Getting ready for our 7th year of cruising

Somewhat later than normal we are at last preparing for the off.  We have stayed in Cornwall for a big RAF reunion which is happening this weekend.
Then at last the house spring cleaning will hit max revs and a week later we shall depart.
No set idea of where we are going but we may gently meander around the Warwickshire ring with a detour to Stratford........who knows......roll on summer.....or maybe that was what we had about 10 days ago????

Here endeth cruising for 2012

So sad to be coming to the end of cruising, especially as the weather has been not at all bad this last month but I suppose tomorrow is another day as they say...........so I suppose I must be thankful for a good almost 6 months cruising.   Below are two of my last pictures of the season....

Moored just before the junction at Braunston with Braunston Church.

Off on our last trip to Clifton

We had a good Pot Luck supper on Petroc with Klim and Tina from Brindley last night so were up way past our normal bedtime(which tends to be very early on the boat!)

Geoff and Barney had a good long walk across the fields to the village at Barby before we set off for the last 3 locks at Hillmorton today.    We had a little rain on the way back but then it all cleared up and we are back at Petroc's winter home at Clifton Cruisers.

Sad to be finished but great to see Phil and Victoria again.

Now starts the sorting out and cleaning up process.......maybe we will even throw away some of those clothes we've had on board all summer which have not seen the light of day..........or maybe not......

5.46 miles, 3 locks, 2 hrs 30 min
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Nearly back to Clifton

Anything to delay our return is welcome....I hate coming to the end of our season........so when Klim and Tina on Brindley suggested a stop at Barby moorings and an evening get together the answer was definitely an affirmitive.

We had a leisurely start to the day, I walked to the shops as I was doing starter and pudding, Tina was doing main course.

We then needed to water etc.  We decided we would turn left at the junction if the sani point by Midland Chandlers was free, but turn right if not and go to the other one and turn ourselves around by the Marina.

We thought our luck was in as the one by Midland C was free so we turned left, only to discover that the elsan point was out of action and the maintenance man was working on it.  So after watering we pulled over to a mooring spot and Geoff had to wheel one of the cartridges back.

Then we just had the couple of miles to the moorings where we had agreed to meet Brindley.    We have never stopped here before.  It is so close to our base at Clifton that we are normally in transit, but it is lovely, with a nice wide towpath and well out in the open.........we don't like being surrounded by trees.

3.24 miles, 0 locks, 1hr 57 min

Weekend in Braunston

We managed to moor just before the junction as we approached Braunston, nicely out in the open.   It was a longer walk to the shops etc but much better than the moorings closer in which are a bit dark in places.

Saturday lunchtime we checked out the Admiral Nelson with Tina and Klim from Brindley and Pat and Simon from Daedulus.  The sun still shone for us and we were able to site outside which is much the same as ever.  However the inside had had a makeover since we were here last and is a bit more upmarket than we remember.   Apparently it is under new management (Yet again).  It looked good enough to book for Sunday Lunch so we did.

Sunday we went to Braunston Church and they have a new Vicar since were were here last.  She was very jolly and very enthusiastic so it was a good service.

Later we walked up to the Admiral Nelson to meet Fran and Keith for lunch.  A good meal and a convivial afternoon as we took our time as we had lots of catching up to do.

Thanks to Sue on No Problem I have a new app for my iphone which tells us which way to point our freeview aerial which is proving very useful when there are no houses around to give you a clue.   I already have the Dishpointer app for the satellite which has made Geoff's life easier.   Sometimes we need both as we have different tastes in TV programmes so I can use my TV dongle on my computer to get freeview.

Sad really, but we don't spend or lives glued to the TV, but when it is getting chillier outside it is nice to batten down the hatches on a Sunday night...........

Rainbows over the canal

Double rainbow over the canal

A quiet relaxing day today.   Geoff and Barney walked into Braunston (about 2 miles each way too far for me!) and came back with fattening but nice cakes which he had bought from the gondoliers cafe.  They were having a fund raiser for Macmillan's.   He therefore felt he just had to buy a large piece of coffee walnut for himself and I was forced to eat a large piece of blueberry!!!!  Such a hard life.
Later Helen and Paul came past on Barrogill and they stopped a while and came aboard for coffee and we were able to have a catch up and see their photos of the Thames pageant of which they were part.   They have retired from the yard at Clifton where Petroc lives in the winter and daughter Victoria and husband Phil have taken over.

Almost to Braunston

Layover day again yesterday,  Geoff had a long walk with Barney and I was domesticated!!!!  I steeled myself to clean the oven to have one less task when we get back to Clifton.   I felt very virtuous when it was complete!!

Today we decided not to bust a gut too early in the hope that someone else would be up and that we would find company for the locks.    Whilst Geoff was out early for the paper he arranged with the boat moored a little way in front of us to go together.   So at 9am we set off together in beautiful sunshine and clear sky....not even too cold....the other boat was a Rose Narrowboat Hire with an Australian family on board.   It was their first time on a narrowboat but we got on well together even managing to enter locks side by side without mishap.

We parted company after 10 locks as they wanted to find a pub for a pint.........and we carried on 

When we reached the 3 Calcutt Locks there were 3 boats waiting so we paired up with the 3rd, lucky again.

After 2 locks we stopped at Calcutt for fuel and our partner went on.  Our timing was good because as we finished, our Australian friends had caught up so we were able to share the last lock.......the sun was still shining........

We were turning left at the junction and all of a sudden there were boats everywhere.  We paused at the junction to let a boat come through and then edged gingerly forward with a long loud blast of our horn.   I don't know why we bothered because a boat coming from our left didn't bother to reply with a hoot to advise us of his presence ad he just ploughed on, so a touch of reverse was necessary!

Today's unusual boat

Answers on a post card please??

There are lots of good mooring places along this stretch but we wanted to put ourselves within walking distance of Braunston as we plan to stay over again tomorrow.     Found a lovely spot in the open, no trees, good satellite signal, good path for Barney.   It is a bit far for me too walk but OK for Geoff and Barney  (Good 2 miles each way)

How lucky we have been again, the brilliant sunshine disappeared just after we moored up and now we have had rain.

For weeks we have been saying  "Where are all the boats"  as we have seen so few travelling...well that is all changed now...since turning at the junction onto the Oxford/GU it has been like Piccadilly Circus.........boats going every which way and that.......since we have been moored up there is a steady flow of boats both ways.......

7.8 miles, 13 locks, 5 hours 13 min

Onward again

Up with the lark after our rest day yesterday....well almost the lark.....we were off by 8am for the short hop to Tesco initially.  We had a final stock up for our last week...it's so sad to feel our summer cruising is coming to an end.
The weather was a decided improvement on yesterday.   There are still very few boats around but we were lucky enough to catch up with another boat going our way so we had company all the way up the locks, which makes locking up double locks so much easier.  The weather held for most of the way, just one short shower.   We moored just short of Long Itchington in the open.  
8.57 miles, 10 locks, 4hours 35 min (+ shopping!)