Ashby and Oxford canal back to Napton

The Ashby Canal once you get past Stoke Golding is really lovely and remote-its a real pleasure to cruise although a little shallow in places.We managed to get out for 2 weeks of very mixed weather, we only cruised in the rain three times,and on a few occasions we had warm sunshine.

A nice group of canal cottages as we approached Snarestone

Our mooring at Conglestone a really lovely spot with the sound of steam trains on the Battlefield Line

A mobile chicken run which I assume provides fresh eggs.

An interesting structure  which I think is made from willow,its at the entrance to the old goods yard,now an industrial estate, at Stoke Golding.

These two male Mallard ducks were fighting next to the boat for about 20 minutes. 

This female mallard duck has decided to nest in a plant tray on the roof of the boat moored near ours at Wigrams

Nine hours to Hinckley and beyond

I had problems trying to post entries to the blog after Hillmorton so have had to post a few now we have got back home. Don't know what the problem was but it seems ok now.We had after we left Hillmorton a really long day for us- it was 9 hours and we covered 22.5miles and 1 lock- to Hinckley Bridge 16 on the Ashby canal where we met Pip and Richard.The weather has been very changeable- heavy showers,sunshine,cold winds and the odd sleet shower.- ah proper spring weather at last. The water levels from rain run off are going up -but probably only in the short term.

A lovely Mural on an old railway bridge as we passed Rugby

A swan nesting on an old wooden narrow boat hull near Charity Dock at Bedworth

If only more tunnels on the canal system had lights like Newbold Tunnel

It was a cold damp morning and this donkey seemed to sum it up well- I do hate mornings!!!!

Following nb Fino on the Ashby Canal

Another boat caravan

Big brother is watching

The end of the Ashby just north of Snarestone.It finishes just past the swing bridge although they are very well advanced on restoring the next section

Hillmorton Locks

We have managed to get out for a couple of weeks as our plan for a 3 month trip has been put on hold. My brother had a serious operation in March and was in ICU for 4 days- the NHS have been wonderfull, in a crisis they cannot be beaten. He is now home and making good progress but Anne and I both feel we need to be able to get down to Somerset if we need to.The other issue that I need to resolve is my right eye. Its still not right (sorry) in that there is some scarring following the cataract operation that needs to be lasered away.Hopefully this can be resolved in the next few months as it has gone on since May 2008 and is part of the detached retina saga.

Well thats our woe at the moment but it was lovely to get out boating today in the sunshine although a bit chilly in the wind- but that is the pleasure of spring boating and seeing everything coming alive.Had planned to leave yesterday but the engine battery gave up the ghost.I had planned to change it anyway and managed to rearrange the engineer to come to the marina this moring to do it and we were on our way by noon.

We are heading to the Ashby Canal to meet with our friends Pip and Richrd on their boat and have managed to get to Hillmorton locks near Rugby ( a long day tomorrow of 9 hours should get us to them). The locks are interesting in that they are the first set of working paired single locks to come across going north.The Trent & Mersey canal north of Stoke on Trent has some as you drop down onto the Cheshire Plain.

The canal from Napton to Hillmorton is about 5 inches lower than normal with volunter lock keepers on hand to ensure best practise at the locks with one set closed overnight. Its going to be a long hard summer.

 

The double Hillmorton locks

A new Barn Owl nest box which has a good view over the surrounding fields

Bridge 80 on the North Oxford canal which needs some much needed tlc from the new Canal & River Trust

Lapwings and Skylarks

We went up to BB last Wednesday as the forecast looked very good. We were not disappointed although as we left the marina on Thursday morning at 10am it was thick mist. By the time we reached bridge 103 and a stop for coffee it had cleared to glorious and dare I say warm sunshine. We had cruised past Lapwings doing their display flying over the fields and listened to Skylarks singing. It was glorious spring weather and the canal was at its best with only a few other boats around.

A short stop and then into Braunston and Wharf House Chandlery to buy 3 new fire extinguishers for our Boat Safety Scheme examination booked for the 15 March. It was then back to bridge 101 for the evening. The stove was lit as it was chilly once the sun went down.Set off for home on Saturday in the rain! which we do need.

