NB Uccello

A wander round the Town

2013-06-18T09:19:00.000+01:00

After a cool start to the day, it started to warm up, so after polishing the brasses once more and lunch we had a wander down the hill to the town for a look see again and some bits and pieces I forgot yesterday

Views

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Moving Monday

2013-06-17T09:17:00.000+01:00

Set off the wrong way to get to Debdale Wharf to make use of their services and very good they were, said out last farewells to Tom (aka Kevin) & Jan as they head off to pastures new

Headed back to Foxton and then onwards to Market Harborough as the cupboards are very bare, did manage to find a mooring, but as usual no TV signal

I headed off into town for a major shop and decided to get a taxi back as it is a long slog up the hill, would had gone great if my timing had been better as when I needed a taxi it was the school runtime, still come good if the end and made it back and the cupboards are now full for the time being

To Market

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A Fathers Day Poem

2013-06-16T12:56:00.000+01:00

Happy Father's Day!

There once was a man named Bird
Who falls in canals so I’ve heard
He fears for his life
And calls for his wife
But she claims she hears not a word

Some say he is clumsy the fellow
Or maybe too dozy or mellow
For there's another time
He drank too much red wine
And fell off the back of Uccello!

His wife hasn't fell in as yet
Nor has his young canine pet
Nor has his grandson
Who thinks it is great fun
To ask why his granddads all wet!

Bird has a favourite step daughter
And things of canals he has taught her
Now her wisdom is large
So he's selling the barge
And will inhabit a flat far from water!

Hannah Willis

Busy Sunday at Foxton Locks

2013-06-16T09:02:00.000+01:00

Decided to move to a better mooring for viewing and having heard that the pumpout machine at Market Harborough was out of action thanks to the Towpath Telegraph and we needed to turn round to go to Debdale Wharf on Monday, boy was it busy, but as yet no serious interest just gongoozlers, ran out of leaflets and ink to print some more

Had coffee with Tom & Jan on board NB Waiouru, had a good nose around, some very nice touches

Photo remembered this time

and Carrie thinks that Tom has the look of Kevin Costner about him, what do you think? sorry could not find any photo of Tom to compare

Bottom of Foxton Locks

2013-06-15T07:01:00.000+01:00

Found a reasonable mooring at the bottom, away from those pesky trees, close the pubs, hopefully will attract some interest over the weekend

Met up with Tom & Jan of Waiouru who trials and tribulations of having a narrowboat built I have been following for awhile and of course we talked about toilets - other topics are available, as usual forgot to take pictures maybe next time

Top of Foxton Locks

2013-06-14T08:30:00.000+01:00

Made it to Foxton just before the rain started, a long trip down with the weather changing all the time, stopped off to fill the water tank and clean off the roof on the way, unable to check the headlight adjustment as no one was coming the other way through the Husbands Bosworth Tunnel

We were going to stay here for the weekend but C&RT in their wisdom posted notices closing the moorings for the upcoming festival at Foxton, but it is not on until the end of the month, a little previous methinks

Had a viewing from a passing hire boater, but think he was just being curious, after which made our way down the locks on a busy Friday with some boats waiting for over four hours to come up

Watford and beyond

2013-06-11T08:32:00.000+01:00

Left Braunston, going up the locks with Lordy Lordy who we last saw last year on the Lancaster Canal, where does the time go

We apologise for our headlamp to the two boats in the tunnel, but please tell how you can adjust the light when you are not in a tunnel, hopefully it is better adjusted now, we will see on the way back

It was the usual chaos at the Watford Locks, with everyone thinking they know best, it is a wonder how we manage in the winter when there is no lockkeeper

Ended up at Crick as the weather was being kind, forgot about the sap from the overhanging trees and was covered in bits in the morning, just what you need on the newly painted roof

Popped in the ABNB to discuss options of using them to sell the boat, think we will keep selling it ourselves for awhile longer and try to save the 6% they charge, still not sure why it is so high, more than selling a house

