Weedon Bec and beyond

On Wednesday we made our way from Crick down through the Watford Locks and stopped for the night near Welton Haven Marina just before the junction. 

Thursday we went through the Buckby Locks with an experienced hire boat user. 

And here's the captain dicing with death as she crosses the top lock gates.

As a reward for all her hard work, lunch at another café in the Heart of the Shires.

Our old friends are still out there come rain come shine. Ended up at Weedon Bec for the night.

Friday and a real treat for us both.

Breakfast in Granny's Café. 

I went for a medium size plate and the captain had a breakfast wrap.

Well worth the visit if you're in the area.

It was then a case of back to the boat, spend some time in the bilges tightening up the stern gland and then pottering back to Bugbrooke Marina.

The holiday is gradually winding down and, after a grand tidy up, back up to Stowe Hill on Monday to get the roof repainted. 

It's been a great time for us, we've met up with friends, helped get folk out of trouble, had some good worship, walked quite a bit and eaten a lot of good (healthy) food. 

Return to Crick

Tuesday, overcast with slight drizzle at the start. 

Set off from Welford Basin and enjoyed a leisurely cruise along the canal. No pictures today even though we passed a couple using the outside hot tub at the Adult Glamping site. 

We stopped briefly for lunch and spent about 5 hours overall getting to Crick. 

A day with Harvey and Helen

Before Harvey and Helen arrived, one or two jobs to do first. Rubbish disposal, loo duty, showers and a few other odds and ends.

Checked up on the pub only to find that they don't do food on Mondays. 

Plan B it is then.

Upon H&Hs arrival we jumped in the car and set off for Pickle and Pie at Crick. As per usual, a delicious lunch for all. 

after that, back to the boat for a little jaunt along the canal.

Helen seems to be enjoying it.

And so does Harvey helping out with the lock.

Harvey then took us all the way down to the junction and back.

Mind you, at the junction we came across a boat that had grounded whilst turning onto the Grand Union. Managed to get alongside them and tow them off the mud. No champagne this time but, again, the wife was mightily relieved (to say the least). 

Back to the basin to drop H&H off and saw that there was a mobile pizza van in the pub car park. We tried it out later and it was delicious.

Where it all began

Sunday, truly a day of rest. No Painting!

We had intended going to church today but the nearest one with a service was inaccessible from where we moored. So Brigid tuned in to the online service from Hillmorton church instead. 

We decided to go up to Foxton Locks before winding the boat. Here's the statue of the boy and his horse, the backbone of the canal era before the introduction of the motor. 

Looking back at the top lock with the winding hole on the right.

Part of the towpath is so bad that a scaffold walkway has been constructed so that walkers and cyclists can get through.

Friends have been asking 'What's the weather like?' I believe that this picture sums it up nicely.

We were following another boat through Husbands Bosworth Tunnel when, just out the other side, they slowed to a stop, arms waving, motor going backwards then forwards - general pandemonium. A tree had fallen across the canal and they were trying to get through it. They did it and pointed out to us the best way to go. Totally ignored them, mainly because I didn't understand their hand signals, just opened the throttle and barged across the top. I did go into neutral as we crossed so that the propeller didn't foul on any branches. And we made it too. 

I sent C&RT an email to advise them of the problem. No reply yet but it is Sunday. 

Now at the turn off to Welford. Here we go, back to where we took our first canal holiday. That was nearly 50 years ago. Now look where that got us, joint owners, captain and mate of our own canal boat.

All secure ready for a visit from Harvey and Helen tomorrow. Hopefully we shall have a pub lunch and then go for a little trip up and down the canal, work a couple of locks, have some tea, all before they have to go back home. Happy days. 

23rd & 24th June

Friday

Managed to get to work on the side of the boat with the sander and the wire brush attachment on the drill. 

I was working out that the drill I'm using must be almost 60 years old and it's still going strong. Built to last.

Applied some rust preventer and once it had dried a bit we set off up the canal.

How about this for glamping? It's advertised as an adult glamping site. 

And then under the A14. Why is it that when you take a picture, all the vehicles disappear?

We moved up to bridge 40, Mill Bridge and found another space with a low towpath all ready for some more painting.

And, guess what, the same contractor came along cutting the grass. I don't believe it!

Anyway, too late to start painting, that'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Saturday

We've got plenty of food in the fridge and freezer, however, we are low on peppers and fresh veg. Having looked at the map there is a Nisa Local in North Kilworth and only a short walk away. 

But, before we go, have a look at the prepared side of the boat.

Our walk took us through this field of cows, all quite docile.

We looked inside the church but no service this Sunday. Such a shame as a lot of money has been spent on the church and we would have attended worship if we could.

Here's the funeral cart now used to display brochures and not dead bodies! 

We went to the Nisa Local but they only sold basic tinned food and nothing fresh. 

Walked around the village and it's really lovely here.

Couldn't find the Washpit. Shame, I think I could have used it.

Fancy living in this road?

