Came across Vulcan XM 655 on a day trip from the boat

Its been a funny year in that we have have been unable to go on an extended cruise. We have had various family commitments and I have had another trigger finger operation which has taken longer to get back to normal than the other two. We have managed a few short visits to the boat as we do get withdrawal symptoms and Simon and Debs managed to take her out for a first weekend on board, they did have to dodge heavy rain and the classic boat rally in Braunston.

A few photographs from in and around the boat on our recent visits.

We had decided to visit Charlecote Park near Stratford upon Avon. Just before we arrived we went past Wellesbourne Airfield which has Vulcan XM655 in ground running condition.

The gate house for Charlecote Manor well worth a visit if you are in the area

Braunston boat rally

Just a lovely view of the bows of old working boats

Whats up Duck- walked into the boat bold as brass

Napton lock no 8 protected and shored up pending a winter closure for repairs

I first thought this was some form of growth on the wall of the house as you approach Wigrams Turn but I think it is supposed to be clouds or possibly fish!

A boat name I could not resist

                                   

Another from the old BBC children s programme Noggin the Nogg

Trip to Market Harborough after Napton lock closure

A very delayed entry due to problems with mobile signals, software issue and the funeral of a very old friend Peter Jarvis- RIP. He was of our youth and very much makes you realise that you need to do things now! We had planned to go down the Oxford canal on the 5 May but lock 8 of the Napton flight decided to throw a wobbly as the left hand entrance wall collapsed and the gate become unstable. It was originally closed UFN (until further notice) but C&RT managed to reopen it on the 9 May under supervision by which time we were on our way to Market Harborough.

A view of lock 8 showing the collapsed wing wall. Our friends on NB Elidir had to reverse for 1/2 mile to the winding hole below the bottom of the locks. The boat in front had the wall collapse onto them as they entered the lock. Appears to be only minor damage to the boat and the crew are shaken but unhurt.

Our mooring on the Leicester Arm just up from Norton Junction. The boats in the distance are on the Grand Union mainline leading from Braunston tunnel to Norton Junction., all on the same contour line.

Getting ready to plunge down the first group of 5 staircase locks at Foxton, the scenery is just fantastic.

                                   
When we went to register with the lock keeper before we went down the flight we had seen people watch a pair of Pied Wagtails feeding their young in a hole in the lock side wall.

As I started to descend the 2nd pair of 5 staircase locks these two little fellows  appeared( perhaps to complain about the noise) about 2 feet away from me and as I slowly sank in the lock they both flew the nest and managed to fly up to the lock gate some 15 ft above them. Talk about a heart stopping moment as they went downwards before they managed to gain height and then go upwards. I actually started thinking- what could I use to save them if they hit the water- luckily I was not required

 

Bridge 16 on the Leicester Arm- I just love how the canal builders make the most simple of things look different.

Going down the Market Harborough Arm even a squirrel had time to watch we go by.

When we were in Market Harborough we did manage to see Anne's aunt and also had a trip into Nottingham by train, a place we hadn't been to before.

Had to have a look at the canal which is very near to the station.. This is an old Fellows Morton & Clayton warehouse which used to be a museum.

   

The old BW warehouse now I think flats

                                       

We also went round Nottingham Castle with a view of Ratcliffe on Soar power station in the distance.

A lovely summer view of the canal as we approach Foxton, its difficult to make out where the canal goes with the reflections everywhere.

                                   

My best attempt at a moon reflection in the canal from our mooring near Bridge 100 as we went back to Calcutt.

A few more boat names

They had the usual Rosie and Jim dolls in a window but this was at the stern.

                                   

Cruise to Hillmorton locks for dinner via Braunston

We had a great spring cruise the other week only 20 miles and 10 locks but the weather was glorious.Sunshine, cloudy, chilly wind but some warm short sleeve afternoon but no rain - just brilliant boating weather with all the trappings of spring. The reason for the trip was to visit the cafe above the bottom lock.Its now called The Canalchef Cafe (previously Badsey Cafe) as moored outside is nb Badsey and a new addition of the butty Angel, very good they look to. They are open each day for coffee and lunches but only Friday evenings for dinner, I had lamb shank and Anne the stew which were both excellent and well worth the trip..

Our mooring just before bridge 87 with the spire of Braunston church acting as a beacon.

Braunston Turn bridges in spring sunshine-left to Hillmorton

I just love these Black Face lambs watching the world go by.

Not a boat name this time -its Sir Hiss from the Disney film Robin Hood.

Going back up the locks at Hillmorton , they are paired single locks and it was the busiest we have seen it.

