14th to 25th June 2009
On 24th we moved up to Buckby Top Lock - it was very busy! Had a Tesco delivery.

Deisel fill-up from the JE Cook boat from Stoke Bruerne - see our new pram hood?

The colour of the barley in a field just off the towpath at Buckby was a sight to behold.

Emerging from Braunston Tunnel on the 23rd - having pram hood fitted at Whelton by AJ Canopies

Monday 22nd - back at Braunston - the boats have started to arrive for the rally this weekend.

15th - moved up to Braunston once again and moored opposite The Mill House, but then had a call from AJ Canopies to say that they are unable to sort out our new pram hood until Friday so we moved back to the South Oxford, bridge 101 - nice mooring

Monday 1st - 13th June 2009

Refuelled etc at Rose Narrowboats and moved just a short distance down the Oxford into the sunlight (our mooring there was in the shade near the bridge so that Nigel (carpenter at Rose Narrowboats) could keep an eye on it for us; we stayed there for a couple of days recuperating from our very busy and enjoyable weekend at Marks.

On Thursday 4th we moved on to Tesco's at bridge 58 - this parakeet was sitting just opposite our mooring, it seemed very comfortable there even when people were standing a few feet away looking at it - it stayed there most of the day, when we came back from shopping it was sitting on the top of our boat- it flew off down the canal later, but was back the following day.

We had to take Molly to the vets (Rainsbrook Veterinary ) in Rugby as she'd developed a cyst between her toes on her back right paw; the vet applied a poultice and advised that we took her to their practice at Hillmorton on Saturday morning to have it removed and checked which we did. After a course of antibiotics she now seems completely recovered.

Met Marion and Mike for lunch on Sunday 7th at the Rose Inn at Willoughby which has recently been restored after a fire nearly completely destroyed it. The Inn is now under new management who has also now taken over the The Admiral Nelson at Braunston which is very good news. We stayed in the area for a very relaxing couple of days.

On the 10th (Wednesday) we upped-sticks at moved on to Bruanston for services and shopping and then on Thursday moved onto the Oxford just before bridge 99 - another great mooring (and all the way past bridge 101 too)

and just look at this sunset taken here at 18 minutes past 8 on the 13th - what a fabulous picture!!

Thursday 21st - Sunday 31st May

After that brilliant day in Coventry we returned to Hawkesbury Junction and the following morning found that our middle pin had been pulled out; it was fastened back onto the boat so we didn't lose it, but the next day we realised that our boat pole was missing - both incidents must have happened whilst we we either at the Greyhound for a meal on Wednesday evening our whilst we were out walking the dog. Up to this point we have always enjoyed our stays there.

We left Hawkesbury on the 24th to move to Hopsford Aquaduct, just past bridge 19 - saw 'the other' Rock n Roll moored along the way.

Nice mooring here but not always possible to get close in to the side - nice open views though over the golf course and over the tow path side too for walking - the buttercups and clover were beautiful.

We stayed at the aquaduct until 27th when we up-sticked at moved on to Rose Narrowboats where we were leaving the boat to spend a few days with our son and family, returning on the 31st.

Wednesday 20th May 2009 - Coventry
The most glorious and awesome space I've ever had the privilege to be in - we were bowled over by Coventry Cathedral (especially the glass with the sun shining through it), and we took so many photographs which really do not give them the justice they deserve - I've just put a few of them here.

the old adjacent to the new --------good versus evil

reflection of the old in the new - outside looking in

from the outside ..............................and the inside

the detail ---------------------- the alter cross

chapel of Christ in Gethsemene

Baptistry Window--------Christ in Glory

St Michaels - the old cathedral which was bombed on November 14th 1940

The tower looking down from the tower into the nave

looking into the new cathedral from the old

The Priory, surrounding architecture and views

Priory Gardens

Lychgate Cottages

a bird's eye view from the tower of the surrounding area

Visitor centre square -------------- The Deanery

Blue Coat School ------- Golden Cross

Priory Street

Wetherspon Pub!

Whittle Arches outside the Transport Museum - well worth a visit

Wednesday 20th May 2009


New water for us today as we're off to Coventry. Had not heard very good press about leaving the boat unattended in Coventry Basin but we had to find out for ourselves although we had decided that we would return to Hawkesbury tonight rather that stay in Coventry overnight.

We were up very early - excited as neither of us had ever visited Coventry before - the weather forecast wasn't good and we wanted to arrive before the bad weather came in. This photo was taken at 5am at Hawkesbury facing the pump house...

... and in the other direction!










This bridge is just after Hawkesbury Junction bridge which would be on your left.











Saw this swan along the way, she also has cygnets on her back under her wings










Some of the new bridges are real works of art - this one is just before reaching the basin.




Tuesday 19th May 2009




We left the Ashby early this morning and turned left back onto the Coventry canal - took this picture at 8.30 of the 'other' Rock'n'Roll also painted blue!