After Braunston

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A long weekend at Braunston

2013-06-09T08:42:00.000+01:00

After a quiet trip from Rugby we managed to find a mooring in crash alley, the narrow bit before the the Oxford turning, but it is a good spot for more painting and polishing, as always with being in Braunston it is not long before someone you know comes along, this time it’s Garry & Beryl on The Answer

Decided to move on Saturday as we needed water and to see if there were any moorings near Butchers Bridge as it would be a better place to advertise the boat, and luck would have it there was, so more polishing, but as yet no takers – thinking of returning for the Boat Show at the end of the month after we have been to Foxton and Market Harborough, maybe we will find the one there

Back in Rugby

2013-06-04T07:19:00.000+01:00

After setting off from All Oaks Wood fairly early for us and popping into Lime Farm Marina for some diesel – not the easiest on place to get in or out of, but the diesel was reasonable and then a water stop and rubbish dump at Newbold, we were back in Rugby again, but it has been awhile since we last here

Very busy as usual, just manage to find a mooring, but then loads of boats departed after doing their shopping, leaving us with plenty of room

A trip to Wickes for some painting supplies then the first trip to Tesco for more food supplies, will have to make another tomorrow as we can not manage to all in one trip and then on to Braunston for more paint

Some Sunshine at last

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It was going so well

2013-06-03T17:11:00.001+01:00

Weather good, mooring good, running out of paint not good, so hopefully the weather will hold and Midland Chandlers will have the paint.

So we will have to move to Braunston, could do with a rest anyway as my knees are not as young as they were

All Oaks Wood

2013-05-31T08:24:00.000+01:00

Forewent a trip to Coventry Basin as the weather forecast is good for painting over the next few days, having been to the basin before, whilst it is nice once there, it is a bit of slog through the rubbish to get there.

Headed off for All Oaks Wood and managed to get a mooring spot by the concrete edge where I will be able to get the other gunnel painted and the side polished and with luck the roof painted, lets hope it does not get to hot as that will put a stop to all the fun

Hawkesbury Junction

2013-05-30T16:37:00.001+01:00

After popping into town for some last bread & milk and after the rain seems to be stopping at last we moved off, in a queue of boats going both was, it was more like being around Braunston, but as luck would have it the boats two in front of me pulled over as I hate following as they always seem to go slower than I want to

Ended up at Hawkesbury Junction, moored just off the water point

Charity Dock

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Still at Atherstone

2013-05-29T09:29:00.000+01:00

Sitting out the rain for a few days, plus restocking of the cupboards.

Did manage to service the engine in between the showers, but as yet no painting

Has everyone forgotten what tick-over means as we have been banged about by just about everyone who has gone past – I think that people seem to go faster the harder the rain is falling in a vain attempt to outrun it.

Don’t you just love the summer and busy canals

Alvecote

2013-05-26T08:40:00.000+01:00

Left Fradley Junction, was going to fill with water, but someone not only pinched the swing bridge that I open and then the only space on the water point without a by or leave, so as it was busy as always we pushed on the Fazeley, which by contrast was strangely empty, as someone know something I don’t we carried on after filling with water to Alvecote as the sun was shining for a change

Will be heading for Atherstone later in the week, which is very close to Coventry (hint Anni), after stopping off in Polesworth for another good curry from the India Garden

Fradley to Alvecote

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Windy

2013-05-24T16:22:00.001+01:00

Stayed put today as the forecast was wet and windy, well we have got the wind, but as yet no rain as such.

