tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71668729299909066972024-02-07T10:11:37.925+00:00From Alpacas to NarrowboatsThe adventures of Glen and Terry through the canals and rivers of England on NB Parrindi.Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-16526691474568641692019-10-04T13:04:00.000+01:002019-10-04T13:04:05.870+01:00Parrindi travels 2019 Part 4<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;">After Sharron left to return home to Ruffy we left lovely Chester to continue our journey. It started to rain so we moored up again outside the Cheshire Cat Hotel just south of Chester.<br /><br />Next day we decided to go to the famous Chester Zoo. It was still school holidays so lots of visitors were there. It’s a lovely zoo with very large natural enclosures for each species of animal. We especially liked the young rhinoceros which was running round and round his mum in their paddock. Must happen often because she had that ‘oh no - not again’ look on her face! Went through the bat building where it’s very dark with bats flying all over the place. One lady freaked out and nearly fainted when a bat came too close to her head so she had to be helped out by the attendant. We went on the monorail that gave a good overview of the whole zoo.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Prehistoric animals on display</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chester Rail monorail</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />Back on the boat we travelled back along the lovely Shropshire Canal to the historic town of Nantwich where we spent a few days relaxing. Caught up with Bob again before we moved off to the Middlewich Canal which connects the Shropshire Canal with the Trent & Mersey Canal. This area still produces lots of salt and we went past a few factories where it was being processed.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Original grocers in Nantwich</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;">We caught a train to Manchester and then another to the seaside holiday venue of Blackpool. This place has been on Terry’s wish-list every year we have been visiting the UK. We had booked two nights at the Savoy Hotel, a huge Edwardian hotel which, in its heyday, would have been quite opulent. But - like most of Blackpool it’s sadly in need of updating. There are about 5 miles of beachfront with 3 piers that all have heaps of slot machines, dodgems & merry-go- rounds, fairy floss & fast food stalls. etc etc. Have never seen so many tattooed people with mohawk & other gobstopper hairstyles! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bacon bap (roll) wedding breakfast!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Contributing to Blackpool's economy</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">We went up the famous 518 feet tall Blackpool Tower completed in 1894 and our entry ticket included a 4D film (where we were sprayed with water) then up to the top of the Tower which gave a terrific view all over Blackpool. The floor was made of glass which was a bit scary looking down. We then went down to the 2nd floor to the stunning Blackpool Tower Ballroom where two huge Wurlitzer organs played for the dancers whizzing around the ballroom. We spent nearly three hours there as the music was so good and it was interesting watching the dancers, including some very professional pairs who were practicing their steps.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;">We stayed a couple of nights at Middlewich where we had the boat heater serviced then started up ‘heartbreak hill’ (think it should have been called ‘backbreaker hill’) before we reached Kidsgrove and the entrance to the Harecastle Tunnel. Designed by Thomas Telford, the Tunnel which was finished in 1827, took 14 years to build (only using picks & shovels of course). It’s not wide enough to have a towpath so in the beginning before boats had motors they had to be ‘legged’ through. This was where a plank of wood was laid across the bows – and fellows lying across it pulled the boat along by literally walking on the walls. Pretty tough work in the pitch black of the Tunnel!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />This was the third time for us through the 1.5 mile Harecastle that takes 40 minutes to travel along so it was not as intimidating as the first time we went through in 2012. </span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">We didn’t manage to see the tunnel ghost (a headless woman) and although there are a few spots where the tunnel leaks it wasn’t as wet as when we came out the east side into pouring rain. We only went a short distance to moor up overnight at Westport Lakes on the outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent. When the rain stopped we found it was a lovely park with many water-birds on the large lake and lots of walkers enjoying the scenery.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Old chemist advertising</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />Next day we moved the short distance to Stoke and moored up in front of the Toby Carvery where we had moored up a couple of times in previous years. Still showery weather so after doing the Stoke township we caught a bus to Leek, a quaint historic market town which was very big back in the silk manufacturing and embroidery days.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We moved the boat to the Stoke Marina where we were leaving it while we went to Portugal for 10 days. Caught the train from Stoke to Manchester where we were to catch the 6.30 pm plane to Portugal. It took off all right but half an hour later the pilot announced there was a problem so we would be returning to Manchester. We were flying really low above the ground and went over the desolated moors where the plane suddenly tipped sideways. Thought “this is it” but the pilot managed to get us back to Manchester where we had a fast bumpy landing. We were escorted by fire trucks and emergency vehicles past all the terminals until we were out in the open. We sat there for an hour or so while mechanics came and went then the passengers were bussed back to the terminal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We were eventually loaded back on the plane after midnight and took off about 12.30 a.m. There were, however, some people who decided not to attempt the flight again (not helped by the friendly hostess who said “the plane’s probably alright to fly now”!). The pilot informed the passengers that the problem had been a height sensor’s input into the plane’s computer. We had let Sooz know what was happening so at midnight she booked us into a Lisbon city hotel and arranged for a car to meet us at the airport that had to remain open until we landed. It was just as well as we didn’t arrive into Lisbon until 3.30 a.m. which was far too late for the B&B man where we were actually booked in to meet us with the front door key.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />Next morning we made our way to our B&B that was a lovely apartment in Lapa, a suburb of Lisbon. It’s an incredible city built on seven hills. Our place was at the top of a steep hill with a view over the River Tejo which is so wide it looks more like a large harbour. All the footpaths are paved with cobblestones and we quickly found out that some are really slippery. The roads are also paved with larger black cobblestones - think it might be to help cars grip on the steep hills. There was a little narrow-gauge tramway near our apartment that we caught into one of the many squares in the town where we were able to top-up some travel cards that a stranger in the street had given us.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We took a ride on ‘The Hillside Tram’ that went up and down most of the hills through incredibly tight streets. In some places the pedestrians have to step into doorways as the tram goes past as the streets are so narrow. Lisbon is a very attractive city with many of the buildings either painted bright colours or with beautiful tiled fronts. Sooz and Ten had said that most people in Portugal could speak English but we found this was not the case so we found it hard-going asking for directions or trying to choose food from menus written only in Portuguese. They drive on the other side of the road too so we had trouble adjusting to that as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We caught a tourist tram to Belem, a nearby beach suburb where we saw the Church at the Jeronimos Monastery where we waited in a long queue to get in. Also visited the Maritime Museum next door that was interesting with lots of displays about the early explorers. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;">When we arrived in Belem we noticed the ‘famous’ cake shop that sells Portuguese (custard) tarts. As well the shop has a 400-seat restaurant that only serves these pastries. The queue went right around the corner so we decided not to wait. Later that night after we had dinner we noticed that there were only a dozen or so people waiting so we ended up buying half a dozen tarts to sample. The shop makes 25,000 tarts each day! We decided that they were actually too fresh and not as nice as the ones we had at a different cafe at lunch time.<o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The famous Portugese tart shop</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />Sooz, Ten and the girls had been staying for 2 weeks of the ‘big’ school holidays at a country house in north Portugal with London friends but they met our train from Lisbon in the town of Sintra. We went to the lovely airbnb house they had rented in nearby Colares. The swimming pool was an instant hit with the girls, as the weather was really quite hot. There are lots of surf beaches in the area but it’s the Atlantic Ocean and apparently the water is freezing! Rita (Ten’s Mum) flew in from London but there was plenty of room in the house, even coping with a ‘sleepover’ with the 3 children of Georgia and Michael, long-time friends of Sooz who now live in Portugal, adding to the numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We all went to the Qinta da Regaleita Castle in Sintra which had an amazing garden full of statues on many levels with a 60 feet well which led down to underground caverns and waterfalls.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We flew out of Lisbon on Saturday afternoon back to Manchester airport via Dublin. Sooz etc were driving back to London because they had Desmond the dog so it was a 20-hour drive home for them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />Next day we met Jeni (who we know from our alpaca show days) at the Stoke station. She had been on a tour of Cornwall and wanted a ‘narrowboat experience’ with us. We set out and immediately had 4 locks to go through so she certainly had to learn quickly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;">Next morning we visited the Wedgwood Museum. The visit goes through the factory area where the famous pottery is made. Incredible to see the artists painting - the work is so fine that some of their brushes seem to have only a couple of hairs. One man was painting a dinner plate that takes him 7 days to complete and retails for over £1400. Talking to some of the workers it was sad to learn that they are losing their jobs before Christmas as most of the Wedgwood pottery is now made in Malaysia, as this is more economical. This has already happened to a number of the other famous potteries in Stoke. We had lunch at the Wedgwood Cafe and then managed to buy a Wedgwood teapot at the ‘seconds shop’ that doesn’t drip!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Joshua Wedgwood</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;">Moved off and moored up at Stone which is a busy market town. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;">Next day we travelled to Great Haywood where we visited the National Trust property -Shugborough Hall. There was interesting display about the two brothers who originally built the mansion back in the 1600s. Following the death of the 4th Earl of Lichfield in 1960, the estate passed to the National Trust in lieu of death duties. It was immediately leased to the Staffordshire County Council who managed and maintained it on behalf of the National Trust, with Lord Lichfield paying a nominal rent for a large 35 room apartment upstairs at the Hall until his death in 2005. The Lord, who was quite a famous photographer, was a first cousin of the Queen and the apartment is filled with Royal family photos and photos of other notable people - many attending his famous lavish parties at the Hall. His successor, the 6th Earl, decided to relinquish the lease of the apartment, severing the family's direct links with the estate. In 2016 the Staffordshire County Council handed the estate back to the National Trust with 49 years remaining on its lease</span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This was the servants quarters</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The washing machines</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We travelled along the Trent and Mersey Canal with a few locks to operate and then through a couple of canal junctions until we reached the Coventry Canal. Had overnight stops at Rugeley, Tamworth and Nuneaton along the way. One afternoon we were mooring up at one spot when the old fellow opposite invited us to moor on his side of the canal in front of his house. Within a couple of minutes Eric had invited us in to meet his wife Doreen and have a cup of tea with them. They were a lovely couple that have been married 62 years and Eric has been twice President of the IWA (Inland Waterways Association). They gave us some home-grown tomatoes, blackberries and apples out of their garden and next morning when we were saying our goodbyes Doreen handed us two lace-work plates which are traditional narrowboat ware.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Eric and Doreen</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Australia has just won the Ashes!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;">We stopped at Hawkesbury Junction for a traditional Sunday roast at the Greyhound Pub and then continued on to moor up at the Coventry Basin. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;">Next day started out drizzly but we walked into town to see the Lady Godiva statue and also the amusing Peeping Tom who peers out every hour as the clock strikes. We then went to St Mary’s Guildhall which is one of the finest surviving medieval guildhalls in England. It was first built in the 1340s for the merchant guild of St. Mary, then enlarged between 1394 and 1414 and extensively embellished at the end of the fifteenth century. It was the headquarters for the mayor and city leaders until the early twentieth century, when Coventry's present Council House was built. Important visitors have included Mary, Queen of Scots and good old Bill Shakespeare.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />In the Great Hall, the Coventry Tapestry manufactured around 1500 is recognised as one of the rarest and most important examples in the country. It’s 9 metres wide and 3 metres high and depicts the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. This magnificent artwork dominates the north wall of the Great Hall, and displays both the skill of its Flemish weavers, and the wealth of the city of Coventry at the end of the fifteenth century.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We then went to the Coventry Cathedral, (St Michael's Church) which was largely constructed between the late 14th century and early 15th century. It was one of the largest parish churches in England. This Cathedral now stands ruined, bombed almost to destruction during the Coventry Blitz of 14 November 1940 by the German Luftwaffe. Only the tower, spire, and part of the outer walls survived. The spire rises to 90 metres and is the tallest structure in the city. It’s also the third tallest cathedral spire in England, with only Salisbury and Norwich cathedrals higher. </span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial;">The Queen consecrated the current St Michael’s Cathedral, built next to the remains of the old cathedral in 1962. It’s a magnificent building with immense stained glass windows and one of the largest tapestries in the world behind the altar.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We found the medieval Spon Street but felt that the ancient buildings were not represented well with LED lighting festooned over the front of them and inappropriate signage. Thought it spoilt the whole effect of the ancient buildings.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />Jeni, who ended up working 37 locks on her voyage with us, left next morning by train for a one-night stopover in London before flying back to Melbourne.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We backtracked up the Coventry Canal to Marston Junction and then onto the Ashby Canal. This canal was originally planned to meet up with the Trent & Mersey Canal but this didn’t happen. We made it to Market Bosworth which is near the Battle of Bosworth Field which was the last big battle of the War of the Roses fought in 1485. King Richard III, the last King of the House of York, was killed in the battle.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />A Battlefield Line heritage train ride was advertised at Market Bosworth but it turned out to be a 1957 diesel train which we caught for the 10 minute ride to the Shackerstone Station which had a museum, Victorian tea room, souvenir shop, loco shed and some very rusty rolling stock. We then boarded the train to Shenton, another very old station then back to Market Bosworth. Apparently the heritage steam train costs £700 to run so it’s only used at the weekends when there are more passengers to make it worthwhile.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We returned back down the 10 Foxton Locks flight to our marina where we packed up the boat. On the last afternoon Terry did a quick patch-up paint job on a few places as we thought we had booked the boat in to be painted next April but somehow got that wrong and we have to wait until April 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We went down to London on the train where we were ‘babysitters’ for Olive and Iris over the weekend while Sooz and Ten flew to Ukraine for a friend’s wedding. Olive, now in Grade 6 had been away on a school camp for 3 nights where they slept in tents and had to do their own cooking. Said it was “so much fun” but she’s in the Cubs and so it was not so daunting for her as for some of her classmates who had never done anything like that before.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />On the last Thursday in London we visited Buckingham Palace, including the Royal Mews where the horses used by the Palace guards are stabled. Some of the Royal carriages were on display, including the magnificent 4 ton gold coronation coach. We also went to the Queen’s Gallery where currently many of Leonardo daVinci’s sketches are on show. Never realised that as well as being a great artist he was also an astronomer, designer (drawings show a helicopter he designed), weapon designer and he also dissected human and animal bodies so he could get the muscles and joints as true to life as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We then went into the Buckingham Palace Staterooms which are currently focussed on the work Queen Victoria and Prince Albert put into enlarging and modernising the Palace to make it a family home. They did have 9 children! The 19 staterooms rooms are absolutely breathtaking with so much gold leaf, huge chandeliers, artworks and furniture on display. Thought Liz and Phil might invite us in for a cuppa but apparently they were up in Scotland. Maybe next time.....<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />So our journey for 2019 is over. Seems ages since we started out in May. Highlights this year were the Llangollen Canal in Wales with its Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the music Eistedford at Llangollen and our visit to Portugal. All up we have travelled on 8 canals, worked 280 locks, gone under countless bridges, met some lovely people, had visits from our London family, Sharron and Jeni (thank you to all of them for helping with the locks during their stays) and had reasonably good weather.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;"><br />We spent a couple of nights in Brunei to break the long flight on the way back home. Weather there is tropical with temperatures in the 30s - even at night - so it was a quiet restful break as we had seen the few touristy things in Brunei on previous stays.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Now home and back into the agarden that, of course, is bursting forth with the spring growth of weeds.<br /><br />Til next year..........</span></span><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-54819833626064731712019-08-08T17:15:00.000+01:002019-08-08T17:15:07.642+01:00Parrindi travels Part 3<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Continuing on in Wales. We left the boat moored up a couple
of miles from Llangollen and caught the bus into Wrexham. The bus was a
double-decker and of course we went upstairs to the front row for the best
view. The buses which run between the local villages are fitted out on the top
deck with tables having wi-fi connections just like long-distance buses.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The boat's Begonias this year</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">We had a look around Wrexham which is quite a large market
town with all the usual big stores. Visited St Giles Church which dates from
the 15th century with the 135 feet tower being completed in 1506. There have
been a few additions over the centuries since but it’s still pretty amazing. It
was the ‘Church Mouse Festival’ when we were there. The whole church had 1000s
of knitted mice in every nook and cranny. Must have taken the knitters of
Wrexham months to make so many mice - all with different themed costumes too.
Had a look over the small museum and went to the Tourist Bureau where the
lovely ladies there told us about a Big Jazz Band concert being held nearby
that night.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="color: white;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">We checked into The Lemon Tree Hotel and after a lovely
dinner there we booked a taxi to the Concert. Turned out to be at the Steel
Worker’s Club - way out in the countryside. The band, with 20 musicians,
hold concerts there every month with only about 20 regulars in the audience
enjoying the music led by band-leader Bill Basey. At interval they asked Terry
to draw the raffle when they found out we were visiting ‘all the way from
Melbourne ‘. Terry managed to pick out his own number - how embarrassing! So
the evening ended up only costing about £10 (including a box of chocolates won
in the raffle). We didn’t even have to book a taxi back to Wrexham as one of
the trumpet players gave us a lift.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaWkOn4f120lFMGBfomoO0n2wXe_EjNEISzw7acq-CQ42MhxYIrDHWrqU3BQO2kGFpJfWGmEDoYepdbb1NhoCrMJj2NJByLkr9bTW_GG4_JHNJIc_pNZg9n9yLtEnYou-abktJKErnZ0/s1600/IMG_2456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="616" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaWkOn4f120lFMGBfomoO0n2wXe_EjNEISzw7acq-CQ42MhxYIrDHWrqU3BQO2kGFpJfWGmEDoYepdbb1NhoCrMJj2NJByLkr9bTW_GG4_JHNJIc_pNZg9n9yLtEnYou-abktJKErnZ0/s640/IMG_2456.jpg" width="616" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Lemon Tree Hotel in Wrexham</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="color: white;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Having great fun with the Welsh language. Nearly all the
signs are written in Welsh with the English version underneath in smaller
print. The written Welsh looks totally different e.g. the word for Wales is
Cyrmu and even the ‘Slow’ sign on the road is ‘Araf’. We get puzzled looks when
we ask for directions as we’re obviously not pronouncing the town names
correctly. The letters K, Q, V, X and Z are not included in the Welsh alphabet,
but they seem to double up on ll, dd, ff, etc. in most words. Our favourite
town of Llangollen is pronounced as Klangothen’ (or something that sounds like
that!)</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHaubiVkbnG97O02vNmggIrTnI0s8r75B8VYSPMIrtrIOdgHOICfFDkKtEbh34rEX_t8jLS-IFtcCeyhTRd5PA877IW34ef2sU3nCQmb2CltUhkg3Jc72V1IfqyWojlr_DzgKPGuy9wU/s1600/IMG_2802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHaubiVkbnG97O02vNmggIrTnI0s8r75B8VYSPMIrtrIOdgHOICfFDkKtEbh34rEX_t8jLS-IFtcCeyhTRd5PA877IW34ef2sU3nCQmb2CltUhkg3Jc72V1IfqyWojlr_DzgKPGuy9wU/s640/IMG_2802.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Next morning we collected our hire car and set out to see the
north coast of Wales. We stopped at Rhyl which is obviously a beach holiday
destination with lots of fun fairs and amusement parks but it was just about
deserted when we arrived. It looked a bit dismal with the tide completely out,
drizzling rain and a cool wind blowing so maybe all the holiday people were
hiding indoors. We learned later that it all ‘kicks off’ the following week
when the big school holidays start.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">We continued along the coast to Conwy which is a walled city
with a large castle which Terry thought we had seen years ago. (Later we
realised it was a different castle we had seen.). We walked over the Suspension
Bridge at the castle built by Thomas Telford in 1826 and then headed for town.
A very touristy place but it started to rain quite heavily so we had lunch to
get out of the rain.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">We then walked down to the harbour and found ‘The Smallest
House in Great Britain ‘ which is a one up, one down cottage measuring just 72
inches across, 122 inches high and 120 inches deep. The last tenant was a 6'
3" fisherman called Robert Jones who lived there until 1990 (must have
been bit of a squeeze for him) when the cottage was deemed unfit for human
occupation.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">We walked back to town and found the National Trust property,
Aberconwy House, which is a 14th century merchant’s house. It’s thought to be
the oldest surviving town house in Wales. It was very dark inside with all the
blinds kept down as daylight can damage the furnishings. The National Trust
does some incredible work in restoring these properties and they are staffed by
very knowledgeable volunteers.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Leaving Conwy we drove to nearby Llandudno and up the Great
Orme - a huge hill nearly 700 feet high, which has a cable car, ski slopes and
a Tramway. It was still drizzling rain so we decided to have a ride on the
Great Orme Tramway. This Tramway commenced running in 1903 using steam from
coke-fired boilers. This was replaced by electrically powered engines in 1958.
Passengers must change at the Halfway Station as the upper and lower sections
operate separately. There are two trams on each section which cross at passing
loops half-way along the section. Fantastic views from the top of the hill then
the tramway runs between houses as it gets down to the township, looking a bit
like the San Francisco trams. The sun came out for our return journey so we
could really appreciate the magnificent view.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">We backtracked to Old Conwy where we had booked an Airbnb for
the night. Nicky, from New Zealand, was our very friendly host for the property
which was a huge old Methodist Church. The accommodation was in the lower level
and Nicky took us upstairs where the church area, complete with balcony seating
and large organ still remain. Nicky and her husband, also a New Zealander,
presently have the property on the market as they want to return home after 9
years in the UK but if it doesn’t sell in the next two years will rethink its
use.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Next morning we set out on a lovely sunny morning for Bodnant
Gardens also run by the National Trust. Thought we would be the first to arrive
but ten minutes after opening time the car park was packed and a couple of
busloads of keen gardeners had already arrived. We visited these gardens about
twenty years ago and they are still awe-inspiring. It was here that we got the
inspiration for the Laburnum arch we planted at Ruffy. The Bodnant Archway had
finished flowering this year but there were masses of roses with glorious perfumes
and a jaw-dropping Dogwood in full flower.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9bGNsHoeg2O99HDXGx-qF-2npFlC_sA8ccTHY4JotApCrX-YYTXBGW0LPu0fZ6gEbB_PKANjI53WxNfJnaPHDt2macDT7KIJ_nfn-qw82RsfdN3aiSPHtkbFvq8xrhQZvgy1NXR4X8Q/s1600/IMG_2522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="606" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9bGNsHoeg2O99HDXGx-qF-2npFlC_sA8ccTHY4JotApCrX-YYTXBGW0LPu0fZ6gEbB_PKANjI53WxNfJnaPHDt2macDT7KIJ_nfn-qw82RsfdN3aiSPHtkbFvq8xrhQZvgy1NXR4X8Q/s640/IMG_2522.jpg" width="606" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is one tree!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Next it was Penrhyn Castle on 45 acres of grounds with views
all the way to Snowdonia. It was built in 1820 for the Pennant family who made
their money from their Welsh slate mines and Jamaican sugar where they used
slaves to work the plantations. Apparently the whole castle was designed to
show just how wealthy the family was back then. Although the actual cost of
construction is not known as much of the timber came from their own forests and
most of the labour came from the workforce at their nearby Bethesda slate
quarry it’s estimated to be worth approx £49,500,000 in today’s money!</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">This place is one of the most impressive Trust properties we
have ever visited. The house contains superb plasterwork, wood and stone
carving and fine furniture. Queen Victoria once slept in the one ton slate bed
in the State bedroom when she stayed at Penrhyn in 1859. The estate also hosts
an industrial railway museum with much of the railway stock that was used in
the slate quarries on show. In 1951, the castle and surrounding land were
accepted by the Treasury in lieu of death duties and it was handed over to the
National Trust for upkeep and to place on public display.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">We then crossed the Menai Straits to the island of Anglesey
on yet another Thomas Telford bridge (he certainly was a busy man!) and also
went across the nearby Britannia Bridge built by Robert Stephenson. Anglesey is
quite a large island and we headed inland to the village of Llangefni to the
18th century Bull Hotel where we spent the night. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Next morning we drove
right around the island which was mostly large farms with lots of black-faced
sheep. We passed through Holyhead where there’s a large shipping terminal with
heaps of ferries going across to Ireland.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Next stop was Plas Newydd, another National Trust property,
in the township of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
(yes - the longest named village in the UK). The property set on the shores of
the Menai Strait has beautiful views over the waterway. It’s connected with
Henry Paget, the 1st Marquess of Anglesey, who played a key role in the Battle
of Waterloo. The story goes that he led many charges against Napoléon’s army,
having to change horses six times as they were killed under him. He lost his
leg in the battle and was the first person to wear a fully articulated wooden
leg - which is on display at the house.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">The elegant home was redesigned by James Wyatt in the 18th
century and was radically restyled in the 1930s. Unfortunately for us the Trust
is now renovating most rooms so all the furniture and paintings were covered in
dust-cloths. However the famous mural designed by Rex Whistler for the dining
room wall was on display. This is the most incredible artwork as the Trust guide
explained. It’s 58 feet long and 14 feet high,and it’s like one of those
paintings of people where the eyes follow you around the room except this is a
seaside scene. In this mural there are lots of famous buildings from around the
world included in the town on the left side of the painting. As you move along
the room many of things in the scene somehow change with the mountains only
being in a third of the painting when you go further along, the boats move and
the paving stones with wet footprints in the foreground change direction.
Whistler, who was in love with the owner’s daughter, included many family
members in the painting as well as himself. However he reportedly didn’t earn
as much for the painting as the people who installed it on the wall.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgmeLagQtMh7peLtUVV1qIXJxnIFwmL_4naxwRIjEjzaHSwHqUEVqIDHGigq8EZgRMLjofucBSEqyyDouohbUiwfB2DW_kkN8Cj_xpb7NYR38UyDrZMpW7kkJSp-KkVtQKhfT8D4d1L0/s1600/IMG_2673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="640" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgmeLagQtMh7peLtUVV1qIXJxnIFwmL_4naxwRIjEjzaHSwHqUEVqIDHGigq8EZgRMLjofucBSEqyyDouohbUiwfB2DW_kkN8Cj_xpb7NYR38UyDrZMpW7kkJSp-KkVtQKhfT8D4d1L0/s640/IMG_2673.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the stable block!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">We drove through the Snowdonia National Park on our way back
to Newtown but unfortunately the views were mainly hidden by the persistent
drizzle and misty conditions. Luckily we had been there in the 90s so we knew
how spectacular the mountain views are on a clear day.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">We spent the night in Newtown at The Gro Hotel, a property
believed to have been built in the early 1600s for the local vicar. Only
problem then was that his church was on the opposite side of the Severn River
so he had to row across to it for Sunday services until a bridge was eventually
built. This only lasted a few years before it was washed away and he was back
to rowing across. Over the years various bridges have been built and the
building has been extended and turned into a guest house. We had quite a nice
room overlooking the garden but everything squeaked - the floorboards, the
stairs and especially Terry’s bed! It must have even kept the resident ghost
awake! We dropped the hire car back to Wrexham and then caught the bus back to
the boat.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Next day we went to Erddig, a National Trust property set in
1,200 acres of gardens and parkland near Wrexham. It was good idea that we got
a taxi from Wrexham as the driveway from the road to the entrance was over 2
miles. A rich London lawyer bought the property in 1714 and substantially
enlarged and enhanced the buildings. Unusually for those times the servants
were highly regarded with portraits, photos and verse about a number of them
over 200 years on display. One housekeeper worked for the family for 70 years!
Erddig has a treasure trove collection of furniture, textiles and rare
wallpapers. One of the conditions on handing the property over to the National
Trust in 1973 by the last squire, Philip Yorke, was that nothing was to be
removed from the house to be used in other Trust properties. Apparently the
family over seven generations were great hoarders so there are approximately
30,000 items of furniture, paintings, ornaments etc held at the house.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWEy44HCtqK2WGzn0LqufSiXj2jRo52593DyK13rMBFH3v69DHu_1OSOGzgZRzEhyphenhyphenfzsps-ZBzUGCWnZtd7CbzxI2AZUJb9niIlmtFPkshp4sgOSnhbBRzeMtjRSJKVs_5KqT5ZCNZCI/s1600/IMG_2695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWEy44HCtqK2WGzn0LqufSiXj2jRo52593DyK13rMBFH3v69DHu_1OSOGzgZRzEhyphenhyphenfzsps-ZBzUGCWnZtd7CbzxI2AZUJb9niIlmtFPkshp4sgOSnhbBRzeMtjRSJKVs_5KqT5ZCNZCI/s640/IMG_2695.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Photos & verses of some of the servants over a 200 year period</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unique shower</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Our final National Trust property to visit in Wales was Chirk
Castle which was built as a fortress in the late 13th century. It had various
owners until 1595 when it was bought by the Myddleton family for £5,000. They
turned it into a comfortable family home and the Myddletons still live in part
of the Castle today. Lovely gardens with lots of topiary hedges</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcV85wDYf7R5BvUJdRJgBHPO4Y2E211tOEPE4EWiOaEHcCxQrthYtSC2uXBECsqCvA4Qu9TPUv4UqKkv2zjs90PdrRTANChrF-TPjEdo4Df2kbXKSkIn7mSnMPVY7pYQWcMzfq9jUR1k/s1600/IMG_2766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcV85wDYf7R5BvUJdRJgBHPO4Y2E211tOEPE4EWiOaEHcCxQrthYtSC2uXBECsqCvA4Qu9TPUv4UqKkv2zjs90PdrRTANChrF-TPjEdo4Df2kbXKSkIn7mSnMPVY7pYQWcMzfq9jUR1k/s640/IMG_2766.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Long Hall, Chirk Castle</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Went back to LLangollen Basin where we spent a few quiet days
on the boat. Sharron, a friend from Ruffy, flew in from New York where she had
visited her son who lives there. We took off towards Chester in lovely sunny
weather and went over the fqmous 120 feet high Aqueduct. Sharron had the experience of doing a few locks and a lift bridge along the way.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyYii1pr20jC-ngQphrac5ZdsQ8Wj8kqhJKrqfDKME4JHYARrZ78x_JZcPTeZO2NSVCJ9B3kQirQ8gq4d3Hfmwz916zxizY15-ih8WR5g1l3LGrOyud-nzcmHUJZtelUAbvQs6UU-J_o/s1600/IMG_2739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="636" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyYii1pr20jC-ngQphrac5ZdsQ8Wj8kqhJKrqfDKME4JHYARrZ78x_JZcPTeZO2NSVCJ9B3kQirQ8gq4d3Hfmwz916zxizY15-ih8WR5g1l3LGrOyud-nzcmHUJZtelUAbvQs6UU-J_o/s640/IMG_2739.jpg" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Llangollen Basin</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh692sMBLP1-wen5xO2dE9XtZaqXL6SbENP4XYPx92Jc2A7EV6uo_YSf59olZPaYMMz04Z6LE05ASdxQ0MXME1LCky-fBjHXo6Iq8WbWDPIdQQf5oOzXHJLr8dINSsqTo5a-ca1f5UDqCM/s1600/IMG_2733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="640" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh692sMBLP1-wen5xO2dE9XtZaqXL6SbENP4XYPx92Jc2A7EV6uo_YSf59olZPaYMMz04Z6LE05ASdxQ0MXME1LCky-fBjHXo6Iq8WbWDPIdQQf5oOzXHJLr8dINSsqTo5a-ca1f5UDqCM/s640/IMG_2733.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">River Dee outside Aldi store at Llangollen</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPIQW4wpJ7pUnwCQ7I8Ot3YNvWNtywdQ048zhsj9DKDEfo8HjlS42Fe9C1u2ULlSWAPbrkYONnqayuMWtv1DkzRz7AumC0LjpMgmFqbf4od-frWMFTKmhcl-1QG6THuSNlpkezJypasM/s1600/IMG_2811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPIQW4wpJ7pUnwCQ7I8Ot3YNvWNtywdQ048zhsj9DKDEfo8HjlS42Fe9C1u2ULlSWAPbrkYONnqayuMWtv1DkzRz7AumC0LjpMgmFqbf4od-frWMFTKmhcl-1QG6THuSNlpkezJypasM/s640/IMG_2811.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sharron and Terry at The Corn Mill restaurant</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SPRRCKjroHD0IKJlNFuEab0Z_HUtyQzXe3Qkk9zcz75XAeV1EYE1lxq0NuTnb_l3EsydSapMQzh4rVeXALeyfoK2zMGUxBu29Ixy8pC0rVlQt369MfX7GYtqXR2DLQKMabhvaQj1bNA/s1600/IMG_2817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SPRRCKjroHD0IKJlNFuEab0Z_HUtyQzXe3Qkk9zcz75XAeV1EYE1lxq0NuTnb_l3EsydSapMQzh4rVeXALeyfoK2zMGUxBu29Ixy8pC0rVlQt369MfX7GYtqXR2DLQKMabhvaQj1bNA/s640/IMG_2817.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The rapids alongside The Corn Mill</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMIbwEEkAMtyBn7SX0vkycATAxl3Hhj9mxitYGeeKm99L9QNmXo8GcUrMX7ID1FcKZWm00VoecCFfdPE66sALixn5oadxNH0R5qNbxmUpc5A-lKUc2Jlc6Mdhqqgxr5kUK5QzxEcW0mM/s1600/IMG_2806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="616" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMIbwEEkAMtyBn7SX0vkycATAxl3Hhj9mxitYGeeKm99L9QNmXo8GcUrMX7ID1FcKZWm00VoecCFfdPE66sALixn5oadxNH0R5qNbxmUpc5A-lKUc2Jlc6Mdhqqgxr5kUK5QzxEcW0mM/s640/IMG_2806.jpg" width="616" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tractor in the main street!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboii6HKw_TAAuGyjNJFPdf3EXtjwxwXhyzwEi75RxD94aQR4xOnFeIseKEhHG_s0gvpn5Ml7viHDO8NAlMROkmLMp1TDFiw7Zfc59C0X0iYayT770I5FHRV7-SXWSxYCKnreGWICEyQw/s1600/IMG_2823+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboii6HKw_TAAuGyjNJFPdf3EXtjwxwXhyzwEi75RxD94aQR4xOnFeIseKEhHG_s0gvpn5Ml7viHDO8NAlMROkmLMp1TDFiw7Zfc59C0X0iYayT770I5FHRV7-SXWSxYCKnreGWICEyQw/s640/IMG_2823+%25281%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Crossing the Llangollen Aqueduct</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">We visited the lovely town of Ellesmere where the ‘meres’ are huge lakes formed
during the Ice Age when massive glaciers took centuries to melt and gouged out
the lakes. The forecast for the weekend was looking grim so we suggested
Sharron visited some of her friends who lived on a farm up in the Peak
District. This involved her getting a bus and a couple of trains to Stoke
station where her friends met her.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Street knitting in Ellesmere </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">We spent the weekend travelling back along the LLangollen
Canal (the weather was remarkably fine despite the forecast) and managed to get
through the troublesome last lock where boats were still getting jammed. The
Canal & River Trust is closing the whole canal in November when it’s a
quieter time so they can completely strip down the lock to repair it.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-3Z28kIoPQsZmEbpI_h6jLNTpBLx8n843kD3DM41mHaWjkRJ6DbwvNZwcRh4bQJ0PpBaSYTocvLIqm_A92RxlDJJKgpwtJg3Ag1lCfT1cdP05L9ohuYwJ24D7Z64uG4TZcq3cGrxv1E/s1600/IMG_2886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-3Z28kIoPQsZmEbpI_h6jLNTpBLx8n843kD3DM41mHaWjkRJ6DbwvNZwcRh4bQJ0PpBaSYTocvLIqm_A92RxlDJJKgpwtJg3Ag1lCfT1cdP05L9ohuYwJ24D7Z64uG4TZcq3cGrxv1E/s640/IMG_2886.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Breathe in....It's a tight fit!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">We moored up at Nantwich on the Shropshire Canal again.
Sharron arrived back there on Tuesday and thought it was a beautiful historic
town. Bob, who we met many years ago brought his granddaughter, Tegan, to the
boat to see us. She’s now aged 15 and grown into a delightful young girl.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5tqXBcqh_rw1jYeMOyJEySJ55Q6Gdf8I1YLkhu72hfEEP0M7ezOIJteqrRz0af_YY8iy3F5LzUg6Gt7yuHAvT5TvvgjaJuNopYGMp-wMFMytlob2ha2BtZ8Ahhj5FAnpC-0yaOP6QO8/s1600/IMG_2888+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5tqXBcqh_rw1jYeMOyJEySJ55Q6Gdf8I1YLkhu72hfEEP0M7ezOIJteqrRz0af_YY8iy3F5LzUg6Gt7yuHAvT5TvvgjaJuNopYGMp-wMFMytlob2ha2BtZ8Ahhj5FAnpC-0yaOP6QO8/s640/IMG_2888+%25281%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Old grocer's shop display in Nantwich</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Set out next morning towards Chester. More locks to do - this
time double locks - so we were lucky to have boats with us as it makes the work
so much easier. Sharron is becoming an expert and enjoyed talking to all the
other lockies. Temperature was over 30C so we spent two afternoons moored under
shady trees after doing locks in the morning. Went to the lovely Cheshire Cat
Hotel for lunch to escape the heat. Who said it doesn’t get hot in England!</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_q7dWgubOCdk9M72wJteulG16zArhekjLHk49f5U8AXU2Bu1WXwp3LOByXKP82fY3y4DXj6dqSJK__pBXaZ6zvcSh6RxvSkCi-un0zbu7_Frg43HUHMoXxI7KJht2NNmhdi2m_iSN2M/s1600/IMG_2906+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="618" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_q7dWgubOCdk9M72wJteulG16zArhekjLHk49f5U8AXU2Bu1WXwp3LOByXKP82fY3y4DXj6dqSJK__pBXaZ6zvcSh6RxvSkCi-un0zbu7_Frg43HUHMoXxI7KJht2NNmhdi2m_iSN2M/s640/IMG_2906+%25281%2529.jpg" width="618" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last lock before reaching Chester</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Moored up at the walled city of Chester around midday. Showed
Sharron the black & white Tudor shopping areas and then decided to walk the
nearly 2 miles around the top of the wall for a general overview of the city.
The walls were originally built by the Romans with additions by the Normans and
more work carried out after damage in the Civil War.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">View from top of Wall</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Lucky we did this as the next two days had soaking rain. This
didn’t deter Sharron who did some exploring of the city, especially Chester
Cathedral where she did the roof tour. . We also checked out the Grosvenor Museum which has a large display
on the Roman times of Chester and then saw ruins of the large Roman
amphitheater outside the city wall which could seat more than 8,000 people.
It’s believed this was used for training of the military and also for gladiator
sports.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Roman Amphitheatre ruins</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sharron's last day in Chester</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">On Monday morning Sharron left by train for Manchester
airport to return home to Ruffy via New York.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-3229885695257336492019-07-14T10:59:00.000+01:002019-07-14T10:59:58.189+01:00Parrindi 2019 travels. Part 2<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: 17pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2019</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Part 2</span></span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">After the family left to return to London we spent the night at the top of the Hatton Flight near Warwick. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Heavy rain was predicted the next day so we set off before 7 in the morning. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There were 21 single locks to negotiate but there were some volunteers on duty and one guy in particular was very helpful. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We moored up in the rain at Hockley Heath. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Next night we met up for dinner at the Blue Bell Cider House with Joe and Ginny who had driven over from nearby Kenilworth. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We bought their home in Broadford before they moved back to the UK in 2012. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was great to catch up on all their news and of their children Max and Clara. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They are considering moving back to Australia at the end of this year but haven’t made a firm decision yet.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Next day we arrived in Birmingham. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We spent three rainy days moored up in the Gas Street Basin and visited the huge New Street Station which was being built last time we were there. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Loads of shops and eating places in the new shiny complex. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We also had a ride on the new tramway and visited the Mailbox Centre, another shopping complex on the canal, where we called in to the BBC.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Pub in central Birmingham</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Bridge with lover's padlocks</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Another 'Peaky Blinder'</span></td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Set off for Wolverhampton on another cold and rainy day. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our computer modem gave up so we were lucky there was an EE shop there where we could get a new one. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Seems to be working quite well.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Horse made out of old lock gates</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Some really clever boat names</span></td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"><br />The 21 Wolverhampton locks were next. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The first one was so heavy and stiff that Terry had to work it - and then did the next twenty! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It meant that I had to drive the boat into all the locks. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>With only a few inches to spare on each side of the boat I did manage to lose a bit of paint on a few locks but as they say “practice makes perfect” so I obviously just need a bit more practice!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Horse tunnel next to our tunnel</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Yet another lift bridge!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Terry working the locks</span></td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">We were having a really cold spell and the heater on the boat decided not to work so we stopped at Oxley Marina at the bottom of the Wolverhampton flight to see if it could be repaired. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We met up with Phil, a Yorkshire man, who worked all day trying to solve the problem. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Finally, just after 5 in the afternoon, he fixed it and insisted on fitting a filter which he said would prevent future problems. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Garden on the roof</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTibflx4HCs4XTkKz_KxiASitAVkFUUkkNj_aq5afRKXCm6P2Cajxx3VYY0va58lln50Eb5XywW93ahIv65scdIDU3OnvBkG06RibjCtyb8hT0lSJMGIZ2RtRZb7y7AElZYXQknw1-BQ/s1600/IMG_1981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTibflx4HCs4XTkKz_KxiASitAVkFUUkkNj_aq5afRKXCm6P2Cajxx3VYY0va58lln50Eb5XywW93ahIv65scdIDU3OnvBkG06RibjCtyb8hT0lSJMGIZ2RtRZb7y7AElZYXQknw1-BQ/s640/IMG_1981.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">We travelled along the Shropshire Union Canal stopping overnight at Wheaton Ashton, Norbury Junction, Audlem and then Nantwich. </span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">In 2012, the first year we had the boat, we moored up next to a traditional narrowboat owned by Bob Dale who lived in Nantwich. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He was very kind to us then, driving us to Crewe Station when we had to catch the train to London. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He was very surprised to see us again after so long and we spent a couple of hours catching up on all the news of the last seven years.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">A really old boatie!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Muddy towpath</span></td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D9a3xG_Fva0OHZZJ_ZZIqouMKLe5ehvtejCgTpt9kEViZS_AfTRfg-M7GHUDnG2TOeSvJOVkroI88wzq_T0FBqx9vt8zpKvhNhGKh3mUqbd6dRemw1W1c97sUIm_pJiKIhgjDdplEhU/s1600/IMG_1986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D9a3xG_Fva0OHZZJ_ZZIqouMKLe5ehvtejCgTpt9kEViZS_AfTRfg-M7GHUDnG2TOeSvJOVkroI88wzq_T0FBqx9vt8zpKvhNhGKh3mUqbd6dRemw1W1c97sUIm_pJiKIhgjDdplEhU/s640/IMG_1986.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJj0UA5yFBNn52QsgUu2a1MqQwhReMSVBP1vhbiiuJaB0z_xFlUdUgRLXUt2pJKaf4Ak0OSShIaHNeI8KlBe0rgHy9lFjE8W7shgZ9vQORJGb4vmu9B2R1-XztguUnDuYeTTSIfspW3I/s1600/IMG_1993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJj0UA5yFBNn52QsgUu2a1MqQwhReMSVBP1vhbiiuJaB0z_xFlUdUgRLXUt2pJKaf4Ak0OSShIaHNeI8KlBe0rgHy9lFjE8W7shgZ9vQORJGb4vmu9B2R1-XztguUnDuYeTTSIfspW3I/s640/IMG_1993.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">Such young children</span></td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">We were heading for the Llangollen Canal but it had been closed for three weeks after the canal wall collapsed with flooding from the river running alongside. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Our timing was great as we heard that boats had started to be let through for an hour in the morning and also at 4 in the afternoon. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">We set out from Nantwich and reached the junction of the Shropshire and LLangollen Canals in the pouring rain. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There were four locks at the entrance to the LLangollen and the first one was so tight (the brick walls have bowed in) that the Canal & River Trust people were there to work the locks and get the boats through. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The day before we arrived a boat had become jammed in the first lock and it took til 10 at night before they got it through. </span></span><span style="color: #454545;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL65zOyMTfAdzzfGTFnUWlbSuq23eJcDfLQ-ziiMTz2U7_xeA0E0TDiQI1e26rT2HU1PGApyII74UXBBRe5gkhIOsRF7g0RgmgdLQCSNxQGsf8zGy63SzpM0J5q4maKx7bT2ApBct-NR0/s1600/IMG_2021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL65zOyMTfAdzzfGTFnUWlbSuq23eJcDfLQ-ziiMTz2U7_xeA0E0TDiQI1e26rT2HU1PGApyII74UXBBRe5gkhIOsRF7g0RgmgdLQCSNxQGsf8zGy63SzpM0J5q4maKx7bT2ApBct-NR0/s640/IMG_2021.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Later that day while doing some locks along the way we met people who had been queuing at the damaged section for days - one was the 22nd boat in the queue to get through that morning. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">We got to where the breech in the canal wall was just before 4 so only had a short wait before we were able to go through with just 3 boats in front of us. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">We had to turn off the motor and the Canal & River Trust workmen actually pulled each boat through by ropes so the motor turbulence wouldn’t cause any more damage to the wall.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><span class="s1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoFekDYtuvgneNF58yUC5Sidvcv-guGMZXQahh9MFI_GkdQxR2ZdIskGD5NaWnd9CPNxYZZfl0Lz5KrsMFla6QPSNYQ2eqazAQm2QMqXe4S7V5hper8o2V7RujxexFNJHv4vlbVvU4-U/s1600/IMG_2104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoFekDYtuvgneNF58yUC5Sidvcv-guGMZXQahh9MFI_GkdQxR2ZdIskGD5NaWnd9CPNxYZZfl0Lz5KrsMFla6QPSNYQ2eqazAQm2QMqXe4S7V5hper8o2V7RujxexFNJHv4vlbVvU4-U/s640/IMG_2104.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Fixing the breech</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">We spent a night at Whitchurch and Ellesmere, 2 lovely Welsh villages then reached Chirk where we crossed the Chirk Aqueduct, designed by Thomas Telford and finished in 1801. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">It’s 70-foot high and 710-foot long. A railway viaduct which is slightly higher than the aqueduct was built later alongside the aqueduct.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><span class="s1" style="color: #454545; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: small;">The Chirk Aqueduct</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">We then reached the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct which we had first crossed in 1994 when we hired a narrowboat from the nearby Chirk Marina. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">The Aqueduct, also designed by Thomas Telford, is an amazing engineering feat. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Taking ten years to design and build it was completed in 1805 and is 120 feet high and over 1,000 feet long crossing the Valley of Llangollen and River Dee. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">It’s basically a metal trough on top of 18 stone and cast iron arches and is the longest aqueduct in the UK and the highest canal aqueduct in the world. </span><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span id="goog_1660660099"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Crossing it this time there were lots of walkers using the tow-path to cross and lots of hire boats and sightseeing cruisers as well. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">It’s one-way traffic of course so we had to wait for a couple of boats to come across and also for a group of canoeists making the trip too. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Truly spectacular going across and so high up with just a bit of metal a few inches high keeping the boat in the trough. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Last year we met up with some Aussies who told us they had taken down their flag because they didn’t want anyone to think they were associated with a hire boat which they had followed crossing the Aqueduct. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">This also had Aussies on board and they were so scared they got off their boat and walked along the tow path on the other side away from the ‘big drop’ and pulled the boat along with a rope.</span></span><span style="color: #454545;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">It was a sharp left-hand turn at Trevor after crossing the Aqueduct on the way to <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>LLangollen. The canal was very narrow and there were two sections, one 300 feet and one 500 feet long, that made it necessary to get out and walk ahead to make sure no boats were coming the opposite way. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The walkie-talkie came into use to advise when the way was clear. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">We moored up at the beautiful Llangollen Basin and walked down to the town. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The canal is actually built along the side of a hill way above the town which sits on the River Dee.</span></span><span style="color: #454545;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Next day it took the family 5 hours to drive up to LLangollen from London. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They unloaded the car and then drove back to leave the car at the Trevor Basin near the Aqueduct. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They then walked the 5 miles back with Desmond the dog while we took the girls down to see the town. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We had dinner at The Corn Mill, a huge restaurant overlooking the rapids on the River Dee. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The lovely sunny day turned quite cold so we didn’t spend too long on the balcony but walked back up the hill to the boat. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Next morning we set off for the Aqueduct. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Olive had been having nightmares about falling off the Aqueduct when she heard how high it was but when we started across she was so excited she forgot all about her fears. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Ten, who was steering the boat, thought it was brilliant.</span></span><span style="color: #454545;"> </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="color: #454545;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">We had lunch on the boat on the other end then made another trip back across the Aqueduct so they could pick up their car and head back to London. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We made our way back towards Llangollen, mooring up out of town near a temporary caravan park. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">We discovered the famous LLangollen Eisteddford was to be held while we were there. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Brilliant planning! </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Competitors come from all over the world and walk around in national costumes for the week of the Eisteddford. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">First we went to the ‘Voice of the Future’ section at the Town Hall </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">(which was not much bigger than the Ruffy Hall). </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Competitors were aged 19 to 28 - all with beautiful voices. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">The main ‘Field’ was just over from the canal basin where we were moored so we could hear choirs competing early in the morning and then the concerts at night. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">It’s a huge area with a main pavilion and 4 other performing stages, loads of various stalls, food areas, circus bits etc. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Looks like a mini Glastonbury. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">More than 120,000 people attend each year with </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">On Friday afternoon there was a Parade of Nations when all the competitors danced their way along the streets of LLangollen. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So colourful - especially the Indians (although someone whispered that most of them only came from Birmingham). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">We spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Field and saw a great variety of acts - from choirs and soloist singing, instrumental acts and national dancing and there was even an amazing group of Buddhist monks who had been allowed to leave China for the first time in 1500 years. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They did some incredible contortion movements - didn’t know the human body could bend so much!</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">We left the Basin on Sunday morning and moored up a mile or so from town where we left the boat to hire a car to discover some of northern Wales.</span></div>
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Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-17675164516047552102019-06-17T12:39:00.001+01:002019-06-17T12:39:13.435+01:00Parrindi travels 2019. Part 1<div class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Left wintery Melbourne on our usual Royal Brunei flight with only one stop now at Brunei then a direct 14 hour flight to London. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Arrived at Heathrow early morning and made our way to Sooz & Ten’s. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>By the time we made it there the girls had already left for school so it was just Ten and Desmond, their 6 month old Cockerpoo puppy, to welcome us.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">The sale of Sooz’s 3 vet clinics had just been finalised. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">She’s still working at the clinics for the company that bought them but most of the strain of day-to-day running of the clinics has disappeared so much less stress for her. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">We picked the girls up after school. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">They are still leading very busy lives with piano, trumpet, gymnastics, cubs and swimming on week nights after school. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">We spent two nights in London with them then caught the train to Market Harborough near our marina. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The boat was in good shape with new front doors fitted over the Winter. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We spent a night at the Marina then set off up the Foxton flight of ten locks. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A fellow was sitting watching us just before entering the first lock and asked if we would ‘like a hand’. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Turned out he was visiting from Saskatchewan in Canada. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He took the windlass and wound all the paddles up the flight so it meant I just had to open the gates. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So much easier and very grateful for his help.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">We stopped at the new Marina at Kibworth which is owned by our Debdale Marina. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It has taken 9 years to build but is almost complete now. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We were shown over the new building which will have a huge lounge area for boaters and also showers, toilets and laundry facilities. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There will also be a chandlery and a massive work area for boat building, engineering and carpentry. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The fellow who we have booked to paint our boat next year has a large section on the ground floor for his boat painting and also a large workshop area upstairs where he can give classes in boat painting. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The whole building will have underfloor heating with an ingenious system that uses the heat out of the water in the marina. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It even works when the whole area is iced over. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Amazing.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nearly completed Kibworth Marina</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">On Saturday we caught a taxi to the large Crick Boat Show. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Lovely warm sunny day so big crowds attending. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">It was probably our third visit there so we really didn’t see anything too exciting but it was good to catch up with some familiar faces. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Next day we moved on to Braunston and had our usual mooring opposite the hotel where we went for lunch. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">After two nights we moved on to Rugby. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The historic town looked quite sad with many shops closed and not many people around. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is probably due to the large out-of-town shopping centres near our canal mooring which have been built since our last visit.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Rugby School where the game of Ruby originated.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">The canals look so pretty with young ducklings and swans beginning to appear with Irises, Foxgloves, wildflowers and loads of Hawthorn bushes (Mayblooms) in flower. The water looked like it was covered in pink confetti from the Hawthorns but it made a real mess of my cleaned carpet when we moored up under a tree waiting to go into a lock.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">I had a surprise booked for Terry’s birthday on the Sunday. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">All he was told was that we were catching the train from Rugby to London on Saturday afternoon. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">When we arrived at the huge Euston Station and then caught a tube train to Tottenham Court Road Station he thought we might be going to a theatre in the West End. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">But no.....we then caught a Central Line train to Epping - the end of the line - where we were booked into the 15th century Thatched House Hotel. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old Thatched House Hotel - 15th century!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Epping turned out to be a nice little village but Terry was still in the dark the next morning when I told him a ‘tourist bus’ would be picking us up at the front of the Hotel. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">He was so surprised when Sooz, Ten and the girls pulled up. </span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">They drove us to the nearby North Weald airfield where all was revealed. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Terry <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>was booked in to drive a ‘new’ double decker bus for 20 minutes, then a long <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>‘bendy’ bus and finishing with a 1956 old Routemaster bus. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Over the years we have been coming to the UK he always joked that he would love to apply to be a London busdriver whenever he saw the notice ‘Busdrivers wanted’. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 17pt;">At the end of the session he decided the new bus was the hardest to drive because the wheels were set way back from the front of the bus and it was hard to judge when to start turning the wheel when cornering and doing the slalom course. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 17pt;">He now has a lot of admiration for the London drivers who are able to weave in and out of heavy traffic while dodging bike riders and pedestrians.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">We all then went to a little country pub for a traditional ‘Sunday roast’ before Sooz and Ten drove us back to the Epping station to catch the two trains back to Rugby.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twin bridges at Braunston<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Next day we backtracked from Rugby to Braunston then turned onto the Grand Union Canal til we reached Royal Leamington Spa. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Been there twice before but very disappointing this time as there were no massive hanging baskets of flowers in front of the major buildings and the gardens looked very bare too. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">A local told us that the gardeners were just starting to put up the hanging baskets so perhaps we were there a bit earlier this year.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devonshire Tea at the House of Fraser in Learmonth Spa.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Quite a few locks on the next stretch to Warwick but we partnered up with a hire boat which had lots of willing workers on board so they were a great help with the locks. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Arriving at Saltisford marina at Warwick where we have moored before we went for a walk into town. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">At the ancient hospital there was a crew filming Charles Dicken’s Christmas Carol so the pavements were covered in fake snow with gas lights along the streets. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Apparently only a small production with no ‘famous’ actors. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Christmas Carol' film set in Warwick..</td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Looked like pouring with rain so we ducked into the Warwick Church where we went down to the crypt where lots of Earls of Warwick were buried.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">The weather started to turn nasty so Friday was spent just sitting out the day with really heavy rain all day.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Sooz, Ten, Olive, Iris and Desmond the pooch drove up from London on Saturday and after lunch we went for a walk to show them around Warwick. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Saltisford Marina in Warwick.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">It’s a beautiful old town with so much history. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Unfortunately we arrived too late to go through the famous castle but saw lots of other old Tudor buildings around the town. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">We had a superb dinner at The Cape of Good Hope, an ancient canal-side pub. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">It even had menu with a Dog Dinner & Dog Beer although they said Desmond was too young!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjUiK4e9mULWXwWwcu2m5R6hpLxb0DLXFoidMD9tYM4WOo0m-eZGQi2qx635wU9k8C13PXc3ggAB64SEKy9S4O0GtIkcyPNEBX6zcoDxsviNit9XSLRH1xG7ftkeX9CUjn6vpOC0h6DQ/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjUiK4e9mULWXwWwcu2m5R6hpLxb0DLXFoidMD9tYM4WOo0m-eZGQi2qx635wU9k8C13PXc3ggAB64SEKy9S4O0GtIkcyPNEBX6zcoDxsviNit9XSLRH1xG7ftkeX9CUjn6vpOC0h6DQ/s640/IMG_1828.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cape of Good Hope Pub at Warwick.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Today we came up the Hatton Flight - 26 locks - so we were lucky to team up with an Aussie crew on a hire boat. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">Ten, with the help of Sooz, Olive and Iris, did all the locks so it only took just over 3 hours. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">We then went to the Hatton Arms Hotel at the top of the flight for another ‘Sunday Roast’.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">We’re on our own again and heading for the Kingswood/Lapworth Junction. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>More news later.</span></div>
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Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-7369832489104399052019-05-12T04:23:00.000+01:002019-05-12T06:48:57.817+01:002018 Part 2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">The weather continued to be kind as we made our way
up the Leicester arm of the Grand Union Canal to Leicester. Sharyn was lucky as
we were able to ‘pair up’ with other boats which makes for easier going as
there are double locks which take two narrowboats on this stretch of the canal
system. </span></div>
<div style="background: black; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-background-themecolor: text1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeixTghm2joiDZSOigPY4HcUvezyGuhRRUE9FSnPrejUOgqOHIBzL8u3W-BSusK7tdLGZ69xHu0PzPTUBzJjlT0nB5-RKawPm9h8XAnrVgZdaskh7GQs9XSoggy4-e8HHEohs8HH2veQ/s1600/Shaz+lock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeixTghm2joiDZSOigPY4HcUvezyGuhRRUE9FSnPrejUOgqOHIBzL8u3W-BSusK7tdLGZ69xHu0PzPTUBzJjlT0nB5-RKawPm9h8XAnrVgZdaskh7GQs9XSoggy4-e8HHEohs8HH2veQ/s320/Shaz+lock.jpg" width="240" /></a>J</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8KW4Gp0TTNp5rUK0SkfLryXko_dMk_nOplyCzzuQVB9dALBWYoQf5LuQdKyKjbucEZnh1D_PI9-QItVWlcLlfxTx8H_evaF9lJOO1Aegnu-hMGlAsomX3FdHW886ShbyE6We_XMkDv4/s1600/Hot+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8KW4Gp0TTNp5rUK0SkfLryXko_dMk_nOplyCzzuQVB9dALBWYoQf5LuQdKyKjbucEZnh1D_PI9-QItVWlcLlfxTx8H_evaF9lJOO1Aegnu-hMGlAsomX3FdHW886ShbyE6We_XMkDv4/s320/Hot+day.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another hot day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div style="background: black; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-background-themecolor: text1;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: black; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-background-themecolor: text1;">
<br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">At Leicester our usual mooring outside the Castle Gardens was
taken so we moored up at the new mooring just after the King Richard Road
bridge. Sharyn enjoyed touring the city which has heaps of history
including Richard III whose body was found under a carpark that was being
excavated when we visited the city a few years ago.</span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Next day we moved along to Burstall
where we had previously found a nice pub for a meal. However this time we
went to a different one. Very old and used more by the locals than us
‘tourists’. Incredible thing was that a very large German Shepherd dog
lived there and his job was obviously to welcome all the other visiting dogs - at
one stage there were 8 dogs in the small bar with their owners. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">All very
well behaved and quite used to being there - the dogs I mean. Food was
good so that was the main thing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Headed off next morning til we reached
Loughborough moorings which are right in the centre of town. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Sharyn was with us for two weeks so we
decided we would have time to reach Nottingham. Next day we travelled
along the River Soar until we made the junction of the Soar, the Derwent River
and the mighty Trent River then turned into Nottingham city. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Moored up just near Nottingham Castle which unfortunately is closed for
renovations. Still there are lots of other things to see in the famous
Robin Hood city. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;"> During the Summer months a huge beach area is set up in
the City Square with heaps of sand, pools, deck chairs and spurting fountains
to amuse the little ones (and bigger ones too). It’s a very popular spot
particularly this year having such a hot Summer.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">On the Saturday night there was a river
festival on the banks of the Trent River. It didn’t seem to be very well
advertised so we didn’t expect too much. We caught an Uber cab there and
what a surprise- the whole of Nottingham must have turned up. Lots of
carnival rides somehow set up between the huge old trees lining the bank as
well as many eating/drinking vendors. After walking along seeing the
sights we found a seat on the riverbank and stayed put until the fireworks
started when it was dark. Very impressive show so we were not disappointed
at all. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Bit of excitement during the night back on the boat as when we
were sleeping some fool decided to climb up on our roof and run along it.
