New Years Eve 2015 and we are on our way again.

After a nice but tiring Christmas with our family, we returned to Harold on the 29th. On the 30th we had planned to leave but storm Frank kept us in the marina. Jo visited relatives and Robin pootled about placing the weights he had brought back to level up Harold, who has been listing to starboard since the new kitchen units were put in. He is now perfectly trimmed (unlike the captain who did not get his hair cut while we were at home).

We set off proper on the 31st under a lovely blue sky, making our way to the bottom of Buckby locks in good time to avoid the pouring rain in late afternoon. It was a bit chillier today but the hazel trees already have their Catkins after the warm autumn we have had. Tomorrow we will head up the locks, heading for Braunston.

Catkins in December!

 

13th - 17th of December. A lovely visit and we plan our Christmas break.

On Sunday we went for a long walk with Scooby, through the mud and mist between Flore and Nether Heywood. At one point we went through a sheep field and this little group followed suspiciously behind us at a distance!

 

In the evening we went to the carol service at Weedon Bec church. It was the traditional nine lessons and carols but it wasn't quite as expected. The congregation was very small (a few elderly ladies and two families). The elderly and rather rotund vicar had (we suspect) been brought out of retirement to officiate. The singing was a bit thin but we valiantly did our best, as did the readers of the nine lessons. The results were, however, somewhat varied and could, we felt, have graced a TV sitcom without difficulty. Towards the end the vicar gave a little homily which was rather shocking in its reference to the current situation in the Middle East and implications about the dangerousness of  Muslims and the end of the world. Bizarrely, immediately after this he donned a father Christmas hat which lit up, jingled and danced while we sang a very jolly final carol. We were invited to mince pies (which was kind of them) but we beat a hasty retreat back to Scooby and the boat. Later that evening on the local news we learned that a female bishop was being inaugurated at a big ceremony with, presumably, all the local clergy etc. and we wondered whether that's why our service had been a little under par!

 

Weldon Bec church. A lovely little church that promised much.  

On Monday Jo went home to pick up some things and meet a friend for supper, coming back Tuesday afternoon. Robin and Scooby did the short run to fill up with water and were generally left in charge of themselves.

On Wednesday Verity came to stay and we made it an early birthday visit. Robin made a chocolate fudge cake which went down well (we love Mary Berry!).

Verity with her cake. Note her canine friend who is not allowed chocolate cake but can
definitely manage some cream....

Robin also made come bread for the morning, his pride at which amused Verity!

My loaf!

On Thursday we took our guest on a cruise up the canal to the Buckby locks (the repairs are almost finished and the canal is being refilled with water). Luckily the rain kept off until we arrived. Verity took control of the camera and a good time was had by all!

Father and daughter enjoying quality time!

We went past this Dutch barge out of the water.

Robin being totally absorbed by the sight of it!

Jo gets photographed...

..so does Scooby.

.. and so does this creepy looking Santa Claus on the canal bank (a manikin usually dressed as a tramp).

 At the locks we said goodbye to Verity as she set off home. We took Scooby for a walk along the locks before it got dark. Tomorrow Jo will visit her brother to deliver presents and Robin will take the boat to Nether Heywood marina where it will stay for Christmas. On Saturday, we will head home ourselves to prepare for  the celebrations. We plan to return before New Year when we hope to be able to creep North again.


9-12 December 2015. We do a bit of cycling, walking and eating and fit a new inverter.

On Wednesday there was no wind (or so it seemed) and the sun was shining so we decided to go back to Pitsford Water, this time with the bikes. We discovered that though there may be no wind on the canal, a large and high reservoir in December is a different matter. However, Robin and Scooby did the whole way round (about 5 miles) and Jo 3 miles (before retiring to the café) and a good time was had by all.


Robin and Scooby setting off across the Pitsford dam wall.

On Thursday we visited Towcester, 7 miles down the A5. It is built around the A5 which goes through it on the route of the old roman road, so that Watling Street is their High Street. There was a nice butchers and deli and we came away with goodies to top up the larder. We dropped Robin's finished book into a local charity shop and he bought another. The museum was open (staffed by volunteers) and told the story of the town, which claims to be the longest known settlement in the country. It is an interesting story and a good little museum. We came out to pouring rain and beat a hasty retreat back to the boat. In the evening we had our crew Christmas outing; dinner at The Narrow Boat round the corner. Unfortunately it was officer class only as dogs are not allowed in the restaurant. However, Scooby did enjoy some gammon brought back in paper napkins and secreted in Jo's pocket!

