What weekends are for

We had a super weekend afloat. Good weather and good company always help things along and we had lots of both.

Saturday saw us back in Ravenshaw Wood, only five minutes out of the marina. Very peaceful and relaxing and definitely one of our favourite spots to moor. Later in the afternoon nb Elizabeth moored behind us. What an interesting boat and lovely owners. Full of history as originally an FMC butty and has had various engines since, including paraffin powered. We chatted with Jim and his wife Annie whilst Jasper had a great run with their dog Tilly. Unfortunately I've had to 'borrow' a photo as I inexplicably forgot to take my own picture of Elizabeth !!

nb Elizabeth

During the evening we arranged to meet friends at Fradley on Sunday. Kev and Sally are old school friends of John and their Sunday usually consists of a good walk, so when they were offered the chance of a days boating, they jumped at the chance. 

Sunday morning was lovely. Elizabeth had beaten us to the off at about 7am. We were already awake (Jasper had seen to that at about 5.15am...bless him !!) and we eventually sauntered down to Fradley where we had breakfast before Kev and Sally descended on us. We had a lovely run down to Huddlesford. Kev was very reluctant to take the helm. He doesn't even drive a car, and never has, which, in this day and age is very unusual so the prospect of a narrowboat was a bit daunting.

Our new crew members

We had a fabulous Sunday dinner at The Plough. Very reasonably priced and an extremely tasty lamb shank followed by homemade bread and butter pudding certainly did the trick. The sun stayed with us on the return journey, as did Kev and Sally who didn't hesitate when we offered to take them all the way back to the marina and then drop them off for their car later.

Fradley was busy with gongoozlers as usual, but not that many boats. We briefly met Sarah on nb Chertsey as we exited Middle Lock. Chertsey looked great and they are on their way to Langley Mill.

nb Chertsey

Kev did his fair share of locking with a huge grin and all too soon we were back at Kings Bromley at the end of a lovely day. We will do it all again sometime soon.

Louise & Kev...The Green Team

Back home and back to reality.

We made the trip from Grendon to Huddlesford on Friday, again in glorious weather. There were plenty of hands to make light work of Glascote locks and we really took our time along the Coventry, basically running at tickover most of the way. Even so, we arrived at Huddlesford by mid afternoon and found a mooring near to The Plough where we decided to spend our last evening. As we have mentioned before, it is a very welcoming and dog friendly pub, and we had another really good meal.

We were in no rush to get away on Saturday morning. As we were preparing to go, we got chatting to the people on the boat moored behind us. They now lived in Bristol, but it transpired that they used to literally live around the corner from us and they have some very close friends who live almost opposite us - what a small world it can be at times.

Chaos at Fradley Junction

We were quite lucky with our timing as we arrived at Fradley. Just one boat ahead of us to go up the locks, but by the time we entered the lock, there were six behind us and the queue above Shade House Lock to come down was even longer. Wood End Lock was also very busy going towards Fradley, but having gone straight through, we decided to enjoy the rest of the day and moored up in Ravenshaw Wood for a few hours before finally having to face the facts and return to the marina.

Chilling out in Ravenshaw Wood

We have enjoyed a lovely trip with the weather improving as we went on. We have totally chilled out in some peaceful surroundings, and have only watched the TV once in a fortnight. Putting my watch back on felt strange too (I never wear it on the boat).

Canalplan reckons the trip to be - Total distance is 224 miles, 3¾ furlongs and 86 locks.

Oh well it's back to reality on Monday for us both. I wish this retirement lark would hurry up !!!

The Golden Spot

It is said that you always remember where you were at significant events in history...the shooting of JFK, the death of Princess Diana etc. Well what about three Olympic gold medals in the space of 45 minutes at a home Olympics. The spot where we were moored on the Coventry Canal on Saturday night is our 'Golden Spot' - just beyond Hademore Farm Bridge.

