but it still tasted good without them. Fire banked up, Zoom Lent meeting with church and a catchup of MasterChef to round off the day. 

Thursday and we had a leisurely morning rearranging the interior of the boat. We have realised that we don't really need a TV any more. With our 4G MiFi we can get most of the programmes we want to see on iPlayer or one of the other internet services. There's not much that we watch live on TV anyway, most of it's recorded and watched at a later date. So, at about midday, we get ready to set off, just as a single boat comes sailing round the corner. Hand signals galore and we establish that they are on their own and we go through the locks together. Mind you, the second pound was so full of water that we couldn't open the gates until we had run off the excess into the pound below. After that it was plain sailing - until the blizzard. I kid you not. One moment it was sunny, the next, where's everyone gone!? Then bright sunshine again. 

Snow on the back step

Snow falling

We carried on to Grafton Regis and managed to pull in, moor up and batten down the hatches just before the next bout of snow came across. For once, we got it just right. After lunch, a chilly, breezy afternoon but not too bad for a walk up to Grafton Regis, once round the hamlet and back to the boat for a warm fire and a cuppa.

Sunshine again

Staying here for the night and we'll see what tomorrow brings. 

March, certainly not out like a lamb.