Tampa to Stone via Somerset.

We saw the blood red moon from 42,000 ft, well not so much blood red more of a tomato soup colour. Holiday over, it was now time to get back to the boat from LGW via Somerset to collect a chair we had stored there.

We left Somerset at 04:30 and were having a coffee in a Stafford Costa just after 07:00 while we waited for the Radford Bank Inn to open at 08:00, there we partook of a breakfast buffet for £3.99.

Back on the boat it is a fine day -  I removed the solar panels and boxes, rubbed down the roof and gave it a pre-coat. The chimney collar was rubbed down and a coat of stove enamel applied, next job was to put the secondry glazing  back up, it only seems like a few weeks ago it came down when in fact it was 7 months ago.

Stone to Tampa via Somerset.

I haven't posted for a while so here's a quick update.

I finally managed to get a top coat on FL's roof before depositing the wrinkly back in Somerset.

We needed a bit of a holiday after three weeks of the being in close confinement with MIL, so we made our way to Gatwick where we got in the pointy end of a plane bound for Tampa - we are relaxing in the peace and quiet with our pals Glyn & Christine. Who on the first day were beginning to turn into the holiday company from hell.

On the way from Tampa airport Glyn managed to slam his fingers in the boot of the hire car and on our first night out Christine tripped over and cracked her elbow on the curb.

A pair of crocs

Christine got sorted out at the local walk in centre while Glyn required the help of the odd job man at the hotel with pliers and hacksaw to remove a ring from his swelling appendage.... Glyn is bemoaning the fact that his golf swing will be affected - his ability to hang on to a cold bottle of Coors lite has not.

Floridians bless them don't know the Rugby World Cup is on -  much less that the USA have a team competing in it. There is absolutely no mention of it on any of the channels available in the hotel (very insular our hosts are). We did find a paddy pub - Mickey Quinns - who obliged us to switch from baseball to the rugby so we could watch England v Fiji, we will be back there for the Wales game

Cormorants are friendly too.

Taken on a sunset dinner cruise out of Clearwater.

To my Canadian audience (Stuart & Co) normal service will be resumed shortly.

Kindle Fire

I have been using a Kindle Fire primarily to download  BBC programs and films from the BBC iplayer to watch at a later date, this has worked very well.

Since 1st Sept I get a pop up message saying my addition of the Kindle Fire(second edition) will no longer support the download facility but can still stream content. Streaming is ok but on the canal can be hit & miss becoming frustrating when you watch the spinning wheel buffering more than the program.

Not very happy about this I contacted the mighty Amazon to complain. Upshot is if I want to continue downloading from the BBC iplayer I will need to buy their latest incarnation of Kindle Fire for £299...no thanks. I am now looking for a cheaper option.

Stoned

Wednesday-We had a late start from Salt, it's fine Staffordshire countryside along here, the railway runs close to the canal from here to beyond Stone but does not effect this rural location one bit.



Aston Marina was the next port of call to get rid of the dumpables, there has been a new huge event building built on the site since the last time we were here, the facilities block for boaters is still in the same unfinished state as when we left.

We moved off after Sue went for a quick hello with friends Jim & Joan. Up Aston lock and a familiar cruise into Stone, we stopped for water before Star lock then reversed back to the winding hole and turned FL around and went in search of a mooring, the bank was full of boats and our 'can't walk far guest' wasn't happy when we moored half a mile from town. It took a bit of persuasion but she came with us to the post office to pick up a package from home, we had a sit down in Costa's before we returned to the boat.

Friday- its been 200 hours engine hours since FL had her oil and filters changed so I set about the task. Two hours later fresh oil was in the sump and all oil and fuel filters had been changed.

We walked Tuttsey back into Stone, we had to stop 5 times so she could catch her breath, here we met up with our mate Roly and his friend Graham in the Royal Exchange, Laurance and later Michelle welcomed us back into the fold......

later we took Betty for a fish and chip supper in the local Wetherspoons. With a couple of glasses of wine consumed she was able to walk back to FL without the need to stop once!

