2014 UK adventure May and June

 Arrived back in the Uk on Tuesday 20 May and stayed with the family in London until Friday when we caught the train to Rugby and picked up a hire car for a few days whole we stocked up the boat ready for this year's big trip.

Crick Boat Show the following weekend was a washout - massive 10 minute hailstorm/tornado type storm went through on Sat afternoon when we were in a marquee.  We thought the whole tent was coming down.  Hailstones piled up everywhere when we came out.  The car park was a boggy mess - lucky theyhad a tractor handy.  Sunday at the Show wasn't too bad - we did see the sun a bit but Monday had heavy drizzle all day.  Hope the farmer who owned the car parking paddocks was well compensated!!

The boat looks great - the boys have done a terrific job on the alterations.

New TV unit, crystal cabinet and RED bedroom carpet.

Small bunkbeds changed into a sofa bed which pulls out to a double bed with new overhead cupboards.

Sooz, Ten & the girls (with Rita - Ten's mum) came up on Friday and stayed at a nearby B&B at a manor house where we went for dinner on Saturday night. (Wow - so nice - a massive old place in a beautiful little village).

We took them on a trip on the boat on Saturday - up 7 locks and then down 7 on the way back.  Also went through Crick Tunnel which is nearly a mile long so that was pretty exciting for the little ones.   Best part was that the sun came out all day on Sunday.  First we had seen since arriving.  

Sooz, Olive, Iris and Rita about to enter Watford Locks.

Looking down Watford Locks.

Olive & Iris with my birthday present - a new windlass (to make winding up the locks easier)

Spent a few days at the marina cleaning and painting some bare spots on the hull (when it wasn't raining).    We also had new red carpet fitted in the bedrooms to match the lounge area and it looks great.

Finally set off south towards London on the Grand Union Canal on Friday 5th June.  Went through the Blisworth Tunnel (3076 yards long) which had water pouring through the roof and walls in some parts from the recent rain.  We'd been caught before in leaky tunnels so had our raincoats ready this time.

 Entrance to Blisworth Tunnel.

There is light at the end of the tunnel!!

Spent a couple of nights at Weedon Bec, a little village near Northampton which we visited by bus rather than going through 17 locks up and back if we had gone by canal - must be getting weaker or wiser!  Quite a large city with a market in the town square.

Going on the aqueduct over the Ouse River 35 feet below.

Leaving the aqueduct.

The Grand Union Canal is quite a wide waterway with double locks all the way (they can take two boats side by side) so we've tried to team up with another boat each day to go through which makes the locks only half the work.   Trouble has been that it is so quiet with hardly any boats moving along that we have been on our lonesome most days.

A traditional working narrowboat with a butty (a boat that is pulled along behind like a trailer).  These were both carrying 18 tons of coal.  Went through Milton Keynes - a huge sprawling urban area where we were hopelessly lost when we drove through it a few years ago.   (Heard a funny story then that some lost tourists drive around until their cars run out of petrol and their skeletons are found  years later!!). The canal route is much more scenic.  Poplar trees line the way and there is so much open parkland and gardens - hardly saw any houses - they are so well hidden behind greenery.

Stayed a night at Leighton Buzzard (yes - that really is the name of the little town!)  which had some lovely old buildings then the next night at Marsworth.  Here we again avoided a pile of locks by catching a bus into the nearby market town of Aylesbury.

Moored up in the village of Marsworth.

Swan with a real attitude problem!   It spent hours attacking our fender when we were moored up at Berkhamstead.  It was making such a noise that Terry threatened to ring the Queen - she apparently owns all the swans in England -  asking her to come and collect this one!!

Weather has been a mixture of some very hot days, some overcast drizzly days and a couple of thunderstorms thrown in just to add to the mixture - but we've not been delayed too much.

We're now moored up near Hemel Hempstead which is only about 30 milesnorth of London so there are lots of old pubs along the canals - especially when there are locks to provide entertainment for their customers!

THE LAST WEEK

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.

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.   

Staff all dressed in Victorian costume and even old tyme games (like hoop rolling in the  street) for the modern children to enjoy.   

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.

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).   

                                   The boat's engine that also provides the lighting and heating.

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'.   

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.  

Motored on til we came to the mighty Humber Bridge (a bit like the Westgate Bridge but bigger).  

                                                   The massive Humber Bridge

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.  

Beverley Minster - one of the many churches/cathedrals we visited. - so much history of each town in each one.

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.  

 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.

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).

                                                Andrew on his last day on the boat at Crick.

                                             Even the smallest farms cut heaps of hay.

                                  Narrowboat chicken coop

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.   

  

                             Back at Welton Hythe Marina near Daventry

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!

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!!)

On the way back

ON THE WAY BACK

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.   

Entering one of the Severn locks.   Lock-keeper works the paddles and gates from his control room up top on the right.

                                                   Gates open  -   Leaving the lock

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.   

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.   

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.

                          Oops - this was taken before we found the children's life jackets

                                          Extra crew members- great!

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.

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.   

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.   

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.   

                          Kidderminster Minster - we're moored up on the left.

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.

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.

The little train between Stourbridge Town and Stourbridge Junction Railway Station where we caught the train to London.

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.   

                                                 Moored up overnight in  the middle of no-where.

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.

It's still quite warm with just a few showers, mainly at night so that doesn't worry us at all.

Half way through

Monday 22 July

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.

                      Moored up at Stratford - Shakespeare's Theatre just past the bridge.

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.

                       Shakespeare's grand house right in the heart of the main street of Stratford

                                                            Hope not!!

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.

                                                   Decorated narrowboats at festival

Caught a local bus to Anne Hathaway's cottage which she grew up in before marrying Bill 

 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.

                                                       Anne Hathaway's Cottage at Stratford

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.

                                            The birthday girl in the backyard on the day of her big day.

   'Under the Sea' concert

                                                                Iris - a Picasso in the making!

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.

                                                  Spectacular flower displays at Hampton  Court

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.                             

Birthday Cake in the park

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.   

        Leaving Stratford - going past the Shakespeare Theatre Company building

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.   

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.

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!)

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.

                   Just one of the many bridges on the Avon River - some built by the Romans.

                                         Some of the window traffic passing by at Bidfod-on-Avon

   

                                                       The welcoming party at Pershore

        Moored opposite the weir at Evesham - 100s of ducks, Canadian geese  and swans

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.   

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.  

                                        Moored up at Tewkesbury on the Severn River.

Just heard the forecast and it looks like the hot weather is continuing this week with just a few thunderstorms predicted.     Life's good!!