Category: Boat Update

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Afloat again: out west and up north

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....

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Running away to sea

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...

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In dock – at Milton Keynes

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...

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Well groomed…

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...

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Learning curve for the hen parties

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...

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Jump, jumping; jumper

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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All routes lead to Whilton – don’t they?

Thursday 30th June: 1 mile west of Braunston to just north of Weedon, 10 miles, 13 locks PARENTAL GUIDANCE WARNING: DO NOT ALLOW YOUNG CHILDREN TO VIEW FINAL PICTURE                 A boat named Pandora was moored nearby last night. Her roof was used for storage: apart from poles, hoses and various plastic containers there was a large rooftop box.  The start of a new day travelling on the canals brings the opening of Pandora’s Box to mind: what will the...

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Ducks, debris and dumb barges

Wednesday 29th June: Bascote (Warks) to 1m west of Braunston (Northants), 8 miles, 13 locks                 “ Aw rite?”… Cleddau is back in “You alright?” territory, first recorded last summer on the North Oxford Canal.* These words have crossed the canal several times today, and on the final occasion its speaker could not have been more cheerful.  It was about 6pm and Boatwif was taking an evening amble along the towpath when from a boat on the...

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Flowers, fountains – and a fan

Tuesday 28th June: Warwick to Bascote, 10 miles, 12 locks     This morning for the first time the battery state of charge read as below 50%. Why? Because yesterday’s cruising was all over by 11am, the fridge was working flat out in the heat – and so hot was it that the Tesco-bought electric desk fan was dug out of a cupboard and turned ON! After mooring up the manager at the Saltisford Trust moorings had rattled off facilities, which...

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21 giant watery steps…

Monday 27th June: Rowington (Grand Union) to Saltisford Arm, Warwick, 6 miles, 21 locks The heat yesterday, the weather forecast for today, the presence of the Dutch barge moored just three hundred yards ahead and a secret ambition of the Captain’s to boat at dawn lead to an alarm clock ringing at 5am… On the radio the World Service was still broadcasting.  At 0535 the engine was eased into life and Cleddau crept past the other boats moored nearby.  The...