Saturday after a stroll around Stone's monthly farmers market we met up for a proper catch up with Jim & Joan and  Bev & Roly in the Titanic pub.

Salt

Dry day when I got up to deliver cups of tea to either end of the boat to a sleepy crew, Sue got spoiled with breakfast in bed, a bagel from a batch that I made yesterday, with some boat made marmalade (not FL but from EHC), I made myself a bacon bagel...........  Tuttsey got up and made her own. 

Heading off to Haywood Junction it was dry but fleece weather - for me anyway - other crews around seem to make do with t-shirts only. At the junction the water point had two boats on it with four other boats waiting. Sue hopped off with a bag of rubbish and jumped aboard at the bridge ole after the turn.

So a busy start to September which continued at Hoo Mill Lock where we were fouth in the queue to ascend. Once through we did the next pound on tick over, at Weston lock the last of the queue were entering the lock as FL pulled on to the landing.

We moored FL up below Salt Bridge (82) and walked to the Holly Bush for lunch. It's much easier getting Wrinkly to exercise when there is a glass of chardonay at the end of it. 

Tixall Wide.

The last few days we have made our way off the Coventry canal and joined the Trent & Mersey canal. We had a night at Fradley Junction and a meal at The Swan (aka Mucky Duck ). No proper pies from the Swan's kitchen ...  a bowl of stew with a  puff pastry hat. These concoctions served up in 'gastro pubs' are no more a pie than egg & chips .....pie's have a pastry bottom sides and top ....so I had the  steak and kidney pudding instead which was very good.

Fradley is one of those villages that sprang up because of the canals. Both the CC and T&M built homes here for their workers, wharfs, warehouses alongside the pub.

The Armatage Shanks 'head's' factory was passed at Rugeley, an appropriately named boat moored near by.

We moored below Taft bridge, the small holding opposite had fuel for sale for 60ppl. ..we didn't need any. Late evening a balloon was trying to land in the field opposite, the burners soon roared on when the basket drifted near to power cables.... you wouldn't get me up in one of those things.

Sunday we moved along the canal and took the left on to the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal and grabbed a premium mooring at Tixall Wide.

Colwich lock shed.

Lifting a boat shed into position at Streethay Wharf.

Today is bank holiday Monday, it tipped down all night, the rain looks set for the rest of the day. So we might not move unless wrinkly forces me into my wet gear for some quiet time at the tiller ;)

I have now renamed her tuttsey because of the more than occasional tutting sound which seems to be aimed in my direction.

Hartshill to Hopwas.

Up in good time to get to the 11 locks that make up the Atherstone flight. Steamboat Adamant was in front of us descending the locks. They are heading for the Steam boat rally at Alvecote.

Sue & Betty help with the lock for steam boat Adamant.

Betty helps out on the Atherstone locks. No6 -  5 more to go.

Combine harvester has been busy.

Three steam boats moored at Alvecote.

First of the Tamworth two locks.

We've had a long day, sunny spells, a few showers and plenty of banter with other crews. We are now  moored at Hopwas 15 miles and 13 locks from where we started.

Coventry Canal.

It tipped down overnight and a flyboat woke us passing at 01:30.

FL was untied from the bank at 08:30, it was threatening rain but a fellow boater out on the towpath in a fetching onesy walking his dog assured me rain had finished for the day... he was right.

Todays cruise started by passing under the canopy that borders All Oak Wood, the landscape beyond is of rolling farmland angled down to the canal. At Stretton Stop not many of Rose Narrow boats hire fleet are out. Sue opened the small pedestrian swing bridge before capturing the milkman on his delivery's for a bottle of milk - yes a bottle! - haven't seen one of those in years.

A narrow cutting is negotiated with care when passing oncoming craft, the M6 crosses the waterway here on a high perch. 