Made so much noise it sounded like he was wearing footy boots but he jumped
down and ran off quickly so no damage done.</span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Next morning we started our return
journey to the marina. Again, lucky for Sharyn, there were boats to pair
up with and at one point all the locks were set in our favour. It’s never
happened on the other occasions we have been doing the same trip by
ourselves. Stopped at The Rose & Crown hotel right on the canal for a
traditional Sunday Roast dinner. </span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Stayed a night at Loughborough again -
it’s usually a lovely mooring and very quiet but we had a few youngies who were
in a party mood and made a bit of a din but not too bad. Moored up at
the Castle Gardens in Leicester so Sharyn explored the vast number of shops and
came back with a few ‘must-have’ treasures. The city has undergone a big
upgrade since we were there two years ago when there were lots of
streets/footpaths barricaded off while work was being undertaken. </span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">The Soar River and canals near
Leicester are notorious for having rubbish dumped which can cause boat
propellers to jam. This year we were thinking we were lucky and had missed
out but, sure enough, just south of Leicester we came to a grinding halt.
Terry had to get down in the hatch to free the propeller which had a Hi-Vis
coat wrapped tightly around it. Really tough fabric so it took a fair bit
of hacking with a sharp knife before it came away.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Luckily we managed to sell the
campervan on ebay to a fellow called Kevin from Argyll in Scotland.
He was absolutely tickled with it as he has other classic cars and because our
van had a towbar attached he planned on transporting his other cars on a
trailer to Classic Car Shows and then being able to sleep in his ‘classic’ van
while at the show. He caught the train down from Scotland to the marina
then drove the van back. Said it ran perfectly all the way there.</span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We reached our marina on Friday so had
time to pack up on the boat before we caught the train down to London on
Saturday morning. Sooz suggested we could meet them at Ruskin Park which
was near where we caught the bus to their home. Turns out, Ten and the
two girls were booked in for a trapeze class. The girls, on ‘big’ school
holidays, had just spent a week at Circus School, learning juggling, acrobatics
and silk rope climbing etc so this was just an ‘add on’ to that. Sharyn
was talked into having a go (she had already done a session in Melbourne a few
years ago). It was just amazing - a proper trapeze set up - sooo high and scary
for the onlookers - but with safety ropes and a net of course. In no
time at all they were all able to hang by their legs on the swing. Ten,
Olive and Iris were chosen, with a few others, to do the final ‘catch’ which
meant swinging by their legs, then letting go and being caught by the ‘catcher’
swinging on another trapeze. It turned out Olive was the only one who managed
to be ‘caught’. She was so proud.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Sharyn flew back to Melbourne on Sunday
night and we left London by train on Tuesday bound for Glasgow. The trip
took more than 4 hours and when we arrived we caught a taxi to our airbnb which
was in the West End, apparently the ‘better’ end of town with lots of large
terrace houses built in the 1800s by rich tobacco merchants. Our ‘cottage’
was down a long spiral staircase off the main hallway, but it was actually on
ground level at the back of the building so we came and went through the back
garden gateway out onto a cobblestoned laneway which was quite close to shops
and transport.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We went on
the ‘Hop on Hop off’ bus which is a great way to see a new city. We saw
the Glasgow cathedral which was impressive inside but the outside was covered
in 100s of years of industrial smoke/soot so it would look a lot better if
cleaned up. Glasgow was packing up after hosting the huge sporting
European Championships as well as preparing for the World Championship
Highland Pipe Bands the next weekend. Lots of people walking around
wearing full highland dress, kilts etc, and also groups practising their tunes
on bagpipes in parks. We also visited the quite new Riverside Transport
Museum which had some great displays including the Glasgow Underground which
was driven by a cable system and built in 1896 making it the the third
underground in the world. We also visited the Kelvinside Art Museum.
Amazing Victorian building with a very ornate roof outside and beautiful
features inside.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">After 3 nights in Glasgow it was time
to collect our hired campervan. We thought we were picking it up from
somewhere in Glasgow but it turned out to be quite a few miles out of town at a
little village called Kelty so we had to catch an Uber taxi there. The
driver was lovely and even detoured to show us the Falkirk Wheel on the
Caledonian Canal which carries boats up/down the canal, rather like the
Anderton Lift near Cheshire we used a few years ago. Couldn’t pick up the
van til after 4.00pm so only made it to the Canoustie Caravan park, just past
Dundee, the first night. The British Open Golf Championships were held
there last month and it’s not far from the famous St Andrews Golf Course.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEVioQQXKroEE0fpYGJbL8EF7_nok0M5ZKMlU5Qro9NIWsxQ3_5VPSH0uMrj8R7NP51zbP7cs-2peX3PsPJJ_16v5f6yXRM26Z7eN8hlIu5yrhB1KqpDP7iHlGnpZPY-f1i0qqoAPEAc/s1600/IMG_0695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEVioQQXKroEE0fpYGJbL8EF7_nok0M5ZKMlU5Qro9NIWsxQ3_5VPSH0uMrj8R7NP51zbP7cs-2peX3PsPJJ_16v5f6yXRM26Z7eN8hlIu5yrhB1KqpDP7iHlGnpZPY-f1i0qqoAPEAc/s320/IMG_0695.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Falkirk Wheel</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Found our way around the van - it’s a
lot smaller than being on our boat - but quite comfortable. We ate at the
on-site restaurant that night which was nice and handy.</span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Next morning we set out along the coast
road and had lunch at a little fishing village called Gourdan. Funny
thing - most of the fish shops were closed and boarded up even though the boats
came in with large catches each day. We decided to by-pass Aberdeen as
we’d been told it was just another “big city”. We continued on to
Petershead Caravan site where we had a great spot right on the beach.
It’s a busy harbour so we were able to watch the pilot boat steer the huge
ships, mostly connected with the oil industry, through the gap in the harbour
wall. More than a dozen ships came and went during the evening and early
the next morning making it quite a busy little harbour. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We set out to explore the old
Petershead Prison Museum just near the caravan park. It was built back in
the grim Victorian days and known as the toughest jail in Scotland. It
was used from 1888 right up to 2013. Huge place but most of the displays,
the kitchen, laundry, etc were fitted with modern equipment. We thought it
would have been better to show how life was back in the 1800s. There were
only a couple of cells that showed this - consisting of just a hammock, one
blanket and a bucket. It would have been freezing as the prison is built
right on the shore of the North Sea and would have been snowed under in the
wintertime. </span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Continued along the coast until we got
to Fraserburgh where we visited a lighthouse museum. Very interesting to
learn that Robert Louis Stevenson’s family was responsible for building most of
the lighthouses in the UK and developing the lenses which could magnify quite
small lights in the late 1800s (as well as the family being involved in working
with steam engines). Robert was the only one really not interested in
that side of things and was a family disappointment as a result even though he
became famous as a writer.</span><br />
<br />
k<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Next we came to Banff where we had
another lovely caravan site right on the sandy white beach. Would have
been lovely if it had been a bit warmer. Around this area it is known as
the driest and warmest part of Scotland but there was a chilly breeze blowing
when we were there.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We visited Duff House, a imposing
Georgian mansion near Banff, which has many famous paintings on display from
the National Galleries of Scotland. It’s a five storey building which
had a lift installed in the early 1900s for the wife of one of the
owners. This is still in working order so I was able to to use this to
get to the top floor. The ceilings in the staterooms are 18 feet high so
the staircases are quite a bit of work too. The Duff family gifted the
House to the nearby towns of Banff and Macduff in 1907. It has been used
as a hotel, a sanatorium and during the Second World War was used as a POW
camp. It was actually hit during a bombing raid which killed 8 and
damaged the house. By the 1950s, the house had fallen into disrepair and
was taken into State care with restoration of many original features being
undertaken to bring it back to its former glory.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Next morning we decided to go inland to
Fyvie Castle, a National Trust property dating from the 13th century.
Charles I lived there as a child and Robert the Bruce also lived there. It has
featured in many films and TV series. One of the Trust guides, a young
fellow but very knowledgeable, took us around the castle and told us about some
of the haunted rooms. ‘The Green Lady’ regularly appears. Seems she bore
her husband 3 daughters but he wanted a son so he locked her in a tiny room
where she eventually starved to death. Some of her family members who
came to rescue her were killed outside her room and there are still bloodstains
on the wooden floor. The Earl married a much younger girl but on their
wedding night they heard scraping noises and in the morning the former wife’s
name was clearly engraved on the stone window cill. The new wife died in
childbirth so a new heir never eventuated. Also during some renovations
in 1920 a woman’s skeleton was discovered behind a wall. The Laird at the
time had the remains moved to the Fyvie Cemetery but strange happenings at the
castle followed so the Laird, fearing he had offended the dead woman, had her
skeleton replaced behind the bedroom wall. The spooky noises stopped
after this.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We stopped at the site of the Battle of
Culloden where a large tourist centre has been set up to explain what happened
at the Battle in 1746. The Jacobites led by Bonnie Prince Charlie were no
match for the British army. The Battle only lasted an hour but nearly
2,000 Jacobites were killed and Charlie fled the country never to return.
The British General who led the British Army was firstly called a hero but
later was called ‘the butcher’ because of his treatment of the losing Scottish
troops.</span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We also visited the nearby Clava Cairns
which is the site of a well preserved group of prehistoric burial cairns built
some 4,000 years ago. The Bronze Age cemetery has numerous standing
stones, and the remains of a chapel. The site is claimed to be the
inspiration for the author of the ‘Outlander’ TV series.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Next we had an overnight stop at
Inverness then headed north up the coast. Our first stop was Dunrobin
Castle - absolutely beautiful looking like something out of Disneyland.
It was built on a rocky outcrop so we negotiated the many steps down to the
formal garden. Here there was a small museum filled with trophies from
hunting trips from all round the world (mostly Africa) by the various Dukes and
Duchesses in the 1800s. So many different animals - they obviously shot
anything that moved!</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We then watched a falconry demonstration with a
Golden Eagle, a Peregrine Falcon and an Eagle Owl showing their different
flight patterns and techniques to get their food. The falconer stood in
the middle of the crowd and each bird swooped down to get its ‘treat’.
So fast and accurate! Falconry was originally developed to hunt
fast or difficult prey as food for the table and is still used in some
countries today.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We climbed the stairs back up to the
Castle which was commenced back in the 1300s and has had many additions added
over the centuries, particularly by Sir Charles Barry (who was the architect
for the Houses of Parliament in London) in the 1800s. The Castle has 189
rooms and was used as a naval hospital during the First World War and as a
boys’ boarding school from 1965 to 1972. It still is a home of the family
of the Earl of Sunderland.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Continued up the east coast towards
John O’Groats. Never seen so many wind turbines, both out to sea and on
the land as well. Each farmhouse seemed to have its own tower. We
eventually came to Wick, a busy fishing village where we found another great
park to spend the night. Only trouble was a very low overhead railway
line just before the entrance. We couldn’t fit under so had to go around
to the alternative entrance which was down a very narrow track beside a river.
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">There was a notice by reception that
was advertising a Highland Pipe Variety Night at the local Pipe Band Hall that
night. Terry decided that we wouldn’t be coming home down ‘that track’
but the caravan park owner offered to drive us into town. “Get there
early as it’s the last night and will be crowded.” We did that but still
ended up centre of the front row which were the only seats left. Great concert.
Local ladies choir, a ten year old girl who danced the Highland Fling, a
nine year old girl who played the violin (quite well too) and then the Wick
Pipe Band. It was a tiny hall so eight bagpipers with four drummers made
quite an impression! At interval we were served scones/jam & cream
and shortbreads with our cup of tea. After interval there was more of the
same with the addition of a fellow from the audience who was invited to
sing a couple of ballads. We caught a taxi back to the park after a
really enjoyable evening. Everyone was so friendly, especially when they
found out we were “all the way from Australia”.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Next morning we decided to go on an
adventure ride on a Zodiac craft along the coast. “Wear something warm”
we were told and when we arrived at the port we were kitted out with full wet
weather gear - pants, jacket as well as a life jacket because we were told the
boat went ‘really fast’ and we would get sprayed. Started out along the
coast which had some interesting rock formations then suddenly we were in a
huge cave - roof must have been 100 feet up. The walls which were covered
in mosses were all different shades - pink, yellow, green and red rocks - so
pretty. Outside the cliff faces were covered in bird droppings but apart
from one or two late ones, all the young chicks had flown off. During the
breeding there are lots of comical puffins as well as varieties of seagulls
covering the cliff faces. We went into many more caves during the 90
minute trip - all slightly different. Back in the 1800s lots of smuggling
went on along this stretch of coastline and the caves were ideal places for the
smugglers to hide from the customs officers.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We made it to John O’Groats which is
supposed to be the most northernly part of the British mainland (it isn’t
really - just along the coast is a higher bit!). It’s mainly a ferry
terminal to the Orkney and Shetland islands. Not much here apart from
busloads of tourists taking photos of a rather tatty signpost. We decided
not to spend the night here so went further across the top of the coast until
we stopped at Thurso. There was a brief shower of rain just after we
arrived and suddenly there was a magnificent rainbow across the bay in front of
the park. Everyone was out of their vans with cameras to capture the
amazing sight. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Next morning we headed south along a
different route and stopped at the same Inverness caravan park again.
There was a Highland Games happening at nearby Drumnadrochit on the banks of
Loch Ness next day so we thought that would be fun. When we arrived
there were lots of pipers, Highland dancing, running events and the Heavy
Events - caber throwing, shot putting, hammer throwing etc. So many
people wearing kilts (with cold knees!) and one race having the rule that all
contestants must be wearing a kilt.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">The scenery in the Highlands is
magnificent- and we were so lucky to have mainly sunny days so that we could
enjoy the views. Locals say it's usually raining or misty even in the
summertime. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Made it to Fort William which must be
the hikers’ capital of Scotland. Our caravan park, which was surrounded
by towering mountains, was right at the base of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain
in the UK. From early morning til evening it had a continuous stream of
walkers going along the track to the summit which apparently takes nearly 4
hours. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">We decided to go on the famous Jacobite
steam train ride from Fort William to Mallaig on the west coast. However,
it was completely booked out for more than two weeks ahead so we caught the
normal train which does the same route (and slows down for photos when going
over the viaduct made famous in one of the Harry Potter films). It was
the only really rainy day we had in Scotland so it was probably a good thing that
we were on the train. Mallaig was another charming fishing village
although it was a bit too wet to explore much but we did have a lovely seafood
lunch there.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Sunny next morning so we drove to Oban
- a very picturesque large town on the West coast - also with bus loads of
tourists. Lots of ferries leave from here for the Isle of Skye and the
many other nearby islands but we were running out of remaining days in the van
so had to give the ferries a miss. </span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We called into Inverary Castle built
between 1745 and 1790 on the shores of Loch Fyne. It is still the family
home of the Duke of Argyll and base of the Campbell Clan. It has a
massive display of weapons - muskets, axes and broadswords in the entrance hall
and magnificent French tapestries in the Staterooms as well as a huge
collection of china, silver and family heirlooms.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Next morning the sun was shining again
so we could enjoy the rugged scenery of the heather-covered mountains rising
out of the many lochs we drove along including the famous Loch Lomond.</span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We drove to Falkirk where The Kelpies,
two striking 30 metre high horse head sculptures made of 300 tonnes of
stainless steel each overlook a new section of the canal. (A kelpie
apparently is a shape-changing aquatic spirit of Scottish legend which haunts
rivers and streams and usually is in the shape of a horse but The Kelpies also
commemorated the horses which used to pull the narrowboats along the canals.)</span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We visited the Falkirk Wheel again and
arrived just in time to catch the tour boat which goes onto the wheel and is
raised 79 feet and gives great views of the surrounding countryside. The
Wheel is a rotating boat lift (the only one in the world) connecting the Forth
& Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. The guide on the boat gave
an amusing talk with facts and figures about the wheel including it only using
the power of 6 electric kettles to drive it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Found a lovely caravan park, again with
mountains surrounding - getting quite used to the views now - and next morning
drove to Culross, a 16th century village which is being restored by the
National Trust. Narrow cobblestone streets with houses still in their
original forms add to the character of the village. We climbed up a hill to the
ruins of the Abbey and then visited Culross Palace which has been restored to
its original distinctive yellowish colour. It was completed in 1611 and
although it was not really a ‘palace’ it was visited by James IV in 1617.
The National Trust has also restored the large 17th century walled garden at
the back of the Palace.</span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Culross has been used in a number of
films and TV series, including the popular ‘Outlander’ series.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Next day we returned the campervan and moved into a
B&B in Edinburgh for 3 nights. Our friendly hosts, Mark and Jeana,
were a wealth of local knowledge. Their lovely home was at Queensferry -
near the base of the famous iron rail bridge and near the other two famous
bridges across the Firth of Forth. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Went into Edinburgh next morning.
A very busy city with hoards of tourists. Visited the Edinburgh Portrait
Gallery and then realised that Terry didn’t have his wallet. At first we
thought it might have been pick-pocketed but then he thought it may have fallen
out of his pocket in the toilets at the John Lewis Department Store where we
had been a couple of hours earlier. We backtracked a few blocks but it
was worth it. Some honest person had handed the wallet into the Lost
Property office. Lucky for us! </span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We caught the Hop on-Hop Off bus for a
tour around Edinburgh. Decided we couldn’t face the hoards at Edinburgh
Castle but we did see it back in the 1990s so it probably hasn’t changed much
since then! Later that afternoon we caught the light rail out to the
airport to pick up our hire car. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">Next day we visited Holyrood Palace in
Edinburgh which is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. It was
started in the 16th century with various bits being added over the next couple
of hundred years. The Queen spends the first week of summer at the palace
carrying out official engagements and ceremonies. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">So we spent 3 wonderful weeks in Scotland - a beautiful place which we really
enjoyed - even if we did have a bit of trouble understanding some of the locals
with their strong Highland accents!</span><span style="color: white; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif; mso-themecolor: background1;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We left
our B&B in Edinburgh on a very drizzly morning. </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">D<span style="font-size: medium;">ecided we should
catch the train which went across the large Iron Firth of Forth bridge.
Unfortunately it was so overcast that we missed out on most of the views
- the bridge is a serious engineering feat - it’s built so high above the
little villages on each side of the water</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: white;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We
continued south crossing the border of Scotland and England til we came to
Hadrian’s Wall. Somehow we had missed it completely when we were in the
area about 30 years ago. The wall was built by the Romans back in AD122
during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. It’s 73 miles long with forts
built every 5 miles or so where the Roman soldiers could live and defend
England against the Picts (from Scotland). The wall is a ruin now but it
was massive when built. Made out of squared stones it measured 10 feet
wide and up to 20 feet high in some places. It also had a ditch along the
bottom of the wall just to make it a bit harder to get across. Lots of
walkers do the trek along the path beside the wall.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We stayed
at a B&B nearby that night and the next day headed for Whitby on the
eastern coast. This is the village near where Captain Cook was born and
there’s lots of places named after him - Captain Cook School, Hall, Road, etc
plus a Museum in the house where he lived. When we last visited Whitby it
was just a quiet village but all that has changed. Heaps of tourists and
new buildings and just about every house is now a B&B. We
went for a ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway historic steam train from
Whitby to Pickering. It was a 24 mile trip but we only had time for a cup
of tea at the Pickering station before we had to board the train for the return
journey.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We stayed
that night at the nearby very elegant Dunsley Country House where we had a
lovely room right up in the attic. A very old ‘guest house’ type of
place but food and surroundings were beautiful. </span><br />
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Next morning we drove along the coast to Scarborough, a very busy seaside
resort town. About 5 miles out of town we found ‘Scarborough Fair’ -
which has a magnificent working collection of vintage fairground rides,
mechanical organs, hall of mirrors, vintage cars, tractors and steam engines
all of which have been collected by a fellow who owns the caravan park next
door. He was encouraged to open the exhibition to the public a few
years ago and as he’s still collecting has to had to extend the buildings a
number of times.</span><br />
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There was a huge merry-go-round which went quite fast - we had to really hold
on tight! All the visitors at the Fair were in the ‘slightly older’ age
group and when the merry-go-round stopped some of the horses were way up off
the ground so the attendant had to move it around until the horses came down
and the passengers could get off. We also went on the Ghost Train and the
Dodge-em Cars. Great fun acting like kids again. The rides only
cost £1 each and went on and on for ages - much better value than the present
day rides we’re sure. Some of the huge mechanical organs were
started up and sounded fantastic with lots of bibs and bobs moving along with
the music. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was
the day of the weekly ‘tea dance’ in the ballroom with music provided by a
fellow playing one of the magnificent Wurlitzer organs. Soon the
room was filled with dancers - all very professional with dancing shoes and
very serious steps being done on the dance floor. We were content to just
sit and watch (luckily we hadn’t brought our dancing shoes so had an excuse not
to get out on the dance floor!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We then
drove down to York - just in time for afternoon tea. A friend had
recommended that we find Miss Bettys Tearooms which has been a York tradition
for nearly 100 years. Apparently we were not the only ones interested in
Bettys. There was a queue along the footpath (with a lot of Asian
visitors waiting). The line moved fairly quickly and we were soon
sitting down to a ‘traditional afternoon tea - scrumptious!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next
morning we drove to Leicester where we dropped off the hire car and caught the
train back to the boat. We left for London by train the next day.
Andrew was arriving from Hong Kong that morning and the next
afternoon it was a surprise 70th birthday for Rita (Ten’s mum). We
spent the day decorating the house and garden and after all the guests had
arrived, Rita arrived thinking she was being taken out to dinner for a family
birthday party. Amazingly, it was a complete surprise for her - the girls
had managed to keep the secret for the last few months. Rita worked at the
Belgium Embassy in Mozambique for many years and guests came from all over
Africa, France, Belgium and the US. Some great organising by Ten and Sooz
to get everyone there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just to
add to the weekend, Iris had a Swimming Party at a nearby local college to
celebrate her 7th birthday. The actual date was a few weeks earlier when
they were on holidays in Italy. It was a joint party with her best friend
and quite easy as we just made a birthday cake, some cup cakes, ‘fairy bread’
and some sandwiches. All went well until one latecomer’s mum
omitted to tell Sooz that her little darling couldn’t swim. He jumped in
the pool and promptly sank to the bottom. The lifeguard on duty (fully
clothed) quickly dived in and rescued him so no damage done although Sooz was a
bit annoyed with the mother for being so irresponsible.<br />
<br />
Next morning we (including Andrew) caught the train up to Market Harborough
then a taxi out to the marina. Andrew spent a few nights with us on the
boat and we ‘sailed’ up to Market Harborough where we showed him around
the lovely market town. He left on the Thursday to spend another
night with Sooz before flying out to Switzerland to catch up with an old work
friend.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We spent
the last week back at the Marina. The last winter was apparently really
severe and some of the boat’s paintwork was starting to show a little wear.
We have teed up with a boat painter who actually lives at the marina to
repaint the whole exterior of the boat which involves sandblasting it back to
bare metal and then applying 7 or 8 coats of paint which gives a mirror finish.
He’s booked up until April 2020 so Terry gave the boat a couple of coats
of acrylic paint to keep things looking shipshape until then.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The last
weekend we caught a bus to Kelmarsh Hall near Market Harborough. The Hall
was built in 1730 and American Nancy Lancaster is responsible for much of the
decoration to the Hall in the 1930s. She loved using fresh flowers in the
house year round and so inspired much of the garden’s design with dahlias being
used extensively. A Dahlia Festival was being held the weekend we
visited. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spent the
last weekend with Sooz, Ten and the girls in London. It was a rainy
weekend so we just relaxed inside. The UK has been having a mini drought
with some areas having ‘hose-pipe’ restrictions on watering gardens so the rain
was very welcome. We flew out on Monday afternoon, flying Royal
Brunei airlines again. <br />
<br />
Had a two night stopover in Brunei - this time staying at The Empire Resort on
the coast. Brunei is quite small and we had seen all the touristy things
on our previous two stopovers so this year was spent just relaxing by the
pools. The Empire, a magnificent complex with more than 500 rooms,
has the most incredible staff. Everyone, from the gardeners to the
cleaners, have the most genuine smiles and greeting every time they see you. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We
arrived back in Oz last Friday morning before 5 a.m. The temperature was
a bit of a shock after Brunei’s tropical heat.<br />
<br />
So......only 3 months away this year and although we only spent a short time on
the boat we seemed to fit in quite a lot of sightseeing - London, Maastricht
(for Andre’s concert), Amsterdam and Brussels, then 3 weeks discovering
Scotland’s beauty driving around in a campervan which was a new experience.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span>Til ne</span></span></span></div>
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Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-46014775138900199292018-08-03T17:36:00.000+01:002018-08-08T13:10:23.669+01:002018 travels <br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">It’s been a while since we were
last on our narrowboat. 2017 is a best forgotten year as I was diagnosed
with bowel cancer just 2 weeks before we were due to depart for the UK in May.
Radiation and chemo treatment followed by a huge operation in September
cancelled out any UK visit. More chemo followed with some serious side
effects and this year’s trip wasn’t looking good. But after spending most
of April and May in the Epworth Hospital with another two operations I was
given the OK to travel. </span><span style="font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">So....we
arrived 28 June, a month later than usual. We had planned on a very
quiet trip on the boat this year and decided to buy a little campervan from
ebay in the UK so we could travel around in that without doing any hard locks.</span><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><span style="font-family: "sf ui text" , serif;"> We had a lovely welcome from the girls who got up at 6 am to finish the signs which were in the front window.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">When we
arrived I stayed with Sooz in London while Terry caught the train up to
Sunderland, near Newcastle, to pick up the campervan. He drove it back
to the marina, getting new upholstery and a service on the motor along the way. He said it drove ‘like a dream’ and was immaculate despite being
30 years old and classed as a ‘classic car’. However, we ran into a
problem when we tried to get insurance which also includes 3rd party insurance
here so is compulsory. All the insurance companies we contacted said we
were either .....over 70 so too old!....not living in the UK for at least 6
months every year .....or driving with an Aussie licence. So reluctantly
the campervan is back on ebay waiting for the next buyer.</span><span style="font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">Because of
the long hot spell the countryside looks more like Oz than green England. Even
the London parks are brown. </span><span style="font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We spent a
week on the boat - which was back on the water in the marina. Me doing
not much at all and Terry touching up the odd spot of painting and general
handyman stuff. The boat was in remarkably good condition seeing it
hadn’t been touched for nearly 2 years. (I always dread that it might be
covered in green slime inside especially as the last winter was so cold but the
heaters must have kept it dry and warm.)</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We went
back to London by train (2 trains and a bus) all a bit exhausting so spent time
just watching the Wimbledon tennis on TV. All of England was in mourning
after it was unexpectedly knocked out of the World Cup semifinal by Croatia. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">We have
just returned from our trip to Europe. Sooz and Ten had given us tickets
to an Andre Rieu concert to be held in his home town of Maastricht in the
Netherlands. We left London on the Eurostar (which travels at 300 miles
an hour) to Brussels then caught another train to Maastricht.
Very old town with lots of cobbled streets - which make for hard walking. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLhzLJidRlrEgYL6xD7wtrnoHXpFD91qd8nhZ129UP9aZDsY2K39gwJgXiC3DPg_WCRoE5qPgHsPEEztEsQIygGzSDuXgbttycP97TfmQetCu1N37Y8SLzHUzsdDcnI6T8K8VLlwPVoY/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLhzLJidRlrEgYL6xD7wtrnoHXpFD91qd8nhZ129UP9aZDsY2K39gwJgXiC3DPg_WCRoE5qPgHsPEEztEsQIygGzSDuXgbttycP97TfmQetCu1N37Y8SLzHUzsdDcnI6T8K8VLlwPVoY/s400/IMG_0219.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">The
concert was fabulous (even though most of it’s predictable). Sooz had
arranged for a dinner/show package so we caught a taxi out to the hotel where
we had the most amazing smorgasbord dinner. There we were presented with
our Andre Rieu cushions to use at the show. 1000s there but we had really
good seats near the front so didn’t miss anything. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;"><br /></span>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCUU5aeSWBhKuAlvqbTNn9Y9qhOfgpGfbDsOI9hGSLvGGVxtU1wsrG96Oa1f174T0UAyDWo8pyKehH-Zg7Upm7fAfJyjw16JVuJhfSjffBthdvgJhBex-LZvu8i9t_hPOQUo7UeUw6HQ/s1600/dutch+concert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="640" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCUU5aeSWBhKuAlvqbTNn9Y9qhOfgpGfbDsOI9hGSLvGGVxtU1wsrG96Oa1f174T0UAyDWo8pyKehH-Zg7Upm7fAfJyjw16JVuJhfSjffBthdvgJhBex-LZvu8i9t_hPOQUo7UeUw6HQ/s400/dutch+concert.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dutch clog dance </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12DIqDaNp-UZCSpl6vtLQI_Qx1bTZoI6BUXY8G67J4cVs8h-R1EmFdHtObZVmduG0G574tfBI67W6aa32_zkK7KKlQyX_ozu1ECKVj__a9ZVjy8omlytE3sttVle-i7RI6TbvaiCrc6M/s1600/russian+concert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12DIqDaNp-UZCSpl6vtLQI_Qx1bTZoI6BUXY8G67J4cVs8h-R1EmFdHtObZVmduG0G574tfBI67W6aa32_zkK7KKlQyX_ozu1ECKVj__a9ZVjy8omlytE3sttVle-i7RI6TbvaiCrc6M/s400/russian+concert.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russian medley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9d2CBo4XO9Oi57NOCM0zgU687sTgzsww3C3iPGZz5DzCSyPl_BxN08O7UmNYqnnaHjy5bbRc9EB4l8oLLEmXwrrzsSKMG28xm7Xdx5XBMv837ypqqNON4fPaCk79ydoV3_hOtP3RMlE/s1600/g%2526t+at+concert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9d2CBo4XO9Oi57NOCM0zgU687sTgzsww3C3iPGZz5DzCSyPl_BxN08O7UmNYqnnaHjy5bbRc9EB4l8oLLEmXwrrzsSKMG28xm7Xdx5XBMv837ypqqNON4fPaCk79ydoV3_hOtP3RMlE/s400/g%2526t+at+concert.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">Stayed 3 nights at a
beautiful B&B which was the whole ground floor of a old terrace house with
a lovely walled garden.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ECUkiMAQv-6x40BsqaaRg_JaE3YBhTOw8lcGrfD23bZ9Tu3M-DaCGKgQnkjoW22vomhNXcS2RC6uZraItisvkZd4aBCQa2R2LnZSTtMWI_80LopWygxGK79s4WUQi_TQm0Fv3G8XbW0/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ECUkiMAQv-6x40BsqaaRg_JaE3YBhTOw8lcGrfD23bZ9Tu3M-DaCGKgQnkjoW22vomhNXcS2RC6uZraItisvkZd4aBCQa2R2LnZSTtMWI_80LopWygxGK79s4WUQi_TQm0Fv3G8XbW0/s400/IMG_0227.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtyard at Maastricht B&B</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhc4ZPC2rvfp3HgWno-zOx2p18t1bngEZqK8_OEj2aLQP_dpRridnuyvLRdhUYuIGuEtRd60Hq61FA-ib2NmWQSdBkyvvu6LJDj3BbkrqpUy1I1dI4ojVFqlwQDC6PuGCOg4kFQtYfVk0/s1600/IMG_0229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhc4ZPC2rvfp3HgWno-zOx2p18t1bngEZqK8_OEj2aLQP_dpRridnuyvLRdhUYuIGuEtRd60Hq61FA-ib2NmWQSdBkyvvu6LJDj3BbkrqpUy1I1dI4ojVFqlwQDC6PuGCOg4kFQtYfVk0/s400/IMG_0229.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front of B&B building</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">Then
caught a train to Amsterdam for a 3 night stay. When we arrived we had to
catch a free ferry outside the station to go across the River Eye (a 3 minute
trip dodging the huge tankers/cargo/cruise ships) to where our B&B was. Got
lost somehow so walked miles trying to find it - turned out to be back very
close to the ferry terminal . </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">The 3 ferries working there are amazing. We
never had to wait more than a few minutes then just walked on with a couple of
hundred people - most riding bikes or motor scooters. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLnqC9zewlC-VjxRoaO2JKh29NNhsSPRGskSQT_rNbK7A9BNzscXMGuzgyI5kI0SZynwRMRaHT5HRv7jBetozjBg3pWqQwXgT7d5dq3fl6s9HTLtzq0pZLpXng7rRULQi5L5bCg0F0xk/s1600/IMG_0335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLnqC9zewlC-VjxRoaO2JKh29NNhsSPRGskSQT_rNbK7A9BNzscXMGuzgyI5kI0SZynwRMRaHT5HRv7jBetozjBg3pWqQwXgT7d5dq3fl6s9HTLtzq0pZLpXng7rRULQi5L5bCg0F0xk/s400/IMG_0335.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bikes on the ferry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">We have never seen
so many bikes anywhere - huge bike parks at the stations, bus stops or outside
any shopping areas each with 1000s of bikes. All roads have a red lane
just for bikes and everyone, from youngsters to the really old, pedal around. It’s
left hand driving in Europe so we found it very confusing when crossing any
roads to dodge the bikes and scooters as well as the cars, which were always
seeming to be coming from the wrong direction.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1v51x8AuinwDm4G0-R1BjQgHf9sMlI2v2Qxpcui1joUTEtz4x0Qsnkfyd9vYYHabYCT5Hf0PYQRc3kSgPPL9ebfPjColnZFBLZP9yOia3nPu8Jm33DVv-jzsx1tSAfGAtjPHmlyVBJ0/s1600/IMG_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1v51x8AuinwDm4G0-R1BjQgHf9sMlI2v2Qxpcui1joUTEtz4x0Qsnkfyd9vYYHabYCT5Hf0PYQRc3kSgPPL9ebfPjColnZFBLZP9yOia3nPu8Jm33DVv-jzsx1tSAfGAtjPHmlyVBJ0/s400/IMG_0278.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 storey bike park at Central Amsterdam Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">We decided
to go on the Hop On/Hop Off Bus and Boat trips so we could see the city which
is made up of dozens of canals and waterways with lots of tourist boats darting
around. Incredibly clean city and no rubbish to be seen anywhere on the
waterways. We hopped off the bus to go on the Diamond Tour
where we visited a huge diamond workshop to learn how diamonds are cut to show
off their brilliance. It was fascinating. Of course we had to pass
through the retail shop before we could get out but managed to do that without
breaking the bank. Then went to a very large Museum which had lots of the
Old Masters paintings on show. Got told off for taking a
photo with a flash of one of Rembrant’s paintings.</span><br />
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">Finished off on the
boat for a 2 hour cruise around the city. Remarkable lack of any safety
directions or life jackets visible on any of the boats. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">Another day we
went to a market where most stalls were selling cannabis. We could have
bought lolly pops, biscuits, seeds and even cannabis icecream. Apparently
you can get ‘high’ at most coffee shops as well even though the law is that you
have to be an Amsterdam resident.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">Caught a
train down to Brussels where we spent 5 nights with Sooz, Ten, his mum Rita and
the girls. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">We stayed in a very large modern house which was in the huge
garden of an old house which looked like an old bank from out in the street.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJWHZD2u2Jwx5z0t8qhl1nvGwnRvGZhjJcOBFKjWEArbHZ17U2dl93-R0NDb3CDBHqgII46MJUQAjcMWlP5juBtxDYeiAIthScruUZMMNxrAL_z8K7FxgqNhyphenhyphen50gwvWi4KlcIHGXmIHs/s1600/IMG_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJWHZD2u2Jwx5z0t8qhl1nvGwnRvGZhjJcOBFKjWEArbHZ17U2dl93-R0NDb3CDBHqgII46MJUQAjcMWlP5juBtxDYeiAIthScruUZMMNxrAL_z8K7FxgqNhyphenhyphen50gwvWi4KlcIHGXmIHs/s400/IMG_0375.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brussels B&B</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrvJTDkROjhS-eHrwKXT-T1woqS4FeUqU56w8MWGcyHJVQ9NYVNRJ1M23iJInSb62_5Qo_cj9ST_NKTPygfXAnqskydy6u2PmswJanPFCZlmGpvcqw-1eUprKCdQYAdAmfzWvr1xco3c/s1600/IMG_0405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrvJTDkROjhS-eHrwKXT-T1woqS4FeUqU56w8MWGcyHJVQ9NYVNRJ1M23iJInSb62_5Qo_cj9ST_NKTPygfXAnqskydy6u2PmswJanPFCZlmGpvcqw-1eUprKCdQYAdAmfzWvr1xco3c/s400/IMG_0405.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front of Building</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">Walked into town - more cobblestone streets - and saw the famous statue of a little boy. Story is that many years ago the 4 year old was lost and when he was found he was peeing in the street so his dad gave the statue to Brussels in gratitude. It's a very small statue!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">It
was still very hot so one day we caught the train to the Belgium seaside which
is totally different to our beaches. All along the beach are fenced off
areas with deck chairs and umbrellas which you hire for an hour or more and
then food and drinks are brought around so you can buy whatever you require. Also
some areas had rows and rows of small beach sheds like Brighton beach bathing
boxes where you could store your stuff. We hired an 8 seater
bike and rode along the beach almost reaching the Netherlands border but it was
pretty hard going for the pedallers as the temp was in the mid thirties. The
girls had great fun going up and down huge slides at a water park which was
very well supervised with 3 lifeguards keeping control. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nmZhWuB3toChpdjLSh-RKgGkVgHAxIzFB51U9_8YD-ErHqF2lEM1VD0C0hJUtnU0N5DMAlLQ6UbKw7fqZsnIh_9JF4kw1xlTz8p-YsBome86pjbXhyphenhyphenFmWEIcCZ3qfRRJsi-q5PDY3rk/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nmZhWuB3toChpdjLSh-RKgGkVgHAxIzFB51U9_8YD-ErHqF2lEM1VD0C0hJUtnU0N5DMAlLQ6UbKw7fqZsnIh_9JF4kw1xlTz8p-YsBome86pjbXhyphenhyphenFmWEIcCZ3qfRRJsi-q5PDY3rk/s400/IMG_0367.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at The Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">On our
last day we went to the Atomium which was built for a trade fair in 1958. It’s
in the shape of an iron crystal. Ten and the girls went up the escalators
and stairs to some of the lower spheres but we caught the lift to the top one
(335 feet up in the air) where there was a viewing deck as well as a 5 star
restaurant where we had lunch. Although most people can speak
English they mainly use French, Flemish or the Dutch language. Most menus
did not have English anywhere so that made it hard too and we had to rely on
Rita to translate for us.</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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id="_x0032_4CD2FC2-8E37-46A8-A0C3-565A5E5BF07A" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">We caught
the Eurostar back to London on Wednesday afternoon and then caught a train up
to Market Harborough near the marina. Sharyn, Terry’s daughter,
arrived last Friday for a two week stay on the boat. Yesterday we
showed Sharyn around Market Harborough then cruised for a couple of hours to
Foxton Locks (a flight of ten locks rising 75 feet). Sharyn had her first
swing bridge to negotiate - a really tough one that takes a lot of muscle - and
then there was a thunderstorm just as we were tying up so we all got soaked. Today
we had to wait until lunch time because it was raining heavily but it cleared
up so we set out up the locks. Even though it was a cool overcast day
there were heaps of people watching the boats go through. Sharyn was a
quick learner so I got back on the boat after 5 locks. First time
I have been a passenger on the boat going through the locks - great. When
we reached the top we decided to return down Foxton. We took on board a
few groups of onlookers for a lock or two so there were some very excited
people, especially a group of visiting South Koreans. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnCt0tXwdKjxo2JZ1xwjk9hjIhLBm0gZETZMc7323c7eCfe-eE1Kol2ZGD1KK61fXB6pxjkRc6t7wgUaqxzcenjXSWkPRe9jq1UywOusQUQ2lEnoHELhwj-g9mOQu6syBQfgodvuYW3k/s1600/UNDER+FOXTON+BRIDGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnCt0tXwdKjxo2JZ1xwjk9hjIhLBm0gZETZMc7323c7eCfe-eE1Kol2ZGD1KK61fXB6pxjkRc6t7wgUaqxzcenjXSWkPRe9jq1UywOusQUQ2lEnoHELhwj-g9mOQu6syBQfgodvuYW3k/s400/UNDER+FOXTON+BRIDGE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17.0pt;">We plan on going up
to Nottingham in the next couple of weeks so there are quite a few locks along
the way for Sharyn to work on. The warm weather is predicted to return
next week.</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sf ui text" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc; font-family: ".sfuitext" , serif; font-size: 17pt;">Sooz etc
are off to Italy for a couple of weeks because it is the ‘big holidays’ so we
have booked a campervan (strange system here as we can be aged up to 99 and no
worries about us being Aussies). We will catch a train up to Glasgow
where we will stay for a couple of days then have the van for 2 weeks to
discover Scotland.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-24747522751518564472016-09-21T07:12:00.005+01:002016-09-21T07:44:16.169+01:00Part 5 - the homeward run<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Part 5 - on the homeward
run<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Leaving Lincoln we left the Witham River and made our way along the Fossdyke Navigations. This part of the system was built by the Romans in 110AD to link the Witham River with the Trent River. </span></span></span></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ENpgEV7iKNMMzrFDvbtINkjZlk9LJx4CBVCzm7Fd-IO36YeaTzRzeXj3l3GgvTuSyxztQI1XW9hO7aeK4CumcAbDrn0htgDBYokI_2O1VVSW_loMX90IJlkiQKb0ZAR5xG1hmLwtzYs/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ENpgEV7iKNMMzrFDvbtINkjZlk9LJx4CBVCzm7Fd-IO36YeaTzRzeXj3l3GgvTuSyxztQI1XW9hO7aeK4CumcAbDrn0htgDBYokI_2O1VVSW_loMX90IJlkiQKb0ZAR5xG1hmLwtzYs/s320/IMG_1125.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TRACTORS CARRYING TRAILERLOADS OF WHEAT GOING NON-STOP THROUGH THE LITTLE VILLAGE</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtlWgFPEV9zpM_q-zHSTImtuIJgYTby6XRXyLlqMkZWJxk8uEbhv8Zm5ZoGnPMYT9WcU87h4tXgVCbP9rrRfFfPa3LwObqRRRCzZDUpaR_GNtAEtTc6_aiEaX6Pm83fJFAbk_7uBfBME/s1600/IMG_1127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtlWgFPEV9zpM_q-zHSTImtuIJgYTby6XRXyLlqMkZWJxk8uEbhv8Zm5ZoGnPMYT9WcU87h4tXgVCbP9rrRfFfPa3LwObqRRRCzZDUpaR_GNtAEtTc6_aiEaX6Pm83fJFAbk_7uBfBME/s320/IMG_1127.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SAXILBY MOORING</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Moored up at a little
village called Saxilby for a couple of nights to catch our breath. Cute little
village very spread out with a lovely old church just out of town. We
caught a double-decker bus to the nearby town of Gainsborough on the banks of
the tidal Trent. Bit of a rainy day but we took a tour of the town and
then found the Gainsborough Old Hall which is over 500 years old and is
one of the best preserved timber framed manor houses in the UK set in a lovely
garden. It's owned by English Heritage and operated by the Lincolnshire
County Council. The Hall is a large, late-medieval manor house built
by the noble Burgh family around 1460. The house boasts an impressive
Great Hall and a huge original medieval kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEY CERTAINLY ATE WELL!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwZ0pOk6xGybIss2LVXmr5xMuk6LwJ7aFO_wmYrb2xSts3mpMuIxMn_YRqL0bFXX75Y9PViooQNCfNAUQ7hd0YeYGlGpHXiT5XNoH0swcQvJ6nZQIgKpDk3ccSnhS0oOa06xDw6u-Is4/s1600/IMG_1176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwZ0pOk6xGybIss2LVXmr5xMuk6LwJ7aFO_wmYrb2xSts3mpMuIxMn_YRqL0bFXX75Y9PViooQNCfNAUQ7hd0YeYGlGpHXiT5XNoH0swcQvJ6nZQIgKpDk3ccSnhS0oOa06xDw6u-Is4/s320/IMG_1176.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ONE OF THE MANY TUDOR LOOS</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Famous visitors (apart
from us!) to the Old Hall include Richard III, Henry VIII (with his fifth wife
Katherine Howard), John Wesley and the Pilgrim Fathers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">A chap called William Rose, who was a tenant at the
Hall, invented the world’s first mechanical packing machine
and set up Rose Brothers (Gainsborough) Limited. Because of the close
relationship and use of Rose’s packing machines, Cadburys gave
the name ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Roses</i>’ to one of their
popular products.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The <i>Grey Lady</i> walking the Ghost
Corridor upstairs has been part of local legend from before the Victorian era. Dressed
in grey and in Tudor style, the grey lady walks the length of the corridor and
turns right before the end to disappear through a wall. In the 1960s the lath
and plaster removed from this wall revealed a Tudor doorway – at the exact spot
where the Grey Lady walks through the wall! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Local legend says the Grey Lady is thought to
be the daughter of the Lord of the Manor who fell in love with a poor soldier
and planned to elope with him. Her father discovered the plan and locked her
away in the tower where she died from a broken heart. Supposedly the girl’s
spirit still wanders the tower and the corridor endlessly waiting for her lover
to arrive. She was not around on the day we called so we missed out on seeing
her though!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3E5-yUeYy8lmQBjtdKkt_orYwECCXYtbVDQuA2I3V_E1qyfaE6_yqOw5fagquEKOhkVrqUTJhyphenhyphenE0UVc_WjQ0tEXQ8ZOX9JY6ut7AJWYs8VtxHUo18CCIyZWUq99CBhmP_jufXeYMRBM/s1600/IMG_1169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3E5-yUeYy8lmQBjtdKkt_orYwECCXYtbVDQuA2I3V_E1qyfaE6_yqOw5fagquEKOhkVrqUTJhyphenhyphenE0UVc_WjQ0tEXQ8ZOX9JY6ut7AJWYs8VtxHUo18CCIyZWUq99CBhmP_jufXeYMRBM/s320/IMG_1169.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE HAUNTED PASSAGEWAY</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Gainsborough Old Hall was given to the English
people in 1970 by descendants of the Hickman family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Next morning we set out towards the mighty Trent
River. We stopped overnight at Torksey to wait once more for an incoming
tide. After going through the Torksey Lock we travelled along the Trent
(wearing our life jackets) and just couldn't believe how big this river is and
the amount of water flowing past. Stopped overnight on a mooring just
past Cromwell Lock which is the largest lock in the UK. It was beside
this lock a few years ago that 10 RAF volunteers died when they took a wrong
turn and were swept over the sluice at the side of the lock. We were
told not to fall over overboard "as they never find the bodies".