Our mooring near bridge 80, just the other side of the hedge is a Detention Centre.

Near  to bridge 80 runs the route of the old Great Central Railway. This is the remains of an old occupation bridge which last saw a train 50 years ago.

Steam narrow boat Hasty which is a replica Blisworth Tunnel Tug- a lovely sight and sound.

A wide bugger!!luckily it was moored.

Our first lot of ducklings and there were 13 in total.

Narrow boat spotters book and cross stitch

Not much boating over the last 5 months but we did manage a few days out on the boat in glorious sunshine the other week. Just a lovely slow cruise through Braunston to Hillmorton and back-I'll post some pictures soon.

We did manage to do a trip from our "bucket list" which was A Great Railways Trip to Norway/Sweden and into the Artic Circle- we did see The Northern Lights, just the once in The Lofoten Islands but they were magical. We also visited the Ice Hotel and I went down the worlds deepest underground Iron Ore mine.A great trip during which we met some lovely people including Jenny and Martin who has just volunteered as a lock keeper at Stone. 

When we went through Audlem on the Shropshire Union last June we had to visit the excellent craft shop next to the Shroppie Fly pub where I purchased a copy of Historic Working Narrow Boats Today. Its a spotters heaven as you can tick off what you have seen and it may also tell you the boats history

Anne has been very busy and has now finished her cross stitch picture of Fradley Junction and very good it looks to.

Canals in Manchester, Bingley ,Glasson,Falkirk and Fort William

Although Scotland was on the agenda for our trip in September so was the Welsh Highland Railway, Whitby and any canal sites we happened to be near.

Some photographs of the canal we saw:-

A classic view of Bingley 5 Rise

Three views around Castlefield Basin, the Manchester Science Museum is under the bridge on the right

The Bridgewater Canal comes in from the left with the Science Museum straight ahead under the ornate railway bridge

Excellent moorings in Castlefield Basin, the lock leading to the Rochdale Canal is out off shot on the left.

The 5 staircase locks at Fort Augustus on the Caledonian Canal

A very varied selection of boats and ships at Glasson Basin, the narrowboat is moving away from the sea locks onto the Lancaster Canal.

The Falkirk Wheel in action bringing a boat down from the Edinburgh & Glasgow Union Canal to the Forth & Clyde Canal.

A leap of faith onto the wheel, the site is very impressive-if only they could get the Foxton Incline Plane

One of the trip boats arrive for the flight down.

View to Calcutt locks

Sorry I have not posted anything recently but we have only managed a few quick trips to the boat to check all is ok. As we had finally decided it was time to  downsize from 2 to 1 car and Anne said a very sad farewell to her Jazz at the end of August. We have never been to The Highlands of Scotland so therefore decided that to get to know the new car an autumn  car touring trip to Scotland instead of a cruise on BB would be a good idea.

 

We did 2500 miles in 3 weeks and did manage to visit some canal sites, I'll post some pictures of the trip later.

 

The pictures below are of our trip to the boat in October.

 

A great thing to have on a narrow boat but the questions would  go on for a very long time!

The view from our new mooring is of a very old boat(note to self to try and find out more about it) and the bottom Calcutt lock through the trees



One of the days when we were on the boat was very wet so we had a trip out to the Heritage Motor Museum at Gaydon. Its well worth a trip- this is the vehicle Land Rover produced for the Judge Dredge movie

These are MGs used to obtain the land speed record for 1500cc powered cars-one of which was driven by Stirling Moss in the early 50's

We are getting a large group of Canada geese coming to the marina to roost overnight. Something spooked them just before dusk.

Another brick in the wall near Braunston

We went up to the boat last week to enjoy some of this lovely weather and do a few jobs that I didn't manage to do when we were out. We did our usual journey which now involved going up the three Calcutt locks and then a cruise through the countryside towards Braunston. As it was so hot we stopped just past bridge 103 for the day with a BBQ in the evening. Thursday started a lot cooler as we cruised into Braunston for a few things which included a trip to the butchers in the village for some of their great lamb chops.

 

Just outside Braunston is the remains of an old railway bridge that used to be home to a narrowboat when we first had the boat. Not sure if he was a fan of the group but the track from their 1979 album The Wall- Another brick in the wall- would be very appropriate.

 

 

This young swan would insist on tapping on the boat by the side hatch for food

We managed to miss the majority of the rain last week except for a shower that came along just as I was finishing off the lamb chops- ah the English BBQ 

I am getting hooked on peoples boat names

They can be very imaginative