Monthly Archive: July 2011
Friday 22nd July: River Avon in Bath It was a reunion, this year in the lovely Georgian city of Bath, of “the Coven”, the name so cruelly given to our pack of six (four sisters, two cousins) by the generation below. Baby Sis had requested suggestions for activities post arrival in Bath and pre-dinner, so Boatwif had dutifully researched some options… How surprised she was that the idea of a late afternoon boat trip was so well received....
15th-18th July: MK Marina to Slapton and back, 18 locks total. “Did you have many adventures then, when you were away on your boat?” asked a friend last week. “Well, there was a breakdown and the business with the fence pole jammed in the propeller, but not really Adventures…” Boatwif then went into paroxysms of delight as she recalled the three theatre productions, the Wetland and Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge, the vast views across the Severn Estuary. Time (or...
Monday July 4th: Stoke Hammond – Milton Keynes Marina, 5 miles, 1 lock (See final journey stats below) There was a skype session last night with the Californian Clan, they just back from a Florida vacation. There was Cal Son, Cal Toddler bouncing on his knee, Cal Guy peeping from behind. “Where are you, Grampy?” (the last word sounding as “Graamp-ee” to the British ear.) “On my boat,” replied Grampy / the Captain. “Are you in...
Sunday 3rd July, Stantonbury Park, MK to Stoke Hammond, 11 miles, 1 lock With no need to rush anywhere today it was a slow start. By the time Cleddau was ready to leave her mooring a convoy of four other boats had passed. It is Sunday: regular weekenders, long distance boaters, weekend hirers, Leighton Buzzard holiday boats, day boats, double width boats – and a chap in an inflatable dinghy rowing his children to the pub at Fenny Lock...
Saturday 2nd July, Stoke Bruerne to Stantonbury area of Milton Keynes, 9.3 miles, 8 locks There were three separate Girls’ boats at Stoke Bruerne last night. Of the first (Girls A, the pink-sashed 40 year old, the hapless dunker and friends) there was no sign this morning, all still asleep in their boat presumably. Girls B, the raucous sailor-hatted crew, were quiet, soggily sitting on chairs or on the boat in their pyjamas at about 9am. Rather like a...
Friday 1st July: Just north of Weedon to Stoke Bruerne, 12 miles, 0 locks For a straightforward lock-free stretch of waterway today’s cruise still seemed to involve a fair amount of jumping on and off the boat. First there was a quick stop at the One Stop in Weedon, the village shop reached via a very steep set of woodland steps down to the churchyard. Here in the lovely mellow brownstone church the ladies were busying themselves setting up...
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