We were very very careful!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELPmaPqKFKEFwaZb5MvQ7EkjHvXd0SnIdt879XTiGfUxp01n-xsJre0w8916e04mhyphenhyphenPuewn5iqzqAvRiP-8b_b4fX6QsHDMSNxusjz2OdSgbd4Ei5VGg9rbz2ql5KbafH8FjyxjK4TSM/s1600/IMG_1267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELPmaPqKFKEFwaZb5MvQ7EkjHvXd0SnIdt879XTiGfUxp01n-xsJre0w8916e04mhyphenhyphenPuewn5iqzqAvRiP-8b_b4fX6QsHDMSNxusjz2OdSgbd4Ei5VGg9rbz2ql5KbafH8FjyxjK4TSM/s320/IMG_1267.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HUGE TRENT LOCKS</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0X9msn8tnni8-81BFNlyzAHmgL0zczd5lCFiDdvc1es3G1VtB7Fo0_uYmGIecDXnX-qbRWBShHAXSOe2cOQlDf3wlTTqBGqa755T6zznuJmJvhEru0dmBwGDc8SVfkTCJATtEGt8X8iA/s1600/IMG_1224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0X9msn8tnni8-81BFNlyzAHmgL0zczd5lCFiDdvc1es3G1VtB7Fo0_uYmGIecDXnX-qbRWBShHAXSOe2cOQlDf3wlTTqBGqa755T6zznuJmJvhEru0dmBwGDc8SVfkTCJATtEGt8X8iA/s320/IMG_1224.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TORKSEY LOCK GATE</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWV3C-UY1F0qZbYxsGhzdt18_psFmEhmoJoY8BK0zKykAFs0BUgh3vBERla05-LyzohTWqGHW3JDc5XunRa48ujuDYCewFfdoyd2FegbEwcCEiZwJVLCMXEU_JpinLDwprd8SwJvdTjQ/s1600/IMG_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWV3C-UY1F0qZbYxsGhzdt18_psFmEhmoJoY8BK0zKykAFs0BUgh3vBERla05-LyzohTWqGHW3JDc5XunRa48ujuDYCewFfdoyd2FegbEwcCEiZwJVLCMXEU_JpinLDwprd8SwJvdTjQ/s320/IMG_1252.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LIFE JACKETS - A MUST ON THE TRENT RIVER</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Next it was Newark-on-Trent where we moored up at a
lovely spot opposite the castle. Oliver Cromwell fought battles
against the Royalists just outside Newark and King John was poisoned and died
at the Castle.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAi33EnJCyLQyxDGrNg-SWcOiDkFBR40RBOp1MdQAfGFEcKcAZgUstUZMX53u7LBodUtI2PBtLjGYD-qTuL0nwMFMPQ8pdxv0vTtMpD6OGbjYOxwheygpI9FUXlc4wgoVFkacW-h8l0Q/s1600/IMG_1305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAi33EnJCyLQyxDGrNg-SWcOiDkFBR40RBOp1MdQAfGFEcKcAZgUstUZMX53u7LBodUtI2PBtLjGYD-qTuL0nwMFMPQ8pdxv0vTtMpD6OGbjYOxwheygpI9FUXlc4wgoVFkacW-h8l0Q/s320/IMG_1305.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DREDGING NEAR THE NEWARK LOCK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">It was great returning to this town which was where
we shopped for most of our boat's essentials when we bought it 5 years ago.
It's one of the prettiest towns with a large Georgian market square and
lots of cobblestone laneways surrounding it. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8KbcnPcuuT_igXSJdcaHt43J2wYV_W8tFABu1eTJRazNOXX6HLQRh9LVJqx9W5xl-YbkkMOVovZWaEXH9wqj4dKh8hl5-e3JFQTmbRFuPnmoz8FRcBw4vzRXWji8nJdJgr6nXlS3OyA/s1600/IMG_1327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8KbcnPcuuT_igXSJdcaHt43J2wYV_W8tFABu1eTJRazNOXX6HLQRh9LVJqx9W5xl-YbkkMOVovZWaEXH9wqj4dKh8hl5-e3JFQTmbRFuPnmoz8FRcBw4vzRXWji8nJdJgr6nXlS3OyA/s320/IMG_1327.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">We spent a night at nearby Farndon Marina where we
caught up with Paul and Janet, the owners, and also Peter and Dave who both
were on boats at the marina when we first got our boat. They were all so
helpful and gave us lots of clues when it was all new to us five years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r4Niy960-USrMpWmStiBM376dwbZHpluL-xbuZ9oMEkMutEIxA3zY1faHzM1NIMKeaVcbqvlhgEB5uRQqP7GTZ8hjCNt_CGwy96aaNfVNPJFCNZnNaRATXiOKHnMYEL_LlUDUowyYZI/s1600/IMG_1388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-r4Niy960-USrMpWmStiBM376dwbZHpluL-xbuZ9oMEkMutEIxA3zY1faHzM1NIMKeaVcbqvlhgEB5uRQqP7GTZ8hjCNt_CGwy96aaNfVNPJFCNZnNaRATXiOKHnMYEL_LlUDUowyYZI/s320/IMG_1388.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MORE BIG LOCKS ON THE TRENT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW4eRdAomw8ke4xAUiT4UNlE0vAkFyHF8ejb4nug37EXHkmzItDcivagAb8P_JpsnT-4ps3P1bIINw_D_dQZcleSHT39DC0-MiMXc39g1Eprp5sOHkrJt7Ld-6ynxMlpcp48RvzzpOz4/s1600/IMG_1404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW4eRdAomw8ke4xAUiT4UNlE0vAkFyHF8ejb4nug37EXHkmzItDcivagAb8P_JpsnT-4ps3P1bIINw_D_dQZcleSHT39DC0-MiMXc39g1Eprp5sOHkrJt7Ld-6ynxMlpcp48RvzzpOz4/s320/IMG_1404.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SPILLWAY AT SIDE OF ONE OF THE LOCKS<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EiniknMVTYQJkyNTroVm97w50VmW2xghdlVnq2MmiPOjXrWtegs_OERUUTWTF-6-TGNASMtTqSqsdVv7AXXx93IdqPTw9wncVauQRgeNJwKKxAAYeUlHnd68O_nnVEciUwCvWSjKbOg/s1600/IMG_1482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EiniknMVTYQJkyNTroVm97w50VmW2xghdlVnq2MmiPOjXrWtegs_OERUUTWTF-6-TGNASMtTqSqsdVv7AXXx93IdqPTw9wncVauQRgeNJwKKxAAYeUlHnd68O_nnVEciUwCvWSjKbOg/s320/IMG_1482.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Next stop was Nottingham. It was
lovely to get back onto a canal after the big rivers. We moored up just
near Nottingham Castle. We were heading down to London for the
weekend but when our suitcase came out of the wardrobe it was wet on one end
and we discovered the water pump was leaking. This pump sends the water
from the front tank (600 litres) around to the taps on the boat. Luckily
we were moored up right outside a marina so it was just a case of buying a new
one and swapping it over. <o:p></o:p></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswdIN5e8wmNfHsfCOtJCCoKq7P9aq1bvIQhrCRT6Oew_OsplsjZowMqqnDz0kRgVum8gEmVrxquMR-4MBNLsN_w6ZyWA2JCyVsmJtxJElj-aR5FarTu8h44QrD0svTF3vT2gJ0ruHSGw/s1600/IMG_1504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswdIN5e8wmNfHsfCOtJCCoKq7P9aq1bvIQhrCRT6Oew_OsplsjZowMqqnDz0kRgVum8gEmVrxquMR-4MBNLsN_w6ZyWA2JCyVsmJtxJElj-aR5FarTu8h44QrD0svTF3vT2gJ0ruHSGw/s320/IMG_1504.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ARRIVING IN NOTTINGHAM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVypiSjx5iTee20cqKuNyaS7K45TxShSRgaP1YMe_bDcNDuq7zrbDbFl7PHu0PVYSXhL2tRKbdVqFiHhROr5r7LyrnkRe7hUuFE-8jO4sAWPUcaTbd-alppK1PS-apdesNY20_Bnv7wI/s1600/IMG_1532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGVypiSjx5iTee20cqKuNyaS7K45TxShSRgaP1YMe_bDcNDuq7zrbDbFl7PHu0PVYSXhL2tRKbdVqFiHhROr5r7LyrnkRe7hUuFE-8jO4sAWPUcaTbd-alppK1PS-apdesNY20_Bnv7wI/s320/IMG_1532.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOTTINGHAM CASTLE BUILT UP HIGH ON A HUGE MOUND OF ROCK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2E0hP4H8rvPqvKHd5DxBkFKRTXUEYDInaBB3-cI-mcOuKjMht18n0wotjTFl81qZU06w8QZW7etLZ2SLZvkob9lUHOIifIfwNhXk3zPnUfhfKM2CmjWDYQygJMrw-EHRU7cy8k898hA/s1600/IMG_1594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2E0hP4H8rvPqvKHd5DxBkFKRTXUEYDInaBB3-cI-mcOuKjMht18n0wotjTFl81qZU06w8QZW7etLZ2SLZvkob9lUHOIifIfwNhXk3zPnUfhfKM2CmjWDYQygJMrw-EHRU7cy8k898hA/s320/IMG_1594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSSLRbJEbEljoOUfJWNOvIEmpYZD_CG5TstLoygCjnBZb4YaEGebVyG6dqNILtqSAOZzKOFW6DnwgRG3L12_3Q3ihOsXcYRkj9mcBH60sEB0rXGC9oQ1jHcEUnc22K9moUq4PPvxyQw4/s1600/IMG_1535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSSLRbJEbEljoOUfJWNOvIEmpYZD_CG5TstLoygCjnBZb4YaEGebVyG6dqNILtqSAOZzKOFW6DnwgRG3L12_3Q3ihOsXcYRkj9mcBH60sEB0rXGC9oQ1jHcEUnc22K9moUq4PPvxyQw4/s320/IMG_1535.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OLDEST INN IN ENGLAND</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFTdSyJpihyphenhypheniRI3vDLlgWUPDxIwMfBYzRqjjLK3nFpb6jrdVgQxOog4LH8jB6Vp39LqbNn0J5m3SCZlvtbxJzPBKTHnSHX4k4X4UtloCWELAgwN-EZGYpHS7FLgS-pLsVOVbpcKePfoQ/s1600/IMG_1537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFTdSyJpihyphenhypheniRI3vDLlgWUPDxIwMfBYzRqjjLK3nFpb6jrdVgQxOog4LH8jB6Vp39LqbNn0J5m3SCZlvtbxJzPBKTHnSHX4k4X4UtloCWELAgwN-EZGYpHS7FLgS-pLsVOVbpcKePfoQ/s320/IMG_1537.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ROBIN HOOD OUTSIDE THE CASTLE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1982GbcNRJmEytolzGVtpywQuAP6ELdtuktGty40GurKVts4NUSWRdrO9w1PtWEzSnQSq9n1DObR-nIqZPnOLp5w0Tv1oXVTtUZCIlNfsDkQW7qw_GkT7S6RRkD-UCKj7sI_c3sucPZw/s1600/IMG_1593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1982GbcNRJmEytolzGVtpywQuAP6ELdtuktGty40GurKVts4NUSWRdrO9w1PtWEzSnQSq9n1DObR-nIqZPnOLp5w0Tv1oXVTtUZCIlNfsDkQW7qw_GkT7S6RRkD-UCKj7sI_c3sucPZw/s320/IMG_1593.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXzyDg_W3oopUcVEfC9gOHIt7CYsEbVufXWT_ytauA36afqkY0OWhDloA6OsY83QdGiLVtYAGi_nI_GZdmS6n0g487kIfrvlGF1NOiqjmBcAmrcbuPxhPTgQnvIrzwzbcYHRh_0O3iyo/s1600/IMG_1546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXzyDg_W3oopUcVEfC9gOHIt7CYsEbVufXWT_ytauA36afqkY0OWhDloA6OsY83QdGiLVtYAGi_nI_GZdmS6n0g487kIfrvlGF1NOiqjmBcAmrcbuPxhPTgQnvIrzwzbcYHRh_0O3iyo/s320/IMG_1546.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeOAgMZaXZKUATGTLu63dnLSZhyGr9HMd0wiJ1PDXtB4Os_AuO4CD_FyUMzN3hFveT2KIGQGePNc0DaoGSDIjxK2Khwt3LcG8kwk_mpax-eQ_uB36oPd_Xfz-l8YQpeScRmD5WV8DUnw/s1600/IMG_1492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeOAgMZaXZKUATGTLu63dnLSZhyGr9HMd0wiJ1PDXtB4Os_AuO4CD_FyUMzN3hFveT2KIGQGePNc0DaoGSDIjxK2Khwt3LcG8kwk_mpax-eQ_uB36oPd_Xfz-l8YQpeScRmD5WV8DUnw/s320/IMG_1492.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DODGING THE LOCAL YACHT CLUB</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74fFttsCyXzslXPF8gHdqF7FZvEnOaaERhGDv40mfHsZzpLPLKfGqdCWPPKGOWUhdxlns-wMXKjQN8ico2IKLIaZ5H2kA5HftktY6aa9mrzaaSuvhUhWzYYpUOjGI2dyIWNnGrTHiKA8/s1600/IMG_1363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74fFttsCyXzslXPF8gHdqF7FZvEnOaaERhGDv40mfHsZzpLPLKfGqdCWPPKGOWUhdxlns-wMXKjQN8ico2IKLIaZ5H2kA5HftktY6aa9mrzaaSuvhUhWzYYpUOjGI2dyIWNnGrTHiKA8/s320/IMG_1363.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> FOUR FOOT SNAKE SWIMMING ON THE TRENT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">In London we took the girls to a show 'The
Scarecrow's Wedding' on Friday then had the Peckham Dog Show on the Saturday
which was organised by Sooz's vet clinic. Nearly 200 dogs were entered
and I was the 'International Judge' along with the Southwark Deputy Mayor.
Nothing too serious - the best 'Golden Oldie', 'Best Fancy Dressed' dog,
Best Puppy, etc. Great fun and patted every dog (except one dog
that was nearly blind and 'a bit touchy'. Quiet days at home recovering
on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday the girls went back to school after the
'big school holidays' - Olive in Grade 3 and Iris in Grade 1.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYX43jtowO9DAuJPaaizZDYNJ2JqfEdQUOKCBUczMx2OpH2FW0cAUVOpyODe5yvtWnQgDzZWjRVfE_FqZmi190bV1TQj-tpV4sMQro96SyBxZp5aq42_2pCdWIcCZdo3DsXRZNsquOrQ/s1600/IMG_1576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYX43jtowO9DAuJPaaizZDYNJ2JqfEdQUOKCBUczMx2OpH2FW0cAUVOpyODe5yvtWnQgDzZWjRVfE_FqZmi190bV1TQj-tpV4sMQro96SyBxZp5aq42_2pCdWIcCZdo3DsXRZNsquOrQ/s320/IMG_1576.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LUNCH IN CHINA TOWN</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgbmc0W6Jpca6_o7uWJbs2KiouEVOD4b699cek3SgVjSQt7BVXSfeWyG36TZNo3tp2jywx41QjW_k4B-BvztTazU3Ukunwv0-Gu93Zn3VLCmy8AV5AbujFfXAax1BceOr3laA6JfuyL4/s1600/DOG+SHOW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgbmc0W6Jpca6_o7uWJbs2KiouEVOD4b699cek3SgVjSQt7BVXSfeWyG36TZNo3tp2jywx41QjW_k4B-BvztTazU3Ukunwv0-Gu93Zn3VLCmy8AV5AbujFfXAax1BceOr3laA6JfuyL4/s320/DOG+SHOW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PECKHAM COMMON DOG SHOW</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">We trained it back to Nottingham where surprisingly
we had an extra passenger - a toy life-size husky dog which was on the front of
the boat. Asked around but nobody knew where it came from. Funny
thing - next morning a lady was walking along the towpath with two dogs that
were identical to 'our dog'. They kept walking around and sniffing it -
couldn't make out what it was. </span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS1-oDdXOZZ2nxX9MTNzAqByDY71rdAfQYnE21Siem95UGTTtfEFE_q_uPk7UcYL1GpzYuEJcXNDAcbl3hvDAoDMkS6ve5AJv-NzAkaTNKD3jr407peeIqJZ6JMJUfRo36rzOnZvUMS0/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS1-oDdXOZZ2nxX9MTNzAqByDY71rdAfQYnE21Siem95UGTTtfEFE_q_uPk7UcYL1GpzYuEJcXNDAcbl3hvDAoDMkS6ve5AJv-NzAkaTNKD3jr407peeIqJZ6JMJUfRo36rzOnZvUMS0/s320/IMG_1607.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'WOOF' AND FRIENDS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9IW8BV9wYSsKlHGzZoSLJu9_IGekHJhX3nCv7vLkPKHm2jsIjAFNGPnbmuEOQfCGygPFt-TpTSufgwAuJ1NFmBKuAUhE-izWhtIJ2ilo0HCrjj_V0TFBYk_RuqCUF7Ux89kxVWpmMkU/s1600/IMG_1511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9IW8BV9wYSsKlHGzZoSLJu9_IGekHJhX3nCv7vLkPKHm2jsIjAFNGPnbmuEOQfCGygPFt-TpTSufgwAuJ1NFmBKuAUhE-izWhtIJ2ilo0HCrjj_V0TFBYk_RuqCUF7Ux89kxVWpmMkU/s320/IMG_1511.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2BvQrhD0HWTYzsatBd_CZuODQ3TFgEJ2C5IZRIMpSET9m97ZFUHdyyGDfxY-sdCAQIXQPCAavYTWPv70p-dYtyqUtIqpY3qhK1SG_f_DkYMV1Ez00Bsok4QVOe5x6x6fSokurHdX-ag/s1600/IMG_1517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2BvQrhD0HWTYzsatBd_CZuODQ3TFgEJ2C5IZRIMpSET9m97ZFUHdyyGDfxY-sdCAQIXQPCAavYTWPv70p-dYtyqUtIqpY3qhK1SG_f_DkYMV1Ez00Bsok4QVOe5x6x6fSokurHdX-ag/s320/IMG_1517.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEACH AREA SET UP IN THE NOTTINGHAM CITY SQUARE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGYjTXerlGZ830UN0awoGd456Wz4WHoUsobnpFVmzf2kkt11qtp1QB0JCsYV7uU12uyB8bBMnTsGLi4AEd6s1-RFZoZDZwLNks5JOhLaiJD1bty3VeML9zxbveH5-rRwB242st4CVSqU/s1600/IMG_1536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGYjTXerlGZ830UN0awoGd456Wz4WHoUsobnpFVmzf2kkt11qtp1QB0JCsYV7uU12uyB8bBMnTsGLi4AEd6s1-RFZoZDZwLNks5JOhLaiJD1bty3VeML9zxbveH5-rRwB242st4CVSqU/s320/IMG_1536.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjlGiA2-RSxuRobQR507beBjlKDhBYjw-P2qZ4ySWMArYfOpoAMMGsY6bPTIexs_TC2HhIpnatEkv7OrWs0IwQGHs7VJ_RBMfawwa55CIrFKUbEf8TpKnpStgVCnjFHE_fP1ikjJwy4Q/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjlGiA2-RSxuRobQR507beBjlKDhBYjw-P2qZ4ySWMArYfOpoAMMGsY6bPTIexs_TC2HhIpnatEkv7OrWs0IwQGHs7VJ_RBMfawwa55CIrFKUbEf8TpKnpStgVCnjFHE_fP1ikjJwy4Q/s320/IMG_1522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">We started out the next day and went slowly past
the moored boats outside the marina but then had no power either forward or
reverse for the next few hundred yards. We pulled the boat back to the
marina with ropes and called the RCR (River and Canal Rescue). Only had
to wait a little while for Steve the mechanic to come with a new accelerator
cable and then we were on our way again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kQpZdK3y2gfPlAKpDvff1rP540qE455-ug-hUjBCxQ9UEs0jcABfEtuUv8AxtbcmMhDSCsB7WGzb5E8qtWA9-X3KHfY1MK6r-2YGcXl9HzB3jh_vxWt4UZM36uSd6J66wireKRwShRE/s1600/IMG_1616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kQpZdK3y2gfPlAKpDvff1rP540qE455-ug-hUjBCxQ9UEs0jcABfEtuUv8AxtbcmMhDSCsB7WGzb5E8qtWA9-X3KHfY1MK6r-2YGcXl9HzB3jh_vxWt4UZM36uSd6J66wireKRwShRE/s320/IMG_1616.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LEAVING THE TRENT ONTO THE RIVER SOAR</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Back onto the River Trent for a short trip until we
turned onto the River Soar. Made our way south until we reach the town
of Loughborough where we have been a couple of times before. Moored up
in a lovely canal basin surrounded by restaurants and a Travelodge hotel.
Sooz, Ten and the girls were coming up on a late train on Friday night
to travel down to Leicester with us but that morning we crossed the basin to
fill up on a water point and then found the boat had no 'reverse'. Pulled the
boat back to the pontoon and called the RCR again, thinking it was a related
problem to the accelerator cable. But no ...when the mechanic came he
said it was the gearbox which he would have to take away to get looked at.
Said it may not be fixed until Tuesday. Sounded expensive!!
(They say things happen in three's!). </span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Rang Sooz and told her the situation but they
decided to still make the trip. They arrived after 10.00pm and we woke
the next morning to steady drizzle. We spent the morning on the boat and
then explored the town when the rain eased. Called in at a very
'kid-friendly' museum and then the girls went to see Pete's Dragon at the local
cinema which they said was a fabulous show. Had a great dinner at a
Lebanese restaurant that night which even had a belly-dancer performing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN96xDXJvWgcuMiIWrlr0cA7BeMrcASkxBd5NYt-ZgHk0Db7WPqW08C_doGJAqqjD6vaU1uzX15vQ6Hje0FrRRnS81P9TqglDwUQoS7r-IrexBmhzb5wsY0bMu_f29mJr_oJ4YHSpIgsQ/s1600/IMG_1657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN96xDXJvWgcuMiIWrlr0cA7BeMrcASkxBd5NYt-ZgHk0Db7WPqW08C_doGJAqqjD6vaU1uzX15vQ6Hje0FrRRnS81P9TqglDwUQoS7r-IrexBmhzb5wsY0bMu_f29mJr_oJ4YHSpIgsQ/s320/IMG_1657.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AT THE LOUGHBOROUGH MOORING</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76l2itNpehHfvuaMDnzXjLaaXym_mFdN77_gdvz0fA8FuXdMREh6dbsuvSlWZ-4YGdu5p8BgxJbUePTCTYMvYl6iQDOqbe-RUcYC9M8bUZNw3wEUSg6-nd-Vgr0xFq7gSSClTCMUJFww/s1600/IMG_1659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76l2itNpehHfvuaMDnzXjLaaXym_mFdN77_gdvz0fA8FuXdMREh6dbsuvSlWZ-4YGdu5p8BgxJbUePTCTYMvYl6iQDOqbe-RUcYC9M8bUZNw3wEUSg6-nd-Vgr0xFq7gSSClTCMUJFww/s320/IMG_1659.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TEN AT THE HELM</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Luckily the mechanic appeared at 9.30 on Sunday
morning with the gearbox which they were able to repair. After the
gearbox went back into place which took about an hour we were ready to go.
The family was due to catch the 3.30 train back to London from Leicester
but with quite a few stiff locks to get through and then held up having to
untangle a plastic bag containing a 'Frozen' fancy dress outfit from around the
propeller they had to get a taxi from Thurmaston - a little village about 10
miles north of Leicester. Had trouble finding a mooring there where they
could get off to meet the taxi so they eventually just managed to catch the
later 4.00pm train. All exciting stuff!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">That afternoon we were supposed to be meeting Amie,
a friend of Sharron, a neighbour from Ruffy, and daughter of Peter who minded
the farm when we were away a few years ago. Amie was going to spend the
last few days on the boat with us before we got back to our home marina.
We kept calling her to let her know where we were but eventually had to moor up
in a different place to usual in Leicester because it was so busy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwd9QpPJB0JUBTgXAI_t0hWO_IxksckLDVPiyT63t9MRcpZVsKmBiGMzj1MSIKJNn9B8oZh8GpqcKeBFeBnCdSQAhUL9cx_iXfhTNQyyfBitMwC0kDU6sUjRCaOqrYl1sucVE4LXsBRY/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwd9QpPJB0JUBTgXAI_t0hWO_IxksckLDVPiyT63t9MRcpZVsKmBiGMzj1MSIKJNn9B8oZh8GpqcKeBFeBnCdSQAhUL9cx_iXfhTNQyyfBitMwC0kDU6sUjRCaOqrYl1sucVE4LXsBRY/s320/IMG_1663.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SOOZ WORKING A LOCK ON THE TRENT</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Spent Monday looking around the city and then
started out on the final stretch. Poor Amie - the Leicester section of
the Grand Union Canal has some of the stiffest locks and gates on the whole
system. Still.... she seemed to enjoy the journey and said it was a
'good workout'. Not many villages along the journey so we moored up in
the middle of nowhere on two nights but managed to collect some lovely
blackberries along the towpath for dessert.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPuVaEL5_Wch7Bgi2_8W2iCcEcLJOd33gQqb9sjhXxYRB7nEBnF0Xdp6Jch_iV0dTlKfzXa2D5e6ADSVskDcLOmWFOFHsRyh0u65ZpdkUn_BI9GFeYqWe-Br6N-1ckmIxPDG3YkkJCYI/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPuVaEL5_Wch7Bgi2_8W2iCcEcLJOd33gQqb9sjhXxYRB7nEBnF0Xdp6Jch_iV0dTlKfzXa2D5e6ADSVskDcLOmWFOFHsRyh0u65ZpdkUn_BI9GFeYqWe-Br6N-1ckmIxPDG3YkkJCYI/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMIE (ON LEFT) AND WOOF'S DELIGHTED NEW OWNER</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Tlx4sjuBhzRd6xT9_0b1jEbXBlLgkeIvpRW5rv4EIYw-KAQcpudhcnb2d58ZSbqzcP64d0U4jr9OIRiHk88QMQoBBqpljo0_mCd4vF2G5YhPL-AoLJcgjJa0kfX04Wl03XOMqHaEXNs/s1600/IMG_1677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Tlx4sjuBhzRd6xT9_0b1jEbXBlLgkeIvpRW5rv4EIYw-KAQcpudhcnb2d58ZSbqzcP64d0U4jr9OIRiHk88QMQoBBqpljo0_mCd4vF2G5YhPL-AoLJcgjJa0kfX04Wl03XOMqHaEXNs/s320/IMG_1677.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LEAVING LEICESTER CITY</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZidrIhWHDuBZS5rLyZ7HzAvA48zSO6pEVEu04_rTWpS_0A4uz7I-w8BEXYgV-63JOchrcSv0rzYFNwYogHicahwb6MRyUMv6jsdYItJGKb3SNpX1N_oQ7o31djcU5PwgKj366kvP3lEw/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZidrIhWHDuBZS5rLyZ7HzAvA48zSO6pEVEu04_rTWpS_0A4uz7I-w8BEXYgV-63JOchrcSv0rzYFNwYogHicahwb6MRyUMv6jsdYItJGKb3SNpX1N_oQ7o31djcU5PwgKj366kvP3lEw/s320/IMG_1690.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AMIE PULLING A LOCK GATE CLOSED</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BLACKBERRIES EVERYWHERE!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZKBg9u31q4b49i-eSmyyf-thgOIUiM7D7idfCZLZgUmPv98EchqbegVPEF4kDGPPZ58bcmd6G0m3Ea-JzVOT_R4VHtbBZ2MxxZUW2NesSPWMlyFJnwGTts6JNkI_h6KDCgqiTiaMqvA/s1600/IMG_1708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZKBg9u31q4b49i-eSmyyf-thgOIUiM7D7idfCZLZgUmPv98EchqbegVPEF4kDGPPZ58bcmd6G0m3Ea-JzVOT_R4VHtbBZ2MxxZUW2NesSPWMlyFJnwGTts6JNkI_h6KDCgqiTiaMqvA/s320/IMG_1708.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ONE NIGHT TO GO</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Thursday we arrived at Foxton Locks on a glorious
sunny day. While Terry patched up some lost paintwork on the boat we
walked up to the top of the locks and then Amie spent some time at the museum
and inclined plane site (where they used to drag the cargo boats up the hill
instead of going through the locks). On our last night on the boat we
had dinner at the Foxton Locks Inn.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGD_RWuRznmt42qH5Vs8nnwJlj69hEE44ptBVZ_K5En023RwTzp_oY-KrDKHg0-lj26lAKZhjqFg5rzMryB9Qc7MAl0pYVgTPO3-QnWC8rbrNShlbzNFsVO7SE57bQvYxvzf_Gm85DwI/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGD_RWuRznmt42qH5Vs8nnwJlj69hEE44ptBVZ_K5En023RwTzp_oY-KrDKHg0-lj26lAKZhjqFg5rzMryB9Qc7MAl0pYVgTPO3-QnWC8rbrNShlbzNFsVO7SE57bQvYxvzf_Gm85DwI/s320/IMG_1737.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FOXTON LOCKS INN</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpMqX9V6UDl-ljJW_8KTsFU57ArghiX_CiOaMnK5-D1TcnOnAOzOc3bSx621o7V2pmp_08tZXhxG8naFk_xZKocKUDkVGu4gSVOrOvXXKLbF1JI4jNlRia66Jx0bKTFxMgNeerorXAj0/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpMqX9V6UDl-ljJW_8KTsFU57ArghiX_CiOaMnK5-D1TcnOnAOzOc3bSx621o7V2pmp_08tZXhxG8naFk_xZKocKUDkVGu4gSVOrOvXXKLbF1JI4jNlRia66Jx0bKTFxMgNeerorXAj0/s320/IMG_1740.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">We were only about 20 minutes away from our marina
but Friday morning there was a massive thunderstorm so it was a very wet
pack-up of the boat before we caught a taxi to Market Harborough station to
catch the train back to London.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Raining heavily when we reached London and it was
lucky that Sooz was able to pick us up from the station or we would have been
soaked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spent the last couple of days in
the UK with Sooz and the girls (Ten was away in LA) and flew out on Monday
night for a two night stopover again in Brunei where we stayed last year.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;">
</span>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">So it has been rivers this year rather than canals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been on the Nene, the Middle
Level Navigations, the Great Ouse, the Cam, the Witham, the massive Trent and
Soar Rivers as well as the Grand Union Canal, (including the Leicester Arm) and
the Northampton Arm going through more than 200 locks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of these were huge river locks with
some mechanised and others just hard work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
And........... going out to sea over The Wash was certainly a highlight.</span></span></span></span></div>
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Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-59072703860885110542016-08-22T00:44:00.001+01:002016-08-22T10:21:50.304+01:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Part 4 2016</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Continuing
on......Waited in Salters Lode Lock for nearly 4 hours until the tide was right
to open the gates and let us through onto the Middle Level Navigations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very late so we spent the night moored
up in the middle of nowhere then made our way back to Peterborough and the Nene
River the next day.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQPGm-BzspWvXpyNBlSqx6IykQGYc-4_EpV8DZhFgmz2zrSBoDh3zvL2a0I3LRUaoUAXnemn_-c146wKZfDiifiFATtNRTcEZ6gZAOGn0jjQOwJMhyphenhyphenIRgg7NhQU5BtZCfKVETzCoXey4/s320/IMG_0425.JPG" width="320" />I</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Salters Lode Lock onto the Middle Level Navigations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJPiw0xMz3McJya16lvh8PpGjHiuzAcolfacIWHUBAh7-qk1JtICG4ddUll4B2b1SCxoEhjPpmqK-eWe5HeXTJcL_QVfN0mBbx3oY1OhnhdXHGKtcZKqLUIlXWXNmPwoGikcY8eqcQUA/s1600/IMG_0433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJPiw0xMz3McJya16lvh8PpGjHiuzAcolfacIWHUBAh7-qk1JtICG4ddUll4B2b1SCxoEhjPpmqK-eWe5HeXTJcL_QVfN0mBbx3oY1OhnhdXHGKtcZKqLUIlXWXNmPwoGikcY8eqcQUA/s320/IMG_0433.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge built in 1628 - a tight fit!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDG_LnAxFv_X-mO9OBhmPD63RVfifQvrXmnvLF5dki2lV7gKh7UFyjRcpXG447RASmgelYZ84vVLFoNf6qAm07os3CiV9McTl9JJ53fALJ_TuZqlLlpnHGy26ugWZRoCXQZPumflBorU/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDG_LnAxFv_X-mO9OBhmPD63RVfifQvrXmnvLF5dki2lV7gKh7UFyjRcpXG447RASmgelYZ84vVLFoNf6qAm07os3CiV9McTl9JJ53fALJ_TuZqlLlpnHGy26ugWZRoCXQZPumflBorU/s320/IMG_0445.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another low bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcMZU7xlkM0PL_3iGlu2KcbWpc3MghSVifBQaBolRCfAb2Bj19UsWQtfoHi-sCoJGpw0ShGD2PaM-CPki7HRjpZB69yc3TsKnetPLDkhToVKyHS6tI1nrzcH3z414kvb20F98CEnrZ-w/s1600/IMG_0434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcMZU7xlkM0PL_3iGlu2KcbWpc3MghSVifBQaBolRCfAb2Bj19UsWQtfoHi-sCoJGpw0ShGD2PaM-CPki7HRjpZB69yc3TsKnetPLDkhToVKyHS6tI1nrzcH3z414kvb20F98CEnrZ-w/s320/IMG_0434.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gf8uaaPVAQgXqu5limAAeIytDISUUIxOWW26e6JUTJJOiWeLtPRDWt1uUaIM0llNCcuFVBfvwlE9RrEKLF9MRw9wwCyNtmUbQ9lQBjxqry-0cxMzsIxDyzb-zY0xz4gUrtDBESFJH9w/s1600/IMG_0439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gf8uaaPVAQgXqu5limAAeIytDISUUIxOWW26e6JUTJJOiWeLtPRDWt1uUaIM0llNCcuFVBfvwlE9RrEKLF9MRw9wwCyNtmUbQ9lQBjxqry-0cxMzsIxDyzb-zY0xz4gUrtDBESFJH9w/s320/IMG_0439.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhOLM7FZQL549azUZYPhyH88YlM0L4uSOx3feGH-qI8kej0U6tDTi4CXTmMP_Jdj0Ks9LsynsMC2XLFTpY4EreegNkFSAokvLa7J6xzZWWLY6eTyEpqza3cyds-egKOx2wlg_1WP-m9s/s1600/IMG_0450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhOLM7FZQL549azUZYPhyH88YlM0L4uSOx3feGH-qI8kej0U6tDTi4CXTmMP_Jdj0Ks9LsynsMC2XLFTpY4EreegNkFSAokvLa7J6xzZWWLY6eTyEpqza3cyds-egKOx2wlg_1WP-m9s/s320/IMG_0450.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miles and miles of wind turbines</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2O7mQbFE7IXY4TTxk294lGwJQlwvPcrrnZXm2ISTDt6eaL-086OKfV0kgeKvxkG28aLvTGAhzYZbndlVGtjt0xBqnzrvPXxjMzCYRupJEY9O8DHGckcFxi3A6W8tJ6UIpC7l0ETitT7M/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2O7mQbFE7IXY4TTxk294lGwJQlwvPcrrnZXm2ISTDt6eaL-086OKfV0kgeKvxkG28aLvTGAhzYZbndlVGtjt0xBqnzrvPXxjMzCYRupJEY9O8DHGckcFxi3A6W8tJ6UIpC7l0ETitT7M/s320/IMG_0469.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Professional dog walker - approx. $20 an hour each dog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUj6TEj3YcFYWIVba3mAOiDT0jzWhGUJ9YZidrVzAOCKsduFk4q_bKSQi2zcCKQg0nGGnEmhSyAy_M6_Ao0qYEe5SEbaW79gJrABUl0060rClxeSlvCmID75kYg_yB7S4SheZVMGpTsE/s1600/IMG_0471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUj6TEj3YcFYWIVba3mAOiDT0jzWhGUJ9YZidrVzAOCKsduFk4q_bKSQi2zcCKQg0nGGnEmhSyAy_M6_Ao0qYEe5SEbaW79gJrABUl0060rClxeSlvCmID75kYg_yB7S4SheZVMGpTsE/s320/IMG_0471.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjace1lacXsb6rsQAkgj3y0WsfamaoEiyKKUJAeqBj-x3SuQRVvtev9Q75Gab-CMC5Slw9UsyNRgV7hOQH4WLJfOar86BZpjRI3St2Sz9UsbIwYwVDOoYTkq7q5LgcJfs4v3Yuefb3zl5g/s1600/IMG_0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjace1lacXsb6rsQAkgj3y0WsfamaoEiyKKUJAeqBj-x3SuQRVvtev9Q75Gab-CMC5Slw9UsyNRgV7hOQH4WLJfOar86BZpjRI3St2Sz9UsbIwYwVDOoYTkq7q5LgcJfs4v3Yuefb3zl5g/s320/IMG_0484.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peterborough Town Hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yzG9UnOQvXhwvL5oYfQFlVOqgNLbibI5JEHLGv93JG8GtRD2wZlghLW4jxY6AGlkWYwqEtr1b0yOUYUmeeCEvlD1aal5o4rjFdGEX2fRaJHYplr0DgcX_5gC-iVxR7v1Nn-HLKCFdXI/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yzG9UnOQvXhwvL5oYfQFlVOqgNLbibI5JEHLGv93JG8GtRD2wZlghLW4jxY6AGlkWYwqEtr1b0yOUYUmeeCEvlD1aal5o4rjFdGEX2fRaJHYplr0DgcX_5gC-iVxR7v1Nn-HLKCFdXI/s320/IMG_0487.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peterborough town square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHTIyvW9IG0lBiruBbfMrxO6XpIZHC7_g5n60bjfdUwZXOeUeqQoLnNaNd8D4p3ZT0fhKSbFS7ynz6cpVBxX_ysKFm9xwoy4MdVTNQIKcqROeIg0Nfi2p7YaXVCMZeDWK2qXaO1NSCIM/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHTIyvW9IG0lBiruBbfMrxO6XpIZHC7_g5n60bjfdUwZXOeUeqQoLnNaNd8D4p3ZT0fhKSbFS7ynz6cpVBxX_ysKFm9xwoy4MdVTNQIKcqROeIg0Nfi2p7YaXVCMZeDWK2qXaO1NSCIM/s320/IMG_0485.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roof of Peterborough Town Hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because we had to be at the Dog & Doublet Tidal
Lock<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(two hours away from Peterborough)
at 6 the next morning we spent the night moored up at the Lock, also in the
middle of nowhere, with another boat, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the ‘President Wenslydale’ with Martyn and two
of his flatmates from London.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
the other boat booked to go over The Wash with us on Tuesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqB72M49pNYd1GA-aNE4HFAR3qhgSv3EqqOjFoCC1eZtxZdQmiA1lvb0vfD1lvzsVXioC7esII_X48cf0K5FctsO1DnPF-y8Aj8D29T9cybd4lVNaxVEOiFsTA9IU6LR2AhP9I2Y2bpk0/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqB72M49pNYd1GA-aNE4HFAR3qhgSv3EqqOjFoCC1eZtxZdQmiA1lvb0vfD1lvzsVXioC7esII_X48cf0K5FctsO1DnPF-y8Aj8D29T9cybd4lVNaxVEOiFsTA9IU6LR2AhP9I2Y2bpk0/s320/IMG_0493.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dog & Doublet Lock on the River Nene</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We got through the lock at 6 am and then went
another couple of hours until we reached Wisbech which turned out to be a large
port with big ships moored up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
tidal Nene, which was probably about 80 feet wide where we were moored up on a
floating pontoon, belted in and out twice a day and so we went up and down
about 10 feet which was a massive amount of water rushing past the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Captain kept checking the ropes to make
sure we were tightly tied to the pontoon and not getting washed out to sea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoe24e_J0YDN4YNkjZ2zzoawviHA3ndYnkUTQypojFErKwb-SbHnRu7sSIW5v5BsmF69EaGqZ0lxBhlQrQI8zuHcJMBxrooy-tf9cu9WeflOHCUYDjTCz0ckApVfGWdMK8Z5Ncib48MaI/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoe24e_J0YDN4YNkjZ2zzoawviHA3ndYnkUTQypojFErKwb-SbHnRu7sSIW5v5BsmF69EaGqZ0lxBhlQrQI8zuHcJMBxrooy-tf9cu9WeflOHCUYDjTCz0ckApVfGWdMK8Z5Ncib48MaI/s320/IMG_0500.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgian houses lining the Nene at Wisbech</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WDMzgHQbc6rhT3_QFEox12u6HPgalgeh7xE8aKOb6HPVYiLmCpL7yd6FrvjeAV5okOm-PFKEQ48A_pdvWB3NoBPowUy49yDaldXZRaxQ-o1q5hF7xjzIetazYPM4Wk40gvOaAL5ed7M/s1600/IMG_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WDMzgHQbc6rhT3_QFEox12u6HPgalgeh7xE8aKOb6HPVYiLmCpL7yd6FrvjeAV5okOm-PFKEQ48A_pdvWB3NoBPowUy49yDaldXZRaxQ-o1q5hF7xjzIetazYPM4Wk40gvOaAL5ed7M/s320/IMG_0502.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrXhPhS-c4rFsTKrsR1UFjOKJAH3o36Zojmo1uujM0M7JKdG9ktumMmupYCSQVWuNhswAXgj5yx0hXaGc0ISF0p7ppncfr1WTO0U431ALzliwYI5UaHGGBNcph2wGGsNZ9IedzFlLwt4/s1600/IMG_0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrXhPhS-c4rFsTKrsR1UFjOKJAH3o36Zojmo1uujM0M7JKdG9ktumMmupYCSQVWuNhswAXgj5yx0hXaGc0ISF0p7ppncfr1WTO0U431ALzliwYI5UaHGGBNcph2wGGsNZ9IedzFlLwt4/s320/IMG_0504.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moored up on floating pontoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wisbech turned out to be a lovely port village (even though
we were still about 11 miles from the coast). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in the 1700 & 1800s it handled lots
of Dutch shipping and very grand houses fronted the river on both banks – said
to be some of the finest Georgian Streets In England which have been used in
many film and TV<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The river is lined with great steel edging
about 20 feet high to keep the tides under control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GJpgR2bUf5_QeCSAW5ulRAkbKoajeBai2B0C9Q4TquIuqnrkupvD1BMZcrIphzGHYNWFXnt3YHvJErvBdMj__KYKlCC3cFv5DIkKC5WPTkHfbF7ZacbtMAT-1E2Ctxu2h6W0besq0ME/s1600/IMG_0507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GJpgR2bUf5_QeCSAW5ulRAkbKoajeBai2B0C9Q4TquIuqnrkupvD1BMZcrIphzGHYNWFXnt3YHvJErvBdMj__KYKlCC3cFv5DIkKC5WPTkHfbF7ZacbtMAT-1E2Ctxu2h6W0besq0ME/s320/IMG_0507.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36IrQ9z9fox0SJkLPLtGx4JRaW08ITTwJDNLeSBX5wx9KNZYX7SfMNFEmjfCRLeidz_zwyFb_tkL0K6-g8tuuMV32HBCoqQJE3sVkZ_zwQjOV-znrAA-Hore0ZA2FeJrfXW3Wmyq8Cv4/s1600/IMG_0508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36IrQ9z9fox0SJkLPLtGx4JRaW08ITTwJDNLeSBX5wx9KNZYX7SfMNFEmjfCRLeidz_zwyFb_tkL0K6-g8tuuMV32HBCoqQJE3sVkZ_zwQjOV-znrAA-Hore0ZA2FeJrfXW3Wmyq8Cv4/s320/IMG_0508.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laundromat in main street of Wisbech</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We went to a National Trust property called Peckover House built
in 1722 by the Peckovers, a Quaker banking family – the house which was very
lavishly decorated and had an acre of garden surrounding it must have been a
very substantial property in its heyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwJLkIW8SIiZ14z8m5MG-ZsY09p_ahuNwHV3a2vUQ7hNjJOfLBoOrv2eb4HMsZpKDUIh4ogZDz8drHtcBWxkEkBdOhX4ETRh02CiGM7AtYk0hjbllwXKAKZPwbgr9688Xo7SJGZAURk0/s1600/IMG_0515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwJLkIW8SIiZ14z8m5MG-ZsY09p_ahuNwHV3a2vUQ7hNjJOfLBoOrv2eb4HMsZpKDUIh4ogZDz8drHtcBWxkEkBdOhX4ETRh02CiGM7AtYk0hjbllwXKAKZPwbgr9688Xo7SJGZAURk0/s320/IMG_0515.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of River Nene from Peckover House</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf38bVnBzuuNSUZHBCnBqPP9WGHTSy4F_FYnUME612ZwUB4-c1MmY2rPtjcmCImC1_7gaba6o6tuObRLYVTt0DOlBJOhZWZZ4a0w_oUfwj4L8V-ufDzI0slQ7BgQYTXjL4lkXuQjMqMUI/s1600/IMG_0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf38bVnBzuuNSUZHBCnBqPP9WGHTSy4F_FYnUME612ZwUB4-c1MmY2rPtjcmCImC1_7gaba6o6tuObRLYVTt0DOlBJOhZWZZ4a0w_oUfwj4L8V-ufDzI0slQ7BgQYTXjL4lkXuQjMqMUI/s320/IMG_0509.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMg3wGiNco43Fw-3PixresNzloFY4fOVy3c45EsxPfUsKBSlNircHd7mNkuv_qp57CNq3Deco7gojY7oRtKItv2Jg6yN2LZlcAHSv-SRFCWdujanvz2IQTJ8iJqQ5ljZ6DZSo1_3ghH4/s1600/IMG_0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMg3wGiNco43Fw-3PixresNzloFY4fOVy3c45EsxPfUsKBSlNircHd7mNkuv_qp57CNq3Deco7gojY7oRtKItv2Jg6yN2LZlcAHSv-SRFCWdujanvz2IQTJ8iJqQ5ljZ6DZSo1_3ghH4/s320/IMG_0513.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge cornices!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2x96tQ2ybau-4nfurilaUc6p4MIXyjGqWkgxeyTxcPosMDzkPFsMOjqladxqPOmNo0wPwvj_5RmAPPbE5DdZBXMrlYEbMWVj2k9zRq9ERqz1TEjt1xS4m067IIxKCd2cjRouYyec0ro/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2x96tQ2ybau-4nfurilaUc6p4MIXyjGqWkgxeyTxcPosMDzkPFsMOjqladxqPOmNo0wPwvj_5RmAPPbE5DdZBXMrlYEbMWVj2k9zRq9ERqz1TEjt1xS4m067IIxKCd2cjRouYyec0ro/s320/IMG_0520.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were supposed to be going out on The Wash on Tuesday
morning but got a phone call about 6.00pm on Sunday night from Daryl, our pilot,
to say we would be leaving 6.00 am on the tide the next morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite funny really as we had planned to shop
on the Monday morning for supplies so a quick dash up to the township revealed
that only one Polish shop was open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything on the shelves was in labelled in Polish with no English subtitles so we had
fun stocking up the larder for the ‘Big Trip’.</span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next morning Daryl was right on time and so we set off from
Wisbech wearing our lifejackets on our big adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The contents of the crystal cabinet were safely packed away too. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bridge can be opened when big ships need to go through</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving the mouth of the Nene</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a couple of hours we were out at sea with land barely in sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a beautiful sunny morning and the water was like a millpond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently The Wash is very treacherous and lots of ships have come to grief on the many hidden sandbars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a series of buoys and Daryl, who was on our boat, kept us on the ‘straight and narrow’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told us to look out for a church spire in the distance which was called the ‘Boston Stump’ - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St Botolph’s in Boston.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we finally saw it we seemed to be heading away from it most of the time but Daryl said it was necessary to avoid the sandbars closer to the coast.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Wenslydale with Martyn at the helm</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daryl - our pilot</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At about 12 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>o’clock the tide was going out so we beached up on a sandbar and put the anchor out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite strange being in the middle of nowhere with only some seals for company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were very timid and dived back into the water whenever anyone went close to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Martyn and his friends set up a BBQ on the sand and managed to blacken a few sausages but we had been told that Daryl’s favourite was a Bacon Butty (sandwich) and a cup of tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys went searching for cockles in the sand – this is a big local industry and there were lots of fishing boats nearby also hunting for cockles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a couple of hours the tide started coming back so we packed up and got back on our boats and floated off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to get to Boston by 4.00 pm to get through the big lock with the tide onto the River Witham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Totally different to the morning ‘sailing’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind had got up so it was quite choppy with waves breaking over the bow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daryl told us to speed up so it was a bit bumpy but we made it into the Boston Lock right at 4 o’clock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wind's blowing!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at Boston Port</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Botolph 'The Stump'</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>There were a few
teenage boys looking at us as we went through the lock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Where’re you from?” they asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marty replied “London”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Geez – you must be rich mate” the kid
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he yelled out to me “Where’re
you from”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I said Australia he
said “Geez – do you live on that boat?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are you Gypos?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thought it was
quite funny but suppose we are ‘travellers’
when we’re here.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzkG9EtsLJfv8m7FbhwWBb3A5IoMOSLeRMgidMr-XT0WH9RFMFCMDyasiagZNmvBku6dohxhcJOs5MMZ-XK6td_hhWv8lZAQQLD6Fqi6JuuV0TNrojt6VoWR_Mov4GB3rhscWkb53drM/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzkG9EtsLJfv8m7FbhwWBb3A5IoMOSLeRMgidMr-XT0WH9RFMFCMDyasiagZNmvBku6dohxhcJOs5MMZ-XK6td_hhWv8lZAQQLD6Fqi6JuuV0TNrojt6VoWR_Mov4GB3rhscWkb53drM/s320/IMG_0682.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at the lock at Boston</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Moored up on a floating pontoon in Boston surrounded by
thick Duckweed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looked so much like
lawn that a couple of dogs had to be rescued when they stepped off their boats
onto the ‘lawn’ surrounding their boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a huge problem so there are specially built boats harvesting the
duckweed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can pick up a couple of
tons at a time but it’s a losing battle as the stuff just keeps spreading.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2lufJECYDCSuAFakaCGmgjq5fKQpjyjK4epfG_df682iJ8mvZrIEDm6bR9JJ1sGErJZvO1JDsU5OfDMFI_UXxjSXCjEmRPGcx_mMkhOQgZTtxt34XuRgiU9WiObsurCVzT9zlZAblz0/s1600/IMG_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2lufJECYDCSuAFakaCGmgjq5fKQpjyjK4epfG_df682iJ8mvZrIEDm6bR9JJ1sGErJZvO1JDsU5OfDMFI_UXxjSXCjEmRPGcx_mMkhOQgZTtxt34XuRgiU9WiObsurCVzT9zlZAblz0/s320/IMG_0840.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boat on a green 'lawn'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just after we moored up we had a phone call from Sooz so we
caught the train down to London next day for some school holiday granddaughter minding.