Beyond the village of Ansty another motorway the M69 is as noisy as it's older brother as it passes overhead. A mile further we have the railway and the M6 for company as they run parallel with the canal for a while. The Wyken Colliery arm now used as moorings for the Coventry Canal Cruising Club under an unattractive towpath bridge is past on the left.

Through Hawkesbury stop lock, I take the sharp right on to the Coventry canal, a quick stop to get rid of the dumpables and top up the water tank before continuing in brightening conditions. 

The canal skirts the town of Bedworth to Marston Junction where the lockless Ashby canal joins from the right. We stop at Boot Wharf (Starline Boats) to top u the fuel tank 65ppl. Nuneaton with it's mixture of canal side allotments and housing estates is soon behind us, we have moored close to Anchor bridge(29).

Stretton Stop.

Coventry Cruising Club.

Hawkesbury stop lock.

Ashby Canal

View from the side hatch.

Napton to All Oaks Wood.

Saturday I took the hire car back to Enterprise at Daventry, they don't do lift's back to the marina on a Saturday - cost me £20 in a cab!. While I was gone Sue and Betty went to have a chat with Linda & Richard.

Final waved goodbye's as FL headed for the Junction the right-hand turn heads towards Braunston, we stopped on a good mooring after bridge 103. The sun is hot, shorts only for me today. We had a quiet night, Wrinkles is comfortable on the new sofa which she makes up herself each night, this puffs her out & ensures she stays quiet till morning.

Sunday we got up to another bright day, setting off to another unplanned destination, which turned out to be at bridge 100 a mile further along the canal from where we started .

Sue set off on foot to shop at the Braunston butcher which is handily open Sunday mornings. I MIL sat, got the bankside chair out for her to sit in the sun so she can wave to the passing boats, she moaned that I had placed it too close to the canal edge on purpose  - she did have a point. I pulled the chair back a few feet, this put her in danger of speeding towpath cyclists.. oh well. Sue arrived back on the boat with a leg of lamb and soon after the heavens opened and didn't stop all afternoon.

Monday - I  tipped got Wrinkly off the sofa at 07:30, wanted to cast off earlyish before the forecast rain turned up, it never did, just a few spots. We made our way into Braunston where I ordered two sausage and a bacon sandwich from Gongoozlers Rest while the water tank filled. The sandwiches were delivered as we untied to wind FL at the marina entrance.

We turned right at Braunston Turn towards Rugby, cruising through fields of cows, sheep and hay sloping down to the waters edge. Two hours later we have moored below Wise's bridge (No- 80). It has just started to tip down.

Tuesday - We pulled the pins at 07:50, the M45  was already noisy when we passed beneath and on to the Barby Straight, at  Hillmorton bottom lock a lock keeper is letting water down to a shallow pound below. Asked Wrinkles if she would like to get off the boat for a bit of exercise walking between the locks, she refused - finding it much harder to get her moving on this trip.

At Masters Bridge in Rugby, we pull a huge plastic fence out of the canal, a Willow Wren day boat nearly sideswipes us coming out of their boatyard cutting. We overtake them before the Newbold tunnel, Lime Farm Marina has a sign up for cheap diesel 65ppl for domestic and 115ppl for propulsion- we paid 107.9p for fuel for the hire car so not that cheap here. We moored half a mile north of Brinklow Marina on the boundary of All Oaks Wood just as the skies were darkening

View from the hatch.

Nuptials

We have just got back to the boat after leaving it in Wigrams Marina while we attended our nephew Stephen's wedding. On the way we picked up my outlaw in Somerset, she has come back to the boat and I wont be able to get rid of her for a few weeks unless she get's pushed falls into a lock.

The wedding was lovely individually crafted by the couple with some nice original touches, the best man speech had everyone rocking with laughter, the day was a little overcast with sea mist which meant the ceremony had to be switched to inside the venue, but the love glowing from Stephen & Bridget plus the beaming smiles of both sets of parents, family and friends kept the occasion bright and sunny.