The Narrow Boat restaurant.

 Friday was sunny and with rain forecast for Saturday, we decided to make the most of it and after some domestic chores, went for a long walk around Church Stowe. It was very pretty in the low sun. We got back just as it was getting dark feeling tired but virtuous.

 

Church Stowe in the distance

Robin was very envious of this new fishing lake

The Church at Church Stowe

The footpath went under the railway through this tiny tunnel.

Saturday had an early start as the engineer came to fit our new inverter. The old one has been behaving much better since we ordered the new one, making it a difficult decision whether or not to go through with the expense. But we decided we would rather be safe than sorry and went for it. It will take some time to recover from the trauma. However, there is shopping to be done and Christmas cards to send so we will have to revive ourselves eventually :)

 



6th - 8th December 2015. We have a look at Northampton.

It was dry on Sunday so we decided to go and suss out the canal in Northampton. According to our map B&Q car park was near to the Cotton End moorings and the top lock onto the Nene so we set off armed with their postcode. We discovered that Northampton is the town of the car. It has what seems like an endless area of retail units spreading all around the south of the town and the town centre itself (not that we found it) seems surrounded by unidentifiable concrete edifices. It didn't bode well, but we hoped the canal and river might be more attractive. Unfortunately this did not turn out to be the case. The waterways are sandwiched between roads, car parks and retail units on one side and industrial units and neglected social housing flats on the other. It was all a bit sad.

The top lock between the canal and the river. Note the abandoned portapotti in the foreground.

The main bridge into town goes over this sunken wreck and waste ground used by kids with illegal off road motorbikes. 

Northampton was in great contrast to the extremely picturesque villages which surround it. Some towns make a feature of their waterways and welcome them into their urban landscape. And others don't. We decided that when we do go up the 13 locks to Northampton, it will be to dash on through towards the eastern waterways rather than to stop and enjoy the scenery!

On Monday we had a domestic chores day, which started by taking the boat a short distance up the canal to fill with water. We turned round at Weedon Wharf House which looked lovely in the winter sunshine. The railway runs directly behind it and the canal in front. It was originally a coal wharf apparently and must have been quite a sight with horse drawn boats and steam trains coming and going.

 

Since we had our new batteries installed, we have had trouble with the inverter (which changes the 12 volts from the batteries to make it suitable for ordinary plug sockets. This has meant unreliable telly and much head scratching by Robin. New ones are very expensive (of course) which is rather depressing just before Christmas. We have deferred a decision to see if it settles down. The crunch may come if it goes off during the Strictly semi-finals at the weekend!

 

Today Jo is doing some work (or will be when not blogging) and Robin is fishing. We have already needed to manoeuvre the boat across the canal several times to retrieve floats and lines caught in the trees opposite. Although to be fair once was to collect line left by a group of nasty fishermen who objected when we refused permission to fish from our boat. Apart from leaving their line to injure birds and animals, they threw dead fish onto our decks and left rubbish on the towpath when they left. Charming! Fortunately Harold is a long boat and will stretch across a fairly narrow canal with just a bit of faffing about :)



 



Harold stays put at Stowe Hill but we get blown about.

As we can't go any further until the lock repairs are complete, we have collected our car and parked it at a nearby bridge so we explore by road. It was windy today but dry so we decided to go for a walk at Pitsford Water, a reservoir and country park north of Northampton. We found that it is pretty high up, getting the full force of the wind. There were proper waves breaking on the shore and it was bracing like the seaside - just without the ozone!

Pittsford Water.

Robin and Scooby walking with breaking waves on the 'beach'.

We drove through very pretty Northamptonshire villages and got back just as it was getting dark. Harold's solar powered Christmas lights were just coming on.  

 

 

1st and 2nd of December. Back to Stowe Hill via Weedon Beck.

December began with a walk to photograph the empty canal where they are doing the lock repairs and breakfast at the Wilton marina café.



 

We also visited the chandlery to buy rope and to replace lost fenders. It came to £50 which it always seems to, no matter what we buy. We also established the marina hasn't space for our Christmas stay so we'll need to find another safe harbour. As we walked back, we spotted a garden centre over the road and Jo found some solar powered Christmas lights to decorate Harold. Robin was persuaded to buy them but not yet to put them up!