On Wednesday took the girls to see BFG (Big Friendly Giant) at the lovely local
Dulwich Cinema – quite a good show and a real eye-opener with the special
effects they can do these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On Thursday we caught a bus to the nearby Crystal Palace
Gardens. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Crystal Palace Exhibition
set up by Prince Albert in 1851 began in Hyde Park but was moved after the
exhibition closed in 1852 to this 200 acre park which became the permanent site of
the new Crystal Palace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t started to rain when we arrived so had lunch until it
eased off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was an old-fashioned
Punch & Judy Show outside the cafe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thought the girls would think it was terribly ‘old-hat’ but they seemed
to enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hadn’t realised how
violent the show is – Punch seems to kill everybody else in the show – and there
were lots of ‘bottom’ jokes which made the audience laugh but probably not the ‘proper’
thing to say these days.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvwuT2jeXrFsmDEoutvlkla3KXD4E8fDNaGTLDQRnELYbVcV_3VY8V2akXZpsBEwCBZSr7mYU5Nmx8lDlrNxz6Oru-JLm0ipdyvCGmVsgMq0eh7sqWX4zwWGm0pRR2olc0sZrYOWUfug/s1600/IMG_0686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvwuT2jeXrFsmDEoutvlkla3KXD4E8fDNaGTLDQRnELYbVcV_3VY8V2akXZpsBEwCBZSr7mYU5Nmx8lDlrNxz6Oru-JLm0ipdyvCGmVsgMq0eh7sqWX4zwWGm0pRR2olc0sZrYOWUfug/s320/IMG_0686.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching Punch & Judy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hired a pedal-lo boat and managed to crash our way around
the lake for an hour or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite hard
work but the girls insisted on doing some of the pedalling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then it was off for a walk around the lake with large dinosaur statues lurking around each corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The park looked like it could do with lots of money spent to bring it back to its former glory but there were heaps of people enjoying it anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next day it was off on a double-decker to Brockwell Park where
the girls spent a few hours on the huge adventure playground and then got
terribly wet in the fountain/wading pool area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a really hot day so they dried out pretty quickly before the bus
ride home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Made our way back to Boston on Saturday and had a look
around the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the second
most important port after London in the 1300s & 1400s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the city sights were closed but we
had a look through St Botolph’s Church (nicknamed ‘The Stump’ by sailors coming
in by sea) built in 1309 and completed in 1510.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is coming back to life with lots of the Polish (eastern European)
immigrants attending now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lovely old
church with so much history. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKld8P7CO0yi2jh0uiTSSr_irN6vAo0VIIzNfpxIpFzXN9kedeFKs7xjEn2Yg5pA3_T37stsrOeQoECbHwD9o0IEQAoCLBzknmyBp1kBgqSb3A_4j3RNbO83F3wmbRXcRLgFpig3JmuAs/s1600/IMG_0824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKld8P7CO0yi2jh0uiTSSr_irN6vAo0VIIzNfpxIpFzXN9kedeFKs7xjEn2Yg5pA3_T37stsrOeQoECbHwD9o0IEQAoCLBzknmyBp1kBgqSb3A_4j3RNbO83F3wmbRXcRLgFpig3JmuAs/s320/IMG_0824.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magic carpets?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77VY79Vcex2qzmGYFaWDcL0eJx243vIGFjtunzPGx9POIO8OQtHV2NOYgVCGmmA6GvIzMPrzKHEljkOUQ5hoJofpn9y4d6WAKrWmOYJ7Elm-p2tA6fNHS-LyO4aSadWx5TwoYsJo7HsQ/s1600/IMG_0820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77VY79Vcex2qzmGYFaWDcL0eJx243vIGFjtunzPGx9POIO8OQtHV2NOYgVCGmmA6GvIzMPrzKHEljkOUQ5hoJofpn9y4d6WAKrWmOYJ7Elm-p2tA6fNHS-LyO4aSadWx5TwoYsJo7HsQ/s320/IMG_0820.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXFv_H-Hj0JG3WxpJFajYLsGb3skRyKM_2UK0wtfkkUzy9pwazFr7s3u2LT-hnsFAtcXN_R9GzLo2IX8VCIJeCidleH2ChyzEhb4f9tmrJNZw6a_l2vltFVVOnZ685ZtQT4JGBh2a1w4/s1600/IMG_0832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXFv_H-Hj0JG3WxpJFajYLsGb3skRyKM_2UK0wtfkkUzy9pwazFr7s3u2LT-hnsFAtcXN_R9GzLo2IX8VCIJeCidleH2ChyzEhb4f9tmrJNZw6a_l2vltFVVOnZ685ZtQT4JGBh2a1w4/s320/IMG_0832.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many drains around Boston draining the Fens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS51b4NkLv5wOVjn5Kr0A1UsxnmXdYKCISjNHZCx4-X5_J6hhzep9k6p2LywRhcn1b4eOEB6XTXK72VUfaN7hiDPccI9Co9vFAZFqeBLxA4j1HWNfZ33ssMI9fafROSp957rK8lNME9Q/s1600/IMG_0830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS51b4NkLv5wOVjn5Kr0A1UsxnmXdYKCISjNHZCx4-X5_J6hhzep9k6p2LywRhcn1b4eOEB6XTXK72VUfaN7hiDPccI9Co9vFAZFqeBLxA4j1HWNfZ33ssMI9fafROSp957rK8lNME9Q/s320/IMG_0830.JPG" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Windmill in Boston - still working</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Boston is the town where the Pilgrim Fathers
left for their new life in America in the 1600s because they didn’t agree with
Henry VIII’s new Church of England teachings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were betrayed and imprisoned in 1607 for planning to escape from religious
persecution and seeking to leave without the permission of the King. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Left Boston and next stop was Kirkstead Bridge where we walked a mile
or so to Woodhall <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spa – a very trendy
little village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of people drinking
coffee in the front of tiny shops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7VegunNEX5sWTt4hRvGjzhPUB9j3omskzl6szeqyrJvVEN_Q5AhQIxuEyMSgl9B5sObU-JuTJl8vCAfqrCE3VHWyxi1-aRRSX1qI9yIy7qjA4TzXnWmd04MvXi1dgOR0Zpu4mK1WG5M/s1600/IMG_0855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7VegunNEX5sWTt4hRvGjzhPUB9j3omskzl6szeqyrJvVEN_Q5AhQIxuEyMSgl9B5sObU-JuTJl8vCAfqrCE3VHWyxi1-aRRSX1qI9yIy7qjA4TzXnWmd04MvXi1dgOR0Zpu4mK1WG5M/s320/IMG_0855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWNOCs2o6FL1haLH4TDomRlbtdMeCpjAdZVXPmV6QBYSigRXWOjo3KXsW1tHVze9AT0j78wzVuwbrozaZwgxPkarJv4ZGybpONFVLV6KlaouMor_Jif7g2zLyd58BP7-gUEl6vRBzKTU/s1600/IMG_0853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWNOCs2o6FL1haLH4TDomRlbtdMeCpjAdZVXPmV6QBYSigRXWOjo3KXsW1tHVze9AT0j78wzVuwbrozaZwgxPkarJv4ZGybpONFVLV6KlaouMor_Jif7g2zLyd58BP7-gUEl6vRBzKTU/s320/IMG_0853.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the bus shelter has been decorated.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walked up a narrow arcade and right at the very end was a small shop
with a large decorated cake in the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Turned out to be a copy of Charles & Camilla’s wedding cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lady inside beckoned us in and gave us a
tasting of her ‘special’ wedding cake mix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Turned out her out her son worked for Prince Charles for a number of years and
recommended his mum to make their wedding cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As well as the main cake she had to make 2,500 slices of cake to go in commemorative
tins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was all done in secret in the
local Methodist Church so people couldn’t see in through the windows. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJyGIOWy90ORgxd3tsaAA_C0bY6lQFpWhaT4TvkD3rmYnEzLfBQpugtNp4mhTBzA5NpK2ZcG0sQeHOSZshsp92d5YqBR1syX4DGI7J9LRf2S8MWlm7bgUeqI1yW063lG0B683TdK1UvE/s1600/image1+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJyGIOWy90ORgxd3tsaAA_C0bY6lQFpWhaT4TvkD3rmYnEzLfBQpugtNp4mhTBzA5NpK2ZcG0sQeHOSZshsp92d5YqBR1syX4DGI7J9LRf2S8MWlm7bgUeqI1yW063lG0B683TdK1UvE/s320/image1+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She has since made cakes for both Charles
and Camilla’s 60<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> birthdays, many other society weddings and other
functions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We looked through her ‘show’
books and she does the most amazing cakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The present project is decorating a cake for a fly-fisherman, complete
with tiny hooks and a life-like trout rising out of the cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The things that these little villages hide
away!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some more of Dawn's cakes:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpix8YM_4Zt9pyjreHbOQNWOmrfO8hyphenhyphenEyBQMwfMzMaZACPbvojdf48NxDKWy1D_JrLor9cKfEo1PX-ocPtFptKhMtd889SUz6tQfRe1Luzl69ze7mfEaxNe4xSGTrl6rAkiel-SctREcE/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpix8YM_4Zt9pyjreHbOQNWOmrfO8hyphenhyphenEyBQMwfMzMaZACPbvojdf48NxDKWy1D_JrLor9cKfEo1PX-ocPtFptKhMtd889SUz6tQfRe1Luzl69ze7mfEaxNe4xSGTrl6rAkiel-SctREcE/s1600/image2.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUWfR8bkJHNy2CfM7Lre1EDqeBXI1_jtdN7T9oLVEHJGt412gYeG6ejRI7Rm7FxlgPI0E-sZZ5lvEuDzS13cB9R7gl5ONLBvZUYTSv4eXdY1J6IY4CH6VJFIiV_c-h6QceJjDbGzoaSY/s1600/image3+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUWfR8bkJHNy2CfM7Lre1EDqeBXI1_jtdN7T9oLVEHJGt412gYeG6ejRI7Rm7FxlgPI0E-sZZ5lvEuDzS13cB9R7gl5ONLBvZUYTSv4eXdY1J6IY4CH6VJFIiV_c-h6QceJjDbGzoaSY/s1600/image3+%25281%2529.JPG" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnI8iHU07kZbT2MkA8L52-lw8halo7A4Cf1O1s0VQ6t7wAlOl7-swjNCtdZU7M3eUW8g2AGRfytDjOD8KCmXyXoQNE9okY2HZjPgvy9vxzqWnyZXY1D3J-QlfAWkfE4ZXJW2RSem1uZUM/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnI8iHU07kZbT2MkA8L52-lw8halo7A4Cf1O1s0VQ6t7wAlOl7-swjNCtdZU7M3eUW8g2AGRfytDjOD8KCmXyXoQNE9okY2HZjPgvy9vxzqWnyZXY1D3J-QlfAWkfE4ZXJW2RSem1uZUM/s1600/image1.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prince Charles's 60th birthday cake - corner of his garden at Highgrove House</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next stop was Lincoln – which still has part of its Roman
wall and is the UK’s fourth largest city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We moored up in the heart of the action – right next to The Witch and
Wardrobe pub – the oldest building in Lincoln.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was built in the 13<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> century and is haunted by a lady who
fell down the stairs a couple of hundred years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t see her though – just all the old
fellows who came out to hang over the rails next to our boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all said “Ooh–ah it’s a looverly boat
that it is”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amazing that we’ve been
moored up right next to pubs all over the country and have never had any
trouble or been kept awake by any noisy behaviour. </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2ZA3iQ78uGo1XVn6EU_-c-A_cx6Pk9sbVLVlMPYkYlxbOL_z9cPymwjaZJ1VnaWkLWGpUSHhAO3h1L-iMjt00jKLDXjIRaphdr8MnzYZLG3qGQvfFmXV4nn1g8d4-8Pc74Fff9pwzDA/s1600/IMG_0896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2ZA3iQ78uGo1XVn6EU_-c-A_cx6Pk9sbVLVlMPYkYlxbOL_z9cPymwjaZJ1VnaWkLWGpUSHhAO3h1L-iMjt00jKLDXjIRaphdr8MnzYZLG3qGQvfFmXV4nn1g8d4-8Pc74Fff9pwzDA/s320/IMG_0896.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Visited the Guildhall where the Lincoln Council still
meets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another very old building built
in the 16<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> century with timber from Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest and
visited by lots of royalty including King Richard II and Henry VIII.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was last restored during Queen Victoria’s
reign when the town thought she would be visiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when Victoria married Prince Albert
she asked Parliament for a yearly allowance of £50,000 (a huge amount of money
even in those days) for Prince Albert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The local MP for Lincoln said this was a ridiculous amount and so Prince
Albert was only given £30,000 a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Queen Victoria was so annoyed she vowed never to set foot in Lincoln
while that MP was alive – and she never did!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Guildhall has a sword given by Richard II amongst its large
collection of silver.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Went through the large shopping centre High Street and then
started to climb up, up and up through the cobbled Straits, then the aptly
named Steep Hill til we got to the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here Lincoln Castle (built in 1068 by William the Conqueror and home to one
of the only four surviving copies of the 1215 Magna Carta as well as the 1217
Charter of the Forest Walk) as well as the massive Lincoln Cathedral sit
overlooking the whole town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only after
we went through the Castle gate did we realise that we had been there 5 years
ago when we first bought the boat and were waiting for the Trent River flood to
go down so we could start our adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, there presently is an amazing ‘Wave of Poppies’ display coming
down from the castle wall commemorating 100 years since the First World War so it
was not a wasted visit this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCu1Mu44slGWC5Rs2QWlffuPF6_IA4c-a3ugfFjNhXFgdatydvpDSh3UV72vukApG2jIal23Lh3wkltJZxreqwtNmz0jOY1jHmzpH8zeHN3s544uXSxJA8QHy-GbyIAFH5zuux-b_G3M/s1600/IMG_0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCu1Mu44slGWC5Rs2QWlffuPF6_IA4c-a3ugfFjNhXFgdatydvpDSh3UV72vukApG2jIal23Lh3wkltJZxreqwtNmz0jOY1jHmzpH8zeHN3s544uXSxJA8QHy-GbyIAFH5zuux-b_G3M/s320/IMG_0951.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prison in Lincoln Castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next we went across to the huge Lincoln Cathedral which we
didn’t visit last time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a massive Gothic
building started in the 13<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has survived fires, storms and even an
earthquake and is now the third largest cathedral in Britain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>probably has the most decorated stonework and
woodwork carving inside that we have seen so far.</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnsWeC4ZBC7xjK_gphboJkDbxjA9RtdRDjO1mv8-G5T8R71uE2eM5rugPDAFd7IqM_50Hby8zW_U0pP0fTObFuGzTice4rgofxmauqyY4eP0PLZSDEbFocSeOVUTeHbRwvuz6qd0QROs/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGnsWeC4ZBC7xjK_gphboJkDbxjA9RtdRDjO1mv8-G5T8R71uE2eM5rugPDAFd7IqM_50Hby8zW_U0pP0fTObFuGzTice4rgofxmauqyY4eP0PLZSDEbFocSeOVUTeHbRwvuz6qd0QROs/s320/IMG_0986.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance gate to the Cathedral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_98wk-qweVUf04yNfty00yvSb8L64YYR12MTprOnUhqyyYoShZ2xQjK_I9sMF_92Bf9BSuipX_8s_BLy_Zy1otbWtcEfN43qhjyLpdtXvLgGWNQP75VYzHRVXHCkB-P-1nZlEDegKAk/s1600/IMG_0985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_98wk-qweVUf04yNfty00yvSb8L64YYR12MTprOnUhqyyYoShZ2xQjK_I9sMF_92Bf9BSuipX_8s_BLy_Zy1otbWtcEfN43qhjyLpdtXvLgGWNQP75VYzHRVXHCkB-P-1nZlEDegKAk/s320/IMG_0985.JPG" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Joseph Banks came from Lincoln</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We visited the great Museum of Lincolnshire Life which occupies
a former army barracks built in 1857.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
one of the best museums we have been to being the largest and most diverse community museum in the country with separate rooms
showing life in Victorian times, shops, farming equipment and army equipment
and vehicles too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHVXSq2c12FW7mU8cR16EYgMnfFNQwX9tH1ryb4BUSfpn5B9WMsnC8j8LnBXg3ms4XTK1STgdqXeqC2fyC8hsUxS5mII_FGCG9RHUKD4Zw7iiUNcO152R4Cpk66zU4lIbO5Xm52ZmqB8/s1600/IMG_1037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHVXSq2c12FW7mU8cR16EYgMnfFNQwX9tH1ryb4BUSfpn5B9WMsnC8j8LnBXg3ms4XTK1STgdqXeqC2fyC8hsUxS5mII_FGCG9RHUKD4Zw7iiUNcO152R4Cpk66zU4lIbO5Xm52ZmqB8/s320/IMG_1037.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ironmongers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNCMWITkZmYI_1XU9lnlS99i9HD7_pBh0iLM7a2w1JKec_rrAX4DOyhjxCNw7LmA8qbJcad8PxzurwecYDqRFfly_BTDXxyBd-0sjIZ8DISOyLRwWN695e5F1mu3yZdfpFL-FN4T4m-M/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNCMWITkZmYI_1XU9lnlS99i9HD7_pBh0iLM7a2w1JKec_rrAX4DOyhjxCNw7LmA8qbJcad8PxzurwecYDqRFfly_BTDXxyBd-0sjIZ8DISOyLRwWN695e5F1mu3yZdfpFL-FN4T4m-M/s320/IMG_1042.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basket maker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviIzg6k1h1rPYRWtukMQfkFIXcSmcdKkcpu6uxgRZdgnwzMdy1ZkjlfzIN5aVBXxTYxUI1ouVdahSf5_ioR2OWdhK2o-8KzjdfvMKroIvOlJe34ToIF8K6zgy2shP1goPphyphenhyphenJIDRkKuU/s1600/IMG_1044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviIzg6k1h1rPYRWtukMQfkFIXcSmcdKkcpu6uxgRZdgnwzMdy1ZkjlfzIN5aVBXxTYxUI1ouVdahSf5_ioR2OWdhK2o-8KzjdfvMKroIvOlJe34ToIF8K6zgy2shP1goPphyphenhyphenJIDRkKuU/s320/IMG_1044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Printers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pwsmzz4nClvgJfhrrPeQI3KH6zov0lPJ8mjWgHt1aAd1ZOJGlH20-_worPJfX3tKI8i8XwVjx6txjP-hCee47q3Cb8K2wl1ZE5XLVAbtH8jSG8TeKRmLkC3D6RMpl4ALHc7U9D1z88U/s1600/IMG_1045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pwsmzz4nClvgJfhrrPeQI3KH6zov0lPJ8mjWgHt1aAd1ZOJGlH20-_worPJfX3tKI8i8XwVjx6txjP-hCee47q3Cb8K2wl1ZE5XLVAbtH8jSG8TeKRmLkC3D6RMpl4ALHc7U9D1z88U/s320/IMG_1045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grocery shop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5dSoKzVxyFeYhjEfaaLfPigcAI2lfddeFN6a7pwq36SINp2Gp_MNjZMRSahDJ84crcS_-N9PaQOlrk-AxWKr30A9gnPB4xH4yI7QfGKIs00EFM8GJZDTt4IElmckKsVN249H8DEu2A0/s1600/IMG_1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5dSoKzVxyFeYhjEfaaLfPigcAI2lfddeFN6a7pwq36SINp2Gp_MNjZMRSahDJ84crcS_-N9PaQOlrk-AxWKr30A9gnPB4xH4yI7QfGKIs00EFM8GJZDTt4IElmckKsVN249H8DEu2A0/s320/IMG_1049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTYDOwqEsI6QJzOZJTHwNoipGSkAH5nvINEINqH668YeMBUAN5P-5fVqjrmOERQYR9u0L58yGz0Tt8nAlhG2iHivsrsjemKIZ5P4U5Av1DO4oHIAgIyu_NjV0sx5qrEYMoNH8ptXcvko/s1600/IMG_1052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTYDOwqEsI6QJzOZJTHwNoipGSkAH5nvINEINqH668YeMBUAN5P-5fVqjrmOERQYR9u0L58yGz0Tt8nAlhG2iHivsrsjemKIZ5P4U5Av1DO4oHIAgIyu_NjV0sx5qrEYMoNH8ptXcvko/s320/IMG_1052.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drapers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOI2OgaC6GtZdKp4ry-Z86xG06Vy9dI9jtHLlOVJAULXuxzGB6ZXuqurpj1fZlIZkuLfY8qGjSW_w5sBHNDOHdsn7FW4JrFBk4pZK3wxa_fW7nYsL7JoSWmZRM1673rjNaK3rPYCbnuZk/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOI2OgaC6GtZdKp4ry-Z86xG06Vy9dI9jtHLlOVJAULXuxzGB6ZXuqurpj1fZlIZkuLfY8qGjSW_w5sBHNDOHdsn7FW4JrFBk4pZK3wxa_fW7nYsL7JoSWmZRM1673rjNaK3rPYCbnuZk/s320/IMG_1043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brushmakers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sk8Kr9ZDDg-3JRbb5L7Fc8D6UEZFTyrb0Lh6V4ahp7lbEUrbC-R6UINwmHMKRETNM_PKaxDtwurNFskFQkSPIUgkb7rqKv42jiKVxjrQ351i2bu1NoY6tQVubCZpyWmQcL9t1DQtzSI/s1600/IMG_1054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sk8Kr9ZDDg-3JRbb5L7Fc8D6UEZFTyrb0Lh6V4ahp7lbEUrbC-R6UINwmHMKRETNM_PKaxDtwurNFskFQkSPIUgkb7rqKv42jiKVxjrQ351i2bu1NoY6tQVubCZpyWmQcL9t1DQtzSI/s320/IMG_1054.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dispensary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the First
World War a group of men got together in secret at the White Hart Hotel in Lincoln
and designed the first tank which was made to go over the trenches in the
battlefields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Two factories in Lincoln got the orders to build the first 150 tanks. </span>Because this was so top secret
the tanks were labelled “Water Tanks for Mesopotamia” in case the enemy saw
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The name stuck and they’ve been
called tanks ever since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJYDT0a0RjoLUgwP3BblsAejmLpSyAAA_fc64C8V9i1f4AOGDaaNb5uq-127SlYZJnXKOAkH6UM_tbFANabydsm8ailFmH_fmKa_Abe__8Bct1BhW1nB9YR7az9aXelOqBLVi2y8butE/s1600/IMG_1034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJYDT0a0RjoLUgwP3BblsAejmLpSyAAA_fc64C8V9i1f4AOGDaaNb5uq-127SlYZJnXKOAkH6UM_tbFANabydsm8ailFmH_fmKa_Abe__8Bct1BhW1nB9YR7az9aXelOqBLVi2y8butE/s320/IMG_1034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Lots of air force
bases were in the Lincolnshire area during the wars and today there are several
bases still being used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We frequently had
jets flying over us while in this area – we heard them mainly because they were
very very loud and going so fast they usually disappeared out of sight before
you could see them.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBg5DTxBegjBkhC1LfkizKpLl__zyhlMGTMoj0BCaI0STidK50xoVFk6mVzBUZz_rme6x8-aYSxU1kx9MarMeUO-f-AP96RNSusVVZBB4vM7zEp-vqRUdfG_MoQU4OmZiKsksf9cn-0_k/s1600/IMG_1063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBg5DTxBegjBkhC1LfkizKpLl__zyhlMGTMoj0BCaI0STidK50xoVFk6mVzBUZz_rme6x8-aYSxU1kx9MarMeUO-f-AP96RNSusVVZBB4vM7zEp-vqRUdfG_MoQU4OmZiKsksf9cn-0_k/s320/IMG_1063.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellis's Mill built 1798 and still working </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVHN7PgLn3h8qg0A5nuPILo83weOCYbpQivdMWMJMjfVH1zeFCAV_U6bLGxAi_hHX_ktu_NhyphenhyphenZrLp5AveCFtMPZgWJjF0R3MFOhMDd6QUJp_BJzLzZ9TL4YKJJkazZpRGvj9rWxRaMh4/s1600/IMG_1072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVHN7PgLn3h8qg0A5nuPILo83weOCYbpQivdMWMJMjfVH1zeFCAV_U6bLGxAi_hHX_ktu_NhyphenhyphenZrLp5AveCFtMPZgWJjF0R3MFOhMDd6QUJp_BJzLzZ9TL4YKJJkazZpRGvj9rWxRaMh4/s320/IMG_1072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roman wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM3Yypa1s1zGd_EobJ89hMJYYcRgJczCSMNhjwGY3sstfRJ8Fmweck_SQVvfhF7LHbPUIaUAsAlODue3hvxNFnqo4HZZmuOI3x4aSCfq8h1JODpaJobQO1cMhq1K7JK7olvU9ax0Ol3Y/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM3Yypa1s1zGd_EobJ89hMJYYcRgJczCSMNhjwGY3sstfRJ8Fmweck_SQVvfhF7LHbPUIaUAsAlODue3hvxNFnqo4HZZmuOI3x4aSCfq8h1JODpaJobQO1cMhq1K7JK7olvU9ax0Ol3Y/s320/IMG_1095.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOm5WOzN0mWDk1qcU4OIjpoD7IPbS3Tgtr-b6LaUoVPOlQKzpsUlG4z2t5u-ldXoVWnztn_UO-O0Fm6i07aiClrXr8XQeRqtSh0mn_R8y9HHmftQBmeWXDdbxT5poYLsQdgUCj7zmYABY/s1600/IMG_1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOm5WOzN0mWDk1qcU4OIjpoD7IPbS3Tgtr-b6LaUoVPOlQKzpsUlG4z2t5u-ldXoVWnztn_UO-O0Fm6i07aiClrXr8XQeRqtSh0mn_R8y9HHmftQBmeWXDdbxT5poYLsQdgUCj7zmYABY/s320/IMG_1098.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Glory Hole'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’re now heading along the Fossdyke Navigations built by
the Romans in 110 AD to connect the River Trent with the River Witham to reach The
Wash. We will go upstream on the Trent to Cromwell Lock which a massive tidal lock
and then on towards Nottingham</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More news later........</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-58405135869487718982016-07-29T22:58:00.000+01:002016-07-30T00:04:09.026+01:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Our travels continue -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Leaving Ely we entered the River Cam for a short 14 miles trip to
Cambridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many more plastic cruisers
along this stretch of river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moored up
next to Jesus Common right in the heart of Cambridge for the weekend.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWQQh5pUnBJrJYqJXGg_YABVdUGFpz1iP1LdS_oFMBPA0SRG2fzuDorWLf_0MuHNZRnwMDKem3F99I7oFn8dMXGBF_hQB0lefXe2zaE7H_VHzvX0rrvuhbUYU_6A9jBF0O0uUc-aoS8E/s1600/IMG_9745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWQQh5pUnBJrJYqJXGg_YABVdUGFpz1iP1LdS_oFMBPA0SRG2fzuDorWLf_0MuHNZRnwMDKem3F99I7oFn8dMXGBF_hQB0lefXe2zaE7H_VHzvX0rrvuhbUYU_6A9jBF0O0uUc-aoS8E/s320/IMG_9745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Z7UGmiUQqrK-blXDdOzby1AThA5EsFUMVEvc_C8SMjIN4KbZsVlnxeu8E2UchLOfzwhahEUWYvoIqoF807lsr8yte4Cr7LfTebbP2PZjaBX72Ql3AuaOLneWk0uKRRXwtYTM5_Q0HsA/s1600/IMG_9750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Z7UGmiUQqrK-blXDdOzby1AThA5EsFUMVEvc_C8SMjIN4KbZsVlnxeu8E2UchLOfzwhahEUWYvoIqoF807lsr8yte4Cr7LfTebbP2PZjaBX72Ql3AuaOLneWk0uKRRXwtYTM5_Q0HsA/s320/IMG_9750.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bicycles everywhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7n44MzjM7Y818XFK6PpXvPgXLKJRUUxltUb7H3piyoY26YjhX81YSJbkU4vx6lYguOX7uLK7E1uKZlrntPW1K3sXlfckOHMQb-5sd5NwvckoD1mdliYraVJnl_Q6NQuKx9VIGFP5M3Y/s1600/IMG_9766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7n44MzjM7Y818XFK6PpXvPgXLKJRUUxltUb7H3piyoY26YjhX81YSJbkU4vx6lYguOX7uLK7E1uKZlrntPW1K3sXlfckOHMQb-5sd5NwvckoD1mdliYraVJnl_Q6NQuKx9VIGFP5M3Y/s320/IMG_9766.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A very, very old<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>place – with most of the colleges over 500 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many busloads of tourists arriving each
day and as well it was the week that a lot of the students came to book into their
accommodation for the new school year so lots of parents added to the
throng.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On every corner there were 4 or
5 people selling ‘punting on the river’ trips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-cSrKsQf1t0LODSX4bf6zMrlGIZUA72fqvKLAsyZ6GOAw6qusbd0L9_WczLBW4ORV2q6sJW7wqBiMfhPhKKqlt2rYeWeebXMUmTRoJ5dLzSlV2UNaFk27uXwwf3wGsYiuEnew3BYkyw/s1600/IMG_9764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-cSrKsQf1t0LODSX4bf6zMrlGIZUA72fqvKLAsyZ6GOAw6qusbd0L9_WczLBW4ORV2q6sJW7wqBiMfhPhKKqlt2rYeWeebXMUmTRoJ5dLzSlV2UNaFk27uXwwf3wGsYiuEnew3BYkyw/s320/IMG_9764.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We visited quite a few of the colleges that were open – and all had the
hallowed green lawn in the centre which absolutely NO-ONE steps on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spoke to one of the gardeners who said that
the lawns are mown every 3 days – no wonder they look so good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the centre of all the old buildings there
is now a huge 3-storey shopping mall with has all the High Street shops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not quite sure how they managed to build this
and still retain the old feel of the city.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBefN8XnGzWbRJDSykHwqQQKPYEZdU9FY0szQpfqjTTb1R9Dn24IYt1vXS0Ej4X2fHEG1_X-I072N9hlP7K3z6bqPMUROhZAPyGTzEFuxrAYW_f-CQxit1zxmdmyxoQrfaezA5BSskqM/s1600/IMG_9786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBefN8XnGzWbRJDSykHwqQQKPYEZdU9FY0szQpfqjTTb1R9Dn24IYt1vXS0Ej4X2fHEG1_X-I072N9hlP7K3z6bqPMUROhZAPyGTzEFuxrAYW_f-CQxit1zxmdmyxoQrfaezA5BSskqM/s320/IMG_9786.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvUrD6dCM9xrWZJ0tXdqEjhyphenhyphendjfmBNL9K87P6az8h1pSE2bziQffpMG6Up7rkRNCklD_3oE7mNeEdF6E3RATEb_H3e_UVOf-IsLp1cwQ3DWTGsPPn3W3DNfig6__X0Z-YxsaBCi2D6zc/s1600/IMG_9758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvUrD6dCM9xrWZJ0tXdqEjhyphenhyphendjfmBNL9K87P6az8h1pSE2bziQffpMG6Up7rkRNCklD_3oE7mNeEdF6E3RATEb_H3e_UVOf-IsLp1cwQ3DWTGsPPn3W3DNfig6__X0Z-YxsaBCi2D6zc/s320/IMG_9758.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6ZC4gSkRV9VxWq-6gOVfXifKtq1OaBCwvVhzv8Xgx3bqT5ay7D6AViWPKDe074o0jFHjlXJ2TMqJLk2Ej7nKuuiA4oUUflbjGm95SnpDsTg4V9BJn7xnZg_yJtvrd5BApYez4_rUTP8/s1600/IMG_9783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6ZC4gSkRV9VxWq-6gOVfXifKtq1OaBCwvVhzv8Xgx3bqT5ay7D6AViWPKDe074o0jFHjlXJ2TMqJLk2Ej7nKuuiA4oUUflbjGm95SnpDsTg4V9BJn7xnZg_yJtvrd5BApYez4_rUTP8/s320/IMG_9783.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few of the Cambridge colleges</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Left Cambridge and travelled back to Pope’s Corner and the
Great Ouse River where we turned left towards Bedford.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First stop was the village of Earith where
amazingly we spotted a seal swimming along the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It came out on the bank just opposite where
we were moored and sunned itself for half an hour or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4z5_5O0YGpSdimjNKR_3kVyyNWAKLXxY_SvJ9yNhJenfr0jcmZuXks8lzw6HU7Syax9i4I3HaaiO96gOLSUGqxmO6FcrBpUjyIlGdbBEuXAPgeXkGejJ-F8pwER2nK89Iym8LBD0jK60/s1600/IMG_9909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4z5_5O0YGpSdimjNKR_3kVyyNWAKLXxY_SvJ9yNhJenfr0jcmZuXks8lzw6HU7Syax9i4I3HaaiO96gOLSUGqxmO6FcrBpUjyIlGdbBEuXAPgeXkGejJ-F8pwER2nK89Iym8LBD0jK60/s320/IMG_9909.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A huge 3 boat lock </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Next night we stopped at the Dolphin
Moorings at St Ives The Old Riverport, near a 500 year old bridge which has 55
arches and includes a chapel on it built in 1426 which has also been used as a
toll house, an inn and a private dwelling over the years since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Lovely town with some very old buildings and
lots of flower baskets lining the streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The mooring was in a small arm next to a hotel and a strong wind blowing
caused a bit of fun when we were leaving and trying <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to manoeuvre our way out past some Tupperware
cruisers.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Very windy trip next day to the village of Huntingdon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another long arched bridge here as well
across to Godmanchester on the opposite side of the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Decided to go to a renowned Car Boot Sale on
the Saturday morning but there was over an hour wait for a bus so we caught a
taxi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we arrived at the racecourse
where the sale was being held – there was only one stallholder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were assured there would be ‘hundreds’
there on the Sunday so were driving back towards Huntingdon when we saw a
National Trust Mill sign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The taxi
dropped us off there (in pouring rain) but it turned out the mill building is
now a restaurant/conference centre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
filled in time with a cup of coffee<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but
the rain didn’t look like stopping so we saw a little ferry moored up outside
who agreed to take us back to Godmanchester.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Captain Jim told us the boat was originally a cruise ship lifeboat to
which he had added a roof (which leaked), plastic side curtains (which also
leaked) but the worrying thing after he had bailed out the water in the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bottom of the boat was when he got out a blow
torch to start the motor! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway it all
worked out fine and we managed to get back to our boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5FrA9dowteQQndSd7zfLVieiLSpELkN4GyLDkDq__QKdjd90CbMtTP9kcgf-IFqHuVvrBNbspI3Wz7mObb9pRVMXi6a75YVfr6bZ5QcdTCQZvYqkQcBfgvzjuck0rK2_GdU811oe9pQ/s1600/IMG_9944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5FrA9dowteQQndSd7zfLVieiLSpELkN4GyLDkDq__QKdjd90CbMtTP9kcgf-IFqHuVvrBNbspI3Wz7mObb9pRVMXi6a75YVfr6bZ5QcdTCQZvYqkQcBfgvzjuck0rK2_GdU811oe9pQ/s320/IMG_9944.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Jim starting the motor with a blow torch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38DeaEI9LxIKJ_mgj_guoXDTQWDG4ipWJDRdTJCiDzwwwPpuvKENGKu1rqj5IFEyeQHwIXDVdyyxi5KcHD4h3_lccFm9daFsqNn3kQfdM-Mpi99RVUSGOhbRucL1bjWmmg_iBorM9Qxg/s1600/IMG_9948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38DeaEI9LxIKJ_mgj_guoXDTQWDG4ipWJDRdTJCiDzwwwPpuvKENGKu1rqj5IFEyeQHwIXDVdyyxi5KcHD4h3_lccFm9daFsqNn3kQfdM-Mpi99RVUSGOhbRucL1bjWmmg_iBorM9Qxg/s320/IMG_9948.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great Ouse Ferry</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Godmanchester village across the river from Huntingdon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We were moored up next to path alongside a
brick wall which was probably about 10 feet high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a group of young Polish men
sitting on the wall when we got back in the afternoon just talking quietly and
they were still there when it started to get dark about 9 o’clock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly there was an almighty crash on the
roof of the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the fellows
had fallen backwards off the wall and was lying on the path next to our boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of the other chaps jumped down to
him (one nearly breaking his leg in the process) and they said the fellow was
OK and not to worry about calling an ambulance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We kept looking out the window and he hadn’t
moved for about 10 minutes but they eventually got him to his feet and they all
went away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re sure he would have been
feeling pretty sore the next day.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sunday morning we repeated the taxi ride to the racecourse
(because the buses don’t run on Sunday in Huntingdon).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were right – hundreds of stalls there
but mostly very second-hand rubbishy stuff just spread out over the ground by each
seller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked up and down and then
the heavens opened and everyone very quickly cleared off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to wait for our taxi to come back so
were thoroughly soaked by the time we got back to the boat.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge at Great Barford mooring</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AE5fN65jpUiF4kFzkif9KhncGGPm-MD9obhuNGi0SrdClWt0Nn7V5slXpU-eqpHuW0HBMNnm_Ug6uYkH6XoB-JShYhyphenhyphenlaab-Lio2j9-6ZpbOxWAboRF48vubAOMt4d4keHI64Tesg1c/s1600/IMG_9972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AE5fN65jpUiF4kFzkif9KhncGGPm-MD9obhuNGi0SrdClWt0Nn7V5slXpU-eqpHuW0HBMNnm_Ug6uYkH6XoB-JShYhyphenhyphenlaab-Lio2j9-6ZpbOxWAboRF48vubAOMt4d4keHI64Tesg1c/s320/IMG_9972.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little bird's nest in lock wall - with an egg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Moved off next day in more gale force winds to nearby St
Neot’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moored up next to a conference
centre but decided to leave seeing the town until the return trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next stop was a lovely mooring at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great Barford where we had arranged an
appointment with a Bowen lady to treat a shoulder/wrist problem ‘the captain’
was having.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She actually came onto the
boat – can’t complain about the service.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The next stop at the end of the Ouse navigation was Bedford
which we heard was holding a bi-annual River Festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because we hadn’t booked a mooring spot we
stopped a little way out of town near a Tesco store and walked into all the
action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were just setting up on
the Friday when we arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street performers in Bedford</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rK9W76Am9Tw1z3PsmNYhoqjT8QC0jZkBtORuRZaEY25Vb9ia9Dd4zAYHn8u002RmMumaWAVMqdH7ScKEpEpmmYT-ZXAX5WzhsA8OEXalCFAsirYbtgO__SfnkNZ-xT8gw3W1UtX8OoI/s1600/IMG_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rK9W76Am9Tw1z3PsmNYhoqjT8QC0jZkBtORuRZaEY25Vb9ia9Dd4zAYHn8u002RmMumaWAVMqdH7ScKEpEpmmYT-ZXAX5WzhsA8OEXalCFAsirYbtgO__SfnkNZ-xT8gw3W1UtX8OoI/s320/IMG_0056.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moored up outside the Bedford Oasis Swimming Centre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The town of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bedford
has quite a history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to the
John Bunyan Museum (born 1628 in Bedford - he was a tinker, Christian, soldier
and was jailed 12 years for preaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He wrote ‘’A Pilgrim’s Progress” which we haven’t read – looks a bit
heavy!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The display was upstairs and we
had a guide show us around – we were a definitely a captive audience – he
explained every last detail right down to what every jar in the kitchen would
have been used for, the height of the chair legs because John Bunyan was a tall
man, etc etc etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just went on &
on.....<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terry managed to sneak away and
see the rest of the exhibition in a couple of minutes then waited outside –
laughing!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Went through the Bedford Museum and Art Gallery and then
over the road to the Panacea Museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This time the guide at the front counter was great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even told us not to bother visiting the Cafe
there <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>because the tea and coffee were
lousy! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hadn’t heard of the Panacea
Society before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently it was a
unique religious sect founded by a Mabel Barltrop in 1919 that created its own
Garden of Eden in the centre of Bedford.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She thought she was a prophet and used to breathe on small pieces of
paper which were sent around the world to heal all sorts of diseases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On display is a copy of a big mysterious lead
box created by Joanna Southcott, also a self-proclaimed prophet, who wrote down
her prophecies and sealed them in the box in the 1700s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not to be opened unless there are 24 Church
of England Bishops in attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Apparently this Pandora’s box is well known around England and there
were attempts to have it opened during World War II so that the result of the
war may be known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also there was a Monty
Python sketch about the Box as well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
still a world-wide organisation with lots of followers in Australia apparently.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_z0geiRLKawfgNhQi832fGaTuxoVwXtxPCLNPQVG9ztqAm9qJKz8WYwtyvJME-_Zwir0HXRlWA24dufaTgeGra9d8B2R4cRg7ZESOqnj9j3M7ULDBo6jGrc_Bw5ewkgFajeuSI4Z0CI/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_z0geiRLKawfgNhQi832fGaTuxoVwXtxPCLNPQVG9ztqAm9qJKz8WYwtyvJME-_Zwir0HXRlWA24dufaTgeGra9d8B2R4cRg7ZESOqnj9j3M7ULDBo6jGrc_Bw5ewkgFajeuSI4Z0CI/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panacea Museum entrance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlL6yA9gLRNBdbK_4V9D6a11Sjf5vCn-j1gM3dF6LBFb9WmYyToTE7_ypjJEFJ7r3oa9Fuk4BdDTz1k7wQ69TDj0_PqInFY_WD5qQetdbMAAjpGssrgBuvXXCegeupyqFpbYoU0zO6JY/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlL6yA9gLRNBdbK_4V9D6a11Sjf5vCn-j1gM3dF6LBFb9WmYyToTE7_ypjJEFJ7r3oa9Fuk4BdDTz1k7wQ69TDj0_PqInFY_WD5qQetdbMAAjpGssrgBuvXXCegeupyqFpbYoU0zO6JY/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Garden of Eden' in Bedford</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Bs84SBw9YT48GeQKab5Hvbq_6jsL65iMqy3bV7UqvusXJb9mzkLfm9dyTj39YwT8uY85ibUaSGt6yHRZtUNcANVW6tknP3-uEsNLO0gWjIbtdkB6WfC6JKzeZg2O7rpFuuxoMWVcBns/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Bs84SBw9YT48GeQKab5Hvbq_6jsL65iMqy3bV7UqvusXJb9mzkLfm9dyTj39YwT8uY85ibUaSGt6yHRZtUNcANVW6tknP3-uEsNLO0gWjIbtdkB6WfC6JKzeZg2O7rpFuuxoMWVcBns/s320/IMG_0005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joanna Southcott's box </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On Saturday the Festival was in full swing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than 300,000 people attended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over 120 boats were moored up – some 20
narrowboats the rest Tupperware ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were activities both sides of the river with displays by sporting,
cultural and community groups and some decorated boats. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of eating places with every taste catered
for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite a few stages with dancing and different
styles of music while the river had dragon boat racing, slalom racing, men on
turbo powered lifts (one even shook hands with people on the bridge) a
narrowboat parade and cruiser boat parade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We apparently are in the local Bedford Press – had our photo taken in
front of one of the decorated boats by a reporter for the paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are posting a copy to our London
address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it got dark there was a
terrific fireworks display which we enjoyed from the front of our boat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Set out early on the Sunday morning to avoid the exodus of Festival
boats to retrace the route back along the Ouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Decided to call in to Houghton Hall Alpacas – they bought 7
of our best alpacas when we auctioned them off in 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We moored up on an island just through the Houghton
Lock but couldn’t get across to Houghton Village even though Google maps said
it was only 800 metres to the alpaca farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Continued downriver to St Ives and moored up at The Waits
right in the heart of the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Caught
a bus back to Houghton and finally arrived at the alpaca farm where we met owner
Mick George.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lovely fellow – he runs a
large recycling business (employs over 800 staff).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was great to hear that our alpacas had
settled in well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We think they must
have thought they had died and gone to heaven when they arrived at
Houghton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s such a beautiful property
with all the alpacas on manicured green pastures under groves of apple trees –
so different to the dry paddocks at Ruffy when they left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mick
is back to Australia next week to visit the National Alpaca Show – and probably
to buy some more alpacas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Walked back to Houghton Village – another
picture perfect village with many thatched cottages and went to the National Trust
Houghton Mill which has been producing flour for hundreds of years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We went to a concert “The Merry Wives of St Ives” a play
based on the old riddle “I met a man with 7 wives......” on Saturday
night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was held outdoors at the
quay by the old arched bridge – a beautiful setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Sunday afternoon we went to a free Dixieland
Jazz concert in the St Ives Methodist Church right across the road from our
mooring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Moving on - this time at Earith we saw four seals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had mother and her baby seal lined up for a lovely
photo until mother seal pushed her baby’s head underwater and they swam away.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1Lm6GFFLsOadm_L-2FaKoAw8nSjdLuiVompGx1BL2NAAzmwxbl-ZaMLkeiXj1SpKfn3CFS__Vwc5A2X7qv8pEzxMQNBZEM5Khdi653-LK5BsgMrizTgubBDrcyzHE_Ee2d0RESXrVBg/s1600/IMG_0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1Lm6GFFLsOadm_L-2FaKoAw8nSjdLuiVompGx1BL2NAAzmwxbl-ZaMLkeiXj1SpKfn3CFS__Vwc5A2X7qv8pEzxMQNBZEM5Khdi653-LK5BsgMrizTgubBDrcyzHE_Ee2d0RESXrVBg/s320/IMG_0325.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting rushes for chair seats, mats.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Next it was back to Ely (our favourite place this trip)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>where we moored up in the same spot and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were entertained that evening by the Ely
Military Band which gave an impromptu concert in the bandstand in the Jubilee
Gardens right next to the boat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Spent most of yesterday contacting lockkeepers to arrange
times to go through the locks– one at the big Denver Tidal Lock - the last on
the Great Ouse, then the nearby Salter’s Lode lock which also works on the
tides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the Middle Level Navigations we have
the Stanground lock back onto the Nene River near Peterborough and then the Dog
& Doublet Lock which leads into Wisbech where we have booked with a pilot
to go out to sea in a convoy of boats at 6.00 am! next Monday morning across
The Wash to Boston.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4iKqZuDS33dyPRspXzWQMrZr7_vQQk16UhKg5AAryR0bO_GDS6NplO6cmMBYa9sSvGu4zCuhdbJRU54WT2d5yFrZgZNboCOSdTdd8JjwD3dKmOmcm39n8YrThHgNobUjX7oHQWL8efI/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4iKqZuDS33dyPRspXzWQMrZr7_vQQk16UhKg5AAryR0bO_GDS6NplO6cmMBYa9sSvGu4zCuhdbJRU54WT2d5yFrZgZNboCOSdTdd8JjwD3dKmOmcm39n8YrThHgNobUjX7oHQWL8efI/s320/IMG_0418.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge Denver lock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Presently sitting in the Salter’s Lode Lock where we have been
nearly 4 hours waiting for the tide to go out so they can open the smaller lock
gates to let us through.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkTa2kzmMcBeVHNuL2oULfed1dyfQkVO2XpsohFu9RY8vqZ2zN5sHzS0eMixgeIX6jvKN078-EhPwWKqPJulMEL1pozxzxU6aFQPM-ulMb7VEo6hecnuBzzJqKpbMALenNQIyvZvvXw4/s1600/IMG_0422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkTa2kzmMcBeVHNuL2oULfed1dyfQkVO2XpsohFu9RY8vqZ2zN5sHzS0eMixgeIX6jvKN078-EhPwWKqPJulMEL1pozxzxU6aFQPM-ulMb7VEo6hecnuBzzJqKpbMALenNQIyvZvvXw4/s320/IMG_0422.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small extra gate for longer boats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">More news later....................... </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></div>
</div>
Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-31206592967952883502016-07-03T19:14:00.000+01:002016-07-03T19:14:03.015+01:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Continuing the story – rained heavily when we moored up at
Fotheringhay so didn’t get off the boat until nearly 6 o’clock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turned out we were moored up at a large mound
which was all that was left of an ancient castle where Mary, Queen of Scots,
was beheaded because Queen Elizabeth 1 – her sister -was worried that she was
becoming too popular and might overthrow her and take the English throne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The castle was also the birthplace of Richard
III whose remains were dug up in a car park in Leicester causing great
excitement when we were there a couple of years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The village was all beautiful thatched stone
cottages and when we arrived at St Mary’s, the large village church, the BBC
was making a program about the expensive restoration works being undertaken to
mend the leaking roof and underpin the foundations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naturally the church was closed because of
the renovations but luckily we spoke to one of the church fellows who gave us a
tour inside and told us its amazing history.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfnTa8IjeoVSCvz5dKqIvrp0_ymUz6pxGPhgsJhgtLxX5xQOKwf6Tr2H_1VO8HKoRkG7C9CA6LjCyFPtpAgcxc4mHdm1zFNPvXUqeDzTd9XhIyrXvm-ZSzpvAQQPaTEg44PBU2eaqfpo/s1600/IMG_9300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfnTa8IjeoVSCvz5dKqIvrp0_ymUz6pxGPhgsJhgtLxX5xQOKwf6Tr2H_1VO8HKoRkG7C9CA6LjCyFPtpAgcxc4mHdm1zFNPvXUqeDzTd9XhIyrXvm-ZSzpvAQQPaTEg44PBU2eaqfpo/s320/IMG_9300.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BRIDGES ARE GETTING LOWER!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznnCncrECtLvPldq726DQX5UWSDrknp2WKsXOq1SYBq0DF9ScSxDDlSr8f4jW_Eiwr9FO8Ki2DuhTuApuZw4jwrhvksIimbae9sRaoAj5wofePpk_Xp2I5Dw9PXZeLr1jcf0AJqBhQws/s1600/IMG_9284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznnCncrECtLvPldq726DQX5UWSDrknp2WKsXOq1SYBq0DF9ScSxDDlSr8f4jW_Eiwr9FO8Ki2DuhTuApuZw4jwrhvksIimbae9sRaoAj5wofePpk_Xp2I5Dw9PXZeLr1jcf0AJqBhQws/s320/IMG_9284.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WHEEL TO LOWER/RAISE GATE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-HIJQ3xuM8Zs0LNqKJ6mTTnfItXWS2RN1oG9najQvQTlepQlGTKg_lMCpObKmspLyRuvews5krq3IWUON9UKsW7TnaYx02R8H4Gu7YnOPTenluoWCR9YBt4_cjIqvMotimzcSYHoLvQ/s1600/IMG_9389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-HIJQ3xuM8Zs0LNqKJ6mTTnfItXWS2RN1oG9najQvQTlepQlGTKg_lMCpObKmspLyRuvews5krq3IWUON9UKsW7TnaYx02R8H4Gu7YnOPTenluoWCR9YBt4_cjIqvMotimzcSYHoLvQ/s320/IMG_9389.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Travelling on there were lots more guillotine locks to do
including some which had a wheel to turn to lower the huge gates instead of a
button to push.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took more than 60
stiff turns of the wheel to get the gates up and down so they were a bit taxing
as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We worked out that Glenys did
more than 80 locks on the canal & River Nene during her 3 weeks on the
boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She will be going home for a good
rest!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We turned off the River Nene to moor up at Ferry Meadows
Park just south of Peterborough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
delightful mooring spot on one of three huge lakes which used to be gravel
quarry pits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots to see with miles of
walking tracks, a miniature railway, water activities, carved tree sculptures
everywhere and heaps of birdlife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More
than 1,000,000 million visitors use the park each year including lots of school
groups for nature sessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We caught a bus into Peterborough to check out the moorings
for the boat because we were heading down to London for a few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moorings were by a park at the edge of
