Category: Boat Update

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A Boatwif in search of a boat

In the six weeks or so since New Year there have been but few boat sightings. Early in January a plot was uncovered – the Captain had conspired to take Boatwif on a secret short-notice trip to Stratford-upon-Avon.    The plot was discovered, but the plan went ahead. Remember the floods? The River Avon was swollen well beyond its usual limits as it made its way downstream to surround Tewkesbury Abbey.    (Photo from The Guardian, January 24). The bandstand...

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 Midwinter…

After the hugely successful November visit to family in Southern California (note: no Covid or other bugs either imported or exported) time rolled on towards midwinter… Short days and long nights require illuminations – and the Captain spent the best part of three days following his plan, mounting seasonal decorations, stringing out Christmas lights.    When you live in a community of Christmas lights devotees and right next door to neighbours who put on a dazzling display,  a credible effort...

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For the record

“Thank you for the adventure,” Cal Guy Jnr said after a walk in a wild place one day.  Was that before or after the accidental chocolate cake lunch…? An exact memory eludes… First though, to record events and experiences in a chronological order. Schools are out during Thanksgiving Week and a deal was struck: for a trip out to the Carlsbad Outlet Center the Captain would drive, Cal Gal would navigate the route and be a shopping guide, Cal Guy...

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Taking to the boards

PLEASE NOTE THAT ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE END OF THIS POST. Cal Son has explained that some geographers might describe all the settlements and cities south of Los Angeles as part of Greater Greater LA…   Freeways and towns, colleges and infrastructure spill south from the Los Angeles Basin down over brush covered hills and through urbanised valleys towards and beyond San Marcos. You can drive along freeways round here but barely notice signs that indicate that...

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‘Unexpected item in the bagging area…’

Rather like going into a different supermarket and being surprised by unfamiliar items, this area of Southern California is presenting familiar views – along with a few unexpected sightings. Out at Oceanside it was good to see the pier again The bridge connecting the pier to the road level is due for closure and a rebuild next year. . Who wouldn’t smile at the resident pelicans, or peer down at the surfers, or look out for the anglers, or pause...

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Cravings

It had been a long day, one which took 22 hours to get from a bed at A (Beds) to a bed in B (San Diego), via taxi, aircraft and shuttle bus… For months Boatwif and the Captain had been craving a face-to-face reunion with the full Californian family. Once news of booked flights percolated through certain Cal Clan members pressed their own cravings for a Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate delivery… There was a 90 minute delay in take-off from...

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October, retrospectively

If there was a thread of any kind through the Cleddau crew’s October maybe it was breakdowns, deliveries and one short list growing ever longer.. The month hasn’t been entirely boat-free. Squeezed between various appointments and domestic crises (more, later) there was a three night meander from Crick to Welford Junction and back. Carefully  (October 8th) Cleddau was inched out past her pontoon neighbour,  out onto the main line and past nbTrafalgar.   In the warmth a butterfly posed on...

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A Crack at Cracks Hill

Norton Junction – Cracks Hill Footbridge – Crick Marina: 4 miles, 7 locks, 1 tunnel It’s hard to leave a favourite mooring, especially one as glorious as this. A couple of hundred yards ahead was the pedestrian bridge at Norton Junction.    Under the bridge, round past the pretty cottage and the shepherd’s hut in the garden    and under Bridge1 of the Leicester Line. An oversight on the Captain’s part (he kicks himself still!) had been the shock discovery...

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Tight Spots

Newbold-on-Avon to Norton Junction 16½ miles, 9 locks, 2 tunnel transits, 0 swing bridges After the delightful, if “entertaining”, mooring near the Armada Boats (incident described here:) a strategy for a stop at Rugby had to be devised… Through the Newbold Tunnel,   past a boat with a lovely Welsh name,   over the aqueducts (2 of them),    passing yet another swan family with five cygnets    to arrive on the outskirts of Rugby. Along the North Oxford Canal the...

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Sizzling

              Market Bosworth (Ashby Canal) to Newbold-on-Avon (North Oxford Canal)                                                    25¼ miles, 1 lock, 0 tunnel transits, 1 swing bridge   When departing a mooring there’s a lot to do before ropes are untied and the boat is pushed off from the bank. Mobile phones are moved to the back...