Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Hellos and farewells

Friday 21st after collecting bits and pieces ordered from Bottom Lock Chandlery and saying farewell to friends and acquaintances in Braunston we upped-sticks and set of; our destination was Willoughby just a few miles outside Braunston.  But after putting the pins in at about 4:15pm ...
.. we heard on the towpath telegraph that 'Valerie' was moored a few miles further on - just about here ...
Pins in once more we went on a recce ... oh, Maffi is here Aardvarks & Maffi's Boat
... and so is Valerie - we'd been so looking forward to meeting Les' new wife Jaq. We spent a very pleasant hour with them drinking the home-made Irish Cream and tea and ginger cake and toffee sauce!  We invited all three to come onboard RnR in the evening to drinks and nibbles - the conversation was varied to say the least and the laughter loud and long - a great evening
Saturday saw Les and Jaq heading towards Braunston - great to see you guys!
Maffi and Molly had some jobs to do and were staying a bit longer ...
... and I set off walking - some of the bridges here are in dire need of tender loving care (or rebuilding) We're heading for bridge 58 Brownsover today to collect something rather special!
Barby Marina has some boats moored but it looks far from finished
Bridge 75 is being monitored ... but that crack looks wider than 5cm!
Through Hillmorton Locks on a fantastic sunny day ...
... and what a surprise just a mile or so on - SKYY- that's Mac on the tiller, Jaquie made a brief appearance as we passed and called out to each other - glad to hear that you're fully recovered Mac, you certainly looked well - Happy Cruising to you both.
Maffi pulled in behind us later in the day - this is at 6:30 pm and it's nearly dark already
We were waiting for our special delivery and as soon as it arrived we called Ann and Chas on 
Moore 2 Life and asked if they wanted out mooring space (we had passed them at Clifton yesterday) it only took about half an hour for them to arrive slot into our space in front of Maffi and we were off!
Our son Mark and his wife Ange had delivered to us Ed and Lucy for a couple of days
The first really autumn looking tree I've seen so far ...
and Lucy - stepping out ... off for a walk
... around Newbury Park ...
... Lake
Half past five from our mooring by railway bridge 41 for the night - too tired to allow the trains to disturb our sleep!
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Saturday, 22 October 2011

Gongoozler's Rest, Braunston

If you are in Braunston don't forget to pop in to the
You'll find the cafe canal side by Braunston Marina entrance

 Avril will be there to take your order - to eat inside or to take away
George and I can personally recommend the bacon and mushroom sandwiches - just scrummy!
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Braunston

From our mooring at bridge 101 Molly and I walked into Braunston

Men at work at bridge 99 ...
... repiling, dredging and infilling along the towpath - a good job
Some things get better and some don't! This boat was very low in the water at its bow ...
... and the stern was full of water - it won't be long before it looks like ...
... this one which was here when we came through here last in March this year
click here to see DSCN5291.JPG
The familiar sight of Braunston Church and the vane-less windmill
After filling the water tank at the stop house and enjoying a scrummy bacon sarnie from 
we winded and put our ropes on the 24-hour visitor mooring at bridge 95.
We're having some work done on the engine and rear deck and needed to be near a suitable parking space; we spoke to the BW enforcer and he agreed that it would be ok for us to stay here until Friday.
A visit from Gosty Hill to fill the diesel tank
A walk took us via Braunston Marina ...
and next door A J Canopies.  We spoke to Kathy the owner, the company is about to be contracted to provide and install canopies for the 30 Coalcraft wide beam water busses to be used in 2012 at the olympics .... well done AJ Canopies!
The Old Workshop, Braunston the B&B we used to stay at whilst Rock n Roll was being built opposite.  This is also the home of Bert and Betty The Braunston Boaters books and 
Tradline Fenders who supplied RnR's ropes and fenders when she was new
and Braunston Marina Shop and Office
The wharf and dry/wet docks were busy ...
... but it was a calm picture looking over Bottom Lock Bridge with Wharf House Chandlery on the right and Grand Union Canal Carries at the pump house on the left ...
... and in the other direction on the lock side is Bottom Lock Shop 
As we walk towards the village we see this calf - sleeping like a baby in the sunshine ...
... and these two chewing the cud!
The view from Butcher's Bridge towards the marina entrance is always a good one
and the view from the marina bridge is now calm too
Braunston Manor and Church from the towpath
and the sun going down at the stop house taken from the back of RnR
We had a knock on the boat - Maffi wondering if the kettle was on!  It was great that he had managed to catch up with us and to meet at last.
The 'other' No Problem reversing from the marina.
All the work on RnR finished and after a trip into Daventry for lunch and retail therapy with Ann
Moore 2 Life we were ready to leave Braunston once again.  We really do love it here, it's rather like 'coming home'.
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Friday, 21 October 2011

Onwards and Upwards

 07:15 at our mooring just south of Spurfoot Bridge (124)
 We were on our way by 09:15 and saw 3 pheasants (1-all black, 1-normal colouring and this white one) across the canal; I didn't manage to snap the other two 
 Waiting for Napton Top Lock to be ready at Marston Doles
 First sighting of the windmill on Napton Hill (click to enlarge) ...
 ... and Napton village
 Steadily descending Napton Locks; the windmill is getting closer
 Lots of horses grazing hereabouts
 Moored just before bridge 112 and we took a picnic lunch up and over Napton Hill ...
 ... where you can see for miles and miles ...
 ... past the windmill ...
 ... to the other side of the hill - I recognise the white building in the upper left of the picture but don't know what it is (???) not sure if we're looking towards Rugby or Coventry from here
 Napton Reservoir looks fairly full
 back to Rock n Roll and set off once again ...
 ... Napton from 'the other side' of the hill
... past Napton Narrowboats ...
 The left turn continues on the Grand Union towards Warwick.  This is just about where we started our summer cruise from in March this year
 passing the pleasant Wigrams Turn Marina
 What a mess!  The farmer has obviously massacered the hedge from the other side and left these branches all over the towpath - I wonder if BW are aware? 
 It's 10 past five as we continue on towards our proposed night's mooring ...
 ... and just after 6 when we arrive; the sun is going down ...
 ... and down ...
... and is gone!
We moored for the night in one (another one) of our favourite spots just before bridge 101.
It's been a brilliant 9-hour day!
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