the town and looked quite good except for the hundreds of swans and Canadian
geese making a mess of the bank.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On the Friday morning we left Ferry Meadows back onto the River Nene which had now risen quite a bit and was running fast from the recent storms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had one lock to go through before Peterborough but there was another boat on the mooring before the lock so we couldn’t tie up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a sluice next to the lock and the strong current was pushing our boat towards it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terry had to drive the boat into the bank just before the lock and then we spent the next twenty minutes trying to get the front of the boat off the bank and into the lock without the back getting pushed towards the sluice with the current.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We imagined we would be on the BBC News that night with helicopter rescues in the picture but eventually we managed to get the boat into the lock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then spoke to the people who were from the moored boat who told us the Peterborough moorings were flooded and they had to leave there at 10.00 the night before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got through the lock then tied up and decided the only choice was to do a hairy U-turn, back through the lock, then back to Ferry Meadows (even though it was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>supposed to be only 24 hour mooring). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-jjWwiqbhawGiitL70cxXipCEBQmgZkvVI1fCl1Y5GvkSCgRdeYfnT4ott1zvhQcEdlOlbsMNPQdzodZXA7nDhSKF3X5qFbt-MXD3yS7CICJ4ziSJu-Elf9nJ_JT55PV75bnI8T9bP0/s1600/IMG_9455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-jjWwiqbhawGiitL70cxXipCEBQmgZkvVI1fCl1Y5GvkSCgRdeYfnT4ott1zvhQcEdlOlbsMNPQdzodZXA7nDhSKF3X5qFbt-MXD3yS7CICJ4ziSJu-Elf9nJ_JT55PV75bnI8T9bP0/s320/IMG_9455.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Caught the bus back to Peterborough next morning to see the
huge Cathedral which was built in the ll00s and had a look around the
town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday was a quiet recovery day
with just a walk around the lakes and a ride on the miniature train.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg628nDZVQ2e3a7JY11geItsgBZPQG3IOpDFgA3EFhVfCnXqMPR9lKVg_6B0Ev0p5dqRL59_05l8fG0BHW2y4zPrgtb9gmnPZmGcaoLyKOikhgEQmtBNUPaitlihlUyTxdLgOtnTc0gRuQ/s1600/IMG_9471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg628nDZVQ2e3a7JY11geItsgBZPQG3IOpDFgA3EFhVfCnXqMPR9lKVg_6B0Ev0p5dqRL59_05l8fG0BHW2y4zPrgtb9gmnPZmGcaoLyKOikhgEQmtBNUPaitlihlUyTxdLgOtnTc0gRuQ/s320/IMG_9471.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Pouring rain on Monday morning so it was a taxi to
Peterborough Station to catch the train to London.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overcast in London but the sun came out by
the time we reached Sooz’s home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Picked
up the girls from school then it was off to swimming with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terry took Glenys to see Sooz’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vet Clinic which was nearby while the girls
were swimming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBo_FT5NQqRo5IBIEn9LFaO2XFZuJvBS9C8srjg_C6I2OzlFxNTwW7l-1LNkxOwvLlTsDPTXvzAnW0Yy0MS1w0U1eLYN4j9-tl6kOa_GcjKdgsl1HzS7YjYv7u9PC9VfZTZwqpTRfrS0/s1600/IMG_9496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBo_FT5NQqRo5IBIEn9LFaO2XFZuJvBS9C8srjg_C6I2OzlFxNTwW7l-1LNkxOwvLlTsDPTXvzAnW0Yy0MS1w0U1eLYN4j9-tl6kOa_GcjKdgsl1HzS7YjYv7u9PC9VfZTZwqpTRfrS0/s320/IMG_9496.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM ENTRANCE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE2vYfLIPNuhwWZH73okU12aZYpJkEb_tJEKElWqgMnUbf3GlXD4Y9asJXsshxTMNw64FzguC2fTBbhZ4dmTC34Mhgzoz-sm_4411ilEW81mZq0v71x5jWS6dXKhcf2W0o2Pydx2WiTE/s1600/IMG_9503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE2vYfLIPNuhwWZH73okU12aZYpJkEb_tJEKElWqgMnUbf3GlXD4Y9asJXsshxTMNw64FzguC2fTBbhZ4dmTC34Mhgzoz-sm_4411ilEW81mZq0v71x5jWS6dXKhcf2W0o2Pydx2WiTE/s320/IMG_9503.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMJqnmxnCxBI9_HBWb4cRpfe1czCsF2Af8tbaeoS2lsqOukDulfgBWQSOqKUFJUnZJjpiSEPVPFqAF_WTlldSksfX9wuwnNu3tT9Eao_n1fI-9A3HHZSa_eIya-XSIBYs7wT1ynNsGtE/s1600/IMG_9507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMJqnmxnCxBI9_HBWb4cRpfe1czCsF2Af8tbaeoS2lsqOukDulfgBWQSOqKUFJUnZJjpiSEPVPFqAF_WTlldSksfX9wuwnNu3tT9Eao_n1fI-9A3HHZSa_eIya-XSIBYs7wT1ynNsGtE/s320/IMG_9507.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THIS T-REX MOVES & LOOKS SOOO REAL!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Next day we went into the City with Sooz who had the day
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a quick look at the
impressive Victoria & Albert Museum then on to see the dinosaurs at the
Natural Science Museum (hoards of visitors queuing up<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On then
for a special Wimbledon High Tea at the Ampersand Hotel in South
Kensington.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sooz had arranged this for
Terry’s birthday celebrations – they just keep going on and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The afternoon tea was amazing – starting
with a glass of Moet then lovely pastries, scones with jam & clotted cream
and the most amazing top shelf of gingerbread tennis racquets, marshmallow
tennis balls, strawberry & cream tarts, tiny glasses of Pimms and purple
& green macaroons (Wimbledon traditional colours).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A real work of art!</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Wednesday we went into London again – this time a quick run
around Borough Market (amazing food), a look through the Old Victorian
Operating Theatre Museum (gruesome but fascinating) on to Oxford Circus and the
quaint Liberty store and then it was off to see the old favourite show - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Showboat’ - in the afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great performance – amazing how many old
songs we recognised came from that show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On Thursday Glenys was flying back to Melbourne so we saw
her off on the train from St Pancras Station to Heathrow and we caught the train
back to Peterborough. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boat was OK (thankfully
no ‘overstaying’ stickers or fines for being too long on the mooring).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THAT LOCK!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SLUICE NEXT TO THAT LOCK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Left the next morning to go back through THAT Lock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The river was behaving well so we just
breezed through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pity about the 2 Tupperware
boats moored up on the other side waiting to come into the lock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The water was pouring over the sluice so we
had no control when we came out of the lock and side-swiped them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But... they were double-parked and we had to
keep to the left because of a sandbar so it was partly their own fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No damage done so that was lucky for them
(and us too).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Moored up in Peterborough – right next to the carnival but
it was all very quiet – and luckily most of the swan poo had been washed off
the steps when it flooded.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Next morning we went through another lock onto the Middle
Level Navigations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite different –
high levy banks on both sides of the water so could only see the top floors and
roofs of the houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like driving down
English country lanes with high hedges or walls on both sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Masses of wind turbines slowly turning and
lots of paddocks filled with solar panels too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Moored up at March, a quaint little village with a magnificent church (we
actually walked in during the Sunday service).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Spent the night moored up in a lovely shady spot but some pigeons were in
the branches above so the boat was in a bit of a mess next morning.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPNbqGqhfNlgK4boGEECc1rz7n0jkmkEpBVtnQILhE5px8U8_K1uG_5tk2YCO8pvG_gTw4-aPCwHewgVErPPczlPlHeRfCLRi189ZFSUHKwBzQaNeI_zpb9NFFttP-lY6JtXzVrRldIM/s1600/IMG_9625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPNbqGqhfNlgK4boGEECc1rz7n0jkmkEpBVtnQILhE5px8U8_K1uG_5tk2YCO8pvG_gTw4-aPCwHewgVErPPczlPlHeRfCLRi189ZFSUHKwBzQaNeI_zpb9NFFttP-lY6JtXzVrRldIM/s320/IMG_9625.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SALTERS LODE LOCK - TOO SHORT!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEAhERCWu0PeS4iz1iszt7x817vo7Lhj8Rzv3SKU3EbVCRQFZIThKFyMzBF3VWIYUgobwlb5hKp8vqtdNcwmwunWZHiaseSquMwppyLy1Apg8L0UtzM8kervmweX7TKrYJAjQQC0YHdY/s1600/IMG_9630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEAhERCWu0PeS4iz1iszt7x817vo7Lhj8Rzv3SKU3EbVCRQFZIThKFyMzBF3VWIYUgobwlb5hKp8vqtdNcwmwunWZHiaseSquMwppyLy1Apg8L0UtzM8kervmweX7TKrYJAjQQC0YHdY/s320/IMG_9630.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TIDE OUT - SECOND GATE BEING USED</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLv71xHRmyWy_iBM_z63m8sNb_9aho_KRHx-FX9kS0rWFvolGOWyCmC5_9n0fRcXsQPgwevjFEpgWYx0OWkj_WaR7HSpZdPXJblRvf8hTVu3Ed8VudvuBTcBNcf_mQu8gpSXKy0-5PEAs/s1600/IMG_9641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLv71xHRmyWy_iBM_z63m8sNb_9aho_KRHx-FX9kS0rWFvolGOWyCmC5_9n0fRcXsQPgwevjFEpgWYx0OWkj_WaR7HSpZdPXJblRvf8hTVu3Ed8VudvuBTcBNcf_mQu8gpSXKy0-5PEAs/s320/IMG_9641.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SITTING ON THE MUD - WAITING FOR THE TIDE TO COME IN</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Carried on to Salters Lode Lock which was the entrance to
the Great Ouse River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were the last
of 3 boats to go into the lock at 1.00pm with the tide coming in up the
river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got into the lock but then the
Lock-keeper discovered we were too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Said ‘come back tomorrow’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
wondered how on earth we were going to shrink 3 feet overnight but next morning
we went into the lock when the tide was out and the lock-keeper used a second
smaller set of gates to give us more room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We got through the lock and then had to sit on the mud for an hour until
the tide came back in and we floated off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All good fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Came to another
lock 10 minutes later where we had to buy an Environment Agency licence to
travel on the river for a month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Great Ouse is much bigger than the Nene River with lots of Tupperware (plastic
cruiser) boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OLIVER CROMWELL'S HOUSE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Arrived at the town of Ely and moored up at a beautiful spot
at the Jubilee Gardens right in the centre of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
huge Ely Cathedral can be seen for miles rising out of the flat countryside– so
impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ely is a very very old town – it was
originally an island in the middle of the Fens which were marshy wetlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Various methods over the centuries were
tried to drain the water with major work being done by a Dutchman in the 16<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He dug miles of straight drains
which took the water off the land into the rivers and out to sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only trouble was that when the water went
off the land the peat dried out and shrunk and the land was lower than the
drains so big pumping stations had to be used to keep the area dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The land is very fertile with lots of crops
grown in this area.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There has been a church at Ely since the 600s when
Etheldreda, an Abbess, set up a monastery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was destroyed by the Vikings in 869 but it later became a
Benedictine Abbey for men for 500 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The cathedral building was completed by 1190 with the West Tower added
in the 1300s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently the
foundations were only 2 metres deep in clay and the Tower actually subsided a
few feet after it was finished which caused some cracks to the rest of the
building (but it is still standing so not too bad). The second middle tower
actually collapsed in the 15<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century and had to be rebuilt using
only timber on the upper section to make it lighter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">288 STEPS UP & DOWN THIS SPIRAL STAIRCASE</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We climbed the 288 steep steps up the higher West Tower for
a magnificent view over the surrounding countryside. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our guide told us to leave our bags on the
middle level – apparently last year some teenagers went up to the top of the
tower with backpacks on and before the guide could stop them – they jumped off
the tower and floated down with hang-gliders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No doubt they have lots of Facebook viewers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cathedral staff <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were not amused!!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOKING DOWN ON THE MIDDLE TOWER</td></tr>
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Well, we’ve seen Britain leave the EU this week (much to the
horror and surprise of even some people who voted to leave), the PM has
resigned and the Labor party is in disarray too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps even worse for a lot of people -
England lost their European Cup match to tiny Iceland<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– this was called a ‘shameful disaster’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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On the way to Cambridge ....more news later.</div>
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Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-81010383606692345102016-06-12T19:39:00.001+01:002016-06-12T19:39:23.895+01:00The 2016 adventure begins<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're back on the boat again for the 5th year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Flew into London on Tuesday 24 May and spent a couple of nights with Sooz, Ten and the girls - nice to catch up with Rita (Ten's Mum) and even managed to see Olive's tap dancing concert at her school. Eight months since we have seen the girls and they have grown up so much.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Thursday morning we caught the train to Market Harborough, the nearest station to the marina where our boat had spent the winter out of the water. The marina staff had already put it back in the water and after getting a new starter motor battery we were ready to take off when we had stocked up on provisions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Travelled to Market Harborough to meet Sooz etc who were spending the long Bank Holiday weekend with us. We celebrated Ten's birthday at the Foxton Inn on Saturday night and the next morning were ready to go up the famous Foxton Locks (ten locks in two sets of five). Freezing weather but not raining. Hoards of tourists watching the proceedings - and the best part - lots of helpers with the gates. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Stopped for lunch when we reached the top and then continued on up the Welford Arm to Welford Village. Spent the night there and then returned to Foxton Locks on Monday morning. Sooz & Ten had booked their return train to London at 4 from Market Harborough but we were held up half way down the lockis for 2 hours so they had to get a taxi back to the station.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We spent the night at Foxton and then returned to Market Harborough to meet our friend Glenys (from Melbourne) who flew into London that morning. We spent the next day showing her around the town - a very old charming market town. That night we celebrated Terry's birthday at a local restaurant (great fun smuggling his birthday cake in).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Set off the next morning back to Foxton Locks to show Glenys how the lock system works. All rugged up in many layers of warm clothes - it was still freezing. Again lots of people visiting the locks so we had helpers pushing the gates which always makes it easier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Stopped the night at the little village of Crick which has lots of thatched cottages, 2 general stores and three pubs! Next morning we came down the 8 locks at Watford and then turned onto the Grand Union Canal heading south towards London where we had to tackle the very tough Long Buckby flight of double locks. We think Glenys has found some muscles she never knew she had!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It suddenly warmed up as we were travelling along - quite hot in fact! Spent the night at Weedon Bec - another charming village renowned for its antique shops. Unfortunately it was Monday morning and most were closed but we did manage to spend a long time at one very large shop which was open.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We then turned off the Grand Union onto the Northampton Arm. Down 17 locks into the large city of Northampton where we moored up in the centre of town. Spent a couple of days exploring the city - some lovely old buildings especially the magnificent Guildhall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Caught a very fast local bus to Lamport Hall & Gardens. Just arrived in time for the tour - very knowledgeable young guide who showed us around the house which was built back in the 1500s with lots of changes through the centuries by different owners. Beautiful gardens and extensive lawns and woodlands surrounded the Hall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Set out from Northampton on the River Nene (pronounced Nen at this end). This area is under the control of the Environment Agency instead of the Canal & River Trust which covers the rest of England. Totally new territory for us from now on - lots of guillotine locks. These operate like the other locks at one end but have a huge steel gate operated by pushing a button (much easier!) at the other. Only concern was that the 'work box' at each lock was locked to keep vandals out which was very hard to open with a flimsy key.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Very quiet on the Nene - only saw one other boat the whole morning. Not many mooring spots along the river bank so we decided to spend a couple of nights at a lovely new marina near Earls Barton. Walked to the village - quite small but with a very interesting chemist shop which has been owned by the one family since 1635 so lots of historical items on show upstairs in the museum. Also had a toy museum and a dolls house/furniture museum. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We're now moored up at Wellingborough - not quite as big as Northampton but still quite a large city. This weekend the Queen's 90 birthday celebrations are everywhere. Today we had champers and decorated patty cakes with the mayor - resplendent in his robes - at a gathering in the church grounds which we just happened to 'gate crash'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We're now continuing down the Nene towards Peterborough. More news later.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-5398863633435980642015-09-16T18:48:00.001+01:002015-09-16T22:29:41.134+01:00<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><b>BIRMINGHAM - AND ON THE HOME RUN</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><b></b></span><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGq7k0p02S6ODCjbNL55vk4m8tEq23p7Ed4ekpaxJuowIHcK8MZNWWywe2gPBwt3chu4QZtB3gZITqFN_3HAAyJO2owAIoktfGhhnQkH3zUGkQTWuJXd_qWM-UVIGNZQp8cPSJmYa_Bv8/s1600/IMG_8440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGq7k0p02S6ODCjbNL55vk4m8tEq23p7Ed4ekpaxJuowIHcK8MZNWWywe2gPBwt3chu4QZtB3gZITqFN_3HAAyJO2owAIoktfGhhnQkH3zUGkQTWuJXd_qWM-UVIGNZQp8cPSJmYa_Bv8/s320/IMG_8440.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><b><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Came up the Wolverhampton 21 locks and arrived in Birmingham which
we visited by train four years ago when it was pouring rain so didn't
get a really nice opinion of the city. </span></b></b><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>This time we arrived by boat - totally different. We moored up
near the Gas Street Basin in the heart of the city. The Basin was just
delightful with lots of bridges over the canal which were lined with
flower boxes of colourful begonias and petunias. Canals heading off in
all directions - supposedly more canals in Birmingham than in Venice.
It would take a month to see them all fully.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>One of the many flower walkways over the canal.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>Massive building works going on in the city with the major rail
station being updated and huge tram works going on too. Lots of
beautiful old buildings and the best part was many parks and flowers
everywhere. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>Certainly a different city to Manchester which had hardly a
bit of green in sight.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>Flower display in the Birmingham Cathedral gardens</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;">Caught a train to Aston Villa, home of the famous football stadium. Visited Aston Hall - a large 17th century Jacobean home built by Sir Thomas Holte.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;">Sounds like he really wasn't the nicest person to know. His daughter wanted to marry a local farmer so he locked her up in an attic room until she changed her mind. She stayed there for 17 years until she eventually went mad, fell down a staircase and died. He is reputed to have chopped his cook's head in half with a meat cleaver when his dinner was a bit late. </span><br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #eeeeee;">The Long Hall is 336 feet long - the longest in the UK. This was for 'exercise' when it was too wet or cold to go outside. The impressive staircase still has the damage caused by a cannonball during the English Civil War. Famous visitors to the Hall (apart from us!) were King Charles 1 and Elizabeth 1. It really is a grand house with members of the same family living there for over 200 years until it was locked up in the early 1800s and almost fell into ruin until being taken over by the Birmingham Museums Group in the 1990s.</span><br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #eeeeee;">Went to a lovely old Art Gallery and then to the Birmingham Library - quite a modern looking building costing 188 million pounds (about $400 million) which opened in 2013.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Birmingham Library</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeYglw6q19PUOpHJ3aYT92Ya16uznliDWrdSJZ1moFtenvXaU22rCTa5Dk6eIemc5elHll4jQQsmCFfxYU9xwbYh5ryvNqEHtOxrgWV6KV8HJwXSJTkUfAVJsVIMdAngTrK1LBPHE5vc/s1600/IMG_8368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeYglw6q19PUOpHJ3aYT92Ya16uznliDWrdSJZ1moFtenvXaU22rCTa5Dk6eIemc5elHll4jQQsmCFfxYU9xwbYh5ryvNqEHtOxrgWV6KV8HJwXSJTkUfAVJsVIMdAngTrK1LBPHE5vc/s320/IMG_8368.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">One of the Library's roof gardens</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><b><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">It's the largest library in Europe. The amazing thing is that right
up on the top floor there's a room looking like something out of the
1600s with lots of leadlights and carvings and this room houses an
extensive collection of Shakespeare's original works.</span></b></b></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Also went to Blakesley Hall - a Tudor home built in 1590. Sooo old but very well presented with furniture from that time and a very knowledgeable guide who knew all the secrets of the house. We learned that the term 'sleep tight - good night' comes from when the beds consisted of a wooden frame laced with ropes so to get a good night's sleep it was necessary to 'tighten the ropes'. </span></b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEd5MktRMuRLCcF52S9C-jLqun8PUFJkGSsBEMfxQxhqpMCpsePEOJTBZg27A4tdMtlxJbAKOUSdnZxE6zqdWRYNq6TmRsR2CdanSChmO3BQ5Ju2EsmoM3k97YDkBS392B6bq5zCAWsRA/s1600/IMG_8380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEd5MktRMuRLCcF52S9C-jLqun8PUFJkGSsBEMfxQxhqpMCpsePEOJTBZg27A4tdMtlxJbAKOUSdnZxE6zqdWRYNq6TmRsR2CdanSChmO3BQ5Ju2EsmoM3k97YDkBS392B6bq5zCAWsRA/s320/IMG_8380.JPG" width="320" /></a></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7CsyB58vlM3TzXmL_uT5IE2SZ5DbqBQM9xC1ca7zpAmKA0njwh3L8Or9TQmvJ8lSj1o-QnUGeH9D4AoGJXAoLztPcq9D2lpoLKr8jsC308_um8sSVfP3WQgv66HlZMRPAE6Q6bYjNkE/s1600/IMG_8400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7CsyB58vlM3TzXmL_uT5IE2SZ5DbqBQM9xC1ca7zpAmKA0njwh3L8Or9TQmvJ8lSj1o-QnUGeH9D4AoGJXAoLztPcq9D2lpoLKr8jsC308_um8sSVfP3WQgv66HlZMRPAE6Q6bYjNkE/s320/IMG_8400.JPG" width="320" /></a></b></div>
<b> <span style="color: #eeeeee;">There was a group of actors dressed up as Tudors present on the day we visited and they had Tudor games to try, cooking food as the Tudors would have done, showing how to write with quills and also had a demonstration of sword fighting - well done and quite funny.</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">To top off our Birmingham visit we went to the Coffin Museum. Seen it all now!! It was set up by the Newman Brothers in the 1800s and it's just like entering a time capsule of Victorian engineering. </span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kikfoOc9ct8YGOYe2Vqza22VZR9gNoeOl1zh_JfVhJAZBS7IfRz4_QDCYUsbLcpA6OZhcWKRfbFm6Cugcrgnfjx8BToW6C-PL1cmfalaLIh8T7eNsLT8umVIst0_FSEgwurL6fGZ0NI/s1600/IMG_8423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kikfoOc9ct8YGOYe2Vqza22VZR9gNoeOl1zh_JfVhJAZBS7IfRz4_QDCYUsbLcpA6OZhcWKRfbFm6Cugcrgnfjx8BToW6C-PL1cmfalaLIh8T7eNsLT8umVIst0_FSEgwurL6fGZ0NI/s320/IMG_8423.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>This coffin was ordered by a chap who owned a rubbish trucking business</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZi6wvGFhhfFUzLQB5klfmKvYKxTNomn3FREjRYFniMa5N1CBYx3MOoAWWkYJVbURLe_MfnHUY4ZTpgd-kEbQeEj2Vsq950_h-wJBX82MX5nnRzTEdX_oOEGLwbHMRZpsjaEl6qZ2rhM/s1600/IMG_8419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZi6wvGFhhfFUzLQB5klfmKvYKxTNomn3FREjRYFniMa5N1CBYx3MOoAWWkYJVbURLe_MfnHUY4ZTpgd-kEbQeEj2Vsq950_h-wJBX82MX5nnRzTEdX_oOEGLwbHMRZpsjaEl6qZ2rhM/s320/IMG_8419.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>Two of these coffins were ordered by a couple of canal boaters (Ballet coffin behind)</b></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">When the business was handed over to the National Trust in the 1990s all the machinery and products - coffin handles and ornaments, linings and shrouds - were left on the benches when the workforce downed their tools and left. The company produced some of the world's finest coffin furniture, including fittings for the funerals of Sir Winston Churchill, Chamberlain and the Queen Mother. There was even a display of 'crazy coffins' - interesting but a bit weird.</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>Had a bit of excitement during our stay in Birmingham - woken about 2.00 am one dark and drizzly morning by someone banging on the side of the boat and yelling out "your ropes have been cut" Turned out six boats had been set adrift and were floating around at all angles along the canal. As someone said - it was a great way to meet people in various stages of undress as we scrambled around to find more ropes and then start up the engine to get the boat back across the canal onto mooring rings. The lady on the boat behind us kept apologising for what her countrymen had done to our boat saying "you've come all that way and this has happened to you - we're so so sorry - it's just terrible". Terry had a deep and meaningful conversation with 'Blossom" our neighbour on the boat in front (6'6" with a very deep voice) so we weren't too sure about that one although she? did look very glamorous next morning.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b><b>Left Birmingham and spent a night at nearby Bournville Village. This
was set up by George Cadbury and his brother Richard when they moved
their chocolate-making factory out from Birmingham in 1879. </b>The factory flourished and created finances for them to build good
quality housing set up as a traditional English country village with
shop, churches, sporting areas, community buildings and schools around a
village green. The Bournville Trust still manages the village today.
We decided not to do the Cadbury World (very expensive and a bit too
Disney-world like for us) so we went on the Village Trail instead.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPTHUA-r9ckAZEKu5T1_C7hHg6NzYG7leBMnewl77OrBCY0v6zOt8uKiIqQcLv6hbuAEkDn1IKeTGbhRu4bBK2cd87hYOhNDQXqVKc3iFYvwWK3d1DeXotsccCKT5Elw0tNUOfRotaOE/s1600/IMG_8489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPTHUA-r9ckAZEKu5T1_C7hHg6NzYG7leBMnewl77OrBCY0v6zOt8uKiIqQcLv6hbuAEkDn1IKeTGbhRu4bBK2cd87hYOhNDQXqVKc3iFYvwWK3d1DeXotsccCKT5Elw0tNUOfRotaOE/s320/IMG_8489.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">The Silver Wedding Anniversary present to the Cadbury couple</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>George Cadbury purchased two ancient oak-framed Tudor
buildings and had them re-built in the village in the early 1900s
surrounded by an authentic Tudor garden. They have been open as museums
ever since. On the village green there is a lovely building which was a
silver wedding anniversary gift to George and Elizabeth Cadbury. This
was paid for by staff from Cadbury factories around the world.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yuOuKz7WA429Y-AMljdnbOKZ_yyMoKKmFSJY0zgVTKSc-XLaScFwjov8FPejGc_TxyAdIMUje-M99AqeMKulrSrc1o6O5sQz_WAs91gbtgx7G7Jw3J1Ho2hLuG0dr-3bkbnSUN5fNpc/s1600/IMG_8461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yuOuKz7WA429Y-AMljdnbOKZ_yyMoKKmFSJY0zgVTKSc-XLaScFwjov8FPejGc_TxyAdIMUje-M99AqeMKulrSrc1o6O5sQz_WAs91gbtgx7G7Jw3J1Ho2hLuG0dr-3bkbnSUN5fNpc/s320/IMG_8461.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Tudor house bought and rebuilt in the village</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEfo4IOcLxvD9N6YnZNxjlcKRG1Gmm3fN61VddlHuKG-C2ex90NKJVKFbPzdlbpFhJX4sv_EMPBOExFJPdpLToHWDsisOXh1PumjRpzFAxjEG_YLpX26_fd4mqBvFNFXdQ1oh0-mAl0s/s1600/IMG_8470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEfo4IOcLxvD9N6YnZNxjlcKRG1Gmm3fN61VddlHuKG-C2ex90NKJVKFbPzdlbpFhJX4sv_EMPBOExFJPdpLToHWDsisOXh1PumjRpzFAxjEG_YLpX26_fd4mqBvFNFXdQ1oh0-mAl0s/s320/IMG_8470.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Some of the Tudor costumes provided for visitors to try on.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXHCdv5rnNiwQ7EnsCrJlORyxODommMYBQCnECMNL5OKC_1laN7IuJI2kjfCsCLreM5G0I5RvBlNIwc7gzOEG4ru08bbD5_zDi5FTfLzkqpyVzapPFXuBlN6LMR3kJJkkVjwNGtdiJgs/s1600/IMG_8482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXHCdv5rnNiwQ7EnsCrJlORyxODommMYBQCnECMNL5OKC_1laN7IuJI2kjfCsCLreM5G0I5RvBlNIwc7gzOEG4ru08bbD5_zDi5FTfLzkqpyVzapPFXuBlN6LMR3kJJkkVjwNGtdiJgs/s320/IMG_8482.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Lovely apple archways in the Tudor garden</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>Back on our travels we came down the Hatton flight (22 locks) and then arrived in beautiful Warwick with its grand castle. We had stayed there two years ago on our Stratford journey. We moored up in the Saltisford Am - a lovely marina in a park-like setting.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1JL0nG670aghQb4PMe-rnI0QiD9mOGF2JFkTYV9c-fHooK30WLyJAneoGqUsTPb2DLKkmn3nl8a0-8QtC674GTE9kqHQi3vXWxrMDgoaYPk96b-DMGWTu8UsyHMJAo8K-ZOYqeghASg/s1600/IMG_8521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1JL0nG670aghQb4PMe-rnI0QiD9mOGF2JFkTYV9c-fHooK30WLyJAneoGqUsTPb2DLKkmn3nl8a0-8QtC674GTE9kqHQi3vXWxrMDgoaYPk96b-DMGWTu8UsyHMJAo8K-ZOYqeghASg/s320/IMG_8521.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>One of the tunnels on the way - the horse used to have its own tunnel on the right.</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K9ZzS6wL1ox2XKO8ONEzjrutb8xVPv3mlBlOOz3Qn78yeYj87jlZ_-AvOzakZDM-JPCxJwKGawAf0gZzmI2tWN77NfU1PbR3ppFVtrAbI0ys2bKiPQnIKOY6c-TurWDWhhmObCdqy_c/s1600/IMG_8225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K9ZzS6wL1ox2XKO8ONEzjrutb8xVPv3mlBlOOz3Qn78yeYj87jlZ_-AvOzakZDM-JPCxJwKGawAf0gZzmI2tWN77NfU1PbR3ppFVtrAbI0ys2bKiPQnIKOY6c-TurWDWhhmObCdqy_c/s320/IMG_8225.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Horse sculpture made from old lock gates</span></b></td></tr>
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</b><br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>We had Sunday lunch at Jo and Ginny's home in nearby Kenilworth. (We bought their home in Broadford 4 years ago.) Their son, Max, is just starting a ourism course in Leamington Spa and Clara is going into Year 10 at the local seconday school. They're such a lovely family and it was great to catch up on all the news.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCULj7TVCex6FL_1T_M2f5SdFd8WBBjVC9urAPUGfBl0JG3eC97I5qPDF8UAW3SOxggnx9xFh8ipo-pkTtaY26J3vg0pvNvPfj9FBJnoLy5J0KhWbGuFufhZGFD6PAvp-BHj_f_59l3M/s1600/IMG_8549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCULj7TVCex6FL_1T_M2f5SdFd8WBBjVC9urAPUGfBl0JG3eC97I5qPDF8UAW3SOxggnx9xFh8ipo-pkTtaY26J3vg0pvNvPfj9FBJnoLy5J0KhWbGuFufhZGFD6PAvp-BHj_f_59l3M/s320/IMG_8549.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Historic hospital in Warwick</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNFtJWFePjNDOP248g0bSy6MpOMsTfOvJZvtOC3K-1f5CDWPtaE3DrnOM_u6HKKoUNB42-Xoje_dwVyim3gdde92w5bgF_QJijAXPxPpenfq8exPbAKoq30kFUAz-JJzK9g82hD1Igso/s1600/IMG_8566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNFtJWFePjNDOP248g0bSy6MpOMsTfOvJZvtOC3K-1f5CDWPtaE3DrnOM_u6HKKoUNB42-Xoje_dwVyim3gdde92w5bgF_QJijAXPxPpenfq8exPbAKoq30kFUAz-JJzK9g82hD1Igso/s320/IMG_8566.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Leamington Spa's famous Pump House</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b> So....... the 2015 adventure is just about over. We've met some lovely people along the way - boat crew and passerbys - with everyone up for a chat. We've travelled quite a few miles on lots of different canals and a few rivers but not had to work as many locks this year - only 390 - but many lift/swing bridges and the Anderton Boat Lift being another highlight. It's been the year of visiting the big cities - Manchester, Liverpool, Chester and Birmingham - all different but very enjoyable. Also seemed to see just about every museum - silk, salt, hat making, a few war-time ones and finally the coffin museum.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>Weatherwise - well, Summer really didn't happen - it's been really cool most of the time although we did have the Hottest Day in July (37C), the Windiest Day and September will probably go down as the Wettest Month.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>We've just come down Foxton Locks (10) in pouring rain and the boat is back at our Marina where it will be taken out of the water for the Winter. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><b>We're heading back to London to spend 4 days with Sooz, Ten and the girls before flying home, with a two night stopover in Brunei which should be interesting.</b></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">So.... 'til next time. </span></b>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-49008492289004926642015-08-28T22:19:00.000+01:002015-08-29T00:01:51.430+01:00Episode 3 - Liverpool and beyond<span style="background-color: black;"></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #f2f2f2; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More bedtime reading. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">Our 2 weeks in
Salthouse Dock in the heart of Liverpool was wonderful. Very windy
though and not too warm either while we were there. It's a very
'touristy' city with big cruise ships calling in every day bringing lots of
Americans, Europeans and people from the rest of the UK. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv4eU1XTl4YAqVp4HHq9AirA3zvR0ecTOWGWeZ2KBkqvggTyDWgrrlhiKpBwJfsQLmB2g6XmZRRrEG3jSKE3HhKpuhWAUdpZs9_uMTzOFtVTRW97DTQNbGhBTOvZZGMMXwDR8fOKAmX8/s1600/IMG_7378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv4eU1XTl4YAqVp4HHq9AirA3zvR0ecTOWGWeZ2KBkqvggTyDWgrrlhiKpBwJfsQLmB2g6XmZRRrEG3jSKE3HhKpuhWAUdpZs9_uMTzOFtVTRW97DTQNbGhBTOvZZGMMXwDR8fOKAmX8/s320/IMG_7378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">So much to see too
- with the Beatles featuring largely throughout the city. There is even a
yellow submarine at Albert Dock - used as a B&B. Lots of places
mentioned in their songs are actual places in Liverpool e.g. Penny Lane,
Strawberry Fields etc. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__h0wVzy3ZKcmvz2MAocbF4OYBqdleH1yV_KwZpAr7PM_qRzq6pkZ9d_0E10rKXThHSEwtoIebeLWFal20RjE2K5E0t8U6ewV22faASyPIr0O_W6DHgBlb2UE6gAGJiM439c3OUQjQPA/s1600/IMG_7374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__h0wVzy3ZKcmvz2MAocbF4OYBqdleH1yV_KwZpAr7PM_qRzq6pkZ9d_0E10rKXThHSEwtoIebeLWFal20RjE2K5E0t8U6ewV22faASyPIr0O_W6DHgBlb2UE6gAGJiM439c3OUQjQPA/s320/IMG_7374.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Beatles in Jelly beans!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We
went to The Cavern where they were discovered - a huge underground place
with lots of photographs of famous musicians around the walls. It was
absolutely packed with tourists! We were there just 2 days before the
death of Cilla Black was announced. She started out as a hat-check girl
at The Cavern and was allowed to perform occasionally between other acts.
The whole city seemed to go into mourning - it was like when Princess
Diana died - Cilla was 'our girl' - everyone's favourite.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">We visited the
nearby Mersey Maritime Museum at Albert Dock housed in a huge former warehouse
building. The top floor was devoted to telling the horrible stories of
the transatlantic slave trade which operated in the 1700 and early 1800s.
</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzDQWWf_hb5bgaJwsvMaTjAEtPJY2mVVFCrFcXK6xwNu_xgsYyUw2VVZ8zYD71Cu0nMaoIdXhiFNtj5hlRGwcEyupLxorzW41rA0WFfk4BUbVSmBxsZLCAX6AMEwAJB8Imt0D3INSwQU/s1600/IMG_7375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzDQWWf_hb5bgaJwsvMaTjAEtPJY2mVVFCrFcXK6xwNu_xgsYyUw2VVZ8zYD71Cu0nMaoIdXhiFNtj5hlRGwcEyupLxorzW41rA0WFfk4BUbVSmBxsZLCAX6AMEwAJB8Imt0D3INSwQU/s320/IMG_7375.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Another floor had a large Titanic exhibition - the
supposedly unsinkable ship was built in Belfast but was owned by the White Star
Shipping Line so was registered in Liverpool as its home port. Many of
the crew were from Liverpool on the maiden voyage in April 1912 when she hit an
iceberg and sank with the loss of more than 1,500 passengers and crew.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
RMS Luisitania exhibition was on another floor. This luxury ship was
owned by the Cunard Line and also registered in Liverpool. She was the
largest passenger ship in the world when launched in 1906 and made many trans
Atlantic crossings before being torpedoed and sunk in 1915 by a German U-boat
off the Ireland coast after leaving Liverpool, with the loss of more than 1,000
lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Other ships including
canal boats, the work of customs and smugglers were some of the other
exhibitions on display.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">We visited Liverpool
Anglican Cathedral - the largest Protestant cathedral in Europe - it took 74
years to build and is twice as big as St Paul's in London. Met up with a
lovely guide here who gave us an extensive tour and then gave us a souvenir
program of a special concert held earlier this year for the passengers of 3
huge Cunard Line Queens - the Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2
which were visiting Liverpool to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the famous
cruise line.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OwMFci5Yc3KqEefA-d7a60zDqhPtuXvtt_1IM1gUifFXKKj3KqziHdkXBWzFPU05bMgiDbYkt3rIGwtyo2o24A1ao0WZa4ZzSJV3JNQb3b41u2pYlSoiyZcYhsbouBolrf_FvzGUa4g/s1600/IMG_7387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OwMFci5Yc3KqEefA-d7a60zDqhPtuXvtt_1IM1gUifFXKKj3KqziHdkXBWzFPU05bMgiDbYkt3rIGwtyo2o24A1ao0WZa4ZzSJV3JNQb3b41u2pYlSoiyZcYhsbouBolrf_FvzGUa4g/s320/IMG_7387.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">Walked up the street
to the large Christ the King Catholic Cathedral - totally different
architecture, being circular and very modern (finished 1967) with lots of
stained glass windows. Think we preferred the older one.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW12NYerfdxgmM674aqlPsPWmlp0wb_YRVz_HP3tK0zoewVTtgDSmNBiPOmFqEJcE6keel-K6h2u4s5PWhP8EGqwHeAuN8UNWTRWmHzJDS3N6DpGkW1YFH2tlDqxC6PPwD07Skluu3y8/s1600/IMG_7400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW12NYerfdxgmM674aqlPsPWmlp0wb_YRVz_HP3tK0zoewVTtgDSmNBiPOmFqEJcE6keel-K6h2u4s5PWhP8EGqwHeAuN8UNWTRWmHzJDS3N6DpGkW1YFH2tlDqxC6PPwD07Skluu3y8/s320/IMG_7400.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">Took a train trip up
the coast north of Liverpool to nearby Crosby Beach where 100 cast iron,
life-size sculpture figures by artist Antony Gormley stare out to sea - spread
out along 3 Ks of the shoreline and they go almost 1 kilometre out to sea.
Called 'Another Place' the figures each weigh 650 kilos and are made from
casts of the artist's own body. Sort of spooky - although now people are
starting to dress them up in all sorts of clothing so they look a bit funny as
well.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknTuuo_B8bB5OCtAuUukXWK0B6t3xCMv5DG6X2hzsbpR7BiM8QpAQqJCqqrEgSlLzhIGox4eQVfJiCgKCEkD0mtMWdZfPm4c7EIrVoCLE7MG5WS14wPRX4v4cn4svslGTWBYRAPShMFM/s1600/IMG_7419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknTuuo_B8bB5OCtAuUukXWK0B6t3xCMv5DG6X2hzsbpR7BiM8QpAQqJCqqrEgSlLzhIGox4eQVfJiCgKCEkD0mtMWdZfPm4c7EIrVoCLE7MG5WS14wPRX4v4cn4svslGTWBYRAPShMFM/s320/IMG_7419.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">Back in Liverpool we
went to the Western Approaches - an huge underground bunker where the
battle of the Atlantic was run from 1941. Designed to be bomb and gas
proof with a 7 ft thick roof and 3 ft thick walls it had 100 rooms covering
50,000 sq. ft. The Royal Navy, Air Force and Marines worked there jointly
to monitor enemy convoys and submarines to ensure successful delivery of
supplies and equipment into Britain from the USA and Canada, with most coming
into Liverpool which was Britain's main port during WW2. Also enemy
messages were de-coded in the bunker and sent to Downing Street. All very
hush hush and people who worked down there lived there as well - must have been
very depressing.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_2KbrldAr9z8lGXF5uLgwS8uVBcgw6ef1ZJzMBU-_PBZ07gNJuZuU8urMgCQcLQZ01i4Cx7QqZ-gLcNELOYkjCZfBsJQ91OE2TBzLdZSrB9nidTdTHcazhGEhkMAFSKEYCLOjqiFNfc/s1600/western+approaches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_2KbrldAr9z8lGXF5uLgwS8uVBcgw6ef1ZJzMBU-_PBZ07gNJuZuU8urMgCQcLQZ01i4Cx7QqZ-gLcNELOYkjCZfBsJQ91OE2TBzLdZSrB9nidTdTHcazhGEhkMAFSKEYCLOjqiFNfc/s1600/western+approaches.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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Also went on an underground tour of the former port of Liverpool - a massive
area being excavated by Oxford Uni archeologists. It's now all covered
over by Liverpool One - a huge very upmarket shopping complex, office and
hotels. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">Visited Speke Hall,
a half timber framed mansion set in glorious gardens on the banks of the famous
River Mersey. Built over 400 years ago it was handed over to the National
Trust in 1942. Beautiful house with most of the original furniture still
there - now a favourite spot for weddings etc. It's supposed to have quite
a few resident ghosts but luckily they must have been on holidays when we
visited.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MqRaG1leMSCNKEFbxEvkOwNBFWyVDCg3TEyFEdSVvzd492JUFwvZwRZgyrxnpMDQRi0FF3NCw-uF5N3VJxHFYgcNSLHlK3i_6v4mmKIVu5u2xf0oiOu7vdrqXBeasx4jc2fR3clgRZ0/s1600/IMG_7506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MqRaG1leMSCNKEFbxEvkOwNBFWyVDCg3TEyFEdSVvzd492JUFwvZwRZgyrxnpMDQRi0FF3NCw-uF5N3VJxHFYgcNSLHlK3i_6v4mmKIVu5u2xf0oiOu7vdrqXBeasx4jc2fR3clgRZ0/s320/IMG_7506.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuB45UyrTSYopj4GQhrFMy7SDMCWF5RMsQ2f2tdJr_puK_KqbrKy7AXWLfa0SWx7-piVkQznuuqgt-vsIDrZwCPFmVz-_ZQRjcb3W_UOoaotjRFq05Yi6rrZXJHW7m9lipFMrMWDKiQ0M/s1600/IMG_7498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuB45UyrTSYopj4GQhrFMy7SDMCWF5RMsQ2f2tdJr_puK_KqbrKy7AXWLfa0SWx7-piVkQznuuqgt-vsIDrZwCPFmVz-_ZQRjcb3W_UOoaotjRFq05Yi6rrZXJHW7m9lipFMrMWDKiQ0M/s320/IMG_7498.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">Of course, as in the
famous song we had to catch the Ferry Across the Mersey. At present these
are painted in 'dazzle' paint to commemorate some British ships in WW1 which
were painted in camouflage paint to mislead German U-boat captains. We
thought they looked pretty spectacular.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73rE6UidBtrmWjlXYEMxXyDUMQDMt47Y_P2o32xBIGN80bcs8VqF5it8Al-zAZLxeoo8x91knGEhfjqUMBTWamAKdwwTHTD_KyGYRueaU1QqeP_gDuzNwbRtT99diLZ3P0l3A2gpZmys/s1600/IMG_7521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73rE6UidBtrmWjlXYEMxXyDUMQDMt47Y_P2o32xBIGN80bcs8VqF5it8Al-zAZLxeoo8x91knGEhfjqUMBTWamAKdwwTHTD_KyGYRueaU1QqeP_gDuzNwbRtT99diLZ3P0l3A2gpZmys/s320/IMG_7521.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">On the last day in
Liverpool we went under the Mersey by train to Port Sunlight. This unique
village of 400 houses was built by Lord Lever. As a boy he used to cut up
bars of soap for his father's grocery shop. He eventually went into the
soap-making business and bought some useless swampy land where he built his
factory. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUfurrWBVC8G5S0AzqrzHDM01RBCjaLZhnm3b41conMLgCgnnaXszS7hf9sIf7r9OatLJ1atvMlFg3USOxNvPr7OaTSsPFGO8jCRepdzg4nn3sflap2yCJu8v-2b5VTmykHAL5itMRXY/s1600/IMG_7631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUfurrWBVC8G5S0AzqrzHDM01RBCjaLZhnm3b41conMLgCgnnaXszS7hf9sIf7r9OatLJ1atvMlFg3USOxNvPr7OaTSsPFGO8jCRepdzg4nn3sflap2yCJu8v-2b5VTmykHAL5itMRXY/s320/IMG_7631.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">Some of his brands were Sunlight Soap, Pears Soap and since
becoming the huge Unilever company in the 1950s it makes most of the modern
soaps, shampoos and washing powders used throughout the world. Lever's
belief was that even factory workers were entitled to good housing so he
employed 30 of the UK's top architects to design the houses as well as schools
(really special as boys and girls were taught in the same classrooms - a
first!) village halls, a church and a pub. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2oeLfz3lDJH325hKC5iLFXW-B02zE_rdnM9m8_QIpVGrsruvicjjkTkwoJv6QjuBj6sqbOh498QsyuQQirY7u9Xh7mRkwoK0Dx43UsCPoFjWTz4ai-1E4JLMzJ20AjT8af3ScH_sw7w/s1600/IMG_7628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2oeLfz3lDJH325hKC5iLFXW-B02zE_rdnM9m8_QIpVGrsruvicjjkTkwoJv6QjuBj6sqbOh498QsyuQQirY7u9Xh7mRkwoK0Dx43UsCPoFjWTz4ai-1E4JLMzJ20AjT8af3ScH_sw7w/s320/IMG_7628.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;"> He also built a glorious art
gallery full of treasures he and his wife had collected during their lifetime
because he said not only the rich should be able to enjoy art. There's
lots of parks and open areas and each house has access to community veggie
gardens. Even today it is managed by the Trust so if you buy a house
there your front garden is cared for by the Trust's gardeners. Everything
looks so neat and well kept - it's just a beautiful place to live.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcGh-D7osipDcVLrElQtDu0RcT1b0FYFaI7rtEynjzxIqbJ2KzFDkXutpxR7tIza0A5TRF4JeXQtd93SshGyaxAaSKNFoihMbmAK_hMd7xwexI0LcOOp1xxZatVxin3tKaAvtjXnaei0/s1600/IMG_7596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcGh-D7osipDcVLrElQtDu0RcT1b0FYFaI7rtEynjzxIqbJ2KzFDkXutpxR7tIza0A5TRF4JeXQtd93SshGyaxAaSKNFoihMbmAK_hMd7xwexI0LcOOp1xxZatVxin3tKaAvtjXnaei0/s320/IMG_7596.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">We left Liverpool in
convoy again - on the windiest day ever! Came back along the Bridgewater
Canal and moored up next to a park at Worseley, a little village with pretty
black & white timbered houses. It was a Saturday afternoon and a
bridal party came along for photo shots on the nearby bridge and along the
canal. It started to pour rain (again!!) and they were sheltering under
a tree next to our boat. Took pity on them so we lent them umbrellas so
they could get back to their nearby reception place. Even got invited to have
a "drink of bubbly" at the reception!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1gldr1AdL5AM6GMsTPA0QcJvb1IWDZMgwoFZ_JczdKGIpQoeU9mcFz5WopJjl53K4oyTXg0aXt3QDjug1srMVNSauXVzAmr_1WVari0ggXPug3rG5DQ31LCCa6_42nJKs2Dejvw8m5w/s1600/IMG_7698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1gldr1AdL5AM6GMsTPA0QcJvb1IWDZMgwoFZ_JczdKGIpQoeU9mcFz5WopJjl53K4oyTXg0aXt3QDjug1srMVNSauXVzAmr_1WVari0ggXPug3rG5DQ31LCCa6_42nJKs2Dejvw8m5w/s320/IMG_7698.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">Back on the Trent
& Mersey canal we came to one of the canal system's engineering marvels -
the Anderton Lift. It was built in 1875 to lift cargo boats 50 feet from
the Weaver River up to the Trent & Mersey. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Dp9AZCnBsh-7P56fmO18gnqBLqKXA98TGwVz81jHwjwdkz60ZY6LF4QI7xAU75-hTHkQ-_VB24KySRlbTLuqutK_vFS4oDc_uXNBnrqLmCFl3lPrsAXH2h_CJjJf2mUjK11Q-flaXo8/s1600/IMG_7872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Dp9AZCnBsh-7P56fmO18gnqBLqKXA98TGwVz81jHwjwdkz60ZY6LF4QI7xAU75-hTHkQ-_VB24KySRlbTLuqutK_vFS4oDc_uXNBnrqLmCFl3lPrsAXH2h_CJjJf2mUjK11Q-flaXo8/s320/IMG_7872.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">It worked until 1983 and
was almost dismantled until funds were raised (about $18 million) for repairs
and it reopened in 2002. It works by hydraulically counter-balancing two
watertight tanks that can each carrying two canal boats up and down.