 

As we could go no further, we turned round in the marina entrance and cruised back to Weldon to go to the post office, this time shopping at Weedon Beck at the other end. With no leaves on the trees, we felt really close to the M1 motorway as we went along and it was fascinating watching everything rush by from the relative calm of the back of our boat.

 

The M1!

Weedon is a nice village at this end, away from the main roads, but in a big dip over which tower the  the embankments of the canal and the railway. From where we moored, we could see the trains above the roof of the church!

 

 
The church was open and Jo went in on her way back from the post office. It's a small friendly looking church, and a lady was practising the organ which made it very atmospheric to look around.

Robin took Scooby out in the afternoon and met an elderly man in the garden of the house at Weedon Wharf. They chatted and the man said that he has lived there all his life, remembering it as a working coal wharf when he was a child. For an adventure as a small boy he used to hop onto a boat heading south and then be literally thrown across onto a boat heading north to be brought home again.

We like Weedon Beck but there's no G :(.

On Wednesday morning, we made the short hop to Stowe Hill and got our new batteries put in. Expensive but necessary as the charge won't last the whole evening without putting the engine on. Afterwards we moored just a bit further down so that we can be found tomorrow. As we can't get anywhere much by boat, we have decided to collect our car and use the boat as a base to explore the rest of Northamptonshire. We can leave it back home again after Christmas when we will be able to move on properly again.



29th and 30th of November 2015. To Wilton Marina via Weedon.

On Sunday we had a rendezvous with friend Carole at a pub in Weedon so set off in god time and in wind and drizzle. This is a bit of canal we are very familiar with, having spent all last winter moored near here. It runs between the M1 and East coast mainline. This farmer keeps bullocks in this strip of field between the railway and the canal and we have often seen them. Today we watched as the farmer arrived with food supplements in his Landover, something the cows obviously knew very well!

We stopped at Rugby Boats, Stowe Hill, for diesel, coal (which were much cheaper than at Gayton) and then for water. It was quite a challenge to get off the bank after the water stop as the wind was blowing across and pinning us down. However, we got free and went on, mooring by the pub in Weedon so that Carole could find us. It's always nice to catch up, even if the early dusk meant it wasn't for long.

Harold at Weedon.

That night Robin took Scooby our for a last pee and he fell in the canal (Scooby that is). He was sniffing around after voles and misjudged it. Robin managed to haul him out, even though he wasn't wearing his harness. It took a while to sort out our sopping dog and we were late to bed!

We set off late in the morning, heading for Wilton marina at the bottom of the Buckby lock flight, which is currently closed for maintenance and preventing us from going any further North. It was windy again today and Harold crabbed his way up the canal sideways. We saw lots of birds; finches and tits of all kinds and a buzzard. There was also a squirrel wobbling way out over the canal eating the berries on a hawthorn tree and we saw ducks eating crab-apples that had fallen in the water. The canal looks very brown and nondescript on first glance but there's always a surprising amount to see.

The canal doesn't look much at this time of year but there's lots going on!

We will visit the marina chandlery this afternoon and also see if the lock repairs are on schedule for re-opening on December 21st. If the marina has a space we may leave the boat here over Christmas so we can head north as soon as we return after the break. However, tomorrow we will to turn around again, we have ordered new batteries from Stowe Hill boatyard south of Weedon and we need to get back there so they can be fitted on Wednesday. After that we wait for a good day to head to Northampton.

Now its much colder, we keep the stove burning all day as well as in the evening. Whenever we stop or after his walks, Scooby is right in front of it catching the rays.

Saturday November 28th 2015. Gayton to Nether Heyford.

On Monday left Blisworth, passing this boat in which an elderly lady was living, reminding us of the Lady in the Van.

We made it to Gayton Marina, just a short way up the Northampton Arm, and left the boat to go home for a few days.

 

We returned on Friday evening to a safe but chilly boat. The fire soon warmed him up and we slept well, appreciating our good bed and mattress (much more comfortable than the one we now have at home).  

On Saturday morning we set off in a cold wind. It not being good weather to make the 13 locks up to Northampton (there's nowhere to stop, so they've all got to be done in one go), we decided to head back to the Grand Union and northwards to top up with fuel, coal and water and see if the Buckby flight is still closed. When the weather improves we will head back and make the Northampton dash.