Stephen, Bridget, Kyle & Chris.

Sue with the happy couple.

Carol, Betty & Sue.

It was gone midnight by the time we got to bed, (we aren't used to that these days), not because we were jiving on the dance floor all evening, these days a comfy seat and watch the youngsters do their thing is more our style.

Me & the Mrs.

Goodbye friends.

Since the last post life on the canal has continued in the same vane as the previous 6 weeks. That is to say we have had quiet days where I have put more bl##dy paint on the roof (I once said maintenance on a boat was enjoyable) - after two and half coats of primer and one of undercoat it's started to get a bit monotonous. 

As well as being hampered/rushed by the weather, the high density rollers that I bought from Midland Swindlers are useless (after a short time the foam sleeve detaches from it's own inner core and bits of the foam come off in the paint). I used all six I bought to do one undercoat!

To offset this we have had some good times with our boating pals, Saturday evening at the Folly Inn was great fun, thanks to Linda for booking the table. 

The Folly Inn

Ray, Andy & Richard - happy in hats - ( pic by Linda)

So that was to be our final get together for some time, and as with the general rhythm of the canal it was time for us all to go our separate ways. We headed  to Wigrams Marina to leave FL while we attend a wedding. Our sofa and dinette cushions have arrived from Elite Furnishings and the leather captain chairs have found new homes in two different narrowboats.

One last sit in the captain's chair.

To Braunston

The plan for a sunny day like today was to stay put and rub-down the last section of FL's roof, but before the second wake up cup of tea of the morning, it had changed. Sue still needed a hairdresser- we have a wedding to attend next week - so we pressed on destination Braunston, I need more paint and Braunston has two chandlers to choose from.

Marston Doles our first lock of the day has a lock keeper, once FL is through the lock the water levels improve and are good all the way to the top of the Napton flight which is a first for FL when passing this way. 

Napton Hill, the windmill, locks, boats and the water buffalo all looked super in the afternoon sun. 

On the run into Braunston an Armada hire boat was holding a queue of boats up as the skipper did the right thing and slowed for moored boats. Unfortunately, he almost came to a standstill, when confronted with the oncoming craft he did in fact stop - this caused the boat to have no steerage and the bow swung into the path of other boats. 

When Sue suggested to the skipper that he would have better control by keeping the revs a little higher she was met with a " Don't kin patronize me". Well, we were, but in the verb sense of 'support' or 'assist' - as we try to do with all crews needing pointers whether they are hirers or not. We cruised past them and wished them well.

We moored just before Butcher's bridge, Sue went to the hairdressers while I went to Midland Swindlers Chandlers where I paid £54 for the same tin of primer I paid £42 at Oxford Cruisers on the Thames, who said the Thames was expensive.  Wharf House chandlers didn't have the undercoat I wanted but it should be in stock by Friday.

We got rid of dumpables and topped the water tank before leaving busy Braunston and mooring for the night below bridge 100 on the GU canal.

Slat Mill to Knotts Bridge.

4.57am photo of a misty Slat Mill lock.

We pulled the boat forward on the ropes to Slat Mill lock, we didn't want to disturb the neighbours, it was 06:30 when the gates were opened, the engine started and FL tiptoed into the lock.

Slat Mill lock

A few boats were moving at this hour, all having the same idea of getting through Cropredy early - we did get through smoothly, there was only one pinch point but nothing to concern skippers too much.

We were on our own through Broadmoor, Varney's and Elkinson locks but at the Claydon flight, other boats with colourful crews were descending towards the festival. 

Some boats were getting in the festival mood.

Double mooring both sides of canal in Cropredy.

Fenny Compton was our lunch stop, Sue went to have a haircut at The Wharf Inn while I did a bit more painting. The painting got done, the haircut did not as the salon was shut.

At 15:00 we cruised 4 lock-free miles to moor above Knotts bridge from here we can see the windmill on Napton hill across the valley.

Sheep line up to get to the top.