While we were waiting to go onto it we were approached by a lady asking
if we could take her husband on board for the trip down. Turned out they
were from Scotland on holiday in England and she said it would "just make
his holiday". The trip lasted about 10 minutes with bus loads of
tourists taking photos from the side. We spent a couple of days on the
lovely Weaver River - quite big but not with a dangerous current - before
making the return journey on the Lift up to the Trent & Mersey.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjud4xS-n39P0pC_76ziLnNy1eudJaDsk2Br4Vo3YTS9-7xkCJXIOFfuh0zvrJDLERsqKb5ygbBWT0bFYACFNMz21ydnFfFqCqfSy79j1jWgidW3AM_WQTZ9x09XmX-oXeFi7JB2hUbo2o/s1600/IMG_7822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjud4xS-n39P0pC_76ziLnNy1eudJaDsk2Br4Vo3YTS9-7xkCJXIOFfuh0zvrJDLERsqKb5ygbBWT0bFYACFNMz21ydnFfFqCqfSy79j1jWgidW3AM_WQTZ9x09XmX-oXeFi7JB2hUbo2o/s320/IMG_7822.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Five minutes later we came on a Salt Museum. Apparently the whole
Cheshire area has provided salt for centuries. The museum showed how
they pumped brine water up from underground into large pans. These were
heated for days from large furnaces underneath until most of the water
evaporated. The salt was then shovelled into wooden moulds and left to
dry out for a couple of weeks before it was either crushed for table salt or
cut into smaller pieces. Another hot and dangerous job! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Seems so
much underground water was removed over the years that a lot of houses and
whole villages just disappeared into the ground. These days lots of
lakes (former sinkholes) filled with water birds live around the area so some
good has come from the salt mining.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YooLUt0CZkaVe8NfAgYUD03B2GwfsrjbDQ2VE0HU2tue_eRvk0X9A485HtgZrLx04IPeJMQa0yeN8Bga2Gx6HNJwpuPmflldqMR2_3CAzfKHlTnAxH_8bvOCgv6uceH6SFpN31OviK8/s1600/IMG_7965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YooLUt0CZkaVe8NfAgYUD03B2GwfsrjbDQ2VE0HU2tue_eRvk0X9A485HtgZrLx04IPeJMQa0yeN8Bga2Gx6HNJwpuPmflldqMR2_3CAzfKHlTnAxH_8bvOCgv6uceH6SFpN31OviK8/s320/IMG_7965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">The rain and cool
weather continued all the way to Chester where we moored up right outside the
old city wall built by the Romans. </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorPphdSCKy-usboBIeKhkeuwwEYJiVRX59EQv5wgHI4ZD6VsqlO1-V3Uv40664Ec3TFx0FgyN9BlfyUTaeI2e35Nd03y8GGbtZOmgtjtFptVLR1db1FcYUJWBblOChpv7PT-3joUm_7Q/s1600/IMG_8062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorPphdSCKy-usboBIeKhkeuwwEYJiVRX59EQv5wgHI4ZD6VsqlO1-V3Uv40664Ec3TFx0FgyN9BlfyUTaeI2e35Nd03y8GGbtZOmgtjtFptVLR1db1FcYUJWBblOChpv7PT-3joUm_7Q/s320/IMG_8062.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Sooz, Ten and the girls drove up from London to spend the weekend with
us. First time they have actually slept on the boat. Olive and
Iris were quite amused to think Mum and Dad were going to sleep 'on the table'
not realising until the next morning when they saw that it dropped down to make
a double bed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRP8_pCrVTP7yX0u6nBFN51VB71onanWN8A-m_fZW6DwaMJJKcYLaOl8b4RrZJBTvZ6_LViepbgBBMK0s9JmE1F_5mNgAW025o4OIv4gdWnhFnkqnKaKDdx0a3Lpo-LRpRzfyXH3lkTnQ/s1600/IMG_8209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRP8_pCrVTP7yX0u6nBFN51VB71onanWN8A-m_fZW6DwaMJJKcYLaOl8b4RrZJBTvZ6_LViepbgBBMK0s9JmE1F_5mNgAW025o4OIv4gdWnhFnkqnKaKDdx0a3Lpo-LRpRzfyXH3lkTnQ/s320/IMG_8209.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">We showed them
around Chester - a very ancient city founded by the Romans in 43AD with many of
the Roman ruins still on display. It was originally an important sea port
but one of the aristocrats in the 1500s changed the course of the river which
promptly silted up so then Liverpool became the major seaport on the western
coast. We went through the Chester Cathedral which even had an 'Alice in
Wonderland' exhibition which was a bit of fun for the girls.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz_Pj09kJ2qOEKS-GsUxogFYB2kQx2ieOCJSyqpVD-62ZXw7m9EjOQUq26ECxW_q31NmGfxOCmHEKLGHvxIu1d8eU8BkmQrRHRcN5-FTX7JFDG4jqPJB5rQBCyCGLW9s5z8VDeV88dLI/s1600/IMG_8095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz_Pj09kJ2qOEKS-GsUxogFYB2kQx2ieOCJSyqpVD-62ZXw7m9EjOQUq26ECxW_q31NmGfxOCmHEKLGHvxIu1d8eU8BkmQrRHRcN5-FTX7JFDG4jqPJB5rQBCyCGLW9s5z8VDeV88dLI/s320/IMG_8095.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #f2f2f2; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">Next
came a tour of the city on a 1914 double-decker omnibus with a
Victorian-dressed lady giving an interesting commentary about the city.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">Back on the boat we
set out for a couple of hours to Ellesmere Port where we had a look through a
canal boat museum. Amazing to see the living conditions on the old
working boats - tiny cabins about the size of the kitchen on our boat where
whole families lived while transporting cargoes. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglh_dsfMPE-3vgQ28-ptghGjcnIAY9wZ-zvozMI7wWn0bgVvU7knYTOJBmZaZH66v0FlgxM4B16GKcGFKz9a743ocqBpJydONuijSEOlVSNIiJ7Kz_wbac_NoZZWqUCnb624T6-AOqm_A/s1600/IMG_8185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglh_dsfMPE-3vgQ28-ptghGjcnIAY9wZ-zvozMI7wWn0bgVvU7knYTOJBmZaZH66v0FlgxM4B16GKcGFKz9a743ocqBpJydONuijSEOlVSNIiJ7Kz_wbac_NoZZWqUCnb624T6-AOqm_A/s320/IMG_8185.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">On Saturday night we
went to a nearby South African restaurant where Ten & Sooz convinced us to try
ostrich and crocodile! Next morning before we headed back to Chester the museum
where we were moored up had horse carriage rides and we followed a boat
being pulled by a horse like the good old days before canal boats had engines.
Looks like hard work though!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF9DUAV91X1UMirbWXQbcpKPcSGtYDRMbLZz5Fhi7snwGnXMJm-Vlhb-emjXmgzCQRCDOazIIB701BdB4S_JkK19EDg9n195vJU7NtxAtVAQgx84edoPovv3ysAVFOiv8GYYmzVbqDmU/s1600/IMG_8202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF9DUAV91X1UMirbWXQbcpKPcSGtYDRMbLZz5Fhi7snwGnXMJm-Vlhb-emjXmgzCQRCDOazIIB701BdB4S_JkK19EDg9n195vJU7NtxAtVAQgx84edoPovv3ysAVFOiv8GYYmzVbqDmU/s320/IMG_8202.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">On Monday, Verena
& Erwin, our neighbours from Ruffy, travelled down from the Lakes District
where they had been walking for a few days, to spend a couple of nights with
us. We moored up near Chester station to meet them and then set out
again for Ellesmere Port. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRi2I-kUb-GqeAoZ8ragF070hNXf4ZbjG3wLaBxCQOPAF9E7Xsj385boteDykO-z40pw7bPPLFcydSXn7Z0yMGNGhc9FQ5iEV7rdI_SKwriFSuZTuXp2RdwuTH4AsGeziryF2EvgAIf8/s1600/IMG_8221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRi2I-kUb-GqeAoZ8ragF070hNXf4ZbjG3wLaBxCQOPAF9E7Xsj385boteDykO-z40pw7bPPLFcydSXn7Z0yMGNGhc9FQ5iEV7rdI_SKwriFSuZTuXp2RdwuTH4AsGeziryF2EvgAIf8/s320/IMG_8221.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">This meant we had to go down a 3 lock staircase
so Erwin was put to work winding down the paddles and pushing the gates - hope
he enjoyed it! We arrived at the museum only about an hour before
closing time so it was a quick run around but they saw quite a lot of it.
Next day we motored back to Chester with Verena helping with the locks
too. We did the old bus tour to give them a general overview of the city.
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpz3lACRcVTRNFLoL9w0HIl8FdrToNFHDBctSaNdyuy5S3XPp728l485M-7kc4ebXccPcrytz5FeKSf4_SstW8RwUGYq4UHhLNE6rK-XVVtMrIX4mDTVb34zntFcZkRBeBlSYLkWvCz4/s1600/bus+e+%2526+V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpz3lACRcVTRNFLoL9w0HIl8FdrToNFHDBctSaNdyuy5S3XPp728l485M-7kc4ebXccPcrytz5FeKSf4_SstW8RwUGYq4UHhLNE6rK-XVVtMrIX4mDTVb34zntFcZkRBeBlSYLkWvCz4/s1600/bus+e+%2526+V.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">The same lady commentator gave some amusing facts - the English and Welsh
(the border is just across the river) were always fighting so all the church
towers and the town hall don't have a clock facing Wales as they 'wouldn't give
them the time of day!" Also some of the houses in Chester have
bricked up windows as in the 1600s a tax was brought in on houses that had more
than 6 window panes. Of course this meant there was no light in these
rooms so the tax was called 'the daylight robbery' tax. We went for a
walk around some of the city wall - it's more than 2 miles right round and then
saw some of the many black & white shopping rows. Verena & Erwin
left early next morning by train to Manchester airport for a flight to
Switzerland where they will be catching up with family before a cruise down the
Danube. Sounds fantastic.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">Left Chester and
travelled down the pretty Shropshire Union Canal. Lots of black &
white cows in the paddocks - must be to match the Chester buildings - as well
as quite a few farm shops when we stopped at some of the locks selling veggies,
eggs, homemade cakes, pies and preserves etc. Even picked up a bunch of
highly perfumed sweet peas at one place. No one on hand to serve - just
an 'honesty box' for `the money.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvaobtgiP5WIPsNjlfmvMhPBvOkh85RjisdXuZvAesPsZk6wI2tU58wkJGwGBHBg_OyLOSi9aBCix6A-4p7lEVCasoX93qjRflUez7DMXUE84gLq5weqD3O4jATpM7xE1vpSJ1s84gvg/s1600/IMG_8251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvaobtgiP5WIPsNjlfmvMhPBvOkh85RjisdXuZvAesPsZk6wI2tU58wkJGwGBHBg_OyLOSi9aBCix6A-4p7lEVCasoX93qjRflUez7DMXUE84gLq5weqD3O4jATpM7xE1vpSJ1s84gvg/s320/IMG_8251.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">Just for
something new the weather turned rainy again so we waited a day before tackling
the Wolverhampton 21 (locks). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMUVzGX9CrNfOz5mhVf5-jRb2dI0hzvYJjDr2ZhQ7Y6S9axlsc0qBF0EmEIdsiepiiOy1yOLd0QQ5oD1eN43IsJURfbLjS-ahjdZUp5oKmopbS8Ak80A2pW4RD10sStZSvEa0ECZWwys/s1600/IMG_8296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMUVzGX9CrNfOz5mhVf5-jRb2dI0hzvYJjDr2ZhQ7Y6S9axlsc0qBF0EmEIdsiepiiOy1yOLd0QQ5oD1eN43IsJURfbLjS-ahjdZUp5oKmopbS8Ak80A2pW4RD10sStZSvEa0ECZWwys/s320/IMG_8296.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;"> We're now moored up at the Black Country
Museum on the outskirts of Birmingham where it is said there are more canals
than in Venice - they head off in all directions so hope the navigator gets it
right!</span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #F2F2F2; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=95000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 242;">More news later.....</span></span>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-52092024326197076282015-07-21T23:44:00.002+01:002015-07-22T00:01:32.069+01:002nd chapter of the 2015 edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="color: white;">re <span style="color: #cccccc;">Some more bedside reading...... </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Since our last
newsletter (22 June) the weather hadn't improved so we decided to go to Shefffield on the
train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This involved getting the local
bus from the Bugsworth Basin which only ran every 2 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This took 4 minutes to get to the station - a
few miles away along a very winding narrow road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we arrived at the 'station bus stop'
which was about 200 yds away from the station we had just 3 minutes to catch the
train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to run up and down the
overpass to the other side of the track but somehow managed to make it - thankfully
the train waited for us!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5IVUPeHWKwR8B-MM44GlnPbkQ2icMVh-NJFU-8bZSkU0GO3nrZ3GoQiXub8mel92aFZ6z24PRjUvqRhchBc77L41lL8BLuduQ36MX5EZUjjrZpr1mOExC8vdIr2vKkDZqGyVsStyBzA/s1600/IMG_7026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5IVUPeHWKwR8B-MM44GlnPbkQ2icMVh-NJFU-8bZSkU0GO3nrZ3GoQiXub8mel92aFZ6z24PRjUvqRhchBc77L41lL8BLuduQ36MX5EZUjjrZpr1mOExC8vdIr2vKkDZqGyVsStyBzA/s320/IMG_7026.JPG" width="320" /><span style="color: #cccccc;"></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Lovely Peak district views</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"></span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Spectacular scenery along the track through the Peaks District which apparently
is the second most visited National Park in the world behind Mt Fuji in
Japan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of hikers tramping along in
the drizzle and camping out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Arrived 45 minutes later at Sheffield station and caught a tram into the
city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite a big place with all the
usual large shops and an amazing glass roofed area with tropical plants growing
in the centre of the office/shops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WmGQXI6BH2r0lMOnWnTdYNmL0eOp1pY_McdKKXH0E09Wa-oLVqBC9JmUJu0oToEBAtmVAL2FFWSh6umfqGREbqmPOnZ8MvBJx6EBFYxhdc1gFp-4rIWWpLp_zfnjBD6dazj4qIsUIsY/s1600/IMG_7000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WmGQXI6BH2r0lMOnWnTdYNmL0eOp1pY_McdKKXH0E09Wa-oLVqBC9JmUJu0oToEBAtmVAL2FFWSh6umfqGREbqmPOnZ8MvBJx6EBFYxhdc1gFp-4rIWWpLp_zfnjBD6dazj4qIsUIsY/s320/IMG_7000.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The
Information Centre suggested we went on the 2 mile 'City Walk' which would show
lots of historical sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bit of a disappointment
really as most of the sites now had new buildings built on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
cathedral was pretty interesting though - with some parts built in the 12th
century right up to a very modern part with a glass ceiling turret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">We also visited Kedlam Island which was a
museum of steel making - everything from huge steel beams to the most
delicate silver wear and the most powerful steam turbine engine which they
cranked up twice a day.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">On the way back to
the station we passed a beautiful old building - cheekily went through the door
'to have a look'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were met by the
Beadle (the security/caretaker) of the building which turned out to be The
Cutlers Hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cutlers are a group
of craftsmen who have made silverware in Sheffield over the last couple of
hundred years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were told there
were meetings going on in all the big rooms so we couldn't see them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, after a few minutes the Beadle -
finding out we were Ozzies - said we could walk along the hallway to see the
displays of cutlery and silverware.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was even a Swiss army type knife about a foot long that had 250
utensils (knives, scissors etc) inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amazing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he opened the door
to the main dining room which was set up for a dinner of Cutlers that evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most amazing display of silverware and
crystal glassware on the long table and lots of crystal chandeliers and
cabinets all round the room holding incredible pieces of silverware.<br />
<br />
Just before leaving, the Beadle presented us with a book '100 Years of
Stainless Steel in Sheffield' which he then went off to get signed by this
year's Master Cutler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This position
used to be held by the best silver craftsman in Sheffield but can now be held
by people connected with the industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Master Cutler then introduced himself, David, a lovely fellow who was
wearing a huge silver medallion (like a mayoral chain) round his neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He explained he wasn't a silver craftsman but
'had started a few manufacturing companies in Sheffield''.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Altogether an unreal experience just because
we wanted to see what was behind the fancy doors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Next day the sun
was shining so we set off towards Manchester.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We went </span>down 16 single locks at Marple AND I drove the boat with Terry
doing the locks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Managed to get down
without losing too much paintwork getting into each lock </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOsuyKYcMc2M6DVLocEvsMMnrHO374MrV2rEJqKJ5NrJJbb9Gni78fQbsQAf6W484ToevAWvQFBXnUYafA4bmVj9z733kDg_tytPYs-ALuZ-jJok2Y8Vpfh23S1FBTE8OlEtVSE1gcWM/s1600/IMG_7052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOsuyKYcMc2M6DVLocEvsMMnrHO374MrV2rEJqKJ5NrJJbb9Gni78fQbsQAf6W484ToevAWvQFBXnUYafA4bmVj9z733kDg_tytPYs-ALuZ-jJok2Y8Vpfh23S1FBTE8OlEtVSE1gcWM/s320/IMG_7052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSq_aJiIbF-f7R_ee6iDXE0MbaucHTFokzBsNAbskKHt9ddqhy4l0sqywlARpEvzSBYA6qOc8lgIh-rDTa3S4XHVaHbVqhkLGiU015tyfWA8ED7PfSnL294fHbYsv6bJKGBA7FhI4Ukk/s1600/IMG_7053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSq_aJiIbF-f7R_ee6iDXE0MbaucHTFokzBsNAbskKHt9ddqhy4l0sqywlARpEvzSBYA6qOc8lgIh-rDTa3S4XHVaHbVqhkLGiU015tyfWA8ED7PfSnL294fHbYsv6bJKGBA7FhI4Ukk/s320/IMG_7053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7HHhJKkOmiRHL_Xgsejw3ETIvpOL-CZiC0V0aPeL5CR-UMPopo7cVEHZF7J4FlKK26sMbAnMqpgbdV1hZ6ebaT3wp-VAPf3Jvyr7-W3PSgIYsPOvvTaND0kGKzb29SBJRt73xYsdvMc/s1600/IMG_7033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7HHhJKkOmiRHL_Xgsejw3ETIvpOL-CZiC0V0aPeL5CR-UMPopo7cVEHZF7J4FlKK26sMbAnMqpgbdV1hZ6ebaT3wp-VAPf3Jvyr7-W3PSgIYsPOvvTaND0kGKzb29SBJRt73xYsdvMc/s320/IMG_7033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">After a long day we moored<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>'in the middle of no-where'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next morning we went down the final 12 locks
of the Ashton Canal into Manchester City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hard locks because they were all fitted with anti-vandal locks which
needed a key so it took twice as long to go through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpdmDPJWvziLGcEj2qg4eR25vqoVahnv9ROfVdNVnZEsuQ4LZWylQi-4xefd0Ac-09On-Vu71DLx8W1iwRlJCpLyOppxg-_PdW3N6qWI4Afscay9f5lKtj0yJ_biK8N3kOyYwSbZotIk/s1600/IMG_7068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpdmDPJWvziLGcEj2qg4eR25vqoVahnv9ROfVdNVnZEsuQ4LZWylQi-4xefd0Ac-09On-Vu71DLx8W1iwRlJCpLyOppxg-_PdW3N6qWI4Afscay9f5lKtj0yJ_biK8N3kOyYwSbZotIk/s320/IMG_7068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Aqueduct near Marple</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">We moored up right in the heart of the city
with the huge main station (Manchester Piccadilly) only a 5 min. walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtedWAXuoyWcOEX0iWimk7CSM7Aa9-pPgjZligkss775rmXfFBXMr3w3wMSEhKgWHvYAAmQarjIdlnWoAqEf4YXSuFT7iqTHHl0axZvkBVqvv3yT18MHFxIuQeolkOuxEyu6FOlR9E8iI/s1600/IMG_7092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtedWAXuoyWcOEX0iWimk7CSM7Aa9-pPgjZligkss775rmXfFBXMr3w3wMSEhKgWHvYAAmQarjIdlnWoAqEf4YXSuFT7iqTHHl0axZvkBVqvv3yT18MHFxIuQeolkOuxEyu6FOlR9E8iI/s320/IMG_7092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvzi5ljF7c757DxrZVIE9PA3KkCeySZ6kro6dOZGzKVZnv4wzuvmLR4T8rV0Lei_P2WXNtgzRVBAIQJjlYl-oLFDAW-DSPEFTz9rZITFMwa7EwaeHdWPdueCwB25dEsIpuXXjMTPhHxU/s1600/IMG_7102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvzi5ljF7c757DxrZVIE9PA3KkCeySZ6kro6dOZGzKVZnv4wzuvmLR4T8rV0Lei_P2WXNtgzRVBAIQJjlYl-oLFDAW-DSPEFTz9rZITFMwa7EwaeHdWPdueCwB25dEsIpuXXjMTPhHxU/s320/IMG_7102.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: small;">Great graffiti artists in Manchester!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Manchester is such a busy place - lots of double-decker buses, taxis and double
length trams as well free buses around the city centre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must have been a huge industrial city in
the 1800s but most of the warehouses and mills have been turned into apartments
as well as lots of new high-rise apartment blocks being built.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWWdMwXgAWkyzPqBn5Fi_sNhlIHuaVmEGdhuWmWMcTVSfDOVx-keU8x2OlJo1jgJ12eHZn6NptZdAbLuKh1fI2B1Gk4-CZkymqGapFl4VFXcRuzdBsrkFZkPiT3Q76miXSHyS4tUk87E/s1600/IMG_7111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWWdMwXgAWkyzPqBn5Fi_sNhlIHuaVmEGdhuWmWMcTVSfDOVx-keU8x2OlJo1jgJ12eHZn6NptZdAbLuKh1fI2B1Gk4-CZkymqGapFl4VFXcRuzdBsrkFZkPiT3Q76miXSHyS4tUk87E/s320/IMG_7111.JPG" width="320" /><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: small;">Inside Manchester Cathedral</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtchurvGsXI0sDLG2yjsl0qoZmaDq5t-piAZ2Riu3vvUXmt5cLFPvsgnfA6xHtmCRlMgNfCcRFBT1En2rcR4gAbD1JegFxqk-dTXym3FFbu3YGzbcI9LB2fsG_3Key-hB0aHEU3TShGs/s1600/IMG_7120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtchurvGsXI0sDLG2yjsl0qoZmaDq5t-piAZ2Riu3vvUXmt5cLFPvsgnfA6xHtmCRlMgNfCcRFBT1En2rcR4gAbD1JegFxqk-dTXym3FFbu3YGzbcI9LB2fsG_3Key-hB0aHEU3TShGs/s320/IMG_7120.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">John Ryland Library - a massive beautiful building given to the Manchester people by a rich lady in memory of her husband.</span>y</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Some really lovely
old buildings in the town centre particularly the Town Hall and the John Ryland
Library which houses some of the oldest books in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
People seem very friendly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever
we've been standing on a street corner looking lost (happens often) someone has
offered to help us find our way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
the further north we travel the stronger the accents are becoming - just about
need subtitles to understand most people.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br />
Went down to the Manchester Quays area where the BBC (Media City) moved to
recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Couldn't do 'the tour' as it
is booked out weeks ahead but the new buildings are very impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEa9mjnirDgAR800XoKqyNF7qKAer8Ynokgnv6vWCKALcQ-mDcIiWyNxegAppbyvjM9znotIddEhFk-HPJGeZbtnqIcCs9WC5m6kGDmnwlodFrvVVQVVBFWJRIq2lel2TBfMSsPrDd9Y/s1600/IMG_7141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEa9mjnirDgAR800XoKqyNF7qKAer8Ynokgnv6vWCKALcQ-mDcIiWyNxegAppbyvjM9znotIddEhFk-HPJGeZbtnqIcCs9WC5m6kGDmnwlodFrvVVQVVBFWJRIq2lel2TBfMSsPrDd9Y/s320/IMG_7141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Also went to the National Cycling Velodrome -
used for the Manchester Commonwealth Games It has the National BMX track next
door which was being used by some very young riders (only looked about 3 or 4)
using tiny bikes with no pedals to get up and down the bumps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Decided to catch the train to Leeds as we couldn't get there by canal - our boat
is too big and the locks are a few feet shorter than us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trip on the train took an hour through
more lovely Peak countryside.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Leeds is one of the
most beautiful cities we have visited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Had a tour around the Town Hall, a very impressive building then hopped
onto the free city circle bus and went to the Indoor & Outdoor Markets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were built in Victorian times too and
have amazing architectural features.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even still has the original Marks stall (before Mr Marks joined up with
Mr Spencer to form the great M&S stores found all over the UK).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnzNPCe7LE6KFoAQgxRP0rz8_K7JDqy3N_4nS4zFSHiZLPGApV-kZ-TKXMv03l9H1F8JIaIwXIqKC0t26JzMkkIoTtk_ovSAZX0VfHUEPv0bZiCqLL5tP1BWrZvyicbqfLxf1HxvZCW0/s1600/IMG_7159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnzNPCe7LE6KFoAQgxRP0rz8_K7JDqy3N_4nS4zFSHiZLPGApV-kZ-TKXMv03l9H1F8JIaIwXIqKC0t26JzMkkIoTtk_ovSAZX0VfHUEPv0bZiCqLL5tP1BWrZvyicbqfLxf1HxvZCW0/s320/IMG_7159.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">We then walked
through the main shopping centre which featured some stunning Victorian arcades
with glass domed roofs and lots of fancy tiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4Bgb_IfRQTqU6-66LP4MadNSuMHFL6Ubsqg9kKD-vOzYV_tJz965nzdkXEYmPVKqSnacAKLzJhnjYDzC3O0QXA9uwxtd4ONhy2BRQ3cb1potTL64btAp2BEYapjCYrQ2NWIPvi8jqPk/s1600/IMG_7168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4Bgb_IfRQTqU6-66LP4MadNSuMHFL6Ubsqg9kKD-vOzYV_tJz965nzdkXEYmPVKqSnacAKLzJhnjYDzC3O0QXA9uwxtd4ONhy2BRQ3cb1potTL64btAp2BEYapjCYrQ2NWIPvi8jqPk/s320/IMG_7168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Two of the Victorian arcades in Leeds</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">In the afternoon we decided to go to the
Royal Armouries Museum which we thought would just hold some modern weapon
collections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrong!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most extensive display of weapons going
back centuries from around the world - war, hunting, tournament (jousting etc
enjoyed by King Henry) plus a magnificent tower 4 floors tall with medieval
weapons displayed all up the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
could have spent a week there and still not seen it all!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbGtK5lbc1So0k9O-o6X5nR7iGoehuodi7SEeHX4YVDD5sWAwHf6MxMlgNAu4-3xqP4rxfiSdm_2H5EnwUKJ71ZVV7EEofZ-DfFB04qAdNmPaq9_xrJOYsUIyHA94I_MgsWiW7YE5E7A/s1600/IMG_7199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbGtK5lbc1So0k9O-o6X5nR7iGoehuodi7SEeHX4YVDD5sWAwHf6MxMlgNAu4-3xqP4rxfiSdm_2H5EnwUKJ71ZVV7EEofZ-DfFB04qAdNmPaq9_xrJOYsUIyHA94I_MgsWiW7YE5E7A/s320/IMG_7199.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YyJifhk_b_pYwJSFYFSwIc4sQokF8yHfsiyEUPYyW5zUKbJEpRoaGDDO1_oZi_0D2Um2SsmfnZLHZrty3G-iZp13XcDn2VHHpsk6LRCN1wkPjyCXsdK1wzjL_xfzxurUReehwIDJKRc/s1600/IMG_7195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YyJifhk_b_pYwJSFYFSwIc4sQokF8yHfsiyEUPYyW5zUKbJEpRoaGDDO1_oZi_0D2Um2SsmfnZLHZrty3G-iZp13XcDn2VHHpsk6LRCN1wkPjyCXsdK1wzjL_xfzxurUReehwIDJKRc/s320/IMG_7195.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Decided to also visit Stockport - which turned out to be only 7 minutes on the
train from Manchester.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the 1800 and
early 1900s when hats were worn by everyone this area had a big hat making
industry with lots of mills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to
the Hatting Museum which had a great display with every sort of headwear from
all over the world as well as some modern hats from local designers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the lower floor was where the felt hats
and caps were made in the 1880s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clever
machinery but terrible conditions to work in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rabbit 'fluff' was soaked in boiling water with sulphuric acid and
other nasty chemicals to make the felt which then had to be shaped by hand to
make the hats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smelly and dangerous work
often done by young children.</span></div>
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We went down the extensive underground air raid shelter built in 1940 which
could hold more than 6,500 people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
sandstone tunnels went on for miles - with displays of what life was like in
the shelters during the war - an audio system explained each area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very interesting.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeyyfqeijtLIYJZiemYaLDlVSA35AXtDbOSj1oKZN5gaYPNqOANap6yNj12npewnpAq2RM8tPveh9q5qD4JbFMu742UHqGGzJtKR7un2cNJpAcQvjVZ8ohtWuq2cv-QiMkWGk9k7rzcw/s1600/IMG_7209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeyyfqeijtLIYJZiemYaLDlVSA35AXtDbOSj1oKZN5gaYPNqOANap6yNj12npewnpAq2RM8tPveh9q5qD4JbFMu742UHqGGzJtKR7un2cNJpAcQvjVZ8ohtWuq2cv-QiMkWGk9k7rzcw/s320/IMG_7209.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Then went to see
Staircase House, a Stockport family home for 500 years, which was completely
brought back to life after being badly damaged by a fire in1995.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very well done - all the rooms decorated as
they would have been in the 1600s and you can even sit on the beds and chairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most uncomfortable though!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dCiPB9W4KTj8mDgQSBs8LRlsp1HXoDkNBZDKyIC56-wWXoWxstAYZvzgq3GmxFL9T1K4rGU_9pDuOjj8RQTE4pGeDDQtTWtEfLUeQobm55s0q1nmZDoWXFvT5zjcvruEwkdXtWtFZGE/s1600/IMG_7217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dCiPB9W4KTj8mDgQSBs8LRlsp1HXoDkNBZDKyIC56-wWXoWxstAYZvzgq3GmxFL9T1K4rGU_9pDuOjj8RQTE4pGeDDQtTWtEfLUeQobm55s0q1nmZDoWXFvT5zjcvruEwkdXtWtFZGE/s320/IMG_7217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br />
The drizzle cleared up and we had the hottest July day on record -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>over 36C with the centre court at the tennis
at Wimbledon being over 40C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Massive
thunderstorm that night with heavy rain and a spectacular lightning show which
cooled things a little.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Went down to London
on the very fast Virgin train for a few nights - Olive turned six and had
decided she wanted a 'sleep-over' with 3 of her friends instead of a party to
celebrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps 'sleep' was the wrong
term - the girls were still awake with lots of giggling and squealing well past midnight and then
were up early on Sunday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Back in Manchester we set off for Liverpool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Quite an easy run for a couple of days alongside the Manchester Ship
Canal with not many locks to go down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqbajzqD_sx6eIhksOh-grea7ioA4fWMr7lkO9Oufz0CHMmbOiVhSf0ZIEXwvUWcD-AsJ5tuBqXS0fwGkxzHC9QpIErv6lbjZ7tsAKbyu542PEuCknUPRH6esgry_vIdnIm0w3CN-7yM/s1600/IMG_7307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqbajzqD_sx6eIhksOh-grea7ioA4fWMr7lkO9Oufz0CHMmbOiVhSf0ZIEXwvUWcD-AsJ5tuBqXS0fwGkxzHC9QpIErv6lbjZ7tsAKbyu542PEuCknUPRH6esgry_vIdnIm0w3CN-7yM/s320/IMG_7307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWI2zRI-QNuUj_7KsQT7ixCpou2yxviJuGk-RV5LlaizRQ3xuTu1xtV7w8ARzML8B3OKeFYaLQldYUsu076WJQI738m5UQsS9jt23IXjP0mgOuxe6uwLbya4tC658Able1Odl6WGdXXxg/s1600/IMG_7321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWI2zRI-QNuUj_7KsQT7ixCpou2yxviJuGk-RV5LlaizRQ3xuTu1xtV7w8ARzML8B3OKeFYaLQldYUsu076WJQI738m5UQsS9jt23IXjP0mgOuxe6uwLbya4tC658Able1Odl6WGdXXxg/s320/IMG_7321.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwDUY1dgt1XXlkgDkhruCp7xXBgRSDP0SNzCu3zs04t47ofjxAneA8ll4LvQH5pfNuNmA5o0rL7HV8dtV33kQwkUuz_z1AMFxDhkVt7-JHvQ6b8bONtuil9EENMtX529dvy0TFsufaJk/s1600/IMG_7304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwDUY1dgt1XXlkgDkhruCp7xXBgRSDP0SNzCu3zs04t47ofjxAneA8ll4LvQH5pfNuNmA5o0rL7HV8dtV33kQwkUuz_z1AMFxDhkVt7-JHvQ6b8bONtuil9EENMtX529dvy0TFsufaJk/s320/IMG_7304.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bridge over the huge Manchester Ship Canal - holds 800 tons of water and opens to let big ships through.</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm500U9FJUg8c-BaNQf3drU-QVU87GG-FMz4-VHUBMpyGAXzDlUJbFzaySH38PVGZEuc241JoB6dQExC57qbsWC3KCFvrgmqsBICVIYRhDNpucOQxGYdE79wJwNktF26ckChC8SEBBCv8/s1600/IMG_7359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm500U9FJUg8c-BaNQf3drU-QVU87GG-FMz4-VHUBMpyGAXzDlUJbFzaySH38PVGZEuc241JoB6dQExC57qbsWC3KCFvrgmqsBICVIYRhDNpucOQxGYdE79wJwNktF26ckChC8SEBBCv8/s320/IMG_7359.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">The water in the canals is so clear with lovely patches of water lilies
and lots of bird life too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pity about
the 1000s of plastic bottles and rubbish that is floating around - not to
mention the wheelie bin floating past where we moored up one night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was too heavy for Terry and our neighbour
to lift out of the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bit suspicious
with the lid screwed down - so we didn't wait around to find out what was
inside!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last 9 miles into Liverpool
are controlled by CRT (Canal & River Trust) so we had to go in a convoy of
11 boats as there were a couple of swing bridges across busy roads that had to
be closed as we went past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br /> </span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">The entrance into Liverpool is amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We passed many huge docks with large warehouses used in the 1700 and
1800s mainly for salt and tobacco cargoes - most now converted to
apartments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well there was a thriving
slave trade transporting slaves from Africa to America too which made many
Liverpudlians very rich.</span></div>
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We are now moored up with 24 other narrowboats at Salthouse Dock - right in the
heart of the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very touristy here -
with lots to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liverpool must be the
party capital of the UK with many groups of 'hen party' girls shopping during
the day and hitting the 100s of bars and nightclubs at night.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: small;">More news to follow.....</span></span>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-42323005763118113852015-07-08T18:17:00.000+01:002015-07-21T22:19:01.412+01:00The 2015 adventure begins<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Left Melbourne on a
Royal Brunei flight with quick stops in Brunei and Dubai. Arriving at Heathrow in London was
amazing. We were out of the terminal and
on our way in only about 20 minutes instead of the normal 2 hours<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Spent our first 3
nights with Sooz and Ten at their lovely new home which they moved into last
November. It’s just around the corner
from their last place and even nearer the school which is handy. The
girls have grown so much since we saw them last September – Iris who never
stops talking is now at playgroup a few days a week at the same school as
Olive. We also met Winnie – their new
Groodle (a golden retriever/poodle) who is 12 months old but still a big
playful pup.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Travelled by train
to Leicester to pick up the boat which was at a marina near Foxton Locks. At the weekend we went to the Crick Boat Show
where it rained – as usual – but luckily not as heavily as last year.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKNZAOEz9nAvSFJjJUxlcZlXfopO-W7Duye2HqQIwP0Jn98EIy2_whSmTGtzP8Sd8tr6FGuzLZflxb33EVGc-7nvOdqIPwIKP5YEvuUWA8BwBiqtpOFQYng-plw7Mcrp6YMpcH1xTiww/s1600/blogger-image--771287928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKNZAOEz9nAvSFJjJUxlcZlXfopO-W7Duye2HqQIwP0Jn98EIy2_whSmTGtzP8Sd8tr6FGuzLZflxb33EVGc-7nvOdqIPwIKP5YEvuUWA8BwBiqtpOFQYng-plw7Mcrp6YMpcH1xTiww/s320/blogger-image--771287928.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">We then set out
north, along the Leicester branch of the Grand Union Canal, stopping a few
nights in Leicester because of heavy rain.
The city is still under the Richard III spell. His body has now been reburied in Leicester
Cathedral and there is a large exhibition showing how the body was found in a
car part and all the tests done to prove it really was Richard IIIs body. The rain stopped so we moved off only to moor
up shortly after at a place called Thurmaston because of incredibly high winds –
said to be up to 80 mph. We really
rocked that night! It turned out to be
a suburb of Leicester so we ended up catching a bus back to Leicester for lunch
to celebrate Terry’s birthday.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">We then made our way
up to the Trent & Mersey Canal and retraced part of our first journey on
the boat 4 years ago. It was great to
get back to the single locks which were made for narrowboats and much easier
than the double locks (barges) around Leicester. While moored up in Stone the TV we bought
last year ‘died’ so we caught a bus (carrying the tele) to Stock on Trent –
only 6 miles away we thought, but it turned out we went the ‘scenic route’ –
probably about 20 miles – and visited lots of surrounding villages. Luckily we were able to replace the tele
under guarantee but it’s not easy travelling around without a car sometimes!<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Raining again so we
spent the next weekend at Stoke and then went through the Harecastle
Tunnel. Not as scary as when we did it
on our first trip 4 years ago. This time
we were the first boat through in the convoy as we were ‘experienced’. The trip still took 45 minutes ion pitch
blackness and we had to wear life jackets this time as someone went overboard
last year and drowned.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjanbJaEbxEY9CSHNHbv6s6g_s18R_rIRSxcsej1rVmHkGnr0gVGnO1ytTvayZv2oHwEJ44Ufj3WbOptGlvzB5GRBf6OG5V3VEE0rAMQaTvst3AcdIcL49yjAFXjmrCLrx1GoRIK0mxg/s1600/IMG_6942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjanbJaEbxEY9CSHNHbv6s6g_s18R_rIRSxcsej1rVmHkGnr0gVGnO1ytTvayZv2oHwEJ44Ufj3WbOptGlvzB5GRBf6OG5V3VEE0rAMQaTvst3AcdIcL49yjAFXjmrCLrx1GoRIK0mxg/s320/IMG_6942.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">From there we began
in new territory where we haven’t been before.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">We turned onto the
Macclesfield Canal which is known as one of the most beautiful canals in the
UK> It’s built along the sides of the
hills up quite high (over 500 ft above sea level) so there are some stunning
views over the surrounding farm land.
Lots of lovely stone cottages and little villages dotted along the
valleys. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">This canal was built in just 3
years as a short cut to Manchester.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">We’re now at the
Bugsworth Basin on the Peak Forest Canal.
This was a big industrial site with mines and kilns to provide limestone
and lime for building. Eighty canal
boats a day were loaded and unloaded back in its heyday. The BBC were filming here yesterday for the
programme ‘Barging around Britain’.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AQMMoVfkwWAG6osxERd6t_lU7vRbdc6bRxcwF7Ha2grZNmCnS4Od8Qtsmuy5EyM4sC_uzP__dvlu2UQS-D6DAVauRAI2nj9OpwAGM4R2J3lHov0CCdXpRI9ptZxHV2beA9bsXPNN7MM/s1600/IMG_6977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AQMMoVfkwWAG6osxERd6t_lU7vRbdc6bRxcwF7Ha2grZNmCnS4Od8Qtsmuy5EyM4sC_uzP__dvlu2UQS-D6DAVauRAI2nj9OpwAGM4R2J3lHov0CCdXpRI9ptZxHV2beA9bsXPNN7MM/s320/IMG_6977.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">The weather hasn’t
improved much – absolutely freezing with daily top temps of 12 and 13C and lots
of drizzle so the hills are shrouded in mist.
This area is where the industrial revolution started back in the 1700s
when a fellow invented the machinery to make cotton using water from the rivers
to drive the machinery. There are huge
mills along the canals but sadly most of them are either derelict or being used
for other businesses or housing. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnq3EVsGSPWHxQczxJTRfc-EdW9iJOCvcYeKyJ5cDYo0RIWSZppVaqT1ptmLZOXuZlzJDOfSzcLUXy-8FDZKm1mENlb-UZf2uHCc5IRFck7Wi3alhe55FuHBKql_o9wfK45I8XqdJwe0/s1600/IMG_6997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnq3EVsGSPWHxQczxJTRfc-EdW9iJOCvcYeKyJ5cDYo0RIWSZppVaqT1ptmLZOXuZlzJDOfSzcLUXy-8FDZKm1mENlb-UZf2uHCc5IRFck7Wi3alhe55FuHBKql_o9wfK45I8XqdJwe0/s320/IMG_6997.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">Yesterday caught a
bus to nearby Whaley Bridge where ‘well dressing’ an ancient custom in this
area was in full swing. The village
ladies spend a week making pictures out of flower petals which will be
displayed at the festival next week. We then caught a bus to Chinley Village
but everything was closed so we hopped on a train. The ticket collector asked where we were
going – we replied “where does the train go?”