Will have to move towards Fradley Junction as a tank needs emptying and may even get some more coal as summer seems to be missing so far this year

Rugeley

2013-05-23T17:42:00.001+01:00

Left Great Haywood, before the weather gets worse to get to Rugeley for supplies and to sit out the predicted bad weather on Friday, looks like being a typical bank holiday weekend, very busy with boats all over the place, squeezed it and then moved to a better mooring as most treat the moorings as a shopping stop with the handy Morrison’s, Wilkinson's and Aldi close by the canal

We have now had all sorts of weather from hail stones to sunshine and loads of boats passing by, hopefully the night will be quiet as it can be a bit lively around here at times

Another one gone

2013-05-22T07:39:00.000+01:00

Oh well that’s another birthday over, only one to go until the next big one

A quote from the bright side, which it is always better to look on

Set off for Great Haywood today as the weather is forecasted to get worse, a bit of a slog as it goes round the hills rather than up them or down them, very cold and windy all the time we were moving, then as soon as we stop the sun comes out

Did manage to pick up a few plants for the pots, from the farm shop, hopefully the summer will come one day

Pushing On

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Still at Penkridge

2013-05-20T18:11:00.001+01:00

After a quiet Sunday, we have spent the day tidying, awaiting a viewing tomorrow and of course my birthday, nearly another milestone

Penkridge

2013-05-18T14:43:00.001+01:00

After a cold dreary day, which meant we stopped early, not making it to Gailey, so an early start this morning and after stopping off for water at the top lock we pushed on down the locks to Penkridge, made in time for a trip to the market, much the same as usual, not many stalls at the farmers market, but then it is the Midlands and not down south

Have just realised that we doing the same journey as last year at the same time, but did get here a different way

Onwards

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I think this how Carrie is feeling some days

Wightwick Manor

2013-05-15T09:01:00.000+01:00

After a appalling day weather wise yesterday, today was much better, so after another trip to the handy Sainsbury’s by Bridge 43, we headed off for Wightwick Manor for my birthday outing, very interesting with lots of William Morris wallpaper, no photo’s allowed inside so had to make do with some of the outside

Wightwick Manor

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Kinver

2013-05-13T16:53:00.001+01:00

After spending a quiet weekend at Wolverley, headed for Kinver to get the repairs carried out, stopped off at Whittington Lock to make the effort to go to Whittington Inn, ended up having lunch there, nothing to write home about shame it is a chain pub, but nice old building

Managed to catch Wilsons before they finish for the day, may get the cratch cover back tomorrow, hopefully the promised rain will miss us

The Missing Pictures

2013-05-13T09:28:00.000+01:00

Having forgotten to add the photos yesterday – here they are

Stourport on Severn

2013-05-09T08:15:00.000+01:00

Very blowy but dry so we set off upstream to Stourport-on-Severn, 3 locks all with lockkeepers so easy cruising if a bit boring, but quite few coming downstream so after climbing up the two sets of staircase locks, just in time before the rain set in, but the basin was very windy and lost the bucket, which I managed to retrieve later as it was still floating, as luck would have it, the mooring by the water point was free – result. Very good Indian close by too

Severn

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Worcester

2013-05-07T08:42:00.000+01:00

With nowhere to moor on the Droitwich Canal apart in the town itself, we had no choice but to carry on down the River Severn to Worcester even though the time was getting on, turned out alright as we managed to find a spot on the 14 moorings near Diglis Basin, which will do fine for a few days

Will be heading back up the river to Stourport and then on to Kinver to get the repairs done later in the week

Worcester

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Ripping time in Droitwich

2013-05-06T09:09:00.000+01:00

Having decided to move on a bank holiday, we ended up in the middle of the Canal Fest in Droitwich, enjoying listening to tunes from The Rambling Jacks and supping a few real ales in the sunshine a bit much for Carrie as she went a bit pink, nice 48hr mooring in the town’s basin, surprisingly plenty of room

But before all of this excitement and ale, we missed the fact that the bridge over the flood lock going into Droitwich was a swing bridge and thinking the we would fit, we did not and managed to put a rip in the cratch cover, so that is the decision made as to which way we are going as a trip to Kinver is now needed to get it repaired