A few pictures follow of the short trip

Spring sunshine colours of the hedgerow-David Hockney still influencing me!

Two swans in the field opposite spent all day munching through the farmers greens. They really arre brick built birds- very powerfull when seen out of water

The view out of the side hatch when we stopped for coffee-not all the mist has burnt off yet.

Approaching Braunston the usual spire view but the old windmill stump is very noticable from this angle

BB in evenung sunshine at Bridge 101 our mooring for the night

Sunset looking forward from our Br101 mooring

A David Hockney landscape

We spent last weekend in London and went to two excellent events. The first was the David Hockney exhibition at The Royal Academy which was excellent.He includes the use of iPADs and in one section there are 52 pictures using this method. His pictures of Yorkshire bring out colours and details throughout all the seasons. His video wall following the seasons of Woldgate Woods really does make you think about the subtle changes that take place and how evocative each of the seasons are. It also showed me how much you can really appreciate the colours and the detail of our countryside as you slowly move through it on a narrow boat. It was a real eye opener as to the beauty of our waterways that must continue at all costs. If you get a chance go and see the exhibition.

Our second treat was Cirque du Soleil - Totem at the Royal Albert Hall which was 21/2hours of pure entertainment

I have chosen a picture I took last August from bridge 100 between Braunston and Wigrams Turn which just shows the canal landscape but not as good as the moving video wall. 

Napton Junction or Wigrams Turn

The new year has arrived and I managed a trip up to BB the other week to check her out. Everything was fine with a inside temperature of 5degrees, She is 8 years old this May and due for her second Boat Safety Scheme examination. I therefore took the opportunity to run through the check list for the BSS whilst on board. The only thing I could find that I think will cause a problem are the 3 powder fire extinguishers that are on the red or nearly on it. I will need to replace them. Anne didn't come with me as I had nearly recovered from the bug going round but she had only just started- so a good time to de-camp for a couple of days!

We have done 1781 locks and 2531 miles since May 2004-and since retirement in 2008 we have averaged 93 days per year on the boat.

BB moored at Wigrams Turn Marina which is at Napton Junction. The old working boatmen used to call the junction Wigrams Turn.

Following her week with the boys at Stowe Hill Workshop she still looks as good as new.

A view of the bridge at Wigrams Turn-Napton Junction from our mooring.Who says winter has no colour.

The local resident swans putting heads above the pontoons to check out what I was doing.

Just to add a bit of summer cruising and of things to come one of my favourite pictures of BB going through a lock south of Kidderminster on the Staffs & Worcs Canal.I cannot remember whih one.

We both have our winter projects- Anne is doing a cross stitch called the Junction- which looks very much like Fradley on the Trent & Mersey Canal. The first picture is progress to date the second is what it will look like when finished. A fair way still to go.

Mine is to start doing the scenery on the railway using the latest thing-well new to me -static grass.You sprinkle electrical charged coloured nylon fibres on to PVA glue. They land standing up and stay that way when the glue drys. It looks very realistic.

Now starting to plan our travels for this year- hopefully going north -water levels allowing- via Birmingham Canal Navigation and Gas Street Basin.

Dry docking now completed and back in marina

A bit of a late post but BB has been back in the marina for the last few weeks all nice and tidy.The boys at Stowe also managed to replace the hose between the toilet and the holding tank. It had started to smell and after speaking to Lee Sanitation who said that even the special pipe can absorb the "smell" after about 6/7 years-BB is 8 next May. It was very noticeable when you opened the wardrobe-the pipe passed through at the back of it.

The swap buggt that is being used to clear the reeds around the edge of the marina. They have taken over since they were planted 6 years ago.

Our mooring on the 12 October was just past Br101 between Braunston and Napton. It is now very open since the farmer has cleared the left hand side.

A "Goodyear" air ship making hard going against the stiff breeze.

The lovely stained glass window on the cottage next to the Admiral Nelson pub part way down the Braunston flight.

The light at the end of Braunston tunnel- all you see as you make your way through it.

Working boat Jubilee on the side of the canal at Weedon