So he suggested we get off at New Mills on the way to Manchester. This was an amazing place built on the top
of a hill with mills along the river gorge way down under the village. No wonder everyone is fit here – everywhere you
walk is either steeply uphill or downhill.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br /></span></i>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHPxZN4xIYxJWU4IbF7fMKb6-RadQZdmSBAc-Q-at3Qpzg3DZj-bS7PsRtLBwUZsXlEfCKa9xceqsFMjRCTDe2dGxa6DwMRdiTit2pNbdaGF90H0wmEVXVm2Xt0S1XTSuKzQsiqci-Yk/s1600/IMG_7018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHPxZN4xIYxJWU4IbF7fMKb6-RadQZdmSBAc-Q-at3Qpzg3DZj-bS7PsRtLBwUZsXlEfCKa9xceqsFMjRCTDe2dGxa6DwMRdiTit2pNbdaGF90H0wmEVXVm2Xt0S1XTSuKzQsiqci-Yk/s320/IMG_7018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1N_JKNjYDqMY9FFPwEQGaX9FplCogiiDsz6tz4HqQjxHMzHUBiik2OZvSvrQVKdxmyygH-NKoaJG3Z-2MW943mzi4DjIsbb92hTVMAcEsfjodzQRBDcCuDUdbGB-o3NtJf9h72Nem2Tg/s1600/IMG_7041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1N_JKNjYDqMY9FFPwEQGaX9FplCogiiDsz6tz4HqQjxHMzHUBiik2OZvSvrQVKdxmyygH-NKoaJG3Z-2MW943mzi4DjIsbb92hTVMAcEsfjodzQRBDcCuDUdbGB-o3NtJf9h72Nem2Tg/s320/IMG_7041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D9D9D9; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=85000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 217;">So……… There are lots
of spring lambs and calves around, baby ducklings and swans and the purple
rhododendrons (weeds here) are all over the hills looking quite beautiful – we just
have to wait for Summer to appear and it will be perfect!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-39339500679287797382014-09-07T23:08:00.001+01:002014-09-07T23:08:18.653+01:00The Thames River & Kennet & Avon CanalOur story continues: <br><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Having moored up on the Thames River near Windsor Castle we were first in the next morning to see the Castle ahead of all the masses of tourists arriving on buses. We last saw the Castle in 1996 just before a disastrous fire that gutted 150 rooms. Amazingly, all the rooms have been restored using traditional methods and look as good or even better than when we saw them last. . Saw the 'changing of the guards' - quite a pantomime except the guards don't crack a smile - they're so serious. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmenrLGoCK16qSUH6yiqTaWJCsSCayL92Ohj5GdRec-s7cYmF3em05qeujydgPq3owVD0MUSJFn0d0xSUt2FDYAWWaIUaYt2X1fY74OThyphenhyphenEGWhcUDJcUU8SVB2spb4Yx9-27gmGnR0b3E/s640/blogger-image-1351569764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmenrLGoCK16qSUH6yiqTaWJCsSCayL92Ohj5GdRec-s7cYmF3em05qeujydgPq3owVD0MUSJFn0d0xSUt2FDYAWWaIUaYt2X1fY74OThyphenhyphenEGWhcUDJcUU8SVB2spb4Yx9-27gmGnR0b3E/s640/blogger-image-1351569764.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Moored up near Windsor Castle</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Next we moored up at Henley where the famous rowing races are held. We arrived on the last day of the Henley Festival - lots of marquees with different music shows every night for a week. No - we didn't see the show ....tickets were £ 150 ea ($300) and we hadn't packed the tiara or tux which appeared to be the dress code for the audiences.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KFIN0iXOF77MKSFVw5pqo8tr-YW_NYto4XAxf9P897uiCy41-lt1m22Uorrp2osJEm4_t4mvU4CRJMGST5bRVtw4X0-6xReSQRswu2FFLiBiqce2HTjkTcD7F38l9TWji2ROpIqK_MY/s640/blogger-image--496218278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KFIN0iXOF77MKSFVw5pqo8tr-YW_NYto4XAxf9P897uiCy41-lt1m22Uorrp2osJEm4_t4mvU4CRJMGST5bRVtw4X0-6xReSQRswu2FFLiBiqce2HTjkTcD7F38l9TWji2ROpIqK_MY/s640/blogger-image--496218278.jpg"></a></div>Course of the famous Henley rowing races</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Left the Thames River at Reading and headed west for Bristol on the Kennet & Avon Canal. Lovely thatched villages and rich farming countryside along the way. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIfj8FIadxLbXdS7LEK56j8raZpaDcNhQL4HNO4W7R1OE5DAdPgc29jAeuzCT2_vdwx-E273JjqrpFMfrCBKJJs9cLpTuRDQN6ylEEUejRIEBZi4q2_zxsSKFRnPTNbqoxl1aCfCRmf0/s640/blogger-image--506427677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIfj8FIadxLbXdS7LEK56j8raZpaDcNhQL4HNO4W7R1OE5DAdPgc29jAeuzCT2_vdwx-E273JjqrpFMfrCBKJJs9cLpTuRDQN6ylEEUejRIEBZi4q2_zxsSKFRnPTNbqoxl1aCfCRmf0/s640/blogger-image--506427677.jpg"></a></div>Bradford-on-Avon</div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">There are 108 locks on this canal and worst part is that we have to do them all twice - on the way to Bristol and then on the way back to Reading. They're double locks which work well when we have a 'companion' boat to go through with - only half the work so it's worth waiting til someone comes along to pair up. We have met some great boaters along the way and this canal has lots of onlookers and 'trip' boats. There is even a horse-drawn trip boat in one section - just like the way it was on the canals before engines were invented.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPecaFvGV7VJ7FUn3HSwjQu95YpRUO7ZpiRgoSAYXUU6hEL3UtvQPl7SXi0BFmrf9NpRW6Gz8pXl0xfAtMSU_xTBRfvNTkssI7wdgaBvbaZ0KtSS1Ay9V1Eanbi1GkmZK0HfUd4kY63c/s640/blogger-image-1601739894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPecaFvGV7VJ7FUn3HSwjQu95YpRUO7ZpiRgoSAYXUU6hEL3UtvQPl7SXi0BFmrf9NpRW6Gz8pXl0xfAtMSU_xTBRfvNTkssI7wdgaBvbaZ0KtSS1Ay9V1Eanbi1GkmZK0HfUd4kY63c/s640/blogger-image-1601739894.jpg"></a></div>One of the many weirs next to one of the locks</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u-FYCIqLAO7lHnrX9hYNuKv2dIhgnfP6L3Gb4fwYojVi3WRxrn8N0ugueq8rGi-7MmWxlpZ4kwDAG-qEZc1DQ-5cCiCpvMXsQEh5O1pjWz92wrU6_xKohsFjg4V7J8hyphenhyphendA2VbWTKxI8/s640/blogger-image-917101975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u-FYCIqLAO7lHnrX9hYNuKv2dIhgnfP6L3Gb4fwYojVi3WRxrn8N0ugueq8rGi-7MmWxlpZ4kwDAG-qEZc1DQ-5cCiCpvMXsQEh5O1pjWz92wrU6_xKohsFjg4V7J8hyphenhyphendA2VbWTKxI8/s640/blogger-image-917101975.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Water entering one of the 108 locks.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Went down to London by train for a couple of nights 'babysitting' the girls. Sooz had 4 vets away from her clinic and Ten was away in Durban. While we were there it was the last day of 'reception' (prep) school year for Olive - how the year has flown!</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Back on the canal we stopped at Crofton to see the pumping station built in 1812 which still operates. When the canal was being built it was found that the Kennet and Avon Rivers were at different levels so the pumping station raised the water 40 feet. Can't imagine how they managed to get the huge machinery in place.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNP2MtGpvqw_M9pNEfmsSaO19rx1S2GO0jlzg9kuxJeauym_mwK0DKXutXld17Nydg20M4NIVGKMHhgydtLd8gLVK43HPi7zgUapsjAB4AdDxRcai1Q2SPnxe5IEZSDVsJLdGwKgWU-uY/s640/blogger-image-263835836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNP2MtGpvqw_M9pNEfmsSaO19rx1S2GO0jlzg9kuxJeauym_mwK0DKXutXld17Nydg20M4NIVGKMHhgydtLd8gLVK43HPi7zgUapsjAB4AdDxRcai1Q2SPnxe5IEZSDVsJLdGwKgWU-uY/s640/blogger-image-263835836.jpg"></a></div>Crofton Pumping Station </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcyE6eU4rzM5QgZlm4rOVWSUD9LnFUifikfLF86KdSUM97Af7yT2VW4b9n1Aq-VwB36UFHg43B_UCi_Hb_ZvZdjz34CaC8JCpLBhtTWC4rk1k3u4F0voIk5NoSUkJ0HHO0KT4V8Vd9-w/s640/blogger-image--765877954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcyE6eU4rzM5QgZlm4rOVWSUD9LnFUifikfLF86KdSUM97Af7yT2VW4b9n1Aq-VwB36UFHg43B_UCi_Hb_ZvZdjz34CaC8JCpLBhtTWC4rk1k3u4F0voIk5NoSUkJ0HHO0KT4V8Vd9-w/s640/blogger-image--765877954.jpg"></a></div>One of the Crofton Boilers. Massive machinery</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">We then came down the notorious Devises flight of locks - 29 locks over 2 miles which raises/lowers 237 feet! We did it in just over 5 hours - which was a really good time - our guide book says it usually takes 7 hours. Needless to say we put our feet up when we got to the bottom and stayed put all afternoon after that. A few nights later we were at Bath where we came through one of the deepest locks - more than 19 feet deep! 160,000 gallons of water are emptied out every time a boat goes through and the gates each weigh 5 tons.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAVMpISpQtQTYuCIuLgm6GQtGAZmMsoFvWLaiTpQy0ICH3PJOnRY_P-f7qM4Pu-tcuCTVUmPkvaN1hq5PyXcvkgH1tUbvtHCmbV9ki6JtxfGMT0COgUy8g3384t82ZjQUg-tDSQB1i8I/s640/blogger-image-826919119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAVMpISpQtQTYuCIuLgm6GQtGAZmMsoFvWLaiTpQy0ICH3PJOnRY_P-f7qM4Pu-tcuCTVUmPkvaN1hq5PyXcvkgH1tUbvtHCmbV9ki6JtxfGMT0COgUy8g3384t82ZjQUg-tDSQB1i8I/s640/blogger-image-826919119.jpg"></a></div>Passing traffic on the Caen Hill - Devises staircase of locks</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lhmMzqyjOoVVwucDYt9oGbj5kU5kidAXnF0oborS9b00tXdZ4xEoxaC2Rz21-evvMBYCe1EzglxvOh7aWWPfcyH3RmfXCuSxHiWHLYQbOT3pZ9LkW8i8oJ1omrxyZYeL2hCIATe17bw/s640/blogger-image-1619603970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lhmMzqyjOoVVwucDYt9oGbj5kU5kidAXnF0oborS9b00tXdZ4xEoxaC2Rz21-evvMBYCe1EzglxvOh7aWWPfcyH3RmfXCuSxHiWHLYQbOT3pZ9LkW8i8oJ1omrxyZYeL2hCIATe17bw/s640/blogger-image-1619603970.jpg"></a></div>At the bottom of the flight</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">We moored up in Bristol Harbour with some really big ships - right opposite the steamship SS Great Britain - built by the amazing Brunel. It carried more than 600 passengers each trip from London to Melbourne during the 1850s gold rush. lt's now a fabulous museum site with the ship looking like it's in the water but it's actually sitting in a dry dock so visitors can walk around underneath and see the propeller etc. On board it's set up exactly as it would have been back in the 1800s. We would have definitely have had to travel first class though - steerage class was so tight - beds all in together piled up to the ceiling. Talk about no privacy! </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2v0iHTvaj-CS0pDoBz27XS6YRNn3VT_ho-eaOYx_9EcO3kLFe4mTUtFehRqLKkNSLtYuNpB8rU55_zTNmSGPsnG4QA5VJywI3rqkE2RR_JhrCQD2wN5v1pW-Qr_towqvXU0hgu8pbmHM/s640/blogger-image--750235061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2v0iHTvaj-CS0pDoBz27XS6YRNn3VT_ho-eaOYx_9EcO3kLFe4mTUtFehRqLKkNSLtYuNpB8rU55_zTNmSGPsnG4QA5VJywI3rqkE2RR_JhrCQD2wN5v1pW-Qr_towqvXU0hgu8pbmHM/s640/blogger-image--750235061.jpg"></a></div>Our neighbour at Bristol Harbour</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2ijA0RpUpzK79z1939YZqfqD9BbRZ04etxKOynFGf3CEN4WwT5QA3WyOQl5ws6YTHjCPES3hTbprkBBJv7r2H-Z_527xrX1YgvPNC8X5xrLcq9nqMnBMcpPoXkzl_gTr-96blQgKQ8E/s640/blogger-image--865642941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2ijA0RpUpzK79z1939YZqfqD9BbRZ04etxKOynFGf3CEN4WwT5QA3WyOQl5ws6YTHjCPES3hTbprkBBJv7r2H-Z_527xrX1YgvPNC8X5xrLcq9nqMnBMcpPoXkzl_gTr-96blQgKQ8E/s640/blogger-image--865642941.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Bristol is a great city with lots to see - very upmarket. We went to the musical 'Singing in the Rain' - which is as they say 'an oldie but a goodie'. Amazing show - each performance uses 15,000 litres of water - it actually rains on the stage.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Also saw the awesome Clifton Suspension Bridge. That man Brunel won a competition to design a bridge across a huge gorge over the Avon River just west of Bristol - he must have had a fabulous brain - designing ships, trains, bridge and canal works.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRs79NOwy3zTp4LA0ercGAEI3lB5c1VDJUu6kQMqqz6e_OPBKZAxoXZ6AWDblGQ8TnvfHuA9TzxQpc_1w4NdBvcH3mvnJe7ArUufrFv9vNPDP-lY6Xn34xk8qmlocVJC2TWKIaGlp7vY/s640/blogger-image--769688857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRs79NOwy3zTp4LA0ercGAEI3lB5c1VDJUu6kQMqqz6e_OPBKZAxoXZ6AWDblGQ8TnvfHuA9TzxQpc_1w4NdBvcH3mvnJe7ArUufrFv9vNPDP-lY6Xn34xk8qmlocVJC2TWKIaGlp7vY/s640/blogger-image--769688857.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEGzm9Xy3ZlmmdxzH48S5yusQLdWh4hSpyKxBPx2gdaU9OvhsH0YsMRjQSRvUN-NVCc_N2wXUmpLOi_YpA1lEwf775TSbqY8UX9rL0WfoJc4_FKHEYjD75HpYvBU7sUazp5pNGVZwBMs/s640/blogger-image--268845522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEGzm9Xy3ZlmmdxzH48S5yusQLdWh4hSpyKxBPx2gdaU9OvhsH0YsMRjQSRvUN-NVCc_N2wXUmpLOi_YpA1lEwf775TSbqY8UX9rL0WfoJc4_FKHEYjD75HpYvBU7sUazp5pNGVZwBMs/s640/blogger-image--268845522.jpg"></a></div>Brunel's bridge crosses over this gorge near Bristol</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">On the return journey up the K&A Canal we spent a few nights at Bath again - a very 'touristy' place with so much history. Now we've come back up the Devizes locks and all the other locks and are almost back to Reading. We will then be heading north on the Thames River towards Oxford on the way back to our home base by mid September.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVmRIQEH1QlWXPxHZDS3Xg96Xz5qX8J6-O_XOmVh_L7CqL3vlvTIkWvS_ZvGNiaIiyQLiyqYuSQZW5Dhs1ZtcQHnaElUHc7hvtbvK800kUaElUbTbp0wiLLhDGovNqcRVO9gSD9qgHsc/s640/blogger-image-197414992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVmRIQEH1QlWXPxHZDS3Xg96Xz5qX8J6-O_XOmVh_L7CqL3vlvTIkWvS_ZvGNiaIiyQLiyqYuSQZW5Dhs1ZtcQHnaElUHc7hvtbvK800kUaElUbTbp0wiLLhDGovNqcRVO9gSD9qgHsc/s640/blogger-image-197414992.jpg"></a></div>Royal Crescent - the 'best' address in Bath.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bNX1h1KjSoAFu5V86_ZQK4itdUj1QMxgKP0kTxly1lHyCubmVQA48ciN2HvJOmZZ5w6vsZ_30DE7KJMYuHP5a8bL6C4Xr7hpWBuhP3yYaDe_ZtJ_eMqTFg5eT8ACvl-JoH875g52Yog/s640/blogger-image-1567138012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bNX1h1KjSoAFu5V86_ZQK4itdUj1QMxgKP0kTxly1lHyCubmVQA48ciN2HvJOmZZ5w6vsZ_30DE7KJMYuHP5a8bL6C4Xr7hpWBuhP3yYaDe_ZtJ_eMqTFg5eT8ACvl-JoH875g52Yog/s640/blogger-image-1567138012.jpg"></a></div>Deep lock at Bath. 19 ft deep!</div>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-38934413917065211192014-09-02T21:11:00.001+01:002014-09-02T21:11:14.717+01:00June/July travels<blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We continued towards London, staying a couple of nights at Brentford on </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">the Thames River - just west of London to see how big the river is. Went </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">over the river by bus to Kew Gardens. They are absolutely huge. We </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">walked for hours but probably saw less than half. Amazing glass houses - </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">especially the Princess of Wales glasshouse which had several different </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">climate zones and incredible plant displays. Kew Palace which was built </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">for mad King George III was also in the gardens - it's not as elaborate as </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">some other ones we have seen but it's in a lovely setting.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">We travelled along Paddington Canal past Little Venice where there are lots</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "> of boats permanently moored and through to Paddington Basin. It's </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">surrounded by lots of new office blocks and apartments and a Hilton Hotel </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">offering special £200 ($400) per night bed & breakfast packages BUT we had </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">FREE moorings for 7 days right in the heart of London. Paddington and </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Edgeware Road Stations are just a 2 minute walk and double decker buses to </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">all of London are right at the door.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYVTA6Nf-YfpZ3iu-d2IrS4m3i_yVbKL-DgLn1oxot3dE0kcGV0ffvF7aw6tcNzeJCSZPV5sY0kbWZV4MnkRiSq3DOQi2JrmIzh_89meEsu0IdbLUSJS_23jY6wg0lra4fWdYuTHI24c/s640/blogger-image-1793058229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYVTA6Nf-YfpZ3iu-d2IrS4m3i_yVbKL-DgLn1oxot3dE0kcGV0ffvF7aw6tcNzeJCSZPV5sY0kbWZV4MnkRiSq3DOQi2JrmIzh_89meEsu0IdbLUSJS_23jY6wg0lra4fWdYuTHI24c/s640/blogger-image-1793058229.jpg"></a></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Moored up at Paddington Basin<br></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">We walked to Hyde Park and to busy Portobello Road - famous for </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">antiques. Also went to the National Gallery, Lords Cricket Ground, the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">British Museum and the Port of London Museum at Canary Wharf - an area in </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">the East End of London also filled with newish office blocks and </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">apartments. Saw 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' a terrific comedy/musical t</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">(starring Robert Lindsay - the father in the TV show My Family) at the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Savoy Theatre in the West End. Then on Saturday went to see Olive's </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">school parade (which went past their house) and her school carnival at </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Goose Green Park where Sooz's vet clinic had a stand offering microchipping </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">of pets which will be compulsory in a couple of years. So many people </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">everywhere - just amazing.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNwpssDleAEZtMuTPpF9J1Mi5bnPnK4wz3XR7Uw0TSlW3VIYklXd1E8qc61yEJUx4Ffs5T0XPB2RumC4YtiFj3CEzYNGfuCK3rf5baj7RDjFAhozm0lJ6fPu2eQzzmXdt2e4r8G-Z3Jk/s640/blogger-image--352330824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNwpssDleAEZtMuTPpF9J1Mi5bnPnK4wz3XR7Uw0TSlW3VIYklXd1E8qc61yEJUx4Ffs5T0XPB2RumC4YtiFj3CEzYNGfuCK3rf5baj7RDjFAhozm0lJ6fPu2eQzzmXdt2e4r8G-Z3Jk/s640/blogger-image--352330824.jpg"></a></div></div>Going through Little Venice near Paddington Basin.</span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Spent a night moored at Camden Lock right at the famous Camden Market. </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Very crowded with tourists and most stallholders selling London souvenirs </span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">(all the same and most made in Asia!!).</span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Moved on to spend a few nights at Battlebridge Basin (right at the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">massive Kings Cross/St Pancras Stations. </span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWuhGvx-OsMV3aqT7BuggufaA8RhSYpU3qNVT-_1d90aovJz3NBRFl0J6-QwGnfzizCrqaRyhdPHXMWnSE92KixmALXDu5tQcpYhSujPc-0zVGAfgJLgj_8TZRSdy0uY2P6MDtvA6654/s640/blogger-image--1596993205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWuhGvx-OsMV3aqT7BuggufaA8RhSYpU3qNVT-_1d90aovJz3NBRFl0J6-QwGnfzizCrqaRyhdPHXMWnSE92KixmALXDu5tQcpYhSujPc-0zVGAfgJLgj_8TZRSdy0uY2P6MDtvA6654/s640/blogger-image--1596993205.jpg"></a></div>Battlebridge Basin near Kings Cross Station.</span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Continued with the London </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">sightseeing and even caught a train to Brighton Beach on the south coast. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">The travel posters list it as the favourite place for 'a dirty weekend'! </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">No sand anywhere on the beach - it's made up of large uncomfortable pebbles </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">but it doesn't stop everyone swimming and sun baking in hired deck chairs.</span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Decided to go to the Royal Pavilion which was closed for renovations on </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">our last visit to Brighton nearly twenty years ago. Outside it looks like </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">an Indian Temple but inside it's highly decorated in a Chinese style - it's </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">the most elaborate palace we have ever seen. It was built for King George </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">IV and also used by Queen Victoria (who really didn't like being too close </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">to the public and sold it!). King George was a bit extravagant - the menu </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">for one of the dinners he served his guests had 100 courses - including 56 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">entrees and 32 desserts. A bit over the top!!</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaU7x3Fm9c-zMI0YNi5N-Ksmrg-VTDRTrr9zGCo3WGLKd0JypN8ENCUfUZ07dud5XsiRSxxEIPeve6M7Lmhz4PVoh_mfcRApNw1GyBM_dBoumK0Ge-2zc1_SF4jF4laDw95CwLYETj-c/s640/blogger-image--430328309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaU7x3Fm9c-zMI0YNi5N-Ksmrg-VTDRTrr9zGCo3WGLKd0JypN8ENCUfUZ07dud5XsiRSxxEIPeve6M7Lmhz4PVoh_mfcRApNw1GyBM_dBoumK0Ge-2zc1_SF4jF4laDw95CwLYETj-c/s640/blogger-image--430328309.jpg"></a></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dining Room at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton<br></span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVsk22DmlEeGSD-xLYnfV_QgG7HTW39PARPtvsX_9pBFCvkiNb4jZv3bttJDyN1R34MzAn_XRdvD6T5xq8d3zcTL4HFxvRG0AjHTZM7lqXEf0gdedd-NFh6IIeie_dmC8qQeZRJ3OAZ4/s640/blogger-image--358190823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVsk22DmlEeGSD-xLYnfV_QgG7HTW39PARPtvsX_9pBFCvkiNb4jZv3bttJDyN1R34MzAn_XRdvD6T5xq8d3zcTL4HFxvRG0AjHTZM7lqXEf0gdedd-NFh6IIeie_dmC8qQeZRJ3OAZ4/s640/blogger-image--358190823.jpg"></a></div>One of the 8 light fittings in one of the State Rooms.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Spent a night at Limehouse Basin where we booked to go out on the strong </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">morning tide up the Thames River. Lined up at nearby Canary Wharf in an ideal spot with 1000s of </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">people to see the Tour de France ride past. Had the IPad, phone camera and </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">another camera ready to capture the moment but after managing to film the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">many advance vehicles when the bikes sped past we only managed to get the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">last 3 riders!</span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjr-PJ4RvUPd9gtKrSTp3XA_qYrP03TP2VMcgS7hQxzdNSerjgTe5WoWsIx1B-sXhGKsbX64n6LL9UAlhUHbi1JTujht8dJrz1Q_Aj5f181d1lY-F09TdRiYqdT_3rVVQr-g6ypyuffo/s640/blogger-image-1426082029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjr-PJ4RvUPd9gtKrSTp3XA_qYrP03TP2VMcgS7hQxzdNSerjgTe5WoWsIx1B-sXhGKsbX64n6LL9UAlhUHbi1JTujht8dJrz1Q_Aj5f181d1lY-F09TdRiYqdT_3rVVQr-g6ypyuffo/s640/blogger-image-1426082029.jpg"></a></div>Part of Limehouse Basin</span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Next morning we only had one other narrow boat to travel out with on the</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Thames and the lock keeper was a bit concerned that neither of us had a UHF radio</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "> but he took our phone no and let us through the locks. Lovely sunny morning</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "> and the water was quite smooth until the big ferry/taxis passed </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">by which made waves and then it was a bit bumpy. The river is soooo wide </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">with 28 bridges to navigate through according to which archways were </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">signposted. Went under the massive Tower Bridge - Terry was hoping they </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">would raise the centre for us to pass under but of course it was miles </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">above us and this wasn't necessary. It was a great experience passing the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">London Eye (the giant ferris wheel), the Shard, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">and impressive Parliament House with Big Ben.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpb9nWSTMsg5UTWYcXlmtOnYXjVkAqGI2QeTrdjsCouq-H_WktDcNdOMQn5hyzwtQprPfPd4Cne52oBlaQ6_FAh6K6nMicGBVcxeFKHs0Ygp2oDNpyn8FcP5iY-2u254oJWNaNy5Auf4/s640/blogger-image--1835001058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpb9nWSTMsg5UTWYcXlmtOnYXjVkAqGI2QeTrdjsCouq-H_WktDcNdOMQn5hyzwtQprPfPd4Cne52oBlaQ6_FAh6K6nMicGBVcxeFKHs0Ygp2oDNpyn8FcP5iY-2u254oJWNaNy5Auf4/s640/blogger-image--1835001058.jpg"></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Coming up to Tower Bridge</span></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><br></span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OqZZcUnsbFjtC9DANSXPXhoP9hzdbNswAy9iQxhpY6M_4MfioW704f_8T4boRHpW0iFYJJObCMuAaWk52MH94bkXKTGdSrEFQSWhHfmwd7LfOAPcWzrlUsu3lGDHKUWv4lpIlx6Vg-A/s640/blogger-image-1541963251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OqZZcUnsbFjtC9DANSXPXhoP9hzdbNswAy9iQxhpY6M_4MfioW704f_8T4boRHpW0iFYJJObCMuAaWk52MH94bkXKTGdSrEFQSWhHfmwd7LfOAPcWzrlUsu3lGDHKUWv4lpIlx6Vg-A/s640/blogger-image-1541963251.jpg"></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Going past Houses of Parliament and Big Ben</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><br></span></div></span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVLCV4o6Vn_P1RnKOcS8TWoJw1bJaikEDrKyo-Y7BRNoP1ToszukfnLSuuF8uykA-cJIfwFzZ49XjBIg2-DEtGNyQ2eltIUh33qEC4QV9RI86G6yUHU2u7EBShQvhX7iY2Ih5Tn3gX1k/s640/blogger-image--1019635261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVLCV4o6Vn_P1RnKOcS8TWoJw1bJaikEDrKyo-Y7BRNoP1ToszukfnLSuuF8uykA-cJIfwFzZ49XjBIg2-DEtGNyQ2eltIUh33qEC4QV9RI86G6yUHU2u7EBShQvhX7iY2Ih5Tn3gX1k/s640/blogger-image--1019635261.jpg"></a></div>The big London Eye - before 9.00 a.m. so not working yet.</div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Our companion boat turned off into the Brentford Lock and we continued </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">alone to the Teddington Locks where the tidal part of the river ended. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Spent a night moored up at Kingston Bridge right outside John Lewis (a </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">huge UK department store).</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCy86YuZ-Prej_uZ7kP_J7nweec29mh91Z8HNPbPniPpYluBNczvj0pxtaKKGX57fNlcr-VKHR07B9s6PV392mx6WgxyK063h_Gn3p1QgyZ2gHhyo-Paov3rOjN11z3kxyGSB5piEydY/s640/blogger-image--153645356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCy86YuZ-Prej_uZ7kP_J7nweec29mh91Z8HNPbPniPpYluBNczvj0pxtaKKGX57fNlcr-VKHR07B9s6PV392mx6WgxyK063h_Gn3p1QgyZ2gHhyo-Paov3rOjN11z3kxyGSB5piEydY/s640/blogger-image--153645356.jpg"></a></div><br></span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p3LQ-YPXUuR1ADYvnuzgMXsAiWDEyKPSptAd3002VgvW0wgsEiCjt3J1MbTT0nj2sVO6BsWq8LaZCx4VKwR06dLohyphenhyphen9YAdZzYWBSXHZTpmqhSoWbVhf1TJ2bvFlcGb9F9HvzSXrXu5I/s640/blogger-image--1097436599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p3LQ-YPXUuR1ADYvnuzgMXsAiWDEyKPSptAd3002VgvW0wgsEiCjt3J1MbTT0nj2sVO6BsWq8LaZCx4VKwR06dLohyphenhyphen9YAdZzYWBSXHZTpmqhSoWbVhf1TJ2bvFlcGb9F9HvzSXrXu5I/s640/blogger-image--1097436599.jpg"></a></div><br></span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1fhDDGOfvvENl6H9hkOnpBwKqm4PQGTUjvsMAX0kzq9mmnDBF7WEe6gtiwtKST-gkNbBRyPCkPzXkoFxvqzdb6W9aTIaCdnPaTraYTn5PWTVeW2g18wrZ5s972Seu42KBXj7PbTYotg/s640/blogger-image--624325228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1fhDDGOfvvENl6H9hkOnpBwKqm4PQGTUjvsMAX0kzq9mmnDBF7WEe6gtiwtKST-gkNbBRyPCkPzXkoFxvqzdb6W9aTIaCdnPaTraYTn5PWTVeW2g18wrZ5s972Seu42KBXj7PbTYotg/s640/blogger-image--624325228.jpg"></a></div>Luxury houses line the banks</span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">We wanted to go to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and were lucky to </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">get a mooring the next morning right at the Palace gates. Great not to </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">have queue up with the 1000s attending like last year . This Show, which is much bigger </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">than the Chelsea Flower Show, goes over 32 acres of the Palace gardens so </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">we were able to return to the boat for lunch and a rest before heading back </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">to see more of the beautiful displays.</span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEcOw1g68xsxugKLWYkar7g2nDlV6BIFHkj_kxgEPx1yEmvW0P0Ga3Ylhmg3aQQD8jEHGxDmR0EzzN0bxvlXx2Tmhpt3qluGOa2mkTbntR-jpPghlh99yFcO84N6otGCYb1tJDbiMDSg/s640/blogger-image--1690005572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEcOw1g68xsxugKLWYkar7g2nDlV6BIFHkj_kxgEPx1yEmvW0P0Ga3Ylhmg3aQQD8jEHGxDmR0EzzN0bxvlXx2Tmhpt3qluGOa2mkTbntR-jpPghlh99yFcO84N6otGCYb1tJDbiMDSg/s640/blogger-image--1690005572.jpg"></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Moored up at Hampton Court Palace for the Garden Show</span></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Went back to London by train for Olive's 5th birthday party. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Unfortunately the weather turned and it was quite wet so everyone was.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">inside. A little chaotic but it was great fun.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7X3odBrTNZte6jnV35BEQUxodqizMaXXuk2phEwCrdeU9RztR7DlR2gzppusNX-qhhq3cvNPLx_ykzl5D6PkyWYDpXZLeLrc08qqjIXPFXL0FVI8XdD-WM2uE280YkBjDz0TeQwJv9AY/s640/blogger-image--1498837834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7X3odBrTNZte6jnV35BEQUxodqizMaXXuk2phEwCrdeU9RztR7DlR2gzppusNX-qhhq3cvNPLx_ykzl5D6PkyWYDpXZLeLrc08qqjIXPFXL0FVI8XdD-WM2uE280YkBjDz0TeQwJv9AY/s640/blogger-image--1498837834.jpg"></a> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "> Olive's big day in her 'Frozen' costume (hand sewn on the boat)</span></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Continued along the Thames towards Windsor - went through some locks on the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">river but the boat just has to enter and we tie up then all </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">the work is done by lock keepers. Much easier!</span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uoU69uTxMgkf5PWGG0I9BtYr49VnmwQ0SPnZ5-y9ULkNVPhSOoQOniB8TMcWSDQWEZQgC0Np14ccn8qlwqbRdJh9c1XcnHSLDiQbzyZ5tn7x1wYA-SutFsA5M5mgSkParwR_JJYISZc/s640/blogger-image-586364732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5uoU69uTxMgkf5PWGG0I9BtYr49VnmwQ0SPnZ5-y9ULkNVPhSOoQOniB8TMcWSDQWEZQgC0Np14ccn8qlwqbRdJh9c1XcnHSLDiQbzyZ5tn7x1wYA-SutFsA5M5mgSkParwR_JJYISZc/s640/blogger-image-586364732.jpg"></a></div></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Leaving Molseley Lock near Hampton Palace</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGX-yXhVVwIqX7xuyF909Zldf9tm31txXahSSFzywvzNVWDWYPcTDngRABVu9gLvwDosPU5fHPz8cF1Kf36JdE6nsGkP87dW9MH3XiQY7oWA6N0siPRDDY_6DS7IuSJ0KI7Pip_s5Z-8/s640/blogger-image--49070745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGX-yXhVVwIqX7xuyF909Zldf9tm31txXahSSFzywvzNVWDWYPcTDngRABVu9gLvwDosPU5fHPz8cF1Kf36JdE6nsGkP87dW9MH3XiQY7oWA6N0siPRDDY_6DS7IuSJ0KI7Pip_s5Z-8/s640/blogger-image--49070745.jpg"></a></div>Moored up near Windsor Castle</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuj5YzQ2SDueTbE487EM2bD9A_DQrJEb21oZNxJiFH26bdIPHpfzjr_ciVVtUHMiDWIFk3B3kL0lycFhRObPFJhgcUnZGJ8vrj49H7xBBVLijZy0zXtH0mmoh9nZzwUONyXyugf4LPpM/s640/blogger-image-1350909423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfuj5YzQ2SDueTbE487EM2bD9A_DQrJEb21oZNxJiFH26bdIPHpfzjr_ciVVtUHMiDWIFk3B3kL0lycFhRObPFJhgcUnZGJ8vrj49H7xBBVLijZy0zXtH0mmoh9nZzwUONyXyugf4LPpM/s640/blogger-image-1350909423.jpg"></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Windsor Castle from the Thames</span></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">More news to later.<br></span></blockquote></blockquote><div><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "></blockquote>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-92175539053870021002014-07-16T16:47:00.001+01:002014-07-16T16:47:57.078+01:002014 UK adventure May and June<blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Arrived back in the Uk on Tuesday 20 May and stayed with the family in London until </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Friday when we caught the train to Rugby and picked up a hire car for a few </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">days whole we stocked up the boat ready for this year's big trip.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Crick Boat Show the following weekend was a washout - massive 10 minute </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">hailstorm/tornado type storm went through on Sat afternoon when we were in </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">a marquee. We thought the whole tent was coming down. Hailstones piled up </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">everywhere when we came out. The car park was a boggy mess - lucky they</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">had a tractor handy. Sunday at the Show wasn't too bad - we did see the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">sun a bit but Monday had heavy drizzle all day. Hope the farmer who owned </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">the car parking paddocks was well compensated!!</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">The boat looks great - the boys have done a terrific job on the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">alterations.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIcjGgLcJBedLkrwnJQTSoNxsgdBjbnEuNJDc_xE-_jrZC7GM9vroRDGo5cMT5OhuY1Ikl2xtL0cNsqJFqL_DyjP5U1LZLv2m3ZXQ_9fUANALzvr0Xkk0f71RsWEzNkhis8cG-VMWAig/s640/blogger-image-1082371262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIcjGgLcJBedLkrwnJQTSoNxsgdBjbnEuNJDc_xE-_jrZC7GM9vroRDGo5cMT5OhuY1Ikl2xtL0cNsqJFqL_DyjP5U1LZLv2m3ZXQ_9fUANALzvr0Xkk0f71RsWEzNkhis8cG-VMWAig/s640/blogger-image-1082371262.jpg"></a></div><br></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">New TV unit, crystal cabinet and RED bedroom carpet.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGVaMtdFjUCUFGfBL9YIF8IBLclPdBRbgmmoX158-l_REN9d9Hzejm9VCmo4bGCzoUhg0TfWki7LGNgrE3C1MxfAdFDHDe6NQeuClhkSr_82ScAFbH325KzhfKLxjFgFEVAfKMScr9zo/s640/blogger-image--1642402740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGVaMtdFjUCUFGfBL9YIF8IBLclPdBRbgmmoX158-l_REN9d9Hzejm9VCmo4bGCzoUhg0TfWki7LGNgrE3C1MxfAdFDHDe6NQeuClhkSr_82ScAFbH325KzhfKLxjFgFEVAfKMScr9zo/s640/blogger-image--1642402740.jpg"></a></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Small bunkbeds changed into a sofa bed which pulls out to a double bed </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">with new overhead cupboards.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Sooz, Ten & the girls (with Rita - Ten's mum) came up on Friday and stayed </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">at a nearby B&B at a manor house where we went for dinner on Saturday </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">night. (Wow - so nice - a massive old place in a beautiful little village).</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We took them on a trip on the boat on Saturday - up 7 locks and then down </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">7 on the way back. Also went through Crick Tunnel which is nearly a mile </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">long so that was pretty exciting for the little ones. Best part was that </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">the sun came out all day on Sunday. First we had seen since arriving. </span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvnZjR4lnUyPADcXWHpSCQ0byVD5U-YUtwS07EGN8sAHqNLwg9HeoN5hLi651oZGWbJ5KPqh8DRLAbGnVU0xMKN9YrGiqR20Yue-K6SW6tEUOiModS3EtKFdHu0W50nUZsmN-L8D_J08/s640/blogger-image--1940478301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvnZjR4lnUyPADcXWHpSCQ0byVD5U-YUtwS07EGN8sAHqNLwg9HeoN5hLi651oZGWbJ5KPqh8DRLAbGnVU0xMKN9YrGiqR20Yue-K6SW6tEUOiModS3EtKFdHu0W50nUZsmN-L8D_J08/s640/blogger-image--1940478301.jpg"></a></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Sooz, Olive, Iris and Rita about to enter Watford Locks.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLzZTnVUvRLG5Xwb5gC2xp7iDUrBQ-8vIjXdHzZh_yhepcUO-f7Omf3gMVal4xKgNq4dmj6CIBOOSrZ6mWYwd2s1CfqqlJorm26SnaXg-K0lbf_FTOl4WIKx3W48A96Uf_XTjiese_mc/s640/blogger-image--551550495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLzZTnVUvRLG5Xwb5gC2xp7iDUrBQ-8vIjXdHzZh_yhepcUO-f7Omf3gMVal4xKgNq4dmj6CIBOOSrZ6mWYwd2s1CfqqlJorm26SnaXg-K0lbf_FTOl4WIKx3W48A96Uf_XTjiese_mc/s640/blogger-image--551550495.jpg"></a></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Looking down Watford Locks.<br></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl10VwF2zSZyg6iIepdodxg8Vi3BSJPHN5qR27zWiJ7aTgFPuocFU4sOl6AqaFePBvowJMYL5Byaj8kTXyzMVWNxVTSwrVPXeea1PzEvc48SNccaUOtQ18DvM3gQtXCnFG7585MTlhzRQ/s640/blogger-image-419990122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl10VwF2zSZyg6iIepdodxg8Vi3BSJPHN5qR27zWiJ7aTgFPuocFU4sOl6AqaFePBvowJMYL5Byaj8kTXyzMVWNxVTSwrVPXeea1PzEvc48SNccaUOtQ18DvM3gQtXCnFG7585MTlhzRQ/s640/blogger-image-419990122.jpg"></a></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Olive & Iris with my birthday present - a new windlass (to make winding up </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">the locks easier)</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Spent a few days at the marina cleaning and painting some bare spots on </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">the hull (when it wasn't raining). We also had new red carpet fitted in </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">the bedrooms to match the lounge area and it looks great.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Finally set off south towards London on the Grand Union Canal on Friday </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">5th June. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Went through the Blisworth Tunnel (3076 yards long) which had water </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">pouring through the roof and walls in some parts from the recent rain. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">We'd been caught before in leaky tunnels so had our raincoats ready this </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">time.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxODNN9XniI6G61MvYtjQWEI7pajeo9aF4PZvZfe0CqvRd2I04S_HYE3qWtCM9f7NcSZCeiqbfHRB6EaCisnT_4pr8LUyhEHWPkPogkjM6BFnpv-I2TnHcQXElu2Xh0q3x6BgWe93SRIs/s640/blogger-image--1270234304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxODNN9XniI6G61MvYtjQWEI7pajeo9aF4PZvZfe0CqvRd2I04S_HYE3qWtCM9f7NcSZCeiqbfHRB6EaCisnT_4pr8LUyhEHWPkPogkjM6BFnpv-I2TnHcQXElu2Xh0q3x6BgWe93SRIs/s640/blogger-image--1270234304.jpg"></a></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Entrance to Blisworth Tunnel.</span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivH1JXGmnUvnZfUKvgPKuQo5KCY7qpGjL_XGJzgW9o3SmlIKuf2oQUOY8zwEfgemoFRf8gCDRcD9V7x6bUlhj2wIojuxdBcnG43cSrfWZkonjOcziqrI3yA_EPAFvVuxIaoAoJFU8XtbM/s640/blogger-image-1531215127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivH1JXGmnUvnZfUKvgPKuQo5KCY7qpGjL_XGJzgW9o3SmlIKuf2oQUOY8zwEfgemoFRf8gCDRcD9V7x6bUlhj2wIojuxdBcnG43cSrfWZkonjOcziqrI3yA_EPAFvVuxIaoAoJFU8XtbM/s640/blogger-image-1531215127.jpg"></a></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There is light at the end of the tunnel!!<br></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Spent a couple of nights at Weedon Bec, a little village near Northampton </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">which we visited by bus rather than going through 17 locks up and back if </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">we had gone by canal - must be getting weaker or wiser! Quite a large city </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">with a market in the town square.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-olU3ejXn0jG2LXh6MWlzkXPWz55d6tWACLUmajP8g3pit5tmObMqEo412gblywM1aGg7VyBjse3ba9XoRktndOrlajzEopZkVAktufHSZ9HQdonJ_YkSYmf4FFZ7WNqXwZsvvPxReg/s640/blogger-image-1871891334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-olU3ejXn0jG2LXh6MWlzkXPWz55d6tWACLUmajP8g3pit5tmObMqEo412gblywM1aGg7VyBjse3ba9XoRktndOrlajzEopZkVAktufHSZ9HQdonJ_YkSYmf4FFZ7WNqXwZsvvPxReg/s640/blogger-image-1871891334.jpg"></a></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Going on the aqueduct over the Ouse River 35 feet below</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRESgIIviw_xt4YgzSLYbFNm6SWzdD6cR9WezouB-R7Pl88TIj9PNVy9tqLXiBJLDWCRL9jNbmADHgkayp7DyK_ajSJp6Fat_6H0dkmQLWh6E3VejF8hicHLRRB80Mi0TaK_CvDAmseA/s640/blogger-image--1785857398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRESgIIviw_xt4YgzSLYbFNm6SWzdD6cR9WezouB-R7Pl88TIj9PNVy9tqLXiBJLDWCRL9jNbmADHgkayp7DyK_ajSJp6Fat_6H0dkmQLWh6E3VejF8hicHLRRB80Mi0TaK_CvDAmseA/s640/blogger-image--1785857398.jpg"></a></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Leaving the aqueduct.<br></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">The Grand Union Canal is quite a wide waterway with double locks all the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">way (they can take two boats side by side) so we've tried to team up with </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">another boat each day to go through which makes the locks only half the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">work. Trouble has been that it is so quiet with hardly any boats moving </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">along that we have been on our lonesome most days.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP76hB7iMgrIT3UB5p4NdywtnE_o50tPUbLcIcBnW6FEwuuLuCDMKb2oUgLDNi1l3JwD39df6sHKRqfSls1R1ALSGwCcYg2_zDGYbX_x7yGyCTrL0ZeZ6rh8P0si2JzKMQnH1Io0aOa7w/s640/blogger-image--108218313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP76hB7iMgrIT3UB5p4NdywtnE_o50tPUbLcIcBnW6FEwuuLuCDMKb2oUgLDNi1l3JwD39df6sHKRqfSls1R1ALSGwCcYg2_zDGYbX_x7yGyCTrL0ZeZ6rh8P0si2JzKMQnH1Io0aOa7w/s640/blogger-image--108218313.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXiLVI77rw9LNWMuW-o1G6Ni31A7IttWmq0f2YBQQnWc8IukwJ9AgTUSoVHzLRDLlcl_pIW_pZCRwQwm-7wMJYY88TwziY06PsejNjyU4diCnf7JWYOWW36d28R14L7LmRKk018CzqJQ/s640/blogger-image--1006813051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXiLVI77rw9LNWMuW-o1G6Ni31A7IttWmq0f2YBQQnWc8IukwJ9AgTUSoVHzLRDLlcl_pIW_pZCRwQwm-7wMJYY88TwziY06PsejNjyU4diCnf7JWYOWW36d28R14L7LmRKk018CzqJQ/s640/blogger-image--1006813051.jpg"></a></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">A traditional working narrowboat with a butty (a boat that is pulled along </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">behind like a trailer). These were both carrying 18 tons of coal. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Went through Milton Keynes - a huge sprawling urban area where we were </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">hopelessly lost when we drove through it a few years ago. (Heard a funny </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">story then that some lost tourists drive around until their cars run out of </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">petrol and their skeletons are found years later!!). The canal route is </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">much more scenic. Poplar trees line the way and there is so much open </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">parkland and gardens - hardly saw any houses - they are so well hidden </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">behind greenery.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Stayed a night at Leighton Buzzard (yes - that really is the name of the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">little town!) which had some lovely old buildings then the next night at </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Marsworth. Here we again avoided a pile of locks by catching a bus into </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">the nearby market town of Aylesbury.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6NrpnWa0VYQ0fB7uQfmLuoGDd_0M4LTrApZhSmi_mR7PuRYg-zo-aG1wBAamj470FQED2S_eC3uMRCxLssIkFWonf-4jWVVhes2wdxyoMyvjvqGrzatQKlkg6Q1b9sLNgY4KWOw_3TI/s640/blogger-image--2123705442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6NrpnWa0VYQ0fB7uQfmLuoGDd_0M4LTrApZhSmi_mR7PuRYg-zo-aG1wBAamj470FQED2S_eC3uMRCxLssIkFWonf-4jWVVhes2wdxyoMyvjvqGrzatQKlkg6Q1b9sLNgY4KWOw_3TI/s640/blogger-image--2123705442.jpg"></a></div></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moored up in the village of Marsworth.<br></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpd59mUW_p4f-oaezTcdOZeJZqhROatgw0WiW_UY9eU3uxXOtsEa3iq76ZaG9eYX-tswJjwY9yNkCDHzt6hDce9MZZ9pxmfrARASS9GHNyaP23kdp8QuFt4ZW6muTH0Rz4QbjGGaP91s/s640/blogger-image-1966911577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpd59mUW_p4f-oaezTcdOZeJZqhROatgw0WiW_UY9eU3uxXOtsEa3iq76ZaG9eYX-tswJjwY9yNkCDHzt6hDce9MZZ9pxmfrARASS9GHNyaP23kdp8QuFt4ZW6muTH0Rz4QbjGGaP91s/s640/blogger-image-1966911577.jpg"></a></div></span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Swan with a real attitude problem! It spent hours attacking our fender </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">when we were moored up at Berkhamstead. It was making such a </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">noise that Terry threatened to ring the Queen - she apparently owns all the </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">swans in England - asking her to come and collect this one!!</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">Weather has been a mixture of some very hot days, some overcast drizzly </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">days and a couple of thunderstorms thrown in just to add to the mixture - </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">but we've not been delayed too much.</span></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">We're now moored up near Hemel Hempstead which is only about 30 miles</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">north of London so there are lots of old pubs along the canals - especially </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">when there are locks to provide entertainment for their customers!</span></blockquote></blockquote><div><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "></blockquote>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-70214472778806897212013-09-16T20:48:00.001+01:002013-09-16T20:48:25.986+01:00THE LAST WEEK<span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">On our last week , Autumn is coming with the weather definitely cooler, misty mornings, rain and days much shorter. Most of the trees are still green so we will miss the Autumn colours.</span><div><font face="Noteworthy" size="4"><span style="line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094);"><b><br></b></span></font><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxbObLjAIFqgWWiwRGlkz5hPxYZp1oNvftJL6Is_hdroVq6Ep_9x1zytBwI8-txMvdPC7cdhvaVl26-UwYJxosU0If4iUUE0SVWjPxLX9u8N-mGKPQv7rL0UI2kMZ9uNtj_InMONEdII/s640/blogger-image--182842788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxbObLjAIFqgWWiwRGlkz5hPxYZp1oNvftJL6Is_hdroVq6Ep_9x1zytBwI8-txMvdPC7cdhvaVl26-UwYJxosU0If4iUUE0SVWjPxLX9u8N-mGKPQv7rL0UI2kMZ9uNtj_InMONEdII/s640/blogger-image--182842788.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">We decided to go back to Bridgport by bus which we had seen briefly on the Severn Valley railway trip. A town built on two levels with a cute rail carriage linking the two. Then decided to go to the Black Country Museum which was rather like Sovereign Hill in Ballarat. A whole town built brick by brick from old cottages, shops and factories in the area. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffUvMDTkn-3Qje77gPyJz4zIPiwxEBJ4kkr0wFk58joBTfbISjL40tohbUNxgBq5Hv4jw6StALNgKjhNF_OIGaAWME9GFyJiNQ5KMvDobye7AdRK8sp5j-Ih1ZXRSRnKpDHRS4S9XvfQ/s640/blogger-image-541288396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffUvMDTkn-3Qje77gPyJz4zIPiwxEBJ4kkr0wFk58joBTfbISjL40tohbUNxgBq5Hv4jw6StALNgKjhNF_OIGaAWME9GFyJiNQ5KMvDobye7AdRK8sp5j-Ih1ZXRSRnKpDHRS4S9XvfQ/s640/blogger-image-541288396.jpg"></a></div>Staff all dressed in Victorian costume and even old tyme games (like hoop rolling in the street) for the modern children to enjoy. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iC5Tr5GWygn7DW8ibCGLfu0F-_kZQ64XCPyh8wuBZAqulDnTP4ZtbQVMRTnim6ngT8BW4baLWO4ak6az36Eo-8D3QBP8LlsVH7GcKqNRaBrcTLJe7aaSGOi10pExp8B1WMUXKyocGOM/s640/blogger-image--882160150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iC5Tr5GWygn7DW8ibCGLfu0F-_kZQ64XCPyh8wuBZAqulDnTP4ZtbQVMRTnim6ngT8BW4baLWO4ak6az36Eo-8D3QBP8LlsVH7GcKqNRaBrcTLJe7aaSGOi10pExp8B1WMUXKyocGOM/s640/blogger-image--882160150.jpg"></a></div><br></div>There were narrowboat trips through the Dudley Canal and also a 30 minute tour down a coal mine. Our group was issued with hard hats, which we thought was just a touristy gimmick but in fact the roof was so low that we had to walk almost doubled over most of the time in total darkness. Every now and then there was a dimly lit scene showing miners at work, during their lunch break and even a pit pony. There was a blast which shook the walls so that was scary. Children as young as eleven worked down the mines with lots of fatalities due to roof cave-ins, fires and gas. Decided that we definitely wouldn't have liked to work down the mines.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Retracing some of last year's canals, we went along the Staff & Worcester, the Trent & Mersey then south along the pretty River Soar to a marina near Leicester where we left the boat to get its bottom blacked (which should be done every two years). </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4LC1Skv-C1isIuD8OL5WITkPpC7XdiLKRb5xSW-N4MzgWLlPggzh6skHSocgHtU-6x09zTRqzFtNLBIJNzKSObFdgSV3PMLW6aaUQ-LKQEd3w8_H44uA9hyphenhyphen700g08596GFW2Xntosf4/s640/blogger-image--1318704965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4LC1Skv-C1isIuD8OL5WITkPpC7XdiLKRb5xSW-N4MzgWLlPggzh6skHSocgHtU-6x09zTRqzFtNLBIJNzKSObFdgSV3PMLW6aaUQ-LKQEd3w8_H44uA9hyphenhyphen700g08596GFW2Xntosf4/s640/blogger-image--1318704965.jpg"></a></div> The boat's engine that also provides the lighting and heating.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbo7rwIQLa59XTJeZQu-Tyz_xZhkwOFwbX__1BsJmhiO2Z4P4TEANdoxPiHcekHGLptF6lLE4xRN6z1IFrjRyctglXlp3VIauVk_x1_VdgNtL9Bpp5Kjf-nkPZsLsnYA4mkLxsMNHm-0/s640/blogger-image--1944880552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbo7rwIQLa59XTJeZQu-Tyz_xZhkwOFwbX__1BsJmhiO2Z4P4TEANdoxPiHcekHGLptF6lLE4xRN6z1IFrjRyctglXlp3VIauVk_x1_VdgNtL9Bpp5Kjf-nkPZsLsnYA4mkLxsMNHm-0/s640/blogger-image--1944880552.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHNeZ2PacwGMuYNpH0KWnc-vC5uTcuZbIyyKP-SQPsNnL8eccNNHLhgjnpNCRLua9GK1hXILeLowi3XeOyzcox7ikJPAWnE7LxItjKgbu0l2Y4Mlz0_igSXmFqlK7jGY1HGVhT2r7BmU/s640/blogger-image-1136246530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHNeZ2PacwGMuYNpH0KWnc-vC5uTcuZbIyyKP-SQPsNnL8eccNNHLhgjnpNCRLua9GK1hXILeLowi3XeOyzcox7ikJPAWnE7LxItjKgbu0l2Y4Mlz0_igSXmFqlK7jGY1HGVhT2r7BmU/s640/blogger-image-1136246530.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVIdLx1r3WMVc_59MXcFKEEM5ajGfFMCNml0AqqG3IIl2dGOS8qIjDODqE2qhqXrIGFiPq6-BlaJI01BCNLDBUAjTPcq6zW-DJcYNuwqH5I03WqeKR70mZ4WWFzwSmLIpzRE1XzqCQ1o/s640/blogger-image-1969015811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVIdLx1r3WMVc_59MXcFKEEM5ajGfFMCNml0AqqG3IIl2dGOS8qIjDODqE2qhqXrIGFiPq6-BlaJI01BCNLDBUAjTPcq6zW-DJcYNuwqH5I03WqeKR70mZ4WWFzwSmLIpzRE1XzqCQ1o/s640/blogger-image-1969015811.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOA10KN7imzIBbMm92MHJOQ7fLWdmzD1Jp1MUdJeQTTE1AqEpyrMmp017hPDpcu1oPU0IM-VJ4fIWlt21ceokPls7rPfXFLD4vhPZDb1RM0tL7Ba16SDXgFkZr7KQvKb7mtpajxY4xGU/s640/blogger-image-207406623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOA10KN7imzIBbMm92MHJOQ7fLWdmzD1Jp1MUdJeQTTE1AqEpyrMmp017hPDpcu1oPU0IM-VJ4fIWlt21ceokPls7rPfXFLD4vhPZDb1RM0tL7Ba16SDXgFkZr7KQvKb7mtpajxY4xGU/s640/blogger-image-207406623.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Hired a car and drove up to Farndon Marina to catch up with some of the people who helped us so much last year when we were 'newies'. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Then it was on to Skegness, a huge carnival town where hoards of English people spend their holidays. Blocks and blocks of amusement arcades, dodgem cars and scary rides, cinemas and food outlets with the beach filled with donkey rides and kite flying. There is also a Butlins Holiday Camp which repeats all of the above and hundreds of holiday cottages stretching for miles and miles along the coast. We thought it was quite busy but were told "you should be here during the holidays - you can't move!!" Just off shore there were about 150 wind turbines to add to the sea view. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Motored on til we came to the mighty Humber Bridge (a bit like the Westgate Bridge but bigger). </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2z0TWeNg0iK8ScnpNRynMjNXn-Y5SgYbIG0KcWtd661AWoG-dX-iBWN8xI9pj14-LVemjFz03a8FomCyIWCqn4zFA7fh-sSOxWkhnWqae4Yo8uTNccPKmiEYiOdlPufGxWtNNXeztFI/s640/blogger-image-289921166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2z0TWeNg0iK8ScnpNRynMjNXn-Y5SgYbIG0KcWtd661AWoG-dX-iBWN8xI9pj14-LVemjFz03a8FomCyIWCqn4zFA7fh-sSOxWkhnWqae4Yo8uTNccPKmiEYiOdlPufGxWtNNXeztFI/s640/blogger-image-289921166.jpg"></a></div> The massive Humber Bridge</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Went to a Fishing Museum at one end of the bridge which showed life on a fishing boat in the 1950s. Very well done, with scenes showing life on deck, in the hold cleaning the catch, the bridge with the captain's view of the ocean at night (couldn't see a thing!) and the galley and the crew's very cramped quarters in the bow of the ship - tiny bunks along the wall which were often covered in ice. Many ships were lost in the icy North Sea and most voyages lost crew members as well. Worst part was that if the catch was poor the crew didn't get paid and often ended up owing the company (which meant they had to keep coming back each voyage). Spent a couple of nights exploring the area (and getting completely lost a few times). Much easier on our boat even if it takes a bit longer to get around. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9epbNPf0JXVrKRujoaHwNzdMwCQIHGwiA_ciRV125tNzBGtt9OaP4D-2_zDft8AGgEJa4F-GGcLNO2u7DocFGumgJNt2iwVr7LV49hyvw_LWSZ6nYR9lyovZC93iWzC_le-p-fv8Ntw/s640/blogger-image-1004901426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9epbNPf0JXVrKRujoaHwNzdMwCQIHGwiA_ciRV125tNzBGtt9OaP4D-2_zDft8AGgEJa4F-GGcLNO2u7DocFGumgJNt2iwVr7LV49hyvw_LWSZ6nYR9lyovZC93iWzC_le-p-fv8Ntw/s640/blogger-image-1004901426.jpg"></a></div>Beverley Minster - one of the many churches/cathedrals we visited. - so much history of each town in each one.</div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Went down to London by train last Saturday to meet Andrew who had just arrived from Hong Kong. Unfortunately Thana wasn't able to make the trip with him. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> On Monday it was Olive's first day at school. She looked so tiny in her Goose Green school uniform but has apparently settled in well.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwav1usajJpnRc2KKf_vF0NX11l6wBMsntwu_GLtckWujYYPci8NT-dCDlwT7dQoJM3-Jo6yAW6FuXgMZ0uVYXQYtSyThU0mEzDEg15uS1u_kF6_AA-bM_X0m5CztDDr9_whHhG-xab1s/s640/blogger-image-2014765162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwav1usajJpnRc2KKf_vF0NX11l6wBMsntwu_GLtckWujYYPci8NT-dCDlwT7dQoJM3-Jo6yAW6FuXgMZ0uVYXQYtSyThU0mEzDEg15uS1u_kF6_AA-bM_X0m5CztDDr9_whHhG-xab1s/s640/blogger-image-2014765162.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Back to the boat with Andrew, we called in at Market Harborough for a night then it was back to the Foxton Staircase where we introduced him to the joys of working the locks. After doing two he looked up the rest in amazement and said "do we have to do all of them!" Went down the Welford Arm and moored up at Welford where we hadn't been before but the weather was closing in with rain and cold winds. Made it to Crick where Andrew left to go back to London (and the warmer weather in Bangkok and Hong Kong).</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2V1ahzQsFaYy0RywIw1UTTpJDQ4RAADhcoVk9OSwbhYvn5xSAimNcPyKmGgt5OTkgn-d5Fpo5r06zGiEDuIyXwwmCADKImI1eLsHTHrTEs6ENUsjebIIV5kESU-cyLl2ZlHs8jarDjyw/s640/blogger-image--216322954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2V1ahzQsFaYy0RywIw1UTTpJDQ4RAADhcoVk9OSwbhYvn5xSAimNcPyKmGgt5OTkgn-d5Fpo5r06zGiEDuIyXwwmCADKImI1eLsHTHrTEs6ENUsjebIIV5kESU-cyLl2ZlHs8jarDjyw/s640/blogger-image--216322954.jpg"></a></div> Andrew on his last day on the boat at Crick.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2m1HmlJ9vswzdFkv7jgCo-qHR4wNQMHCxdh0r0teostiEwWuJ8JbFHkHih9Dux9RfYIEgWdFKrNd5iHBeXW49DGu-KljG8hxpyacS0PzHD6AiTnRPvIFF6aEv6VM4kERtn35OkZtdo8/s640/blogger-image-1163513133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2m1HmlJ9vswzdFkv7jgCo-qHR4wNQMHCxdh0r0teostiEwWuJ8JbFHkHih9Dux9RfYIEgWdFKrNd5iHBeXW49DGu-KljG8hxpyacS0PzHD6AiTnRPvIFF6aEv6VM4kERtn35OkZtdo8/s640/blogger-image-1163513133.jpg"></a></div> Even the smallest farms cut heaps of hay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN927Aq7Eu0OPHrWmPD8EXeaCmeFjlGMQc7VHx5KaE_Q-bA8ssiAyfTUPhAH-YFPLPNRu9T9Wn5LdKSV3dWrRc0H30mh4AOgDSNTlsCnYtfSFXtnFXeDAd8RhbSxaAYmF8fg5ThRezqIs/s640/blogger-image--102189731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN927Aq7Eu0OPHrWmPD8EXeaCmeFjlGMQc7VHx5KaE_Q-bA8ssiAyfTUPhAH-YFPLPNRu9T9Wn5LdKSV3dWrRc0H30mh4AOgDSNTlsCnYtfSFXtnFXeDAd8RhbSxaAYmF8fg5ThRezqIs/s640/blogger-image--102189731.jpg"></a></div> Narrowboat chicken coop</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Took the short trip back to Welton Hythe - our 'winter' marina where we spent a couple of days getting things back in shipshape order then back on the train from Rugby to London to spend a night with Sooz, Ten and the girls before flying out Tuesday 19. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2N_l9ArWBewvt3fvbMVJVxUeMvygADDLgCYn1b_0uoziLIFGkH6A3JWDz3k_jn5isjzYEJKhHyLSGSqQIziA70lNAa4ShFMj_gPuiT4NxJ3EbkaBtqN8jUAjAHyQyYJsAb-7k8mnh5-g/s640/blogger-image--1726396058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2N_l9ArWBewvt3fvbMVJVxUeMvygADDLgCYn1b_0uoziLIFGkH6A3JWDz3k_jn5isjzYEJKhHyLSGSqQIziA70lNAa4ShFMj_gPuiT4NxJ3EbkaBtqN8jUAjAHyQyYJsAb-7k8mnh5-g/s640/blogger-image--1726396058.jpg"></a> </div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Back at Welton Hythe Marina near Daventry</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">So the 2013 narrowboat adventure comes to a close. We've travelled on lots of different canals, gone through more than 300 locks, many swing/lift bridges, manoeuvred numerous other tight bridges and gaps, got stuck in the mud a couple of times and on one occasion almost managed to flood the boat when we were jammed in a lock but. .....neither of us have fallen in the canals, the boat is looking good and the best part -we're still talking to each other!</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">For those that haven't heard, we've sold the farm and have removalists coming on Thursday 26th to move us from Ruffy to our new home at Broadford (no pressure!!)</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-44164170827360125642013-08-21T16:34:00.001+01:002013-08-21T17:03:26.490+01:00On the way back<span style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">ON THE WAY BACK</span><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">After leaving Tewkesbury we headed south on the mighty Severn River. This was great because although the locks are huge they are all manned so it's just a matter of phoning the lock keeper when approaching a lock, waiting til he either fills or empties it then gives the green light signal to proceed into the lock. Then we just have to attach the boat ropes front and back onto cables on the side of the lock and hold on while the keeper operates the lock. A massive amount of water either goes in or out - the locks can hold big barges and probably 6 narrowboats all at once. When the level is right the gates open and we move out. Sooo easy. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6C2-iGtAJMWlZSohuXQaGtzGp6cG0jReM-1DHsT_QZqODQ6wMOBWvvGJdcCJN7fYwSY-Ln5biC3wiEt0fwCVl1uHtaJykOnh-fmRWtSEt1FJ8gbjMUkQcD7ZE7HH-70Mxvu00lrH_ig/s640/blogger-image-1296980449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6C2-iGtAJMWlZSohuXQaGtzGp6cG0jReM-1DHsT_QZqODQ6wMOBWvvGJdcCJN7fYwSY-Ln5biC3wiEt0fwCVl1uHtaJykOnh-fmRWtSEt1FJ8gbjMUkQcD7ZE7HH-70Mxvu00lrH_ig/s640/blogger-image-1296980449.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Entering one of the Severn locks. Lock-keeper works the paddles and gates from his control room up top on the right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6a_YgjolzNrNmrtVVt1kd6OpMLVtkOIjmg1_ShnmsmEUIcG62M_5XZAdZ8cEQxY4mBIaPzK2oL2KJuBwKCoIUgNkUG73CeQ1iVYjAOCHLu68DFqY2-E6lLNqc-zhJJnwnqF7B4mq2AI/s640/blogger-image--1406154603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6a_YgjolzNrNmrtVVt1kd6OpMLVtkOIjmg1_ShnmsmEUIcG62M_5XZAdZ8cEQxY4mBIaPzK2oL2KJuBwKCoIUgNkUG73CeQ1iVYjAOCHLu68DFqY2-E6lLNqc-zhJJnwnqF7B4mq2AI/s640/blogger-image--1406154603.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRV_ZdiNK6g3x8FTF5a5UL9hkLJkjSkR86xvd5Zt8anT7UGI3Qxy1mYQDg0nFDn_dTQHUULAbdv3IuZMyE7xJgdRFvkOLTX97qZk4hpdXymWXshyO9hF0FCx73zgCTYKS9xQkbrVEaBD8/s640/blogger-image--1033842741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRV_ZdiNK6g3x8FTF5a5UL9hkLJkjSkR86xvd5Zt8anT7UGI3Qxy1mYQDg0nFDn_dTQHUULAbdv3IuZMyE7xJgdRFvkOLTX97qZk4hpdXymWXshyO9hF0FCx73zgCTYKS9xQkbrVEaBD8/s640/blogger-image--1033842741.jpg"></a></div> Gates open - Leaving the lock</div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">We made it into Gloucester and moored right in the heart of the new docklands developments. Lots of trendy restaurants and large marble shopping complexes right at the moorings. Went through Gloucester Cathedral (absolutely huge) and around the town. Unfortunately in the 50's and 60's the city fathers decided to get rid of a lot of the 'old' historic buildings and replaced them with concrete shopping complexes and housing blocks which are now looking a bit grubby and tired. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div>After a couple of days there we went down on the Sharpness Canal which is quite large with big ocean-going ships to watch out for. All the bridges were either swing or lift bridges manned by Canal and River Trust staff. </div><div><br></div><div>Moored up at Frampton-on-Severn, a lovely little village with the largest village green in the UK and lots of quite big manor type houses. Apparently the feudal system is still in place with the Lord of the Manor calling the shots. Ten, Sooz, the girls and Rita (Ten's mum on holiday from Mozambique) came down from London late on the Saturday night - in pouring rain. We went out for dinner to a little local pub and all had the house speciality - an individual 'three-in-one' pie which had cauliflower cheese up one end, tatas and veggies in the middle and meat (steak, lamb or chicken) up the other end. Yummy! After spending the night at a local B&B our visitors returned for a ride on the boat down the canal where we had lunch and a walk along the towpath in lovely sunny weather before they returned to London that night.</div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvDnlPJGBsmNi9RZlXzItPXnJlWmeWdC6YY4SCZgko59wxNyIznXX2mbEm2hxAG1bcu9CKbkyuH-bgVlKEI8xuKxvqJhHNAhsrOQX1EBuzWHSnrJSSDDfJx_jL3iVJwB9vKnc2_VByGw/s640/blogger-image--587080370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvDnlPJGBsmNi9RZlXzItPXnJlWmeWdC6YY4SCZgko59wxNyIznXX2mbEm2hxAG1bcu9CKbkyuH-bgVlKEI8xuKxvqJhHNAhsrOQX1EBuzWHSnrJSSDDfJx_jL3iVJwB9vKnc2_VByGw/s640/blogger-image--587080370.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Oops - this was taken before we found the children's life jackets</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXI6aO4vg8nhADevttfwBu89IwquFrgtDqBv1-aqVY5gvwqPjif8SYVtjr-nA63Sd0r8UFOXhuTHP77tSt4Dwd_exs1XeGU-fWXVJidxWLQnpM8fmea5D1VN-RvBtFa3zqGGO8SdYTHq8/s640/blogger-image-1138666406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXI6aO4vg8nhADevttfwBu89IwquFrgtDqBv1-aqVY5gvwqPjif8SYVtjr-nA63Sd0r8UFOXhuTHP77tSt4Dwd_exs1XeGU-fWXVJidxWLQnpM8fmea5D1VN-RvBtFa3zqGGO8SdYTHq8/s640/blogger-image-1138666406.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Extra crew members- great!</div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Next day it was back to Gloucester and along the Severn to Worcester for a couple of nights. We enjoyed this city much better than Gloucester. Lots more of the old black & white Tudor buildings still standing, the best cathedral yet and a fantastic old house/museum which was a National Trust property so us being Victorian National Trust members we got in free. This home was given to the Trust by a brother and sister who were great antique collectors and lived there until the 1950s so the house has all their original possessions on display.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Stopped off at Upton-on-Severn, a little village with a unique church tower and which was one of the 'Blooms of Britain' village winners. Masses of tubs of flowers everywhere which were sponsored by local businesses or people from the village. Looked lovely. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Then it was off to Stourport where we were to leave the River Severn and get back on the canal system. Stourport turned out to be like a seaside carnival town with lots of rides and amusements in the fun fair right next to the canal. Pity about the weather though - it rained nearly all day on the Sunday so we stayed put and the fun-fair had only a handful of customers. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Spent a night at Kidderminster, which had a bit of a bad reputation as not being a place to stay but we had no trouble. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVcobPXv1MxjDUDkvuf-AnX2JERoWUuGxHLgP4z1IJRfqyIlo_FhfEDWQF_IcrL8IxXw3NHZrbs_zeqc41_ilG5yPjSHUgGDq_ZBY2VVTHwjh91jtWZqgOMBgHxSUpioT9O4Y5kJofL0/s640/blogger-image--1855529314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVcobPXv1MxjDUDkvuf-AnX2JERoWUuGxHLgP4z1IJRfqyIlo_FhfEDWQF_IcrL8IxXw3NHZrbs_zeqc41_ilG5yPjSHUgGDq_ZBY2VVTHwjh91jtWZqgOMBgHxSUpioT9O4Y5kJofL0/s640/blogger-image--1855529314.jpg"></a></div> Kidderminster Minster - we're moored up on the left.</div><div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Went for a ride on the Severn Valley Railway - a steam locomotive with about 15 carriages filled with geriatrics and school kids (it is school holidays) and us. Trip took about 50 minutes each way with stations along the way beautifully restored and conductors and drivers all living their dream in old uniforms.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Left the boat at Stourbridge, a town near Birmingham, in a secure area for a couple of days while we went to London by train to baby-sit the granddaughters while Sooz was introducing a new vet to her clinic. Amazing how much the girls have grown with Iris running around now talking non-stop and Olive starting 'big' school in September.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dz6MbpHWbCyYlgyLGgddncWTw-01lwjGq0PB-k_lFhonXnzRASq81Nn9HIq03Bk8Uhb_xSoRBudmW088k5vKp_qfDIOIkrbcERlmxFomC2yegSN6sxCLeNZs8WwwznwW5RGH5v3h3xY/s640/blogger-image--147138135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dz6MbpHWbCyYlgyLGgddncWTw-01lwjGq0PB-k_lFhonXnzRASq81Nn9HIq03Bk8Uhb_xSoRBudmW088k5vKp_qfDIOIkrbcERlmxFomC2yegSN6sxCLeNZs8WwwznwW5RGH5v3h3xY/s640/blogger-image--147138135.jpg"></a></div>The little train between Stourbridge Town and Stourbridge Junction Railway Station where we caught the train to London.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Back from London we have continued towards Wolverhampton on the Staff and Worcester canal - an absolutely delightful canal - one of the best we have been on with single locks that seem so small after the huge river ones. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm83RHT-cOujKxfTDnMNFmtUiIabm89JOnlEVsH9hEdW7hE_fQtzFCwNzgthtvXLhkq5n3ffg_VqITXHa6JYT-LOPbyBB2vQL_Z5EsVO9NiJduZ6CiUQtJAdO8sjQ5naqPc3Yq9ZYtGqs/s640/blogger-image-1913982016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm83RHT-cOujKxfTDnMNFmtUiIabm89JOnlEVsH9hEdW7hE_fQtzFCwNzgthtvXLhkq5n3ffg_VqITXHa6JYT-LOPbyBB2vQL_Z5EsVO9NiJduZ6CiUQtJAdO8sjQ5naqPc3Yq9ZYtGqs/s640/blogger-image-1913982016.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk33hQlrsZ_do8dz6eEa-Os6IHsSnOArAOa0cSpjhyk_PbQA6PWwgRlSj3G4PMa9hqNriXjbPkeMrvUUGqyoqkfc_s9tw8BLWMgwMmx03TeakyG8KPPiYLke-XnLO1scP0EX9XARzRKuY/s640/blogger-image--862067823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk33hQlrsZ_do8dz6eEa-Os6IHsSnOArAOa0cSpjhyk_PbQA6PWwgRlSj3G4PMa9hqNriXjbPkeMrvUUGqyoqkfc_s9tw8BLWMgwMmx03TeakyG8KPPiYLke-XnLO1scP0EX9XARzRKuY/s640/blogger-image--862067823.jpg"></a></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOh3NJ9si9XqDQBylgFFBa2Z3rnpiO4U5-ls9394RxKHnt-x29T1jhDoJQCZrrvoDjMsgANuZArxe1bnq9WK9H65Jfzyz8JL4Ml_SbvRIV36ucTylEOf5wK3YEoLIY72gQ4u9h0B2Hr0/s640/blogger-image--887047601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOh3NJ9si9XqDQBylgFFBa2Z3rnpiO4U5-ls9394RxKHnt-x29T1jhDoJQCZrrvoDjMsgANuZArxe1bnq9WK9H65Jfzyz8JL4Ml_SbvRIV36ucTylEOf5wK3YEoLIY72gQ4u9h0B2Hr0/s640/blogger-image--887047601.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Moored up overnight in the middle of no-where.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div><br></div><div>Today we visited another National Trust property - Wightwick Manor which was built in the 1800s by a local fellow who made his fortune in the paint business in Wolverhampton. He tried to give it to the NT in 1937 fully stocked with all his treasures. Because it was only 50 years old the NT really didn't want it but he bribed them into taking it on by giving them lots of shares in his paint factory. A huge house but a very comfortable family home with large gardens too.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk33hQlrsZ_do8dz6eEa-Os6IHsSnOArAOa0cSpjhyk_PbQA6PWwgRlSj3G4PMa9hqNriXjbPkeMrvUUGqyoqkfc_s9tw8BLWMgwMmx03TeakyG8KPPiYLke-XnLO1scP0EX9XARzRKuY/s640/blogger-image--862067823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><div class="separator" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); clear: both; "><br></div></a></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">It's still quite warm with just a few showers, mainly at night so that doesn't worry us at all.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-82955820083874215602013-07-22T11:55:00.001+01:002013-07-22T12:38:50.643+01:00Half way through<font face="Noteworthy" size="4"><span style="line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094);"><b>Monday 22 July</b></span></font><br><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Well we spent quite a while in Stratford-on-Avon which is probably our favourite spot so far. We were moored up on the Stratford Canal - right between two pubs but it was very quiet and with a Marks & Spencers on the main street right at our back door it was a perfect spot. To add to this we had one of the few shady moorings which was handy as it was really really hot.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5TrZ3FgfGeWx0FCozwZU5gVccoMPxZ9uSTxnUDCGnhypy3_d2TMxDiySq88WCFVoGxN-QohPiGFYQVuVbdGSFg2LAX7OD1_380vaJW5S5bjMvW0H6B83veN0EWWXdZ_VGvDLTZWEUuY/s640/blogger-image--1429671423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5TrZ3FgfGeWx0FCozwZU5gVccoMPxZ9uSTxnUDCGnhypy3_d2TMxDiySq88WCFVoGxN-QohPiGFYQVuVbdGSFg2LAX7OD1_380vaJW5S5bjMvW0H6B83veN0EWWXdZ_VGvDLTZWEUuY/s640/blogger-image--1429671423.jpg"></a></div> Moored up at Stratford - Shakespeare's Theatre just past the bridge.</div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Tourists everywhere - narrowboats are quite a novelty and I'm sure we feature in photos going all over the world. We became very cultural - going to two plays - one being Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (but set in the present day) and another play A Mad World My Master written in the 1650s but set in the 1950s. This was at the very old Swan Theatre with the actors appearing from all over the place during the play which was very crude and lewd but extremely funny and very well performed.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftpP-a_Xv0hQAYZ8yxKUGGzg1EdRX6RiDzp3I_nQ82d08xlgfDuEKdfpt05UOj9QmknYI3mABgdB9xOXnpOkDAGO-oPSM3_Olj-_HOWvwspp6vdxtiJNOnprMIoOy0OBz1x43uC-oeC4/s640/blogger-image--1708263267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftpP-a_Xv0hQAYZ8yxKUGGzg1EdRX6RiDzp3I_nQ82d08xlgfDuEKdfpt05UOj9QmknYI3mABgdB9xOXnpOkDAGO-oPSM3_Olj-_HOWvwspp6vdxtiJNOnprMIoOy0OBz1x43uC-oeC4/s640/blogger-image--1708263267.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Shakespeare's grand house right in the heart of the main street of Stratford</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIFj5oTEIPKwPy3hlP3dCrx-VJWVLCoJj8a5J-VsbkU7fn1lyuKf-e3QiFRIznxwFhetqYbbBTbIE0KrKiec6l1OK7Kkl26OwIh0LUeovNBcDL3FT02kzBAkmBTqB2gxMWRvf59jR6-k/s640/blogger-image-407761854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIFj5oTEIPKwPy3hlP3dCrx-VJWVLCoJj8a5J-VsbkU7fn1lyuKf-e3QiFRIznxwFhetqYbbBTbIE0KrKiec6l1OK7Kkl26OwIh0LUeovNBcDL3FT02kzBAkmBTqB2gxMWRvf59jR6-k/s640/blogger-image-407761854.jpg"></a></div> Hope not!!</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">On the Saturday and Sunday there was a 'River Festival' on the banks of the Avon River. We have never seen so many people in one place crammed into the park enjoying the music provided by different groups playing in the bandstand over the two days. Much bare skin on show by the Brits which was a pillarbox red shade by the end of a very hot sunny weekend! The event ended with an illuminated boat show up and down the river then fireworks enjoyed by the crowd on the river banks. Estimated 40,000 people were at the Festival.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTPYAF3xNNdtQd-Qq8xWklzOt1WQ789AAiFYDIugu3i_6y1sTlhJlTePtbQs8NqkpoJFr498mJiCMhqL7tCsgGWJUHER45gO_zoSAtYh1HjqrTeV8BRd8gmiEnW37pemZcTd64srb-Fg/s640/blogger-image-417098344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTPYAF3xNNdtQd-Qq8xWklzOt1WQ789AAiFYDIugu3i_6y1sTlhJlTePtbQs8NqkpoJFr498mJiCMhqL7tCsgGWJUHER45gO_zoSAtYh1HjqrTeV8BRd8gmiEnW37pemZcTd64srb-Fg/s640/blogger-image-417098344.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Decorated narrowboats at festival</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Caught a local bus to Anne Hathaway's cottage which she grew up in before marrying Bill </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Shakespeare back in the 1600s. We had been there before back in 1994 and nothing much had changed (no ..... the kitchen and bathroom hadn't been renovated since we were last there!). Very pretty cottage garden and veggie patch surrounding the cottage.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0aD9pTlJVLJ9lRSTws2AJ48TIihk3F7eUO2K-HjTGGgiBSYB2ULKxnMFbj-KCENCnYKJHgJ2WVZvfe3nC0E_gUfkH9X1XNgZEZlJtGUHNa_OJeFG44WTEgpOzfMRW2xROgqREf4XplQ/s640/blogger-image-91639424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0aD9pTlJVLJ9lRSTws2AJ48TIihk3F7eUO2K-HjTGGgiBSYB2ULKxnMFbj-KCENCnYKJHgJ2WVZvfe3nC0E_gUfkH9X1XNgZEZlJtGUHNa_OJeFG44WTEgpOzfMRW2xROgqREf4XplQ/s640/blogger-image-91639424.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Anne Hathaway's Cottage at Stratford</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">On Wednesday we caught the train down to London (2-1/2 hours) for Olive's 4th birthday. On Thursday we went to her end-of-year concert at her play school. The school has a few different groups and Olive's group did 'Under the Sea' which was surprisingly good seeing they were only 4 year olds who will be starting primary school in September after the Summer holidays.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MiI8HlDulXbw84eKyahcArzXFtI1_GP7k1IlnaPluUDUTEc45d9Z2VIF8xWnZ9SadfLOhHOfneGq0F9Yi40YBtykmEMcMYjKONRqIiGkwHFBzztEwzv7zHU3f60r_MPPM18PYGgFGZ8/s640/blogger-image--1773591465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MiI8HlDulXbw84eKyahcArzXFtI1_GP7k1IlnaPluUDUTEc45d9Z2VIF8xWnZ9SadfLOhHOfneGq0F9Yi40YBtykmEMcMYjKONRqIiGkwHFBzztEwzv7zHU3f60r_MPPM18PYGgFGZ8/s640/blogger-image--1773591465.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> The birthday girl in the backyard on the day of her big day.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qKVByKR-S37jdJdnTCdLxFG5fvLKSMVuD6wgR7QfurDHEfg7LDfTBsB8q8WKRODEW-unxWiUm1WyY3BtXH3WBUMWw8YyMM02FkQKPRpKK2R6RCHUGrGvkEY2xoJN9MQAViiyPbpSLUQ/s640/blogger-image-1023652224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qKVByKR-S37jdJdnTCdLxFG5fvLKSMVuD6wgR7QfurDHEfg7LDfTBsB8q8WKRODEW-unxWiUm1WyY3BtXH3WBUMWw8YyMM02FkQKPRpKK2R6RCHUGrGvkEY2xoJN9MQAViiyPbpSLUQ/s640/blogger-image-1023652224.jpg"></a></div></div></div> 'Under the Sea' concert</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aTsXlW61jYSzu5Ol1XD-DCOS6F7DW26aN74vyP415X23WH_lhNFdnhtnkTqr3K1T5Lj41Q7Pyd1GSHmfpCOfXX3BRAk0j766w41DBAF65h97MF7keWCjLIXw4FS5xi0DmFju3BrvmY8/s640/blogger-image--1468881508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aTsXlW61jYSzu5Ol1XD-DCOS6F7DW26aN74vyP415X23WH_lhNFdnhtnkTqr3K1T5Lj41Q7Pyd1GSHmfpCOfXX3BRAk0j766w41DBAF65h97MF7keWCjLIXw4FS5xi0DmFju3BrvmY8/s640/blogger-image--1468881508.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Iris - a Picasso in the making!</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Sooz and Ten had arranged tickets on Friday for us to go to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show which is the largest flower show in Europe with 32 ACRES of flower displays, garden ornaments, equipment, gazebos etc etc. Took a couple of trains to get there and then a walk along the Thames with 1000s of other people. Spectacular displays - the flower colours and sizes are just amazing.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzZcnJZrUMBOEmhEwTY2M4eFQMGyGDxiZrA9PLUkAjz6AUMJ-jFNQpmbJguRXPf0jxOpMiqCnvmZadWrTavrXtmGPR184_dul7KcAgX3do23Uir_JFfdi6nd5-5Hg9THwq6O9yAo8Rak/s640/blogger-image-1167975379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzZcnJZrUMBOEmhEwTY2M4eFQMGyGDxiZrA9PLUkAjz6AUMJ-jFNQpmbJguRXPf0jxOpMiqCnvmZadWrTavrXtmGPR184_dul7KcAgX3do23Uir_JFfdi6nd5-5Hg9THwq6O9yAo8Rak/s640/blogger-image-1167975379.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvu2kh9mo6KLeREy7W9FmEuiWkTHJpiHY8-SEjy5GmVftiVVYAAW05idDK4W-7iGAZymh41ST9rAXCg91GXkLrVl24QdjD6wGMJZ2MsBEbi-Jqyx18f6U6c4HMdK91UTMjk5BRjZn7lk/s640/blogger-image-266935063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvu2kh9mo6KLeREy7W9FmEuiWkTHJpiHY8-SEjy5GmVftiVVYAAW05idDK4W-7iGAZymh41ST9rAXCg91GXkLrVl24QdjD6wGMJZ2MsBEbi-Jqyx18f6U6c4HMdK91UTMjk5BRjZn7lk/s640/blogger-image-266935063.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Spectacular flower displays at Hampton Court</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Saturday - another hot day- was Olive's party in a nearby park (which was more like a wood with lots of shady trees and winding paths). It was left to the local community by a rich fellow many years ago and residents have to pay £8 a year to get a key for access. Over 25 children (and their parents attended) and of course the children loved being able to run around out of sight. Tendaka had organised a treasure hunt with lots of clues hidden in the trees which was a great hit also. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQSf943OGJRHXmgoODVKtNjphBNSReZxKHhIEu0w2gMH7RBjnmfYVv6fmV9QndmMTXSjOhgjrOMpflM7S2dd_Ixt0r9SOJ8l7dE8HxrnRrxyzFMtyU1yKprw9O2f1szhAeO0ykz2gRuI/s640/blogger-image-2125526909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQSf943OGJRHXmgoODVKtNjphBNSReZxKHhIEu0w2gMH7RBjnmfYVv6fmV9QndmMTXSjOhgjrOMpflM7S2dd_Ixt0r9SOJ8l7dE8HxrnRrxyzFMtyU1yKprw9O2f1szhAeO0ykz2gRuI/s640/blogger-image-2125526909.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tFIIs7HXOVRhG40U5ghejTbAaNHQJQQ4zl7dTpvNJw2eiG0l0SN_ad609RUBtvf9IjXwqV3h6BMN6MtpMgPUsRMLskZY9HdHS5-NIgLVFNV3dyomKtOS0_cp7rFaXHF0hH9MQxdmhD0/s640/blogger-image--1193112167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tFIIs7HXOVRhG40U5ghejTbAaNHQJQQ4zl7dTpvNJw2eiG0l0SN_ad609RUBtvf9IjXwqV3h6BMN6MtpMgPUsRMLskZY9HdHS5-NIgLVFNV3dyomKtOS0_cp7rFaXHF0hH9MQxdmhD0/s640/blogger-image--1193112167.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Birthday Cake in the park</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">On Sunday we caught the train back to Stratford and early Monday morning left to head down the Avon River towards Gloucester. Had quite an audience standing on the bridge watching us go through the lock onto the river. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC42vtPm_60q0r7OBxsCLG0SkbDGb7tD1SCYtSwT_44qeZ83eFIqeCVWbViOcmD7R94A8GsvoTGmH9ibG60-pbIj_ohB8uOtbMGZ6ed5D3-LKXz6El1N4uuJnZj13MvXyz3cPMtPISOM8/s640/blogger-image--974761168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC42vtPm_60q0r7OBxsCLG0SkbDGb7tD1SCYtSwT_44qeZ83eFIqeCVWbViOcmD7R94A8GsvoTGmH9ibG60-pbIj_ohB8uOtbMGZ6ed5D3-LKXz6El1N4uuJnZj13MvXyz3cPMtPISOM8/s640/blogger-image--974761168.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Leaving Stratford - going past the Shakespeare Theatre Company building</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Cruising down the river which is a bit wider than the canals in most places in perfect weather was superb. Still some locks to go through while the river goes down weirs on the side of the locks. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">At one lock a young couple with a baby in a pram were watching me struggle to close the gate after the boat had gone through. "Wouldya loke a 'elping 'an luv? she asked then proceeded to tell her fellow (who was built like he spent most of his time working out in the gym) to "go 'elp the lady'. He came down and waved me aside - leant on the gate and then said 'sh##%%'. After he had pushed for a while and gone red in the face he said "Geez - they ain't 'alf 'eavy ain't are they!" Made me feel really good - having done so many already.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">We've stopped overnight at the villages of Bidford-on-Avon, Evesham and Pershore and are now at Tewkesbury. Each village has something special to offer. Went to The Regal Cinema at Evesham - saw The Great Gatsby which was a bit of a disappointment but the Cinema was a work of art. Done in art deco style - downstairs it was tables for 2 or 4 with a bar at the back so you could have a drink or a platter to nibble on while watching the film. Upstairs it was 'loveseats for 2' and then some normal single seats. Quite an experience. (Sort of similar to the Ruffy Hall!)</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Lots of black and white cottages leaning at odd angles along every street - it's incredible that they are 100s of years old and haven't fallen over. Also there's amazing displays of vibrant coloured flowers baskets and planters in every town.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0zjn5eFzw6Xx_O5Mp2eh-fDtQlcZrIvSAkmKVk3iT9eRsM6d9uaP63ULGBgQVS_r6bSjbN_TrqTdnoMPtdQvrm-XAyZqz2MQa2fIaM-rfxuRmDRgp1gW_5p6BiTwJUbryXFg2bKAvL0/s640/blogger-image--172925406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0zjn5eFzw6Xx_O5Mp2eh-fDtQlcZrIvSAkmKVk3iT9eRsM6d9uaP63ULGBgQVS_r6bSjbN_TrqTdnoMPtdQvrm-XAyZqz2MQa2fIaM-rfxuRmDRgp1gW_5p6BiTwJUbryXFg2bKAvL0/s640/blogger-image--172925406.jpg"></a></div></div></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Just one of the many bridges on the Avon River - some built by the Romans.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9i2UT_4sattisShiVsCs7KYteSoKAfIWzShXWCZ4-niqx6Kb5fuF4HwCFFaJDJx1_zZixQQDg_gjC084OTl5cj7cTl2Yt967AcBc6ev8sAOBfEjWs9HyUimpSGZhVTYh-VTJqSAeRzXI/s640/blogger-image--1308172821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9i2UT_4sattisShiVsCs7KYteSoKAfIWzShXWCZ4-niqx6Kb5fuF4HwCFFaJDJx1_zZixQQDg_gjC084OTl5cj7cTl2Yt967AcBc6ev8sAOBfEjWs9HyUimpSGZhVTYh-VTJqSAeRzXI/s640/blogger-image--1308172821.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Some of the window traffic passing by at Bidfod-on-Avon</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrCaQg2QnqnjHIxnXCUka5JpzfiZG0SoY_w5fvZkhZ_smOuEEkhbRvkGekFCfRAMf6tEfeFIHp54AVDM1YLpFRPdt_Fea82VrtaXQHPASLbzP_V45jUqA_hxxiYfyYQpYpC0t2y1-3qA/s640/blogger-image--1217487463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrCaQg2QnqnjHIxnXCUka5JpzfiZG0SoY_w5fvZkhZ_smOuEEkhbRvkGekFCfRAMf6tEfeFIHp54AVDM1YLpFRPdt_Fea82VrtaXQHPASLbzP_V45jUqA_hxxiYfyYQpYpC0t2y1-3qA/s640/blogger-image--1217487463.jpg"></a></div> </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> The welcoming party at Pershore</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FJ37INtvvKkefssZtBjYmPyqjZrZRgbITLeMCPfdaLAPTYm605i6g5mh2fzkEG9K_E6Ialvda5bcwAIqOmZcEM2PyROdumwgylVWywSZeLVQXm8Qjt2ZCBqHGaMXpchlGKGOJ530AHU/s640/blogger-image--493235404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FJ37INtvvKkefssZtBjYmPyqjZrZRgbITLeMCPfdaLAPTYm605i6g5mh2fzkEG9K_E6Ialvda5bcwAIqOmZcEM2PyROdumwgylVWywSZeLVQXm8Qjt2ZCBqHGaMXpchlGKGOJ530AHU/s640/blogger-image--493235404.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Moored opposite the weir at Evesham - 100s of ducks, Canadian geese and swans</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Just come back from seeing Tewkesbury Abbey - a huge church built in the 1100s - just beautiful with the choir practising to add to the occasion. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">There is so much to see here at Tewkesbury that we will probably spend a couple of nights here before setting out for Gloucester, now travelling on the Severn River. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKSC8CLSrXlhyphenhyphen7_XLoSJNhHtSo2w_qFPohMuPJ-xBPJdCa13TQJHacrtHg9oncuclq8Gch5ieIWi5dKEcIV_p7TbIQpyviercl8_3zNoqGHKTU4GBlR5QjffO0UiLdcRl-dHjZWm8n8U/s640/blogger-image-1810225828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKSC8CLSrXlhyphenhyphen7_XLoSJNhHtSo2w_qFPohMuPJ-xBPJdCa13TQJHacrtHg9oncuclq8Gch5ieIWi5dKEcIV_p7TbIQpyviercl8_3zNoqGHKTU4GBlR5QjffO0UiLdcRl-dHjZWm8n8U/s640/blogger-image-1810225828.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> Moored up at Tewkesbury on the Severn River.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Just heard the forecast and it looks like the hot weather is continuing this week with just a few thunderstorms predicted. Life's good!!</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> </div>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-26441676873062675032013-07-02T19:17:00.001+01:002013-07-02T19:17:02.961+01:00More than 4 weeks now<div><br></div><div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Hi everyone. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">We moved on up the Leicester Canal with the weather staying quite fine and warm. Went through the Crick Tunnel, 1528 yards long - had so much water dripping down from the roof that we ended up looking like drowned rats by the time we got through. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_5M04hsrcuvgqyB8JCWWd8UdbXw6dtBDDkOk2T1_3mwzCZo3mTVq9y3Dz4xTxPhu_S4t_i9N9aFQ-uNDMFJLu4aOu6SWzrcW7S8j3xPk3NSVllj-0zLXt6lAOgNCiZrTnqGNrzkrwD0/s640/blogger-image-1203136229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_5M04hsrcuvgqyB8JCWWd8UdbXw6dtBDDkOk2T1_3mwzCZo3mTVq9y3Dz4xTxPhu_S4t_i9N9aFQ-uNDMFJLu4aOu6SWzrcW7S8j3xPk3NSVllj-0zLXt6lAOgNCiZrTnqGNrzkrwD0/s640/blogger-image-1203136229.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> This is a 2-way tunnel - quite a squeeze when you meet an oncoming boat!</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "> After passing down the amazing Foxton Locks which were manned by volunteers on most of eight locks we moored up in a lovely marina at the centre of Market Harborough which turned out to be quite a large town with lots little shops as well as the usual large Tesco, Sainsbury and Morrison stores. Got caught up in a local festival parade on Saturday morning - large transport vehicles with local groups all dressed up on the back. Huge crowds -such a large population everywhere over here.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4Puzmquwn-_0mh7UEaz3mWE2OXl3B3oAM6L4sBk7M-a5fOD400QOdfaCGc5jV6xWy3wsJNWsSYNUY6MYH8-zGT2W6eBOWoCt-4LGPtQjf7wg930QrrpmBIioMmbt5JaZoAzl6Zs84HY/s640/blogger-image--113472316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4Puzmquwn-_0mh7UEaz3mWE2OXl3B3oAM6L4sBk7M-a5fOD400QOdfaCGc5jV6xWy3wsJNWsSYNUY6MYH8-zGT2W6eBOWoCt-4LGPtQjf7wg930QrrpmBIioMmbt5JaZoAzl6Zs84HY/s640/blogger-image--113472316.jpg"></a></div> Parrindi - Right in the heart of Market Harborough</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">After spending a couple of nights there we moved on towards Leicester. The locks on this stretch were all double - taking two narrowboats side by side - so it was good to meet up with some other boaters which meant working the locks was only half the work. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Arrived into Leicester and moored up at the Castle Gardens right in the city centre. Very secure - the garden gates were locked at night as well as the gate onto the pontoon where we were moored. Leicester is buzzing because 'King Richard III has been found in a city car park'. We had visions of a fellow wearing a crown leaning up against a mini minor eating a Big Mac! But no.....it was a skeleton which was dug up and DNA tests have revealed that it probably was the good King Richard. Banners and touristy promotions all over the city to see the remains, burial site, cathedral etc. Only trouble seems to be that York is laying claim to the remains and wants them sent there so they can be buried with his Queen.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzS6fqww8YH7s1GkmYbwdGSZ1bL8DFxiL-YfJOjSyswizwiRLrV154qIA1trECErknKXDKxRbixrxAv1MEDZnnV1d_-0B3eX6NLx0eqsqykAw-BMl1J7w2RenicLnUMFRKoq8QO1iriE/s640/blogger-image--2049635295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzS6fqww8YH7s1GkmYbwdGSZ1bL8DFxiL-YfJOjSyswizwiRLrV154qIA1trECErknKXDKxRbixrxAv1MEDZnnV1d_-0B3eX6NLx0eqsqykAw-BMl1J7w2RenicLnUMFRKoq8QO1iriE/s640/blogger-image--2049635295.jpg"></a></div> On the River Soar, arriving into Leicester City</div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Spent 4 days in Leicester - a very interesting city although it was not recommended as a place to visit. It has lots of Roman ruins, old Tudor buildings as well as the 'golden mile' which has the biggest Indian population outside India. Most of them seem to be in the business of selling saris or owning jewellery shops (with quite expensive gold jewellery!). Block after block of these shops - all selling the same stuff. Leicester also had a market which was reputed to be the largest undercover market in Europe. Bit disappointing though - we're probably spoilt by our own Victoria Market.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Back tracking down the Leiceister Canal we went through 41 locks on our own which was a bit heavy going. Even the Foxton Locks was light on volunteers - must have picked the wrong day to travel. Seems like it is a local picnic spot with lots of sightseers and school groups hanging around. The 10 staircase locks (all joined together) go 75 feet up or down depending on which way you're heading - quite an engineering feat. There are also the remnants of the inclined plane which actually winched boats up/down the hill in the 1900s but this was found to be uneconomical and it closed after only 10 years so the locks remain the way to go.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDt8n-611u3PqNKjIIICYuzvMFLOSsTfaA8ajjfl10moKhFn6r-fTLx8MQMiTb-Tq-jbyq8uTBWBEEpbhDrOu5gyB3I1hDC1cWoJs1z2mH98QToSeKVhENcDOkrTnLeuP_9JeFn-5ROY/s640/blogger-image-407268438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDt8n-611u3PqNKjIIICYuzvMFLOSsTfaA8ajjfl10moKhFn6r-fTLx8MQMiTb-Tq-jbyq8uTBWBEEpbhDrOu5gyB3I1hDC1cWoJs1z2mH98QToSeKVhENcDOkrTnLeuP_9JeFn-5ROY/s640/blogger-image-407268438.jpg"></a></div></div> Half-way up the Foxton Locks staircase.</div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Called back at our marina overnight and then headed south towards Warwick/Stratford-on Avon. Weather turned foul while we were going through the 6 locks coming into Braunston (reminded us of the wet weather we had last year). Stayed 3 nights at Braunston ( moored up next to a lovely couple - he was 85 and she 82 but ever so sprightly) because the weather was a bit poor, then moved on to Leamington Spa - a very upmarket town which we visited last year. </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Travelling further south along the Grand Union Canal we spent 4 nights at a marina within walking distance to Warwick - lovely market town overlooked by its very impressive castle which we visited along with 1000s of school kids. It's the end of the school year next week so they must all be travelling around the country. The castle is now owned by Madame Tussard's waxworks from London. The living quarters (huge) were all set up for a Royal weekend visiting party with very lifelike models in each room. Bit spooky but really well done.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96PjiOQT-dlwIXINKbBgmcvCTrXLIls2eYo5LZUSqHYkw3j8XJBjchwGzzL9I-WOQPCU6EizL9zsgw1MZhpAElbbOolrq5uYQvJptnFSs3jPrijlcjHxEFWn5sVH-SP979ovi-n77fR4/s640/blogger-image-2027858350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96PjiOQT-dlwIXINKbBgmcvCTrXLIls2eYo5LZUSqHYkw3j8XJBjchwGzzL9I-WOQPCU6EizL9zsgw1MZhpAElbbOolrq5uYQvJptnFSs3jPrijlcjHxEFWn5sVH-SP979ovi-n77fR4/s640/blogger-image-2027858350.jpg"></a></div> Typical Warwick street</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Also had dinner with Jo and Ginny and their two children - they were the people who sold us our new Broadford house. They are now living at Kenilworth near Warwick. Jo was transferred from Ford in Australia to Jaguar's huge set-up nearby which is working flat out to supply Range Rovers and Jaguars to China. After dinner they took us for a walk around the township and then to the nearby Kenilworth Castle, a huge place commenced in the 12th century and added to over the centuries. Sadly it's in a ruined state now but is still open to the public.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Leaving Warwick the next day we faced the Haddon Locks. Twenty one locks rising up 150 feet in just 2 miles!! We waited for a while until another boat came along so we could 'pair up' going through the locks but it still took us about 3 hours to get through. Turned out our companion boat was an old traditional boat having a 'chug-chug' type engine with a smokey chimney so it was a long trip in a foggy haze for the 'captain'. Up towards the last few locks there were also a couple of Waterways volunteers so they helped open the paddles and gates too. Up at the top lock where there was a little cafe there was lots of 'gongoozlers' (which is the name given to the bystanders who come along to look at the boat-people struggling to wind up the paddles and open the gates). They usually offer lots of suggestions on how it should be done BUT no-one really offers to help!!</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvcjP5a1e7AbNAxLDAy6K0HVUGUX9RjIRp6QRo_5HCz8jh7CgAMDdBzwPViOP6ZvZtsqKoCAdWSZ9xTy5W_wyjRQt44B5HOENNr9yrfdzN1dz8r_ZolvLNaJ5CftXGZqKoBjzKu1O1EY/s640/blogger-image-236603668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvcjP5a1e7AbNAxLDAy6K0HVUGUX9RjIRp6QRo_5HCz8jh7CgAMDdBzwPViOP6ZvZtsqKoCAdWSZ9xTy5W_wyjRQt44B5HOENNr9yrfdzN1dz8r_ZolvLNaJ5CftXGZqKoBjzKu1O1EY/s640/blogger-image-236603668.jpg"></a></div> The bridges and locks are getting tighter - if that's possible! </div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">This canal, the Stratford, is a bit low on water and we have managed to get stuck on the bottom mud a few times - interesting!! - out come the long poles and with lots of pushing and persuasion we have been able to get going again.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9UT4YyI8eNk9kWV3dk3698zsuSX_wybhutXkBXE8alrhBkzajJRamfTpoeyxdWyr12LtUvYGZNumsREoyr1ft20cD4wzL1wffK9VesQyp0Ylwk5yggTSpghzEBBW6J0B65Ib7w_C4wM/s640/blogger-image-1466694550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9UT4YyI8eNk9kWV3dk3698zsuSX_wybhutXkBXE8alrhBkzajJRamfTpoeyxdWyr12LtUvYGZNumsREoyr1ft20cD4wzL1wffK9VesQyp0Ylwk5yggTSpghzEBBW6J0B65Ib7w_C4wM/s640/blogger-image-1466694550.jpg"></a></div> Up on the Edstone Aqueduct - 28 feet high x 475 ft long on 13 brick piers this crosses a road,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> major train line and fields. </div><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">After spending a night recovering after the Haddon locks we set out again towards Stratford and THIRTY SIX locks and two days later we have arrived to moor up right in the Stratford town centre. This place must be on the Tourist Bus list as the place to be. So many school groups, Japanese and European bus tourists! We even spoke to a group of Australians who are doing a whirlwind tour of the UK by bus.</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCglX_jlobfAU6qQWy4mwvJbIn5OVG8hosQcv5CGXRgZWinD9pJoZPKR7QWGe52-ENeP0gJ_khJXIcKiZeaRobZNKvTLs6NH-082cOV754v6UNLkKDCO3H7uecHziwJKY08E5P5H8ir0Y/s640/blogger-image-1816243225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCglX_jlobfAU6qQWy4mwvJbIn5OVG8hosQcv5CGXRgZWinD9pJoZPKR7QWGe52-ENeP0gJ_khJXIcKiZeaRobZNKvTLs6NH-082cOV754v6UNLkKDCO3H7uecHziwJKY08E5P5H8ir0Y/s640/blogger-image-1816243225.jpg"></a></div> Shakespeare's birthplace at Stratford</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">We hope to stay here until after Saturday when there is a big boat festival being held so that should bring even more tourists here!</div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); "><br></div><div style="font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); ">Weather is being quite kind - the locals are out in shorts (but it's not hot enough for us yet).</div></div><div><br></div>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-77559354458871309652013-06-29T15:54:00.002+01:002013-06-29T22:51:54.078+01:00Starting our 2013 adventure on NB Parrindi<br>
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Well we're back in the UK for the 2013 adventure on NB Parrindi.</div>
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Spent the first few days with the family in London. It was soooo cold and wet. Even thought it was going to snow one day. The girls have grown up so much and we saw lots of changes since last August. They are gorgeous but kept us on our toes. <br></div>
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We managed to go to a West End Show this time. Saw 'Top Hat' - a Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers type musical. Great show but we think we were the youngest ones there - it was an afternoon matinee and was full of nursing home old folk with walkers, wheelchairs and sticks!</div>
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Sunny on Saturday so we hired a car and left London to go to the big Crick boat show. Much drier underfoot than when we were there last year. After doing the Show we managed to find our marina nearby late in the day and caught up with our boat again.</div>
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Thought the insides might be covered in mould after the long wet winter but everything was perfect, including the alterations the marina staff had made to the dinette area and back steps.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1a6hXb5ZTRkh58KsWLCcsLUPCazhV90V5hnRlc1sJfVBg9UTSCoiT5SugjUq4KRbreqTXnhG9k-Ze4SJk7X1eKJ_VtEIC41lMNxLlP5AVvGbVhpjOLS-C1qkK66hsBBtUQ4Q5HeoF5I/s640/blogger-image--278020737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1a6hXb5ZTRkh58KsWLCcsLUPCazhV90V5hnRlc1sJfVBg9UTSCoiT5SugjUq4KRbreqTXnhG9k-Ze4SJk7X1eKJ_VtEIC41lMNxLlP5AVvGbVhpjOLS-C1qkK66hsBBtUQ4Q5HeoF5I/s640/blogger-image--278020737.jpg"></a></div> Welton Hythe Marina where the boat was moored for Winter</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><br></div>
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Spent a few days re-stocking the boat then took off on the LeicesterCanal. Passed through the Watford Locks - very busy - then had a lovely Sunday lunch (Terry's birthday) at The Moorings on the canal at Crick. We then headed off again on the canal towards Leicester for a couple of nights (beautiful farming country)then it was back to our marina to have some new carpet fitted.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ygjbb4INWmJXQkdTJqIIDGDqoEETDrZUQiuJ_gs19ys_MKXh-CRW00BKOfSWpEAo-fmmJtyseFFoGAXaPuD8XoRmwWDls31n8arN3kdBg8L4v4TclmwzOTPbXDFQiFkiiiOXEwPJxCs/s640/blogger-image-1141243777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ygjbb4INWmJXQkdTJqIIDGDqoEETDrZUQiuJ_gs19ys_MKXh-CRW00BKOfSWpEAo-fmmJtyseFFoGAXaPuD8XoRmwWDls31n8arN3kdBg8L4v4TclmwzOTPbXDFQiFkiiiOXEwPJxCs/s640/blogger-image-1141243777.jpg"></a></div> Waiting to go up the Watford flight of 7 locks</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEibroTaeixem9GkDnrgB7N6GB4H-4Mk4NCwm1_ojeohAp8gR2R2mWY7i8pCurXCmrqL9MglBlQO0h8L_tIa_ekRCqJftO1GtT-zT0dJ_XEk-ggySMI7f-Ad0tQs_kbobTQTeLQwe5xk/s640/blogger-image-599738777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEibroTaeixem9GkDnrgB7N6GB4H-4Mk4NCwm1_ojeohAp8gR2R2mWY7i8pCurXCmrqL9MglBlQO0h8L_tIa_ekRCqJftO1GtT-zT0dJ_XEk-ggySMI7f-Ad0tQs_kbobTQTeLQwe5xk/s640/blogger-image-599738777.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"> The new RED carpet and kitchen tiles</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><br></div>
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We're back on the same canal but this time will go further and spend some time at Market Harborough which everyone says is a lovely town.</div>
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Beautiful sunny days with blue skies and more predicted.....so we hope it continues.</div>
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<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7166872929990906697.post-24524345060457208722013-05-24T19:56:00.001+01:002013-05-24T20:09:31.251+01:00Last year ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMzd8dIwtB5XPpmL2ZlBX8KlLfhHjnA_Zm60vwyHbHO3WlVoJHxmaErCptJQDA5y0Bi-nkwM6flnYZ810CIMXWJmTOlqwu2xIvcJBpH-3RsTODi8MDZj5AiszqV6FfX1kpyit-GUShCo/s1600/boat3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJMzd8dIwtB5XPpmL2ZlBX8KlLfhHjnA_Zm60vwyHbHO3WlVoJHxmaErCptJQDA5y0Bi-nkwM6flnYZ810CIMXWJmTOlqwu2xIvcJBpH-3RsTODi8MDZj5AiszqV6FfX1kpyit-GUShCo/s400/boat3.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
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<b><i>The beginning ...</i></b></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When we were in the UK in 1996 we hired a narrowboat on the Llangollen Canal in Wales for a week. We absolutely loved the experience and always planned to live on a narrowboat again if we returned to England for a holiday. Now with family living in London the dream has become a reality. In January 2012 after selling all our alpacas we purchased our own narrowboat (formerly called 'Eziduzit').</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">NB 'Parrindi' <span style="letter-spacing: 0px; ">' - our 6 berth boat which is 65 feet long but only 6’10” wide so it can fit through the lock system has everything needed for on-board living, including kitchen, lounge with TV etc and bathroom as well as central heating, if needed. A 600 litre water tank can be topped up along the canals at British Waterways depots which also have toilet waste facilities and skips for rubbish disposal. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The canals cover most of England and it is possible to travel from London in the south, over to Wales in the West and up to York in the north. Boaters can moor just about anywhere along the banks of the canals for up to 14 days at no charge as well as right in the centre of most of the big cities – London, Birmingham, Manchester and Coventry to name just a few. There are many marinas along the canals which provide moorings too but these charge ‘by the foot’. Maximum speed on the canals is 4mph except when passing another boat or moored boats when the speed limit drops to 2mph. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">On arriving in England we journeyed along the Trent/Mersey Canal which included the towns of Burton-on-Trent, home of most of the famous breweries in the UK because of pure underground water which goes through gypsum deposits and also Stoke-on-Trent where Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Moorcroft, Coalport and forty other potteries are still producing fine china. There are fascinating museums and factory tours at both Burton and Stoke to learn the history of their industries. Before the railways commenced, the canal system was vital in this area in the 1700 and 1800s to transport raw materials and finished products. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">We also travelled along the Shropshire, Caldon, Coventry, Staff & Worcester, Oxford and Grand Union Canals which involved working lift bridges, swing bridges and more than 150 locks – the incredible system used to raise or lower boats. Most of the locks are only a few inches wider than the narrowboats so there were a </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">few places on the Parrindi paintwork which needed to be touched up at the end of the journey. The water levels in the locks which take boats up or down ranged from just 4” to 15 feet and most locks fill or empty in less than 10 minutes.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When approaching a lock, the ‘crew’ jumps off the boat onto the towpath and opens the huge gates if the water level is right, otherwise winds the paddles up or down depending on whether the boat is going uphill or downhill. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; ">The ‘captain’ then steers the boat into the lock and the gates are closed. The paddles are then raised or lowered at the other end so the lock fills or empties to the right level before the gates are opened and the boat moves out. Etiquette is that the gates are always closed and paddles lowered before the ‘crew’ gets back on the boat. There are some places where there are fifteen locks all within a mile so it certainly is a muscle building exercise.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In the 1700s and 1800s when the canals were constructed narrowboats were used to transport goods all over England and horses walked alongside the canals on the towpath pulling the boats. Sometimes tunnels were built to go through hills and were so tight with no room for a towpath that the horses would be walked over the top of the hill and the boatmen would ‘leg’ the boat through the tunnels - this involved lying on their backs and pushing the boat along with their legs. We had to take our fold-up bikes off the roof of the boat in the 2,926 yards long Harecastle Tunnel (built in 1777) which took 45 minutes to go through as the tunnel roof was so low - but it was much easier having a engine rather than having to ‘leg it’ through.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, Andy Murray making the Wimbledon final, UK’s Bradley Wiggans winning the Tour de France and to top it all – the Olympic Games in London as well as other venues - meant continual excitement for the Brits in 2012. Even the little villages celebrated with loads of bunting and floral displays which continued to look amazing as June and July were exceptionally wet and cool. The month of June was the wettest since records began but as some canals had been closed because of drought conditions the rain was welcomed by the canal community.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">After spending last June and July on the canals, Parrindi has been moored up at a marina at Welton Hythe (near Coventry).</span></div>
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<br>Glen and Terryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02808201441752712439noreply@blogger.com0