We had decided to spend the weekend aboard with our good friends Steve & Madeleine. The forecast of 'torrential downpours' was not good, but we were determined to make the most of it. We left Kings Bromley just after midday on Saturday in bright sunshine and made our way down towards Fradley. Approaching Woodend Lock, we came across Louise's 'boss' and his partner who were spending their first weekend aboard their new boat 'Fly'. We had a chat with them as we descended the lock and then got through Fradley quite easily, turning right onto the Coventry.

We had a pleasant run down to Huddlesford with Steve taking the helm for a while before mooring up outside The Plough where we stopped for a pint (or two) and a meal. The food was good and reasonably priced, plus it is dog friendly too. We watched the Olympics, seeing the womens cycling team pursuit take gold in a new world record. As we ate, the heavens opened, so we were glad of our surroundings. 

We then moved down to our 'Golden Spot' surprised to see only a couple of other boats on a normally very popular mooring location. The atmosphere inside the Olympic Stadium was electric. It was pointless looking for a friend of ours who had been lucky enough to get a ticket - how lucky was she !!!

We had a great night shouting home Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah (what a race that was). At least we weren't moored too close to anyone else as we were a bit loud !!!

After one of Louises special breakfasts, Sunday saw us travel down towards Fazeley, before winding and heading back towards Fradley. The sunshine defied the forecast of heavy showers until we approached Fradley when we endured 20 minutes of torrential rain, just as we were working through the locks. By the time we cleared Fradley, the sunshine was out again for the run back to Kings Bromley. A great weekend with great company.

Happy Birthday Mum.

Today saw us have a nice leisurely cruise from Kings Bromley to Huddlesford Junction and return. The occasion was an excuse to get out the marina really, but it coincided with Johns Mums birthday this week and she's always up for a trip out. She used to holiday with us on the boats, but due to poor health, limits her time now to days out, so what better 'present' to celebrate her 88th birthday.

'The birthday girl'

We left Kings Bromley at about 10am and tootled down towards Fradley. The rhododendrons are beginning to bloom, but the hot spell this coming week (fingers crossed) should mean they are soon spectacular. 

A short queue at Wood End lock (as always) and then down into Fradley and through the swingbridge. We noticed that the volunteer lock-keepers were again on duty at Junction Lock. Not sure yet whether I'm for the idea or not, but I do find it hard to knock folks with such enthusiasm, although we didn't require their services today.

At this point Louise realised she had omitted to bring a crucial ingredient for lunch....... bread !! Off she went to the shop at Fradley Junction telling herself to stay calm in the event that they didn't stock a loaf, but as luck would have it there were two left and so she relieved them of one and they relieved her of £1.50 for the privilege.

Once we had the full requirements for lunch, we cruised down as far as Huddlesford Junction and winded before mooring up for lunch near to the proposed new Pridewater Marina just beyond Streethay. We had passed a couple of months ago and were expecting to note some progress, but there appears to be none at all. Having checked the internet tonight I see that the opening has been delayed until May 2013 due to issues regarding connection of services....Hmmmm I wonder !! It was also nice to see The Plough has reopened and it was quite busy. Just hope that the prices are more sensible than in previous times.

It's been a long day zzzzzzzz 

Nest in the brickwork

After lunch, John walked Jasper back towards Fradley. He is now 14 weeks old and quite happy to walk alongside us off the lead and enjoyed the sounds and smells of the towpath, before spending the rest of the journey fast asleep. 

There were plenty of gongoozlers at Fradley, not that Joyce noticed as she was fast asleep, much to the amusement of those on the towpath.

As we got up to Wood End Lock, our marina 'neighbour' appeared on his bike  and was rewarded with a cold beer for locking us through. 

On entering the lock we noticed a nest in the brickwork of the bridge which was full of baby chicks. We presume swallows, but no adults about to raise the awareness of passers by. We just hope that they survive their precarious position

You can just about see the chicks

Next weekend sees us off out for 9-10 days, heading for Coventry initially as we have tickets to see 'Coldplay' in concert, and then off up the Ashby for the Diamond Jubilee weekend. Let's hope the weather improves as predicted.

Total 12.5 miles  6 locks