Polishing fire extinguishers

The title is a reminder for later, so don't let me forget it.

Rain first thing today so we thought - bacon & eggs, that'll do the trick. And so it did. Set off after a lazy start with one forecast saying thunderstorm at 11, another saying sunny periods. We opted for the latter and we weren't disappointed. Managed to pick a whole load of blackberries just before casting off. 

Looks like it's my turn to do the locks today. Perhaps I didn't feed the captain enough caviar & oysters yesterday to soften her up.

Now then, what's this?

Both sides of the canal.

Surely not more HS2 development!?

Look closely and you'll see Mr Heron, one of the few who didn't fly away as we came past.

Managed to team up with a family with two strapping sons who were only too happy to close the gates for us. At least, that's what their mother said. We soon made it down to Royal Leamington Spa and found that we couldn't get much closer to Lidl if we'd wanted to.

Topped up the stores and then set off again after a spot of lunch.

Here we are crossing the river Avon.

And then passing Kate Boats' headquarters, a popular boat hire company in Warwick.

We are now climbing out of Warwick but have stopped at the 48 hour mooring opposite the Cape of Good Hope.

A good old traditional canalside pub.

Should be OK for the night as we are moored opposite flats. Sometimes in a town there is a bit of vandalism but not so when close to residential property.

Well, forecast was right - 5 o'clock and it's just starting to rain.

Hey, you didn't remind me about the fire extinguishers. Yesterday we passed a boat where the owner was polishing his fire extinguishers. It's bad enough for me to polish the boat but fire extinguishers? I ask you. 

The captain's birthday

Thursday 9th September

It certainly rained overnight. And that can be noisy in a steel narrowboat. The captain kindly reminded me that we hadn't put the cap on the chimney for the engine exhaust. (Just to be clear, the exhaust goes straight up through the ceiling of our boat.) Anyway, at 1 or so in the morning with the rain bucketing down I'm sorry to say that I muttered something incomprehensible, turned over and went back to sleep. Luckily all was well in the morning and no water had built up in the exhaust.

Now for the fall!

Stockton locks, 10 locks, all close together. Luckily we were able to go through them with Heron's Rest, a boat with 3 older men on board, 2 of whom were looking after their friend who was recovering from a heart attack. 

They stopped at the Blue Lias pub for coffee and sandwiches while we took on water opposite. Mind you, their friend, the one in recovery, was thoroughly enjoying a pint of ale. What a blessing to have friends like that.

Redevelopment of the old Cuttle Inn into the Duck on the Pond. Looks like it's going to be an expensive eatery.

And this is right opposite the Two Boats, a canalside pub.

Now, what's going on here?

A workboat blocking the way. It seems that there had been a mini breach and they were shovelling ballast into the canal to stop any further seepage.

After a brief stop while they moved out of the way for us to go through we decided to stop for a late lunch above Welsh Road lock, just before Leamington. Luckily for us we did as it started raining again.

This time I put the cap on the chimney.

Steaks and a stir-fry for supper followed by an episode of Vera. What more could the captain want on her birthday? Of course, a celebratory glass of wine.

Happy birthday Brigid. 

Before the fall

An amazingly quiet mooring - no sound of railway or motorway - not many moorings like that. 

This part of the canal is, however, busy with other boats. A fair mixture of hire craft and private. The only problem is that when they are moored you have to slow down to tickover ie very slow. You'll be charging along at all of 3-4 mph come round a bend, see a boat, slow down, idle past, speed up again, see another boat... and so it goes on. But, we enjoy it, after all, we're not in a hurry. 

Warm enough again to remind us of Greece. An illusion heightened by the flock of sheep gathering in the shade of a tree. Except, in Greece, it would be goats and olive trees. 

Here we are at Wigram's Turn where all the Black Prince hire boats come from.

And round we go.

All the locks on this stretch of canal have hydraulic gearing for the lock paddles. It makes the winding easier but it all takes longer. 

As you wind and wind and wind a rod pushes up out of the white casing indicating that the paddles are open. 

Further on we passed Adamant which looks as if it is a steam powered boat. Blimey, the captain would love that, having to stoke the fire every day.

And now, what looks like an upgrade for the wharf, pods!

Have moored up early just before the Boat Inn and, more importantly, Stockton locks, a flight of 8 locks. Have booked a table at the Boat for a birthday eve celebration for the captain.

In the meantime, a light stir-fry lunch to keep us going.

After lunch, just to fill in an hour or so, out with the bucket and shampoo to wash the nearside of the boat.

Another perfect end to a perfect day.

Well, not quite the end since we had our meal at the pub to look forward to.

We both had prawn and crayfish raviolloni which was delicious. We also had wine and starters and other stuff but the main course was the star.