Back to the boat and out with the paint.

While brushing away about half a dozen planes flew overhead towing gliders. 

Painting finished and, if you look carefully, you can see the captain's hands reflected in the glossy side of the boat.

Once again, when it was touch dry, we moved further on, through Husbands Bosworth Tunnel and stopped between bridges 51 and 52, again, somewhere we moored last year.

On the way we caught sight of 2 kingfishers and when we stopped, an otter swam along into the reeds opposite.

Time for supper, a bit of reading and then to bed.

More painting?

Before we get on to the subject of painting I thought you might like to see the house opposite the church in Crick.

I'm always fascinated by the thatched entranceway in the wall.

Anyway, we set off through Crick Tunnel and had been advised that it was a wet tunnel. I must say that it was not as wet as some but I was glad to have my boatcoat on.

We stopped for the facilities the other side of the tunnel and this plaque was on the wall.

We walked up to the Co-op for vittals and then made our way through Crick and past Yelvetoft and stopped at another beautiful mooring just past bridge 27. We have stopped here many times before.

I noticed that the towpath was low enough for another round of painting preparation. 

First a delay again because the same contractors came along to cut the grass. This time there was a chap with a strimmer tidying up the edges. He was most surprised when I asked him to strim alongside the boat. Mostly they avoid boats so as not to get grass cuttings all over the sides. I didn't mind brushing that off because now I had short grass all the way along.

Next delay...

Lunch. Chicken rolls, salad, etc.

Third delay - it started rumble with thunder and then it started to rain. Oh well, a bit more work on the nest of tables. They're beginning to look quite good.

Painting day

Well, a glorious day today and an opportunity to give the side of the boat a coat of black paint. 

I got everything ready for the off when a chap came along cutting the grass on the towpath. We paused for coffee and a few moments later he came back again - then I got down to the painting. 

It took about an hour to get along the side.

While I was outside, Brigid was busy inside polishing and dusting and doing some washing. It's not all 'life on the ocean waves' you know.

And this is the view that we have to put up with. Calm as a millpond.

In order to let the paint dry, and for no other reason you understand, we then made a round walk of about 4 miles into Crick for lunch at Pickle and Pie at 23.

We have been here before and didn't want to miss the opportunity for another visit.

Brigid had a chicken pasta salad with sun-dried tomatoes.

I had a 4oz rump steak smothered in blue cheese and lots of other bits.

It was all delicious.

During the afternoon, back at the boat, about 7 biplanes flew overhead. Wonder where they were off to. 

Rounded off the evening with a Zoom PCC meeting.

Watford Locks

Tuesday and we woke up to heavy rain which continued until midday. This gave me time to catch up with some church accounts.

We set off and here we are approaching the junction.

And a notice informing us that we are on the Leicester branch of the Grand Union.

We soon arrived at Watford Locks and tucked in behind a boat already waiting to go up.

One down, our turn next.

It's my turn to get the locks ready.

And here she comes.

Into the bottom lock number 1.

Now transferring from lock 1 to lock 2 passing the boat coming down the flight.

Going up. Got a bit hairy at one point when the side of the boat got caught under one of the coping stones and started tipping over sideways. We closed all the paddles and managed to rock the boat free. Enough excitement for one day!

After the locks we passed this boat with an amazing rope fender.

Carried on a bit further and stopped just before the Crick Tunnel. A nice view but a distant background noise of the nearby M1. It doesn't notice too much but it's amazing that the sound goes on 24/7. 

Busy, busy, busy

Well, today, Monday 19th, we've seen more boats on the move than we've seen all holiday. 

This is a view we always love, seeing the spire of Braunston church, the cathedral of the canals.

Exceptionally busy in Braunston as they get ready for their historic boat festival next weekend.

Plenty to see, boats double and triple breasted.

A lovely steam boat; I'm told that during festival week they operate a one-way system through the marina because of the number of boats on the canal.

And the old pumping station at the foot of the locks. 

We went through the locks accompanied by 'Cousin Jack.' It was slow progress because of the number of boats coming down. 

We stopped for the night just before Norton junction and sat in the sun for quite some time. Managed to get some more paint on the nest of tables. It's amazing how fiddly it all is. 

Now for the Aaah factor...

Brigid watched the two cygnets climb up onto mum's back.

Sunday, day of rest

We are going to church today in Hillmorton. 

Our mooring last night was just around the corner from the bottom lock, so not far for us to walk.

And here's the church, St John's. 

What is it with us and church? Yet another special service. The local branch of the British Legion were having a new flag dedicated so the church was quite full. As always it was an uplifting service. After, as always, there was cake. Also sandwiches and quite a buffet. 

After church we went to the canalside café for a sandwich lunch and then cast off to come up through the locks.

We've only moved about 3 miles today. The forecast was for storms early afternoon and we managed to get to Barby Wood Bridge before the heavens opened. Did our usual trick of stopping under the bridge until the worst of the rain had passed and then moored up pretty quickly.