While we were at home we bought 2 new stools and Robin varnished them. They are not quite as high or as smart as the ones that were stolen but at least he had somewhere to sit today.

 

 

Scooby, seemingly glad to be back afloat, came outside for his usual nosing over the side but kept shivering in the cold. In the end we put his coat on under his harness to keep him warm. Ah!

 

 

 

By mid afternoon the wind and rain had really set in and even our gallant captain had had enough, so we moored in a rural spot and pottered for the rest of the day. Robin painted Harold's name on the stools which will (hopefully) deter burglars in future.

 

20th - 22nd November 2015. Stoke Bruerne and Blisworth.

Friday was sunny but blowy and with definitely a bit more of a chill in the air. The first part of day was a few rural and pretty miles. Between the brown hedgerows, the fields seemed to glow green in the sunshine. Even the canal looked blue today!

Eventually we saw Stoke Bruerne above us as we approached the first of the 7 locks to take us up into the village.



Stoke Bruerne above us; 7 locks will take us up there.

As promised,we had our curry at the Spice of Bruerne on Friday night. Mixed reviews; Robin liked the chef's special but the onion bharji and the naan were burnt and the service a bit lax.

The Spice of Bruerne, just next to the top lock.

Saturday was freezing cold and with an icy wind and we decided to stay put despite the lack of G or phone service. The village is very pretty and there were quite a few people about even in the cold. We had bacon butties for (a late) breakfast at the museum café and settled in for some pottering on the boat.  Robin had a successful day in the kitchen, making bread and a cake. The canal was choppy again (it's all relative of course!).

Choppy waters even at Stoke Bruerne.

This was the coldest day we've had on the boat so far. The fire kept the living areas warm and cosy. However, because it's at the other end, the bedroom was a bit chilly with central heating time limited to preserve the batteries. Jo needed an extra jumper in bed and is seriously considering bedsocks. On Sunday morning the water in Scooby's bowl on the back deck had half an inch of ice on the top. It was a cold night.
It was still cold but without the wind so we set off in search of G and phone signal, heading through the Blisworth tunnel and into the village of Blisworth itself. Lots of boats on the move today; a weekend day and not quite so bitter as yesterday. Connections were still not great, but at least there was something, so we pulled over and moored in Blisworth. We have about a mile to go tomorrow to Gayton marina where we will leave the boat to go home next week.

Approaching Blisworth village where there is an old wharf and other canal buildings, it was once a real hub of canal industry, just as Stoke Bruerne was.

 

19th November 2015. Our stools go missing and we go to Cosgrove lock.

We spent Wednesday in Milton Keyes, shopping and going to the cinema. We went to our first matinee performance - and were about the youngest people there! It was cheaper though and we enjoyed the film; The Lady in the Van.

On Thursday morning the wind had dropped so we awoke to quiet for a change. We also found that the two painted stools we sit on at the back to steer had been stolen. So much for our zealous guard dog, he was obviously fast asleep in front of the fire. Either that or it wasn't joggers, cyclists or dogs who took them so he didn't care! The widebeam which had been moored opposite had gone, which may or may not have been a coincidence.


Our poor helmsman now has nowhere to sit!

We set off in rain (so of course more loads of laundry were put on) and Robin made a loaf. Very beautiful it was too.

 

Jo lit the fire to get the washing dry, which posed more challenges for the helmsman as the smoke poured out of the chimney as it got going.

 

Smoke drifts back to obscure the helm's view.

We meandered 6.5 miles through Milton Keynes and out the other side, stopping only to buy milk at a local neighbourhood centre. The MK boundary is marked by the Great Ouse Aqueduct.

 

Looking back at the Great Ouse Aqueduct.

The view from the Great Ouse Aqueduct - look no fences!

We moored just before Cosgrove lock and took Scooby for a bike ride. Some of the towpath was made up and good for Scooby racing but some was not, and a bit slippery! The newish moon was showing in a clearing sky as we moored and we definitely detected a red tinge as we cycled. Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day. We continue North and if we make it as far as  Stoke Bruerne tomorrow we'll have curry for dinner in the restaurant there.

A tiny moon shows itself as we moor. 

A gaggle of geese and a hint of red sky.