And now you ask why a title for the blog 'Before the fall'? No, nothing to do with our American cousins and the time of year. It's more poetic than that - tomorrow the canal falls down hill through 8 or 10 locks. We're just building up our strength for the task.

PS no Internet signal so posting a day late. 

Gongoozlers Rest

Wow, another scorcher today.

Started the day off well with egg and bacon on toast, coffee and tea. After washing up and checking the oil in the gearbox we set off through the top lock.

Here we are approaching Norton Junction. Turn right for Leicester or left for all other routes. We turned left. 

We had a leisurely poodle along through Braunston tunnel and made record time through the locks, even though we were on our own. There were plenty of boats coming the other way to help us through. We think we had a fast transit because we didn't have to wait for a second boat to come into the lock beside us. We just went in, closed the gates and carried on.

And here we are looking back at the bottom lock. Braunston is a typical old canal centre. There are chandlers, welders, boat builders, boat hirers, marinas, pubs, toilet facilities - you name it and Braunston's got it.

Here’s Braunston Marina and, just outside on the towpath... 

Gongoozlers Rest, a widebeam café with seats just by the towpath. 

We only stopped to empty the loo but this meant going past our turn and then having to reverse back the way we came.

That's where we want to go.

And here's me trying to get us there. It didn't help that another boat was doing the same thing but going the opposite way. We waved to each other, as one does, and backed off even faster to see who would make the turn first. Sorry, that was a bit of poetic licence on my part. When you're going backwards on a narrowboat there is only one speed (slow) and you can't steer anyway. What happens is that you go backwards as far as you can with the boat drifting to one side or the other. Then, just before you hit something, another boat or the bank, you go into forwards with the tiller hard over so as to push the back of the boat away from danger and then start going backwards again. You sort of zigzag back along the canal until it is clear for you to make the turn and continue the journey.

After a while it almost becomes second nature and if you do hit something you just call out: "contact sport" and watch for the sickly grin to appear as they call to mind Timothy West and Prunella Scales bouncing their way around the canal network.

The sun was getting hotter so we moored up at about 5 o'clock near Flecknoe where we found a welcoming bit of shade. 

Buckby (as usual)

What a scorcher for my birthday. Oh, didn't you know? Shame you missed it.

Anyway, a late start to the day with croissants and coffee for breakfast (well, tea for the captain - she doesn't like coffee - likes the smell but not the taste). Then we set off through familiar scenery towards Buckby locks. Had lunch on the move - brioche buns with chicken and cucumber, home grown tomatoes and Margaret's Victoria plums. Delicious.

Arriving at the locks, lucky enough to find another boat waiting to go through. But, was it hot.

The gates seemed much heavier this time and the captain and I swopped over halfway to give her a break. Usually she chats her way through the locks but this time the magic didn't work. Still, we got to our favourite place and we are now moored for the night.

You can see the sheep in the field opposite.

But look how crowded it is. Three boats behind with another in front. The boat behind said that it was fun the other day when the grass was being bailed. Dust and straw everywhere.

And, lastly, a view of the boat in front.

Don't know if you can see it but the space the boat's in is only just bigger than the boat itself and the captain got her in first time. No bumps, no strong language, no backwards and forwards, just straight in. Rats! Why can't I do it like that? 

Not sure what's for supper tonight, we'll just have to wait and see. 

First day

Sunday 5th September

First part of the day taken up with stocking up with provisions from Aldi (other stores are available but we like Aldi). Then filling up with water and, while we had the hose going, cleaning the roof. Mooring ropes all attached, shoreline disconnected and off we go.

A lovely sunny afternoon, plenty of hire boats about but all behaving sensibly and enjoying the canal.

Only travelled a few miles before stopping for the night in time for roast chicken supper and an episode of Vigil watched via the computer, not the TV.

Here we are in the sunshine.

And here's me taking the picture.

And a fitting end to a fitting day. 

Back again

How did the the Boat Safety inspection go? I hear you ask!

Very well. All the fire extinguishers were accepted this time, even the old ones. Isn't it funny how one year they're out of date and the next they're OK. Mind you, I'm not going to argue with the examiner - Polgara passed with flying colours. That's all that matters.

Back on the boat now and getting ready to set off tomorrow. But first, a meal at The Wharf.

But, hang on, what's going on? It's now a steak house! We don't want steaks! It seems that they have brought in their Winter menu! What happened to Summer? It's going to be 23° tomorrow - that's not even close to Winter. Oh well, we've got a £5 off voucher but I'm not sure that that's valid here - watch this space.

All's well, fret not. We got our £5 off. Hurrah! Tomorrow, the adventure starts.